Kerry Haters for Kerry

I've heard this line again and again from Republicans, "Y'know, most democrats don't even like Kerry that much." (Unstated is how many Republicans don't like Bush all that much either...)

I'm like, HELL IF I CARE if they don't like him, as long as they vote for him! We're an inclusive people! And here's just the site for that grouchy, unhappy but Kerry-voting lot. As for me, sure, I'd love a straightforward charmer like Clinton who just seems to live and breathe the charm of a natural born pol. As we all learned, that charm had its downside. Personally, call me nuts, I like Kerry. Maybe it's personal, because he reminds me of an old very good friend from high school, in so many ways(actually, my old debate partner). But when Kerry hits it, I think he's extremely powerful. (Granted, as a supporter, one certainly wishes he could hit it on a more predictable basis...)

And please, anything, anything at all, to see an actual human with a real tangible soul dancing behind his eyes in the White House again, who - to put it in its most cynical terms - can at least convincingly ACT as though he actually gives a shit about anyone or anything beyond his personal power and his reputation. I'm willing to grant that my fear and loathing of nearly the entirety of Bush's whole being, essence, and manner comes from a blood level, something pre-verbal or pre-rational, but when the Pope worries that Bush is the anti-Christ, I honestly only scoff with HALF my brain...

What DO people see in Bush? I honestly wish I could comprehend it, to see him through eyes that honestly imagine him to be a man of steadfast integrity and boldness and blahdiblahdiblah... All I ever see is a massively underequipped used car salesman with some enormous pain in his soul willing to take it out on the world... and don't ever tell him that he's wrong OR ELSE. Four years along and my initial instincts about the man have gotten nothing but thorough confirmation again and again and again. To me he's little more than a bully and a thug, and the worst kind - the kind that always sends out others to do his dirty work and never ever takes responsibility for his acts. A man who has no problem allowing the worst smears and lies to cover all those who might stand in his way. A man who has no concerns about making sure that his own following is as misinformed as possible, as long as it helps him at the polls. How can you respect, much less like, a man like that? (And much, much less, allow him to govern this great country?)