Kerry criticizes election outcome at MLK Day breakfast

[paineinthearse]

Pretty brief (and lame), I'm searching for a full transcript.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2005/01/17/kerry_criticizes_election_outcome_at_mlk_day_breakfast/

Kerry criticizes election outcome at MLK Day breakfast
January 17, 2005

BOSTON --U.S. Sen. John Kerry, in some of his most pointed public comments yet about November's presidential election, invoked Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy on Monday as he criticized President Bush and decried reports of voter disenfranchisement on election day.
Kerry, Bush's Democratic challenger, spoke at Boston's annual Martin Luther King Day Breakfast. He reiterated that he decided not to challenge the election results, but went on to say that "thousands of people were suppressed in the effort to vote."

"Voting machines were distributed in uneven ways. In Democratic districts, it took people four, five, eleven hours to vote, while Republicans sorted through in ten minutes -- same voting machines, same process, our America," he said.

In his comments, Kerry also compared the democracy-building efforts in Iraq with voting in the U.S., saying that Americans had their names purged from voting lists and were kept from casting ballots.
"We're here to celebrate the life of a man who if he were here today would make it clear to us what our agenda is, and nothing would be made more clear on that agenda that in a nation which is willing to spend several hundred million dollars in Iraq to bring them democracy, we cannot tolerate that too many people here in America were denied that democracy," Kerry said.

[global1]

1. Too Little - Too Late n/t

[Citizen Kang]

48. Dittto

Thanks for reporting for duty....

[tsuki]

55. Ditto. Especially when I listened to our brave Representatives and ONE

Senator try to expose the Election Fraud, only to have the words of Kerry and his lawyers flung back at them by the Repugs.

[pokercat999]

128. agreed what a *hithead. eom

[Piperay]

111. Agree

wonder why he bothered. x(

[manxkat]

122. EXACTLY -- that's the perfect phrase for

this lame attempt by Kerry....

the man is a complete disappointment

[ImADeanDem]

149. My thoughts exactly!! nft

[muchacho]

155. hear hear

where were you when we needed you to stick with it 'til the end?

He had an opportuity to make a difference and be heard, now he comes off as sour grapes.

[paineinthearse]

2. Martin Luther King Day Statement of Senator John Kerry

http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/home.html#

Statement of Senator John Kerry


Martin Luther King Day

Sunday, January 16, 2005

There is no greater gift than the one Dr. King gave to each of us.

Martin Luther King challenged the conscience of my generation, and his words and his legacy continue to move generations to action today at home and around the world. His love and faith is alive in millions of Americans who volunteer each day in soup kitchens or in schools, or who refused to ignore the suffering of millions they'd never met in far-away places when a tsunami brought unthinkable destruction. His vision and his passion is alive in churches and on campuses when millions stand up against the injustice of discrimination anywhere, or the indifference that leaves too many behind. Every Martin Luther King Day, we ask ourselves, "what if Dr. King had lived?" But this year we should challenge ourselves to ask the question not what would Dr. King have done had he lived, but what would he want us to do with the the time we have left.

What would Dr. King want us to do about the injustice of one out of every eight children in our country going without health care? It's time we live up to the ideal of social justice that Dr. King died for on that balcony in Memphis, Tennessee. It's time that we met our responsibility to see that in the richest country on the face of the earth every child has health care and we keep climbing until there's health care for the 44 million Americans without it today.

What would Dr. King want us to do when the right to vote we thought we guaranteed in the 1960's remains incomplete? It's time we live up to Dr. King's dream by making certain that every vote is counted in every county in every state in every part of our nation in every election bar none.

Dr. King led a generation that fought and bled for freedom. The weapons they faced were fire-hoses and night-sticks and dogs -- and intolerance. They braved them with conscience and guts, faith and determination. They fought and many died so that all Americans might be free.

Now it's time for all of us to apply the same sense of conscience - the same guts - the same determination - and the same faith in all we can be - to change our America for the better - and to finish Martin Luther King's work at home and around the world.

[paineinthearse]

5. Equally lame Kerry statement on voter fraud

http://kerry.senate.gov/bandwidth/home.html#

Statement by Senator Kerry on the Congressional Certification of Electoral College Results

Below is a statement from Senator John Kerry on the Congressional certification of Electoral College results:

Wednesday, January 5, 2005

“On November 3, I conceded the presidential election to George Bush and also expressed my commitment to ensuring that every vote in this election is counted. While I am deeply concerned about the issues being highlighted by my colleagues in Congress and citizens across the country and support their efforts to highlight the need to ensure voting rights, I will not be joining their protest of the Ohio Electors.

“As Representative John Conyers’ (D-Mich.) recently released voting rights report shows, there are very troubling questions that have not yet been answered by Ohio election officials. I have supported and will continue to support a close examination of voting irregularities in Ohio and elsewhere because it’s critical to our democracy.

“As I have committed, in the coming months I will present a national proposal to ensure transparency and accountability in our voting process. I plan to use the information gathered by Representative Conyers in his report, and information from other investigations underway, to guide my legislation. It will be one of my top agenda items. I ask the Republican leadership, and all those concerned about voting rights, to join this effort so that we act on reform this year.

“I will continue to strongly support the efforts of the civil rights and voting rights groups across the country that continue to investigate what happened in 2004 and how we can ensure it will never happen again.

“I am currently traveling in the Middle East to thank our troops for their service, and I am reminded once again of the power of democracy and fair and free elections. All American citizens should have the confidence that their vote was counted. Our democracy depends on it.” ###

[paineinthearse]

19. MLK Breakfast video

Go to http://www.boston.com/news/necn/ then click on "Kerry Lashes Out At Bush At MLK Breakfast"

[paineinthearse]

80. Video updated illegal codeplayVideoClip('plV331092')

Includes statements about voting fraud, and comments after speech.

Go to http://www.boston.com/news/necn/, then Kerry: Voters 'Suppressed' on Election Day.

Still too little, too late.

[jayctravis]

94. Anyone got a transcript

of Mr. Bush's MLK day statement?

[Califooyah Operative]

102. Good if you really care about election reform and right to vote....

bad if all you care about is the november 2nd election.

[bvar22]

133. Lip service, fence sitting,

posing for the cameras, playing to the audience, and mouthing platitudes have NEVER produce meaningful reforms.

[Connie_Corleone]

3. A day late and a dollar short, Kerry. n/t

[Julius Civitatus]

23. Where was Kerry when Boxer was alone fighting for our rights?

He conveniently went Iraq that day.

We get it.

[Melynn]

114. Kerry was AWOL on the voter fraud issue

Hey, Senator Kerry, let the real Democrats with guts like Senator Boxer take on the election fraud issue.

By the way Senator Kerry, I intend to support your Presidential bid in 2008. I intend to volunteer for your Presidential campaign in January 2009.

[AuntiBush]

131. I agree, sadly!

Boxer was all alone. And she stood tall, fearlessly and where was Kerry... overseas! Mind you, Iraq was a good PR mission, but still, like one poster said, "A dollar short, and way too many days late!"

Kerry's "Damage Control" isn't working!

[Jennie125]

139. Well...

I'm not saying it was right for Kerry not being there, but if he would have, you know he would have been labeled as a cry baby, give it up, it's over, etc. So he couldn't win the issue either way.

[Botany]

24. No retreat...... No surrender..... Sure thing, Sen Kerry

I live in Ohio. I saw and heard fraud. (Irregularity is not pooping enough)
You promised to fight ..... you did not.

Beside Ohio we have the following FACTS

* New Mexico every Precinct w/ opti scan went to bush
* Nathan Sproul payed people to register people to vote in Nevada, Arizona,
and Oregon. Managers than threw away all democratic registrations and kept
the repugs. The people acted like they were with ACT. But were not. ? the # of
voters that had their ballots thrown out because of this. Sproul's people were working in South Dakota
until they were thrown out by the A.G.. They then went
to Ohio. Sproul went to a White House Xmas party as a guest of bush.
* Oklahoma had machines that counted backwards on Kerry votes.
* Indiana had 8 counties that if you voted a straight party ticket the vote for
President got flipped to a 3rd party candidate.

Kerry knows this stuff ..... where was the fight he promised?

:mad:

[Megahurtz]

120. They threw away Democratic registrations in California

too, and kept the Repukes.

I don't know why they all keep saying voting "irregularities"

This is VOTER MANIPULATION AND FRAUD.

[feminazi]

4. it's a little late, isn't it?

i wish he had said these things weeks ago and i will not forgive him for not fighting when it would have meant something.

[hughee99]

6. In a related story...

John Kerry would also like to congratulate the Boston Red Sox on their world series win... timing is everything.

[MurrayDelph]

21. and even then

he was congratulating them for their 1918 win!

[hughee99]

27. Nice! n/t

[blm]

7. I think it's the best way to keep it out there as an issue that needs

to be thoroughly investigated.

Do you really want him to shut up and go away? I'm sure you'll find plenty of people from BushInc who would like to see that happen. They are well-versed in manipulating the left into destroying each other.

[KittyWampus]

42. What Percentage Of DU'ers Trashing Kerry Are Disruptors? Impossible

to tell. But you know what, those who are actually sincere in their emotional tirades are only nominally more mature.

[TeacherCreature]

127. Kerry trashed US--the voters.

He turned tail and ran at the first glimpse of defeat.

I DO think he lost the election anyway, thanks to a (mostly) terrible campaign.

But he should have stood with Edwards and so many others and fought the good fight.

I wish he cared as much about democracy in AMERICA as he seems to in Iraq.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

67. That's the spirit!

We need the press coverage this will provide. If this is ever going to be fixed it has to be spoken of often by people who the media will cover. Kerry IS one of the people who will make it into print and on TV.

I refuse to cut off my nose to spite my face. I want reform, I want fair elections for all. It's the only way to get our Country back.

[Lostnote03]

99. "Our America"......I Ilke His Remark there!!!

[ikojo]

8. Why did he concede so soon and why did he

not challenge the election/

Words are easy, DEEDS and ACTIONS are more difficult.

It is by their ACTIONS that I judge people.

[Orangepeel]

11. I'll judge him by RESULTS

If he succeeds in getting changes made so that the election is more fair next time, then I'll consider him to have done the right thing.

[Zhade]

52. Sure, that's fair - but will he do more than talk?

We'll see.

[Orangepeel]

88. You're right. We'll see.

I sure hope so.

[TroglodyteScholar]

13. Not to defend the quick concession, but...

...maybe he realized that despite clear evidence of convenient equipment distribution and other intimidation tactics, things like that are hard to present solidly in any kind of courtroom scenario.

[ginnyinWI]

65. to be honest, I just don't know why, but

I do know that I don't know everything. So instead, I place my trust in the guy. I know he cares, and will do what it takes. You don't have to believe in him if you don't choose to. Just leave him alone, then, and watch what he does.
Maybe we'll all know more sooner or later, but until then, please don't make judgements about what you don't fully understand. Please?

Use your anger to attack the real enemy of the people--the Bush administration.

[TroglodyteScholar]

9. You know...

I never realized it, but I waited 4 hours to vote in a county that went to Kerry. The county I work in has an Air Force Base, and was expected to go strongly to Bush. 9/10 of my coworkers there are religious conservatives and the longest wait I heard about was 1 hour. Hmm.

[stray cat]

10. Not too late if the goal is election reform.

To late to yell: "I WON, I WON. I just can't prove it. Make me president."

[paineinthearse]

20. Election reform 2000-2004

...and what advancements were made in this arena from 2000 to 2004? None! The reality is those who controlled the process gained greater control through technology and position.

[rodeodance]

31. the goal is election reform-I do not think to late for anyone to be

critical of the election process.

[ginnyinWI]

66. lol

and I would add: "now that I have totally blown any of my remaining credibility, I hereby regretfully resign from the Senate."

[Laurab]

86. EXACTLY!

And that is just how they would have made him look, too. Well, to be honest, without solid evidence, that's pretty much how he would have looked. I think it's far more important that he has retained his credibility, and the rethugs have NOTHING to throw in his face - I mean, they're actually quoting him.

I too am going to watch and see what gets done, not just by Kerry, but by everyone. Actions speak a whole lot louder than words, and I do think there's going to be some action. I'm looking forward to watching Barbara Boxer question good ole Condi tomorrow.

[Straight Shooter]

12. Several hundred millions in Iraq to bring them democracy?

Make that billions. And I'm not one of those willing to do it. Let's clean up our own back yard first.

The good news is, less and less people in the world want to be like America, because we've been setting such a horrible example of democracy lately.

[Zhade]

54. WAIT WAIT WAIT - "Bring them democracy?"

That's not why we went, Kerry. We went over a "threat" that never existed.

You are enabling the b*sh administration's LIES by saying we are there to bring them democracy.

[ginnyinWI]

68. he did not say he agreed with that premise. n/t

[Zhade]

77. Are you sure he doesn't?

"We're here to celebrate the life of a man who if he were here today would make it clear to us what our agenda is, and nothing would be made more clear on that agenda that in a nation which is willing to spend several hundred million dollars in Iraq to bring them democracy, we cannot tolerate that too many people here in America were denied that democracy," Kerry said.

Sounds like he's endorsing the concept to me.

[fshrink]

14. The troubling thing here

is that the leader of the democratic forces in this country at the same time "decided not to challenge the election results", while acknowledging that "thousands of people were suppressed in the effort to vote". Does that mean that "thousands" is not enough? When exactly is democracy worth standing up for? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? Millions? Just a few? Political move when speaking to blacks and on MLK day, since lots of those thousands were indeed balck folks. Where the F is the hard line?!

[BraveDave]

15. Eleven hours to vote?

Seriously, I was in and out in about 5 minutes.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[keopeli]

17. Let me get this off my chest...F#&* YOU, KERRY!

I have no patience and no trust for this man. Here is why -

When he was running and I was working my butt off for him to get elected, he promised that this would not be another Florida 2000, that he would fight tooth and nail to make sure every vote counted.

I know politicians lie, but this issue was TOO important. This is about a coup d'etat! This is about the death of democracy. This is about over 100,000 innocent lives in Iraq, over 1300 dead US soldiers, tens of thousands of wounded soldiers, and blood for money by oil barons.

I'm afraid that I have no choice but to now associate Kerry with the coup that overthrough our democracy, just as I did with Gore. (I'll admit that Gore was caught off guard, but not Kerry.) Every disinfranchised voter (does anyone have the number? I bet it is over 1 mil.) has the right to completely hate Kerry, because he was their leader and he DID NOT LEAD.

At this point, Kerry has totally lost my faith in him. PERIOD.
I will, however, admit that he can get it back if he can prove that he has been working night and day since the election to not only fix election problems but also to oust the coup leaders from office, and that he has had to do this under the table to protect himself and his family.

I don't even care to read what he has to say, frankly. I don't believe a word of it. It's also safe to assume that he may be a puppet for the enemy, since he broke his promises SO QUICKLY and conceded. (I'm not saying he is, I'm saying it's possible.)

Sorry, Kerry. You lost, because you gave up. Quitters always lose.

Now go away.

We must find someone we can TRUST.

[TayTay]

25. That's right

And make sure that you and all the other Dems who believe that this is an important issue but don't believe they had the votes to get anything done in Congress at this moment in time give up right now. We don't want to do anything that would push this issue into the American consciousness, anything that might help America achieve a political tipping point that would cause people to demand a change. Please don't do anything that might appeal to the American sense of fairness, that might cause people to look sympathetically at this issue. I would rather lose nobly with people I like than eventually win with people who I hate.

We know what happened in the election fraud. We also know that at the exact moment that we knew, magically, every American all across the land knew it too. (That's the way it happens, I learn something and bam, I magically give this knowledge away to all in the land.) We don't need to continually push this, we don't have to acknowledge that we have powerful opponents who don't want change because the status quo benefits them. Oh no, I say that the only way to get real change is to make everyone see what I see at the exact moment I see it or screw them. This is what I call democracy. Long may the people I dislike not do anything that I want them to do. That's what I call participatory democracy.

[Laurab]

87. Excellent post, Tay Tay

I couldn't agree more. Anyone who attempts to keep trying to push this issue into the (somewhat slow) American consciousness, should just give it up, because they didn't do it when they were supposed to, damn it! We knew, and we know they knew, too, and it doesn't matter if they couldn't say how they knew, they just did, and they let us down by not taking a stand, right then and there when we all KNEW.

And now they're trying to make us feel better by bringing it up, and using silly facts....I'm not gonna fall for it!

[CTLawGuy]

116. oh no

we "won" already with a person we hate... Bush.

[fshrink]

30. Yes Sir.

Where the fuck is the hard line drawn? I need to add that by not putting pressure on ours, we somewhat facilitated what you described. Feels good to read what you think (which is one of the few reasons I joined DU in early 2003).

[Earth_First]

18. 20/20

excellent hindsight, Mr. Kerry.

[daleo]

22. Maybe Kerry was afraid of what happened to MLK

I couldn't blame him, I guess. Martin Luther King was a great example of challenging the system and getting killed for it.

[genieroze]

26. Oh, now he says something? eom

[NewYorkerfromMass]

28. Thank you Senator Kerry!

I for one am grateful. Everyone's been saying this since Nov. 2. Nobody seemed to care then and it never hurts to keep talking about it.
You all should be thankful Kerry reiterates the problem on a noteworthy day. Maybe someone will listen this time.
Back to your Kerry bashing if that's what turns you on.

[liberalcuriosity]

46. No fight whatsoever

This guy and the majority of Dems will not fight for your rights.We need a overall cleaning of the party.

[Laurab]

100. And replace them with whom?

I think we need an overall clearing of a party, but it's not the dems.

[CTLawGuy]

117. no one will listen, thats the problem

I give Kerry credit for doing SOMETHING, but people have a right to be upset that he did nothing when someone might have cared, ie on Nov. 3rd and Jan 6th.

The issue of the election is over in the media's mind, Kerry statement won't take in the news cycle for more than a casual story.

[Amigust]

29. How very empty lip-service of him n/t

[2Design]

32. no action = no right to criticize ...nt

[Ganja Ninja]

33. If the GOP cheated why the hell weren't you leading the fight...

to block the Ohio electoral votes Senator Kerry? You and every other Democrat in Washington had a chance to make this an issue but though many were called few showed up. The pitiful media coverage of the tepid protest by Senator Boxer and a handful of congressional Democrats was all you deserved. If you won't fight for us then we won't be fooled again. You can go back to your skiing vacation with the Gropenator. Your help isn't required anymore. We'll find someone that will fight and we won't make the mistake of working or contributing to another campaign for an AWOL leader.

[jpgray]

34. Well, I guess some DUers would prefer he say nothing

This is like during the primaries, when even after a great attack on Bush's disaster Kerry would be bashed because of his IWR vote. I suppose since he is forever tarnished, he should say and do nothing to aid in the cause of election reform, right? I get it. Hi ho Monochromatic Thinking, away! If you can't make it to the finish line in your first step, don't move at all, asshole!

:crazy:

[Chicago Democrat]

35. HOLY SHIT KERRY! Now I know the truth!

You are a total PUTZ!


FU KERRY

[jazzjunkysue]

36. I'm surprised the senator dissed the boy king, at all. Glad he did.

[loudsue]

37. Oh, goody! Another Kerry-bashing thread! WTF?????

:wtf: is wrong with you people? The neocons have destroyed our country, and the best you can do is TRASH John Kerry for SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT IT????

Kerry's hands are tied, just like ours are. He spent a big portion of his own fortune, as well as his time and energy....even coming out of prostate cancer.... to try to win an election he was ABSOLUTELY the right person for.

And THAT is why he actually DID get the votes, even though the fraud that took place will never let that be known. Kerry was crushed to learn of the fraud and that it made him lose the election.... how can anyone not believe that?

His "advisors", many of whom are died in the wool conservatives who have been infiltrating the party, convinced him early on that there was no way he could get the numbers to win, or reverse the Ohio votes. That doesn't mean it was TRUE, it means that is what Kerry was told. Kerry needs to get INFORMATION about the people who advised him from people like DUers, and he needs to receive INFORMATION about the machines that switched votes to bush, no matter how many times a voter tried to choose Kerry.

Kerry comes out on an important day like MLK's birthday, to say something about it, and it's just not enough to please some people here.

THAT MAKES ME SICK!!! Whose side are you guys on??? Certainly NOT the side of someone who is trying to publicize the election problems. Makes me go "hmmmm".

:kick::kick::kick:

[Generator]

39. I agree

Blame Bush and if you really have enough anger left over..well you aren't blaming Bush (and his many evil buddies) hard enough.

[bvar22]

40. No, we are trashing Kerry for NOT saying anything....

...until he was nice and safe, and could play the mushy middle not really TAKING A STAND that means anything.

[fshrink]

44. If people like you

had "bashed" a little more our dem leaders when it was time, the neocons would not be destroying our country as we speak. What makes you "sick" is obviously the mere thought of lighting a fire under our leaders' asses. Now that what you downgrade to the dimensions of "election problems", in agreement with the very same neocons you despise, has cost the people 2 elections in a row, and the loss of nearly all political power in this country, you still find excuses. I let you wonder what kind of syndrom this reminds of.

[loudsue]

45. fshrink...."bashing" doesn't get the job done.

Bashing doesn't send e-mails with information, bashing doesn't bring people/groups together...it is a great way to vent our frustrations now and then, but it seems to drone on endlessly these days at DU.

We've kicked this dead horse enough. Kerry is keeping the issue alive by saying something, and I have every idea he, and some of the other dems, are going to help us DO something about it, if we keep the issue alive to them, as well. Let's ENCOURAGE that, by our ACTIONS, by activism, not by endless bashing and criticism.

:kick::kick::kick:

[liberalcuriosity]

47. You don't get it

He's part of the problem.

[Zhade]

58. "how can anyone not believe that?"

Um, because he folded pretty fast? Because he didn't persue the fraud and fight to make sure every vote counted? He was bound to lose if he didn't fight, so why didn't the 1971 Kerry stand up?

[ginnyinWI]

71. um, maybe because he know things that you don't?? n/t

[Zhade]

78. I suppose it's possible, but I'm not holding my breath.

I'm not a fan at ALL of the 2004 Kerry, but I've mostly hung back from criticizing him out of hopes he would actually do something about the fraud.

So far, aside from token sums of money to token recounts, nada. If he actually accomplishes something, I'll be happy to say so.

Still waiting.

[ginnyinWI]

81. fair enough. n/t

:)

[salib]

84. The best way to make an issue moot...

Is to say "It was covered but it did not amount to much." Amazing how Kerry has managed to do exactly that for the repugs.

[yinkaafrica]

138. I hope we are not still saying that four years from now

[Lorien]

60. "Bashing" is a repug term for being critical

liberals can't say that the war on Iraq was a mistake because that means we're "bashing" Bush*. Now we can't be upset with Kerry for listening to RW "advisors" and breaking his word about fighting for us and making sure every vote was counted without "bashing" him? He conceded before he had all the facts, he let democracy die; HOW will we ever have another legitimate election without verifiable voting methods?? And now we can't be unhappy about that or bring ANY attention to these facts because that means were "bashing" Kerry?

No, Kerry's words ARE NOT enough to "please" me. My country is now a dictatorship run by pro-Armageddon madmen who face no true opposition.I don't give a f*ck if Kerry feels "crushed" about the voter fraud; he should have fought against the damned paperless machines to begin with. WE DID! And I won't even get into how "crushed" everyone in Iraq is feeling right now...we need real leadership in this party; leadership that will keep it's promises to fight, and to speak the truth loudly and often.Just because I'm no longer singing Kerry's praises as I did when I worked my ass off for him during the election doesn't give anyone here the right to say "if your not with him, you're against the party".

[bpilgrim]

97. he earned it

and if he can't take the HEAT/CRITICISM then get the hell out of the kitchen. that's his job and feedback is a BIG part of it, both the negative and the positive and i hope he has the responsibility to recognize it.

he came out waaaaaay laaaaate.

did MLK delay the march on washington because the polls/elites said now wouldn't be a good time?

HELL NO!

sorry, but he let us ALL down and is an enabler of this crimminal regime, imo. he will have to do a whole lot more talking before he'll be forgiven for NOT reporting for DUTY as bosted/advertised when it counted MOST!

if these stuffed shirts ain't gonna lead then they better start FOLLOWING because this bus has been left the station.

peace

[yinkaafrica]

137. I don't buy it. He did not fight for us when it would have mattered

He had an army of followers, the support of the world, and the bright hot spotlight waiting for his great challenge in the name of
Democracy, and he walked away. This country may never recover.

[Hebegirl]

150. People are mad, and understandably so

I have to say I thought Kerry would lead more than he has, lead like Dean did, even after not getting nominated in the primary. I hate to say it, but Dean probably DIDN'T get nominated because he really does lead.
Sorry if this sounds confusing. It's confusing me to write it! But there's something remiss here... something rotten (what isn't, in the State of ye old Union). The Dems have sold out, I believe. Call it divide and conquer, if you must. Right now I think a third party is the way to go. Look at how many votes Ross Perot then Nader had...

[KurtNYC]

38. So is he EVER going to get the soundbite thing?

"We're here to celebrate the life of a man who if he were here today would make it clear to us what our agenda is, and nothing would be made more clear on that agenda that in a nation which is willing to spend several hundred million dollars in Iraq to bring them democracy, we cannot tolerate that too many people here in America were denied that democracy," Kerry said.

68 words for one sentence. How many people in this country can follow a 68-word sentence? It is like James Joyce has become a politician.

[bvar22]

41. If it doesn't fit on a bumper sticker....

...it won't get you elected in this country!

[Lorien]

64. How about a "clear idea"?

what is he saying? that we're a great nation for spending all our tax $$$ to murder Iraqis and bring them "democracy" at the end of a gun barrel, but we won't spend the same here in our country? Or is he being critical of the money being spent in Iraq while little is done to keep elections legitimate here at home? What IS the "clear agenda"?

James Joyce would be scratching his head right now.

[ginnyinWI]

72. he's not on the campaign trail anymore, dude. n/t

[Laurab]

104. I'm no genius

but I can follow that sentence a whole lot better than I can follow the shrub's assaults on the english language in short sentences.

[kerrygoddess]

43. “We must ... never give up on infinite hope”

This morning at MLK Day breakfast in Boston, John Kerry offered some strong words on the problems with voting in the recent election, stressing that we must never give up on “hope.” Hope was the resounding theme of the Kerry campaign, and that hope lives on with so many of us today.

While reiterating that he did not contest the presidential election, Kerry said: "I nevertheless make it clear that thousands of people were suppressed in the effort to vote. Voting machines were distributed in uneven ways. In Democratic districts, it took people four, five, 11 hours to vote, while Republicans (went) through in 10 minutes _ same voting machines, same process, our America."

"Martin Luther King reminded us that yes, we have to accept finite disappointment, and I know how to do that," Kerry said to chuckles from listeners. "But he said we must ... never give up on infinite hope."

From AP News:

In his comments, Kerry also compared the democracy-building efforts in Iraq with voting in the U.S., saying that Americans had their names purged from voting lists and were kept from casting ballots.

"In a nation which is willing to spend several hundred million dollars in Iraq to bring them democracy, we cannot tolerate that too many people here in America were denied that democracy," Kerry said.


Here is a press release from Kerry’s Senate website:

There is no greater gift than the one Dr. King gave to each of us.

Martin Luther King challenged the conscience of my generation, and his words and his legacy continue to move generations to action today at home and around the world. His love and faith is alive in millions of Americans who volunteer each day in soup kitchens or in schools, or who refused to ignore the suffering of millions they'd never met in far-away places when a tsunami brought unthinkable destruction. His vision and his passion is alive in churches and on campuses when millions stand up against the injustice of discrimination anywhere, or the indifference that leaves too many behind. Every Martin Luther King Day, we ask ourselves, "what if Dr. King had lived?" But this year we should challenge ourselves to ask the question not what would Dr. King have done had he lived, but what would he want us to do with the the time we have left.

What would Dr. King want us to do about the injustice of one out of every eight children in our country going without health care? It's time we live up to the ideal of social justice that Dr. King died for on that balcony in Memphis, Tennessee. It's time that we met our responsibility to see that in the richest country on the face of the earth every child has health care and we keep climbing until there's health care for the 44 million Americans without it today.

What would Dr. King want us to do when the right to vote we thought we guaranteed in the 1960's remains incomplete? It's time we live up to Dr. King's dream by making certain that every vote is counted in every county in every state in every part of our nation in every election bar none.

Dr. King led a generation that fought and bled for freedom. The weapons they faced were fire-hoses and night-sticks and dogs -- and intolerance. They braved them with conscience and guts, faith and determination. They fought and many died so that all Americans might be free.

Now it's time for all of us to apply the same sense of conscience - the same guts - the same determination - and the same faith in all we can be - to change our America for the better - and to finish Martin Luther King's work at home and around the world.

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=238

[ClarkUSA]

49. Yeah, where was Kerry with these speeches BEFORE Jan. 6?

Oh, I get it - now he's a champion of disenfranchised voters

[bkcc]

59. My thoughts exactly.

He needs to shut up about the election.

The guy ran a horrendous campaign, "highlighted" by a month when he and his camp went completely silent and let Bush and Rove blast him non-stop.

Then came the actual election when he kept silent again regarding all the recounts and voting irregularities. He conceded the election to Bush rather quickly, a disappointing move that I can only guess was done because it would make the Democrats look like they weren't the sore losers they were painted to be in 2000 with Gore. So, to save the Dems' integrity, he stepped back and let everyone else do the dirty work.

But now that King George is about to be inaugurated once again, Kerry opens his mouth to share his thoughts on the election.

Please.
We needed him 2 months ago when he could have been the public face of the movement for a recount.

I think that he's a good senator and I hope that he keeps up the good fight, but he needs to stop talking about the election that he lost and didn't even fight for when it mattered most.

[rzemanfl]

79. Please just answer me this.

How do you gauge the effectiveness of a campaign when YOUR VOTES keep getting switched to the OTHER GUY? From what I've been seeing it might have been better for Kerry to tell some of his voters to STAY HOME rather than vote for him and have their votes switched to the moron-in-chief, the Senator might have won that way. Who knows? There may be a way to win a rigged game, but I doubt it.

[bkcc]

113. Rigged or not, speak up while the world is still listening!

His comments coming out now just sound pathetic.

And the "effectiveness of a campaign" cannot be helped by shutting down operations for a full month and letting your opponent define you to the masses.

I have nothing but respect for Senator Kerry's work in Congress, but that doesn't mean that he and his people ran their campaign properly.

And, for the record, despite all the voting irregularities...Bush did not win on that alone. I hate to say it, but there were many people who bought into the chimp's message of fear. Sad but true.

[rzemanfl]

140. Regarding "shutting down his campaign."

That was a result of the late convention * had. I believe 9 states had to CHANGE THEIR LAWS to allow * to be on the ballot in November with his nomination coming that late. This is just another example of Repuke arrogance. If Kerry had tried to do the same thing, I'd wager he would have been a write-in candidate in a number of states.

It is sad that the election was close enough to steal, if only 20% had voted for * the theft would have been obivious.

[bkcc]

142. The Kerry campaign did have an option to combat this.

They could have decided to forego public financing, the $75 million each candidate gets from the government.

Had he done this it would have been a risk, but would have allowed him to run ads in the period between the Democratic and Republican conventions.

[rzemanfl]

145. What would be the difference between that and just writing

* a check for 75 million dollars?

[bkcc]

156. If Kerry didn't accept the 75 million....

that didn't mean that Bush got that in addition to his 75 million.

[rzemanfl]

157. No, but he would have $75 million that Kerry didn't have. Any

way you cut it, if Kerry refuses the money, Bush has $75 million of our money that Kerry doesn't have. Think of it as bank balances, Kerry zero, Bush $75,000,00.00. If they both have the 75 mil, then Bush has to raise another 75 mil to be that far ahead of Kerry.

[lojasmo]

50. What a putz.

And to think they called him a flip-flopper :eyes:

Perhaps this will keep him "electable"....How did that work out, anyway?

[Zhade]

51. Either Kerry just doesn't get it, or he just doesn't care.

He reiterated that he decided not to challenge the election results, but went on to say that "thousands of people were suppressed in the effort to vote."

WWKD - What Would King Do? I can say this much: he wouldn't just blow off the illegal disenfranchisement of ANY voter as a problem not worth fighting.

You are unfit to invoke King's name, Kerry. You should be utterly ashamed of yourself.

(I'm sure there are still some here who think Kerry's "doing a rope-a-dope" - oh, to have your level of naive trust!)

[mojavekid]

53. Uhg.....

I am sure he is doing this just to freak me out.....



Tell me it is a joke......

[Gingersnapsback]

57. He knew the fix was in and couldn't be challenged without

seriously endangering our "appearance of democracy" world wide. I knew it was in this Spring when Russert asked Bush what he would do if not elected. Without blinking an eye, a second thought or any humility, he answered "That won't happen, I'm going win." He gave the same smug answer in the debates. ;(

[Leilani]

56. Uh, I think that this is part of his "chess player" strategy

Remember, he's a "strong closer."

[leftchick]

63. A VERY HUGE.....

<sigh>.... :(

[Democat]

91. And there will be a backlash against the Swift Boat Vets

Kerry will win by a landslide. :)

[Catchawave]

61. A day late and a dollar short ? Not to mention......

...off topic? That is Kerry's speech, not the OP :)

[AgadorSparticus]

62. goodness gracious, a WHOLE bread crumb! i'm overwhelmed with

"hope" now. puhleeze...always a day late and a dollar short. :eyes: sigh....

[rzemanfl]

69. I am trying to put myself in Kerry's shoes.

His people tell him:
a. He was robbed in Ohio and Florida and the * vote was padded all over the country.
b. The Courts in Ohio and the Federal Courts will do everything they can to support *.
c. It will take complicated and time-consuming mathematical analysis to prove the fraud in Ohio and in other states.
d. Probably in mid-2005 the scholarly community will conclude the election was stolen, but proving the mechanisms used would lead to court actions involving claims of trade secrets that could take years to resolve.

Kerry knows that:
a. * owns the media.
b. Will do anything to win.
c. Is a chronic screw-up that can't get anything right.
d. Has been running his whole administration on bullshit from day one.
e. Iraq is going to continue to be a disaster and in all likelihood there will be another terrorist attack in the U.S. before the 2006 elections.
f. Anything Kerry does will reflect on his whole party.

Answer honestly, given the above, wouldn't you play a waiting game if in his shoes?

[ginnyinWI]

73. yes

People are so quick to judge him, here. They don't know everything that went on. If they were going to trust him to run the whole country, why can't they just trust him on this issue? We know he wanted to win with his whole heart. We know he campaigned for two years. His whole life shows him to be smart, brave, loyal, and a fighter. A guy doesn't just change overnight.

If he conceeded quickly, he had good reason to. But don't believe he's done with this issue--not by a long shot. He isn't finished with this battle--this is only a tactical retreat.

[rzemanfl]

74. People from Wisconsin are smart.

I grew up in Greendale, went to school in Milwaukee and Madison, and lived at various times in Thorp, Two Rivers, Sun Prairie and Manitowoc. Moved to Florida in late '96. Nobody down here that I know thinks * won Florida.

I am sure that John Kerry knows things we don't. I can't imagine that Mitofsky or Zogby would refuse to take a call from Senator Kerry and at least discuss things with him in general terms. I think that if JFK bides his time he will sit in the Senate as the person the majority of the country believes is really the President of the United States.

Bush's house of cards will fall, probably as the result of either another terrorist attack in the U.S.or a Tet offensive type of thing in Iraq.

[ginnyinWI]

82. thanks, rze

I've been to all of those towns and cities except Thorp. Live in the outlying area of Milwaukee now.

He's got to know more than we know. And yeah, Bush will fall sooner or later. I hope it's sooner.

[rzemanfl]

144. You didn't miss much not seeing Thorp. Look it up on the web.

[welshTerrier2]

75. great line from Groucho ...

this reminds me of a great line Groucho had in the movie Horsefeathers ... he was being appointed President of the college replacing his father who had held the post before him ...

the person introducing him said: you must be very proud following in your father's footsteps ...

Groucho replied: oh, is that what i stepped in ??

i understand the frustration many have with Kerry's early forfeit ... frankly, i see little justification for quitting as early as he did ... it's understandable that trust with many has been broken ...

still, the Party desperately needs leadership ... it needs leadership with stature ... gravitas ... Kerry's been wrong on the war so far ... i desperately hope the Democratic Party will tell the truth on the war and stop calling for a military solution ... it will never happen no matter what our good intentions may be ...

so, i for one, remaining focussed on the objective, would welcome Kerry and openingly support giving him another chance ... let's not fire all our players when they screw up ... that's what comebacks are all about ... but, of course, they have to be earned ... i'm still hoping Kerry will earn my respect and fight for what many of us believe in ... the jury is still out ...

[CTPatriot]

134. REAL Leaders...

...Don't fold their cards and leave the table no matter how badly the odds appear to be stacked against them.

[rzemanfl]

146. That is the kind of logic * uses.

[Malva Zebrina]

70. Why does this make me giggle?

I am amused. Too little too late. Geezus--does this guy really think this will get him back in the spotlight?

I owuld suggest that Senator Kerry take a long vacation in his estate in Pennsylvania. Go skiing or snowboarding. Spend some time with Teresa on a cruise somewhere or on some island in the Pacific.

Perhaps a break, a change, will open his eyes.

I think Al Gore had an epiphany after his tragic loss, and I think Senator Kerry is long overdue for one.

[lies and propaganda]

76. I change this headline to....

"Tara criticizes Kerry's election outcome at breakfast today."

Phx--- Tara, in a very typical daily routine, criticizes John Kerry for being a douche and leaving every possible rock not turned.


I am so very very over John Kerry. I never want to even look at him again, I thank God i dont live in Massachusetts.
All i want is Howard Dean for DNC Chair.

[TheDonkey]

83. Good for him, still fighting

I'm sure he is planning on working to end election fraud this time around in the Senate.

[salib]

85. Exactly how?

What is his proposal? If this is so important, where are the bills presented so far? I predict it will be endorsement of the watered down recommendations that the Diebold types have proposed, i.e., no real paper trail, simply an excuse for security. Yada Yada Yada. And so it goes.

[Laurab]

106. I'm not sure, but

I think he has to wait until the senate has convened to introduce any bills.....

[Rex]

89. John Kerry - American sellout.

I take back any nice thing I ever said about the guy.

[Name removed]

90. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Democat]

92. What was Kerry supposed to do? Let me answer that question for you.

He was supposed to win the election.

He lost.

He let us all down. He blew it. It was his to lose and he worked hard to lose it.

Kerry is a loser, by definition.

[fshrink]

93. Meeoow! Hssss!

In human terms: I want a leader who can draw a hard line. Not a squiggle in the sand at rising tide.

[zulchzulu]

103. Thanks for your response

I love the ignore feature.

[Laurab]

107. Great answer

but I think rove/diebold worked hard for him to lose it, myself.

He worked his ass off to win, and he probably did win.

With your logic * is a winner...by definition.

I don't get it.

[Lorien]

98. In FOUR DAYS????!!!!!

Bullshit. He should have done what the rest of us were doing BEFORE the election; FOUGHT AGAINST PAPERLESS VOTING MACHINES!! Failing that, he throws in the towel in three days???!!

Sorry, but this "if you're not with Kerry, you're against the party" crap has got to end. Bush* is not America. Kerry is not the Democratic party, either."You're either with us or you're against us" is a statement used to bully people into shutting up. This is the time to fight for our party and for democracy, this is the time to be loud, and to tell those how profess to "lead" us that we deserve better!

[zulchzulu]

105. Thanks for your response

Another ignore feature use...I'm boycotting mindless stupidity.

[Lorien]

118. Lol!

public temper tantrums. :eyes:

[DividedWeAre]

95. .. should have been the first part of his un-concession speech

paragraphs 2 and 3 should have been the first part of his unconcession speech.

Why are the democrats so afraid to challenge the election? this is so strange. What do they have to lose?

[meisje]

96. Anyone want a used "Don't blame me, I voted for Kerry" Sticker

I will be removing it from my car tomorrow.

[Lostnote03]

101. I'm Happy with anything at this stage socio/political...

[despairing optimist]

108. Talk about baiting an audience

"I am not a redistribution Democrat."

"If I had known then what I know now, I still would have voted for the IWR."

"We're going to WIN Iraq."

"I got your back."

Oh, brother. Phooey, phooey, and double phooey.

If he had been as earnest as the countless thousands of volunteers who busted their asses for him, he wouldn't have time now for such speeches. Look where you're going, not where you've been.

Money votes for money, and money wins all the time. Wake up, people.

EDIT: corrected typo "IWR"

[zulchzulu]

109. Based on all the mealy-mouthed Kerry bashers here, I can sum it up...

...that all of you Kerry bashers are nothing more than clueless half-witted Monday Morning Quarterbacks that I would avoid like the plague if I was working on grassroots efforts in coming elections.

The mere fact that you can't keep up with the news about Kerry's efforts after the election to investigate the results proves to me that you are lazy and probably "followers" that would rather look at the pitiful pack mentality as your guide over looking at the full picture and appreciating Kerry for running the closest race against any war time president ever that ran the dirtiest campaign in modern memory.

But hey, be a lazy jackass and find solace with your fellow dimwit sunshine Democratic turncoats and attack and eat your own.

As a tribute to Henry Fielding, "Wine is a turncoat; first a friend and then an enemy"...only I would change it to "whining".

Pittance.

[Democat]

110. Monday morning? Many here said Kerry was blowing it during the game...

Anyone with a pulse should have been able to see that Kerry wasn't fighting hard enough during the election.

It's brilliant to see people being told to shut up during the election, and then being called "Monday morning quarterbacks" after the election.

So, people weren't allowed to point out Kerry's mistakes during the campaign and they aren't allowed to point them out after?

Prepare to keep losing with that policy.

Democrats have been on a losing streak and until everyone can admit it and admit that it's partially our fault for picking candidates that aren't willing to do what it takes to win, then we will keep losing.

I was amazed by people's refusal to face reality after the 2002 election and I'm even more shocked now.

[Lorien]

121. I think it's another case of

cognitive dissonance and "team fan" mentality, Democat. We've seen it a lot on the right since * got into office too. Despite the fact that BushCo is acting against the interests and ideals of most republicans (especially the strict constitutionalists and fiscal conservatives), he's still at the top of the GOP "team"; and diehard fans see that team as an extension of themselves. "I work hard for the team.I cheer for the team.I put my heart and soul into supporting the team. If the team is wrong, that, by extension, makes me wrong, and I can't be wrong, my work can't be in vain. Everyone is lying about my team. Other fans two think the team is wrong are traitors". I've noticed that in my home town of Columbus, Ohio, that sports team fanaticism has reached new levels of fervor. I think the same phenomenon is happening in politics, too. The "you're either with us 100% or you're a traitor" seems to be a sentiment connected to every "team" these days. It IS very disturbing, because in the Democrats case, it means that we may indeed continue to lose elections and lose them on an ever increasing scale (throughout all levels of government). Many of us bit our tongues till they bled during the election. Now we're begging others to take a hard look at our team's strategy, to acknowledge and learn from our mistakes, and thus have a chance in the future instead of continuing our losing streak.

Many of us (myself included) put our heart, soul, and all of our energies into supporting Kerry during the last election. The defeat was crushing for all of us, and I don't think it's at all unreasonable for many of us to feel profoundly disappointed by Kerry's swift concession (we were the same people writing every paper and politician about the Diebold machines, and were upset throughout the election with Kerry for not addressing the very serious problem of BBV). "Bashers" are those that name call based on personal feelings. "Bashing" is an attack founded on little to nothing, and is done simply as an act of bullying. For the most part, DUers who criticize Kerry on this site are doing so because they know that some high profile Democrats do read these boards to gage the sentiments of their base. We're asking those people to consider taking this party in a new direction and we're asking them to make verifiable voting a top issue. That isn't "bashing", that's wanting to save one's country by saving democracy and winning future elections. We can't win by shouting "Our party, right or wrong"; maintaining perfect party unity seems like a lovely idea, but change requires shaking things up a bit (perhaps even a revolution). It isn't pleasant, but the prospects with maintaining the present course are even less so.

[NightOwwl]

112. It's almost laughable to be accused of Kerry-bashing

when I or anyone else questions his actions. Based upon what I have seen and heard to date, he has given me no reason to think he intends to do a damn thing about election reform except spout "elect me in 2008" talking points.

Jesus. Why anyone is cutting him a break right now is beyond me. And the level of hostility towards anyone not swallowing his sorry line of shit is unreal. Anyone can talk the talk on election reform, but when the time came to take action...well...if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck...quack, quack.

Remember Weapons of Mass Destruction? You know, the reason Bush gave to attack Iraq? Well guess what? I knew Bush was full of crap then, just like I know now. When I voiced my opinion was I just another "mealy-mouth" Bush-basher? A member of the "pitiful pack mentality?"

Think about it.

[Name removed]

124. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[FighttheFuture]

126. Considering who Kerry IS, he has done nothing!

Kerry was the candidate, the one who the election was (I believe) stolen from. Considering the throw in the towel speech less than 24 hours after; considering the "army of lawyers" that did nothing, and actually hindered the recount efforts and challenges by third parties; considering the not quashed rumors of Edwards disagreeing with him; considering how little Kerry has said about this mess, well...

Kerry has done diddley squat. He ran away. Maybe is was a war flashback, whatever. Can you spell p-a-t-h-e-t-i-c l-o-s-e-r ?

He has a lot to prove, and is a fool if he thinks he can run again. Especially on his current record of "run-away"!

[no name no slogan]

130. It was sad to see the GREEN PARTY on the front lines in OH...

...challenging the irregularities, while Kerry and the DNC (even with their "army of lawyers") were MIA.

The reason so many of us are disappointed in Kerry is because he promised that he wouldn't roll over like Gore did, and that he "had our back". We worked our butts off for him because we trusted him to fight the GOP's shenannigans tooth and nail all the way to the end.

A concession speech within 24 hours is not "having our back". The lack of a strong DNC focus on voting irregularities in OH and FL is not "having our back".

IMHO, it was very ironic to see David Cobb and the Greens (who had nothing to gain by challenging the irregularities) actually DOING SOMETHING on the ground in OH, while the DNC sat around on their fat, lilly-white arses.

Kerry is not a bad man, or a bad Senator, but he was a lousy presidential candidate. He let the GOP dictate the terms of the debate, and tried to win by refuting their talking points. His retaliation was too little, too late for an electorate who saw him as little more than a flip-flopper.

[CTPatriot]

132. It's Laughable to Think that Kerry's Actions Show Courage and Leadership..

Why is it that the Kerry defenders and apologists on here sound just like freepers?

Their modus operandi, just like freepers, involves attacking and demeaning anyone that's critical of Kerry and accusing them of trying to destroy the. And it involves the same old "Kerry knows things that you don't know, but I can't tell you because I don't know them either" routine.

Here's what I know. I have a friend that worked for the Kerry campaign in Ohio before and during the election. Afterwards, when he sensed fraud, he remained in Ohio and stayed there 2 months at HIS OWN EXPENSE. Pleas to the Kerry campaign for legal and financial help made by my friend and others like him all over Ohio went virtually ignored.

If it wasn't for John Conyers and his colleagues along with 2 independent presidential candidates, we would still be scratching our heads about what went on in Ohio. They and the many people who remained on the ground in Ohio fought for us.

And John Kerry? Yeah, he dipped his toes in a couple times. That's about it. As far as I'm concerned, he went AWOL at the time we needed him most and no amount of speechifying 75 days too late is going to fix it.

Oh, and as far as the argument that we should appreciate that Kerry is picking up the fight for election reform, let me remind you all of something - Bush controls both houses of congress, the Justice Department, and will soon have enough of his fixers on the federal bench to control the judiciary as well. Do you honestly believe that we are going to achieve ANY kind of meaningful election reform during the next 4 years when we won't be able to get legislation passed in congress, get wrongdoings investigated by justice, or win challenges in the courts? Look at what happened with Rush Holt's bill to require a paper trail. The GOP leadership prevented it from even coming up for a vote!

Kerry had his chance and he went AWOL. Now it's time for someone with real leadership skills and the kind of courage that John Kerry, the 2004 myth, had back in the 70's.

[Lorien]

148. Hi CTPatriot!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

Please thank your friend (from me, anyway) for his hard work and patriotism. I know exactly how he feels; I witnessed the election theft first hand here in Florida in 2000 and spent many hours writing to the party and the press about what I had seen. I was interviewed by the press, Greg Palast passed my story on to the NAACP for use in their lawsuit against the state, but still, it seemed that we activists were on our own down here (with the exception of the black caucus, who organized all our marches and protests). I knew that BBV would cause us problems in 2004. I wrote many times to the press and our politicians about that issue, yet felt as ignored as I did in 2000 (I know that many here share my frustration). Still, I sacrificed two months of paychecks for Kerry's campaign (self employed) and many long hours, hoping against hope that the numbers would overwhelm the rigged system. Now some here call me -and many others- a turncoat and traitor because I'm not singing Kerry's praises as I was required to during the election (he wasn't my choice in the primaries, but I still gave him 100%). It's unreal.

Personally, I don't know if it's possible to save democracy at this point. If it's going to happen, we'll need a whole new army of those with new ideas and vast reserves of energy (along with spines of steel) to lead the charge.

[CTPatriot]

151. Thanks Lorien

I've been reading DU and lurking in the forum for a while. I'm still a rookie as far as participating and don't know how active I will be. But every so often, I know I won't be able to let something pass without comment.

I really enjoyed your posts in this thread, probably because you said so many of the things I was feeling, and said them quite well. Your FL story from 2000 adds some perspective to it. This was my first time working for any political campaign. I can only imagine how burned you feel after going through it twice now.

Like you, Kerry wasn't my first choice in the primaries either. Once he got the nomination, though, I read up on Kerry and came to believe he would be a great candidate to go up against Bush. I also thought that the democratic party had learned enough from all of the GOP election fraud committed in the last 2 elections that they and the Kerry campaign would be prepared to defend against it this time around.

Needless to say, I am disappointed and disillusioned with both Kerry and the party.

I expect the GOP to attempt to cheat their way to 5 more Senate seats in 2006 and unless the Democrats begin to stand up to the GOP forcefully (ala Barbara Boxer and John Conyers), and prepare now to expose and stop suppression and cheating before it impacts the election, we might as well just tape "kick me" signs on our butts and get our bags packed for the concentration camps.

I say that somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but I do believe that the 2004 election was our last chance to save democracy in this country through the ballot box. I pray I am proven wrong.

[Lorien]

135. You left out

"and if you didn't sign your Kerry loyalty oath, then you're a big stinky poo poo head"!

:P

[NewYorkerfromMass]

136. Good post zulchzulu

I formally endorse your comments. :hi:

[sistersofmercy]

143. Very well put, thanks zulchzulu! n/t

[October]

115. So What

I'm disgusted with our dems. They're all losers and followers. Not a leader in the pack.

[sftwrngnr]

119. About time something was formally said...

I would have to say that it is certainly "about time" that Senator Kerry said SOMETHING about the voter irregularities. I believe it is unfortunate that he was rather silent during the actual Ohio recount. At any rate, I look towards the future, and hope (truly hope), that a viable candidate with a backbone shows up for the next election. In my mind, a viable candidate would be one who can take the classic Republican party playbook of indirection, obfuscation, and mud slinging head on, and fight it with THE TRUTH.
As I heard on Air America a few months ago... "mandate my ass!" I don't understand how exactly, the pundits of the so called Red states (I live in a Red state, Arizona), can claim that the Republican party scored a mandate with this past election result.

[Lorien]

123. Hi sftwrngnr!

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[FighttheFuture]

125. I'm disgusted with Kerry, but, let's see what he does...

I felt he rolled way to easily, and has said almost nothing. Yet, I will watch to see what he does over the next two years, for 2006 is critical, and the Dems are toast unless the voting fraud, disenfranchisement and cooperate control of our voting are dealt with.

He can redeem himself, but he has to start doing it NOW.


It can be argued that Gore did not quite understand exactly what he was dealing with, or the consequences of not fighting harder; Bush was perceived as a do nothing dope, at the time. Kerry has no excuses. Let us hope he starts what must be done to reclaim our democracy, otherwise, he, and the DLC, DNC can go to hell!

[barbaraann]

129. Now watch this run.

I hear the snow's good in the Rockies.

[ima_sinnic]

141. whatever, John--talk is cheap

--but putting yourself on the line and actually risking something, now that takes guts.
So you gave your obligatory speech, now go back to whatever it is you politicians do in your spare time, between empty promises and making it look like you actually care about your constituents and their democracy.

[rzemanfl]

147. Listen people, you can't negotiate a minefield by falling on the

first land mine you see and blowing yourself and everyone around you to smithereens. The Republicans are cunning, nasty, unprincipled, ruthless and unscrupulous. Making a courageous but doomed stand against an enemy like that is like the Polish cavalry attacking the Panzers, gloriously brave but suicidal. Give Senator Kerry a year or so to jiggle *'s house of cards before you write him off.

[skyounkin]

152. At the end of the day....

I am proud of how involved I got with this election. I am proud of the work I did for Senator Kerry. I believe in the end the election was stolen from him, and that * is once again an illegitimite president. In the end I cannot fathom the amount of pressure and stress the senator was under. Could he have known something I didn't know? Yes. But I know something he apparently does not. If a man stands up for a decision, you have to be eqaully ready to get knocked down for that decision if you are wrong or lose in the end. And, then you have to get ready to then get back up, cause in the end your just down and they will walk all over you. I don't envy the senator, nor do I believe he has done or did all he could have done to combat the reich wing agenda smear campaign or the fraud in this election.

But it's over. He lost, and then he gave up when he was down. (to me anyway) I don't hate him. I don't blame him. I don't know it all and I never will. But, I am still proud of the work I did and no one will take that pride away from me. I will be ready in 2006 to stand up again and make my decision and hopefully everyone else will too.

[mallard]

153. His position on the war has ...

demonstrated a major tendency to toe the official lie-athon line - echoing the myth that a radically oppressive anti-Arab anti-Muslim occupation represents a worthwhile venture in American diplomacy, despite all blatantly obvious evidence to the contrary.

Why on earth he didn't come down on Bush harder for turning it into a never-ending crusade - one threatening our own national interests - remains part of the very strange and foul-odored mystery surrounding inter-party loyalty to these neocon ideologue rodents who set us all up from 9/11/01. I would agree with use of the term "coup-etat" as posted above. Evidence of FRAUD and NO contest??!!

Going against the Bush 'strategists' with genuine gusto would have helped John Kerry win the election and at the very least it would have given a lot of disenfranchized regular peace-loving people around the world room for hope and room to still admire the country too. He barely hinted at working toward an exit from Iraq.

Again, he had nothing to add to the 9/11 anomoly issues despite calls from family-member of victims (among others) for reason where The 9/11 Commission has chosen to fail.

Maybe he just wasn't 'assigned' the winnership.

"... and nothing would be made more clear on that agenda that in a nation which is willing to spend several hundred million dollars in Iraq to bring them democracy,..."

"Several hundred million" - yes, that being 2,000 or so hundred million makes 'several' into something of a euphamism, to put it mildly.

These are not the words of John Kerry the Vietnam War veteran and activist/critic. They are apologies to the lately short-changed black community from the designated runner-up in a NWO mock election.

The issue of Reparations, which happened to be a major discussion point just prior to 9/11, apparently didn't come up.

[SoCalDem]

154. Um.... what's the point? NOW??? Maybe Nov 3rd would have been

a better time, John..

It's too late now...and we won't forget how "timid" the response was when it "could" have mattered..:(