Did anyone see Sen. Kerry on The Today show (NBC)

[TayTay]

this morning (12/1/05.) I would love to see the video.

Here is a quickie press mention:

By ROBERT BURNS=
AP Military Writer=

SNIP

Democrats were quick to criticize, accusing Bush of failing to answer squarely the most pressing questions on the minds of Americans who wonder whether the cost in American blood and treasure has been worth it.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., on Thursday said the president was ignoring “the realities on the ground” as military leaders have described them to Congress.

“The large presence of American troops in Iraq gives credence to the notion of occupation and in fact delays the willingness and ability of Iraqi troops to stand up,” Kerry said on NBC’s “Today” show.

“Until the president really acknowledges that that large presence is part of the problem, and begins to set a benchmark process for transferring responsibility to the Iraqis, we’re going to continue with more of the same,” he said.

[TayTay]

1. Another press report on this TV appearance

From Dow Jones:

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., said Thursday that President George W. Bush “doesn’t recognize the realities on the ground” in Iraq, noting the general heading the operation in Iraq has suggested the large U.S. presence is part of the problem in the two-and-a-half year war there.

In a live interview on NBC’s “Today” show, Kerry said that Gen. George Casey, who is the U.S.’ top commander in Iraq, told Congress that the large number of U.S. troops there helps support the notion of occupation and prevents the willingness of Iraqi troops “to stand up.”

“I think until the president acknowledges that that large presence is part of the problem and begins to set a benchmark process for transferring responsibilities to the Iraqis, we will continue with more of the same,” Kerry said.

He said the insurgency should be resolved with “political reconciliation.”

“No soldier will end the insurgency in Iraq,” he said.
Kerry noted that he and Bush disagree about setting a specific target for transferring power over to the Iraqis. “We are not asking the Iraqis to fight World War II. We are asking them to stand up as police officers and guard construction sites to make sure the oil can flow.

“This is not as complicated as some people are making it,” Kerry said.

[whometense]

2. Maybe it will

end up on Crooks and Liars?

[karynnj]

3. The comment on what the Iraqis really need do is great

The Kos site idiots to the contrary, these sentences are quite simple, clear, and easy to understand. I don't hear anyone saying them as clearly.

Bush's positioning of "training enough Iraqis" as one reason we can't leave is shown for the fraud it is.

I wish I would have seen this because Kerry's last set of interviews have been excellent and understandable to all who haven't had their brains destroyed by Kos.

[Dr Ron]

4. Also mentioned on NPR

It's good to see Kerry getting the publicity, especially as it helps bring out the criticism of the war.

Even if there is some truth to the latest Kos attack and Kerry pushed his way into giving the response, I'm glad he did it. If Dean was being pushy to get out the anti-war message, Kos would be commending him even if he stepped on the toes of a few Democrats.

[LittleClarkie]

5. And if there was some truth to the tension between Reid and Kerry

then Reid needs to get over it.

[ginnyinWI]

23. on its face, the story doesn't make much sense

Reid seems to have good control of his caucus and is managing their message pretty well. It would be so out of character for Kerry to go against an acknowleged leader (of any kind!). He plays by the rules--and he'd know he'd be in for negative repercussions by getting on anyone's bad side in the Senate. I just don't think he'd go further than simple persuasion to get the chance to do the press thingy.

[MH1]

6. GD thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5493803

[MH1]

7. Clip is up on MSNBC

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/default.cdnx/id/10277697/displaymode/1157

(Windows Media)

[jenndar]

11. Thanks for posting that! n/t

[Blaukraut]

8. Matt Lauer is such a bush whore

That said, however; despite Hairplug-Matt's best efforts to be argumentative, and carry the bush water, John Kerry more than held his own! He was concise, corrected Matt's obvious misstatements, and was not going to be put on the defensive.
I was almost afraid to check out the clip after having read the GD thread. If that thread were to be believed, poor JK made a fool of himself, and should have stayed in bed this morning. Thank goodness I remembered that GD Kerry threads aren't the most objective observations :-)

[jenndar]

10. Oh, do watch it!

He did a great job and I thought he spoke with wonderful clarity.

[MonteLukast]

24. Never liked Matt Lauer much

I don't have much respect for bachelors who suddenly about-face, blather about true love, then forget to love their kids' mothers once they're born.

He got married because he caught male biological clock syndrome, and everybody knows it.

[Mass]

9. I finally listened to this interview

It is amazing to what point Matt Lauer is a mediawhore (Is he competing with Matthews?). He really lost the little bit of respect I still had. Not only is he chilling for Bush, but they even put Bush's soundtrack on the background while Kerry was speaking, making him difficult to understand.

He did great countering Bush's talking points, though I can understand why some people seem to think he is long-winded (it does not bother me, as my husband is just like that).

[whometense]

17. Oh,

you mean he speaks in complete sentences? He uses three-syllable words? ooooohhhhh...:scared:

One of my favorite Kerry buttons:

[Mass]

19. Some people on GD think that speaking with a Southern accent

is all it takes to win an election. To them, he definitively seems long-winded, as anybody who can make a sentence more than one verb would be.

[MonteLukast]

25. And quite a few people...

... subconsciously equate "southern accent" with "uneducated hick".

Unfair... but does offer a nice oblique reference into Kossacks' wet dreams over so-called "clarity" and "backbone".

[karynnj]

26. I honestly can't believe he kept the Bush audio

running through Kerry's answer - that was one of the stupidest rudest things I ever saw. Fortunately Kerry has a strong voice. I wonder what non-partisan viewers think. Also, if Bush's plan were really the same as Kerry's of a month ago - why is he doing very different things or criticizing Kerry's plan.

[ProSense]

12. Another excellent rebuttal to Bush's fake proposal. n/t

[TayTay]

13. OMG! This is the funniest thing on GD in a long while

okay, since yesterday.

Rep Murtha needs to hold Teach-Ins on Redeployment

Yes, he can don his hippie garb and invite everyone into the hallways of Congress where they can get high and study, like, redeployment stuff. (No further proof is needed that DU is out of touch. Poor Cong. Murtha. This is so, not him.

[jenndar]

14. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Because he does such a great job holding teach-ins elsewhere????

[ProSense]

15. It's getting to the point where I want put this in my signature

:rofl:

[TayTay]

16. Groovy, Congressman, just groovy

Can you tell us again about which troops are stationed where and where we need to pull them back to? Those military guys are just so cool. I never expected Gen. Casey to come here. I just got high with his wife in the bathroom. Wow! Who knew guys from the Armed Services committee, never mind former marines, would be such cool guys to have teach-ins with?

[whometense]

18. Which brings us to

Jon Stewart's funniest line last night, during his discussion of Murtha with Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi was describing some of the - ummm - complimentary phone messages they were receiving: "Oh, he is so going to get laid."

[jenndar]

22. I remember being a liberal hippie grad student in PA

(wait, no I don't, I was high the whole time) and thinking if we could only get Congressman Murtha to come and speak, and perhaps play a little world music on his sitar, it would be a truly transplendant experience.

[fedupinBushcountry]

20. I caught the end this morning

Just got home so can't wait to watch the clip. But after Kerry, Mary Matalin was on, and Couric interviewed her and let her ramble on with all the GOP talking points, it was sick. First thing out of her mouth was first Kerry was for it and now he is against it, same old tired rhetoric. Carville needs to get rid of that lying bitch, he loses much credibility married to her.

I had to go to work , but left a post in GD, I swear the minute they see Kerry, the lefty trolls jump , of course the first one was a DKos troll, so had to leave his droppings on the thread. do not believe anything out of Kos's mouth, to me he is a lefty Drudge, and we know how much crap he's made up.

I was so mad when I saw the troll post, I can't even remember what I said, I was steaming.

[karynnj]

21. Mary Matalin's voice is as close to fingernails on the black board

as it gets. I heard some of her comments replayed on the radio - I was scanning stations and stopped when I heard Kerry's name. She is so full of hate, that she has to undercut her own points.

I agree with you that Carville lost credibility when he married her. Although, I think he may have even less integrity than she does in that I think she really does believe in all the Cheney evilness. He seems only to want to play politics and we're the side he's allied with.

[sandrakae]

27. Matt was rude.