More than 180 Former U.S. Ambassadors from Republican and Democratic ...

[BlueNomad]

More than 180 Former U.S. Ambassadors from Republican and Democratic Administrations Endorse Kerry

10/4/2004 10:38:00 AM

To: National Desk

Contact: Mark Kitchens of Kerry-Edwards 2004, 202-464-2800

WASHINGTON, Oct. 4 /U.S. Newswire/ -- United by a deep concern about the mounting failures of the Bush administration's foreign policy, more than 180 former United States Ambassadors who have served under Republican and Democratic presidents endorsed John Kerry for president on Monday.

At a news conference at the National Press Club, members of Ambassadors for Kerry-Edwards issued a letter stating, "We believe it is imperative to our national security that we change the leadership of the nation we all love and elect John Kerry and John Edwards." The statement criticized President Bush for needlessly squandering the good will and support of the world following the September 11 attacks and undermining our ability to win the war on terror by eroding our strong international alliances.

"The war on terror can only be won with the active cooperation of people and governments around the world," said Ambassador Sol Polansky, who represented the United States to Bulgaria, and served as a Foreign Service officer for almost 40 years before his retirement in 1990. "We've spent our careers building that kind of cooperation for the sake of our country's security. But in the last three years, the Bush administration has undermined the strong alliances American leaders worked half a century to build."

"Senator Kerry, in whom I am willing to place my trust, has demonstrated that he is courageous, sober, competent, and concerned with fighting the dangers associated with the widening socio-economic gap in this country. I will vote for him enthusiastically," wrote John Eisenhower in an opinion article entitled, "Why I will vote for John Kerry for President" in New Hampshire's Union Leader. "The fact is that today's 'Republican' Party is one with which I am totally unfamiliar. Leadership involves setting a direction and building consensus, not viewing other countries as practically devoid of significance. Recent developments indicate that the current Republican Party leadership has confused confident leadership with hubris and arrogance." Eisenhower, who served as Ambassador to Belgium is a lifelong Republican and the son of Republican President Dwight Eisenhower.

This unprecedented show of support from this group of former ...

<http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=37385>

[Oilwellian]

1. This is great

Think it'll make the nightly news? :eyes:

[w4rma]

14. Nope. I don't think that the "news" will touch this.

It is so damaging to Bush and Republicans that no amount of spin could counter it to most of the folks who know about this.

And big media is too concerned with the benefits that a Republican government is willing to bribe them with: deregulation so they can expand and outsource farther, lower taxes on big money who are their owners and stock holders and top executives, plush war-profiteering no-bid contracts where they can get by with little to no work and still get paid millions (while the nonames they send to combat zones get maimed and killed).

[Carla in Ca]

19. I wish there was a way to collect all endorsements

in one place. It is hard to remember all who have and the collection would be impressive. Show it right before the election so the effort can't be duplicated by the repubs.

[ILeft]

2. Kerry is " courageous, sober, competent, and concerned"

That needs to repeated over and over. Bush is literally a cowardly, alcoholic, incompetent, and unconcerned lout- and deep down, many people who consider themselves part of the Republican team know it.

Let's keep reminding them. There is too much at stake to blindly follow the "team" off a cliff.

[alarcojon]

3. This kicks ass

we need to get this out there, far and wide.

[Dudley_DUright]

4. We need to consolidate all these anti-Bush groups,

Scientists and Engineers for Change, Ambassadors for Kerry-Edwards...into the "supergroup" Thinking People for Kerry. :-)

[PurityOfEssence]

5. People who deal with other countries are America-haters

There's something wrong with folks who give a damn about those other 96% of the human race.

[Lucille]

6. Notice how often endorsements of Kerry use the word "sober"

Yes they mean, "reasoned, serious, restrained," but I think they also mean "not intoxicated."

I honestly wonder if it's an open secret that * is chemically altered.

[gottaB]

15. good catch--probably is a diplomatic way of saying * is a drunk --n/t

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

7. This is major!

You all know that in the Second Debate (with the Town Hall format), Bush will twist any question remotely related to foreign policy into an attack on Kerry's use of the phrase "Global Test" in the first debate.

This endorsement will allow Kerry to say that 180 former U.S. ambassadors, many appointed by Shrub himself and by his father, have endorsed Kerry for President. He can then do some riffs explaining what he meant by "Global Test" and put the issue to rest.

Bush, of course, will try to still hammer him on it, but it won't do any more harm than his repeated references to "hard work" in Debate One.

[anarchy1999]

8. Back to the top!

n/t

[calimary]

9. Kick - LIKE this!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

10. That's a VERY big number of former ambassadors willing to go public.

[Wind Dancer]

11. Powerful message!

I predict we will hear more support for Kerry from others who care about the soul of our democracy before the election. This is just wonderful news.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[progressivebydesign]

13. Well! WHY is this not on the front page of all news outlets?? n/t

[Steelangel]

16. Well..

I believe most of medias are owned by repukes. That's only explaination I can come up with.

[mwdem]

17. Hi, Steelangel!

Welcome to DU!!:hi:

[reprobate]

18. All the media in the US are owned by just five corporations.

and that's dropped from six last year.

[slojim240]

20. OMG!!! This should be devastating to the Rovians. Why won't the news

headline this story? OK if they don't we need to get some yard sign and bumper stickers made that say "180 Republican and Democrat ambassordors can't be wrong. Bush needs to go!"

[54anickel]

21. Heh-heh, I like that sign/bumper sticker idea. Still giggling about it.

I guess it's the way you toss in the "Bush needs to go!" at the end. It's gotta be the timing or something. Priceless.

[struggle4progress]

22. kick for folks weary of government by "Wackos R Us"

:kick: