Woo hoo! Kerry statement on election reform on Conyers' hearing site!

[Wordie]

Kerry is remaining involved in all of this!

Conyers' site, with statements from participants and other interested parties, has new statements posted today:
<snip>
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December7,2004

Senator John Kerry’s Statement on Election Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Senator John Kerry released the following statement today on election reform:
“It’s critical that we investigate and understand any and every voting irregularity anywhere in our country, not because it would change the outcome of the election but because Americans
have to believe that their votes are counted in our democracy. We should be working together to reform the system because it should be unacceptable to anyone, Democrat or Republican, that in the United States many people still don’t have full confidence in the integrity of the voting process. I want every vote counted in this election, but I also want to make sure there are no questions or doubts in future elections. That’s not too much to ask in the world’s
greatest democracy and model for free elections.”


Here is the link to the Conyers' site:
http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/voteforum.html

Please note, however, that the Kerry statement is in the form of a pdf file (Acrobat Reader required to read it), and I posted all of it above.

[Pacifist Patriot]

1. Sums it up for me!

[jamboi]

87. Woo Hoo! n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. I'm so happy that I could even kiss a Libertarian!

Oh, that moment is gone. But I'm still happy about Kerry!

Welcome home!

[Kolesar]

5. Kiss Joe Lieberman?

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. I would be hard pressed if I had to make a choice.

But then again, someone would probably have to hold them down anyways because the feeling is probably mutual.

:-)

[Kolesar]

30. I'm no fan of the corporate party , either

I find begrudging respect for the libertarians for some civil rights issues, but not much else.

[MarkusQ]

40. The Libertarians

The Libertarians have been struggling with the corporate trolls in the same way that the Republicans have had to deal with the Neo-cons and the Democrats with the Let's-be-just-like-Republicans.

In the Libertarian case, the issue seems to be that calling corporations "persons" and then applying Libertarian principles to them leads to paradoxes (as does calling ideas "property"). This isn't a problem with Libertarianism per se, but can occur in any rational system if you let terms be redefined willy-nilly. In mathematics, if you "define" 3 to be even, you will have similar problems.

The interesting thing about all these parasitic groups is that they all seem to be 1) well funded, 2) in favour of letting corporations get away with anything, 3) disliked by the majority within the parties they infest, but nonetheless powerful, often dominant, 4) portrayed by the MSM as the "core" of the party, with the others being the "fringe".

I wonder why that would be?

--MarkusQ

[Kolesar]

46. thanks ... eom

[Raksha]

63. WHAT??? Kiss a Libertarian???

Let's not get carried away here!

--Linda

[ruthg]

65. I have met one or two cute ones....n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

79. It was a very short moment. My sugar was dropping.

;-)

[txindy]

81. ROFL!

That must've been it!

[AmerDem]

3. Bronx cheer to Kerry

This is the same lame ass reply we had floating around here for the past 24 hours.

[ClintCooper2003]

4. He keeps saying, "not because it would change the outcome..."

Maybe that's a sly way of telling us that it could change the outcome?

[Helga Scow Stern]

10. As long as they keep saying that it sounds safe and ineffectual and

it doesn't wake the dogs.

[Wordie]

21. Coming out swinging on the issue would be the equivalent of self-imolation

What would be the point of that? It wouldn't change anything, and we would have another sidelined Dem leader. Ask Al Gore.

[malatesta1137]

35. oh sure

as if behaving in the weak and pathetic manner that Kerry is right now will change things. Al Gore only started behaving like a real leader 4 years too late. If only he had the balls to do it in 2000!

[moesse]

41. Weak and Pathetic? How about Cagey and with finesse?

When you're playing sports, the most successful plays are those that go under the radar, taking the opponent by surprise after all the players are in the desired positions.

There're surely a lot of facts to gather, eggs to get into one basket and all that...

[malatesta1137]

48. who's starting a second term on Jan 20?

don't give me this Cagey and with finesse nonsense. Time ran out for that.

[Wordie]

52. Any chance, however slim, of changing that won't be based on watching

Kerry self-imolate by getting too far out ahead of the country on this issue. It is up to us to make sure that the information gets out to the public at large and is taken seriously. That's why the Conyers' forum was so important.

[zann725]

67. Not according to the attorneys at Judiciary Hearing yesterday.

I'm hanging in there for a while yet. :kick:

[Wordie]

50. He is behaving like a statesman. As he should. n/t

[intelle]

36. It also makes the effort sound nonpartisan...very smart. n/t

[Carl Brennan]

77. BINGO, BINGO, BINGO--I hope that soon this awareness hits critical

mass at DU. Kerry is playing a damn smart game.

[catnhatnh]

12. Please see my post ...

under the same title "Not Because"...I've been parsing it and reached an interesting conclusion...

[FreeCajun]

24. And to throw the rethug dogs off his trail.

He wants to win, he just wants to make sure that its fair if he does, and fair if he doesn't.

[bear425]

34. Yes, I read it that way, too.

Kinda like - not "only" will it change the outcome...
But maybe we are just heavily parsing.

[joeunderdog]

80. Is anyone else tired of having to hang their hopes on cryptic messages?

With a hearing/event like this, all we get is scraps of vague hope and pom-pom-ing? I need something more substantive this late in the game. Time is running out.

Where is the evidence of the coordination of a bigger game on Kerry's part? The landscape is really still a mess with no real media support and no big guns firing anywhere. It's like abstract art; everyone sees what they want to see, but the truth is, it really has no form to it.

I mean--I hope I'm wrong--but I figured by this date we'd've seen the shape of things to come.

[AntiFascist]

83. If there was any possibility that it would change the outcome....

it might wake up the MSM, and he wouldn't want that would he?

[knowbody0]

6. thanks wordie

this may take much longer than we would like, but IMO the greater good guides john kerry,

[seito]

I really like that quote.

I have seen it around here before "the greater good guides John Kerry"

[knowbody0]

32. i ching

beautiful pristine words of wisdom i try to live by

[ruthg]

64. anyone throw it ( I ching) about...

current situation with regards to election? I am a total skeptic but I have found the IChing to be very very prescient at times..Of course, it is open to interpretation...

[knowbody0]

69. yes i did nov 2

conflict changing to cauldron

[marylanddem]

89. Conflict changing to Cauldron

Cauldron would be, if I remember correctly, a very good hexagram to wind up with.

[anamandujano]

86. I can give you the P.G. Wodehouse version

"if it 'twere done, it's best it 'twere done quickly"

--or something like that


The country and the world need to know right now that americans chose John Kerry, democrat for president and our lawyers will be presenting the case in the next few weeks.

[seito]

7. People here lose the forest for the trees

They are so unnerved by the "because it would change the outcome of the election" statement that they miss the real message. Yes, John Kerry is involved in this. I do not need to see him on television to know that he is working this issue.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. Kerry is fighting against more than one family dynasty.

I'm convinced of it. If he has too much high exposure, they will start the mudslinging before we've even had a chance to take a look at what's going on with regards to election fraud.

[Im with Rosey]

33. I Agree

YOU ARE SO RIGHT!!!

[Broken Acorn]

8. He's just waiting to open up his Can of Whoop-Ass

and put the Smack Down on the chimp.

This is his message to us saying that he has reported for duty and never took the R & R lots in here accused him of.

[Lisabtrucking]

9. The date is the 7th yesterday was the 8th. n/t

[TexasChick]

11. Lisabtrucking, what's wrong with the date? I'm not busting your chops

or anything, just wondering. :shrug:

[Lisabtrucking]

16. It was written before the hearing.

If the meeting was the 8th then Kerry wrote that a day before the hearings. That's all.

[TexasChick]

18. Gotcha! Interesting.... n/t

[Lisabtrucking]

22. believe me I want him to be my president more then you could know. n/t

[TexasChick]

58. Same here! And, we could have a president who can actually form a

correct English sentence to save his life! Bring back complete sentences to the White House for crying out loud! :cry:

[Wordie]

28. Why would it matter, if in anticipation of the hearing, he wrote it the

day before? I don't understand, I guess, why it should be an issue.

[Lisabtrucking]

42. It matters because he's showing us, he has not forgot about the hearing.

and I'm sure people were wondering if he was going to be there. By putting that statement out the day before, he must be listening and watching what is going on. I think he just wants us to know he hasn't forgotten.

[Wordie]

74. Sheesh: it took me so long to understand what you were saying! I see now.

Sorry I didn't before. It sometimes is so easy to misinterpret here, where there is only text on a screen. :)

[Griffy]

29. Kerry didnt need hearing to tell him he won n/t

[Wordie]

14. These are statements entered into the record in support of the election

reform efforts. Kerry apparently wrote his the day before. No biggie.

[Pepper32]

13. Good to know he is still fighting this the SMART way :) n/t

[BamaBecky]

17. YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[Griffy]

19. NOTICE.. "it would change" .. not "could change"

once again his language tell us he knows... like bush uses code (liberty is christianity....like Falwells "Liberty University") to his base... Kerry tells us he knows, for better or worse Kerry choose this stategy. He also states the system's unacceptable! He wants to make sure there are no doubts in future elections, do you think he believes bush and this congress will do? .... I dont

PS we DO have leaders, Kerry leading this would alienate a huge part of the country, you have to think of the big picture! If the house dems and Jesse Jackson and others can show a Kerry win in Ohio.. you will see Kerry bigtime!

[keepthemhonest]

43. good catch

would change. hee hee

at first I thought this was an old statement, but damn i am happy:P

now can anybody do anything about what happened?

[libertypirate]

68. I could kick you...

uber kick..

[malatesta1137]

23. I am actually tired of these vague and formal

statements from Kerry. Enough with words, how about some action, Senator?

[andyhappy]

26. hear hear

lets see some action jackson!

[Wordie]

31. Please see my post #21 above.

[neversaynever]

38. Sigh, Malatesta...I grow very tired of your inability to recognize

intelligent *strategy for what it is.

[malatesta1137]

51. show me the money

who's starting a second term on Jan 20? don't give me this intelligent *strategy nonsense.

[neversaynever]

53. We do not yet ***KNOW*** who is going to be inaugurated on Jan 20

and money, well, money burns a hole in a FOOL's pocket. Obviously, if Mr. Kerry isn't adept at managing his resources, his wife clearly is (and in many households, the wives are the ones who take charge of the budget).

I'm not going to respond to any more of your nonsense. I think you are a hindrance to the efforts all of us are engaged in seeking to PREVENT the inauguration of the fictitious, felony "president" -- :boring:

And while we're on the subject of money, my expenses in these efforts now exceed the $1,000 mark (and that doesn't count "lost income" from time invested , which I will have to make up for later -- providing this country has not gone entirely bankrupt by June 2005 should all our efforts fail). What's your tally?

I really don't mean to be rude and have no intention of offending you or anyone else, but I just find your comments to be so much of a DOWNER...each of your post Kerry bashing posts is worth 50 mg of valium.

[malatesta1137]

71. I'm not being negative

how about REALISTIC? wake up and stop the delusion, look at Ukraine for God's sakes. They ACT, they get results. These hearings, marches, letters to the editors, DU threads are *worthless*.

[selmo7]

97. You limit yourself by your puny self-imposed measures

If you are sincere, you might consider to see things on the grand scale in which they are grounded.

A good pot of tea takes time to brew.

There is a reason that there is a saying "pure in thought, word and deed." Energy is energy. What our senses fail to perceive do nonetheless exist."

btw..are you the Malatesta that knows a mutual friend "Boomer?" If so, we know each other. If not, 'scuse me. :-)

[New Earth]

98. your negativity is worthless

and it does nothing but make almost everyone here want to

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[DARE to HOPE]

59. Malatesta, YOU again!

If you would take some B vitamins and calcium you might finally be able to shake that HEADACHE which puts you in such a negative mood all the time! Oh, and an anchovie or two as well!

[bunny planet]

91. I love reading all the positive Kerry threads now that I have Malatesta

on permanent ignore. He's so damn grumpy.

[seito]

93. LOL!!!!

Oh the power of the IGNORE button, if only real life was so easy.

[European Socialist]

56. Action

We need him to scream "bloody murder". Not just be concerned.

[Kellis]

25. Thats Kerry for ya'

A man of wisdom.A unifyer.A fighter.A man who has my deepest respect and admiration.

Keep the faith and keep up the pressure DUers.This fight isn't over-not by a long shot.

Thanks for posting Wordie

:kick:

[sabra]

27. The AP report only had part of the statment,

it was good to see it in it's complete form. Thanks for posting.

[Wordie]

54. Make sure to visit Conyers' Judiciary site, its got many more statements

today, that were not originally published on the site. I posted a link in the original post of this thread.

[BlueBloodDem]

37. Awesome

I am new here, but have never given up hope that Kerry is involved. I have read everything you guys have been doing. It is so wonderful that you guys are doing this. I read here mostly as I do not really do forums, as I posted on another thread. I think Ohio definitely went for Kerry. I hope we can get this out before it is too late :(
I have friends in Ohio, that are livid! They went to the march. They talked me into getting involved. I am in FLA. and I am not seeing the excitement here, as is in Ohio. I have been writing letters on my own to my congressman and to the Ohio board of elections. You guys have me pumped!
Thanks to all!

Karen

[Karenca]

44. Welcome

Im sort of new also...I'm one month here.
This place is fabulous!
Welcome to DU

(another Karen :))

[Up2Late]

39. Conyers Hearing Replaying NOW on C-SPAN3

:bounce:If you don't get CSPAN3, It can be streamed LIVE at CSPAN.org

[shance]

45. If Kerry wanted every vote to count, he would actually FIGHT.

Im having difficulty understanding why there are some DUers that are quick to eagerly accept bread crumbs when we have been served filet mignon (ie the White House).

I know its a tough deal to look at, but somebody sold out and it looks like, talks like walks like John Kerry. I believe he is accountable to the party and his supporters for doing so. I know its hard to accept, but no healthy, meaningful change can come from believing in a person or a situation that is not authentic.

I simply see no other way to see it. Senator Kerry seems to want to have his cake and eat it too. He continues to talk out of both sides of his mouth.

If the votes are COUNTED, that WILL CHANGE THE OUTCOME, and by saying it won't accept his rightly won position, he readily admits that even if he WON, he will not be president. The question you might want to ask yourself,

why did he run?

[New Earth]

47. that is not what he said at all

[shance]

49. I read the statement posted, what do you believe he said?

n/t

[pgh_dem]

62. I disagree with this assessment

But on the off chance you are right, I could only guess that being accountable to his party and being accountable to his supporters might be very different things.
Anyway, I think he's still fighting...maybe not with some master plan, but treading water in the hopes that something breaks his way. When it does, it'll be pretty badass.
If it doesn't, hell...what's the difference? Just another 4 years of corporate evil blahblah, same as if he wimped out.
What's the harm in hoping he's as cool as he seemed?

[sunnystarr]

70. I really understand your frustration and I share it but

if Kerry were to come out right now fighting then this will become a partisan issue and election law violations will get buried in the feeding frenzy and nothing would be accomplished except all our issues and Kerry being reduced to ridicule.

Kerry knows this.

[zann725]

72. Maybe he is...more than we know...

I note that both the Alliance for Democracy, AND Voting Rights Institute, whose attorneys are the most active in this (and who were at the Judiciary Hearing yesterday)...are curiously both based in Massachusetts. One is based in Boston, the other in Waltham, MA. Could be coincidental, but...these could be the 'attorneys on the ground.':think:

[Up2Late]

94. Election Protection (PFTAW) are still in too...

I think.

That who I Volunteered with during the Election :hippie:

[Qutzupalotl]

78. He doesn't KNOW if it will change the outcome.

We have to have a fair (re)count for that. Kinda hard to have that if Delay sends his goons to disrupt again like he did in 2000. Which is exactly what we'd get if Kerry comes out swinging; he'd just make himself a target.

It’s critical that we investigate and understand any and every voting irregularity anywhere in our country, not because it would change the outcome of the election but because Americans have to believe that their votes are counted in our democracy.

He's saying he's guided by the principle that every vote should count. That's exactly the right tone. Bluster will get him nowhere.

He never says he doesn't WANT to change the outcome. He just doesn't want to telegraph his intentions to his opponent. "I'm going to kick you now." LOL

He never says, as you suggest, that he wouldn't accept the presidency if he is found to have won Ohio. He will. He didn't give up a year on the road fighting for nothing. NOBODY would do that.

[txindy]

84. Thank you for that assessment.

I agree with you. It's nice to know there are people who understand the value of strategy and intelligent thinking.

[seito]

85. I do not interpret it that way

If we come through on this one, John Kerry will accept the Presidency. You can bet the farm on that one. If not, then he will step aside and we will have a President Edwards. I could live with either.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

55. I Love It! Laughing! Chess anyone???? n/t

[AmerDem]

57. Chess?

as in the same Chess match that got us into this mess? pathetic!

[DARE to HOPE]

60. I'm for chess!!

And prayer for all the Truth tellers! :-)

[AmerDem]

61. i'm for castration

of all the cheats and liars and a swift kick in the ass for those without the balls to speak out against this bs.

[malatesta1137]

76. you speak

in my language

[Up2Late]

95. I just want to see...

Rummy, GWBush, DICK C, Wolfee, and Carl Rove :grr: in Orange Jumpsuits and Leg Irons, That's all..... and please God, Please send them to Guantanamo for a few years, until we figure out what to charge them with. :evilgrin:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

75. Either Kerry took a fall, or he's playing an elaborate game of chess.

Think about it. First the pawns moved out..the Glibs and Nader. The Repugs can't really respond to them. Conyers, Wexler, Nadler even McAuliffe are like the knights, bishops, slowly getting ready for the attack...they are the one's if you notice taking the brunt of the Repugs slams now...Yet they can't bring Kerry down to their level because as long as his talking point is not changing the outcome, he stands above the fray. Yet he is starting to challenge. When Kerry says "That’s not too much to ask in the world’s
greatest democracy and model for free elections.”, it is a declaration, yet so brilliantly couched, he still remains untouchable by the wolves... When Kerry takes office, he has to be as Presidential as possible. He has a job ahead of him that I wouldn't wish on anyone, to clean up the Sociopath's mess, and he has to do that with an appearance of Total Integrity.

[anamandujano]

90. "he has to be as Presidential as possible"

being a leader in what amounts to saving democracy is not going to tarnish kerry. he has more Presidential in his fingernail clippings than anyone in this administration or their talking goons on tv.

[zann725]

73. Checkmate, indeed! And IF were are right, what a TRUE mandate!

n/t

[Karenca]

66. For some reason that I don't know why, I

cant get Kerry's statement. I do get the Conyers site, but nowhere on the site do I get a link or anything at all to lead me to Kerry's remarks. Could someone please do me a favor and copy the rest of Kerry's statement for me. I'de appreciate that so much.:pals:

[GetTheRightVote]

82. I attended the hearing and it was amazing meeting all the members

of the hearing, I shook their hands and thanked them for all their wonderful work and told them the internet was a buzz with how they were protecting our voting rights, they are aware that the internet is becoming a force in the power of the news and fact gathering, some even reconginized the DU when I mentioned it to them. It was a very exciting day for me, everyone should try to be a part of it by attending rallies and such as I have, I was in Ohio on Saturday and will be in DC this Saturday, I have been to all the hearings so far and it has really made me believe that it is going to happen, they are very serious about getting the fraud people and putting them in jail if possible, LaRouche, I believe has even put some individuals away already, in New Hampshire and another state as well.

[loudsue]

99. I hadn't heard anything about this!! Are you sure??

..."they are very serious about getting the fraud people and putting them in jail if possible, LaRouche, I believe has even put some individuals away already, in New Hampshire and another state as well."

Who did LaRouche finger, and what happened? :bounce:

I respect your involvement, GTRV, and I'm really grateful for your report on this.

That's the most optimistic thing I've heard so far!

:kick::kick:

[seito]

88. Here you go

http://www.house.gov/judiciary_democrats/kerryvotepr12704.pdf

[Imagevision]

92. Go John Go!--We too only want to make sure that all votes were counted

{the rest will take care of itself}

[Higans]

96. Fight Kerry! make them count our votes!!!!!!!! n/t