Cam Kerry on the Huffington Post

[whometense]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cam-kerry/katrina-keeping-american_b_6852.html

Katrina: Keeping Americans Safe

Hurricane Katrina blew away the foundation of George Bush's political survival just as brutally as it scattered rooftops along the Gulf Shores.

What has sustained George Bush has been the perception that he would keep Americans safe at home. Whatever else voters thought about him, large numbers shared this perception.

This was the levee Karl Rove and the Republicans built to keep out doubts about Iraq, anemic jobs numbers, and other rising waters. How many times have we heard them repeat "9/11," "war on terrorism," and "protecting us from terrorists"?

It was the bedrock of his reelection campaign. Reinforced by the apocalyptic visions of the Republican Convention coming to life in Beslan massacre in Russia, the Osama Bin Laden election broadcast and, yes, some missteps on our side, it was this perception that enabled George Bush to become the first incumbent president re-elected with approval ratings at 50 percent or less. As pollster Celinda Lake analyzed the 2004 election, "security has become a prism through which voters, especially women, view a number of issues and choices."

Now he and his administration have failed pathetically to keep Americans safe at home. No backdrops, spin, or lists of supplies can camouflage the failure to protect thousands of people in obvious danger or to carry out the most basic governmental function of all � to preserve public order. Remember "Ashley's Story," the advertisement about Bush comforting the 16-year-old whose mother died on 9/11? Telling us "He's the most powerful man in the world and all he wants to do is make sure I'm safe, that I'm okay," rings hollow today.

With George Bush's levee washed away in the storm surge, everything comes pouring in. The fixation on Iraq, the costs of tax cuts, Crawford vacations, phony photo ops and posturing, the shaming of America in the eyes of the world, the callous disregard for those left behind by lopsided economic growth. Now all these - and more - are fair game.

Even 9/11. Even the crowning moment celebrated over and over a year ago at the Republican Convention and in Bush-Cheney advertising. Throughout 2004, questions about the Administration's preparedness could not get real traction because the residue of goodwill from 9/11 bought George Bush immunity; most of the press and a majority of the public were willing to give him the benefit of the doubt when he said "had there been actionable intelligence, we would have moved on it." Now, with that statement echoed by the foolish "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees," they have to think again.

When the 17th Street Canal levee gave way, it flooded New Orleans with a brew as foul as the runoff from toxic waste lagoons and the rot of decomposing bodies -- the flaccid underbelly of George Bush's politics.

[Mass]

1. Well said - I really would like John say all that

even in his more careful way.

[jillan]

3. Me too, and I'm only going to say this here, among sane people

But the dems silence is hurting my ears.

I know, I know, they are doing this out of respect, and they are probably doing the right thing. But right now I'm so emotional about this past week, that I wish they would verbalize the screaming that I have going on inside my head.

[MH1]

5. The calm before the storm...

well maybe that's not the best phrase but I'm hoping that's what it is.

And I'm betting JK and the rest of them are not just kicking back drinking daiquiris and shooting pool. I'd like to think they are strategizing, both to help the victims and to fix the causes of this debacle.

Another poster mentioned that they are letting the truth speak for itself - and it's doing a pretty damn good job of it. If the Dems jump in too stridently the pugs may be able to divert the facile media to the "issue" of Dems "politicizing the tragedy." So...if the truth is speaking well for itself...then if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[whometense]

10. Exactly so.

In fact, several prominent repugs have been muttering warnings against "politicizing the tragedy." And they shouldn't do that. They should just step in and show what leaders do.

[paulk]

11. I wonder if the Dems are quiet because

in the past the press has always made them the story instead of Bush. The chorus of "politicization" will start up and the focus of the press will shift from the Bush fuckups to the Democrats talking about the Bush fuckups.

It's happened before...

[TayTay]

7. Honey, he will

John Kerry's closest advisor is his brother Cam. If Cam said this, then Kerry will say it. Again, who said this over the Energy Bill just 5 weeks ago:

I would like to know why, instead, billions of American tax dollars are not going to go to renewables and alternatives, but they are going to go into oil and gas. Let me make it clear. I support clean coal technology. I think it is important. It is one of the most vast resources of the United States, one of our biggest reserves. And it is absolutely technologically feasible for us to be able to burn coal more cleanly. We need to do that. I support our efforts to move in that direction.

But why, at the last minute, is there a $1.5 billion deal that goes to Halliburton? Halliburton, which is making billions of dollars off of Iraq, Halliburton, which is a hugely profitable company, is going to get $1.5 billion out of this instead of some of these other nascent technologies that are screaming for assistance.

Why is it that children are going to get weaker environmental protections, dirtier air and water? Is there any person in the Senate who has received mail from their constituents saying: Give me dirtier air for my kids. Give us dirtier water to drink. That is what you are getting. That is what this bill gives you.

Americans get no relief at the pump. And we are left more dependent on foreign oil than we are today. Imagine that. Here is an energy policy that people are going to come and celebrate. I can see the President's signing ceremony now. And he will go out and tell America how terrific it is going to be. But this does nothing to reduce American dependency on oil.

And that was before the dying began. And that was before the Bush Administration abandoned it's pledge to protect the people. And that was before the Admin decided to pass the buck and blame others for their part in the death and dying. That was before.

What Cam Kerry is saying is just the beginning.

[jillan]

16. That was a great speech by Kerry!

And man, He was pissed!

[TheDonkey]

18. I would really like to see Kerry give a video message about this mess

Like he did right after the election. That seemed like such a great idea that I wonder why he doesn't do it more often. Very effective imo, well at least to me!

It might be costly but Democrats should keep exploiting this new age technology.

[fedupinBushcountry]

2. You beat me to it

Was just about to post. The last paragraph says it all.

When the 17th Street Canal levee gave way, it flooded New Orleans with a brew as foul as the runoff from toxic waste lagoons and the rot of decomposing bodies -- the flaccid underbelly of George Bush’s politics.


Well said. I'm sure JK approves this message.

[whometense]

4. Damn right.

The level of anger even in this homey little forum is freaking me out a little, so I'm making myself scarce. I thought this was a good message and would be good news, but I guess not so much. :-(

[MH1]

6. It's a GREAT message. Thanks for posting.

I think a lot of us are pretty tense right now from the b.s. in GD. But I think us JK fans will be gratified fairly soon with the hammer he lays down on the * admin. Who knows, maybe Cam's post is part of the choreography.

[TayTay]

8. Sweetie; this is who you believe in

From the KAP site:

John Kerry and Keeping America’s Promise believe that it’s time for Americans to come together because change in Washington, D.C. happens when it starts in the states.

Access to quality, affordable health care; strengthening America’s national security and homeland defense; supporting military families and veterans; working to make our nation energy independent; creating good jobs; improving our schools and ensuring that America’s democracy works for all its citizens – none of these are being effectively addressed by the Republicans in Washington today.

Know what you believe in. Keep that to your heart. This disaster doesn't change this, it reinforces it. This is the agenda America needs. This is the agenda that America must work for and that we must adopt. This is the right thing to do.

We are all marinating in bad news. We are all hurting. But there is a better way. We have to get there.

Faith, my dear, is precisely what is needed. Faith whispers that there is a way out of the darkness. Faith whispers that have taken a terrible blow, but you can get up again and fight again. We need faith and we need to believe in what we know is right. That is the way back to a country that we can be proud of and a country that we have a reason to take pride in.

I believe, my dear, I truly believe. And I know you do too!

[whometense]

9. Oh, my faith in Kerry is

completely intact. I never see any reason to doubt him - he always comes through.

I know people need to vent, and that they are beaten down by the - pardon this - flood of bad news. I am too. I just think we need to keep our eye on the bits of good news. It's the life raft we can hang onto.

I still am completely mystified as to how all this will play out. The repukes are all over the map - criticizing and lauding Bush in the space of ten minutes. It's like the hurricane gave the entire party inner ear problems. Karl seems to be back on the case, but the reporters did a hell of a job this past week, and I think people now know.

On a purely practical note I'd MUCH rather see the dems take their time and do it right than come out all scattershot and jumping all over the place. It's a big gaping hole, and if they handle it right it could make a huge difference in how the country views them. Leadership vacuum, meet LEADERSHIP.

[karynnj]

12. Thanks for posting the OP -

It's really good to see. I doubt that his brother is far from him on this, but if John were to say the same thing it would look horrible -rehashing the 2004 election in the wake of a major disaster. However, I think Cam is totally on target. (That is one articulate family)

Having heard some of the Republican nonsense on radio - Kerry is doing the right thing now. The focus of any elected official should be doing what he can - and Kerry sounds like he is. I think the fact that people like you (and other MA people) are able to say that you've always been able to trust both his motives and his judgment over his 22 year career is important to those of us seeing most of his career only in retrospect - which sometimes means things have been cleaned up.

[whometense]

13. Exactly!!!

Kerry is in a unique position, and anything he says can be scoffed off as sour grapes. If I were in such a position I would be extremely careful with my statements.

That said, he and Cam are very close, and I would bet anything that this post was discussed by both of them before it was published.

[karynnj]

15. I bet you're right on that

because it so directly relates to his brother and could affect him I would bet they did discuss it. It does follow exactly from JK's analysis that the idea that Bush was keeping us safe was the major reason for Bush's win (or close loss). I think the mention of the Ashley commercial is true - Kerry had a logical ad with Kristen B. (the 911 widow) but Bush's did have an emotional resonance.

[Island Blue]

14. Thank you so much for posting this Whome

I think this is an excellent statement by Cam, and I'd be VERY surprised if he sent this out into the world without his brother's knowledge (if not his input). In my mind, I could hear John saying many of the things that Cam wrote.

I think tomorrow should be a very interesting day indeed on Capitol Hill. How the world has changed since the summer Congressional recess began. America and Americans will never be the same after the events of last week. I am counting on strong leadership from the Democratic Party to help lead us out of this crisis and to clean-up the toxic mess that the Bush Administration* has gotten us into!

[whometense]

17. And if we needed an illustration

as to why it's better to think before you speak, check out Olbermann's screed here. Text here.

. . . Politician after politician — Republican and Democrat alike — has paraded before us, unwilling or unable to shut off the "I-Me" switch in their heads, condescendingly telling us about how moved they were or how devastated they were — congenitally incapable of telling the difference between the destruction of a city and the opening of a supermarket.

And as that sorry recital of self-absorption dragged on, I have resisted editorial comment. The focus needed to be on the efforts to save the stranded — even the internet's meager powers were correctly devoted to telling the stories of the twin disasters, natural... and government-made.

But now, at least, it is has stopped getting exponentially worse in Mississippi and Alabama and New Orleans and Louisiana (the state, not the city). And, having given our leaders what we know now is the week or so they need to get their act together, that period of editorial silence I mentioned, should come to an end. . .