YIKES! ACTION NEEDED HERE!

[_dynamicdems]

My head is going to explode over this one!

:nuke: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :nuke:

THE PROBLEM WITH JOHN KERRY:

The last time John Kerry ran for president, the voters couldn't make out whether he was for the war in Iraq or against it; and that was because he was actually trying to confuse us. This did not work as an election strategy. Now, he is clearer. First in a Times op-ed piece and then in an interview with The Boston Globe (April 6), Kerry wants no one to be in doubt this time. That is, if he is the candidate. Nothing seems to be able to convince him that he is not a fitting candidate for the presidency. "Time to get tough," he said ... but not with the killers in Iraq. He wants to be tough with the parliamentarians. "If a unity government can't be established by May 15," the Globe paraphrases Kerry as arguing, "the vast majority of American forces should leave." May 15, mind you. And if Iraq meets the deadline? U.S. troops should come home by the end of the year anyway. "Such a promise," the Globe continues in citing Kerry, "would give the new Iraq leadership greater credibility as it seeks to take control of the country." This is, of course, a non sequitur. But such a threat--which, rather than being a promise, is what it really is--might also leave Iraqi leadership more at odds with itself and the country's militias more fratricidal than ever. To be sure, Kerry has a solution for this too. "There's been a pathetic absence of major diplomacy by our administration." Here he goes again with the United Nations. Yes, the United Nations, that exemplar of clarity, responsibility, fortitude. And who would get everyone to agree. Kerry also thinks the Arab League could help restore ... well, not restore ... well, bring ... what to Iraq? The only place the Arab League has done anything decisive is support the Muslim Arab regime in Sudan murder Muslim blacks in Darfur. Kerry uses the word "pathetic" routinely. It's an old prep school put-down. What's really pathetic is his old trope about international diplomacy which does more to promote conflict in the world than it does to succor stability.

The problem with Kerry is that he still thinks he's a plausible candidate for president. And probably, which is more important, Theresa thinks so, as well. I have convincing evidence that he's not. I went last year to a photography benefit auction at Christie's in New York. It was organized to aid a progressive and quite chic charity with which my kids are involved. I can assure you that no one in attendance voted for George Bush in 2004. Everyone there had voted for Kerry. Among the photographs up for auction was one of him, and an interesting one at that, making him look more introspective certainly than he actually is. The silent auction was, in fact, extremely frenetic, with people lining up to put their names and the price they would pay next to each picture. There were fashion photographs and nature photographs and portraits of Lena Horne, David Bowie, Nelson Mandela, Jacqueline Kennedy, and many others. Almost everything sold out, and most for far above the minimum price, including two photographs by Tipper Gore. I think there was a picture of a dog that got no bids, a few others possibly ... and that picture of John, so forlorn and alone. If there is no nostalgia for Kerry in New York, there's no nostalgia for him anywhere.

--Martin Peretz


LET'S GIVE THIS ASSHOLE AN EDUCATION!

http://www.tnr.com/blog/theplank?pid=13125

[Mass]

1. T.N.R. No surprise.

[ProSense]

2. What they really need is therapy. Who is

Theresa? They should be embarrassed since it's signed staff. The staff at TNR is just pissed Kerry has called for withdrawal from Iraq.

[Mass]

4. Martin Peretz is the head of TNR. He is PO because he agrees with

Lieberman.

This probably tells us more about where he stands than anything else in the article. The guy is a PNAC neo-con at its best.

What's really pathetic is his old trope about international diplomacy which does more to promote conflict in the world than it does to succor stability.

[Mass]

3. My answer (by email as I dont have a subscription).

Thank you for reminding us that TNR is totally irrelevant.

Remember, you endorsed Lieberman and ignored Kerry, which probably makes you the most irrelevant magazine in this country.

Please continue to diss Kerry. It will make clear to everybody that he is right.

[karynnj]

5. Good letter

What a jerk. It's too bad they are not honest and admit that they are for this war and are mad because Kerry and Theresa (sic) aren't. You would think they would at least get her name right.

[TayTay]

6. At a time when every liberal publication is gaining subscribers

TNR is falling through the floor. Now we know why. Their photograph story is a sham. I can personally attest to a number of 'true believers' who has been there since '04 and aren't going anywhere. Silly man.

[wisteria]

7. Wow, what stupid reasoning. A picture didn't sell so that means

what? The wrong people attended the auction? Isn't this the site that never has anything good to say about Kerry? They like Lieberman. The whole piece is a stretch.This seems to be written to discourage his supporters. You know they feel threatened by Senator Kerry when they have to go to these extremes to discredit him.

I would comment, but you have to subscribe. Does it cost anything?

[karynnj]

8. The irony is that if you read TNR you know they hate Kerry

and it's likely you agree. There may be as much chance of getting Kerry support there as on FR. So, you wonder why they even cover him. (Didn't Peretz hate Kerry forever.

[sandnsea]

9. Why spend so much time on someone irrelevant???

:shrug: I think they're jealous that he's always right and they're always wrong. And that Kerry comes up with solutions that fit the time; and that Americans understand those solutions and support them, even while the elite is sneering down their noses at him. I think he makes them feel phony and irrelevant, and that's why they wish he'd go away.

[JI7]

10. they still can't get over the fact their guy Lieberman lost

don't you love how they refused to profile Kerry during the primary campaign when they did it on every other candidate.

but they repeatedly write these worthless asshole articles. fuck them.

[Dr Ron]

11. My response posted

The problem with TNR is that it still thinks it is a plausible source for political thought. Using something as trivial as a photography auction to support the ridiculous claims about John Kerry is yet another example.

TNR is no more correct today than it was in 2003 when it backed Lieberman and ignored John Kerry when providing the case for the various Democratic candidates.

John Kerry was always clear as to his position on Iraq. It was just certain journalists and partisans who attempted to obfuscate his position by misquoting him and distorting his views.

http://www.tnr.com/blog/show_comments.mhtml?b=theplank&pid=13125