Why I couldn't support Kerry

6 reasons why I can't support Kerry

Published on October 27, 2004 By Draginol In Politics

A couple months ago I wrote why Bush may not get my vote. I'm still not thrilled with Bush but I do know I won't vote for John Kerry. Some of my reasons for not supporting Kerry are straight forward philosophical disagreements on his views on foreign policy and his view of the role of the federal government. Others are less tangible.

So let me go through my reasons why I don't support Kerry:

1) I don't trust Kerry to be an effective leader in foreign policy. Will Kerry see things through in Iraq or will he bail out as soon as it's politically expedient? Will he treat terrorism as a war or as a law enforcement issue? He hasn't made his position consistent on this. In 1991, he voted against liberating Kuwait even though Bush Senior had a Security Council Resolution authorizing the use of force! I think that's a very telling insight of Kerry's view of America's role in the world. He doesn't trust US power. He would prefer to see it channeled through the UN -- and even then only in the most dire situations. And I don't trust the UN. I think events have shown that it is a corrupt organization that cannot be trusted. In short, I don't think Kerry would be an effective commander in chief.

2) Kerry would raise taxes. If Kerry wins and gets his way, you can pretty much assume that JoeUser won't be a free blog site to the degree it is today. Why? Because Kerry would raise taxes. Taxes on those who make more than $200,000 per year. That means LLCs and S-corporations which get filed under personal taxes would get taxed. That money that goes to the government is money that isn't there to pay employees. Employees who do things like write ASP code for websites like JoeUser.com. I think it would be a rotten economic plan for the country. Taxation is a drag on the economy. It's a necessary evil and raising it on one group but not everyone is class warfare of the worst kind.

3) Kerry seems excessively poll-driven. I may not be super fond of Bush but I know where he stands on issues. Kerry seems inclined to change his views based on the polls. Or he'll just say what people want to hear from moment to moment. He wants an energy policy that moves the US onto renewable energy sources (20% by 2010 for instance). But how? It's just a warm fuzzy feel good position. I'm an engineer so I am interested in the mechanics of how a plan would actually be implemented. Kerry doesn't support nuclear energy. And there is no other energy source abundant enough reach that goal other than nuclear energy. This is typical of his attitude - he doesn't really mean the things he says.

4) Kerry's health care proposals bug me. I am tired of paying for other people's health insurance. I have a fundamental problem with the federal government confiscating earnings from its citizens to send over to other citizens. It's not a matter of compassion, it's a matter of personal responsibility. The federal government is not supposed to do this kind of thing.

5) I don't want to be on the side of haters. Too many of Kerry's supporters seem to be full of hate and anger. I don't want to be on the same side as Michael Moore or Susan Sarandon. Heck, I don't want to be on the same side as some of the lunatics I see on Democratic Underground or even some of the extremists I see here.

6) This is related to #5 but I fear that if the left wing loonies of the world are successful in this election they'll think they can influence elections and we can look forward to more Fahrenheit 9/11's and Moveon.org's and other such nonsense. We'll be assured that these fringe groups will be empowered. And we can be assured that every election is going to be full of pompous patronizing jerks making empty yet witty political statements every hour on the hour during the campaign cycle.

So these are some of the reasons why I could never support him. There are others that are more minor. I don't like how he turned 4 months of service in Vietnam into a centerpiece of his political career. I don't like that he's a political opportunist to an almost extreme level. Heck, I don't even like his wife. But I might be able to deal with some of these things if those other 6 issues didn't exist.

Comments (Page 1)

Myrrander

on Oct 27, 2004

Well thought-out and admirable reasons. One of my biggest gripes with Kerry is the obvious pandering he's done about raising the minimum wage. I was a restaurant manager when the minimum went up from $4.75 to $5.15 and was forced to cut shifts and lay people off. A raise to $7, coupled with a raise in taxes on small businesses would be very harmful to the economy. The guy has never had to balance buying supplies with a labor budget and still keep his head above water.

Nadeon

on Oct 27, 2004

Well said. You articulated my feelings and beliefs almost to a tee. I work in a Federal Building and it's amazing how deliniated the issues you bring to the fore play out among the various agencies. Kind of a microcosim of society at large. I won't go into what agencies reflect what positions; the J/U readers imagination can supply that. I can say that among those that are Bush supporters there is a quiet uneasiness that mirrors your observations. It isn't a case of choosing the lesser of two evils, it's more like the difference between an eccentric and a psychotic. We are genuinely worried.

SiRMetMan

on Oct 27, 2004

If you want to talk about pandering, look at Bush. He goes to the RNC and bashes gay marriage and unions, then goes on TV (forget the show) and says he supports gay unions. Pick one, Mr. Pres.

There are plenty of hateful Bush supporters as well. In fact, most of them are. You got the entire anti-gay movement behind him, for instance.

I couldn't support Bush for the positions he holds on all the issues you raise here.

Draginol

on Oct 27, 2004

Bush isn't against civil unions. Only against gay marriage.

But you say that you can't support Bush because of his positions on the issues I raise? So you think it's a good thing to raise taxes on just one group?

Daiwa

on Oct 27, 2004

One final reason.

The Pats, the Sox and Pres would be a power concentration that surely would be unconstitutional. We could live with 2 out of 3, but the hat trick would have to be disputed in the Supreme Court. I guess that leaves Kerry out.

Cheers,
Daiwa

messybuu

on Oct 27, 2004

If I didn't like Bush, I'd vote for Badnarik, but there's no way I'd ever vote for Kerry, for many of the reasons you listed, particularly 3, 5, and 6.

Castle

on Oct 28, 2004

Draginol,
A very poignant illustration of how Kerry doesn't measure up. Bravo!
With words like "pass the global test" and "terrorism as a nuisance" Kerry lost me anyhow.

Glorfindel

on Oct 28, 2004

As for point n°5, I'm just a foreigner, reading quite a lot of information from all over the board without being implicated, but I tend to believe the hate, anger, and looniness is quite balanced.
Just look at freerepublic.com, newsmax.com , comments made by DrGuy here for example.

I won't be surprised if USA were headed to a new civil war, seeing the general moods of and acrimony. (1)
(http://www.sierratimes.com/04/10/25/jjjohnson.htm for an US view )
(I'm not saying DrGuy is a loony, Im just saying he's not too peaceful with leftists

) (don't want to create a flamewar, that's not my point)

Winterblade

on Oct 28, 2004

On point 6. Who's to say that if Bush wins they'll just go away demoralized? They may just try that much harder next time around. Either way, win or lose for Bush, they get stronger. The only difference would be that if Bush wins, they'll start to resort to "lower" tactics.

relswick

on Oct 28, 2004

For Glorfindel,

Although it may look quite like rebellion or something, it is quite far from that, I am sure. Although divided on many issues, whoever wins, it isn't affecting us severely enough to create a cival war. What would need to happen for a cival war in todays age, I have no clue, but I am sure it would need to be something very, very drastic. Even then, it probably wouldn't happen in an age of communication like today.

For who to vote for, well, go independent. Why I couldn't support Bush.... well, he has many of the same traits as his father... Don't know if I will vote for Kerry though, so probably independent.
1. The economy is great... no, it isn't that great, although I don't think it is as bad as is purported by major companies.... (they don't want higher wages..)
2. There is a war on... (same old... well not quite)

hehe, I am sure I could go on, but I am drawing a blank right now.

mormegil

on Oct 28, 2004

I have herd over and over now, that most Kerry supporters are not voting for him because they think he is the right person for the job, its that he's not bush.

This has prompted may of jokes, things like www.karryhatersforkarry.com and bumper stickers, like "He'll Do". This is not to my mind the best approach at electing a president. But of late I have started to feel the pull of a similar irrational reason to vote. thanks to Michael Moore my mud slinging threshold has been surpassed, at least this year, by the left. I for one don’t want to let a socialist, "Documentary" film maker decide who should be president. And I think he has set a bad president. I am all for Documentaries, the more unbiased the better, if it is about politics. To Moores Credit, he admits the film is in no way a fair look at the Bush administration. What scares me is the people who watched his film and think that it is.

Please people. Do some research. Use your brains, and Vote with it. Don’t vote with your heart, because it will not be your heart that pays the bills.

I Don’t want to vote for bush, because of his civil rights policies, I think outlawing Gay marriage is just stupid. And I don’t want to support the religious right.

I Don’t want to vote for Kerry because I do not believe that the government should babysitter the people of this country. And I don’t want to support the socialist left.

I would vote for a third party, throw my vote away and all, but I cant find one that is Rational.

I tell you what though. If I vote for bush, Its not a vote for bush, it’s a vote against Michael Moore.

Timmoth

on Oct 28, 2004

Draginol,
First let me thank you for a well-reasoned discussion. To comment on your points:
1. He'd better have the stones to see this through to some conclusion or I don't want him there either. I think he does have the stones or he wouldn't be running for office. Unfortunately, the UN, such as it is, is all we have. The issue is that the UN represents the world. I'm of the belief that the world has to be considered in our policy, otherwise we're not in a position to make treaties, create coalitions, borrow money to handle our debt, etc. Bush has created a situation where the world will just say "not interested" perhaps just to spite us. Let alone the larger possiblility that he is turning the entire middle east against us, making us very much less safe.

2. He would raise taxes on the wealthy. I understand that you don't agree with this.

3. Bush is interested in the far-right. He also downplays this to the American public. That's not an exactly honest position. As for renewable energy. Bush will wait until every drop of usable oil is siphoned up, because it's his family's business. Nuclear fuel isn't promoted by anyone from any administration because the costs are too high to build and the American public is terrified of it. Do I know that it's one of our cleanest fuels. Yes. Kerry will begin to get us off the oil merry-go-round. It needs to be done.

4. Health care is out of control. People can't pay for it anymore. It's not an issue of personal responsibility, in this instance. Kerry's idea of taking catastrophic cases out of the system will lower costs. Bushes idea of having small business pool resources is equally good.

5. Fine, you're not a "hater."

6. Tom Delay's boys stopped the recount in 2000 with a mob. Companies entrusted with voter registrations ripped them up. Would you agree that voter suppression is illegal, and more of an serious issue than legally removing ineligible voters?

I don't think George Bush is bad guy. But I do think his administration has crossed some lines and has set precedent that is very dangerous for the future. To normal Republican issues, I'm not that concerned. I like personal responsibility, on the personal level. I like getting rid of pork barrel spending. But this administration is secretive, dishonest and dangerous because they don't know when to stop. I want them out . We can deal with the next Republican.

Dr Guy

on Oct 28, 2004

I won't be surprised if USA were headed to a new civil war, seeing the general moods of and acrimony. (1) (http://www.sierratimes.com/04/10/25/jjjohnson.htm for an US view ) (I'm not saying DrGuy is a loony, Im just saying he's not too peaceful with leftists ) (don't want to create a flamewar, that's not my point)

I know I am in your face, but I dont hink I am hate filled. But that is your opinion, and you are welcome to it.

As for the post, I would agree with about 90% of it, but not disagree with the other 10%. I have my own reasons for not liking Bush all that much, but I am definitely scared of Kerry!

Draginol

on Oct 28, 2004

Yes. Kerry will begin to get us off the oil merry-go-round.

How? That's exactly the kind of thing that I don't like about Kerry or his supporters. "Well Kerry SAYS he'll do X." Well, some things aren't a matter of personal will or even political courage, they're things that simply are or are not feasible. Bush has pushed Clean Coal big time -- for instance.

If the United States started moving towards fuel cells for its cars and pushed for more clean coal power plants to be built, we could vastly reduce the dependence on foreign oil. This is what Bush's plan is. It isn't as nice and fuzzy as Kerry's wonderful "Renewable energy" and other magical solutions but it is an actual plan that can actually work.

Glorifindel - If you think Dr. Guy is "hateful" then I think you have a language problem. I have no idea what you're talking about. He's loud but not hateful. Go visit DemocraticUnderground for a few minutes if you want to see real hate. I am happy to say there aren't very many haters here on JU (left or right). But what is driving the left is sheer hatred of Bush. Kerry detractors generally don't "hate" Kerry. I don't hate Kerry.

JillUser

on Oct 28, 2004

Kerry detractors generally don't "hate" Kerry. I don't hate Kerry.

I don't hate Kerry. I think he is two-faced and will say anything to become president but I wouldn't wish any ill on him. I just feel sick to my stomach at the thought of him and Theresa taking over the White House.

Kerry embodies the main things I see wrong in society currently. I see people sitting back waiting for someone else to do something so they can then point out how wrong it was done. Did they actually do anything themselves? No. Do they have a real plan to do it better than the person they are pointing fingers at? No. Do they practice what they preach? Hell no!

You can also judge a person but the character of those they surround themselves with. Kerry has THK, Edwards, Cahill, McAuliffe- I can't stand a single one of them. They range from just haughty and bitchy to sleazy and nasty. Bush has Laura Bush, Cheney, Rice, Powell- poised, respectful and dignified.

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