Did Kerry promise a DSM speech? Are apologies in order? Bigger pic?

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Please, show me one quote from Kerry or his office promising a DSM Senate speech, or statement or statement, by him, re: DSM. I don't think there is one, though I admit I haven't done an exhaustive search for info to the contrary.

What this means, if I'm right, is not only did many DUers succumb to the "rah rah" portion of the (non-Kerry) ruse, when word went from "raise the issue" to "Senate Floor Speech," even more of us jumped on the "slam Kerry" bandwagon for not delivering what looks to me something he hadn't promised to deliver.

I searched DU, and found threads with cheers for the guy for his reportedly planned extravaganza, and threads loaded with disses for his failure to stand upon the mountain and lead the troops thru hell to heaven.

It was at least insinuated that Kerry backed out of his "promise" because he backs away from real battle, like a coward.

Who's meme is being spread??

But I'll buy it if you got the quotes.

here's what I found:

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John Kerry to bring Downing St. Memo to the Floor!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Kerry's Office Expects Media Attention to Follow on Monday

Kerry's office was contacted today.
Kerry is bringing the issue of the Downing Street Minutes
issue to the Senate floor on Monday, and they expect media
attention to follow!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=3771437&mesg_id=3771437


To this:

The Conservative Voice has twisted one of Kerry's statements reported yesterday, claiming that "Kerry advised that he will begin the presentation of his case for President Bush’s impeachment to Congress, on Monday."

Actually Kerry said nothing of impeachment when he said, "When I go back on Monday, I am going to raise the issue," when speaking of the Downing Street Memos. A basic understanding of the Constitution, not to mention a respect for honest journalism, should make the author realize the absurdity of this false statement. Impeachment must begin in the House of Representatives, and therefore Senator Kerry would not be involved in a move toward impeachment. However, as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, it would be reasonable for Kerry to investigate such evidence that President Bush lied to Congress, as well as the American people, while preparing to go to war against Iraq based upon distorting intelligence reports.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=273&topic_id=29666


Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and his press office remain silent as controversy mushrooms around a planned floor speech on minutes of a secret 2002 meeting between the officials of the U.S. and UK at which the director of British intelligence warned the intelligence was being �fixed� around the policy, RAW STORY has learned.

The minutes have fueled concern among Democrats in Congress that the concern over Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was staged, a ploy to get Congress to go along with war.

…

Kerry's remarks have taken on epic proportion, likely because a News Max article conflated Kerry¿½s quotes with Ralph Nader's impeachment cry. AlJazeera.com (which is not affiliated with the news channel) led with a headline today ripening the confusion: "John Kerry to call for impeachment of George Bush."

"When I go back on Monday, I am going to raise the issue," Kerry told Massachusetts' Standard Times newspaper last week. "I think it's a stunning, unbelievably simple and understandable statement of the truth and a profoundly important document that raises stunning issues here at home."

RAW STORY has confirmed that Kerry intends to deliver a statement on the Downing Street minutes.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=273&topic_id=29846

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Assuming there are no forthcoming links to Kerry or his office promising any kind of speech, I have two questions - did a portion of DU go into attack mode on Kerry because they just don't like the guy? That's potentially reasonable. But did a portion of DU act under manipulation by some outside force. That has me worried. Not that anyone who dislikes Kerry is wrong or anything.

Unless there are quotes that seem to hide from me that Kerry/Kerry's office promised a speech/statement on DSM, and then didn't deliver - well, some pretty harsh things have been said, and I think the guy is due some apologies.

[Demit]

1. People were misled by the misreporting of Kerry's words.

Conservative websites mischaracterized his statement to the New Bedford Standard-Times about "raising the issue". A lot of people here tried to correct the misimpression. If there are still people left who still believe Kerry claimed he was going to give a speech, the best thing to do is provide a link to how that was debunked on Tuesday.

Here's what Kerry said in the original article: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/06-05/06-02-05/a01 ...

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2. That's what I thought.

I've seen some harsh Kerry-bashing here lately too, because of that mischaracterization.

Where did it come from?

[MH1]

3. People looking for any excuse to bash.

I posted on this exact topic at my blog:

"Where's Kerry on DSM?" He got there first. (Edit to avoid flames form people who won't go read the article: I am speaking of "first" among Senators; not at ALL discounting Conyers, et al! But, then you really should go read it anyway.)

Also, it looks like the floor speech is forthcoming:

John Kerry on the Downing Street Memo

The money quote from John Kerry's statement submitted today to the Boston Phoenix is bolded:

"Senator Kerry believes every American deserves a thorough explanation of the Downing Street memo. The Administration and the Washington Republicans who control Congress insult Americans by refusing to answer even the most basic questions raised in this memo about pre-war intelligence and planning for the aftermath of war. That’s unacceptable, especially with the lives of America’s sons and daughters on the line. John Kerry will demand answers in the Senate. Stay tuned."

So, please just hang in there guys. It may be a good thing to drag this out a bit.

Drip...drip...drip....

[WildEyedLiberal]

4. Kerry will never get apologies from the peanut gallery at DU

You can pretty much break Kerry haters into a few nasty groups: bitter supports of rival candidates who never got over the primaries (*cough*DailyKos*cough*), Rove plants, or just plain disgruntled me-first lefties who cry and throw a fit if Kerry doesn't consult THEM on his choice of breakfast cereal. Like you said, obviously I understand that there are plenty of legitmate, mature people on this site who aren't wild about Kerry for one reason or another, and that's their prerogative. But the ones who never miss a chance to pile on him (often using Rove talking points, and usually coming out of the woodwork when he's doing something good) - I seriously question their motivations.

Oh, and to answer your question, his office said he will in fact address it on the Senate floor. Much to the dismay of whiners around DU, he hasn't given a date. Perhaps they are disgruntled because he didn't consult DU before determining his schedule? Who knows. But when he does give his speech, I guarantee you won't see any apologies from the haters - smear and run, that's their MO.

[LittleClarkie]

5. You mean the ones who would show up

if I posted a thread that simply said "Kerry" just to say something about the flip flopping, IWR voting opportunist who never had any support from the party anyway and who stole Iowa from Dean so fuck him. Those people?

[WildEyedLiberal]

6. You pretty much have them pegged

Someone will post an article about Kerry's Kids First Act, and some dumbass will come in and scream "FUCK HIM HE LET ME DOWN AND LOVES WAR AND SCREWED DEAN", and claim not to care about all the good things he's doing because "FUCK HIM WE DON'T NEED HIM".

It's like a toddler throwing her food on the floor and then screaming because she's still hungry (I stole that from Ginny, I think).

[bunny planet]

7. I play a game whenever I see a Kerry thread. I count how many posts it'll

take before someone says either 'he had his chance and he blew it' or ' too little, too late'. I usually don't have to wait too long for either.
Oh and of course the inenvitable "clever" skull and bones commentary.


I love the man.

[WildEyedLiberal]

8. Amen.

I don't see you in the Kerry forum much anymore, I remember you used to come by. If the GD trashing ever gets too much, we're a pretty safe haven.

Oh, BTW, I had some FUN with Skull n Bonez the other night. If you just highlight how ridiculously juvenile and nerdy it is, you can have some fun with it :D

[bunny planet]

9. I will stop by soon WildEyedLib.

I did post the pool pic somewhere on DU today though.
:evilgrin:

Believe me, I have been thumping 'skull and bones' turkeys whenever I see them. Just did yesterday in fact.

Nice to see you.
:hi:

[WildEyedLiberal]

10. Ahhhhh the pool pic

Le sigh :loveya:

:hi: right back atcha!