Meet and Greet w/Harvard Dems: is anyone going?

[babylonsister]

Sounds like our dear senator is going to get an earful.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x625210

[Mass]

1. I dont think it will bother him

He likes to get input from people.

[karynnj]

2. I hope he at least gets credit for meeting with them

It would be interesting to see how this goes. I wonder what Kerry's position is now. I would assume that in stating a public position, part of the decision is what position might help the situation the most. He doesn't really have the power to change what happens in Iraq. If he joined them in demanding immediate withdrawal - it won't happen.

It's almost as if they are appealing to him to lead this effort. Harkin already has called for withdrawal.

[TayTay]

3. Sounds like a perfectly good thing to do.

These groups have earned the right to have a 'redress of grievances' from their elected representatives. These folks have suffered from the policies in Iraq and have suffered because of bad policies concerning the troops and their treatment.

This is what a real democracy looks like, people meet with their elected Senators, argue out what they fervently believe and then are free to protest when said Senator (or Rep) doesn't respond the way they want. That's democracy folks!

I hope it does bother Sen. Kerry. (Not the protest itself, but the sentiments behind it.) I hope he does pause and think about it. It's what he's supposed to do as a US Senator. (It's what the good ones do any way. The bad ones call dissent unpatriotic and run away.)

EDIT: Plus I think the situation bothers JK for all the reasons it bothers us. I think he is he is hoping for something specific to happen, but is starting to rethink this. I really do.

[babylonsister]

4. Great post, Tay Tay. Yes, they have the absolute right to

question remarks Sen. Kerry has made. Feeling somewhat protective, I hope he has answers that will satisfy them.

[karynnj]

5. Totally agree

It's great that he has been meeting with them. In 1971, Senators suggested various exit plans which he rejected for getting out immediately - but he did cause many to think. It was commendable that they met with him and he is in some way repaying that.

That Bush would never do what he has done 2 times already in meeting with these people, he is doing what he would likely recommend Bush do. I doubt they will change his view - I think the situation might be changing his view . But, as you said, it's important that he listen and speak to them. His history just makes the situation more interesting. There's a reason Sheehan came away not unhappy with him - his sincerity on these things is probably obvious.

I agree with Babylonsister that its protectiveness - we don't want people protestiing Kerry. But the truth is he is doing his job and deals beautifully with these things. They need this and Kerry really does care.

[whometense]

6. I could stroll over there after work,

but I don't think I will.

[TayTay]

7. Geez, I asked for questions to take to Sen. Kerry tomorrow in NH

Iraq and what he wants the US to do there was one that came up. I have the right to ask the Senator his thoughts on Iraq.

Why do people think that all JK people march in lockstep? (It just seems so obvious to me that we don't. That is a healthy thing.)

[Mass]

8. It is late tonight and probably time to go to bed, but I have to agree

with them at least partly.

More than the fact that he is not calling for an immediate withdrawal, it is the relative silence of Kerry (and most Democrats) on this issue that bothers me. I dont remember him having said anything significative on this issue since he has been back from Iraq in January.

In the last three months, the government has made a lot of mistakes and the Democrats have been very silent, and apart from Boxer's petition asking Bush for a plan, I dont remember anything having been said by the Democrats in the Senate that was not prompted by questions from reporters.

It is time for Kerry and others to become critical and vocal again. Things are really getting bad over there and they need to speak up. I understand the situation is probably the same it was in August with people wanting to speak and people wanting them to be silent (no clue where Kerry stands), but it is definitively time to speak, whatever Reid wants.

Just my daily rant.

Good night!

[TayTay]

10. I agree.

We did have two looks at Iraq from Sen. Kerry last year. The first was that speech at Georgetown in which he criticized the way the Bush Admin thought up, ran and have basically run away form their policies in Iraq. He proposed specific things to do to begin a withdrawal.

The second speech was an overview of the situation in the ME. This was the speech given at the Council on Foreign Relations in NYC in Dec. That speech dealt with diplomacy and how the US must enlist other nations and other interest groups in order to achieve an acceptable political situation in Iraq that will also enable a withdrawal of US troops.

The two speeches together are the most comprehensive things I have heard about Iraq from a Member of Congress. However, the situation in Iraq has worsened since Jan when Sen. Kerry was there. I think the national party doesn't want anyone to speak out on Iraq. I think they want to designate a speaker and a policy and not call attention to themselves unduly by offering up detailed plans. They are waiting for Bush to fully implode and, I think, they believe that they can just coast into office on those failures. I also believe this is wrong. The Democrats do have some answers that will help. They are not perfect answers and there will be unbearable pain in Iraq no matter what we do. But there are some things we have to start to do. Waiting for failure and for voters to just figure out that you are 'not the other guy' is not a good plan.

I sincerely hope that Senator Kerry does speak again on Iraq. I liked his prior statements. Perhaps he can deliver a speech in his home state where he could rightly address a home audience that has deep and troubling questions about this war. That is part of his job description, I should think and no one at the national level could ever object to that.

[karynnj]

11. We also can infer a bit of his view a few weeks ago

from his comments and questions to Rice. Ending with saying the fundamentals are getting worse and that we have a problem. (After getting in his little counter on no democracy ever started without an election. - Although living in Boston he has more reminders.)

[JI7]

9. this is another difference from the CHimpanzee and some Dems

Kerry understands it really is about the people. that HE owes it to them to listen to them.