My faith in Kerry has been restored (humility ahead).

[rockymountaindem]

Ok, so earlier I posted about how pissed with Kerry I was due to comments he made in a speech to the Newspaper Editors' association. I read the comments yesterday in a newspaper article from the Times of India.

I was really shocked. However, I just watched the remarks on CSPAN.org. Seeing them in context really helped. Furthermore, the speech in its entirety was a very good one.

I'm sorry for letting myself become a victim of sound byte journalism. I made uninformed comments after reading a one-liner that had been taken out of context. I have nobody to blame by myself. I submit my humble apologies, and rejoin the ranks of Kerry's supporters. I feel like a complete idiot, and I hope that my retraction gets as much attention as my earlier post (78 responses so far). I also apologize for being, quite frankly, a mean-spirited jerk.

Sincerely,
RMD

[stepnw1f]

1. Lets get rid of the Nut cases in DC

[fairfaxvadem]

2. I'm watching it now, what was taken out of context?

He sounds really good here. His voice isn't as tight as it usually is, it's a lot more mellow and less formal.

[rockymountaindem]

4. I should have pointed that out in my post...

"We share the same goal of total victory," Kerry declared, addressing
an annual convention of the Newspaper Association of America. "And you
can count on this: No matter who wins the presidential election, the
terrorists will lose."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-636907,curpg-1.cms

[fairfaxvadem]

5. well I find myself doing the same thing...

I have such an aversion to Bush that anything the Bush people do is suspect, even if objectively, this or that may not be necessarily wrong. So when Kerry HAS agreed with the administration, my first reaction is NOOOO!!-please don't support these guys!

Then I have to climb off of the ledge and consider the situation. I don't agree with Kerry on everything but I also know that he is no dove and while he is an "internationalist", he also knows he can't lose the vote on being weak militarily.

I gotta say, he has a fine line to walk that is for sure.

[Classical_Liberal]

6. So what was different in the c-span version?

? I still don't get why you feel better. That quote is the one I am mad about and it still looks like he is acively trying to play down differences with Bush.

[rockymountaindem]

9. Just watch the clip and listen to the rest of the speech.

He said that Bush* didn't keep his promises about "changing the tone, being a uniter not a divider, etc."

He got in some pretty good jabs, and the comment I got so mad about was really not too noticible in the whole scheme of things.

[Classical_Liberal]

12. I don't care about the changing tone rhetoric

It sounds like Daschle. "We'll be sweet to Bush while he fucks us up ying yang rhetoric. That doesn't sound like the punch in the nose I am waiting for at all.

[LoZoccolo]

11. Oh my, someone wasted a whole day.

:nopity:

[Classical_Liberal]

13. Don't get your point.

I am still upset by the comment, and think it is bad politics. Kerry said he was going to fight like a Texas dem, and I don't see an ounce of fight in him.

[Old and In the Way]

20. I don't think you are so much upset, as you are determined to use

a single sentence in a 50 minute speech to club him with it. Kerry gave an extremely artculate and intelligent speech. But you'd rather pretend that his whole speech was agreeing with Bush when all he said is that "we", as in America, will win the war on terror. Because that's the whole point of your posts on the board. Kerry = Bush.

[Guaranteed]

14. That changes something?

No. That's saying that Bush is doing a good job in the war on terror, and that Kerry agrees with him.

Kerry needs to define HIMSELF, and CERTAINLY needs to make a distinction between the war on terror and the invasion of Iraq.

The invasion of Iraq has seriously undermined the war on terror. I believe it was Richard Clarke who said that. THAT should be Kerry's position.

[freetobegay]

3. Happens to the best of us.

Peace.

[Old and In the Way]

7. What a great speech. It is such a pleasure to see an intelligent

person that will be the next President in November. Looks like a totally extemperaneous speech, too.

I got a chuckle at the 4 clowns that marched in and marched out. Only a world-class idiot would make such a lame disruption.

[rockymountaindem]

10. Could you hear what those people were saying? I couldn't understand them.

[JI7]

21. something about aids

and kerry was even willing to answer them but they wouldn't shut up and let him answer. kerry kind of defended them later on though. cspan didn't show it today but i saw the entire event live and cspan showed the part were kerry stayed around after the event was finished and we were able to pick up the little conversations he had with people. one guy mentioned those hecklers and kerry's reaction was not anger, but regret he didn't get to answer them and he said he wished they were not taken out of the room. the guy told kerry there is a right way and a wrong way to go about what they want. and kerry just responded by saying something like "hey, sometimes you have to get heard". this is not the first time this has happened. there are hecklers at almost all of his appearances.

[LynzM]

8. Apology accepted from one who criticized :)

We all make mistakes, we are all human. Now, if only we could get a wonderful apology like that out of anyone in the admin... ROFLMAO

Glad you took the time to see it in context! Sometimes that makes all the difference in the world!

[rockymountaindem]

15. Kick

I want everyone to see how sorry I am.

[robbedvoter]

16. Please tell me more about the speech - I'd love to be convinced too

What else besides the change of tone? I need a little more here to cancel "no matter who wins" - and I mean it - I really DO want it.

[rockymountaindem]

19. It was a 50 minute speech

so I can't quote you the whole thing, but you can go to cspan.org and watch it. It was on their 'newest video' list earlier, but I can't tell you if it's still there or not. I'm sure it will be up on the Kerry website in a couple of days too. I checked over there first and the newest video was from an event three days ago.

[TheDonkey]

17. good for you

I saw the post earlier and was very upset by it. I think you made a rash and ignorant judgement of Kerry over one small soundbyte. I'm happy you are smart enough to understand that you really were out of touch with the speech.

Thanks You. :)

[LandOLincoln]

18. Very graceful apology accepted. Hope you'll continue to

post here. You're a smart kid, and we need you--especially when you're old enough to vote. :yourock:

[rockymountaindem]

22. kick

[Blue_Roses]

23. Very

impressed with your apology. While I know how easy it is to get fired up during this time, I really admire your candor on issues that are "passionate" to us all.

But what's more admirable, is the maturity in the way you can take a step back and re-evaluate a situation. That's admirable:)

[liarliartieonfire]

24. Enough of that flip-flopping now

Graceful Apology indeed. Sign of a true Dem.
We'er all here for each other on DU

I myself have been guilty of second guessing, its easy to have your faith in the "prevails of justice" shaken when there's so much Neocon party do-do floating around.
Its like a mine field some days.
DU pals will always be here for each other.

"Home is where the DU is".

[rockymountaindem]

25. Kick

to make up for all the shit I started yesterday.

[Claire Beth]

26. good for you!

this shows you are a strong person! If you ever feel disenchanted with Kerry all you have to do is look at Bush and realize what we currently have as a (mis)leader.