Sunday: NBC's "Meet the Press" - Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. (nt)

[Eric J in MN]

nt

[jpgray]

1. This will be interesting--will he unveil a breaking from Shrumdom?

I hope so. I also want to hear him take attacks on his Rice vote, to see how he handles him. His posture on these two things will give a big indication of his plans for '08. I think he would need to be somewhat more "damn the torpedoes" for me to support him again in the primaries.

[Eric J in MN]

5. Bob Shrum has retired from consulting (nt)

nt

[jpgray]

6. Yes; he has.

And?

[Eric J in MN]

7. You seemed to be asking if John Kerry will still use Bob Shrum

as a consultant, and I said no, since Shrum has retired from consulting.

[jpgray]

8. Shrumdom refers more to his style than his active involvement

I want to see if that has been fully exorcised. Shrum doesn't need to still be consulting for his favored political approaches to be used.

[marcologico]

2. thanks for the heads up! n/t

[Name removed]

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[President Jesus]

3. terrific initiative, awful timing

I fully support Kerry pushing the Kids first legislation...I think it's the first time in ages where the GOP will be on the defensive, at least legislatively.

But Kerry's messgage is going to be completely dwarfed by the Iraq election, especially if there is any violence (which is sure to happen).

I wish this interview were next week.

[BuyingThyme]

4. Yes, bad timing.

[Cheswick2.0]

13. Every time he talks about the 11 million uninsured children

I think "what about the 33 million uninsured adults"?
One of the things I like about what Dean did in VT was that he worked to insure both chilren and adults. 98% of ALL people in VT were insured.

[LittleClarkie]

17. One thing at a time. Go for what you think you can get first

Dean in VT was operating from a position of strength. The Dems in the Senate are not. The bill as written is doable, and since it is about kids the Repubs will look like asshats if they fight it to strenuously.

I don't need someone making alot of noise and then not getting that much done. If we can get this legislation through, it will be a good step.

Is it really an all or nothing proposition. Either we try for it all, or we don't bother? The Repubs are never going to accept univeral health care while they're a majority. At the least, I'm all for making them look like asshats. That would be a good thing.

[politicasista]

19. Love Deaniacs and Clarkies

Their man could have won, could have did this or that better, bla, bla, bla,. I would like to see health care for all Americans too. At least Kerry puts the kidz first unlike Smirky who puts his own interests ahead of ours.

[zulchzulu]

9. I can't wait

I know Russert will ask him some questions like:

"John, Senator MeCain has insinuated that the votes against Condeleezza Rice were just votes based on sour grapes about the election..."

...to which Kerry can and will say that she lied and has proven to be pretty incompetent as NS director...

Other questions about his views on Rumsfeld's removal, Gonzalez's candidacy and whether he plans to run in 2008 will be asked. The question about some Swifty coming to MA to run against him may be asked.

I'm certain Kerry will come across as intelligent, succinct and correct about his assessments and rebuttals to Russert's possibly loaded questions.

I hope he's on TV more.

[Name removed]

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[Dr Fate]

24. Intelligent.

n/t

[Califooyah Operative]

10. msnbc's pumping this thing up hardcore,

mentioning it on every show. It's programmed into my head to try and watch it, I can't get it out, so i'll probably watch it attentively.

[marcologico]

11. OK the other thread is toast so let me sum up: Kerry was cool, concise,

and right as rain, and stomped every one of Fatboy's gotcha questions (the whole SBVT routine with a cherry on top) like he was squashing cockroaches with combat boots.

AND he said some nice things about Dean.

[Cheswick2.0]

12. nope, he played defense the whole time and not effectively

As he always does, he sounded awkward and unsure of what he was saying. It was as if even he didn't believe what he was saying. His answers about abortion were embarrasing. No pro-choice woman cares what Kerry personally feels about abortion or his religion. In fact his answers were insulting to women.

[LittleClarkie]

14. delete the dupe please

damn server error message.

[LittleClarkie]

15. I disagree. I heard him go on offense about health care, at least

I disagree at least as far as I heard from 8:30 to 9. When Russert brought up values, Kerry countered that the Republicans talk about values, but don't do anything about things like the number of children without health care. He had to drag the conversation into areas he wanted to talk about, so I consider that taking an offensive stance.

I loved it when he pulled out a clipping that showed the rest of the world didn't trust us financially because of the debt. He got his points in.

When Russert brought up abortion, Kerry countered that abortions have gone up under Bush the draconian (used that word too) and down under Clinton. Republicans talk alot, but don't do anything to help mothers cope. He reminded Tim that we already have pro-life Dems, but that Dems like Kerry don't believe in legislating their beliefs to the rest of the nation. He has made his choice, and he supports others right to make theirs. We are the big tent, after all.

I agreed with him that the emphasis should not be on abortion. It should be on education, prenatal care, and other such things. I, as a woman, didn't find anything objectionable in what Kerry said, so it wasn't insulting to THIS woman. As a pro-choice Dem who's personal choice is that I would not personally get an abortion, it helps me to know that there are leaders in the party with a similar stance. When I was ABB, that was one of the first things I heard that I liked about Kerry. It was a "me too" moment. So, since there is at least me, then I guess your "no woman" assertion needs to be amended. You might try "most women" or "several women."

("Always" and "never" statements make my teeth itch and I will often go out of my way to prove them wrong. They are a fallacy.)

Additionally, people need to be reminded that in being pro-choice, we are not cheering for abortions. Safe, legal, and rare.

This is the answer he always gives. It hasn't changed much. So to me he sounded like he meant it, because it's the answer I would expect from him. Some flip flopper he turned out to be (stupid Republicans... mutter, mutter.)

When Russert threw Kerry's initial support of Scalia in 1988 at Kerry, Kerry counted by saying very firmly that no he wouldn't vote for him now, and very directly said he was wrong to vote for him then, as he didn't turn out to be the man Kerry thought he was.

I'm glad I missed the swift crap. I might not have made it to the good stuff. Kerry kept my attention, which is something even I will admit he didn't always do.

And he had some glowing things to say about Dean. He said he thought he'd be good for the Chair, that he appreciated Dean's work during the campaign and that he thought Dean cared about the party and making it better. (messy paraphrasing, that)

Russert brought up that Dean was too liberal, but Kerry corrected him saying that was just a label from the campaign. Kerry also commented that the Chair's job would not to be spokesperson, but to organize and modernize the party. The way he said it, I thought he believed that Dean could do that. He said we are behind the Repubs in that regard, but that he saw the Dem Party getting organized.

All in all, a good half an interview. I might tape it tonight if I can find an hour on a tape somewhere.

[SharonRB]

18. Sounds like we agree...

I was typing my post below yours as you were posting yours. Seems we feel exactly the same way about what he said regarding abortion. All in all, I think it was a good interview and he's leaving all of his options open.

[SharonRB]

16. I taped earlier and just finished watching it.

In general, I think he did a good job answering Russert's questions. I thought there would be more discussion out here, but maybe a lot of people were in church or something and didn't watch it.

I don't agree with Chewick2.0 who thinks what he said about abortion was insulting to women. He has his own feelings on the subject, but doesn't feel that his beliefs should be forced on to other people. He fully supports a woman's right to choose. I think that even those of us who are strongly pro-choice would have to admit that abortion should be as infrequent as possible. It has to be legally available, but that doesn't mean that it has to be the first choice.

[flpoljunkie]

23. Pro lifers are against family planning, sex ed, morning after pill and

insist on abstinence education only. It is the Democrats who have the more rational views on Roe v. Wade and women's health rights.

[DemDogs]

25. Good job except

Lousy answer on the left over $15M. Ohio didn't demand it? If state chairs around the country had known that he had it, they'd have been asking, but why did they have to ask at all. His worst moment in an otherwise steady performance.

[Arkana]

20. I believe you mean "President John Kerry, D-Mass."

;)

[adigal]

26. Kerry is the Shadow President

and i loved that he said he will be watching what Bush does in Iraq in the next few days, the crucial time, and he will call him on it if he does not do a good job.

I felt like someone was looking out for us.