Kerry Floor Speech Alert!!!

[kerrygoddess]

John Kerry To Speak Out on Iraq, Details Concrete Steps the President Must Take to Rescue the Mission
28 June 2005

John Kerry will go to the Senate floor today to offer a concrete set of steps the President needs to take to rescue the mission in Iraq, get it right, and deal with a series of mistakes that have brought us to this point.

We’ll have an update for the time here on LightUpTheDarkness.
http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1171

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp

[globalvillage]

1. Thanks kerrygoddess.

Kick ass, John.
:woohoo:

[johnaries]

2. Thank you, KerryGoddess!

I'll be streaming here in my cube.

[pgh_dem]

3. Great news! Time? C-span-2 i guess? n/t

[kerrygoddess]

4. Yes... C-Span2!

I'll get an email alert before it happens and hopefully have time to post here, so keep watching here and LUTD!

[globalvillage]

6. Hey, PGH!

What part of town? I'm in Kennedy Twp (Robinson area).

[JohnnyBoots]

8. Just moved to Beechview about a week ago

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. I hope he connects 4th of July to it

Seriously. I'm convinced Bush is going to conflate Iraq sovereignty/USA Independance Day/9-11.

Thanks for the heads up!

[fooj]

7. Thanks kerrygoddess!

Give 'em hell, John!

peace.

[YvonneCa]

9. Thank you, kerrygoddess...I'm watching !

[kerrygoddess]

10. Awesome!

Keep it kicked!

[YvonneCa]

11. Kickin' for Kerry ! n/t

[fooj]

13. Checking in...did I miss it?

peace.

[wiggs]

12. Crossing my fingers

that he will not only point the way in dealing correctly with Iraq now, but also point out AT A MINIMUM that: 1) the situation in Iraq is far worse than the administration states 2) the administration estimate of 2-12 years in Iraq is unacceptable 3) the ability of this administration to capably implement an exit strategy is highly questionable and in fact it is time to say we can't count on them 4) congress must take oversight seriously and, if need be, step in for this dysfunctional administration 5) abuse, torture and use of univerally reviled weapons is happening in our name and we're not going to condone this anymore.

He's our top dem leader right now, and I'm counting on him to display what I know is bursting to get out. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[second edition]

14. Thanks for the heads up! n/t

[globalvillage]

15. NOW!!!!

[Broken Acorn]

19. ???

Isakson talking now...

[globalvillage]

20. false alarm.

sorry.

[Broken Acorn]

22. No Problem

I have the Tivo recording now so no worries :)

[pgh_dem]

25. He's up now - cspan2 (Edit: switch to Voinovich)

Guess he's on after V

[Broken Acorn]

16. Is it over?

[Vadem]

17. Kerry is on the floor now (2:20 p.m) preparing to speak.....n/t

[Alizaryn]

18. He is about to speak around 3 from what I hear? (est)

[politicasista]

21. Thanks KG!

:yourock:

[zulchzulu]

23. Muchos gracias

Maybe I'll try to snag some CSPAN video and post it...

[Independent_Liberal]

24. Thanks again Senator!

You're one of my heroes!

[undeterred]

26. Here's the Senator from Mass!

:patriot:

[flpoljunkie]

28. No, the bastards had the weirdly grinning Voinovich step down from the

chair, and go first, rather than let Kerry speak before him.

[undeterred]

29. it was just a 'tease' letting him up there for a few seconds

[undeterred]

30. he's too nice, yielding the floor to everyone!

he's a humble guy

[flpoljunkie]

31. The presiding Senator did apologize to Kerry, so I withdraw my criticism.

One of those red state Senators, his name escapes me at the moment.

Perhaps it's Conrad Burns, R-Montana.

[grumpy old fart]

35. Bush taking notes?????????

naaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

[Corey_Baker08]

27. *******************15 Minutes************* ***************

Im tuning in now just in case its at 3 but more than likely 3:05

[fooj]

32. Here's Johnny.......

Woo hoo!

[pgh_dem]

33. Three magic words - "DOWNING STREET MEMO"

Wooha, now tell what they SAY! =)

[Gregorian]

34. Why is he still validating the Iraq invasion?

"Success"
"The job..."

John, back up a bit. Where's the outrage over the fact that we shouldn't even be there?

This speech should be about impeachment, not getting the job done in Iraq.

I'm sure I don't understand the way Kerry and or the Senate work. I probaby should just not post my stupid thoughts. I'm sure that's why I think this speech is like warm milk.

[CWebster]

37. No, say it absolutely

Someone has to say the emperor has no clothes.

[grumpy old fart]

38. Well, there is an argument for trying to fix the mess Bush made.......

rather than just pointing fingers, though we cannot let the responsibility end of it go by any means. Impeachment/indictments should still be the outcome on that end of things.

[Gregorian]

40. Thanks. I can see that.

I'm blinded by my hatred. Along with a few other choice adjectives.

[wiggs]

42. Agree. I'm glad something is being said

but even asking the administration to start doing things right assumes 1) they have been trying really hard to stabilize Iraq (questionable) and just haven't been able to figure it out 2) they are capable of devising an effective strategy (very questionable) and 3) they are capable of implementing a strategy (highly questionable).

I'd rather he say what is obvious: we don't have confidence in the motives and capabilities of this administration and things are so screwed up that there isn't much upside for anyone except Halliburton.

Sorry for the wet blanket, but I will have hope when someone gets past making a speech or calling for apologies and offers a resolution, proposes legislation, leads million person protests, or starts an investigation. Unless the speech is one of singular inspiration and honesty that results in protests and investigations....

Would have liked some reference to torture, abuse, napalm, etc as example of how out of control administration policy is.

[CWebster]

36. same old, same old.

I coulda been a contender..

Listen to the hawkish language..."getting it right...our cause...our plan for success..our mission...Iraqis should know American patience is limited...our goals...get the job done..get it right in Iraq...sacrifice for freedom"

Sounds like he is blaming the Iraqis for being invaded and occupied.

[YvonneCa]

39. Bless you, John Kerry...

...a great speech. I know many here want an immediate pullout from Iraq, but while I agree the war was wrong and a HUGE mistake, Kerry is speaking as a responsible leader about what we need to do to get it right, now that we are there. He needs our support. There are only two sides here, if you truly want to protect the security of our country and the democracy we all believe in: Bush or our non-Republican party leaders (Democrats, and others) who are finally speaking up. I'm for the Democrats. You? ?:patriot:

[Gregorian]

41. It's hard to be as patient as a Senator.

I know that's how it works "up there".

And yes, it's better than nothing. So, "Go, Kerry", I say in a beat down voice.

[YvonneCa]

49. Thanks for the response, Gregorian. n/t

[confludemocrat]

55. "rescue the mission in Iraq" What is the mission?

The war is wrong you say but you agree with Kerry that we essentially need to "get the mission right.", as someone above put it
How is it OK that we persue a reworked, sandblasted, renovation of the dirty, disgusting, illegal immoral war?

If Kerry talks about the DSM then he must discuss the immorality and illegality of the war and that 100,000+ Iraqis have been killed for these treasonous, impeachable lies if he doesn't then all his talk is meaningless.

If he plays this his usual way, when wil this sort of thing ever end?

[kerrygoddess]

43. Text of speech here

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1174

Video from DemBloggers soon!

[katinmn]

45. Thanks, kerrygoddess!

[babsbunny]

46. Not impressed

Where is the outrage about commiting war crimes! Our Sons and daughters are gone! No, not impressed. I keep getting my hopes up just to be let down! Over and Over.

[politicasista]

53. He was outraged

[bunny planet]

44. Wonderful news. Perfect timing. The real President gives a speech about

Iraq on the same day as His Fraudulency the ever-unelected fake President gives his brain numbing excuse for a speech tonight.

Thank you John.

[Dr Fate]

47. For those keeping tabs- Kerry does bring in the DSM.

"...With allies reading the Downing Street memo..."

It's a good way to frame this- ALLIES reading this is a PROBLEM.

[Frederik]

50. Yes, I liked that angle

[LittleClarkie]

52. Did that put a smile on the Fateman's face?

I know it wasn't exactly high profile.

[ginnyinWI]

54. that's one thing I really like about Kerry

He is first and foremost an American, and sees things in terms of America and its place in the world. He thinks of how other countries are looking at us and how they react to what we do. He is a true patriot.

Bush on the other hand, does not think of America. He thinks in terms of global domination. He and his cronies are operating in the Middle East, not thinking of the best interests of America, but only wanting what they want when they want it. Americans are their pawns.
He is definitely not a patriot--he's a businessman who only thinks of things in terms of money and power, like any other CEO. Too bad he isn't even a good CEO.

[Frederik]

48. I'm glad he said this:

"So what can the President say tonight to get things right in Iraq, and put us on the road to success? The President can start by immediately declaring that the United States does not seek bases or any permanent military presence in Iraq. Erasing suspicion of indefinite occupation is critical to eroding support for the insurgency."

That's spot on. :bounce:
Democrats have to start demanding just that - NO permanent bases in Iraq, no military presence after "mission accomplished". In short, a real exit strategy where exit means EXIT not downsizing.

I'll forgive him the "Iraqis must share the burden" bullshit (like they aren't "sharing" the burden :eyes:).

[kerrygoddess]

51. Spot on Indeed!

:kick: