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Senator Kennedy - An Act of Great Statesmanship

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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 10:46 AM
Original message
Senator Kennedy - An Act of Great Statesmanship
Senator Kennedy is following his heart, moreso than his head. And his heart is correct. His head tells him we must send money to support the troops and Bush will extend his blunder thru the next election and for years to come. His heart tells him we are on the wrong course. And we are.

The Democrats need to understand that the position they take on this issue will follow them into history. It may be the most important vote they ever make in their lives. If we follow the Bush strategy, we will eventually set up a friendly military dictatorship that we funnel taxpayer money to on a regular basis to provide dividends for the military industries, such as Halliburton and Bechtel. But that is not a satisfactory course. There is another way.

When the world understands that there are people in America that are not "war-mongers" and prefer to have peace with our neighbors, it will lessen the threat of terrorism, rather than increase the threat. The Bush policy will increase the threat of terrorism and lead to the loss of more American lives and more taxpayer monies.

And the Iraqi people will know it also. And they will appreciate and understand that they have "real" friends in America. We are realists. We cannot undo what has already been done. But we can chart a course that is best for Iraq and best for America. In order to do so, we must oppose the direction that Bush is taking our country. We want Iraq to be a self-governing nation. That is not the intent of the Bush Administration and few people in the world trust George W Bush.

History requires us to oppose the Bush policy in Iraq. The world is looking up to the American people to do the right thing. Following the lead of George W Bush is not the right thing. It is wrong. His policy has been wrong from the beginning and we have a responsibility to correct the terrible deed that our nation has done. We will support the Iraqi people and they will understand that not all of America is against them.

The world is looking to America. The Democratic Party must make a momentous decision. Do they stand on the side of what is right or what is wrong. They must oppose the effort to push this ill-conceived strategy down the throats of America and the world.


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emad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 10:51 AM
Response to Original message
1. Never did rate him as much of a poker player
the elder statesman bit needs to be seen in context of his palliness with Dubya.

Don't like it.
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Flying_Pig Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 10:58 AM
Response to Original message
2. Well written, and I agree. Today, the Dems are going to have the
choice of further enabling Bush and his neocons, or not. It's high time that ALL Dems cease voting for ANYTHING that helps Bush, PNAC, and their friend, ally, and fellow war-monger, Ariel Sharon.

Every vote they give to approve money for Iraq (over and above humanitarian $$'s), or Israel, or for things such as Syrian Sanctions, is helping the Bush/PNAC/Likud cabal. It will help them in their quest to dominate the world, fight illegal wars, subjugate the people of the ME, and in their efforts to capture control of the world's oil resources.

Additionally, supporting these things will also help Bush's "re-election" efforts. Why would ANY Democrat support such things? Doing so, amounts to aiding and abbetting the enemy. Either Dems are going to stand up and become REAL opposition, or they are going to become fully complicit.There is a choice to make. We will soon learn who really loves this country...
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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 11:11 AM
Response to Reply #2
3. But it is not so much about the next election as it is about....
the direction we take the world and the terrorism we are about to unleash. We must chart a different course. It is in the hands of the Democrats. Do they take the easy road, looking at the next election, or do they do the right thing for our nation and the world and hold this "invader" responsible for the dangerous situation in which he has put the world?
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NewYorkerfromMass Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 11:14 AM
Response to Reply #2
4. can we support our troops and Iraqis w/o supporting Bush?
can we try that please?
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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 11:19 AM
Response to Reply #4
5. That is what we must do.
:shrug:

It is the Democratic Party that supports the rights of the Iraqi people and will work to bring peace to the Middle East - not George W Bush.
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NewYorkerfromMass Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 11:21 AM
Response to Reply #5
6. which is why I have no problem sending money if it will help
and be spent wisely.
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RichM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 11:38 AM
Response to Reply #6
8. What the H are you talking about? What makes you think the money
will "help" and "be spent wisely?"
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NewYorkerfromMass Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 12:47 PM
Response to Reply #8
14. as fantastic a notion that is you have to admit
it is possible. It is the Dems job to make sure that happens. The Halliburton gasoline price flap helps them to press the "accountability issue" in this regard.

PLease get off your soapbox and help the Dems put leather to the road here. There are more lives at stake. Not just more opportunities to discredit the good Democrats (and Republicans) we have.
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RichM Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 11:48 AM
Response to Reply #5
9. What a load of BS. Let's correct that statement, shall we?
"It is the Democratic Party that goes to its knees in front of the Republicans, and does exactly what political expediency requires."

Where did you get this crazy idea that Democrats ever disobey Republicans on matters of principle?
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kentuck Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 11:52 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. RichM..I was hoping someone other than just yourself was reading...
DU... It has been known to happen :)

I am trying to stir up some opposition to this crap that is being shoved down our throats in Washington. If not the Democrats, then who?? Do we simply surrender? And do you not think there is a better way to handle this dilemma in Iraq?
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ElsewheresDaughter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 11:24 AM
Response to Original message
7. well stated and you echo my thoughts...thanks for posting
:grouphug:
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Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 12:03 PM
Response to Original message
11. "New" Dems don't seem to like the 'liberal' Kennedy...
...or his calls to make Bush* accountable for his lies that took us to war and occupation. They don't like much of anything about the 'liberal elements' of the party.

- I bring this up to illustrate a point: There is a reason why you see no organized resistance within the party in opposition of Bush* policies. The 'New' Democrats actually AGREE with many of his policies...including the attack/occupation of Iraq and preemptive strikes on a list of nations on the PNAC agenda.

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dreissig Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 12:12 PM
Response to Original message
12. Fortress America
America cannot be made safe from terrorism. The most that can be accomplished is to make attacks more challenging. When the World Trade Center was bombed in 1993, security was increased to the point that that they were no longer "public" buildings. And it didn't do any good.

Bribing foreigners to support American policy is similarly short-sighted. If they are corrupt enough to take our money, they are corrupt enough to take our money and work against us.

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Bandit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 12:29 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. As the old saying goes "If you will steal for me you will steal from me"
Surround yourself with theives and you get what you pay for.
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lumpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Oct-16-03 02:29 PM
Response to Reply #13
15. Eight stars of gold on a field of blue.....
in my heart.
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