What people here are doing to Kerry shows we are fearful of the right wing.

[madfloridian]

It is our Stockholm Syndrome coming into play.

The same ones here who are damning Kerry's speaking out today are about the same ones who damned Dean when he spoke out in San Antonio and said we were not going to win this war...that it was like Vietnam. Good Lord, brains fried and heads flipped. But he was right, and everyone knew it. His own party made fun of him again.

I am seeing a pattern of the Stockholm Syndrome emerging....we are terrified to make the other side mad. We should be standing up for Kerry and anyone else who speaks out. Not running from them.

Here is part of what Kerry said:

"Well, we're going to have a real debate in this country about this policy. The bottom line is, these Republicans want to distort this policy. And this time it won't work, because we are going to stay in their face with the truth.

And no Democrat is going to be bullied by these people, by these kinds of attacks that have no place in American politics. It's time to set our policy correct.

They have a stand still and lose policy in Iraq, and they have a cut and run policy in Afghanistan. And the fact is our troops, who have served heroically, who deserve better, deserve leadership that is up to their sacrifice, period."

[kstewart33]

1. I'm not fearful.

I'm just frustrated that Kerry has handed the right a weapon to use in motivating their base to vote next week.

It is ironic,unfair, and extremely frustrating.

The Dems had better figure out how to handle this fast and that includes Kerry. Because as was shown with the Swiftboat fiasco in 2004, the longer we are silent or if our response is weak, we will lose again.

[babylonsister]

4. Kerry has already responded, and will again I'm sure to whatever

dimson was babbling. And what's the weapon? That he pointed out the massive failures of the blivet and this admin concerning Iraq? That could be considered a gift.

[rainy]

8. Kerry spoke out strongly against all the fuss, but, no one

will repeat his words. They keep letting others speak for him and none will show Kerry's strong words.

[madfloridian]

14. You sound fearful, even though you say you are not.

We have got to stop it.

[kstewart33]

15. Not fearful, just very very frustrated. eom

[Der Blaue Engel]

2. I couldn't agree more

:thumbsup:

[Totally Committed]

3. Brava!

Well-said! And, I'm not a Kerry fan. But, fercripessake, people... stand up and stare 'em straight in the eye. KERRY MIS-SPOKE!!!! Madfloridian is right. This act will set you free!

TC

[maseman]

5. People on here would be bitching

if he didn't rebut today. Everyone screws up now and then. Kerry came back and said f-u. Good for him.

[Liberal Jesus Freak]

6. That is so true.

When I first read Kerry's remarks during a quick break at work today, all I could think was "Thank God--finally!" When I got home and hooked up with DU, I was shocked at some of the negative remarks. Here I am, ready to lead a mob with torches here in nowhere land where I live--so discouraging to read and hear some responses.

Madfloridian, great analogy. I really do feel as though I've been held hostage for six years. I just hope there's enough democrats who haven't bonded with the captors, and we can make a difference.

[blm]

7. They're working to carry water for establishment Dems who will do anything

to keep the books on BCCI closed. That means make sure Kerry never gets near the Oval Office.

You don't think Carville was feeding info to Matalin in 2004 just on his own, do you?

[movonne]

9. I believe a lot of this crap that cnn is putting out is because Kerry

will be running for president..I would not be a bit surprised if the DLC doesn't have their fingers in this too.

[MADem]

10. Most of the folks who are so horribly concerned about this matter are

complete strangers to me. And I'm here a LOT.

For whatever that's worth.

[_dynamicdems]

11. I'm not afraid of them. I stand with Kerry and against Bushco.

You are right. This is a moment for democrats to stand united. This is a moment of truth. Let's fight back. I'm ready to stand with Kerry and fight the liars on Iraq or anything else.

[ProSense]

12. They could go to any website and take a

statement and make hay, but hey, it will work against them!

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. This is an opportunity to set the tone for this campaign.

People here are too use to playing nice to understand that the right just threw sand in our face, and now we have to fight back.

Actually, it feels good to have a pulse.

[cobaindrain]

16. The only thing we fear

Is the coordination behind GOP attacks, if we had effective responses set up this would not be a big deal.

[Oleladylib]

17. If John Kerry meant he was speaking about George Bush..

he SHOULD have said that directly not tell a bunch of college students if they didn't study they would end up in Iraq..come on it was a giant gaffe and a whole lotta press is giving it a whole lotta time 1 week before elections..spin it as you will he ate shoe leather..We really did not need this at this time..Take on George-John, and call him every despicable name in the book and I'm with you but you shoulda canned the thought you shared.

[babylonsister]

18. Amazing it took the wh 24 hours to get their spin down pat about

this speech. Why did it take them 24 hours to react if they were so upset? They got nuthin'.

[AndyTiedye]

19. We Have Every Reason to Be. Because The Right Wing Media Distorts Every Word We Say

and what they can't distort, they won't report.

That is why it is always close enough to steal plausibly.

[Cha]

22. Sooooo, they "distorted" this

and Kerry came right back at 'em! buzzflash calls it "Kerry's Finest Moment".. http://www.buzzflash.com/

[deadparrot]

20. IMHO, he just said what the vast majority of Americans have been thinking

and are afraid to say.

[Cha]

21. I was thinking of all the so-called

"gaffes" that Dean made and how some DUers turned on him, too. Kerry needs our support..not our woulda, shoulda, coulda.

Nor, our

[madfloridian]

23. Last December....

when Dean spoke out in San Antonio was one of the times when people here attacked him like this. They said we could never win if he kept talking like that. And the media was crazy over it. But things calmed down soon because when a person is right people soon figure it out.

[Cha]

24. That's a good analogy..

that "Stockholm Syndrome". The media is going to Distort anyway and this distortion gave Kerry an opportunity to make an excellent rebuttal.

Did you see buzzflash's admiration? http://www.buzzflash.com/

[madfloridian]

25. Thanks to Mike Malloy for playing Kerry audio from today...

Anyone here at DU bashing him needs to stop.

[madfloridian]

26. Link...

http://www.novamradio.com/

[rucky]

27. His response was perfect.

I think most DU-ers who have a problem with what Kerry said are referring to his awkward attempt at humor that led to the speech.

[sendero]

28. Kerry might have made a mistake with his..

.. initial comment, but he is damn sure making up for it with his uncompromising responses.

Folks here are acting like he shot their dog, he didn't, he merely made a comment that can be interpreted in more than one way.

Now, all he has to do is clarify what he meant. I think he's playing this perfectly, and if he can get on TV with the things he's saying now he WILL WIN DEMOCRATIC CONVERTS.

[zulchzulu]

29. Wheat vs. Chaff

Those who know Kerry is on our side support him. Those that are willing to drink the Rove KoolAid need not apply when the Deal gets tough.

We have an election to win. Kerry's "misstatement" has made the dialog about the War. Front and center. Kerry and other Democrats willing to jump in the ring can start swinging hard at the Repigs. It's a great opportunity to change the subject FULLY to the War.

Those that are just noise at this point need to get the fuck out of the way. This is a rumble. Cake eaters need to get on the sidelines so we can finish the Repigs off!

[wisteria]

30. Than you!

Democrats have to learn to stand up to Rove. Dean and Kerry have figured this out.

[madfloridian]

31. Kos has a great diary up in support of Kerry. Good for him.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/10/31/173116/88

Here is the ending, but you need to read it all.

"If Republicans want to debate who supports the troops more, let's have that debate. I'd love to talk about nothing else than Iraq for the next week.

And for the rest of you who think this is the end of the world -- stop being afraid of your own shadow. Just stop it. Fight or get out of the kitchen. It will get hotter than even this."

Thanks, Markos, you get it.

[cassiepriam]

32. Bingo, Dems have bought the propaganda.

Time to stop being so fearful.
Time to fight back with the truth
and very strong words.

[MadHound]

33. You are spot on, this attitude is prevalent not only here at DU,

But it is prevalent throughout the party as a whole. And it is this fear that has led the party to flee from anything even vaguely leftist in nature. The words "liberal" and "progressive" have been manipulated into being negative attack statements rather than what they once were, the proud bedrock upon which the party stood.

And thus, as the party drifts ever rightward, it shuns and demonizes the left, hemoraging disgusted voters who once were the base of the party. Now they are looked upon as pariahs, shunned and run out of town except when election time comes around, when the party demands their lockstep vote. It is this trend that will doom the party if it continues. The party won't pick up enough rightist votes to make up for the leftists and progressives it is losing, thus the party will go the way of the Whigs. Hopefully then, we can once more have a true left party, one that isn't afraid of its progressive root and liberal base.

[madfloridian]

34. When I watched Countdown tonight I thought about this.

The usual media suspects are being fairly decent about it overall. My Republican son who is visiting, said they were making a big deal over nothing....he sided with Kerry.

We have just been afraid of them for so long.