Back in Senate, Kerry Resumes His Criticism of Iraq Policy

[liberalpragmatist]

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

Published: January 19, 2005


WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 - Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts reported for duty on Tuesday, making his 2005 Capitol debut with a reprise of his 2004 presidential campaign: pointed criticism of the way his former opponent, President Bush, is handling the war in Iraq and the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

<snip>

While Mr. Kerry told Ms. Rice that "you are going to be confirmed, and everybody knows that," he said his own vote was not assured. "I have reservations, and they are not personal in any way whatsoever," he told her, early in the hearing, adding that he was especially disturbed by Ms. Rice's assertion that she would not have changed the number of troops in the region.

"You sat there this morning and suggested it was the right number of troops," he said, "contrary to the advice of most thoughtful people who have been analyzing this."

<snip>

For Senator Kerry, who told voters repeatedly that he could do a better job than President Bush of managing the war, the confrontation was both poignant and strangely triumphant. It was his first Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing since September 2003, and he was questioning a woman he surely would have replaced had he won the election. He returned to the Capitol as Republicans prepared for Thursday's ceremony to swear in the man who beat him; during a break in Tuesday's hearing, his Democratic colleagues clustered around him, as if to provide a cloak of comfort.

He was asked how he felt about being back. "Would I rather be somewhere else on Thursday, Jan. 20 at noon?" Mr. Kerry replied. Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat of California, chimed in with a reply known to parents everywhere: "Duuuuh."

<snip>

Indeed, on Tuesday, the last presidential election still seemed on the Massachusetts senator's mind. When colleagues welcomed him, he replied with a halfhearted endorsement of Senate life: "I guess it's sort of good to be back." When Senator Richard G. Lugar, Republican of Indiana, who is chairman the Foreign Relations Committee, said he was "proud that a member of our committee was a candidate for president of the United States," Mr. Kerry was wistful.

"I wish we could have translated your pride into some votes," he said, evoking laughter, "but thank you anyway."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/19/politics/19kerry.html

[still_one]

1. ooooooh, I am so impressed, (NOT)

too little too late

where were you during the campaign

where were you when you were at the grand canyon, and the press asked you if you would have voted the same way on iraq after what had happened, and you said you would

where were you during the three debates when they asked you about the 87 billion dollar vote, and you didn't answer the question

suddenly you have a voice?

suddently you feel an injustice has been done, and every vote should be counted, but most of all where were you during the first four years of the * presidency

until we elect democrats that stand for democratic principles, this party is dead

[Zhade]

2. More criticism of HOW the war's going?

Pfft. How about pointing out the fact that the war and occupation were and are illegal, Kerry?