Article: Will John Kerry Report for Duty?

[mousie]

Early in Campaign 2004, Sen. John Kerry challenged George W. Bush’s operatives to “bring it on,” fully expecting that they would try to smear his patriotism despite his Vietnam War medals. In accepting the Democratic nomination, Kerry again highlighted his national service by snapping off a salute with the words: “Reporting for duty.”

Yet one of the biggest disappointments for many Democrats was that the “bring it on” John Kerry didn’t show up at key moments in Election 2004. He failed to respond aggressively when a Republican front group spread lies about his war record. He then meekly conceded defeat on the day after the Nov. 2 election rather than fight for a full examination of voting irregularities.

Now, John Kerry may have one more chance to “report for duty.” On Jan. 6, after the new Congress convenes, he could join with Reps. John Conyers, Maxine Waters and other members of the House of Representatives in supporting their expected motion for a full-scale investigation of Election 2004, particularly the widespread allegations of voting fraud in the pivotal state of Ohio.

For the House motion to have any standing, it must be signed by at least one U.S. senator. So far, no U.S. senator has stepped forward despite petition drives from rank-and-file Democrats demanding that Bush’s victory be contested.

(continued... http://www.consortiumnews.com/2004/010405.html )

[razoroccam]

1. Your post

Realize one thing - John Kerry lost the election, not the Democrats

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. That's the question, isn't it? If Kerry doesn't sign on as

an aggressive supporter of clean elections, and START WITH THE 2004 ONE, then the push for fraud & suppression investigation will be undermined.

And that would be a tragedy.

[mousie]

4. Kerry's dilemma

(from the article...)
"Now, on Jan. 6, 2005, assuming Conyers and other representatives go ahead with their challenge, it would be Vice President Dick Cheney gaveling down African-American Democrats unless a U.S. senator agrees to sign their motion.

Of course, even if the motion gets a senator’s signature and is ruled to be in order, the Republican congressional majority is sure to block a full-scale investigation and instead simply certify Bush’s election. Still, the challenge would mark a new determination among the Democrats to fight the Republicans over principles of democracy.

The motion also presents John Kerry with a difficult political and ethical choice. He basically would have three options: He could join the demand for a full investigation and risk being dubbed a “sore loser”; he could choose to sit silently while Cheney pounds his gavel; or he could stay away from the session altogether. One Kerry adviser told me the senator may be traveling outside the country on Jan. 6."

[Freddie Stubbs]

5. Looks like he will be travelling outside the country

Kerry begins 13-day Middle East visit

1/4/2005 11:35 AM
By: Capital News 9 web staff



Massachusetts Senator John Kerry has begun a 13-day tour of the Middle East, which will include visits to several hot spots in the region.

It's Kerry's first foreign trip since he lost the presidential election in November. Kerry arrived Monday in Jordan.

A spokeswoman said he also plans stops in Iraq, Kuwait, Syria, Egypt, Israel and the West Bank. While in Iraq, the senator plans to visit with troops from Massachusetts and thank them for their service.

more: http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/?ArID=111784&SecID=33

[Nothing Without Hope]

6. Being away for the vote equals refusal to back Conyers

It just looks more weaselly than sitting there face to face when it happens.

[rox63]

8. No it doesn't

Being there would put him in a lose-lose situation. If he challenged the vote, he'd look like a sore loser, and would get a heap of abuse piled on him like Gore did in 2000. If he was there and said nothing, he'd get a heap of abuse piled on him by the voters who know that there was fraud and vote suppression. The challenge to the electors has to come from someone other than him to be considered legitimate.

[Nothing Without Hope]

9. OK, then he at least needs to give Conyers a letter to read

on Jan 6. His total silence is unnacceptable. He may not want to actually cast a vote to avoid un-nice awkwardness, but if he does not visibly support Conyers on Jan 6, I cannot take his pledges of serious intent seriously any more.

[glitch]

3. Thanks for posting Robert Parry - always a good source.

He has written an excellent section on "Reasons to Challenge".

Here's his ending:

"For many in the Democratic base, it may be Kerry’s last chance to show that he meant what he said when he challenged the Bush dirty tricksters to “bring it on.”"

[Nothing Without Hope]

7. Absolutely true.

I do wonder what proportion of the "Democratic base" will be on each side of this issue? And whether he is correct of his assessment of this?

For me, if he does not support Conyers' challenge like he means it, that's it for my respect for and trust in Kerry.

[glitch]

10. Me too. And it will break my heart.

It would a mistake of Greek Tragedy proportions. Because eventually the fraud will be known, and then even the people who don't believe it now will not forgive Kerry for not knowing about it and planning for it and standing up to it this election.

It would be lose/lose for him to not fight this fraud now.

But, for now, I am going to hold out hope that he is fighting it, and I just don't know his moves.

So, what if I am "kooky", big deal. I can put off heartbreak for a little while longer.

[Nothing Without Hope]

12. Then we're BOTH "kooky," because I feel exactly the same way.

And I will be heartbroken too if he doesn't report for duty, at least with a letter to be read on Jan 6 and aggressive efforts after that.

One of the reasons why I have been giving him time before making up my mind -- besides the lack of information -- is that as a politician, he must realize that allowing a repeat of that Fahrenheit 9/11 scene will alienate the voting groups whose votes were stolen or suppressed forever. How could they ever trust him again? And how can he win re-nomination if they don't? I am not in that group, and I suspect that there are a lot of people like me that would also never trust him again.

You're right, it will be a very sad day if he doesn't stand and fight, even with a letter of support. But we can't let that stop us from continuing the fight to get the truth out and the country back on the track of law. It will just be that much harder, but not a bit less important.

[drummer55]

11. Not only has elvis left the building he has left the country....

He talked a good talk but there is no follow up.

Actions Speak louder than words and the actions of Kerry has thus far been one of continual retreat and seemingly out right lies to the people who voted for him.


He's in flippin IRAQ on the 6th of January for gods sake!


I guess what I am trying to say is this isnt about John "I coulda been somebody" Kerry

Its about all of us little people being continually manipulated and used by our so called "leaders". They only lead when they have something to gain and are constantly no where to be found when we are in trouble.

They govern us by our consent and we need to step up and take back the reigns of power.

"Government is not reason and it is not eloquence. It is force! Like fire it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action." -- George Washington

"If a society is to remain free, its government must be controlled." -- Ayn Rand

[Nothing Without Hope]

13. Welcome, Drummer55! I followed your Kos diary on the fraud

I followed your posts closely at Kos in the desparing days after the election. I'm glad to see you here at DU, as Kos never "got" the election fraud and so, even with the wonderful diaries, that site is IMO no longer the best place for discussions and news about the subject. I hope you find the DU community as invigorating, informative and supportive as I have.

I'm holding back my judgment on Kerry a little longer, until I see what he does on Jan 6. Traveling out of country is not a good sign, but he could at least write a strong letter that Conyers could read on the floor of Congress. If there is nothing, then that's it. I'm done with him, giving him the benefit of the doubt again and again. He's no use in saving democracy in this country if he refuses to take a stand when it is hanging by a thread.

Thanks for the quotes; I especially like the George Washington one. Here's one for you:
"A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." --Edward R. Murrow

I look forward to reading more of your posts and exchanging more favorite quotes with you. We can pad each other's collections!