2004 political presidential cartoons about Iowa primary precinct caucus and caucuses news, reports information on 2004 Democrat and Republican candidates, campaigns issues
"It's a right-wing conspiracy!"
John Kerry, Jim Jordan political cartoon.
Article of the day. Cyberattacks fuel latest chapter of the Dean-Kerry rivalry as Deanies raid the Mass Sen’s new Internet venture. Headline from yesterday’s Boston Herald: “Dean fans flog blog, rip Kerry to threads” Excerpt from report by the Herald’s Andrew Miga: “The testy rivalry between presidential hopefuls John F. Kerry and Howard Dean has spilled over to Kerry's new campaign Web log, which has been swamped with mocking messages from Dean backers. ‘Kerry a real Democrat???!!!’ taunted one Dean supporter with ‘Sam’ as an online name. ‘That's a laugh.’ Desperate to capture some of the cybermagic that propelled the former Vermont governor to the top tier of the 2004 Democratic pack, Kerry on Saturday launched a web log, or ‘blog,’ to chronicle his travels and rally supporters. But the Bay State senator's online journal - patterned after Dean's hugely successful BlogforAmerica.com - was soon invaded by swarms of taunting Dean supporters, turning cyberspace into the latest Kerry-Dean rift. ‘Right after GWBush, I want to beat John Kerry the most,’ wrote one blogger. Several pro-Dean bloggers lashed Kerry for stealing the former Vermont governor's Internet-savvy campaign tactics. ‘When (Kerry) finds out that Dean has got momentum, he's copying everything from him,’ wrote a blogger identified as ‘copycatkerry.’ The Kerry camp, while dismissing such Internet sparring as campaign pranksterism, insisted the online rants have badly misfired. ‘The Dean trolls have actually fired up Kerry supporters, and increased their energy and excitement to organize for John Kerry,’ said Kerry spokeswoman Kelley Benander. ‘Troll’ is web slang for people who post harassing comments. Some bloggers posted a list of Kerry's missed Senate votes. Others ripped Kerry for backing the Iraq war, for not being liberal enough and for attacking Dean. ‘Kerry and his campaign manager Jim Jordan have been saying nasty things about Dean all along. They attack Dean, we speak back on their blog. Seems fair to me,’ wrote blogger ‘Dave.’ A blogger named ‘Trey Phish Head’ claimed he was a Dean backer and a ‘shallow lonely stoner that lives to spam my enemy.’ Such comments irked Kerry supporters, who responded with a volley of blistering blog entries. ‘Until this stops, I am going to raise hell on the Dean boards, and I encourage all Kerry people to join me,’ ranted a blogger known as ‘Pocki,’ who added angrily, ‘(Dean) is a traitor anyway.’ Another Kerry backer blasted Dean supporters for ‘attacking like trust fund babies.’ The cyberskirmishing prompted an online plea from Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi urging supporters not to post messages on rival blogs. Other pro-Dean bloggers apologized for the vitriolic messages from fellow Dean backers. ‘I am truly embarrassed that some alleged Dean supporters have posted nasty messages,’ wrote blogger ‘Passing Shot.’ Some were frustrated by both sides. ‘All I found on one side are potty-mouthed Deanies - and on the other, snooty Kerryites,’ wrote ‘Lilly James.’ Aides to both Kerry and Dean suggested mischievous Republicans could also be behind some of the anti-Kerry entries allegedly from Dean supporters. ‘Who knows who is actually writing this stuff?,’ asked Benander, noting the difficulty of confirming identities online. Dean spokeswoman Dorie Clark had no comment.”