Max Cleland to campaign for John Kerry: Dec 11-12

[La_Serpiente]

Max Cleland to Campaign for John Kerry: December 11-12
Fighting for Affordable Health Care and Veterans Rights

December 05, 2003

Des Moines, IA -

Former US Senator Max Cleland will return to Iowa on Thursday, December 11th and Friday, December 12th to rally support for John Kerry and his campaign for the presidency. Cleland visited Iowa earlier this fall and will return again in January.

Cleland lost three limbs while serving in the Vietnam War. When he returned he became the youngest VA Administrator in history and helped institute “vets centers”, which for the first time offered psychological counseling to combat veterans to heal the emotional wounds of war. While serving as Georgia Secretary of State, Cleland fought for tougher campaign finance laws and implemented the “motor voter” program adding almost one million new registered voters to the system.

In 2002, Cleland was appointed to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States. The Commission will examine the facts and causes relating to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and will report on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to prevent future acts of terrorism.



Max Cleland

[Rose Siding]

1. He'll have plenty of time for it now

that he's bugging out on the 911 families

Ex-Senator Will Soon Leave 9/11 Panel

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 — Max Cleland, a former senator from Georgia and one of five Democrats on the federal commission investigating the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, is expected to resign within weeks, creating a vacancy with only six months left in the inquiry, commission officials said today.

Mr. Cleland's intention to resign from the 10-member commission has been known since last summer, when Senate Democrats announced that they had recommended him for a Democratic slot on the board of the Export-Import Bank. But the timing of his departure became clear only last week, when the White House formally sent the nomination to the Senate.

His imminent departure from the panel has created concern among victims' family groups, because Mr. Cleland has been one of the commission's most outspoken members and has joined with advocates for the families in their criticism of the Bush administration. The time to find a replacement is limited because the commission is required by law to complete its work in May.

snip>

...Mr. Cleland's resignation would mean the loss of the most publicly defiant voice on the panel, which is known formally as the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/05/national/05TERR.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[Prodemsouth]

2. And for that reason (not that I was ever going to support Kerry) I am even

less likely now. Cleland betrayed the 9-11 families, took a job with Smirk, Inc, I can't forgive that. This is all disappointing, I hate most of the Democratic party. Bush is going to win in 04- just forget about it. The Democratic Party and Dem activist are doing everything possible to make that happen.

[sandnsea]

4. Took a job with Smirk?

Explain please. How is going to work at the Exort-Import Bank a bad thing? Do you think Kerry might want someone in there who can figure out exactly what's going on with that organization and where the money is going?

It looks like Max Cleland has done as much as he can on the 9/11 commission. He will most certainly still be available for consulting on the information they have and haven't gathered so far. It's not like he's going to resign from the commission and forget everything he learned.

Blind hatred of Bush is really distorting people's ability to think it seems to me.

[Rose Siding]

6. Bush isn't involved in this specific instance.

snip>
His imminent departure from the panel has created concern among victims' family groups, because Mr. Cleland has been one of the commission's most outspoken members and has joined with advocates for the families in their criticism of the Bush administration. The time to find a replacement is limited because the commission is required by law to complete its work in May.
end snip>

Won't either party do ANYTHING to make the way easier for these people? They seem to be the only catalyst for any progress in the investigation and now they have to get someone to play catch up. How can you defend that?

As well, please explain where you got the information that Cleland couldn't possibly do any more over the next 6 months. The last I heard, the battle to allow the viewing of certain evidence had not been won.

And where did you get the idea that he is free to consult on classified information or continue to participate in any way?

[MaineDem]

3. Senator Cleland has been here in Maine for Kerry

He's been supporting him for a long time now.

[blm]

5. He's a great speaker and really takes it to Bush.

I had the honor of seeing him here in SC and he was with Gen. Cheney who was the commander of Parris Island, the Marine base in SC who is also a Kerry supporter. They were both amazing.