Robert Kennedy Jr.to Daschle "This is the time to die with our boots on."

[flpoljunkie]

Robert Kennedy, Jr. left this message for Daschle when he heard that Daschle was supporting the energy bill--and would even agree to vote for the energy bill if they stuffed it in an omnibus spending bill--which they may well do!

Kennedy said that the energy bill was so catastrophic for the American people, that it must be filibustered, even if some people have to lose their elections to get the message out. This is a remarkable statement. Kennedy said that people have to stand up and do what is right for the people of this country and for future generations.

You can watch Kennedy who was appearing at the Nation Press Club yesterday, 11/21/03 on a video now available at http://www.c-span.org. The above was in response to a question asked at the end of his speech. It begins at about minute 38:00 on the tape.

I would recommend you listen to the entire tape if you have the time. It is a remarkable interview; he received a long standing ovation at the end. Robert Kennedy, Jr. is a true American patriot, and he deserves our utmost respect and gratitute for his longtime environmental work with the Natural Resources Defense Counsel and the River Keepers.

He said that the Bush administration has already succeeded in rolling back 30 years of environmental regulations and allowed Bush's corporate contributors to pollute at will and is leaving the mess for us, the taxpayers, to clean up!

I think we need to apply this standard to all the Democrats and demand that they continue to filibuster the energy the bill as well as the GOP/AARP Medicare drug plan being debated on the Senate floor at this very moment--and will continue the bill even tomorrow!

There is absolutely no need to rush to ram these egregious giveaway bills down our throats; they are nothing but corporate subsidies (payback) to Bush's corporate cronies!

[JohnKleeb]

1. Why isnt Lil Bobby on more often

This guy is great!, btw I envy the Kerry campaign for getting this, but Kerry is good on what Bobby Jr likes and that is good sound environmental views, and I think he would make a fine secretary of the interior. I've seen him, he looks a lot like his dad of course, does he have the accent like his dad, his dad if I heard him correctly has a stronger one than his older brother did. Good guy that Bobby Jr.

[deutsey]

2. Daschle should have been booted a long time ago

What a disappointment he is...

[JohnKleeb]

3. whos on your list for replacements

I wonder why Ted Kennedy never was, the man is one of our best. I know though its gonna have to be someone younger though.

[deutsey]

5. Ted would be good

Anyone who shows some backbone and a tendency to be an opposition leader.

[JohnKleeb]

6. Thats all you need

I would love Ted. Thats the great thing about the Kennedy brothers, they all kick or kicked ass in their own ways yet liberal democrats. Ted would be so great, hes been great lately and always.

[mlawson]

25. Yes, and his Senate seat is safe!!

That is what seems to worry Daschle all the time.

But don't anyone hold your breath, Daschle will have the leader spot until either he loses in SD, or gives it up voluntarily. It's 'inside baseball'; a political insider deal, as usual.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Kennedy did point out that GOP "trapped" him with giant ethanol subsidies

that made it difficult for him not to turn down, but Kennedy said that he should have voted against the energy bill anyway--despite the position the GOP put him in when they purposely put in these bloated ethanol subsidies to try and get the votes of the ethanol producing states. I must point out that Richard Durbin of Illinois, a supporter of ethanol, sid that he could not vote for the energy bill because the bad far outweighed the good in it! Richard Durbin is a passionate and articulate speaker for the Democrats; he would make a great Majority Leader--we must think big!

Guess who stands to make $1 billion dollars out of this GOP energy deal for ethan subsidies--Archer Daniels Midland! They have a large equity stake in the Congress, too.

Ethanol, by the way, uses a tremendous amount of water and energy to produce, and Diane Feinstein that it produces smog! Ethanol appears to be nothing but a corporte subsidy crop--and not good for the environment!

[pscot]

16. It actually takes more energy to make a gallon of ethanol

than is produced by burning a gallon of ethanol. Ethanol production is not self sustaining. It's a bad deal all around. Better to make bourbon.

[Hieronymus]

18. He's a pathetic wimp.

Michael Moore did an impersonation of Daschle and Gray Davis while pointing out the problem with the Democratic Party.:mad:

[Tatiana]

4. Bobby Jr. is a true American patriot!

My goodness, you can see the passion and fire in his eyes when he talks about how Bush has completely destroyed this nation. He genuinely cares about those children suffering from asthma as a result of polluters.

He's become a wonderfully articulate advocate for environmental causes. I'm so glad he was able to turn his life around and find a cause worth dedicating his time and effort to.

[Myra]

7. Well Daschle is terribly busy nowdays

Not filibustering the medicare privitization bill.
So many issues to neglect, so little time!

[Deja Q]

9. You mean Dash-hole, right?

Nobody should elect that bastard for anything.

[Myra]

32. Right

I used to think Dash-hole was merely an
invertebrate. A lower life form that simply
couldn't help that he was born without a spine.
He did his best with the hand...er, back that
nature delt him.

It's become quite clear though that he's a closet
Pug like Zell Miller and John Breaux.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

Kennedy has got balls

Daschle don't.

Tear down the party to save it. Don't vote for Democrats without balls.

[pscot]

11. It's easy to act like you have balls

when elections are essentially a pro-forma exercise. It's unfair to vilify Tom Daschle for behaving like a politician. I think that on the whole he does a pretty good job. Daschle's chief failing is that he comes from a state that's more red than blue. He's constantly looking over his shoulder. We need someone like Dick Durbin; a good liberal with a secure base. Standing firm on principal is easier when you have aces back.

[ibegurpard]

30. And that is precisely why we need leaders who aren't endangered

by taking stands in support of traditional Democratic Party principles

[Deja Q]

8. I just signed a petition urging our elected officials to not support it!

http://www.ucsaction.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=12787

Any "Democrat" that supports the 'energy bill' is NO Democrat, progressive, liberal. Such a "Democrat" is a crooning corporate cronie and certainly not voting for in the future.

[Lorien]

13. Thanks for the link

Just signed it myself!

[BuelahWitch]

10. He said his mother was picketing Taco Bell for using slave labor!

How old is Ethel anyway?? Wow, still an activist. :bounce:

[JohnKleeb]

14. Ethel is 75

Here are some pictures of her.

[flpoljunkie]

19. Thanks for posting these photos, JohnKleeb.

These are great photos. I love the black & white one of Bobby and Ethel walking on the beach.

[kath]

33. Thanks for the pics, John. I've been looking for

the photo from RFK's funeral of all his little kids lined up in the front pew, or walking out of the church (heartbreaking), ever since the 35th anniversary of his death this past June,but have been unable to find them online. Any ideas where I might find them? (only funeral pics I could find were of the funeral train, and the arrival of the cortege in Arlington after dark...)

[glitch]

15. thanks for the tip!

watching it on realvideo right now!

[sandnsea]

17. Harkin needs to be called too

I hope that he was. Bobby is exactly right, this is a time to put country before all else.

[economic justice]

20. GREAT Speech but what's wrong with Bobby??

I saw this on CSPAN last night and was really impressed. He really told it like it is with such obvious conviction. However, I was worried to see and hear him. Is something wrong with Booby? His voice was shaking so bad and he didn't look real well. This REALLY bothered me as the Kennedy family needs a healthy RFK, Jr!! That man is a TRUE PATRIOT! Anybody know about his health?

[Cheswick2.0]

22. he sounds like Katherine Hepburn

I hope he doesn't have parkinsons. Maybe it is just really bad vocal technique.

[economic justice]

23. Hope you're right

Man, that was really good though. He's contributed so much. Anybody wanting to watch it, it's off the front page on CSPAN...I just went to see it again and had to search. Find it at:
http://www.c-span.org/search/basic.asp?ResultStart=1&ResultCount=10&BasicQueryText=robert+kennedy

That's the Robert Kennedy search thread....it's the first speech.

[mlawson]

27. He has sounded like that for years.

Detractors say that it's his 'drug history'. I wonder if it's a hearing loss??? Many persons with them sound like that.

[Piperay]

21. HURRAY for RFK Jr.

it's about time that these Democrats get some backbone, if not now...WHEN??????????? :thumbsup:

[Nlighten1]

24. I can't find the link there.

Can someone help me?

[flpoljunkie]

26. Clink on this link.

You will see it in the left-hand column of videos.

http://c-span.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,

[glitch]

28. Says they are looting this country and they'll go to Brazil etc

next. He's really laying it out for people, I wish every American could hear this speech.

[Woodstock]

29. I am so disappointed with Daschle, I don't even know what to say anymore

He's doing a rotten job. They need someone in there who will FIGHT for our party platform. Preferably someone not in any danger of losing their seat (so they can speak out loud and clear at all times.)

[Woodstock]

31. full URL for your media player

rtsp://video.c-span.org/edrive/15days/e112103_kennedy.rm