Obama taps Kerry to make his closing argument on Meet the Press. McCain taps Thompson.

[blm]

From NBC:

** Reminder: Daylight saving time ends this Sunday. Remember to set your clocks back one hour before the show.**

** New York City area viewers, please note our special early time of 8:00 a.m. on WNBC due to NBC's coverage of the New York City marathon. "Meet the Press" airs at normal time everywhere else.**

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA)
Obama Supporter
Democratic Presidential Nominee (2004)

FORMER SEN. FRED THOMPSON (R-TN)
McCain Supporter

[rcrush]

1. Fred Thompson lol

Though I do wish he was back on Law and Order. He was my favorite DA.

[blm]

5. heh....Kerry was a DA in real life, too...Thompson played one on TV.

.

[rndmprsn]

37. nice one...

[speedoo]

2. Kinda says it all, doesn't it.

Decorated war hero, sitting US Senator, against a lousy actor and washed up politician.

[blm]

3. Even more historic...the man who uncovered IranContra, BCCI and CIA drugrunning vs the man who

helped cover up some of Watergate's serious issues while focusing on peripheral ones.

[kwolf68]

10. Kerry uncovered Iran Contra?

Not that familiar with that, did he?

I know about the BCCI stuff...

[ProSense]

11. Here

Kerry report

more

[blm]

13. Yep - in fact, IranContra is actually part of BCCI's extended matters. And it took Kerry a YEAR to

get other senators to hear him out on IranContra as many powerful Dems were supportive then of Reagan-Bush's position. Once he did, the WH got the Senate Dems to keep Kerry off the hearings as they accused him of being a zealot. Kerry would agree ONLY if the senate gave him the room to continue to pursue the suspect banking actions he uncovered in IranContra leading directly to BCCI and all its matters.

[karynnj]

38. Yep,

He became involved when US Vietnam Vets, who had been recruited to help arm the the Contras, against the Boland Amendment which specifically forbade it came to him in his first year in the Senate because they felt it needed to be stopped. They told Kerry that to pay for it they were flying in cocaine and flying out arms. They trusted Kerry because of 1971 and his continuing involvement with veterans.

This was near the height of Reagan's popularity and there was no one else willing to investigate it. Senator Lugar told Kerry he could if he could get one Republican on the SFRC to agree with him. Jesse Helms, of all people did because he hated drugs (though he supported helping the Contras). The Justice department stonewalled Kerry whenever he asked for documents and the right leaked negative stories about Kerry and his staff to papers like the Washington Times. Kerry continued to pursue it and did so as the methodical prosecutor he had been a decade earlier.

When the plane crash opened the story up, it was a Kerry witness whose information tied everything together that showed that they were fling arms to the Contras - and the CIA was turning its head not to see it. Most of the people indicted in the case were indicted because they lied to Kerry. (Including Eliot Abrams)

Here is an article that speaks of Kerry and the later committee. (Durenberger, the former Republican Senator mentioned endorsed Kerry in 2008.)

"Well, the Hasenfus plane had just gone down. There was a real question at that point of whether it was linked to the White House or not. Of course, the Reagan administration and the NSC were saying it wasn't true, none of it was true. Dick Cheney was saying none of it was true.

John Kerry had the chance, at that point, for the first time in a secret session -- and declassified since -- to ask administration officials questions. One of the people he asked questions of was Elliot Abrams, who was the person who was in charge of the Contra policy. Through that hearing -- I read the transcript many months later -- John asked Elliot question after question after question. Very specific questions, one leading to the next, about what he knew and didn't know, about that airplane that went down in Nicaragua, that was moving weapons to the Contras.

It was a long hearing. John asked most of the questions. When that hearing got out, no one said very much to the press. The hearing was in a secret hearing room of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. …

I remember David Durenberger turning to John as they were just getting out of that room, and as I was waiting for him. Durenberger at the time was chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He was a Republican from Minnesota. He said, "They're not telling the truth. These guys are not telling the truth. Keep going. Don't stop. Stay with it, John. Stay with it, John."

Here's the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, a Republican, telling a junior Democrat, who doesn't have any committee, or any particular jurisdictional rights here, "Keep going." And it was John's questions that caused Eliot Abrams to wind up getting indicted for not telling the truth to Congress. John's a prosecutor. John follows the facts. The facts matter."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/choice2004/interviews/winer.html

[Lochloosa]

51. Do you have any recommendations on books about this.

I would love to read about Kerry's involvement.

Thanks.

[politicasista]

65. There may be some books out there, but the National Security Archives is good n/t

[ProSense]

4. Lousy actor and washed up politician doing robo-calls for third-rate candidates.

Kerry camp responds, blasts Thompson robo-call

By Jeremy P. Jacobs, PolitickerMA.com Reporter

Responding to news that challenger Jeff Beatty is using a robo-call featuring former Sen. Fred Thompson, U.S. Sen. John Kerry's campaign blasted the effort saying that Thompson's policy positions, like Beatty's, do not mesh with those of the voters of Massachusetts.

"Since all of their other strategies have failed, the Beatty campaign is now trying to win over Massachusetts voters by sending out a robo-call from Tennessee's own Mr. Excitement - Fred Thompson, who favors letting convicted criminals keep their guns, wants to overturn Roe vs. Wade and just like Sarah Palin believes global warming isn't man-made." Kerry spokeswoman Brigid O'Rourke told PolitickerMA.com.

O'Rourke also tied Thompson and Beatty together for their work in the entertainment industry. Thompson has worked as an actor and Beatty has consulted on movies.

"With Hollywood experience on both of their resumes, maybe Beatty and Thompson can go back to their true calling - acting," O'Rourke said. "Then again, maybe that's what they've been doing on the campaign trail all this time."

Loser!

[blm]

7. heheh..."go back to their true calling - acting"

thanks Brigid.

[karynnj]

44. Here's a link that lets you listen to the lame robocall

The hilarious thing is that he pronounces his candidate's name wrong - a fact I know ONLY because one of the Boston papers mentionted that Kerry did in the first debate. (Apparently, unlike Warren, who is far better looking and likely smarter, it is not Bay dee, but Bee dee.

It is hard to see why Thompson who before he dropped out of the MA Republican party was below 1%, would be able to move any votes. It is also weird that the first credential was that Beatty was in Delta force, when I think MA knows Kerry was a highly decorated veteran. Another thing is speaking of having been a Teamster when that was a college summer job.

http://www.politickerma.com/jeremyjacobs/1689/fred-thompson-records-robo-call-beatty

[Cha]

6. Senator Kerry is an excellent choice

to close on mtp on the last Sunday before our election..I'm sure he's aware that it will be brokaw and that 3rd rate actor thompson who he's up against.

[blm]

8. Brokaw will do his best to try and support Thompson and undermine JK, and I'm sure Kerry expects it.

.

[Cha]

26. It's so sickening the way the US corporatemedia

is like goebbels central.

[camera obscura]

9. Oh goodie, Foghorn Leghorn

That'll get the undecideds fired up.

[Basement Beat]

12. Thompson gonna be awake at that time?

[dennis4868]

14. Kerry is doing very well this election cycle...

defending the dem presidential nominee...in 2004 not so good...

[blm]

17. Kerry was GREAT in 2004 - he didn't have a high profile Dems furthering his position the way he does

for Obama. In fact, you may have forgotten, the best known Dems back then were supporting Bush's decisions on Iraq and terrorism and AGAINST Kerry's position attacking those decisions. Especially the last Dem president who used his HIGHPROFILE booktour in summer2004 to vigorously DEFEND Bush's decisions on Iraq. You may have also forgotten that Joe Biden sided with Bush at the time, and spoke AGAINST Kerry's NO vote on the 87 billion for Iraq war.

I wonder if some of you just don't realize that what you complain about is that John Kerry didn't have a John Kerry quality spokesperson showing up for him on TV. Face it - most bigname Dems had NO INTEREST in Kerry winning in 2004 - especially those who had PLENTY to hide and knew Kerry believed in opening the books.

[dennis4868]

18. I personally do not think...

he was good at defending himself against the lying attacks of Rove...seems like Obama's team was ready and on top of everything and would fight back right away...just the way I see it....

[blm]

24. You SAW Obama's. Corpmedia made sure you DIDN'T see Kerry's defense. If Obama was unable

to get media coverage for his speeches after the monthlong mediafest re the Wright tapes, would you claim HE didn't defend himself? Kerry attacked the swifts MIGHTILY in a speech to the Firefighters Convention and he also challenged Bush to stop hiding behind the swifts and come out and publicly debate their services during Vietnam instead of using the swifts and their lies to do his dirty work.

The corpmedia refused to broadcast that speech after they got the prepared remarks, barely reported it even occurred and then later on acted as if it never happened.

Would Obama even be the NOMINEE today if the same approach was taken by the media re his Wright speech?

No - he wouldn't. This is post KATRINA America. This is post RECORD HOME FORECLOSURE America. And Obama has HIGH QUALITY surrogates like Kerry working to make sure that Obama HAS proper representation on the news programs. Kerry was stuck with McAuliffe and other Clinton loyalists who only had ONE GOAL in 2004 - Hillary2008.

Or did you forget how many high profile Dems made TV appearances back then supporting and DEFENDING Bush on his Iraq war decisions?

[politicasista]

61. Yes, very few played this role for Kerry in 04

Not many are asking where were the surrogates? Or getting that it's the surrogates that do the attacking.

[ellacott]

15. He will be a great closer

I wish they had used his line during the convention when he was contrasting Senator McCain to candidate McCain.

Kerry's the real war hero, not McCain.

[riverdeep]

16. Kerry, not bad.

I love the guy on a personal level for what he's done as a Senator and a citizen, but there are other speakers that are better. It will make people think of a loser, and if he makes another gaffe that will take up some serious coverage. He's also just not that great an orator.

If he could swing it, I'd like to see Bill Clinton. I'd never have said this a month ago, but seeing him in Florida, I think he finally got it through his head that Obama needs to win this. He would make people think of a winner and good times. He's also a hell of a commanding speaker and wouldn't take any shit from the host. It goes without saying he would blow Fred Thompson out of the water, but then, a stale cinnamon role in the studio would blow away Fred Thompson.

If he wanted to play it more safe, I'd love to see Howard Dean. Also, a good speaker, and rarely puts his foot in his mouth. People have largely forgotten about his loss in the primaries, and see him in a different light.

I don't know, maybe it doesn't matter. Do a lot of undecideds even watch MTP?

[blm]

20. Bullshit - Kerry always was one of the best speakers in the party till corpmedia got its marching

orders.

It was only in 2004 that all of a sudden the media decided some minor verbal miscues that amounted to about 3 the entire campaign were MONUMENTAL at the very time that Bush was delivering about 3 verbal gaffes that were IDIOTIC a day.


I doubt you GET why corpmedia and many of the most powerful political figures in DC were working against Kerry - even some best known Democrats.

[riverdeep]

23. Ever heard of playing the hand you're dealt?

Why stick someone that the media has it out for in the line of fire? And this is a personal OPINION, but as an orator, I just don't think Kerry is that good. Feel free to disagree.

edit: I still remember the heart attack inducing backtracking he had to do when he told the joke about the troops just before the 2006 elections and his own party got frustrated at him.

("Kerry apologizes for 'misinterpreted' words")
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/01/kerry.remarks/index.html

You know and I know that he wasn't making fun of anyone but Bush, but the fact remains that he finds himself in these situations more often than I would care to see, and doesn't seem to able to extricate himself all that well. One thing I want him to do on Sunday for sure, stay away from comedy.

[blm]

25. Because he WILL put himself in line of fire FOR good cause. He's the most UNSELFISH lawmaker in DC

and always has been.

Fock anyone who carries the FASCIST WATER for them in their quest to neutralize Kerry. Including ANY Clinton loyalist who betrayed this nation in the last presidential election.

[karynnj]

46. It was NOT a joke about the troops, it was about Bush

He read it from a note card skipping one word - in context, the audience understood. The fact was the media had the intended joke in the material given before he said it.

It also meant that the refrian "stuck in Iraq" was heard a million times in the run up to the election - where we did far better than predicted in the talks shows 9 days before.

There was this and the intention confusion on the $87 billion - that's all - I'l be kind and NOT give you the list I could on Bill or Hillary Clinton - limited to JUST this election cycle.

The fact is that Kerry was great on talk shows in the primary and general election this year. There is not one time that you will find he was not highly praised.

[ProSense]

53. Weakness is not a virtue

I still remember the heart attack inducing backtracking he had to do when he told the joke about the troops just before the 2006 elections and his own party got frustrated at him.

Just because they caved to the RW, doesn't justify the BS attack.

Some Democrats chose not to cave:

"John Kerry is not only a great leader for the Democratic party and a great U.S. senator, but he's a patriot. He said he botched a joke and I think that is the beginning and the end of it. He was talking about the president and I think he has every right to criticize this president."

See how easy that was?

That was Bob Casey, who went on to crush Rick Santorum.

[ProSense]

27. "he makes another gaffe "? What the hell are you talking about?

You can't name one gaffe Kerry committed that wasn't BS Republican spin (yeah, both of them). As for Clinton being gaffe prone, did you miss the primary?

Want to compare notes?

Kerry is one of the best speakers out there.

[riverdeep]

28. Look, you're playing by rules where the world is fair.

I want to play by the rules as they are. It doesn't matter why Kerry is rendered less effective than other speakers, it just matters that he is. This one from a few weeks ago:

"Sen. John F. Kerry defended his controversial joke suggesting the GOP’s John McCain wears “Depends” adult diapers, saying today it’s the type of ribald humor you hear at the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day roast or on late-night TV."

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1127605&srvc=home&position=active

You don't see a pattern here? I'm nervous enough already. I'd rather have the strongest speaker possible go on the Sunday shows, but as I also said, he's fine, as long as he stays away from the humor.

As for Clinton, yes I'm aware. That's why I said "I'd never have said this a month ago".

[ProSense]

30. No, I'm calling BS what it is. You're claiming GOP BS is fact. Also the link, that was a huge

non controversy. I see a pattern: no one is buying the Republican BS anymore.

[riverdeep]

33. "You're claiming GOP BS is fact."

Show me where I said the charges against Kerry have merit. I said the joke about the troops was meant as an insult against Bush. The joke against McCain was, in Kerry's mind, meant to be light-hearted. But he doesn't defend himself well. Listen to him explain his position in the Depends joke, he just makes it worse.

My point is, this isn't a game of giving out awards to people who do the right thing, this about who can best get the job done. Do you think the Depends joke was a wise joke to make? How is that going to play in the older demo? That it wasn't more of a controversy, is due to the effectiveness of the Obama campaign. The point is, why tempt fate?

[ProSense]

35. Oh BS.

I love the guy on a personal level for what he's done as a Senator and a citizen, but there are other speakers that are better. It will make people think of a loser, and if he makes another gaffe that will take up some serious coverage. He's also just not that great an orator.

You may not like Kerry as an orator, but he is in fact one of the best speakers around, and he is not prone to making gaffes.

[Thrill]

32. Kerry is one of his best surrogates on the TV shows

Outside of Kaine and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.

[undeterred]

36. Kerry is a wonderful speaker, and when he supports Obama

he doesn't hold back. He got over losing in 2004. Bill Clinton is a good speaker but he will always be full of Bill Clinton. Kerry is more of a team player.

[karynnj]

47. That may be the biggest difference

Almost all of Clinton's appearances for any one - including his wife - end up about him. I have been impressed that Kerry has spoken of how even the Iraqis have come around to Obama's position on Iraq and how Bush did better when he moved to Obama's position on negotiating in North Korea. These were all Kerry positions long before Obama's - he said not word one of that in all the times he said that. he was there for Obama 100%

[undeterred]

55. John Kerry and Ted Kennedy really know what it means to serve.

They have both been ready to assume the top role if it were right for them, but they are both always ready to do whatever it takes to help the Democratic Party.

[blm]

57. Excellent point. Kerry never mentions that the Dem position now is the one he crafted in 2006

He ALWAYS makes it about Obama's position, even though we KNOW Obama's plan was based very much on Kerry's earlier bill.

[karynnj]

45. Kerry is great as an orator

The NYT, no Kerry fan, called his 2008 convention speech the best non acceptanmce speech at a Democratic convention in 2 decades. Also, give me one line in any of the speeches of these "better orators" that is as searing, meaningful or as familiar as Kerry's "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

Kerry has actually made very few gaffes - Bill Clinton was a disaster for his wife in teh primaries - care to put his most famous line against Kerry's? Road to the White House had a back to back Clinton/Kerry in the Texas primaries - even among DU Clinton backers, there were many who thought Kerry did a far better job for Obama than Clinton for his wife.

Dean, who's a great guy has put his foot in his mouth far more often than Kerry - and is nowhere near as good on these talk shows.

[Gabi Hayes]

48. why not clinton? bill

Brokaw is the most obvious shill

[Unbowed]

59. Did you even watch? Kerry was terrific.

He's never been so focused or laser sharp. He's always been a good speaker and those of us who appreciate well-chosen words have long appreciated that. However, lately he's refined the art of the melding the sound bite with sound reasoning.

In other words, ones you might appreciate, he kicked ass.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Fred's good So is Kerry.

[EastTennesseeDem]

21. Let's hope Thompson's mentality is what it was during his campaign

Every time I saw Thompson campaign, I thought of him as saying "Aw fuck it. Do I have to do this? Can't I just sit on my ass? Fuck it. Whatever."

[jazzjunkysue]

22. Honestly, I think we're the only ones watching these shows tomorrow.

Swing staters are probably so whip-lashed at this point or have already voted, that, it's not gonna add up to much unless someone slips on a banana peel or makes another admission that our own candidate isn't ready for prime time.

[MattBaggins]

29. Wow Kerry and Thompson?

If I record it, I could get rid of my prescription for Lunesta.

[thoughtcrime1984]

31. Kerry has been a ROCK for Obama, and he deserves our praise

He is a hell of a Senator and member of the Democratic Party.

[ProSense]

34. Kerry has the respect of a lot of people,

including Sen. Obama. The exception are a few who have ulterior motives and are willing to take cheap shots using RW spin. Note some of the comments in this thread: they're about pushing someone else, not the value to Obama of having one of his best surrogates appearing on his behalf.

[riverdeep]

41. Sorry, my motives are plain.

They're not hidden and there's nothing to read into, except that a difference of opinion is in some minds, considered treason. I want Obama to win, and threw a couple of names out that I would prefer to see, not that Kerry will do a terrible job (if he stays away from joking) or has not been loyal or anything else.

And when Clinton was making his half-hearted comments of support like 'Well, no one is really ready to be President.', I criticized him then and for other things. I supported Obama over Hillary, for what that's worth.

My intent is to put the very best foot forward, with least amount of chance for things to go wrong in these crucial final days, and that's it. You think it's Kerry, I think he'll do fine, but we could do better.

[ProSense]

42. Kerry has been campaigning for Obama across the country since he endorsed him in Jan.

He made 47 TV and radio appearances and dozens of campaign events for Obama within a month of that endorsement.

Your concern is unfounded.

[blm]

56. It's a matter of who Obama TRUSTS. You can't make that call because you're pretty naive believing

mediaspin the way you do. Clinton is NOT going to do the best job FOR Obama and Democrats. It's not his way and never has been. He wouldn't even allow the DNC to be used for any other Dem but Clintons from 1993-2005.

[politicasista]

62. Exactly. Obama wants Kerry out there whether people like it or not n/t

[ginnyinWI]

39. K&R for Senator Kerry!

[Overseas]

40. I like our dusty guy better than their dusty guy.

Our dusty guy has a very honorable career and would have made an excellent president when we elected him in 2004.

Kerry was also very committed to an Apollo program type energy independence effort. I remember him talking about it in the months after 9-11, as some positive way all citizens could work together to help our country by conservation and supporting alternative energy development.

[debbierlus]

43. Kerry is going to get Secretary of State - I hope we get a good Senate replacement

In MA...

Kerry has been one of THE leading voices out front for Obama. He is tapped on all sorts of issues.

I am a little bummed because if I am right, Kerry will be gone & Kennedy won't be around much longer.

:)

[Sensitivity]

52. I expect Kerry in State as well. Friend, however, says Richardson is lobbying for it

[graywarrior]

49. Thompson

Dead man talking.

[AtomicKitten]

50. brains vs bullshit - no contest

[politicasista]

63. Yep. n/t

[Olney Blue]

54. Senator Kerry has Barack's back! Great choice.

Fred Deadpan Thompson. Not so good.

[Tatiana]

58. As Kerry has been there from the beginning making the case for Obama, it's fitting

that he seals the deal this Sunday.

Sen. Kerry makes me very proud to be a Democrat.

[politicasista]

60. Kick

:kick:

[mollymongold]

64. I missed the show.

fred thompson is horrible.