I saw Kerry's statement. Ahh, if that Kerry had showed up a dozen times in the two months before the 2004 election, things might have gone very differently. It was brilliant.
Kerry is guilty of verbal mangling from time to time. If the White House wants to get into a competition of who mangles the language more, I'd be happy to name dozens of Bush's gaffes for every one of Kerry's. No competition. If the White House wants to get into a more honest competition about who has a coherent vision of where our country ought to be going, Kerry wins again as would most Democrats.
I'm glad Kerry took a page from the 2006 Bill Clinton playbook.
Posted by Craig at October 31, 2006 12:59 PMI do believe John Kerry finally found his testicles.
Posted by ann at October 31, 2006 01:07 PMBravo!
Of course such sentiments expressed by Kerry make perfect sense once what he was supposed to say replaces what he actually said. Did Tony Snow know that Kerry committed a serious verbal gaffe before he responded this morning? Who knows. But Kerry's response is beautiful.
Again, I just hope the clarification of what Kerry meant to say and what his response to the Republicans jumping on him for what he said in error gets the attention. And not his initial gaffe. I'm not holding my breath though.
Posted by snark at October 31, 2006 01:10 PMsnark, I heard the original Kerry speech in it's entirety, there is no doubt that it was directed at bu$h! Yes, taken out of context it could be misconstrued, it did leave that opening.
Like you, I'm glad he had this rebuttal!
The good news is that Kerry didn't blurt out that it was OK for Cheney's daughter to be a lesbian.
Posted by TIKI AL at October 31, 2006 01:44 PMlets see if Rove directs the Media to use this Kerry outburst to monopolize the rest of the week's news cycles. I'm not sure Rove is too upset about Kerry's tirade, he's been looking for a way to galvanize his Nut-Base, now Kerry has handed it to him on a silver platter.
Posted by T2 at October 31, 2006 01:47 PMt2, They keep saying Dem's are wimp's and everyone was upset when Kerry didn't standup to the Swift Boaters. I am glad he finally stood up and maybe it will help energize the Dem base.
Posted by goose1 at October 31, 2006 01:50 PMDamn right.
Posted by John B. at October 31, 2006 01:51 PMNormally, this the point where we see the long line of Democratic 'leaders' stand up to denounce any Democrat that has the temerity to discover his balls. Oh, and that Leiberman-for-Leiberman putz too. Ready... set...
fuck karl rove..start calling them exactly what they are..lieing thieving coward bastards..and don't be so afraid of a mistatement and what that wierdo karl rove is going to make out of it...grow some balls...go john kerry
Posted by dennis at October 31, 2006 01:58 PMi believe finally for the dems..the gloves are off..it's about time
Posted by dennis at October 31, 2006 02:04 PMmcCain loves the chickenhawks that give him his orders. pathetic.
Posted by benjoya at October 31, 2006 02:12 PMgoose1, if the Dem base isn't energized by now, we are in for a very say Nov.8. I mean, after 6 years of Bush, I'd hope the energy level is off the charts by now.
Posted by T2 at October 31, 2006 02:13 PMT2, that's true they should be enegized, I just think this helps (standing up to the GOP) more than it hurts.
Posted by goose1 at October 31, 2006 02:18 PMYes, it's nice J Kerry has learned to address real issues forthrightly. But it is too late for him. He has not chosen even at this late date to "lead" on issues, but rather to react to his opponents. That is the sole reason why he should not be considered for a second run at the Presidency. He should use his newly found voice to frame issues for others to take a whack at.
Posted by cromulant at October 31, 2006 02:19 PMKerry's comment did not sit well even with leading members of his own party. A number of top Democrats told CNN they were upset with the senator for giving the Republicans election-time ammunition -- even if the GOP was hyping the remark.
"He has already cost us one election. The guy just needs to keep his mouth shut until after the election," a top Democratic strategist said Tuesday.
-CNN Story
Top democratic strategists' remarks do not sit well with members of the Democratic Party. This Democratic voter is upset with the so-called Democratic "strategists" giving aid and comfort to Republicans, damnit!
We all know why CNN is pushing this story. They want to get back into the good graces of their masters after Ms. Cheney got all mad at them. Okay, but why are so-called Democrats helping them?
Are they afraid the Democrats will win this time?
Posted by clio at October 31, 2006 02:21 PM.....sigh.......
What a shame Kerry didn't have the required spine to stand up to his cousin, George W. Bush, when the U.S. senate was voting to authorize the use of military force in Iraq.
But it's always easier to kick a guy when his job approval numbers are in the mid-30's.
I have an acronym for John Kerry: STFU.
Posted by Christopher at October 31, 2006 02:44 PMFirst press conference shown by a Dem in ages, so it's a good thing.
It also gets talking heads arguing about Iraq (if the Dems head stays on message) and this is currently a winner for us.
Jack Cafferty says Kerry reminds people of losing, and should not be seen or heard until the election is over. Too bad that was not the case. He bungled a not very good joke and put life back in a near dead gop campaign.
Posted by TIKI AL at October 31, 2006 02:54 PMOkay, I just got home and I have no idea what the 'gaffe' was, but I have read the Kerry press release in its entirety and it rocks. So there's the news cycle for you - someone like me who wasn't paying much attention earlier now knows that Kerry just slammed the Republicans and their "katrina foreign policy" and their cut-and-run from Afghanistan but stay-and-lose policies in Iraq.
Give 'em hell, Kerry.
Posted by brooklyn at October 31, 2006 03:05 PMHow much is Karl Rove paying JFKerry for this? It's not enough!
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 03:06 PMTIKI AL,
I'll go a step further and argue Cousin Kerry's remarks will increase support for Republicans running for reelection because he's given the WH spin/smear machine a new quote to use in 11th hour campaign ads.
What they need to do is abduct John Kerry and put him in a holding cell until the midterms are over and before his ego-driven cakehole, and his need for grandstanding, costs our party a seat in a close race.
Matbe the WH can place him in one of those famous 'undisclosed locations"?
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 03:15 PMLiving proof that if you don't figure out education you don't end up in Iraq as are many who post comments here.
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 03:23 PMAmerican televised election "coverage": anything, anything, except the actual issues facing the country. Ignorance by design.
How many Americans pay attention to this faux-outrage GOP pigshit?
Posted by euzoius at October 31, 2006 03:28 PMYou guys have locked up Pelosi, Durbin, Reid, Boxer, but you forgot about JFKerry. Oops!
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 03:29 PMDon't "figure out" education? That was quite a "sentence", peter.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
Posted by euzoius at October 31, 2006 03:32 PMSee how the truth and common sense works? When someone pulls a boner, most of us will admit to it. Republicans spin a mistake to the end, no matter how many get killed or maimed.
Posted by TIKI AL at October 31, 2006 03:34 PMI don't see how Kerry's comments can possible hurt any Democrat's chances in any way shape or form. He's absolutely right about chickenhawks making you sick if you've worn the uniform and they haven't. They're bloodthirsty with other people's blood.
Posted by howard hughes blues at October 31, 2006 03:36 PMABC News quoted a Democratic Congressman "Kerry was not satisfied with blowing the 2004 election. Now he wants to blow the 2006 one."
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 03:40 PMFrom CNN:
Kerry's comment did not sit well even with leading members of his own party. A number of top Democrats told CNN they were upset with the senator for giving the Republicans election-time ammunition -- even if the GOP was hyping the remark.
"He has already cost us one election. The guy just needs to keep his mouth shut until after the election," a top Democratic strategist said Tuesday.
I couldn't agree more. If you're reading this blog Kerry, please, shut the fuck up.
Posted by Christopher at October 31, 2006 03:47 PMKarl, make sure to make that check out to John F. Kerry. It was well worth it.
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 03:54 PM"When someone pulls a boner, most of us will admit to it. Republicans spin a mistake to the end, no matter how many get killed or maimed."
Did JFKerry pull a boner?
Did JFKerry admit to it?
'I Apologize to No One'
No, Democrats just "spin a mistake to the end, no matter how many get killed or maimed."
thx for some typing TA!
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 04:08 PMKerry has the right to say whatever he wants. No way is he hurting any Democratic candidate's chances. As somebody above said, if he gets Iraq issue in the news, this is a winner for Democrats."Top Democratic Strategists" are quite obviously as worthless as tits on a boar. What he basically said is a well-known fact of American life, and has been for years: those who use their college years to play and party often end up in the military.
Posted by howard hughes blues at October 31, 2006 04:11 PMIf "Top Democratic Strategists" and Democratic Congressman are quite obviously as worthless as tits on a boar. Why vote for the Democratic Congressman? A least Republicans are worth more the the boar. Vote Republican!!!
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 04:15 PMChristopher,
I couldn't disagree more. When do you see the Republicans trashing GWB? And believe me his actions are far worse than anybody's words.
The Republicans are screaming because they have lost Baghdad - seen the announcement of the US abandoning the Sadr City checkpoints? Iraq is on the front page. We can use the opportunity to remind the public that while Kerry misspoke, Bush lost the whole damn war. Or we can bash Kerry for pointing out that mistakes in word are not the same as incompetence in action.
Or would you rather pretend, along with CNN, that the words of someone not even on a ballot are more important than the actions of a president who is endangering the nation by his incompetence?
reprise...
ABC News tonight quoted a Democratic Congressman "Kerry was not satisfied with blowing the 2004 election. Now he wants to blow the 2006 one."
Congressman clio, on the ballot Democrat clio.
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 04:18 PMWow, peter's (he's a winner alright) got his undies in a wad (again) because Kerry admitted he blew the joke punchline and was trashed by republicans (surprise surpise) for doing so. So Kerry fights back and says what every sane individual and the majority of Americans feels and thinks about Bushco's and the faux repuke outrage. However, when the botched line was put in full context it was clear to even the dumbest of dumb, that Kerry was referring to the inept Junior.
The irony of it all is amazing...republicans and this administration's immediate pouncing with the faux outrage because Kerry blew the punchline of a joke about Junior. You know Shrub, the man who of course in peter's eyes has never mangled any speech and speaks the English language so eloquently...bring em on!
Then,notice in "winner" peter's haste to spew his repukelican bs talking points, he never provides a link and then of course never quotes exactly which Democratic Congresscritter or which Democratic consultant and strategists made those comments.
Thank you JFK...long overdue. I congratulate Senator Kerry on doing something that should have been done long ago. At least he demonstrated that he is more than capable of one thing in which Bushco clearly isn't. Unlike Bushco it's obvious that he can learn from his mistakes.
Bravo Senator Kerry.
Posted by emal at October 31, 2006 04:22 PMYeah, this winner voted for winners, all winners. Even a Democratic judge running against a jerk Republican judge. The only vote in question is that Democratic judge. I hope he wins.
JFKerry get out in front of the cameras each and every day. Help us out some more.
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 04:32 PMEveryone makes mistakes, peter. The congresscritter made one when he decided that a kneejerk backstab was easier than thinking of a bold reply.
If it helps him, and you, it looks like this isn't playing well at large. Bush no longer has the credibility to make it stick. Remember, too, that CNN has to make up for irritating Lynne Cheney.
Today the Battle for Baghdad was lost. Didn't you see? No wonder Bush is screaming. He's desperate. He has reason to be.
Find your courage, peter. You, and we, are going to need it. Not because of Kerry, but because Baghdad is about to blow big time, and our troops there are sitting ducks.
Posted by clio at October 31, 2006 04:51 PMPeter, don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say Democratic congressmen are boar-tit worthless, just "top Democratic strategists". I really think a smart guy like Gore or Kerry would do better without any advisers. Let them say what they actually think--yes, a shocking concept.
Wrong, the head of state ordered our guys out. We're there helping them out.
Posted by peter at October 31, 2006 04:54 PMYes, let's hope JFK keeps reminding people of the Failed "stay the course" Iraqmire=Bushco=rubberstamp republicans running for (re)election. Yes that issue resonates so positively for republicans in polls with the current electorate....NOT!
Posted by emal at October 31, 2006 04:56 PMpeter, whaddaya doing here tonight? Did you get banned from Authoritarian Party phonebanking and doorknocking last night?
Too much of a poisoned kool-aid drinker to interact with even a red-state public? Scary.
Posted by euzoius at October 31, 2006 05:02 PMWow, just wow peter.
That statement might just be the stupidest god-damn thing I've ready today.
Posted by Stompy at October 31, 2006 05:08 PM103 soldiers dead, many more wounded in the month of October alone. Too bad bush never opened a history book. I thought even an alcoholic DUI draft dodging ex-cheerleader that talks to god would do better.
Anyone wants to party this weekend, I hear Sadr City is wide open again.
Posted by TIKI AL at October 31, 2006 05:23 PMGosh, it seems like just yesterday, petey here was saying that 101 dead troops didn't mean a thing, since soldiers have died in peacetime, too. Wait, that was yesterday. No wonder the li'l guy's all hard for a character assassination scandal! Suddenly, the troops matter because Kerry blew a stupid punchline - just add a little feigned outrage, "John Kerry is a baaaad man!" and voila! Back to comfortable territory for Rove and his buttboy peter, huh?
I don't know if anyone else heard it, but the right wing noise machine blew a very loud sigh today, thanking their lucky stars for Kerry! They were afraid they'd have to spend this last week before the election trying to find some way to make Iraq look good as Lynn Cheney sniped at 'em from the sidelines, "Wolf Blitzer is a baaaad man!" Now, they can stretch this out until the weekend, getting shriller and shriller until everyone just wants the election to be over and gone. Pete here is just the advance drone. Let's see if they can whip this up into a walking talking strawman.
Posted by iamcoyote at October 31, 2006 05:34 PMYahooo, Mr. Kerry - we love you! Finally, someone who talks to bullies like you should.
Posted by jra at October 31, 2006 05:43 PMNo Democrat will be bullied by an administration that has a cut and run policy in Afghanistan and a stand still and lose strategy in Iraq.
Cut and run in Afghanistan and stand and lose in Iraq. Ain't that a treat?! And it is the best descriptor of peter and his "party" I have ever read!
I could care less what CNN or ABC say. They are corporate media taking it up the ass from the failed conservative ideologs in this failed conservative administration. Kerry did good. Real good. He stung them as assuredly as any truth and light on their actions can sting these bastards. He galvanized every single veteran and their families with his simple and eloquent statements.
In the close races the republi-cons are running character assassination political ads against democrats. Democrats are running policy assassination political ads against the republi-cons. And the policy assassination ads are getting the attention.
Conservatism is dead. It is up to us to stomp-out the remnants when we have the opportunity.
Wrong, the head of state ordered our guys out. We're there helping them out.
Why, peter. I didn't see you standing there, although I did smell the shit you spew. You may go. No need for you to stand and lose.
Posted by phidipides at October 31, 2006 06:39 PMLet peter have his fun. It looks like he won't be writing much for a while after next tuesday..
Posted by herbal tee at October 31, 2006 07:52 PMMaybe Senator Kerry planned his little "gaffe" and knew that the terminally-desparate GOPers would pounce on it and try to twist it and distort it. He had a brilliant slashing attack ready and waiting to spring on the hapless Republicans today. Give 'em Hell, Kerry!
It's typical and too bad that none of the corporate network "news" shows would play the whole statement by Kerry at his news conference. Only Pacifica Radio and Air America could be bothered to do that...
The corrupt GOP is in total meltdown mode now and they will be crushed on November 7th... President Pelosi will be coming to a White House near you sooner than you may imagine, because once a dictatorship weakens, most everyone turns their backs on it and it quickly collapses...
Cheers
It's time to confront the politics of fear. Hell, the republican fascists have instilled fear into many of the bloggers on this thread. Please stop letting the corporate media talking heads tell you how to think. These people are protecting the status quo.
For those that got a chance to listen, you have to admit Kerry took the covers off of the republican bush shit and called them out, on national television, for what they are "incompetent immoral unprincipled lying cowards"
The U.S. public rarely gets a chance to hear the uncut truth. Kerry spoke the truth today.
Kerry sure did put Iraq back on the front pages, didn't he? I haven't heard Bush mention gay marriage in at least a day.
Posted by ann at November 1, 2006 04:40 AMmaybe the WMDs are under this sofa. nope, not there! hahahahaha!
Posted by dubya at November 1, 2006 07:53 AMhahahahaha! good one mister president!
Posted by joe lieberman at November 1, 2006 07:53 AMMoreover McCain just sent us a phone message urging us to vote for his "friend" Rick Renzi, our representative in Congress, Arizona District 1. Renzi has just been picked as one of the top 13 most corrupt congressmen by the independent Center for Responsiblity and Ethics in Washington. Renzi has been repeatedly sending obnoxious lying ads against his Democratic rival, Ellen Simon. Oh, well, McCain was just caught once (The Keating Five) so he must think we've forgotten.
Posted by Ms J. at November 1, 2006 02:36 PM