"I've Been in Worse Situations" -Time talks with John Kerry...

[Rose Siding]

Sunday, Sep. 12, 2004
In his first wide-ranging interview with a national news organization in more than a month, John Kerry sat down with TIME's national political correspondent Karen Tumulty last week as his campaign plane flew between a health-care forum in St. Louis, Mo., and a rally in Allentown, Pa. With a guitar case resting nearby and his daughter Alexandra, 31, popping in at one point, the challenger appeared very focused as he reflected on what lies ahead in the final seven weeks of the campaign—and, if he manages to pull off a come-from-behind victory, the four years after that.
.......
snip>
TIME
One question that has left the President at a loss for words is whether he has had regrets. Do you?

KERRY
I've made mistakes, and I've done things that I regret, sure. I regret voting for Justice Scalia. I regret that any of us put faith in what the President said about how he would take America to war.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040920-695825,00.html

Edit to re-snip: I've been waiting for that one! whew.

[mourningdove92]

1. What a Great Interview.

Thanks for posting this.

Kerry refused to walk into any of the traps. Stayed on message, kept his integrity.

[poliguru]

2. I'm always struck by the diference

between Kerry speaking and Bush speaking. Kerry just oozes intelligent, statesmanlike personality. Bush - well, we all know what he oozes. I can't figure out WHY anyone who hears both supports Bush. He clearly never has a clue.

[Ernesto]

5. Good point

This is what scares me about the debates....... It just seems that too many folks actually prefer being represented by a stubborn idiot that appeals to the "common" folk. I think there must be a collective lack of self esteem if the chimp is the kind of "leader" that the sheep are attracted to. Folks that suspect their own intellectual short comings just aren't comfortable around "smart" people..... Witness the hate for Bill Clinton.

[goclark]

12. It's 98 % about Racism

The other two percent is about power and control.

That's one of the main reasons they hated Clinton. He respected Black people, They never want that to happen again in this country.
Because, if it does,Whites(in their small little minds) will not be in control.

[Ernesto]

13. 98%?

I realize that the repugs are the party of hate, but 98%? I do hope (and believe) that there are more issues than that out there.

[goclark]

14. Yes the vocal issues are far more important

The silent issues,the "keep me safe from THOSE people" issues are deep in their hearts and will not come out.

THOSE people are mostly people of color and the poor minorities and it has expanded to "any people who would defend THOSE people."

They do not want Kerry because he cares about ALL people. They are afraid of that messenger. They know that BUSH does not CARE about any Iraqi 's life. Or any Black persons life(well,maybe Condi's.)

The sheep that follow him that are WHITE and POOR believe that he is not talking about THEM. They actually believe that he cares about THEM because he does not pander to BLACK people. He makes that perfectly clear to them. They get his SILENT Message.

[poliguru]

15. Reading your post it made me recall

the part in the movie "The American President" at the end, when Michael Douglas talks about how all his opponent has is the ability to make people afraid. Prescient now, isn't it?

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

21. Sadly, goclark, I have to agree...

Bombing "brown people", as George Carlin says, gives him credibility with...OK, I'm going to say it, the NASCAR dads. Remember, when Clinton did Kosovo it didn't seem to resonate, since these were generally white appearing Europeans...not to mention Milosovec (sp?), apparently not as easy to demonize with his WASP features.

Look at the flak he's taken for suggesting that immigrants without citizen status be granted some very basic rights, in exchange for their work. He sure hasn't tried that line again.

I would still like to think the total number of people in this country who vote according to their racial bias is less than 98%. I don't know, though, what that number might be. MKJ

[TahitiNut]

40. Nonsense.

For some of those who vote for this corrupt cabal it may be all about racism, but for the power-hungry, greed-obsessed autocrats and plutocrats racism and extreme fundamentalism are merely ways of dividing and conquering the PEOPLE, over whom they lust for power and profit. It's the antebellum plantation mentality - parasites on the labor of slaves and sharecroppers. They neither participate in the labor nor share in the supervision of that labor - buying the latter 'services' from a prostituted 'executive class': the Kapos of corporatism. These monsters regard themselves as 'entitled' or 'chosen people' in a sheerly secular and corrupt sense. These evil bastards appeal to and nurture the absolute WORST in others.

[Just Me]

73. I agree with your perspective, TahitiNut,...

,...and it's embarassing that our own leadership engages in such divisive tactics in order to conquer/control the citizens in their own country. It is a form of evil that humiliates this nation and the people in it.

[Vitruvius]

46. One reason racist Rethugs hate Clinton is that he's 5/32 Native American

(For simplicity, Clinton describes himself as being "1/6" Native American.)

Plus, your typical prosperous overfed Rethug can't stand the fact that Clinton came from poverty and accomplished more than they themselves will ever do...

So 98% racism plus class bigotry sounds about right...

[saccheradi]

16. True.

There is an enormous body of idiots in this Country who revel in their stupidity and feel they have a leader who they can understand and who understands them.

and none of those people will vote for someone else because they are fools, and you cannot persuade, nor argue with fools.

[Ernesto]

28. The problem is he understands them much better tha they know

His shameless "acting the part" conceals (from the rubes) the predatory nature of his strategy.

[Cha]

38. "A common folk" who will lead them into

HELL!

[HannibalBarca]

7. True, big diff between Bush & Kerry

What I intend to do is to put in play the economic power, the values and principles, the public diplomacy, so we're isolating the radical Islamic extremists and not having the radical extremists isolate the United States

Imagine ol Bushy ever beginning to comprehend the sentiment behind that much less actually say it.

[King Coal]

42. LOL! Yeah they have learned not to write anything like that for Smirk.

[wakfs]

9. Alas

This is why Kerry cannot win. Most Americans dislike intelligence in their leaders, or so it would seem.

Sorry, I'm thoroughly distressed at this point.

[Ivan Sputnik]

31. Let's not give up hope

Let's remember that the "intellectual" candidate won the popular vote in the last three presidential elections.

[Crazy8s]

37. I dunno

I wouldn't heap Most Americans together behind Bush. This election is pretty much in a dead heat--that means that at least half of the American populace is not willing to wallow in Bush's bumbling, everyman persona. The big problem is the possiblilty of the big fix, not in the stupidity of the populace (tho I agree--how can anyone who hears this numbskull speak or even sees his smarmy speaking style even give one thot to voting for him?!).

[GOPAgainstGW]

27. That's Simple, The Majority of the Public is Not Well Educated SO

since the Presidential election over the years has turned into a personality contest, it actually hurts Kerry some. God forbid we would have a man of intelligence and character in the White House, lol.


------------------------------
Beltway and Texas Republicans
Against Bush-Cheney ’04, Inc.
------------------------------
"Insider’s News”, Vol 1 - Kerry-Edwards Campaign Doing Well
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x748458
“Insider’s News” Vol 1.1 - Great Anti-Bush Sites
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x756409

[The Icon Painter]

71. You're Right

As Adlai Stevenson said when assured that he had the vote of the intelligent citizens. "Alas, madam, I need a majority." (paraphrased because I'm too lazy to look up the exact quote)

[NMDemDist2]

3. "they don't have a record to run on" says it all n/t

[LibDemAlways]

4. "If he manages to pull-off a

come-from-behind victory" smells like whoreshit to me.

[Ediacara]

8. Well, Time has to keep pumping their BS poll

That put him behind by 11 points.

Time will never admit what everyone already knows: they used a no-name pollster that created a flawed framework that oversampled Republicans and created a BS result meant to deflate Democrats.

Both Rasmussen (R) and Zogby (D, but with mostly R clients) pointed this out. Re-running SRBI-Time's numbers in the proper statistical framework showed that Bush was ahead by 3% and that that is well within the MOE.

All other recent polls, except for Newsweek's other similarly flawed eratic poll, show the same thing: the race is tied.

EDIT: spelling and clarity.

[shrub chipper]

6. Is this country ready for another President

who can present coherent thoughts in concise sentences?

That interview is in stark contrast to Bush's cheerleading as you can obviously see that Mr. Kery has actually put some thought into his positions.

WE HAVE TO WIN THIS ELECTION!!!!

[saccheradi]

18. education.

yes. We must.

There are thinking Republicans out there. There are those who know that their President is a moron. There are those who know he doesn't even support their own ideology by his actions.

They must see an alternative that will lead them to break ranks. That alternative is for the Democratic Party and the Kerry campaign to take action. To not only gripe about the shrub, but to pull out a bat and beat him, and all other repuke politicians like him, into nonexistence.

[Child_Of_Isis]

10. Hmmmmmmmm.........

"KERRY
I will fight a more effective war on terror, and over the next weeks the American people will see the phoniness of the Bush efforts."

:think:

[glitch]

17. Grahams book should get publicity just as soon as the fonts die down nt

[Red Fox]

11. Surprisingly nice interview

A combination of general thoughts, some numbers/facts, getting a bit deeper in the plans, and sometimes some lashes at the bush admin.

All that without stuttering, can bush say that for the past 4 years? Pffft

I'm looking forward to the debates.

[FlemingsGhost]

19. A 30-year D.C. insider didn't realize what many DUers knew?

Invading Iraq was a sham from the get-go ... A smokescreen in order to execute the PNAC agenda. Is that what you are saying, Senator?

I regret the fact we so easily gave you the nomination.

[AngryLizard]

22. Oh, YAWN

You'll regret the next four years much more if you don't vote for him and encourage everyone you know to vote for him, I'll tell you that much.

In a perfect world, Kerry would have voted no, repercussions be damned. Politically, he had to vote for this war, because you know, what if Bush was right?

Seriously, what if he was right, and they went into Iraq, and found WMDs, and Sadaam was then a proven threat? How would voting against the right for Bush to go to war look then?

I totally understood the vote, and totally understood, as I'm sure every Senator did, that it might backfire on them. And totally understood that it might not.

But I'll tell you something: I don't think any of them seriously thought that Bush was going to turn around and say, "F**k what the inspectors say, I'm going in anyway." That was a bit of a "Whuh??" momment.

[FlemingsGhost]

24. So he supports the war because it's poltically advantageous?

But hey, let's put that aside for now and continue damning Bush for using the war for political purposes.

All this from a man who once defiantly stated: "How do you ask a man to be the last to die for a mistake?"

Great quote, huh? Shows me that John Kerry has the courage to follow his conscience and act accordingly. So what happened thirty years later?

(edited for clarity)

[AngryLizard]

26. First of all, he didn't "support the war"

He voted to give Bush the right to go to war, with the assurance that he would only do so under certain circumstances.

So, again I ask: What if Bush had been right? They really didn't know, did they? Like, not "thought" - KNEW. Not really. Not after all the info they had been given, and Colin Powell's presentation, etc. That's why they sent in inspectors. I don't think that Kerry dreamed that Bush would jump the gun and go in anyway, with limited troops, and limited international support, and just GO IN ANYWAY!!!

That is what Kerry means when he says that he would not have gone to war in the way that Bush had. With no proof from official inspectors, limited international cooperation, and no plan to win the peace. I'm sorry, that sounds pretty sensible to me.

So, no, not just because it's politically advantageous (although, seriously, we are dealing with politicians, you know, "can't govern if you're not elected"), but because Bush could have been right, and if he was right, then perhaps we couldn't take the chance.

[FlemingsGhost]

34. Fair enough. Win at all costs is the game, I guess.

Even if it's at the expense of our collective integrity. Sounds a lot like our adversaries, to me.

"What ifs" are impossible to debate, so I will not pursue this issue further.

Bottom line: Kerry, and many others, should have known better than to give the Neo-Cons an opportunity to execute their deluded plan to "change the world." Fortunately for him, (and you, for that matter,) he can claim he simply didn't know it would come to the debacle we find ourselves in today. Funny how many here at DU were wise to it, though.

Peace.

(on edit: typo)

[AngryLizard]

41. No, it's "What if Bush is right?"

Then this country would be screwed, and the folks who voted against it would be screwed, as well.

You keep forgetting that there was supposed to be a plan. Let the inspectors finish, get an international coalition together based on what their info showed,etc. Bush agreed to this, and reneged. He didn't just say, "Hey, give me this resolution supporting me if I go to war" and Congress went, "Duh, uh, OKAY."

What Kerry should be screaming (and I'll give you this) is "Then why the f'in A did you bother asking for a resolution when you were going to go in no matter what??"

Answer: To trap your asses.

Kerry has done nothing but answer the question about the IWR truthfully. He said he voted for it, he doesn't regret voting for it given the info that he was given, and he doesn't support the way that Bush has run the war so far. He's being honest and you're nailing him for it. How is him saying that he doesn't like the way Bush has been running things hypocritical.

[nolabels]

76. For some people, it's not enough to say others scewed up

These vindictive people that want to prove everybody wrong in one way or another. I won't even pretend to want to defend others. I would have honestly also voted for the resolution if I were one of those people. It wasn't even a bill, but only a resolution (which can make no law). So instead of holding bushco accountable for the invasion / war, everybody holds Kerry responsible. So instead of even doing what the constitution says should be done, we will blame ancillary parties. This is also hypocrisy; you want to hold others responsible for things that were not their purview.

I hold no great expectations for anything but at least getting the issues correct instead of debating these talking points would be at least a help. How does one feel about Kerry not voting for the newest request for 87 billion more for the Iraq fiasco? The GI's should be screaming unmentionables at Kerry (which they are not, because they are not even allowed to speak, just like slaves). I have noticed the VRWC does not hammer on that 87 billion too much. Could it be they know the stinking war is a loser for them?

[hansolsen]

48. It is flat out not true that people voting for IWR didn't know Shrub was

well on his way to war. That was clear as a bell.

[AngryLizard]

56. I never said that they didn't know that

What I said was that there were certain guarantees that were made that Bush reneged on. What I said was that - from the perspective of Congress - Bush could have been right about the WMDs, in which case the IWR could have been justified. We'd been bombing Iraq off and on since the end of the Gulf War, so it wasn't like we didn't think they were a problem, or at the least, a minor irritation. Congress was presented with info that said that there was a high probability that Sadaam was cooking something up.

Yes, they knew that Bush wanted to go to war. He said it was because of x, y, and z, and they said, okay, prove it. Give us evidence, let the inspectors go in unfettered (Sadaam didn't block those inspectors), see what they find, get a coalition together so we're not, you know, shouldering 98.9% of the burden and the casualties, and come back to us. Bush said sure. They gave him the IWR he asked for based on what he agreed to do before he went to war. And then he said, "Psych!"

Do I understand why Congress passed the IWR, from a political and practical standpoint? Yes. Do I think we never should have gone to war in the first place? Yes. I don't see those two things as being inconsistent.

It was never Congress' decision to go to war, it was Bush's. It was always his decision.

[hansolsen]

62. It was clear *** at the time *** that no WMD existed in Iraq. It was the

clearest case of the Emperor's New Clothes come to life I have ever seen.

The WMD lies were widely debunked at the time. The evidence those congree critters relied on was what I called, "thin gruel, about two peas to the gallon", and said so at the time.

I will never forgive that vote. It was a tactical political move that will haunt this generation of Dem leaders from now until they die.

Dems who voted for the IWR will forever live in a hall of infamy.

I'm voting for Kerry anyway, of course, largely because he is running against the Prince of Abu Ghraib, Caligula in training pants, circa 2004.

[VladTheImpaler]

20. This is the man who will lead us into the 21st century...

... it just has to be!

[AngryLizard]

23. All I know is everywhere I go

People talk about how much Bush sucks. The bumpersticker on my laptop started a 3-table discussion at Borders about how much Bush sucks, how he didn't really win last time, and how it's important to vote this time. My sister-in law who has bit of an in with teen media says that it's now cool to vote for Kerry. My conservative in-laws don't even like him. I've travled both coasts this summer, and no one likes this guy and is tired of looking at him.

Couple that with the massive rallies Kerry has everywhere he goes. Couple that with the fact that pretty much every poll shows or indicates that this race is tied...you guys, it's going to be a squeaker, but Kerry is by no means out of it. Don't let anything stop you from voting. Make sure that everyone you know has a way to get to the polls. I'm driving three people to polls myself.

VOTE. VOTE. VOTE. We can do this. And we damn well better.

[llmart]

25. I love your enthusiasm, your optimism.....

and the fact that you are actually walking the walk, and talking the talk. Many people just talk a good game but don't actually do anything extra. I have never been so involved in a campaign in my 55 years on this earth, but this is important stuff. We cannot let our democracy die because of the neocons in office now.

[Seabiscuit]

29. I am sinking deeper and deeper into despair

The best statement in this interview is: "I've made mistakes, and I've done things that I regret, sure. I regret voting for Justice Scalia. I regret that any of us put faith in what the President said about how he would take America to war."

Well, I'm glad JK finally admits he made a "mistake" by putting "faith in what the President said about how he would take America to war."

But that just doesn't cut it.

Throughout his entire campaign he has looked for one excuse after another to justify his IWR vote. Right after the Republican Convention he gave us a ray of hope by stating several times that Bush "misled" us into war. But he *never* said that he personally was "misled" into voting vor the IWR. Then he completely blows it by boing on record with a pathetic nonresponse to the question whether his vote would have been different on the IWR had he known then what he knows now (about complete lack of WMD, etc.) and rambles on about thinking it was right to give Bush the "authority" to go to war, but went about it the wrong way, and doesn't think Bush should have a "blank check" to go war.

What's wrong with this picture Kerry has painted of himself?

1. Voting to give Bush the "authority" to go to war without consulting Congress IS voting to give Bush a "blank check" to go to war. Just ask Senator Robert Byrd. Or read the Constitution. Kerry voted for nothing except to hand to Bush Congress' Power to Declare War. Simple as that. That's what a "blank check" is.

2. Bush didn't need the authority of the IWR to go to the United Nations with a new U.N. Resolution. Everything Kerry has said on this subject is transparent crap. And "likely voters" are catching on, and affecting the polls.

3. Kerry has never yet admitted his vote on the IWR was a "mistake". He should have long ago stated he himself was "misled" by the faked intelligence about WMD, and the supposed threat Saddam posed at that time, and that now he knows better, he would have voted differently.

4. Kerry has never yet admitted it was wrong to go to war with Iraq in the first place. He just talks in circles about how Bush went about it "in the wrong way" and without a "true coalition". So the right wing laughs its ass off, mocking JK about: sure, you would have gotten France and Germany on board.

5. Even Madeline Albright couldn't make sense of Kerry's position on the Tim Russert show this morning. See, Tim, like all right-wingers characterize repeatedly in the media that Kerry's vote was a vote "to go to war". That put Ms. Albright on the defensive, saying, no, it was a vote to give Bush the authority to go to the United Nations and develop a true coalition before going to war. WRONG! Bush had that authority without the IWR.

6. Kerry will never get past the hurdle in #4 above until he admits his vote on the IWR was a mistake, in view of how Bush used it, and in view of all the administration's deceptions about WMDs leading up to that resolution.

7. Kerry is obviously so afraid of the "flip flop" label he's afraid to do what is morally right and politically necessary now and admit his vote on the IWR was a mistake. And W is having a field day now ridiculing Kerry on an issue that Kerry should be in a position to ridicule W about. It really sucks.

8. Meanwhile, Kerry, with his nonsensical and BS statements about it all, has allowed the right wing press in America to brainwash voters day in and day out about how Kerry "voted to go to war". Every surrogate Kerry puts out there gets hit with this phrase, and ends up backpeddling and talking gibberish, thanks to JK himself.

I'm feeling really down and desperate by now. JK had the issues and the backing to win this election by a landslide yet by now obviously lacks the moral courage and spine to stand up to W across the board. JK, I fear, is going to hand us four more years of insanity and devastation under the Bush/Cheney cartel.

And that just makes me want to puke.

[GOPAgainstGW]

30. BaaWaa!!, Hey Don't Sugar Coat it or Anything, ROFLOL!!

We hear your frustration. Must I could say but will wait until tomorrow. - NKR

------------------------------
Beltway and Texas Republicans
Against Bush-Cheney ’04, Inc.
------------------------------
"Insider’s News”, Vol 1 - Kerry-Edwards Campaign Doing Well
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x748458
“Insider’s News” Vol 1.1 - Great Anti-Bush Sites
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x756409

[Seabiscuit]

68. ROFLOL???

Rolling On Floor Lots Of Laughs???

Ever hear of ROTFLMAO? - "Rolling On The Floor Laughing My Ass Off"?

:)

[Diogenes2]

32. Fine... go ahead

& puke & get feeling better & then vote for Kerry & save our democracy. Or just sit around & whine.

[Seabiscuit]

33. I'm not just sitting around and whining.

I've been trying to wake people here and on in the Kerry campaign up about this for so many months, I'm sick of it. In fact the Kerry blog banned me for raising this issue more than once.

And don't tell me what to do.

Of course I'll vote for Kerry.

That doesn't mean he'll win.

And that doesn't mean I shouldn't speak out about the biggest weakness of our candidate. A weakness that needs immediate attention, because the right wing media is hammering JK day in and day out about this, and will continue to do so right up to Nov. 2. And the more they do it, the more JK suffers in the polls. The Repukes know it's a winning strategy, so JK better wake up and smell the coffee, because this shit's not going away any more than the Swift Boat Liars were going to go away.

JK finally went on the offensive about the Swift Boat Liars.

He has YET to go on the right offensive about Iraq. To date his weakness in this area has just played right into W's hands.

[AngryLizard]

35. ARRRRGHHHHH!!!!

Kerry has been doing nothing but going across the country and defending himself and talking about how much Bush sucks since this whole thing started. You make it sound like he gets off the campaign bus and starts trading baking recipes with whoever happens to wander by. Just because the press isn't showing him doesn't mean that it's not happening. YOU KNOW THIS!!!

Second of all, okay, what if Kerry says that voting for IWR was a mistake. Then what? All of a sudden the Republicans become mute, and fall to their knees in horrified awe, unable to say a word? Or do they ridicule him, with reason, SOME MORE, for being a flip-flopper? Ya think?

Also, Kerry DIDN'T realize he was being mislead by the information he was given, he DIDN'T know that Sadaam didn't impose a threat at the time (that's why they had inspectors there, remember? Even Clinton bombed Iraq every so often, remember?), but he very well could have.

It's true that Bush could have gone to war without Congress's blessing, but he ASKED for the blessing. Gave them this info, told them that he would only do it under certain circumstances, and asked for their blessing. It was a total sucker punch.

[Seabiscuit]

44. Don't presume to read my mind.

Or be able to divine what I know or don't know.

And think through what I posted carefully before coming up with any more rah-rah-Kerry knee-jerk reactions.

Clearly you haven't thought about these issues long enough.

[AngryLizard]

47. It's actually a matter of what you've seen and haven't seen

And if you've spent enough time around here, you've seen the reports from his rallies so you know he's out there talking about the issues and the attacks against him, you've seen the media spin against his campaign, and you know it's crap.

And as far as my "knee-jerk" reactions, I think it would be nice, seeing as we've decided to vote for the guy, that we spend less time in despair because the repubs "apparently" have us over a barrel knee deep in bullshit, and spend a little more time actually defending our candidate.

You want him to say, "I voted for the IWR, and it was a mistake" and that is NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. So, make your decision from there.

[Seabiscuit]

51. I imagine I've been reading DU at least as long as you have

...going on 2 years now. So don't lecture me about what Kerry has or hasn't been doing on his campaign. I've followed it in detail since he first announced his candidacy. I campaigned for Dean primarily because Dean stood up to Bush on Iraq while, as Dean put it, the "spineless beltway Democrats" wouldn't. It took about half a brain to figure out Dean was talking about Lieberman, Gephardt, and Kerry (and others such as Daschle) and the DLC in general. Dean was right then and he's still right. Unfortunately, for other reasons, he wasn't the right man for the job.

So we're stuck with John Kerry, like it or not. You would like to see me fall in line with everything John Kerry does or doesn't say, i.e. "spend a little more time actually defending our candidate". I do spend time defending him here and in my personal life (and donating to his campaign and the DNC), but whenever he opens his mouth about Iraq all this comes home to roost, like it or not. And I've never liked it.

If people like myself don't put forth constructive criticism of our candidate, how is he going to know what his supporters think when we disagree with him? You state: "You want him to say, 'I voted for the IWR, and it was a mistake' and that is NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN. So, make your decision from there." Well, either you imagine you're psychic, or you're a very high-level Kerry insider who knows more than anyone but Kerry what he will or won't do, or you've just given up, and apparently hope this miserable failure on Kerry's part is just going to go away. Sorry, but it is not going away, as I'm sure you know perfectly well, because Rove and the right-wing media bobble-heads won't allow it to - they're out there hammering Kerry every day about it. And the more they do, the more Kerry slips in the polls.

Riddle me this: What do you think Kerry's response will be when panelists hammer Kerry on these issues in the debates? IMHO, he'll shoot himself in the foot if he continues as he has, and all Bush will have to do is repeat: "You may disagree with me, but at least you know where I stand. I've been consistent. It's clear Senator Kerry doesn't know what his position is on Iraq." By then such soundbytes are what the voters will remember. Not some long-winded rambling BS like Kerry's been delivering, trying to have it both ways - he already has exposed himself as a "flip-flopper" on Iraq and a rather unintelligible one at that, and the Repukes are about ready to break out the champagne over it all.

If Kerry loses this election over this issue, then what will your excuse be for offering Kerry nothing but blind support, even when he's wrong?

[AngryLizard]

63. You're right, if the Repubs keep bringing Iraq up

then this "miserable failure on Kerry's part" is never going to go away. Because if he does decide to say, "You know what, it was a mistake, and I should have never voted for the IWR" then he has proven himself to be a flip-flopper, and they will jump all over his head even more, and he's screwed.

But if he says, yeah, I voted for it, and I've said why, but here's a question: Why has everything been fucked up ever since? You asked Congress for that resolution, based on promises you gave us, and then broke them. It's your right as CIC to go to war regardless of what we say, and we put our trust in you that you handle this the right way. But we've suffered over 98.9% of the casualties in this war, we've spent $200 billion dollars and lost 1,000 American lives and we're no closer to acheiving peace, we're disrespected across the world, and you still, to this day, have no end strategy. Are we going to be in Iraq forever? Why won't you be honest with the American people about your plans for Iraq, Mr. President?"

And the thing of it is, Kerry has hit every single one of those points in his speeches. He's been responding! Now, if you want to discuss why the media isn't or refuses to pick up on it, that's another question altogether.

[FlemingsGhost]

36. Great post!

Thanks for taking the time. I couldn't have stated it better.

[Seabiscuit]

45. Thank you!

Just when I begin to suspect that there are too many DU'ers out there wearing rah-rah blinders, someone like you comes along and proves to me that I'm completely wrong about that!

Perhaps there's hope after all.

Perhaps Elizabeth Edwards will read all this and have a talk with her husband who may, just may, talk some sense into JK's head before it's too late.

Meanwhile, JK's setting himself up for the beating of his life in the "Debates" when the panelists start hammering him with all his contradictory and BS statements about Iraq. He needs to clarify, admit to his own mistake, declare forcefully that he was misled into voting for the Iraq resolution, and declare forcefully that Bush's invasion of Iraq was wrong, illegal, immoral, unethical, and based on lies and deceits, and has resulted in a disastrous, bloody quagmire with no resolution in sight.

Until he does that, he is betraying the trust of the half million Americans who protested Bush in the streets of NYC during the Repuke Convention, and he's also betraying the tens if not hundreds of millions of us who make up his real "base" and who have been opposed to the Iraq war from the beginning.

[hansolsen]

50. Unfortunately the Dem base does not have a candidate in this race. And

this is the last time this old Democrat will go along with that. It is simply too painful to watch.

[Seabiscuit]

58. Agreed.

If Kerry blows it, this old Democrat won't back another DLC'er ever. In fact, I'll be out there doing my damndest to rid the party of every DLC'er in D.C. and replace them with young progressives like Obama.

[hansolsen]

49. Let the record show every point you made here was predictable in the snows

of Iowa. Howard Dean supporters saw this coming from a thousand miles away. Readem and weep.

[Seabiscuit]

59. As a former Dean supporter

I saw it coming as well, and I wept over Dean's self-immolation leading up to Iowa, I was shocked at the Iowa results, and horrified viewing his "scream speech" live, and became very angry when it was revealed that the media did a hatchet job on that speech, by eliminating the sound of his supporters just to emphasize his screaming.

I'm still weeping inside. I really, really miss Dean's "Sleepless Summer Tour" and all the excitement it generated. Those were happier days.

[hansolsen]

60. Those were good days and I will treasure the memory til I die. N/T

[Seabiscuit]

61. As will I.

I still have about a dozen different Dean buttons, and one of my cars still proudly sports an original Dean for America bumper sticker.

Dean's campaign at its best was the first political breath of fresh air I'd breathed in a long, long time. It energized me then, and it still energizes me and gives me hope that someday... someday... we'll take back our country (even if Kerry loses, which is becoming a very frightening possibility).

[hansolsen]

65. The Dean campaign opened national politics to the Internet commuity.

That may be more important in the long run than who wins this election. That is my hope anyway.

The internet is our last best hope to keep our free press alive in corporate America.

[Seabiscuit]

66. Indeed - that will be Dean's legacy

and the if * wins in November, the internet may be our *only* hope to keep our free press alive in corporate America.

[hansolsen]

69. The Internet is a tight ship in a storm tossed sea. N/T

[blm]

64. Too bad. Dean governed as a centrist, while Kerry's lifetime rating was

closest to Wellstone's of ANY primary candidate, including Kucinich's.

Dean didn't become a progressive leader till his supporters MADE him into a better progressive leader by the end of the primaries.

[Seabiscuit]

67. Let me guess...

You supported Kerry in the primaries.

You don't sound like you know much about Dean.

[blm]

70. I know more about Dean than 95% of his supporters.

He appointed conservative judges. His 11year record of governance was centrist and he was one of the Dems on the right side of the spectrum of the DLC pulling the rest of the party further to the center.

He started out campaigning in 2002 as a centrist, touting his NRA rating and fiscal conservatism. He supported Bush over Kerry when Russert asked him about Kerry's attack on Bush's military strategy in Afghanistan in July, 2002. He supported the Biden-Lugar version of the Iraq War Resolution, but, when the antiwar crowds grew he became the antiwar candidate, Biden-Lugar was NOT an antiwar position, it differed from the IWR by mere degrees, yet he disingenuously pounded all those who supported the IWR. He also claimed they all voted for Bush's taxcuts for the wealthiest when none of them did.

Dean knows he was trying to win. He's a politician.

I do, however, believe that Dean has BECOME a more liberal politician and is sincere about it. I thank his supporters for that because Dean was always a talented politician and now is a sincere progressive advocate. Something he would not be today if he hadn't run and his supporters not helped him discover what was in his own heart.

[Seabiscuit]

72. So I was right.

You WERE a Kerry supporter during the primaries.

And you delude yourself into thinking you know more about Dean than over 95% of his supporters????

You remind me of the Kerry trolls who used to invade the Dean blog back in 2003.

By the way... I stand by what I said - you don't sound like you know squat about Dean. You're just a Dean basher.

[blm]

74. What a dumb joke of a post, and why are you stiill in a snit so long past

the primary?

YOU are the one who doesn't know enough about Dean to move on and follow his lead.

You just want to fight. Guess what, kingbee, you lost your stinger after the first primary.

[Seabiscuit]

77. Dem's "fightin' words"

"dumb joke of a post"?

"still in a snit so long past the primary"?

BLAH BLAH BLAH.

:wtf:

Bug off, you lying, hypocritical a-hole flaming POS.

[TheDonkey]

39. Wow, I'm glad he's finally said what he's been wanting to say

and they wrote it down.

[Placebo]

43. great interview

proud to have him as our nominee

[goclark]

57. Me too!

I'm not sure that we have the luxury to quarterback this one.

Kerry is fantastic!
Kerry is fantastic!
I love everything he says and does!
Rah, Rah, Rah
And on to Nov.2!!!!!

[JohnKleeb]

75. always proud to have him as our nom

I just wish more people would study the guy's whole history, instead of being judgemental.

[umtalal]

52. He voted for SCALIA????

[Placebo]

53. yup

[umtalal]

54. Oh, Kerry what have you done??? head between hands.

[JohnKleeb]

55. It was unamious before everyone jumps on him

Most justices are like that, and if it makes you feel any better, he voted against confirming Thomas, Rehnquist as chief justice, etc.