Campaigns with Vets in Maine - Updated
KERRY NEW HAMPSHIRE VIDEO AVAILABLE NOW! John Kerry gave a great speech Friday night at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in New Hampshire. You can see the whole speech on the website in the Multimedia section. The text of the speech as prepared is here, but there’s nothing like seeing John Kerry take it to Bush’s lies.
Road Report from Ted Chiodo:
24 days left till Election Day.
Today started as I rolled out of bed in my sweet room on the 10th floor of the Radisson in Manchester New Hampshire. I headed out behind the wheel of a rented Dodge Caravan land yacht on 93 to 101 to 95 to meet up with John Kerry. The drive wasn’t so bad because I was giving a lift to a photographer from a news magazine doing a story on John Kerry. The plan was to meet up with JK, who was flying into to Auburn, Maine, and begin a day traveling throughout Maine to keep it blue in 06.
Our first public stop of the day was with veterans in Lewiston at the American Legion Post 153. John Kerry, Congressman Mike Michaud, and Governor John Baldacci all arrived at the Legion Hall around 1:00 PM. At a large table out front, Legionnaires were collecting goods to send to our troops in Iraq, batteries, socks, candy, books, the small things that let our troops know that we’re thinking about them.
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The event began with legionnaire Ed Desgroseilliers, who tossed his prepared remarks and spoke from the heart about the war in Iraq, where his son is now serving. He talked about separating our support of brave American heroes from Bush’s failed policy that is undermining our ability to make the world a better place.
Ed reminded the room that the Bush administration had broken our country’s promise to take care of our veterans. That theme was continued by Congressman Mike Michaud who echoed Ed’s theme, calling for all of us to fight for those Americans who fought for us. Taking care of those who wore the uniform is a promise more important than granting more tax subsidies to the rich.
Governor Baldacci then spoke about all the great things Democrats in Maine had accomplished since he took office, starting with turning a $2 billion debt into a $100 million surplus. It was Democrats who turned Maine into a place where businesses wants to compete instead of a place where businesses were closing. He promised the veterans that the state of Maine would never let down its veterans as long as he was governor. Baldacci then introduced John Kerry to boisterous and energetic applause.
John Kerry rose thanked everyone for their efforts to elect Democrats across the state. He attacked Bush’s willingness to cut funds this year for the Veterans’ Administration, while continuing to pursue a Katrina foreign policy. A truly patriotic administration would not be placing our soldiers in harm’s way without a policy to win, while at the same time failing to care for veterans.
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Thanks for keeping us up to date on the Maine events, Ted. I think this whirlwind tour on behalf of Democratic candidates not only puts the Senator in a good light and gives him a series of bully pulpits from which to speak out on the issues of the day, but it does tremendous amounts of good for the local candidates at each stop as well. And that qualifies as shrewd electioneering on all counts.
from bangor all the way to mighty maine,
Otter
And from the Otterworld Quoted Without Comment Department:
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SOLON, Iowa (AP) - Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards on Saturday bashed the Bush administration for “proactive stupidity” by sticking with a failed policy in Iraq and being unable to admit its mistakes.
He predicted the Iraq war and a wave of scandals in the Republican-run Congress will prompt voters to demand change in November.
“There is an underlying current that Democrats are in a strong position, for a lot of reasons,” Edwards told The Associated Press. “Some of it is the scandals and corruption that people all across the country are seeing in Washington.”
Edwards was spending the weekend in eastern Iowa raising money for Democratic legislative candidates.
“We should be for the eradication of poverty in America,” he said. “In our party, we need to seize the moral high ground.”
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make the ground higher! make the ground higher!,
Otter
A ‘mainiac’ myself, from Skowhegan, ME, for a short time before calling Brookline, MA, also home.
I know they appreciate your efforts to lead us, Senator, be out front on our issues and troubles, with smart solutions that make sense.
Thanks, Ted.
All these stories on 2006 candidates are important and of immediate significance, but, face it, we wouldn’t be discussing then at the Kerry Blog if we weren’t also looking ahead to another important race and significant candidate:
Kerry Goes After Bush, And Looks Towards 2008
Thanks for the Maine update! Senator Kerry has indeed been busy. Last night he even found time to conference call viewers of the film “Iraq for Sale” by Robert Greenwald.
As usual, Senator Kerry’s comments were right on target. He urged everyone to get as many people as possible to see this important film before the midterms.
For anyone who hasn’t seen this yet, it is truly a “must see” film. If you have seen it, you can always host a viewing for some of your skeptical friends. You can also purchase a copy of the film.
[url=“http://iraqforsale.org/screenings.php?track=kerry”]
I can Host or Attend a Screening of "Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers"
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Thanks Ted! It’s a good time of year to be driving through NH and Maine to help GOTV!
One of the first reasons I have JK’s back: of all the debts we owe, our Veterans MUST be repaid first.
I have also been plugging Iraq for Sale. I bought it and have watched twice. Hope to show it myself but need to find a space that can accommodate more than 6 people.
There is another Greenwald film I bought at the same time and consider the perfect set up to IfS. The Big Buy lays out Tom Delay’s initial plan and successful campaign to create a permanent GOP majority in the House by taking over the Texas Legislature and redistricting the state for the second time after the 2000 census.
The scope of the illegal campaign interference, the extent of the efforts at many levels and the extended interviews with Ron Earle present a cohesive perspective of the events. The film clearly establishes how significant the five seats he took for the GOP translated into passing or defeating many close bills - in their favor.
veteran kerry, i have never removed my kerry for president for i still feel strongly that you have walked in the shoes of other veterans and understand. i cannot believe those who question your service to our country, this happens alot with many veterans for most do not understand what exactly they are talking about when the topic of ptsd or agent orange comes up. i see it on a daily basis as an employee working with veterans. the viet nam war is not over for it still continues to take many lives of our veterans for the effects of agent orange are mostly manifesting themselves now for side affects take mostly 30 yrs to invade the person. when will this war end and now we deal with yet another, who knows what these young men are being exposed to for our government is very good at keeping secrets, but they cannot, i watched my marine combat veterans die from a cancer which started in his lungs and traveled quickly to his brain, from what…. agent orange, he was a proud american and never spoke bad about anyone, then 30 yrs later viet nam took his life. i watch big strong men wither down to bones their families by their side then again surrounding the flag draped caskets, our veterans need a president who cares and this is not our present frat boy. i honor you john kerry and i believe you care about all of us with sincerity and compassion. thank you and welcome home