John Kerry

It still angers me to remember Paul Begala and Carville speaking of Kerry as just anybody but Bush. This thoughtful, brilliant, moral man deserved the full support of his party.

Even if I hadn't been impressed by Kerry, the phrase IN THE GENERAL ELECTION also annoyed me because it was intellectually dishonest. That phrase "anybody but .." made sense only in the primary -- and it mostly does not work in practice. No one actually because the ABC in 1976 to capture all the people preferring someone other than Carter - the same in 1992. In the general election, you always have about 40% supporting almost anyone in their party. In 2004, I was clearly against Bush from the point he became President, but Kerry was the person I most wanted to win ever. Sure, beating Bush was important, but I still think he was and is the best statesman of my generation. (far better than those would were or may become President - ie either Clinton or GWB - and IMO he is so much better this is faint praise.)

All I know is that in 1992, it never occurred to me to say I was anybody but Bush - though Clinton was nowhere near my first choice.