Harry Reid Statement - WOW

[sandnsea]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=75533

"The Vice President is still not shooting straight. He's about as credible today as he was when he claimed to have irrefutable evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, or that the Iraqi insurgency was in its last throes. Today's report from the U.S. Central Command indicates that Iraq is headed toward chaos, but the Vice President is not talking about that. Yesterday, the Bush Administration allowed the Iraqi Prime Minister to put the interests of Iraqi extremists ahead of the safety of U.S. troops, but the Vice President is not talking about that either. Instead, all we hear is the same old Bush politics of fear and smear.

"It's time for the President and Vice President to start leveling with the American people, and stop attacking brave veterans like John Kerry who have dared to question the White House's flawed decision to stay the course in Iraq. Every day they attack Democrats instead of reaching out to find a new way forward is another day our security suffers and our troops go without the political leadership they need to succeed.

"It's time for a new direction. The President may believe America can afford two more years of Rumsfeld and Cheney, but the American people know the truth. The only way to change direction in Iraq is to change leadership here at home."

[WildEyedLiberal]

1. Well FUCK ME SIDEWAYS.

Of all the people I expected to pile on to the craven "Dem" hatefest, and here he is defending JK.

Did we fall down the rabbit hole or something??

[sandnsea]

3. I KNOW!!

I felt the exact same way - I call it an Electionus Miracle!!

[StoryTeller]

2. Did this come out before or after the "apology"? (eom)

[sandnsea]

4. 4:38 PM

After I think - correct?? It looks coordinated to change the subject, but I'm surprised Reid didn't bash Kerry in the process. Very happily surprised!

[StoryTeller]

6. Here's my take on it, then...

This is the sort of thing that I posted about earlier...in that other thread. (Ugh, sorry, no help there) :)

I think that the other Dems probably agreed completely with Kerry, but there are a LOT of people in this world who HATE conflict of any sort. Even people I know who vote Republican don't like conflict. They just have been indoctrinated to believe that the people they are voting for have good values, and that when they attack and get nasty, it is because they have no choice in order to defend the country against evil liberals. So they try to avoid and ignore what their leaders are doing, or try to rationalize and defend it as necessary. But even they don't like it.

I think that there are probably a lot of Democrats who feel the same way. They just don't like conflict.

And I don't know all the particulars about Reid and co. but it's possible in this case anyway that they did agree with Kerry, but didn't like the conflict. So as soon as Kerry made a step toward smoothing over the conflict, they were very willing to offer support of him.

At least, that seems to be the way things have happened with me.

I dunno. I just find it interesting that the support came AFTER the apology.

[ohtransplant]

5. A boatload of this kind of response ealier from Dems...

especially the leadership - would have nipped this whole thing in the bud - and sent the message that Dems stand together.

[StoryTeller]

7. I agree. It's too bad it didn't happen. :( (nt)

[Firespirit]

8. I blame one Democrat more than others for this.

And it isn't John Kerry.

That's all I'm saying... other than, it is time to realize who our enemies are. I'm not talking about any of the 2006 Senate challengers. I am talking about incumbent, safe Democrats who put their own self interest ahead of that of the party and that of a good man.

[whometense]

9. Did anyone hear Ed Schultz today?

There was some very interesting talk about JK and Bush, and the Clintons and 2008.

HRC's statement was disgusting. As a caller to his show pointed out, it's one thing for Harold Ford, running in Tennessee in a tight race, to say what he did, and quite another for HRC, in her safe safe seat, to throw JK under ther bus. The caller said, 'no way to look at it but partisan politics.'

Now we've had a dry run on what to possibly expect in a few months...

[wisteria]

13. I think I know who you mean. n/t

[ProSense]

10. Agree!

Awesome statement. Still, I wonder about the Dems who spoke out with such negativity! Landrieu's statement was despicable! Their responses were direct attacks on Senator Kerry. They showed extremely poor judgment.

[ohtransplant]

11. It's the domestic abuse syndrome again.

Fear!

They're afraid to fight even when they're right.

Remember their names.

[wisteria]

12. I am not moved, this came only after Kerry apologized.

I am not saying I had an impact, but I did contact him and express my displeasure over how Kerry was being treated by his own party. He gets it from the Republicans and he gets it from the Democrats too. Oh, and lets not forget the media just laying it on claiming how awful a candidate he was in 04 and what a joke he is. All very hurtful and brought on because his own party didn't have his back because of self-serving interests or fears of losing in States we never win in anyway. Reid, Levin, Clinton, Ford, Bilby, landueau etc. owe Kerry an apology- no even more than an apology. He was the one who forced the party to take a stand on Iraq. It is Kerry's plan that is being discussed and it is Kerry that is giving our party some backbone. All of those who ran to the media to fume and bash Kerry are worthless POS. All of our Dems should be sent a copy of the Oberman comments read tonight. Oberman has it right, his words should be the words our party is speaking. Unfortunately, they would rather play into the Republicans hands.

I am so angry that Kerry looks like the one who was wrong, not wronged. I am sorry that our party has now allowed him to become the fodder of the talk shows, where they can slap him around some more and point out that Dem's were running away from him. Our party should be ashamed of it self. All he has done for this party and for many of those who "put him in his place today", and this is the treatment he gets? This is the support he receives? The media is trying to put a nail in his Presidential coffin for 08 and no one is out their defending him.
Tonight, I am sorry to be a Democrat and so very sorry for Senator Kerry who deserves better. I will not support another Democrat in a run for the Presidency- only Kerry. I have no respect for our party after today and I have doubts our party is really much different than the Republicans.