JK's speech to the DLCC last Friday!!!

[kerrygoddess]

This speech got a lot of great press coverage... for those interested I have a copy of the speech on my blog:

The complete text of John Kerry’s speech to the DLCC, as prepared for delivery, follows:

“It’s great to be sharing thoughts with a group of public people who really know what the front lines are like. Thank you for the privilege of being here. I can’t thank you enough for your extraordinary efforts to help Teresa and me these last years. You showed guts and you sacrificed. You did everything: opened your living rooms – worked phone banks – raised money – knocked on doors – built crowds. You campaigned in your districts, states and in some cases across the country. You did everything, except move to Ohio.

“And while we came up short and that’s frustrating for all of us – the upside of what we did together should encourage everyone. Together, Democrats united to run the strongest grassroots campaign the party has seen for generations. We involved more volunteers in cities, towns and precincts across the country than any modern democratic effort.

“Up and down the ticket we won seats across the country – Chambers in New Jersey, Oregon and Vermont and other states – Democratic Governor in Montana, in New Hampshire, and here in Washington state, where we beat George Bush and elected a fantastic Democratic Governor, Christine Gregoire.

“And the reason we did this is because you and a lot of others came together and led in your communities, making grassroots work. But that’s not enough. Here’s the simple reality: we have to build on our work last year and create a sustainable grassroots organization for the Democratic Party across the country. Most important, we have to get our grassroots even better and we have to fight even harder for what we believe in. The last thing America needs is a second Republican party.

MORE & Links to Press Coverage - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=306#more-306

[karynnj]

1. KG, Thank You so much for posting the link to the whole speech

This really is a fantastic speech - I liked the excepts on CNN, but they really don't do justice to the whole speech. The clowns who said it was not really tough are either blinded by their hatred of Kerry or are so far gone that nothing but a very useless string of obscenities and the name Bush would have been praised.

If Dean or Clark would have given this same speech or even just paragraphs of it, they would have been praised to the heavens. This is harder hitting than any of Dean's speeches, while staying very issue or fact based, rather than falling into "I hate Republicans" nonsense that just backfires.

I see what TAY TAY means about it being a filled out version of the felt needs Boston speech. It has really gotten better over time. He really is addressing so many issues simultaneously. It also seems the root of so many problems in the Bush administration is that dishonesty and corruption is rampant, which places very nicely to Kerry's strengths of being a person who speaks the truth and as a fighter of corruption.

[ginnyinWI]

2. maybe part of some of the Left's resentment

is because Kerry doesn't pander to them. He just goes where he wants to and says what he wants to in his own way and doesn't just throw them a daily ration of "red meat"! And for that he has my continuing respect and gratitude! He's out there getting the real work done.

People should realize that politicians like Kerry have a different job than say, Air America or other leftwing media people. The former need to be building up the Democratic party by proposing good alternative ideas to the administration. That is their primary focus. The latter are the ones whose main job is to criticize the administration--and that tends to be more entertaining! But we need more than a series of people saying, "gotcha!", we need a strong party with well-defined policies. Otherwise we are just the "party of 'no'" like the Right says.

[karynnj]

3. We should be glad that he doesn't pander to them

It's not him. he resisted the extreme in the 60s as an anti-war spokesman, makng himself far more effective in the process. It's clear Nixon feared Kerry far more than Rubin, Hoffman and Hayden rolled up togther.

Not only is it not him, but it works very badly except to the fringe audience. They love when Dean shots off his mouth, ignoring that the MSM simply plays the outrageous statements (out of context) and "balances" with a Republican verbal response essentially shaking his head. It wins over no one and disheartens reasonable supporters.

[ginnyinWI]

5. exactly

He did appeal to moderates and independents in the election, despite the accusations from * that he was an out of touch liberal from MA. He got the most independent votes--the ones hardest to get.

[Mass]

6. This is another of many reasons Kerry is attractive for openmimded people

He does not pander to anybody. He says things like he sees them. It requires some thinking sometimes to see where he goes, but it is really nice to see somebody who does not think people are stupid.

[karynnj]

13. Which is why the poll driven comment on DU was

just stupid. That was true of Clinton, but not Kerry. That his strongest supporters include so many from MA is also reassuring - after 20+ years if you still trust him, he must be good. I wonder if the reason he did so well in the Iowa caucus is that you met so many people for long enough, that the arrogance of some candidates became obvious.

[TayTay]

4. Thanks for the nod, Karynnj

The speech, and the message behind it, have gotten much, much better since April. I think of the speeches earlier this year as a sort of snapshot of what he was thinking at that time. He has refined his presentations (and dropped saying, overtly, 'felt needs' but I like it as a sort of short-hand.) Senator Kerry has tried to remind Dems of who they are and what they stand for and why they need to fight even harder against this group of lying, corrupt, head-in-the-sand people that currently are holding the USA hostage.

You can see it, right? (Sometimes I think I'm crazy and am not seeing what I think I'm seeing. You see it right? Kerry is not going to be goaded into a useless discussion of what went wrong last year. He is going to concentrate and focus on what can be done going forward and how to present the Democratic Message to the American people. This is a far more worthy discussion than useless navel-gazing and the Democratic circle-jerk that we are getting now. But I don't think my greatly esteemed Jr. Senator would use that language. But I bet he's thinking it.)

Look at the letter on Veteran's Benefits today. That Friggin Idiot has the balls to show up and address the VFW. How dare this bastard, who has done more than any President in American History to undermine and destroy the structure, morale and effectiveness of our military, show up at the VFW and pretend that he is a friend to the troops. I am so glad Sen. Kerry sent out that letter (and I even ventured out and posted in KG's thread in GD - P in defense. I was my usual charming, reserved, aloof and proper Bostonian self. Honest.)

[Island Blue]

7. I think Sen. Kerry is definitely looking forward, not back

I think he has been since the minute he stepped back onto the Senate floor in January. He's never once displayed one moment of public self-pity (must be that proper Bostonian thang). Never once have I heard him try to pin the blame on coming up short on anyone but himself.

Weather the far left (or right) wants to admit it or not, John Kerry IS the leader of the Democratic Party at the moment. He might not be the one who makes the talk show rounds every Sunday morning, but he is the one who continues to speak to and LISTEN TO the American people. I think the process of campaigning last year really had a profound effect on JK. I think he better understands the struggles of everyday Americans.

[TayTay]

8. I think it's a Red Sox fan thing

Up until very, very recently, Red Sox fans had to learn to get up from a disappointing fall, brood for a while, then wake up one January morning and decide that , f*ck it, I'm so over last year. I can't wait for Spring Training and another chance to get back in and mix it up. (We were insane people, clearly. Isn't the definition of insanity a person who does the same damn thing, but expects different results?))

Hey, every so often, miracles happen. Of course aiding and abetting miracles by preparing yourself, working yourself to the bone and being consistent and on-message is a great way to prepare for miracles, in my book.

But, all in all, he sounds like a Red Sox fan. (Before the Rapture happened last fall. Post-Rapture we are cocky, a smidge less introspective and almost-sort of-nearly certain, up to a point, but with reservations and severe doubts that the Red Sox have a chance this year. Thank Gawd they are in first place. I am a true-believer, because of the Rapture, and I anticipate a September of biting my fingernails and worrying. Same as last year, but with more gusto and a little less heartburn.)

From "Casey's Revenge"

by Grantland Rice ©
http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_case2.shtml

"The lane is long, some one has said, that never turns again,
And Fate, though fickle, often gives another chance to men;
And Casey smiled; his rugged face no longer wore a frown-
The pitcher who had started all the trouble came to town."

[Island Blue]

10. I'm familiar with the definition of insanity

I'm a University of South Carolina Gamecock fan (graduated from USC) and every Saturday in the fall the Gamecocks pack 80,000+ into their football stadium, and more Saturdays than not, they loose. Folks just keep comin' though expecting them to win. Of course I don't know this for sure because I don't live there now, but I bet that most people in the state of SC (Gamecock fans anyway) would gladly vote for John Kerry if it meant a National Championship. Those two things combined would truly be a miracle.

[ginnyinWI]

9. On NPR "Talk of the Nation", I heard today

that the Democratic party has no leadership, no message, is only a party of "no"! The administration is failing, and the other side has no way to pick up on it and capitalize on it. I was so mad I had to turn it off. I suspect that NPR is being leaned on by conservative forces, or else our message is truly not getting out.

Kerry is out there speaking, as are others like Harry Reid, Howard Dean, Russ Feingold. I don't know what they expect them to do--without a majority in any body, how are they going to call for hearings or anything? I think as Nov. 2006 gets closer we are going to see them speaking louder and more often.

It is mainly, I think, up to good journalists (an endangered species), and "we the people", in the form of public protests, to really bring nation to a public discussion about this war, this president, this administration and what to do next. And this is happening. Kerry said not long ago that the people have to speak out--and now they really are. It's not only up to our leadership. The people have a whole lot of power too!

[Island Blue]

12. Wasn't "party of no" (in reference to Democrats)

a right wing talking point a few months back when Social Security was the big issue? Are they still using that one?

You make a good point - the people do have a whole lot of power. It's much easier for the media to ignore the voice of one politician than it is for them to ignore the voices of thousands of angry citizens. Hopefully things will change for the better in '06 and our political leaders can put into action the things they have been talking about all along.

[karynnj]

14. You've actually done a remarkable job

predicting where he is going from your view of where he is. I'm impressed.

It is interesting that Kerry really is responding, usually before the fact, to Bush's major policy stuff. The shadow appearing before the figure is interesting. It allows Bush to steal Kerry's ideas - but he will still have proposed it first and it would likely benefit the country. I hope Bush's attempt to sell his actions in Iraq meet with the same response he got when he tried to sell his SS plan. Judging from the defensiveness of the RW, he's scared.

While driving to get college stuff, in a curious (or masochistic) mode, I put a right wing station on. Hannity was really coming down on Hagel - even calling him a Democrat (horrors!) and saying he was hurting the war effort of the President to satisfy his own ego. He went on a bizarre ramble about how the same people who tried to destroy the country in the sixties were at it again - he listed Fonda, Kerry and Kennedy, and the Clintons - but the real heros were those who volunteered to fight for their country and this time because of talk radio the lefties won't be able to win. (Seeing that he was attacking Hagel and listed Kerry - he seems to have forgotten that they actually did fight.)

He also talked about how well Iraq was doing - everything from phone lines, cell phones, air conditioners, water treatment plants. Everything was becoming so much better if only the liberal media would report it. Bhagdad Bob had nothing on Sean for making up news! It did sound like they were frantic

[ginnyinWI]

16. Frantic--the key word

Just before the election I happened to put Rush on in the car, and he was the same way--frantic. He bounced from one accusation to another irrationally--Kerry was French, Theresa was elite and foreign, and on and on--it was hilarious and put me in a really great mood. They were certainly very very worried about the outcome of the election, and rightly so. Everyone felt that Kerry had it all locked up.

[ginnyinWI]

11. IFK blog gives Kerry kudos

check this out--it will make you smile:

Kerry Understands How Dems Will Win in 2006
Say what you will about John Kerry, but he gets it. He understands what the dems need to do to win in 2006 and beyond. He realizes the Democratic Party will always face an uphill battle unless they organize year around and build the party at the state level. I fully agree. Obviously having Dean as the party chair should help in this regard. In the past too much emphasis was placed on fundraising and little to organizing and building the party and promoting its message.

One of my biggest issues in 2004 was how the democratic party was so unorganized at the state level and Kerry's team had to scramble to get fully up to speed with less than 6 months to organize a national campaign. Local organizers weren't plugged in to national and vice versa. Voter lists were pathetically lacking. There was duplication of much work and outsourcing of other important grassroots work to groups like ACT,who couldn't actually promote Kerry (or any candidate) by name because they were restricted by campaign laws. Face facts: the Republicans did a better job of reaching their target audience (and getting out the vote) in certain battle ground states.

Like Kerry I also don't believe dems need to run away from their values and ideas or try to rebrand themselves. While others like Biden and Hillary are trying their best to sound tough, positioning themselves to the right, I think Kerry's common sense approach and priorities for America's future have much more potential in the long run.

Here are two articles from Kerry's recent stop at a Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee luncheon in Seattle where he lays out his commitment to building the state parties and building on the grassroots support from the last election.

http://ifk-johnkerry.blogspot.com/

[kerrygoddess]

15. Glad to see everyone enjoyed!

Kerry On!