Dear Mr. Kerry,
Why don’t you take my poem and read it to the president, since I will never get the chance?

Coming Home

Ask him what it looks like
To watch a buddy die.
Ask her when the light goes out,
When blankness greets her eye.
Ask about the sunshine
That doesn’t stop for death.
Ask about the feeling
When nothing else is left.

When coming home to people
Who haven’t lived a war,
Pasting on a phony smile
With tired heart still sore,
Just try to face the sunshine
That doesn’t stop for death,
And try to face the feeling
When nothing else is left.

Having been in Viet Nam, you might be one of the people who could explain it to him…

I travel all around my State. Do you know where I see the army recruiters well I will tell you in the very low income areas. I have seen them out in store parking lots. I have seen them at the low income housing areas. Its not that Kerry meant that our men and women our stupid he meant stay in school don’t join because you have no chance for a education or a job. I wish Kerry would have said this because this is the truth. If I am wrong than why do I see these guys out in these areas every week why are they not recruiting in the upper areas and believe me when I say I travel all over. I never see recruiters in the upper area schools and parking lots I see them a lot in the lower income areas. So what Kerry should have said was stay in school don’t join Bush’s war of lies.

To L Ford:

I think that the results would be interesting - but I hope you use the real facts. Send the real words Kerry said in Califonia and his explanation. It would also be good to send a list of legislation that he sponsored or co-sponsored for servicemen or veterans.

They might also like a summary of the Kerry/Feingold amendment on an alternative path in Iraq.  His Real Security speech on this site - under news/speeches explains his overall concept of dealing with terrorism - a Republican WWII vet relative of mine called it the best effort he has seen in a decade.

Senator Kerry! Stand Strong for your statement! The Administration/Limbaugh noise machine, like Sen. John McCain (who has apparently forgotten the cruel swiftboating HE endured from these same Rovian Bush bullies), are trying to REFRAME the issue by again swiftboating Senator Kerry, a man who actually wore the uniform AND admitted he made a mistake in supporting Bush’s Iraq resolution.

Don’t fall for it. Kerry need not apologize. People, including the MSP, need to view, show, read and write about the full-text of his statement, not cherry-pick.

Remember what they did to Howard Dean with his “scream”? How many of you so-called Dems threw him under the bus?

Stand up to these bullies! It’s playground 101: Walk away or hit them back so they never bother you again.

It doesn’t matter what the intent was.  What matters is how it was perceived.

Get it?

Perception is EVERYTHING in politics!

The joke was in moderately poor taste.  The botched version was insulting.  The response was idiotic.  No one cares what Senator Kerry’s intent of the joke was.  What they care about is how they perceived what he was saying, and that they perceived he was unapologetic about it.

What did they perceive that he said?

If you join the military you are either uneducated, an idiot, or both.

That right there folks can make or break elections.  Especially in districts with heavy military affiliations.  If I was a Democrat running for election right now I wouldn’t want Senator Kerry in my State, let alone at one of my rallies!

Why?

It doesn’t matter what the intent was.  What matters is how it was perceived.

Get it?

Perception is EVERYTHING in politics!

Let’s talk about the war - that’s the real issue.

John Kerry is missing a marvelous opportunity to score major points for the Democratic Party.  Too bad, Ford could use a little help in Tennessee.

YEAH LETS TALK ABOUT THE WAR…

We probably wouldn’t be in a war if the Democratic President Mr. Clinton would have nipped this in the bud whe the Cole was hit. The “Democratic” President could have handled all of this then and the “Democratic party” wouldn’t be jumping all over Bush.

Please do not apologize. I’m tired of hearing Democrats apologize to whining Republicans. I’m tired of Republicans who couldn’t be bothered to serve their country criticize those who have. The only apologies Republicans issue are the nonfunctional variety, like Rush’s. It makes me sick, to see them doing horrible things, even committing crimes and shredding our Constitution, and just going on their greedy way. The military are fortunate to have John Kerry as an advocate. It would be nice to elect some more advocates next week.

“Perception is EVERYTHING in politics!”
~~Posted by Jim Waid | November 1, 2006 9:04 AM

Jim, I respectfully disagree.  Perception hasn’t been everything in politics to me for a very long time.  And I’m willing to bet a significant amount of my debt load that the perception that “Perception is EVERYTHING in politics!” is going to go right out the window on November 7, 2006.

War isn’t perception.  War is reality.  Ever tried to interview a young Marine with a head wound?  I have.  No short-term memory.  None.  His first child was born the day after our interview.

Keep going Kerry!  I think the best thing you can do now is to keep a battle going with Bush.  You’ve got him talking about the war now keep it going—he can only lose face on this topic.  Repeat what Carville said:  you may have botched a joke (and apologize to those who may have misinterpreted it - the only harm done is a little confusion) but Bush Botched the War and is causing irreparable harm to American and Iraqi families as well as to the safety of the US and the respect of the US as a global player.

Ask Bush to go and apologize to the Mothers of dead soldiers.  Ask him to apologize for lying to them in order to convince them this war was necessary for our safety.  Ask him to explain why he held back intelligence that would have helped stop this useless war that has only increased the threat that we face.

And don’t be afraid to point out that while thousands of Americans are giving their lives Bush’s cronies are making the hugest profits ever recorded.  This war is the same as ever: the rich are profiting on the graves of the poor.  Populism makes good and effective politics and for some reason Republicans have cornered the market on it even though they are the party of the rich and elite.  We Dems need to remember that we are the party of the people: the poor and down-trodden that always give their lives so the fat cats can get fatter.  Kerry, you might be a blue-blood rich kid yourself, but I think you’ve got a good heart and you have the chance to be a voice for the rest of us.  So take it to ‘em!

Actions speak louder than words. Bush and Rumsfeld and the Republican Congress have awarded our “plenty smart and plenty brave” troops with the smallest pay raise (2.2%) in over 15 years. Kerry fought for a larger pay raise. The Republicans acknowledge that the cost of basic things like housing and fuel have gone up much more than that through the larger(4.4%?) cost of living increase they have approved for retirees. They realize they are effectively (in purchasing power) giving a pay DECREASE to an all-volunteer force at a time when they are asking more of them than ever before. The combat pay in Iraq is STILL $225 a month when Halliburton employees who are doing the SAME job except with fewer working hours and overtime pay are making 5-8 times as much as our troops, yet we have no money for a raise for the troops? The administration blames the skyrocketing troop debt problem on poor financial management and troops going on “spending sprees” when they come back from Iraq. If you had spent a year or more in Iraq, wouldn’t you feel like you deserve a new car or that you should be able to have a vacation at Disney World to bond with the children you haven’t seen for such a large portion of their lives? Troops still earn only 2.5 days per month of leave. I feel this should be doubled or tripled when the leave is earned in a combat zone. You need time when you return to make back some of the memories that were lost. Troops who have served more than 12 months of the last 36 in a combat zone should be getting bonuses. Familiy separation pay should be increased for each month troops spend away from their children. So much is lost. Kerry, HIT BACK! Ask them why there is no money for pay raises for “the brightest and bravest” when oil companies are pulling in record profits. If the economy is so healthy, why can’t we pay the soldiers better and take care of our veterans who make this way of life and all of those profits possible? Don’t they deserve to taste the American dream? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the brightest and best wanted to stay in the military beyond their initial enlistment because it was a job that asked a lot of you, but gave you as much in return? Hit them back, Kerry! tell them talk is cheap, but the cost of living is not! Tell the republicans to put their money where their mouths are, not in the companies they have stock in!

Posted by Nicole | November 1, 2006 9:09 AM

Yes, that happened right before the 2000 selection.  The phrase “wag the dog” comes to mind, but then, I forget, *everything is Bill Clinton’s fault.

*everything that has happened past, present and future

I respect Kerry’s right to respond to GOP attacks regarding his Iraq comments. Nonetheless, it would be very helpful if he would just stop talking right now and save the reponses for a later date.

Doing damage to the Dem’s chances in next week’s elections, simply for the sake of proving a point, is a foolish and selfish act.

I just wonder how many people that are paid by the Democrats to spin the truth said “ OH ****” when they heard what their leader said…

Ummm maybe all of them!

(edited for language)

KJ, I have to respectfully disagree with you here.  Senator Kerry’s “joke” and his response are counteracting all the advances we were making because of what was happening in Iraq, as well as the Foley scandal keeping many Republican’s at home on election day.  The perception of what he said is going to drive those stay-at-home voters to the polls. 

The perception of what he said is going to cost us votes from military personnel, both active duty and retired, as well as their families.  These are the people who were so upset about the war that they were looking to cross party lines to vote for Democrats, but they now perceive that we just insulted their intelligence.  This is called “screwing the pooch”.

It never ceases to amaze how spoken truths can really incite and provoke such intese feelings.  Kerry spoke the truth; a young person’s options are limited.

People should not presume that that this donneybrook will hurt the Democratic wave that is cresting, despite attempts by Republicans now on the run to milk this thing for all its worth.

Maybe it was a little gaf that ignited the right’s noise machine, but Kerry’s response was devestating and centerd the discussion back on Iraq. While kerry looks strong and statemanlike in his forceful condemnation of the Republicans, other Democrats are getting weak kneed, allowing the Republicans to tell them what to do.
Additionally, Mc Cain looks increasingly lost and weak, throwing himself prostrate at the feet of Bush.

People I talk to see through the Republican’s attempt to desperately change the subject. On balance, this incident may help more than it hurts.

Every time the Republicans bring up this statement by Kerry, the Dems should respond by reminding everyone of Bush’s performance at one of his fundraiser dinners where he jokingly “looked” for those weapons of mass destruction under the tablecloth, behind a chair, etc.  This caused barely a ripple in the media. 

How is it that these Republican ninnies get away with this crap, but the Democrats are unable to get mad and make a snide comment or two? 

Don’t apologize Senator Kerry!  Instead, run for President!  We need you.

Mr. Kerry,

You do owe the troops an apology.  I’m sorry, but your response to your comment regarding ending up in Iraq if you are not educated does not hold water.  Please just “man” up and admit it was not meant to be an insult to the troops and be done with it.  I do not understand also your comment about the ‘doughy Rush Limbaugh”.  What has Rush got to do with your comment?  Rush is not even in politics, or running for any office.  If you will go to http://www.glennbeck.com and watch the video they have done, it shows the positives that the U.S. has done in Iraq.  You never hear of those things on the liberal media.  Also, if you look at the stats of just the State of California, which is roughly the same size as Iraq, there are vastly more deaths, rapes, violent crimes there than in Iraq; should we pull all our police out of California?  And it is right here in the United States.  Mr. Kerry, apologize, or I belive your political future is over.

Kerry needs to apologize if he was wrong. This thing is going to simmer otherwise. Kerry may not have intended to say what he said. But it sounded like he was insulting the troops. Period. It’s simple, he should apologize immediately to the troops, for the misstatement and restate what he originally intended. That is, Bush’s poor academics, inattention to detail, his intellectual laziness etc… has lead to us being stuck in Iraq.

Kerry always talks about debating and how it is good for all parties involved. Can he ask to debate the president about the intelligence of the troops? just wondering… why intelligent remarks are being deleted by the blog nazi? I believe that Kerry would think that this discussion and this type of discussion is good for the masses.

An “apology” wont do a thing, but keep the right wing noise makers screaming at the top of their lungs. A patheric bunch of losers who are seeing their world crumble around them are scared witless. Just like the last national election in 2004, they resort to ridiculous and untrue accusations.

Well, the citizens of this country have learned a few things in the past couple of years. We have learned we can’t be frightened by scare and fear tactics. We have learned that the more indignant right wing bloviators act, the more the truth has really stung them. The more they focus their attention on a single individual, the more the citizens of this country respect that person (just ask Bill Clinton). Their game is up, and it is about time. VOTE!

Does anyone remember the comment from the President about where are the WMD? Did the President apoligize for his joke? Do you remember that! I didnt find it funny.

“Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job” - George W. Bush, 2005

Andrew Sullivan sums up this “controversy” best:

“While the media is obsessed parsing the ad libs of someone on no ballot this fall, something truly ominous has just happened in Iraq. The commander-in-chief has abandoned an American soldier to the tender mercies of a Shiite militia. Yes, there are nuances here, and the NYT fleshes out the story today. But the essential fact is clear. In a showdown for control of Baghdad, the Iraqi prime minister took orders from Moqtada al-Sadr, and instructed the U.S. military to withdraw from Sadr City. The American forces were trying both to stabilize the city but also to find a missing American serviceman. “

http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2006/11/abandoning_an_a.html

Moqtada al-Sadr orders the Bush Pentagon to stop looking for a US soldier taken hostage by Shiite thugs in “his” city - and the Bush Pentagon listens.  Whose pro-soldier now?

I was disappointed to hear, read and reread the Senator’s recent comments regarding “getting stuck in Iraq”.  I read and reread to see if he was being taken out of context or to find the misunderstanding.  I am serving currently in Iraq.  I am attorney as a civilian and I am deployed as a member of the National Guard as an Artillery officer.  I was insulted and offended by the Senator’s tactless and ignorant comment.

Kerry can seize an opportunity here.

Kerry needs to go on every show he can and tell the joke correctly.  Then he should point out that only Bush and his most devoted followers are sufficiently stupid to be incapable of comprehending the incredible irony of Bush and his followers attacking someone for misspeaking.

Then he needs to talk about Iraq and Bush’s lies and mistakes and point out that the republican Congress endorsed and rubber stamped every single Bush lie and blunder without question. Kerry can get unlimited airtime right now and democrats need to take advantage of such an opportunity to connect each and every republican in Congress to Iraq and their unquestioning support of Bush’s lies and mistakes.

If President Lyndon Johnson did to the National Guard what George Bush is doing to the National Guard, then George Bush would have a Canadian accent today.  Because that’s where George would have run to escape serving his country.  That’s unlike John Kerry who volunteered for combat duty in Viet Nam.

Posted by perfect post | November 1, 2006 9:41 AM

Of course, unlike the pretender-in-chief, Kerry demonstrated his courage under fire, and today has virtually every man who served with him in his boat defending his service. 

In contrast, we have no idea who Dubya even served with - or who was serving Dubya after hours (if you catch my drift).  The President talks loud and proud, but he’ll forever be seen as nothing more than incompetent braggart who sidestepped his one opportunity to show the kind of man he is, and who would later thrust the planet into even greater chaos than Bin Laden could pray to Allah for.

KJ, that still doesn’t address the issue.  I would love for that to still be the issue, but it no longer is.  The issue is winning next week.  Kerry’s “joke” and response has hurt that chance. 

A full apology would go a long way towards repairing the bridge we had built, vis-a-vis Iraq, that was allowing Republican’s and right-of-center undecided’s to vote Democratic.  Those are the people who will win us the hotly contested seats and the Congress, and not the die hard Democrats. 

For those of us, like yourself and I who like my grandfather used to say, “Would rather vote for a yellow dog than a yellow bellied Republican”, the public perception of Kerry’s “joke” and his response don’t really matter.  But if we want to win back the Congress, we need to be addressing those who perceived his comment to be an insult.

Blu, The Senator blew his own joke, so I can see why re-reading it would only seem to reconfirm that he meant something awful, especially if you didn’t know that the context was a lot of jokes. The line was supposed to be that if you don’t do your homework, etc., you “end up getting us stuck in Iraq.” In other words, Bush didn’t do his homework—a point that Kerry has made over and over in speeches for the last three years—and we’re stuck in Iraq. When Kerry delivered it, he didn’t notice that he mangled up the wording. If you’re a fan of President Bush, you may still find the joke offensive, but the line had nothing to do with the troops.

After the Mark Foley scandal, the growing disatisfaction with the Iraq war and
the war on terror, the blatantly disrespectful attack on Michael J. Fox by Rush
Limbaugh, I though the Dempocratic party was looking pretty good this year. But,
I am now astounded to find out that John Kerry has singlehandedly insulted the
American military, those who struggle with school, and Tony Snow.

My first question is: WTF?

Has the magnetic field around the earth suddenly reversed itself or something?

Has the moon’s orbit shifted so that the tide has changed in everyone’s head?

When did America become the land of disrespect?

This isn’t politics anymore-it’s a bad WWF match.

With so many politicians and public leaders showing so much ignorance, I’m
getting pretty scared about the future of our country.

We have enough worldwide problems without our leaders shooting spitballs at each
other. I am thoroughly disgusted with politicians, the government in general,
the entertainment industry, the healthcare industry, big business---when are we going to wake up as a country of intelligent
citizens, (regardless of our educational and/or military status), and do
something about how we are governed?

Am I correct to think that this free country has turned into a country governed
by free running politicians who can do whatever they want? Has the government
spun itself out of control? Congressmen, earning $165,000/yr. to represent us,
are working one or two days per week? What are they doing the rest of the time
while the people they represent work 40, 50, 60 hrs./wk to pay for gas that
results in a ten billion dollar profit for Exxon?; to pay co-pays to healthcare
providers so that insurance company CEO’s can take home millions in bonuses?; to
pay outrageous daycare fees so that they can go to work to make enough to pay
for food?; and the list goes on…

WTF???

This isn’t America anymore-it’s a nightmare. Now I understand the phrase, ‘the
ugly American’. 

You know, as far as I’m concerned, there’s only one person involved in politics right now that makes any sense, and that’s
Michael J. Fox., and he’s disabled, he’s an actor, and he’s a Canadian. The
reason he’s the only one who is making sense is because he is the only one
trying to help people. That’s what the American government needs to do: help the
people it represents.

This is an example of Republican Smear Tactics.  They can take an unimportant item and spin it into a major issue.

The Democrats should use this example to expose how the Republicans can only run a campiane by spinning the truth.

I am sick of all the lies coming out of Washington.

We have serious issue facing this Nation and all the polaticians can do is attack each other over a simple verbal mistake someone makes during a speech.

Tammy, I’ve been following the Senator’s career for a while, and I’m sure he’s heartsick that the troops would ever think that he meant any insult to them. Kerry is always on the side of the troops; for over two years he’s been speaking out about the shameful way that Bushco has been putting our troops in harm’s way without adequate equipment and without even a plan. He’s disgusted by what this Administration is doing to our people in Iraq. So he made one more joke about Bush’s incompetence, but he mangled the wording so that it wasn’t as clear as it was supposed to be that *Bush* is the one who’s stuck in Iraq. What’s disgusting is that the right-wingers know perfectly well what the line was intended to mean, and they even know how it was written—“you end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq” --, yet they cynically pretend that Kerry was talking about the troops. I think the only thing Kerry can do is keep restating what his intentions were; he shouldn’t have to apologize for the fact that the Right has been circulating the botched joke and lying about what he meant.

Why do the recruiting ads offer educational opportunities if his comment is not right on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leRQrAIVAUA What was the reason we went to war in Iraq? I want to keep Iraq the center of this discussion because it needs to be.

Back in the 2004 Democratic Presidential primaries Howard Dean had this amazing ability to do these “gaffes.” At least that’s what the media called them.

A gaffe is defined as a “faux pas: a socially awkward or tactless act.”

And yet the things Howard Dean said in 2003 and 2004 were not faux pas’s, they were truths that the press and the administration didn’t want to admit to.

But if that’s what the word “gaffe” has come to mean, I congratulate Mr. Kerry on his recent “gaffe.” I’ve been critical of Kerry before but not here.  Not for his “gaffe” and not for his followup.

If anything Mr. Kerry wasn’t “shrill” enough.  “Shrill” apparently means, “speaking the blunt truth in a public forum,” by the way.

In the 90’s as the Soviet Union collapsed we had to regularly buy new maps.  Now as the GOP collapses apparently we have to regularly buy new dictionaries.

Dave,
I heard the Imus show too. Kerry did say he regetted blowing the joke - he left out a word “us” that would have made it clearer. He even said that you don’t intentionally botch jokes - it makes you look stupid.

He also did clarify what the joke was meant to be. In no way did the joke intend to insult troops. In fact, thge RW stories all paraphrase Kerry’s comment - to make people come to the conclusion they do.

So - he has admitted he made a mistake with the joke - he also defended his record vis a vi the millitary - which is an excellent one. He also pointed out that both McCain and Bush KNEW that that was not Kerry’s meaning. Both of them have misspoken and they have been given breaks on it - maybe they should have given Kerry one.

Posted by Shaydz | November 1, 2006 10:09 AM

Perhaps Victor Davis Hanson would do well to take time away from his contemptible Mexicans seeking take over California rants, and spend a bit more time contemplating the value of honest, if blunt, criticism in a democracy.

John Kerry could sitting in Vail or Tahiti enjoying his wife’s fortune, but instead spends his time attempting to reverse his country’s direction - a direction that now over 60% of Americans agree is decidedly wrong.

Posted by Tom E | November 1, 2006 10:12 AM

And what are you going to do?  Besides offer advice to John Kerry?  Are you going to work to GOTV?  Or complain about spilled milk?

Seize the day my friend.  Seize the opportunity to talk fact about Iraq.

(Oh, “fact about Iraq.” That’s good.  Sort rap-like!)

“His office isn’t even taking phone calls right now...”
~~Posted by Jim Waid | November 1, 2006 10:17 AM

Jim, I’m sure your previous suggestion that JK hid under a politcal rock has been received… and rejected.  So I suggest hiking down to your local Dem headquarters and use those call minutes to GOTV.

Just a thought. 

KJ, read this fast, as I doubt it will be allowed to stay on this BLOG longer than 1 minute…

When you call or write a political official, they count your opinion as TEN VOTERS!  That’s right ten!  Why?  Because so very few of the citizens of this country actually call or write their elected officials at all, so they count those who do as representing a total of ten people.  It is how a right wing religious minority became so powerful, so quickly.

Do not ever underestimate what effect calling your elected officials can have.  Ever.

Delete away mods…

John,
Please tell Bush you will apologize for a misunderstood joke on him, when he apologizes to the American people for lying about why he is sending our troops to die!  At least your comment was said in humor and was really about him and his mess.  Boy those repubs will do anything to avoid talking about issues and truth.  The white house is using its best weapon-diversion.

TARA:

Great comment!!!

I spent a lot of time and as much money as legally allowed on Senator Kerry’s 2004 campaign and I belive that his failure to provide an apology to the men and women in uniform is a mistake.

I understand that this was a botched line and that his point was the failure of the President to use his intellect in examing this war is central to the current election.

The point remains that if you listen to it one way and slant it hard that way it does sound like he is besmirching the troops.  Even if you don’t you provide valuable talking points to the Republicans.

I firmly believe that he should issue a short three part statement.

1.  Again quoting the speech as it should have been read and noting that it was simply a mistake in reading this.

2.  If there is any offense taken by the uniformed men and woman in my botched delivery, I apologise.

3.  The point I was trying to make remains central to this campaign and the needs of the American people.

If he continues to allow this to fester, I will have not choice but to never support him again.

I saw Sen. Kerry’s snafu this morning for the first time and then did some research. Maggie, you see recruiters in low income areas because the military is a great way out of low income areas.  I know this because I was from a low income household.  I went to college on PEL grants for two years (Reagan was in office then) before I decided I was ready for an adventure and a full time job that meant something.  That was 1984.  I had to finish a total of 3 years of college to make Staff Sergeant in the Army.  I retired from the Army in 2005 with 20 years.  To distinguish truth from fiction, I have two daughters who did not finish high school and couldn’t get into the military if they tried.  Education is one subject.  Low Income is another entirely different subject.  And Iraq is another entirely different subject.  Be secure in the knowledge that the defenders of your constitution are in fact educated - the military offers classes to its members who score low on their initial entry tests, to fill in the gaps of their education and help them raise their test scores which gives them more opportunities within the military.  The military also offers college tuition assistance to all of its members and in most cases pays 100% of the cost of classes, books, and fees.  Right before I retired, the Army paid for my college level real estate courses that allowed me to get my real estate license and move into my next career.  The military doesn’t insist that enlisted soldiers attend college, but education is a category used in the promotion process.  If you don’t have college, you will not be promoted if you are working in a popular field.  A college degree is required for officers.  In addition to college, all military members receive military versions of education in every aspect of leadership, which takes that low income kid and turns him or her into a certified manager of people.  The truth about education as it relates to Iraq is this:  You can’t go to Iraq without at least a GED and a promise of a college education from our American military, unless you are a tourist.  Uneducated people work at McDonalds.

Jim,

I copied your comment in case it was deleted.  Thanks for the stats, I’m no good with numbers and didn’t know that every call counted as ten.  However, I am a long-time phone caller of public officials, so I do appreciate your attempts to call the Senator.  I’ve called his office myself when I disagreed with him stands or wanted him to know my opinion on a vote.

All I’m trying to say to you, and Matt as well, is let’s see this as an opportunity and seize this opportunity to GOTV. 

We gotta deal with the material we have.  Time is short.  Every voice is needed.  Kerry is going to do what Kerry is going to do.  In the meantime, my state is in desperate shape.  How’s your state?  How are the races shaping up?

Wearner, The actual line as written was “you end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq”—which is exactly what Bush has done. If Kerry paraphrased as he was explaining to Imus, big deal.

Posted by Karynnj | November 1, 2006 10:35 AM

Thanks.  I was just about to track that information down.

Posted by Sondra | November 1, 2006 10:23 AM

Only in a America that has been truly left behind can a defender of our shirker-in-chief (not to mention the Vice-Torturer) even be raising the point of John Kerry’s service in Vietnam.

“You must not forget, your beloved JFK (that’s John F. Kennedy, ) started the war in Vietnam. He bears some of the responsibility also!!!!”
~~Posted by Sondra | November 1, 2006 10:37 AM

Actually Sondra, that’s not correct.  There was a war in Vietnam in the 1950’s via the French.  My history is hazy, and I think it began over border lines drawn after WWII, but I’m not sure.

We need history teachers here today!!!  Anyone?

To Jeff Dearborn

Yes, absolutely! /sarcasm

The level of absurdity in some of these comments is disheartening. And thanks to all the others, the majority, for lifting my spirits. And thanks foremost to Senator Kerry.

First off, I would encourage my own children to serve in the nation’s armed services because it is a way to know, not only what you are fighting for but also what you are fighting against.  It also provides an education that simply cannot be equalled in a ‘college’ or ‘university’… I myself signed for an Air Force tour and my brother did a tour in the Army.  I have 2 college degrees and my brother is nearly finished with his engineering degree.

Senator Kerry, himself, performed his tour of duty and if he truly feels that those not unable to proceed through the education system will end up in Iraq, I have only one question for him.  “What is your reason for having been in the military?”

To blame others’ enlistment on an inabilty to proceed through the educational system is just inane.  Some of the smartest and wisest people I know, which albeit is limited, have chosen the armed services for many reasons.

Kerry’s comments hurt himself as much as they insulted others who choose to serve our country. That is the very important thing to remember, the armed services are voluntary.  If you choose to serve, it’s still a choice.  For some, it may be the best choice out of many bad ones. For others, it may be the ‘right choice’ out of many good ones.  It is a personal moment.  That choice, that freedom is what makes our country great.  I am disappointed that anyone would denegrate the people chosing to serve this country in such a way.

L Ford, I hope you sent them the transcript of the speech *as written*, rather than Kerry’s flubbed joke. The line as originally written—“If you don’t do your homework, etc., you end up getting us stuck in a war in Iraq”—is perfectly clear. And I think a lot of people, looking at how Bush failed to do his homework, would agree.

Unenrolled Voter:
Why is Sen. Kerry’s staff continually deleting my polite request that he resign?

Doesn’t he respect my opinion?

Posted by Unenrolled Voter | November 1, 2006 10:41 AM
==============================

I guess I missed the part where you say why your opinion should be respected…

I’ve got a polite request for you too…

Can’t you people get better trolls?

My comment is this....Senator Kerry is 100% right in his various speeches..... Its swift boating all over again.  They are using Kerry as a scape goat ...trying to divide the Democratic Party...People need to WAKE UP...they are trying to take the focus off of the important issues (they’re failed policies) and divide the party by
making them fight among themselves.  They have done it before...and they continue to do it for the
simply reason that it works! 

PLEASE!  Don’t let them do it!  PLEASE!  THE FOCUS *is* THE WAR!  WE NEED TO END THIS WAR!  IT IS HURTING AMERICA IN SO MANY WAYS!!

Posted by PFD | November 1, 2006 10:45 AM

What you said. 

Senator Kerry, I am so proud of my daughter. She is about to complete her basic training for the Army next week. She graduated from college this year on the dean’s list. She has parents who both have college educations and her father proudly served in the Navy. She chose to serve this country because she knows if others before her did not serve over the last 226 years, this country would be a memory. If she goes to Iraq, she will serve proudly and I will proudly support her choice. It is totally inapproprate to make a political joke aimed at the President at the expense of the military who proudly and voluntarily serve. Some of the people that she is training with are using this as an opportunity to gain the education they would not be able to get otherwise and it is great that the military offers this opportunity. The issues that I hear the Democrates pushing and touting only confirm that the Republicans, although not perfect, are trying to live their lives in service, with the best interest of the country in mind.

Dr Senator Kerry,
I have always supported the Democratic party and have always admired you as a senator.  The current administration has not lived up to any expectations (even the small hope I had after the results) and I think the majority of voters wish
they would have voted for you in the last election.  I am very impressed that you will not apologize for the false words the current administration has put in your mouth.  I would hope that most American’s are intellegent enough to understand that the meaning behind your comments were in regards to the current administration and not to the troops.  I have always felt that you have been completely honest and have said if you were wrong.  Its about time someone sticks up against the republican party.  We all have friend and family that have been over in Iraq for too long and need a break and to come home.  Some wont have that chance.
Thank you and you have more support than you may think.
Dawn

Vonda,

Senator Kerry typically controls his mouth much better than our current “commander in chief”. 

Further, he would not have put us into Iraq, which is the point here.

The US military, and all of America, has been used by the Bush administration (let’s be real here, George Bush is a front man for Cheney, Rumsfield and others) for their stated, day-one-in-office, purpose of invading Iraq.  Read the book by Paul O’Neil (The Price of Loyalty) regarding the very first cabinet meetings of Bush’s administration where invading Iraq was a top agenda item.  Then think about all the US men and women killed, and yet to be killed, by this war, not to mention the citizens of Iraq (numbers in the tens or hundreds of thousands depending on which study you believe).  The US is far less safe today than when the Iraq invasion was begun.  Iraq is a disaster.  But, Cheney and Rummy “knew best”, knew it was right to invade Iraq, knew it was right to mislead the citizens of this country to try to use the events of 9/11 to accomplish their neo-con goals.

Senator Kerry is a vet.  His comments were not intended to insult anyone except the Bush administration.  And, if you think about it, you would know this to be the truth.

I hope Kerry stays hot and engaged over this topic of the botched joke. It isn’t that the topic is important, it is that the country needs to see that Kerry has the backbone and the will to stand up for himself. We desperately needed that in 2004 and if it proves possible in 2006, the country might start believing in Democratic candidates again. I really hope this stays in the news for the upcoming week and that Kerry takes on Bush and his diabolical Republican machine at every possible opportunity. He needs to continue to make clear what he intended to say and to apoligize for “botching” and causing confusion.
Chris

Anyone who doesn’t get that Rove et al have been watching Kerry’s every move and listening to every word for the past 5 months he’s been running circles around any other Democrat helping the candidates, needs to rethink the sitution. As soon as that 22 seconds of comment could be isolated, Rove and the GOP echo chamber went to work.

This has nothing to do with Kerry handing the GOP a last minute GOTV prop.  It is the GOP willingness to wait patiently and search everywhere for the right situation to make into an issue, no matter how distorted, ridiculous on the face or distracting to the real issues. That is their intent.

This is not about Kerry when it comes to defending ALL Democrats from the media whores. WHOEVER runs in ‘08 is going to get the same garbage thrown at them by the GOP with the same assistance by the media with the biggest microphones.

I’d like to know where the Dem leaders are. If they don’t jump on this ASAP, the point will be lost on the public.

John Kerry, after months of speeches and jokes in a grueling schedule, misspoke an intended dig at Bush. Bush had plenty of time to stall or thwart 9/11, to develop another way to deal with Iraq.  He and Rummy have botched TWO wars. Makes me think of ‘When Clinton Lied No One Died’

Good Grief, Charlie Brown, I just heard McCain’s statement. He accused Kerry of saying something that was simply not even close. Anyone point this out?

One of the bizarre aspects to this is the fact that there are other interpretations that hold water. The troops who signed on to get help with college, got stuck in Iraq. The military has lowered their enlistment standards to meet recruitment needs - and failed.

Any of the vets who are citing the intelligence of the military volunteers seem to have missed Kerry being too intelligent to ever have intended that interpretation. Has no one ever mis-spoke either a comment or a joke? As much experience as Kerry has on camera in the public, even professional comediens and anchors stumble at times.

Usually the problem is obvious at the time. In the room, the intent was clear enough. Out of the room, with other comments removed, it came accross to some as different than intended. The media does this all the time. Why?

Maggie I am shocked you see that or even think that. I too travel my state and nothing could be farther from the truth. Are you trying to tell me you work in the ghettos delivering something? I live and work in a upper suburb and see recruiters all the time. At either the high schools or the universities. Its how the schools get federal funding. No one throws money at a dump thinking their going to win a prize. This is not a draft. Our military is all voluntary. With all the grants and loans given out no one is FORCED to go into the military to go to school. You need to get out of Vietnam and come to the 21st century. Stupid people couldn’t even run the equipment we have in the military. Including the tanks.  The average service person has a BA. You cant even advance in the military without a BA.

I wish Senator Keryy could see this.

Senator Kerry needs to make these points

1) George Bush, the White House, and the republicans are lying to the American people about his remarks, just like they have lied about other things in the past.

(do not specify what other things GWB and company have lied about. Let the American voter fill in the blanks here)

(respose to the request to specify the lies, is to say the American voter knows which lies)

2) GWB is trying to pin the blame on John Kerry and other democrats for his (GWB’s) problems.

3) It is not His (John Kerry’s) fault that GWB got himself in trouble with the American people.  It is not his (Kerry’s) fault that GWB now finds himself caught between Iraq and a hard place.

(Note the bad pun and Use It, It will stick)

4) Not only did GWB get himself caught between Iraq and a hard place, but he put the troops there as well.

5) This is one heck of a time to have a learning curve regarding Iraq.

Senator Kerry messed up a punchline.

George Bush messed up a war.

You’ll find less orchestrated performances at the Met than the display of the GOP and its comment-brigade over the past day.