What Might Have Been

[kerrygoddess]

What Might Have Been
4 June 2005


This editorial from the North Adams Transcript says it all, we all know in our hearts what might have been…

North County got a glimpse on Thursday of what might have been for Berkshire County, the state of Massachusetts, and the United States of America. That was during the visit of Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat, a blue stater, and someone who inarguably is not George W. Bush.

We haven't had time to ponder the differences of late -- and perhaps we were too disappointed after Sen. Kerry's loss in November to do anything but shove the whole mess out of mind. But seeing Sen. Kerry, and listening to him, we are once again amazed at the choice of the American people.

Sen. Kerry might have been the answer to a host of dangerous -- we might say insane -- trends that continue under the Bush administration. That would include the runaway federal budget deficits, a mounting national debt that imperils Social Security and every other necessary program; a military that is stretched to the limit in a war that could have been avoided; constant assaults on environmental regulation of any kind; tax cuts for people who don't need them, and, generally, support of Neanderthal thinking on every social issue.

We, as a nation, can certainly do much better. When we see John Kerry and hear him speak, and note the issues that concern him -- as expressed on today's editorial page -- we know the nation could have done much better on Nov. 2.

Hat tip to MH on Freedom’s Fire for posting the OP/ED by John Kerry that this above editorial refers to. Here’s a quip, but you can read it all on Freedom’s Fire.

On the president's budgetary values
By Sen. John Kerry

On Thursday, I visited the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams and was inspired by the work happening there to make a college education available to more and more students. MCLA runs a successful student support services program, the Individual Enrichment Program, which assists low-income students become the first in their families to go to college, and helps students with disabilities to overcome the numerous obstacles to higher education. Without this support, many of these students wouldn't have had a chance to get a college degree.

MORE & LINKS - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=1013

[globalvillage]

1. Thanks, kerrygoddess.

:cry:

[BlueJazz]

2. Well Put and Sad. You know , I've gotten to the Sick point of...

..seeing somebody in a car with Bush Stickers all over it and thinking:
"You don't know it or care but you're America's and my Mortal Enemy".

[BlueIris]

12. I feel you, there.

I thought I was above it by now, too.

[tmorelli415]

3. We can't give up

Liberals and progressives are really searching for their soul right now. I think we will be stronger for it, but it is painful nontheless. We know what kind of world we wish for, and I can't help but believe that we have history on our side. Once liberals/progressives clearly state a vision of the future history shows that there is nothing that can stop us - they will come in droves.

[politicasista]

4. Thanks kerrygoddess!

Keep kicked! :kick:

[MH1]

5. Thanks for posting it here!

I thought JK's editorial was very well written. I especially like these lines: "Values like honesty, opportunity and responsibility are all cut from this budget. " and "This budget is like an Enron budget -- smoke the numbers, cook the books, hide the truth and hope no one finds out."

p.s. I guess it's just in some areas here that I can't post.

Anyway, kg,

:yourock:

[saltpoint]

6. Let's hear it for the North Adams Transcript! Bravo!

The voiceless deserve an intelligent, articulate, collaborative, and compassionate president.

Red state voters denied them one these last two elections in a row.

Nice post, kerrygoddess. As usual.

[wisteria]

7. I'm glad you brought this to my attention, although, it brings back

the repressed and sad feelings of November 3rd. Indeed, what could have been! I hope we still have a chance, in the coming years, to find out.

[jillan]

8. I bet Kerry is real pissed

He probably looks at everything * and co. have been doing since 1/20
and knows how he would have handled it, and knows how things would be so much better if he was in the White House.

And he probably now knows that he really won.

[zann725]

9. He KNOWS. And we 'know.'

And 'knowing' is were it starts. Things are beginning to unravel for Bushco.

I know others say that Impeachment won't solve the problem...since there are too many other Bushco's 'in line', but I prefer to not look at the obstacles, but the goal.

JK is STILL exactly what this country desparately needs NOW...not in '08. That's too far away. I will visualize, visualize, visualize...and sign every petition that comes my way.
And of course, leave my Kerry bumper sticker on until the bumper rusts off!

[paineinthearse]

13. pirhana

Welcome to DU

:hi:

[Niche]

10. Thanks for this... I saw John Kerry speak last month

here in LA and wept the entire time. It just overwhelmed me, he's so compassionate and concerned. He was about two feet away from me.... I know he felt our pain.... P.S. HE WON THE ELECTION!

[acmejack]

11. Thank you, KG!

Kerry is so eloquent. Oh, thats right he actually has brains (and a conscience). Our princiles backed up by dollars and cents...

[paineinthearse]

14. This is going to make kerrygoddess mad

And it's not what you are thinking.

I went to a social last Friday night and had a nice 30 minute conversation with Kam. Not much politics, he was getting enough ofn that. Just talk about our kids and sports and Phelps visiting Brookline. I did drop that John Conyers petition had (at that point 110,000 signatures, and that I had read the SE Mass and N. Adams newspaper accounts (see post in the Kerry forum - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=273x29626), and was looking forward to his brother's DSM speech.