Another Kerry Email: "My vote against the Rice nomination"

[sabra]

<<SNIP>>


Dear ,

Earlier today, I voted in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee against the nomination of Dr. Condoleezza Rice for Secretary of State. This vote is an _expression of my determination that we hold the Bush administration accountable.



Dr. Rice is a principal architect, implementer, and defender of a series of Administration policies that have not made our country as secure as we should be and have alienated much-needed allies in our common cause of winning the war against terrorism. Regrettably, I did not see in Dr. Rice's testimony before our committee any acknowledgment of the need to change course or of a new vision for America's role in the world.

On Iraq, on North Korea, on Iran, to name just a few of the most critical challenges, it seems to be more of the same. I hope I am proven wrong. I hope the course will change. And I hope that the Administration will recognize the strength of a foreign policy that has bipartisan support.

I am prepared to work with Dr. Rice and others in the Administration to try to reach agreement on policies that will truly strengthen our security and restore America's credibility on the world stage. And I am confident colleagues on both sides of the aisle are prepared to do so as well.

But, we've got to remain firm in our insistence that those who create policies that don't work have the courage to admit their mistakes and the wisdom to change course. Our johnkerry.com community has been expressing that determination in huge numbers.

Over 700,000 people have called on President Bush to fire Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense.

If you haven't signed the Rumsfeld petition, please do so immediately.

http://www.johnkerry.com/ReplaceRumsfeld

And, please forward the petition right now to friends and colleagues, urging them to join in this effort.

I know you share my strong convictions on the importance of holding the President and his Cabinet accountable. I pledge to you that I will not yield in this effort. Let's keep working together. America's future is at stake.

Sincerely,

John Kerry


<</SNIP>>

[sabra]

1. kick for anyone who hasn't signed...

[tuvor]

2. Who's gonna sign the petition because Kerry asked, and who

figures he's squandered his clout?

I guess those aren't mutually exclusive, but oh well.

Just wondering.

[understandinglife]

3. I've signed it; so have several colleagues; Senator Kerry has not ...

....squandered anything.

He has done just the opposite; he has demonstrated that rarest form of leadership -- placing everything that mattered to the stability of a Nation before that which he personally wanted more than anything, being President.

He DID what a bush would have absolutely no capacity to even consider, let alone do.

He DID what most folk have no ability to understand, because most folk only think about what they want and whimper when they don't get it, immediately.

He just returned from places that almost no one would voluntarily visits -- certainly not any of the fools in the bush cabal who created the illegal, immoral catastrophes that Senator Kerry just got up-close-and-personal dose.

I think what Senator Kerry's actions, since 2 Nov 2004, have catalyzed is the emergence of two classes of citizens -- to classes of citizens who have freely, though perhaps unwittingly in many cases, characterized themselves, visibly to all -- those who get it and those who don't even know what the 'it' is.


BE THE BUSH OPPOSITION; 24/7

[tuvor]

4. If you get 'it' you seem to have trouble explaining what 'it' is.

If I have to be specific, I'm talking about his welching on his promise to ensure that every vote counted.

A ton of goodwill squandered there.

[LittleClarkie]

9. I see steps he took, you do not. I probably can't change your view

and at this very moment in time, I don't even care who you "support". How about thinking about WHAT you support. Do you support getting rid of Rummy? Then sign the friggin' petition.

I knew a Repub who couldn't vote for Kerry though he didn't like Bush because he couldn't forgive him for what he did in 1971. I didn't get that. I didn't get why the guy couldn't do what was best for the country because of something Kerry did over thirty years ago.

Look. You don't have to like Kerry. You don't have to forgive Kerry. You don't even have to support Kerry in 2008 or at any time between then and now. But can you support the action? Can you separate the two?

Please? For the good of the country? For the NG guys and their hillbilly armor? Any positive step is a step in the right direction. Come on, let's make that number he quotes even bigger, eh? I'm greedy. I want a million voices saying "Rummy: you're fired!"

[tuvor]

10. Two things: One: I can't sign the petition as a Canadian.

And two: All I did was solicit opinions on whether he'd squandered any goodwill and whether that would affect how many sign the petition. And then I just asked you to explain your position a little less vaguely.

You want to change the subject to something completely different, and talk about that? Start a new thread and PM me.

[LittleClarkie]

11. Gee you don't look Canadian

You sounded just like a disgruntled American. Who knew.

Throw in a couple of funky Canadian spellings or two next time to clue a Yank in, eh?

Sorry about that. It sounded like you were talking about your own feelings, not hypothetically about others.

So maybe someone to whom my post applies will read it and get the sentiment. I can hope.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to turn the rhetoric cannon a few degrees to the left and aim for an American or two.

[tuvor]

16. I'll see what I can do.

But my sig has a happy Canadian soldier. When sigs come back hopefully there'll be no confusion.

[Spazito]

18. LOL! GMTA!

*

[pacalo]

12. I would like to know -- specifically -- what more could Kerry do to

ensure that every vote counted. He's already committed himself to do what he can to look into this. He didn't say that he was a wizard or a magician to achieve instantaneous results for those who are too impatient for allowing the process to unfold methodically in a civilized, intelligent manner.

Angry because Kerry lost? So am I. Angry because a life-long cheater & parasite wanted the presidency so badly that he had to steal two elections to get what he wanted (as he has had to do to achieve anything in life)? So am I. We deserve better. But I'm NOT going to take it out on Kerry.

Do you expect Kerry to run through the streets, wildly waving his arms through the air, screaming election fraud? Think about the consequences of shooting one's mouth off without the hard evidence to back it up. Or do you care? Kerry does; he's intelligent & he's doing everything right.

Sorry -- I have little patience with a whining, pity-me attitude. If "a ton of goodwill has been squandered" because Kerry won't throw away his dignity & credibility to satisfy those who like a good scrap or a good circus show, I could care less. It's the end result that matters. It takes time.

[Laurab]

24. I too want to know what more he could have done

and I've asked and asked, and no one has given me an answer.

I signed the petition immediately, and passed it on. Looks like a lot of people are going to "cut off their noses to spite their face". Hopefully you won't get what you're kind of asking for (Rummy staying on), because you're mad at Kerry for not doing what you wanted him to do, no matter how stupid he would have been made to look.

HE DIDN'T HAVE THE EVIDENCE.

You want Rumsfield to stay on? God help us. I don't give a rats ass who it is, if they're fighting this adminstration, I'm on their side, and vice versa. I think Kerry has only just begun, following his fact-finding trip. I want to watch this show.

[pacalo]

27. Whatever the reason, there's no constructive point to their whining.

:hi: Laurab!

[Laurab]

28. I know, but it just doesn't ever seem to let up

And whenever I see it, I just can't stop myself from responding, although by now I should realize it does no good.

:hi: 8_year_nightmare!!

[pacalo]

30. We'll have to keep speaking up, too! :)

[understandinglife]

32. I have no trouble explaining it; some people have a great deal of...

...difficulty getting IT.

Senator Kerry was confronted, in the early hours of 3 Nov 2004, with probably much more information than those of us who had been monitoring CNN and other sites since early in the day, 2 Nov 2004.

He undoubtedly saw an inexplicable shift to Bush.

He knew how many of our fellow citizens voted for him.

He knew how many of our fellow citizens had already died in a criminal war and that we are, in fact, embroiled in a war that we cannot win.

He knew how irresponsible it would be for him to disrupt the Nation given how many of our fellow citizens despise Bush.

Volatile times require exceptional strength of character -- we now know, beyond any reasonable doubt, Senator Kerry has one of the strongest of characters and a truly rare ability to place everything before what he wants.

A contrast with Bush that could not possibly be more stark.

He had made a commitment that all votes would be counted and his support of the suit in Ohio is one indication he meant it. Moreover, until Senator Kerry tells everyone what he has been doing since 3 Nov 2004 to ensure that all votes were counted and all fraudulent and suppressive activities are uncovered and prosecuted, it is exceptionally presumptuous of you or anyone else to assume he 'welched' on his commitment.

Just because he isn't making speeches or issuing press releases does not mean he isn't working assiduously on the disenfranchisement issue -- in any and all of its manifestations.

Thank you for your comments.

If you need any further clarification of 'it' just ask.

BE THE BUSH OPPOSITION; 24/7

status report: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x297064

[OKJackson]

5. I'll say this much of Kerry...

...he's up to something, and it would not appear to be the "I fold and give in" mentality. What you can and should do, is move in the particular direction (Get rid of Rumsfeld) that he just pointed you to.

Why?

The Bush administration is unstable, every time they change people, loyalties change and in the shuffling of paperwork and moving around... opportunities are created... for leaks. Remember Rumsfeld isn't going to move his boxes around all by himself, and every new person puts strain on them. The more strain we put them under the faster they'll crack.

[LeeB]

13. HA! Exactly right. Thanks for pointing that out. n/t

[Der Blaue Engel]

6. Who's going to keep fighting the Bush administration and who's

going to cut off their nose to spite their face?

Just wondering, too.

:shrug:

[Jo March]

14. Der Blaue Engel, I've been using that phrase for days

It does seem that we have a lot of people who are cutting off their noses to spite their faces.

Even if you hate Kerry, sign the petition to get rid of Rumsflake. Rummy is evil and incompetent and needs to go. Kerry can work to do that.

I get so sick of this stuff. This is why we can't get things done because we are too busy looking at the tree to see the freaking forest.

Sign the darn petition already people and let's get rid of Rummy!!

[seabeyond]

20. i am

[Greybnk48]

7. I signed the petition and I still back Kerry

I would have liked the election fiasco to have played out like a feel-good movie script, but it didn't. I think the election was crooked and will not bother voting again unless our efforts to change things are successful, and I plan on doing everything in my power to make our efforts successful. Giving up and trashing each other, including Kerry, is non-productive. What he;s doing now is productive and I hope he's successful.

I agree with the person (sorry forgot your name) who said that any changes or shake-ups in this regime play in our favor. It is a stress and strain to keep it all together as neatly as before when they have to deal with new players.

I had another thought. It seems that Kerry plans on being a carbuncle on Bush's ass for the next four years--and/or a shadow President (his recent trip to the middle east and Europe). Anyone else think this might be his plan?

[OKJackson]

8. Any one who refuses to vote...

Sabotages future efforts.

Think about it, that's what they want you to do. That's the defeat they're aiming for.

Keep voting, even if they rig the machines like mad, because if you don't vote you can't make any legal claims on your vote being tampered with.

[Jo March]

15. Amen, OKJackson

We have to keep voting and contesting until we get our right to vote and have it counted back!!!

[Catamount]

17. Did yesterday, but got a new email from him again today....

He needs us more than ever!!!!
Forward it to all your friends
Thanks:)

[Quakerfriend]

19. Me too, Catamount

signed and sent. Kerry is up to something!! We shall see.
I just hope it's sooner rather than later.

I am still hoping that it hinges on something that Madsen's uncovering.:9

[LittleClarkie]

21. If it happens, it happens

I will not hang my entire hope on it, however.

It would be nice if we could "Watergate" the bastard if nothing else.

At the least, Kerry has been striking a tone that resonates with me. They want us to go away. In fact, they're counting on it. Don't do it. Fight, people, fight. Forget the primaries. A signature on a petition doesn't mean you have to support JK in 08. All it means is that you want Rummy gone.

[JD Lau]

22. Kick

[Lydia Guerra]

23. After that last Kerry email - I "unsubscribed" -

Honestly, I simply cannot tolerate Kerry's flip-flopping.
He was awol on Nov 3 and awol on Jan 6.

[angrydemocrat]

25. WAKE UP! SMELL THE DAMN COFFEE!

This is not about wether or not you support Kerry. Frankly at this point and time no one gives a damn who you support! This is about getting rid of Rummy. Causing a damn shake up in the * evil empire. Get the hell over the whiney ass shit and wake up! Do you want to help this country? Do you want to save this country? Do you want people held accountable for their bullshit actions in this bullshit war? If so sign the petition!

[XanaDUer]

26. What she said

all other stuff is picking nits at this point.

[Laurab]

29. Yeah, what they both just said.

Picking nits is a pretty useless exercise.

[floridadem30]

31. signed. n/t