I'm pretty much feeling that it's time for Senator Kerry to embrace the role of elder statesman and leave the Presidential race to those who have a vision and can articulate it. If he couldn't beat the worst President in history on his track record, how can he beat the new blood?

I'm bettin' if Kerry runs again, and IF the ballots are correctly counted, it'd be slam-dunk!
I'd vote for him AGAIN.....
s

I was a Kerry supporter and would be again if he became the candidate, but I hope he does not. I have no doubts of his ability to be an effective President but I seriously doubt his ability to be a competent campaigner.

Dear John,
I certainly can't speak for all Democrats when I say this, but as for me--I suggest you don't. Many of us weren't all that into you last time. You didn't have much to say then, and if you've suddenly discovered you have something to say now...well...we don't care. Way too little, much too late, dearie. Your best service to the party so far has been to awaken "the base" to exactly how un-Democratic our "leaders" have become. So--thanks for that, I guess. We're awake now, baby, and we'd like Democrats like you to find something else to do with your time...maybe start a small business, learn to wear a blue collar or something, and hope that someday you can find absolution. But...Don't run. we don't want you. Go away. Have a nice life in your gated community and leave us to fight this battle with real Democrats. Thanks.

NOOOOOOOOOO!
Kerry was a horrible candidate and does not desrve another shot to lose again.

John Kerry is a good man and articulate to boot. Unfortunately, as George PAtton once said, "America will not tolerate a loser". I guess even if the loss was due to underhanded bs.

If someone tells Kerry the comments to this: DON'T RUN!! We Dems must win and you are, and deserve to be, a loser.

Kerry: Do us all a favor and don't run.

All that will happen is the Republicans will steal the election and you won't have the guts to challenge them, leaving us, again, to live with the results.

Kerry should be a Democrat bulldog like Hillary, Feingold, Conyers, Murtha and Dean and make way for Gore/Clark. They can attack the Repubs the way Bush has his henchmen and Rice attacking the Dems.

I will fully support Mr.Kerry if runs again. I have NOT removed "Kerry for President" sticker from my car. He got 1/2 of the votes 2004-- it will improve in 2008.

Kerry voted for the war!The republican machine will destroy him just as they did last time!

The election as was stolen from him as in 2000 from Al Gore so
for me it's a tossup. Kerry should
of had a larger more organized post
Election recount organization in place so he could of sucsefully disputed the outcome. I think most Dems believe he got stiffed and even so had the guts to come out to Bush's inaugural. He's got guts
no questions about it he would have Bush crying for mommy in a fist fight but unless he gets back what he had when he led the Vietnam War protest I would rather see someone like Obama, Edwards or Boxer.

Kerry, I don't just think you could do better, I know you could.

How can things get any worse. We are bankrupt and getting more so everyday. The rest of the world hates up. The Bush Gang are profiteering from this war. They are not going to finance it, we working Americans are. They will leave DC with their millions (maybe billions) and we will be stuck with the tab.

The broke it and they can't and won't fix it. Typical.

Go Kerry! You will make a great president.

hmmmm...I like the guy, he's smart and would have been a good (if boring) president. But he had a chance, and froze like a deer in the headlights. I have never seen such a bad campaigner (well...since Gore *sigh*). I think we need someone who can answer a question with some personal conviction and ignore the handlers! Make him a Secretary of something instead...

i can't say his choice of veep was, in retrospect, a good idea.

he should commit his every effort to defeat the next bozo the republicans float.

wesley clark and barack obama?

Dont bother!!! He folded like a broken lawn chair BEFORE Ohio was counted and refused to insist every vote was counted properly for fear of being Al "Gored" He is my state senator and I lost all respect for him then. He will never get a nickel of my money again or a vote. I would right in my neighbor before I gave that guy a vote again!

In the kind of society we were taught to aspire to, Kerry might have made a fair candidate. In today's political enviironment, though, and in light of the many dark acts perpetrated upon us by this administration, we need a candidate with stones as well as vision. I don't see this in Kerry.

I voted for Kerry, who promised he had dozens of lawyers and leer jets on standby to stamp out election fraud as it occurs. Insisting it would not be tolerated and I knew that was important to win. Turns out, he rolled over and played dead and if he gets the Nomination I will roll over and play dead on election day.

It takes desire to win. Bill Clinton was a democrat with the real fire in the belly to win. Now, the only ones who might be ticked off enough to come at these guys as hard as they need to, are the ones who were screwed the hardest: Gore/Kerry. Both are gentlemen and scholars. Kerry hasn't historically been one to give up. I simply don't see him allowing them to beat him twice. Go Kerry!

I am a Democrat and I spent a lot of time with the Kerry campaign ...have you ever seen Kerry eat a Hot Dog or Hamburger? I don't know if he can relate to voters.

Too much Dean & Deluca

We need new blood, not timid worn out re-runs. How about Edwards-Obama? Sounds good does'nt it?

Kerry in the White House would be a godsend. I voted for him and will do so again if given the chance. I just wish he had come out swinging when the Swift Boat lies were circulated. Rove isn't going anywhere, sadly..... I want a feisty President. Like Clinton was with Wallace on Fox. Come on John..... we need you.

I voted for him the last time. He won't have the opportunity to waste my vote again. I have two versions of why he capitulaed in '04 after saying that he was in it until the last vote was counted...shades of Ross Perot.
I am a Vietnam Vet and I feel that he let us down, and if he would do it once, he could do it twice. Sorry John, your 15 minutes are up...bring on Gore/Edwards!!!!

until the democrats grow a backbone and start confronting on every level, every time they have a chance — those who are lying, cheating and who have the utmost contempt for the people of this country (both democrats & republicans) — it's not going to change. could there be any clearer evidence of these politicians having contempt for the citizenry of this country than planning and scheming "october surprises" to get the votes? they should be working for us 24/7. and if they're doing a crappy job, they should be fired, fine a huge ridiculous fee and be put in prison without the option of being pardoned.

furthermore, if you're not going to fight for your office and demand a recount (gore & kerry), don't waste my time.

voting out of fear (i.e., choosing the lesser of 2 evils) isn't what freedom is all about.

when i vote, i vote for someone who speaks truth to power, not someone who bends over the barrel.

forget kerry, gore, or even pelosi, boxer or clinton. let's get barbara lee in the white house. she'll tell it like it is.

Kerry will run again, but won't win the nomination. Until the Democrats learn that every election they are going to lose unless they get as organized and ruthless and dirty as the Republicans are, Democrats will become the Bull Moose Party, ie. forgotten. And we will have a one-party "democracy". It will then be an even race to the bottom until both sides and the public agree that no one has the advantage and it's time to clean things up. Right now Rove has a machine gun and the democratic fools are merrily charging along with bayonets. The rest are too scared of Rove and Cheney to speak up.

Bush in 2004 got more vores than any other Presidential candidate EVER (if you believe the Ohio Board of Elections). Who's No. 2 on the list? Kerry.

He'd be a great President, but I don't think he'll get the nomination.

We DO need a veteran to get us out of this chickenhawk mess.

Kerry '08. This was still a democracy the last time I looked and he has every right to run again.

Can't wait, because only one politician gave me hope and still does everyday and I have not sensed that since JFK, that politician is John Kerry.

To Carolyn Abbey,

Your mind set didn't help him in '04 either. Shhesh what a bunch of bull, your RW talk is really helping Dems. Sorry your candidate LOSS in the primary and sorry you didn't give 100% to the Dem campaign, with Dems like you who needs enemies.GET OVER IT.

I voted and campaigned for Kerry in 2004. The emotion I felt after he had lost was anger. I just couldn't fathom how anyone could lose to the worst president ever! Bottom line, he ran a horrible campaign. He got his chance. Now let someone else with real potential run!

Non.

The DLC made a mistake a chose Kerry instead of Dean. Dean should run in '08. He tells it like it is and represents the anger of the American people.

Teresa should run instead of Kerry. That's where his newfound passion comes from anyway.

Gore / Feingold! Gore / Feingold! Obama is another right winger in disguise...

No frickin' way. I will renounce my party affiliation on the spot if he wins one primary outside of Massachusetts. After getting burned in 2000, and again in 2002, you'd think the next Democrat running for President would learn from Gore's experience. Think again. I hope to God Democrats learn better in 2008 and pick someone with backbone.

no no no no! not kerry, nor dean.
we need WESLEY CLARK!

I listened to him and believed him and as far as I am concerned he broke his promise...he said that he would not give up, that he would stay until the last vote was counted. HE DID NOT! Since then, there have been two different reasons as to why he capitulated. I now don't believe him.
I am a Vietnam Vet and it pains me to say that if he runs he will, not get my vote...I am sorry John, but your 15 minutes are up. Bring on Gore and Edwards, Gore and anybody except Kerry

Al Gore Al Gore Al Gore

Need I say more

We need some new blood. Please Kerry do not run. The swiftboat guys will be back, and they will rip you apart. What was with that phony photo-op and fake tan at a hunting party. people can see right through that, and Kerry has not fully disclosed his military records, only some of them. Kerry has too much baggage. Personally Lieberman was a good, decent and honest man...too bad. Maybe Obama, I think he has the best shot.

HRC will win the Dem nomination. I also think she will crush any of the Repugs (McCain) that run because he will be too close to Bush Jr. Backlash is going to be a bitch! (I mean Bitch in a good way!)

HRC will win the Dem nomination. I also think she will crush any of the Repugs (McCain) that run because he will be too close to Bush Jr. Backlash is going to be a bitch! (I mean Bitch in a good way!)

Read what Kerry writes and says in public. He favors continuing hegemony - only a lite version.

http://coldsteeledge.com/kerry_rebuttal.htm

Never again. We were strong supporters, who couldn't get a start on the campaign for 9 months. Then they brought in out-of-state people to run things (Connecticut in rural Ohio- right...). This guy worked his butt off, and stayed with us for several weeks, including several after the election, documenting the fraud on his own time and money. We all were undercut by Kerry when he walked away during this massive voter fraud. If Kerry had any balls to begin with, he would have fought, and won, in Ohio; instead, he gave Emperor George his 2nd un-elected term.Don't come back, John-boy.

GORE/CLARK 2008 is all I can say!
The Dems need someone that will stand up to the right wing BS and take back this country from the neocons!

Kerry isn't the best candidate for the Dems right now. We need someone with more strength, guts and leadership to beat the Republican propaganda machine, they play too dirty for a softy like Kerry.

Please, not Kerry again. I rallied for him when he headed VVAW, and I voted for him in 2004, but he dropped the ball big-time in the election and its aftermath. We must have someone on the case who will stand up to the rig - and - smear tactics the Republicans are bound to use, and will call it like it is.

I don't understand why so many people in this country are against supporting a candidate again after his/her first try. In many countries, an opposition candidate spends more than one term as leader of the opposition, which helps getting people to know him/her, turns the candidate into a more experienced and effective campaigner, makes it impossible for the incumbent to 'frame' and 'define' the challenger (since the challenger is very well known after having run the first time), and forces both of them to debate the issues. I say that if Kerry or Gore want to run again, we should welcome them.

Support Kerry Again? No. Way. I was one of the "army of lawyers" stationed around the country (in my case, Florida) to prevent voter fraud in 2004. We did our job. Kerry didn't have the guts to do his. We need somebody (1) with guts who will call the Repubs on their stuff, (2) somebody with integrity and (3) somebody who can win. I don't know if the previous post re: Patton quote reflects the electorate's view about Gore. If he would take the gloves off now, though, he might, and I'd vote for him.

When I saw this article I immediately left a plea on Kerry's website urging him not to run. I said that I voted for him before but wouldn't do it again. The only person in the party who would fare worse than Kerry is Hillary. And I wrote her the same plea when the rumors started flying last year about her running.
Kerry was a hopelessly weak candidate and has been silent since his loss. For the last two years Kerry should have been actively attacking Bush for his incompetence and corruption.

Senator Kerry, Please don't run again. I worked for your campaign and voted for you on the last go around, but you had your chance. I am sorry to say that your wife did not help your campaign at all, beginning at the convention, even though I think she is a wonderful person. I am still in shock that Bush won again, considering that he is such a lousy president, but he did. We need someone who can simply state the beliefs of the Democratic Party, the working men and women of this country. We need to win to save this country for our children and grandchildren.

Kerry running again? I think it's time he hung-up his gloves. This guy gets so confused at times I can just imagine him handling the terrorist issues. But I guess a choice between him or Clinton (Hilary) is much a choice anyway. Who do the Democrats really have anyway? It's going to be a tough one, but there is still time. Goodluck!

What an awesome campaign slogan!

"Kerry: pretty much feeling like he has something to say."

I personally admire Kerry. However, I don't think he can win, and so don't think he should run.
If you think about the last fifty years, we've had these Preznits:
IKE Military
JFK Congress
LBJ Congress/VP
Nixon: Congress
Carter Governor
Reagan Governor
GHWBush VP
Clinton Governor
GWB Governor

From this list I'd assert that there are two good wasy to get elected Preznit: 1) Succeed a popular leader (LBJ & Bush#1) or be a governor.
The only person who can possibly runas a succesor to a popular President is Gore,
So who are the governors?
I would not be surprised if we hear more from Gov. Mark Warner (D) of Virginia or Richardson of NM. Too bad about Jerry Brown.
The only reason I can give that somone should listen to my idea is that in 1991 I bet a Democratic Party friend of mine $10 that Bill Clinton would be the next president. "Who?" he asked, and took the bet.
seo

Support Kerry Again? No. Friggin. Way. I was one of the "army of lawyers" stationed around the country (in my case, Florida) to prevent voter fraud in 2004. We did our job. Kerry didn't have the cahones to do his. We need somebody (1) with balls who will call the Repugnant Repubs on their sh*t, (2) somebody with integrity and (3) somebody who can win. I don't know if its true that, as a previous post remarked (quoting Patton) that "America hates losers" and that Gore is unelectable. I think that a significant portion of the electorate believes that he was cheated in 2000 and will not hold his loss against him, especially in light of Bush's actions since. He would need to show that he can take the gloves off, though, to be able to win.

I love Senator Kerry. He has got the brains and the experience to be president, but I have to agree with what has been said here, his campaign was so bad that he can't be trusted again. A lot was at stake in the last election, and to hand it to quadrennial loser Bob Strum was a big mistake. Plus, he has no vision. There was nothing to motivate voters except being the anti-Bush.

Next time, we need a Dem with vision and cahones. If the Dems can't win in 2006 and 2008, we might as well kiss the notion of a viable opposition in American politics goodbye...and if that is the case, the Dems should consider being the 2nd Amendment party, because Republicans with absolute power will eventually lead to a right-wing Christian fascism taking over the country. And then who needs to be worried about Al Qaeda when we got the Republicans doing its job for them.

Won't get my vote. NAFTA & CAFTA weren't bad enough so Clinton, Kerry, and Obama voted this month against the Democrats and with the Republicans to pass another FREE TRADE DEAL - this time with Oman. I'm tired of corporate owned politicians and Kerry has shown himself to be one. Hey Kerry! You lost - go away and take Clinton and Obama with you.

people vote in the general for someone they want to hang out with, see on TV, invite into their homes for 4 or 8 years. That's how Bush beat Kerry, that's how Clinton beat Bush, that's how Reagan beat Carter, that's how JFK beat Nixon.

How's Kerry or HRC going to fare on that score against McCain? Not well, I fear. Obama or Edwards have a much better shot of winning that personality contest in Ohio, Florida, Missouri and Wisconsin for my money.

If it would have been Counted right Ut would have bee a Slam Dunk for Sure. But Bush knew he was beat, and had to do the only thing he could to win,CHEAT.This Admistration has to be the Worst In History!

JFKERRY?--Is that his name??
Kerry-I want to be a Kennedy Kohn.. Yeah, that's right.
Kerry is a rotten Senator & God forbid, he'll make a rotten President. Kerry does not know how to be himself. He always wants to be in someone else's shadow. Kerry's shadows Ted Kennedy-(which does not say much). Kerry tries to emulate the late great President John F. Kennedy. He poses for these "similar" photos-on boats- as President Kennedy once did-poor sole. The late President is probably "turning in his grave."
Kerry just get out of the public eye. I don't want to see your ugly long face in the U.S., & especially BOSTON...Move! Move! Move out of the Country!~Then we will cheer you on!!! THANX!

Edwards is an empty suit who says whatever Axelrod tells him to say. He is a millionaire who talks about poverty without actually doing anything about poverty.

He cuts a sensitive, effiminate figure, but if you believe the rumors, he has no problem getting along with his female staff, and his campaign financing issues endure. Mr. Sunny Optimism is going to get stomped on.

Gore would be the best and strongest candidate, but he is not running. Hillary is running and will dominate the news coverage, which will prevent other potential candidates from breaking through.

Clark and Kerry are the only candidates who can legitimately make the argument that they can restore America's place in the world. Who do you want sitting across the table from Jintao, Musharraf or Putin? Hillary, Edwards or Feingold? Please.

Obama gives good speech, but he is no great progressive, and is probably the only candidate with a thinner record than Edwards.

Lot of lightweights. Kerry is still literally and figuratively head and shoulders above this field, and there are a whole lot of people in places like IA and NH who remember and remain.

Well, as a non-democrat, I can't say I'm a republican, I do hope Kerry runs again as he will be as wooden and in-decisive as he was the first time.
The man has no convictions except that he is the best man around. As for Kerry beating Bush in a fist fight, that would be fun to see, but Kerry would fold same as he always has.

Kerry would make a great president and I'm with him all the way. He was cheated in Ohio 2004. Bush stole it. Gore was also cheated. If Gore runs, it will be hard to decide. But those two deserve to be president. Also by 2008 the Bush rightwing will be 100% discredited.

I had a feeling that the last time he gave a lot of people a good feeling but not enough people liked the feeling they got because of the way he was doing it not necessarily because everything he was saying was wrong but because they weren't sure he was right or wrong but he certainly seemed to explain himself to his own satisfaction which didn't necessarily make anyone feel like there would be a lack of judgement on his part it's just that if you've got something to say you have to make the judgement and say it not that he couldn't do it better but if you don't frame it proplerly they won't believe you can do it better when all you need to finish the unfinished business is just answer the question with the word "yes".

Well I can see there is no quick way to respond to this article – so please bear with me in this long response because I think there are some important points that must be made.
Reading some of your comments makes one thing very clear - there appear to be a very lop sided blame on John Kerry’s efforts compared to that of the George Bush and the Karl Rove attack machine,
So in some sense it looks as if their 200 million dollar smear machine has left a residual effect on us - Do you really want any of their waste inside you? My advise is - get rid of it! They did the same thing to Anne Richards ; one of the greatest governors this country has ever known , And; boy did they smear this great woman; did she deserve it – no way, do we blame Anne or John, would we want them to have behaved like bush and rove just to will ; NOT IN A MILLION YEARS ! Don’t get me wrong; not all republicans behave this way – Just the majority of the ones that are in power these days. The ones that are addicted to power and will do anything to win, be it phone jamming, illegal district changing, disenfranchising voters, ( Katherine Harris and Ken Blackwell should have done everything in their power to make sure all the votes were counted; no matter the results – they were sworn to do just that ) and attacking veterans; the same group that trashed John Kerry and John McCain – they said McCain must have gotten brain damaged from all those years in an enemy prison camp, they question his patriotism per John McCain as he said right in George Bush’s face then and there ; and what has to be the lowest point in all of that when they dragged McCain’s child in it by spreading rumors that he had a black child while campaigning in the south – assuming that would turn voters off I guess. The same was done to Max Cleveland who left body parts on the battlefield while many of this administration were getting deferments and shying away from duty and; who only knows what else. Needles to say these guys loss after their patriotism, and service to this country was attacked and their personal lives were trashed. Why McCain associated with them after that – one can only assume he has a very forgiving heart or he wants to win really badly and that for some reason he must feel he can’t win without them. Are the days gone when good candidates from all background can’t win unless they participate in hard-core XXX politics? Are the days gone when a really good candidate – one that might help bring about peace in the middle east and other places around the world - thus preventing thousands of deaths and saving billions of dollars, one that may have given more attention to the presidential brief ref an attack on us, one that would have responded to that all important brief without having to be on a “WAR FOOTING”, are these candidates gone because the smear machines has vanquished their careers. Do you think that Al Gore, John Kerry or John McCain would have gotten us into this Iraq mess, or that any one of them might have paid more attention to that most important “note’, can you imagine how many young children would be sitting on mommy’s or daddy’s lap this Christmas that can never do so now ? I have no doubt that’s where we’d be today if any one of the other candidates had won the election or if the Supreme Court had not given it away. Do you think those on the Supreme Court that interfered with the 2000 election has not thought about this over and over again? My bet would say they have, and most importantly; do we really want more leaders like those who run this country today? More unnecessary wars, more corruption, more misinformation like “mission accomplished, greeted like liberators with flowers and candy and “ last throes” , more alienation from the rest of the world, more trillions of dollars to our national debt, more Katrina like relief for our fellow Americans? “More freedom is on the march”, I must say after the Hamas marched into Palestinians territory I was hoping it would not march right into Saudi Arabia or Egypt – can you imagine those counties run by radical extremist? I think most Americans – democrats, republicans alike have had enough of this republican leadership ;so stop blaming John Kerry and others and vote these guys out of office, don’t let smear and fear politicians get by with trashing good people any more , even today this same group of politicians actually brags about having some 50 million dollars on hand just to dig up dirt and trash opponents – it should be the last thing they want you to know; because what that really says is that they can’t win on their own record, they can’t win because they are the best candidate for the job, they can’t win because you approve of the job they’ve done, they can only win if they have a lot of big oil money and the guile to trash the opponents – folks , let’s face it, that’s pretty sad stuff . At this rate, if we don’t change this course soon you’d have to be a monster to win an election. Last let’s put every effort into working together for the good of this nation – and that includes everyone. Let’s send a strong message to those who would take millions of dollars to build a “bridge to no where” from those who struggle everyday to put their kids through college, let’s send a strong message to those who broker “Multi Billion Dollar “No bid deals” to sponsor supported companies with self interest while our auto and airline industries that maintain so many American jobs struggle to exist, let’s send a strong message to those who would open the Arctic Wild Life reserve – that took some 1 billion years to create while it only takes 1 incident to destroy ! , and finally let’s send a strong message to those who stick their nose up to protecting our global climate, lets not wait until billions more tons of CO2 damages or atmosphere or until the last polar bear drowns in what used to be the Arctic. Lets establish the very 1st “144,000 group” of dedicated God fearing Americans and set a commitment for each member to get at least 144 Americans to the polls that might otherwise not be able to do so; that’s 20,736,000 Americans each year that’s committed to keeping this country the greatest and the safest place on earth for every single one of us!

All I can say is, you poor Dems are as angry and blind as ever and hopefully, people will realize that none of this party has any plans to do anything but ruin the country. I pray the Republicans stay in power - yes, they need to quit spending so much and get serious passing the conservative agenda - but if the Dems get control, I shudder to see what will happen to our great nation.

You guys obviously never read "The New War." This is a book John Kerry wrote back in 1996, which shows his understanding of international crime, terrorism and many complicated issues that are parallel to what the United States and the world is facing today. Kerry has a more in depth understanding of terrorism than people might believe.

Go check out John Kerry's "The New War" at Amazon.com.

I hope Senator Kerry runs again. If he does I will vote for him, and I believe that he will win. He has the right leadership skills, integrity and vision to lead America. God bless you Sir for all the sacrifices you have made for your country.

John Kerry is a deadhead. For those of you who don't know what that means,he's a fan of the Grateful Dead. If he became President, he'd spread peace, happiness, and good cheer in keeping with deadhead tradition. What a great foundation with which to start!

I would definitely vote for him again. I think that he would be better prepared the second time around. I however would rather see Gore or Hilary. I'm sure America realizes (or hope they do) the made a huge mistake in voting for GW. Hilary on the other hand, I believe she's the bigger fighter of the three. Not only that she'll have Billy Boy to give here ideas and policies to bring this country back to the way it should be. It would be like having two presidents in office. One last note, it's gonna take some time to work miracles, this country is completely out of wack right now, thanks to the idiots that gave GW 4 more years to screw us up even more.

Please Kerry dont run..he will not win.

Mark my words he wont win. Barack Obama is starting to grow on me and in polls with him against Kerry he surpasses Kerry by a huge margin.

To me ethnic shouldnt stand in the way of who should run for President. If it does what era are we living in??? Maybe we should go back to "me like woman, me hit you with my cavebat"!!

Kerry has once again shown his disdain for our military and demonstrated that he is willing to say anything to gain political power.