Kerrys rebuttal to George

[snowbird42]

SENATOR KERRY (D-MA) ISSUED THIS REBUTTAL TO RAW STORY JUST AFTER BUSH'S SPEECH....

"Leadership isn't a speech or a toll-free number. Leadership is getting the job done. No American doubts that New Orleans will rise again, they doubt the competence and commitment of this Administration.

Weeks after Katrina, Americans want an end to politics-as-usual that leaves them dangerously and unforgivably unprepared.
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Americans want to know that their government will be there when it counts with leadership that keeps them safe, not speeches in the aftermath to explain away the inexcusable."

[eleny]

1. Link?

[snowbird42]

4. raw story

[whometense]

6. Here:

http://rawstory.com/admin/dbscripts/printstory.php?story=360

[ChiciB1]

52. He Seems To Be Getting Much More Active These Days!

Finally, and I'm grateful!

[OKNancy]

38. This is a press release

For what it's worth, this is not a raw story exclusive, it's a press release

Distribution Source : U.S. Newswire

Date : Thursday, September 15, 2005



To: National Desk

Contact: David Wade or April Boyd, 202-224-4159

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Below is a statement from Senator John Kerry on President Bush's address tonight on the devastation of Hurricane Katrina:

"Leadership isn't a speech or a toll-free number. Leadership is getting the job done. No American doubts that New Orleans will rise again, they doubt the competence and commitment of this Administration. Weeks after Katrina, Americans want an end to politics-as-usual that leaves them dangerously and unforgivably unprepared. Americans want to know that their government will be there when it counts with leadership that keeps them safe, not speeches in the aftermath to explain away the inexcusable."

http://www.usnewswire.com/


http://press.arrivenet.com/pol/article.php/694013.html

[LSK]

40. where is the original source of this??

Did John email this to rawstory or is there somewhere that he offers it officially?

[OKNancy]

42. It's not an exclusive

it's a press release from Kerry's office

It's in my above post - US newswire. THe exact and full release is also in my post

[LSK]

44. so its just the paragraph you posted above

I was looking for something longer for some reason.

[sepia_steel]

2. That's the way!

Here here, JK

[LittleClarkie]

7. Bless his heart, he went down there and saw it

and I think it angered him. He's been kinda twitchy lately.

You can always tell when he's angry. Short, simple, to the point sentences.

[TayTay]

18. I think he's pissed

Seeing needless suffering and incompetence in action can do that to a good Democrat.

[bklyncowgirl]

61. He should have gotten pissed during the campeign.

Sadly had he won alot of those poor people would have been alive.

The hurrican would have hit hard but I have to believe that he would have done a much better job coordinating relief.

[TayTay]

62. He did get pissed during the campaign

Did you go to any rallies? The debates were not dropped in from above, that was how Kerry acted during the campaign, only usually harsher.

[blossomstar]

3. He is my president! Dear Lord why did this happen, so many people dead.

[jillan]

5. God Bless John Kerry - The real president!

Thanks for posting this, I nominating it!

[INdemo]

33. Vote recount

Is it too late to get an official vote count and install the real President? O wouldn't that be nice?

[jillan]

37. Very very nice! Or even if we could do a recount.

Welcome to DU:hi:

[zann725]

47. I'll second that 'recount'; and add a 'recall.'

This would NEVER have happened on Kerry's "watch." NEVER.

[MH1]

8. "Leadership isn't a toll-free number"

Snap!

My President is John Kerry. (Can we get rid of the idiot pretender now, please?)

[Island Blue]

12. That might be the greatest line ever! nt

:applause: Bravo, President Kerry!

[globalvillage]

9. Tell it, Senator!

:yourock:

[babylonsister]

11. gv, good came from this!

Those that can, do, those that can't, give dumb speeches.

[babylonsister]

10. I LOVE that man and this sentiment:

"Americans want to know that their government will be there when it counts with leadership that keeps them safe, not speeches in the aftermath to explain away the inexcusable."

Thank you, Senator Kerry! :patriot:

[Mad_Dem_X]

54. That's my president! n/t

[IndyJones]

13. Did anyone else think that the speech was something that

should have been done maybe a week ago? It was pretty underwhelming, IMO. So tell us something we don't already know. Toss in something to make us gain an ounce of confidence in your leadership!

I must have been dreaming to have even wanted to hear more than I did.

[karynnj]

59. Even a week ago, without action - it would still be meaningless

[LSK]

14. I wish someone would give him some TV time

He is speaking, but nobody is listening it seems.

[jillan]

19. Agreed! He has been relentless in his attacks on this admin...

but it's nowhere in the msm!

[kerrygoddess]

15. More on Kerry's Response

John Kerry Responds to President Bush’s Speech to the Nation: “Leadership isn’t a speech or a toll-free number”
September 15th, 2005

Bush offered a lackluster speech tonight and platitudes galore…

Below is a statement from Senator John Kerry on President Bush’s address tonight on the devastation of Hurricane Katrina:

“Leadership isn’t a speech or a toll-free number. Leadership is getting the job done. No American doubts that New Orleans will rise again, they doubt the competence and commitment of this Administration. Weeks after Katrina, Americans want an end to politics-as-usual that leaves them dangerously and unforgivably unprepared. Americans want to know that their government will be there when it counts with leadership that keeps them safe, not speeches in the aftermath to explain away the inexcusable.”

A note on John Kerry’s statement and the difference between Kerry and Bush in “getting the job done”:

Today, the Senate passed a bill that will aid Small Businesses affected by Hurricane Katrina. That bill was authored by John Kerry.

MORE - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=574

[LittleClarkie]

20. Posted on Kos

Got your back, dear.

[kerrygoddess]

24. Thank you muchly...! N/T

[LittleClarkie]

46. I'm on the recommended list!

Damn, that was a surprise. I guess rapid response gets attention.

http://kerrycrat.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/15/224425/182

[Wordie]

34. No wonder Kerry's pissed...Bush spoke about aid to small businesses and

how he (Bush) intends to help them. This right after the Kerry bill passes. I haven't read Kerry's bill, but if Kerry's response to Katrina was to devote a lot of his time and attention to small business relief, and then Bush kinda stole his thunder, I can understand why he is angry. Especially since who knows if anything Bush said will actually come to pass.

[adigal]

16. I used to be a repub, and Kerry made me feel how much

Dems care about their fellow man. He made me feel safe "converting." I love Kerry.

[Wetzelbill]

17. that nearly made me cry

gosh, what might have been. It breaks my heart to see Al Gore and John Kerry, two men who Bush isn't even fit to be in the same sentence as.

[YvonneCa]

21. Thank you for leading...

...President Kerry!:patriot:

[mzmolly]

22. Go Johnny!

:toast:

[paineinthearse]

23. Is Kerry the designation Dem spokesperson?

It is traditional for the opposition party (if they deserve to be called such) names a spokesperson. Is Kerry acting as the designated spokesperson, or acting unilaterally.

[kerrygoddess]

25. Your point?

It's common for Dems to speak up after a Bush speech... But you know that don't you.

[paineinthearse]

28. What part of my original question is unclear?

It is usual for the party to have one designated person speak to the country as the official response.

I was at a town government meeting and did not see either *'s speech pr the Dem response.

Was Kerry speaking for the party as designated spokesperson, or unilatterally?

[jillan]

32. Actually Pelosi and Reid were on CSpan right afterwards.

They were going on and on.
They gave the Dem response, but
Kerry gave the smackdown:spank:

[paineinthearse]

39. So it was a group of at least 3?

Sorry, I saw nothing of it. Please describe the scene and who was there.

[jillan]

45. There were a few more.

I didn't catch much of it.

They were just rambling. I got more interested in what people were posting here, than what they were saying.

I'm sure it'll be on C-Span.org.

[zulchzulu]

27. Kerry is pissed...that should be enough...

Why wait around for some "designated" spokesperson...the gloves are fucking off!

[zulchzulu]

26. JK...keep giving Chimpy a tall hot can of whoopass

We got your back.

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

30. No offense, Senator Kerry

But where was this pissed off John Kerry during the campaign, when it mattered?

[fedupinBushcountry]

31. No offense,

but where were you ? Because you surely weren't listening when it mattered.

[INdemo]

36. Propaganda

The Republican propaganda worked during the campaign(thanks to the media)but it wont work now

[LSK]

41. go to CSPAN.com archives and go watch his campaign speeches

It is there.

[maddiejoan]

56. with all due respect --

It's the same Kerry as during the campaign. The media ignored him, and apparently so did you.

[LittleClarkie]

60. How does one campaign for a man they are ignoring

That was my question during the campaign. So Erica the ABB took a good, hard look at John Kerry, the man who allegedly had the personality of styrofoam, so that she would be able to campaign for him properly.

Because if we learned anything from the likes of Republicans who thought that they could run on a platform of "We hate Bill Clinton", running against somebody isn't enough. You have to campaign FOR somebody.

So off I went to un-ABB myself.

And thus I did. Rather overshot the mark, actually.

[texpatriot2004]

29. Thank you Senator you can speak for me. n/t

[WildEyedLiberal]

65. Amen - and I'm stealing that if you don't mind :D

"John Kerry speaks for me."

[wisteria]

35. This is just wonderful- love the line -Leadership isn't a speech

or a toll-free number. Wow, he is getting quick on the responses-can't say the same about Bush.

[FrenchieCat]

43. Go John Kerry.....

Let's kick some ass!

[Clarkie1]

48. Very well said by Senator Kerry. n/t

[lynne]

49. Rebuttal? Doesn't that mean offering an opposing and contrary opinion? -

- I was hopeful that our response would be a bit more positive and supportive to the people of the Gulf Region. Along the lines of "we are committed to watching your back and making sure that promises are kept, etc., etc. . . ."

Flame away but I think an opportunity was missed in Kerry's response. The response was about Bush - IMO it should have been about those that are suffering and what we will do to make sure they get the help they need.

[karynnj]

50. Good point - Kerry has been very supportive to the Gulf region

he issued many comments, gave people information on organizations that were helping. He and Teresa sent stuff to Mississippi and he later went with MA donated stuff to Baton Rouge where he talked to officials and business men.

He and his staff were the authors of the amendment that gives funding to Small Business needs - that was the Kerry amendment, then the Kerry-Landrieau amendment, Then Kerry- Snowe-landrieau-Vitter amendment. It was called Kerry- Snowe on the Senate floor, but somehow it is now recorded as Snowe -Vitter.

The response he put out seems to deal just with Bush. It may have been if it were a more typical Kerry statement dealing with everything - it would have been ignored. (He has been doing the right things to help, but he probably can't assume that people really know it.

[lynne]

51. I realize that Kerry has been generous and supportive -

- but those that really need to know it have been ripped from their homes and probably aren't up on the news. Yet - after a Presidential address - our response has the ear and the expectations of the entire nation. It's the one time we know that everyone will be listening.

I just wish that our response had been more about the people and less about politics.

[karynnj]

53. I agree with you on this

even the people not in that area probably don't and won't know Kerry's real response. Pelosi and Reed were the official response. Kerry's was a press release - that because it hit home was repeated.

I was actually at a Rolling Stones concert, so I could be wrong but I don't think he gave the Democratic response - and like you said - the official response should be both critical (where it is deserved), but also give a positive alternative. Kerry would actually have been great at giving the reponse - I heard his comments in NJ - he cares and articulates it well.

[sandnsea]

57. Pelosi & Reid gave official rebuttal

This was the response from Kerry, who has been giving these kinds of short, snarky responses lately. Funny, he's criticized for being windy, and criticized when he's not.

[Imagevision]

55. And Rove is going to head the rebuilding of New Orleans...!

[jillan]

58. Yeah - he signed right up when he heard there was oil in the streets.

What the heck does Rove know about rebuilding a city ? Ugh!

[Goldeneye]

63. sigh....what could've been.

[TheDonkey]

64. haha, good zinger.

Too bad the media is happy to ignore him.