John Kerry learned his lesson well, and earned an exceptional grade today

[CatWoman]

shame on you people for criticizing him.

Never, EVER leave their slurs unanswered.

Never, EVER apologize to those criminal bastards.

Never, EVER back down from those fucking slugs.

And if the "criticizers" don't get it, that's too fucking bad.

[DURHAM D]

1. Here! Here!

[wake.up.america]

4. I would like to think that a mispoken statemet is less important than the fact

Bush is stupid and has the US in a quagmire in which thousands are being killed.

But ya never now nowadays.

[babylonsister]

19. Mistaken sintax? Huh?

John Kerry screwed up one word, in all the speeches and appearances he's made, and
we all know what a dimwit the dimson is.

[wake.up.america]

29. My mistake - You are right!

[DURHAM D]

34. Their! Their !

[ChiciB1]

71. There! There! GOTV... Let's Keep Working! n/t

[peace13]

2. What she says! n/t

[WildEyedLiberal]

3. Thank you, K&R

The line is drawn HERE. NO MORE Dems rolling over for rightwing slurs and swiftboating!

[NiteOwll]

5. Absolutely!

'Bout time!

[politicasista]

6. Amen sister!

Stand up to evil. Don't apologize to NO ONE. :)

[Lars39]

7. Agreed.

Way too many people carrying repub water today.

[amitten]

8. Absolutely. He gives as good as he gets. That's key in

politics.

[babylonsister]

9. Leave it to CatWoman to get to the heart of this! Thank you, and

:yourock: :headbang: :hug:

[CatWoman]

12. I was off line most of the day

and only heard about the "controversy" late today.

Imagine my horror when I logged onto DU, and saw those disgusting threads.

I literally couldn't believe it.

I mean, have we learned NOTHING????

How long are we going to let these criminal lying incompetents push us around?

Fuck "nice".

[never_get_over_it]

24. I've been VERY critical of Kerry in the past

and I was so effing proud of him today I couldn't stand it - then I came to DU and it was like an instant downer....Good God people he did a good thing he actually stood up to these punks.


Thank you for your post I feel a bit better

[ginnyinWI]

49. you should have heard Randi Rhodes, if you didn't.

She played Kerry's rebuttal over and over, and commented over it: "yes", "that's right", "thank-you" etc. She was really as proud of JK as she could be for standing up to those mofo's.

[ginnyinWI]

48. a lot of them had low post counts.

A typical DUer really loves it when a Dem goes on the offensive. But then there are those others...

[BeyondGeography]

10. I guess that makes you the decider on all those criticizers

Maybe we should just call you Cat W.

[CatWoman]

13. Fucking right!!

[RoyGBiv]

11. Succinct and to the point ...

Well said.

I am growing increasingly annoyed, to put it mildly, at this bullshit.

I will remember this day. It was the day John Kerry made a joke about the President that the right-wing attack machine took out of context and used to assault him. It was the day (by my count in just the last couple hours) over a hundred self-described Democrats came out on the side of the Bush administration in demanding an apology for the remarks. It was a day that a large number of the very same people who constantly rail against the corporate media machine and its right-wing masters got every bit of their news and formed every part of their concept of what Kerry's remarks meant from that machine they otherwise so soundly criticize. It was the day that Kerry didn't back down, rather figuratively told Bush and his lapdogs to go fuck themselves, and it was the day that in response far too many people on what is supposedly a meeting place for Democrats suggested he should just shut the fuck up.

I will remember this day very well, and the next time someone comes along whining their silly little heads off about how Kerry or any Democrat has no spine, I will remember the people who today criticized ... no ... demonized Kerry just as the right-wing attack machine wanted them to do, and I will shove this day straight down their throats.

[CatWoman]

17. beautiful post, Roy

just beautiful.

[WildEyedLiberal]

26. Amen to every word. Just perfect. n/t

[babylonsister]

27. Roy, I agree, and thank you! Forget the nt, post this on GD? nt

[ginnyinWI]

50. And I will thank you on that day! n/t

[yodermon]

73. RoyGBiv, this quote of yours bears highlighting:

It was a day that a large number of the very same people who constantly rail against the corporate media machine and its right-wing masters got every bit of their news and formed every part of their concept of what Kerry's remarks meant from that machine they otherwise so soundly criticize.

I could cut the irony with a knife if i weren't busy bashing my head against the fucking wall.

[Glimmer of Hope]

75. I can't believe how many people took the bait. Baffling isn't it?

[RoyGBiv]

82. Save me a spot on that wall ...

It's the only way to numb the pain.

[enigmatic]

77. This is the post of the year IMO

I agree w/ everything you said. The last 24 hours here has really made me ill.

[RoyGBiv]

81. Me too ...

I had the same kind of reaction yesterday that a lot of people have expressed in different ways, notably CatWoman, who started this thread and inspired me to comment. I'd been away from the computer most of the day, but I'd seen the news. I knew just from the barest context that what he'd said was taken out of context completely. I'd also heard the joke before. I thought this is just one more thing, just another slam at some Democrat based on nothing but hot air. Standard Operating Procedure, especially when the bastards on the ropes the way they are in so many places.

And then I read Kerry's response, and I thought, OH SNAP! ... or something like that.

And then I came here, to my refuge away from the willful ignorance of the world outside to celebrate with others this man taking a stand and shoving it back in their faces. And what did my eyes see!?!? So-called Democrats echoing the Bush party line, word for freakin' word.

And the ironic nature of the complaints, as pointed out by yodermon above. I need to find me a piece of that brick wall and start bashing.

Anyway, thanks for the comments. I just had to rant a bit more.

[TomInTib]

14. But it's too bad that they were fighting their way out of the corner

They were idiots to get there in the first place.

Idiots.

When your offense consists of mopping up, you are screwing up.

[Old and In the Way]

15. Indeed....screw the media that'll spin this for Republicans.

It's obvious what he meant, Bush can apologize to the troops for lying about the causus belli and he can apologize again for making a joke about his futile search of WMD. Kerry can apologize for not having a majority to investigate and impeach this criminal misadministration.

[Swamp Rat]

16. YOU DAMN STRAIGHT CATWOMAN!!!!

BOO! :D

[CatWoman]

20. Swampy!!!

:hi:

:loveya:

[Swamp Rat]

32. Way'at CatWoman!

:hi: :hug:

I signed on to DU tonight and found a few threads by some Scaredy Dems who are poo pooing John Kerry for his AWSOME KICK ASS comeback to Bushler.

Wtf?

Scaredy Dem! Scaredy Dem! Scaredy Dem! BOO!

[babylonsister]

35. I'm no scaredy cat Dem and I LOVE what Kerry did today!

And Swamp Rat, :loveya: :loveya:, be still my heart!

[Swamp Rat]

37. Way'at babylonsister!

:hi: :hug:

[understandinglife]

18. "Never, EVER back down from those fucking slugs."

Recommended.

AND,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=2531081&mesg_id=2531081

AND,

Never Forget: George W. Bush willfully violated National Security to cover-up his willful launch of a war of aggression and illegal occupation of Iraq.... and, if you doubt it, just check 'the google' ...

[CatWoman]

22. and your's is recommended as well

loved that title!!

:hi:

[understandinglife]

30. Thank you, my friend!

:hi:

Senator Kerry did EXACTLY what was needed today.

Focus everyong on Bu$h and Cheney's destruction of our Republic and our troops.

Now, let's ... ATTACK. REPEAT. ATTACK.


BE THE BU$H OPPOSITION - 24/7

[DemReadingDU]

60. K&R

Kerry is exactly right.

Nice to see you U.L.!

[Atman]

21. Finally, a WORTHWHILE Kerry post!

Thanks, CatWoman.

I've been outspoken against Kerry, and I wont go so far as to claim he's regained my full support, but you are 100% correct...he seemed to have learned what it means to play hardball with these thugs.

.

[kentuck]

23. I agree, CatWoman...

It's time to stop worrying about how it might be taken politically and just stand up to these bastards.
Good for Kerry!

[CatWoman]

25. Damn right, Kentuck!!

:hi:

[shanti]

28. ^5, catwoman!

great rant - you rawk! :headbang:

[dailykoff]

31. I totally agree.

What a lame GOP trick and what a great response. Let's hear more!

[Laurab]

33. K & R - I missed most of the attack posts

but I learned long ago, on here, no matter WHAT Kerry does, someone is going to find fault with it. A lot of someones, even. I've never understood it, stopped arguing with the same old, same old, but I am certainly happy that John Kerry "learned his lesson well", and I hope others in the party will be speaking out the way Max Cleland did.

[_dynamicdems]

36. AMEN!

I wholeheartedly kick this post!

:kick:

[Change has come]

38. Well said CatWoman

A DUer posted earlier that NBC preempted a soap-opera and carried Kerry's remarks live. :applause:

[CatWoman]

40. look at that pretty kitty

:hi:

:loveya:

[RoyGBiv]

42. Speaking of kitties ...

Franky has this to say to all the Kerry haters:

[CatWoman]

46. ROFL

:rofl:

[Straight Shooter]

39. What I really like about his response was his shoot from the hip straight talk.

No nuance, no dancing around the subject. Damn, he came out with both guns blazing.

This is the John Kerry we would have seen fighting back against the Swiftboat Liars, if only his handlers had let him be who he is.

Let's see bush defend his remark in his WMD comedy routine: "Those WMD have got to be here somewhere."

[babylonsister]

45. Kerry is now on defense and proved it. He's done with putting up

crap from anyone. I think.

[Marlie]

41. Thank you Cat

Well said and it needed saying. John Kerry's been campaigning and working so hard for us to win the mid terms. He's become one of the best we have and damn we need to stand by him. He did the right thing, do doubt, so thanks again Catwoman for
reminding us what we should do. Saw McCain reaming him out on Fox tonight and I
just about threw my drink through the screen. What a backstabber. We shouldn't
join him, that's for sure.

[Beausoir]

43. This is only the beginning. Nice warning shot across the bow, CatWoman.

I'm done playing nice.

Have been for quite some time.

I give as good as I get. And I will NEVER EVER apologize.

[MalloyLiberal]

44. YouTube

http://youtube.com/watch?v=bGwc-9pmmbM

Someone please post it in the Video forum. I can't yet.

[ginnyinWI]

47. never apologize for the way they distort your words

Andrew Sullivan said he should--but it wasn't his words, it was the way they twisted them. It would be like saying, "I'm sorry I said something that you were able to distort." How stupid that would sound.

[Tarcat1]

52. re:"never apologize for the way they distort your words"

"never apologize for the way they distort your words"

I agree with the sentiment but its better to avoid giving your opponents easily distorted words in the first place. Kerry put his foot in his mouth. There is no getting around it.

[Lars39]

53. He also got more face time to criticize the bush administration.

And a fine job he did, too:

http://www.youtube.com/v/bGwc-9pmmbM&autoplay=1

[Tarcat1]

51. No he did not

You only need to read the stories from the major media outlets to see that Kerry didn't do exceptionally well. His statement was a real blunder for someone who has been around as long as he has. You don't hand your opponents things that can be taken out of context so easily. The American people don't understand nuance very well (mostly because they don't inform themselves) and the right wing has a spectacular spin machine. You can't just give them golden sound bites like this. Will this cost us the election? No it won't but it certaintly won't win us votes.

[RoyGBiv]

55. Mule fritters ...

Yes, yes, let's play it safe. Let's be nice and perfect. Let's not dare say anything that anyone could possibly under any circumstances ever take out of context and try to smear us.

It's worked SO well so far. Why ruin a good thing.

Hey, I got an idea. Our next Presidential candidates? After they've declared their candidacies, let's lock them up in a hut on the mountains and have a team of writers move in with them. At regular intervals, those writers will issue approved statements, and then those statements can be run through another team of editors who pour over all the words and eliminate anything that could be taken out of context ... you know, like every word except, maybe, "Hi, I'm xxxx, and I'm running for President." And I'm not so sure about that. You could always edit and morph that down to, "Hi, I'm xxxx, and I'm running ..." as "cut and running." See the Democrats are cowards. All they do is run. They never do anything. They have no plan.

No, really, I think the best bet would just be to do what Lewis Black suggested. We need to run a dead guy for President.

[ljm2002]

57. So glad you decided to join up...

...so you could weigh in on Kerry for all of us.

Welcome. Maybe.

[CatWoman]

62. As Keith Olbermann noted

"John Kerry called the president stupid, and the president was too stupid to know it".

Seems like you're in that category as well, huh?

[L0oniX]

86. Keith Olbermann responds

http://movies.crooksandliars.com/CD-SC-KerryJoke.mov

[SammyWinstonJack]

65. .....

:boring:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

54. HEAR HEAR!!

I CONCUR....SHAMEFUL AND SHOWS NO SPINE

[Ecumenist]

56. Yes AND he gets a cookie, a banana and....

a gold star!!

[gully]

58. Recommended -

again.

[The Backlash Cometh]

59. And in time, Kerry will have defined himself so strongly that

no one will ever question him again on what he meant to say.

[sendero]

61. Exactly..

... and so far he's handling this nonsense superbly. I'm no big Kerry fan but nobody should get thrown under the bus for saying the truth.

[NewJeffCT]

63. When was the last time a top Republic apologized?

Has Bush apologized for any of the lies and colossal blunders related to Iraq? I think I recall him saying that he apologized to some Middle Eastern leader when Abu Graib first broke. But, it was only him saying that he apologized, and not the actual apology.

Did he apologize for not defending our nation on 9/11? Or, for allowing North Korea to build more nukes? Or, allowing Iran to reverse course & become more radical? Or, for turning the world against us while pissing on our country's reputation?

Have Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rice, Feith, etc. apologized?

[devilgrrl]

64. the DU criticizers should be tombstoned!

their disruptors anyway.... not that it isn't too obvious or anything.

[Exiled in America]

66. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT !!! WELL SAID!

[grizmaster]

67. Never let the lying liars lies stand unchallenged

couldn't agree more.

[malaise]

68. Bravo Cat Woman

K& R

[wisteria]

69. Bravo!!

How many days can the white House call for kerry to apologize and Kerry ignore them before the media moves on? I am tired of this crap already.

[Pryderi]

70. Kerry flubbed his line, Bush has flubbed the war.

[roamer65]

84. This is bumpersticker material!!!!

[requiem99]

72. HEAR HEAR, never apologise to these fuckers for something like this.

[WildEyedLiberal]

74. Kicking this awesome thread

Because GD stinks way more today than it did even last night.

[Alamom]

76. BRAVO ! again.......great post. n/t

[BlueEyedSon]

78. i think he just apologized

[The Count]

79. Yesterday it seemed so. But today, he retracted. Soo....he unlearns fast.

[beachmom]

87. He had no other choice. Hillary, et al made sure of that. nt

[RoyGBiv]

88. He retracted nothing n/t

[Xenotime]

80. Nicely Said!

[Gabi Hayes]

83. sigh....words fail:

[greeneyedboy]

85. exactly.

just like http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x243769">Matt Stoller said today in his AWESOME rant

[deacon]

89. Damn right n/t

[Hoooweee]

90. shit, I've used a jokesimilar to Kerry's in my classroom

and got laughs and nods. Catwoman, I live in a Republican NAVY town and people get the joke. The outrage is fake.

People who criticize him deserve shame for faking outrage.
That's expected, it's what sleazebags do.
I'd say, like you, that John Kerry could have got further....

At least he can judge the intelligence of combat troops. He's served amongst them!