From Common Dreams: "Mr. Kerry, You Could Still Be The Leader We Need"

[flpoljunkie]

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0606-31.htm

Excerpt below from: "Mr. Kerry: You Could Still Be The Leader We Need"

by Cynthia Bogard

And the reason we believed that, Mr. Kerry, is because we had witnessed the courage you repeatedly demonstrated to speak truth to power when you'd returned from Vietnam a young veteran of an immoral war. It's time now, John, to repay our faith in you by finding your courage again. We need that courage Senator Kerry, and we need it now.

We are thrilled that you have decided to raise the Downing Street Memo with your colleagues in the Senate. We are gratified that you have criticized the mainstream American media for completing failing "we the people" by barely acknowledging the existence of evidence that shows that the Bush Administration misled the nation into war and made a chump out of the United Nations.

But Mr. Kerry, never doubt that the apologists for the Bush/Cheney agenda are ready for you, waiting to ambush you with your own words, just as they did in the Swift Boat campaign. This time, Senator, you've got to counterpunch quickly and not by defending yourself or whatever words they'll use against you. This time, Mr. Kerry, you've got to defend all American citizens against those who would lie to us. And you have to do it persistently and passionately, not for any personal gain but because you are committed to ending an immoral war, no matter what the personal cost. Remember Vietnam now, John, and find that courage we all thought so admirable then.

You didn't win the presidency in 2004, Mr. Kerry, but you could still win back our democracy. You could help to end an immoral war, John. You've done it before.

Know that we're here, ready to give our all to help you.

[MessiahRp]

1. Very well said...

I would give my heart and soul to help John Kerry out (I think I nearly did in 2004). I so badly wish this were his Presidency now because 4 years of Bush seems impossible to handle... hell the first 6 months have been damn near unbearable already.

Rp

[longship]

2. You *could* be... except

...first you have to take off the pink tutu about Iraq. Failing that, you'll never be the leader we need.

[welshTerrier2]

3. ABB ??

i was one of those lost souls last year who disdained Kerry's IWR vote, disdained his support for bush's occupation of Iraq and disdained what i saw as a very poor campaign ...

and i worked hard for Kerry after the primaries and gave him more money than i should have ... i believed, and still believe, that the neo-cons pose a very grave danger to the continuity of our democracy ... neo-cons and their corporate masters are pure evil ...

so, although I supported Kucinich in the primaries, I got behind Kerry 100% ...

and, to be clear, Kerry deserves no more criticism than any other Democrat who continues to support bush's occupation in Iraq ... he need not take all the blame; there's plenty to be shared among his Senate colleagues who fail to represent those with the insight to have seen the "war" was never justified and see now that withdrawal is the only thing that makes any sense ... there is no nice way to put this; Kerry is a major disappointment ... my support for him last year was ABB only ... i do not support those who support bush's occupation ...

now, as to the article on Common Dreams by the Hofstra professor, when Kerry stands up against the occupation, when that day of enlightenment finally strikes him, when he sees what many of us see so plainly, i will welcome his support ... i am not a Kerry basher; i am a basher of his moronic support for bush's occupation ... when Kerry represents my views on the most critical issues, he will have my full support ... with bush a lame duck, ABB is dead ... from now on i'll only support those who represent my views on the issues ... i will not vote for a candidate just because he or she has a "D" after their name or because the other candidate has an "R" ... if the Democratic Party wants my vote, they'll need to hear my message and the message of millions who feel the Party has lost its way ...

finally, i think those who hold grudges or personalize their attacks are wrong to do so ... any soldier who awakens to join our struggle should be welcomed ...

[Martin Eden]

4. DITTO your post!!!

Very well said. Couldn't agree more. I also supported Kucinich in the primary, then contributed money to and worked for Kerry in the general election (travelled to Ohio to get out the vote).

I agree with you that it's wrong to hold grudges, but I can't withold my judgement about Kerry. Millions of us were counting on him last year, and on and other Dems when the war vote came up in 2002. Where was the enlightened leadership when we really needed it, and when Kerry had his greatest opportunity?

He should have admitted making a mistake in voting for IWR, and he really blew it when he said his vote would be the same even in hindsight. What he should have said was that there wouldn't have been a vote if Congress and the American people had known Iraq had no WMD or ties to al Qaeda. It was a golden opportunity to expose the lies that led to this war.

My point is that he failed us when the stakes were high and he had the opportunity to make a difference; do we have any reason to believe he will do better next time?

Additionally, his past baggage is a major handicap: changing his tune now would set him up for more flip-flop attacks.

If Kerry is our last best hope for saving the nation we are in serious trouble indeed.