JK: “I Can Feel the Progress We’re Making”
(Senator Kerry sent this informal letter out to members of his 3-million-strong email list on Friday afternoon, at the end of an especially busy week in Washington.)
Bottom line — no sugarcoating it — I’m not happy we couldn’t break the GOP filibuster on Iraq. But I’m writing just to let you know that I can feel the progress we’re making.
Here’s what I take away from the week that’s ending. First, you’ve got a whole lot of Senators who voiced opposition to the current disastrous course in Iraq, but couldn’t bring themselves to admit that we needed an open debate on what the new course should be. They filibustered, throwing up a roadblock to any new course. (OK, that’s deeply frustrating—but then again two years ago could you imagine the day when the President would have such intense criticism from his own right flank on Iraq? The dam is breaking.)
But most importantly, we’re not going to let the roadblock stand. We, and I mean all of us who have been pressing and pressing on the war, have now made it clear in both parties that this Iraq policy is beyond broken. Last year, only 13 Senators voted for the Kerry-Feingold bill to set a deadline to redeploy; now it’s the unified Democratic position. In May, Republicans were dismissing even tough questions about the escalation. Now, they’re falling all over themselves to distance themselves from the President.
So we’re making progress. But progress doesn’t mean anything to the troops in the field. We need to get results. It’s just plain wrong for some people to admit that the policy is broken, but then filibuster attempts to fix it. If the policy is broken, we owe it to all Americans to hold open debate and arrive at a solution.
We’ll keep slugging until we’ll get there.
Thanks, John Kerry
P.S. — You and I know damn well what happens at moments like this: the Administration attacks their opponents ruthlessly. They smear, they lie. Yesterday they went after Sen. Clinton. I stepped up to defend her. Tomorrow who knows which Democrat they’ll attack. Here’s what I’m asking you: I don’t care if you have a horse in 2008, or who you’re supporting. Anytime you see a Democrat get attacked, please step up and defend them.
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Dear Senator Kerry: Thank you for your words of encouragement and for your continued pressure to end this illegal war. I support you and the Democrats who are asking to set a timeline to bring the troops home. However, what about the non-troops - the mercenaries who have been reported by the NY Times to outnumber our troops? When do they leave Iraq? They are there in our name and I assume paid by our taxes? Who is overseeing their role, who and how are they being recruited and paid? I would appreciate your response to these questions. Merelyn Dolins
I agree, That’s why I wish John Kerry was running for president
Its time to get those who support this administration to see evidence. Will someone other then the far left address the Project For a New American Century. Not only is it a roadmap for the failed policy of the current conflict we are in, but it lays out quite clearly what the future will hold if somebody doesn’t stand up, soon! Yes, historically the PNAC can prove the intentions of this pack of Neocans, right down to the famous “ Pearl Harbor-like event” needed to sell the America people on the pre-emtive attack on Iraq. They don’t want to talk about the past, fine let’s lay out their vision of the future per the PNAC. The violence in Iraq was evident to everyone but the signers and thier sheep/followers. The violence in Iraq will only wain when all of the sectors and cities are segregated into Sunni, Shite, Kurd, Christian Blocks, of course this administration couldn’t possibly understand this concept because most failed to even recognize or understand these groups prior to 2001. In typical GOP fashion, they put all of their policies and views into simple B&W;values so as not to confuse thier constituents or thier supporters. Heaven forbid anyone with a brain ask them questions or point out fact. They are like the cliche big stupid bully we all saw in school who answered every fact based call of thier integrity with an “oh yea, well you are one to”. When will the “Walmart people” wake up and realize they are being played for fools.
Dear Senator Kerry…
I voted for you and John Edwards and was bitterly disappointed when you conceded the election to the Mr. Bush, our criminal in the White House. I’m very
grateful to you and other Democrats who are working tirelessly to end the tragic debacle in Iraq and bring our soldiers home; I support you 150%, and when I have money to spare (not often these days!) I send that too.
I know it may not be your top priority, but I want to know why you and other Democrats in the Senate and House are not working tirelessly on another,
possibly even more critical action that our nation’s government MUST take...the impeachment of George Bush and Dick Cheney? I am puzzled and alarmed that House Speaker Polosi - whom I greatly admire and am so excited that she is now in that position - has said “it’s off the table.” Why aren’t she and Sen. Reid arranging for Judiciary Committee hearings, like those I watched with fascination during the Nixon impeachment? Why are these hearings not of utmost importance now, even more than the 2008 election or the war?
I recently watched an excellent Bill Moyers’ Journal program on impeachment, his discussion July 13 with Bruce Fein and Jim Nichols [ here’s the link:
]http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07132007/profile.html] in which Nichols and Fein brought up the NECESSITY of impeachment, because our country is in a constitutional crisis even greater than the crisis of Iraq: the monarchy presidency and impeachable offenses of Bush and Cheney that are establishing a precedent for abuses of power by future leaders and that lay groundwork for the disintegration of our precious democracy.
I would like to know where YOU stand on the issue of impeachment. According to the Moyers program, 45% of Americans favor impeaching Bush and 54% favor
impeaching the arguably more dangerous Cheney. But we citizens cannot do this on our own....that’s why we elect you and your fellow Senators and
Representatives to do this on our behalf. Bush and Cheney are the employees of the people; we are THEIR bosses they are hurting the “company”, our fantastic USA, and they need to be “called on the carpet”, censured, and told to change their behavior NOW, or they’re FIRED.
Who do I, as a lifelong Democrat, ask for help in this process? As a P.S. to your latest memo to your supporters, [above] you said: “You and I know damn well what happens at moments like this: the Administration attacks their opponents ruthlessly. They smear, they lie. Yesterday they went after Sen. Clinton. I stepped up to defend her. Tomorrow who knows which Democrat they’ll attack. Here’s what I’m asking you: I don’t care if you have a horse in 2008, or who you’re supporting. Anytime you see a Democrat get attacked, please step up and defend them.” I am ALWAYS standing up and “defending” my fellow Democrats in Congress, and here in California government as well....can you tell me who in
Congress is standing up for me and the rest of the 45% to get our president and vice president impeached?
Thank you…
This was a bittersweet email for me to read. It contains a very imformative yet uplifting message, showing why the Senator is a class act no matter what the circumstances. It’s a damn shame that some others within the Democratic Party do not seem to recipricate this type of comraderie and support , and instead only look at their own self-interests. IMHO if it wasn’t for some really cheap shots from WITHIN the party 8 months ago we’d all be gathering here for an even greater cause.
But as I have stated, it proves that JK values his principles and ideals much more heavily than his own interests.
Senator Kerry,
I campaigned heartily for you in the last Presidential election and still suspect that you won…
voting machines in Ohio and probably elsewhere manipulated illegally.
I still support you heartily, and urge you to get on board with our Senator, Senator Russ Feingold to censure the president and VICE-president for their outright assault on our democracy. I am urging our Senator to do whatever is within his means to begin impeachment… I urge you to do so as well.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Eveland
18 Fiskdale Circle
Madison, WI
P.S. The Springsteen rally said it all… the American people support you!!!!