I'd REALLY STEAMED and am asking HELP from KERRYCRATS

[_dynamicdems]

An organization against the war in Iraq has the following statement on their Web site and NO mention of Kerry's Senate Resolution or his call to bring home the troops. I contacted them with updated information, including links and a copy of the MoveOn.org endorsement.

"On March 1, 2006, members of Military Families Speak Out, along with an Iraq Veteran Against the War, met with Senator John Kerry in Washington, DC, and delivered the following letters from MFSO members in Massachusetts. The military families were disappointed in Senator Kerry's unwillingness to show leadership and call for the troops to be brought home now."

I sent a long, detailed e-mail and included the entire text of his speech calling for the resolution with the two deadlines and this is the response I got.

Dear XXXX,

Thank you for writing to Mililtary Families Speak Out. MFSO now includes over 3,000 military families with loved ones currently in Iraq, those waiting to deploy or re-deploy, those who have been wounded, and those who died as a result of this unjust and unjustifiable war.

Our position is: end the war in Iraq, bring our troops home NOW and take care of them when they get here.

We are asking all Members of Congress and Senators to speak out to BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW. Today (Sunday) is the 1,117th day of a war that should never have happened. It is too late for 2,350 U.S. troops and tens of thousands of Iraqi children, women and men. It is not too late -- yet -- for many others. But every day counts.

There are measures in Congress that would end funding for the war in Iraq immediately, save the funds necessary to bring our troops home quickly and safely. There are other measures that we would characterize as "bring them home sometime...."

Many Members of Congress and Senators speak about "milestones." We see gravestones. And we have seen 2,350 too many of those for our troops.

It was wrong for the U.S. to invade Iraq; it is wrong for the U.S. to be occupying Iraq; and there is no right way to do a wrong thing.

We will continue to press for ALL Members of Congress and ALL Senators to end this war, bring our troops home now and take care of them when they get here. That's the leadership our troops, their families and this nation deserves, and that's the leadership we are looking for.

In Peace and Solidarity,
Nancy Lessin and Charley Richardson
for Military Families Speak Out
www.mfso.org
www.bringthemhomenow.org

PLEASE help out. Please write these people.

[TayTay]

1. I think they are in the process of changing their stand

Their home page is different today than it was last week. Last week the home page prominently listed the 'Letters to John Kerry' that Massachusetts members of MFSO had written to their home Senator. Those poignant and heartfelt letters are still on the site, but they are no longer prominent on the upper right hand side of the home page.

I believe a change is forthcoming from them.

[_dynamicdems]

7. I hope so. It should be interesting to see what Cindy Sheehan's

group has to say. She's been rather busy lately, but I'd be willing to be she notices his resolution. Let's see.

[Mass]

2. At least they are consistent and are talking about issues

They want out of Iraq NOW without qualifiers. Though I am sure they prefer Kerry's stance to Biden's or Clinton's or many other Dems, this is not what they are asking for.

I have a lot less issues with them than I have with people with an agenda that is linked to a candidate. I spent two minutes on GD and I saw more posts about how Kerry bailed out in 2004 and was aloof or whatever than I saw in months.

It is probably a good sign, but it is really stupid. Oppose Kerry on issues is fine by my book.

[TayTay]

3. Not only that, but I like the protests.

I think they are a voice (not the voice or all voices, but a voice) that should be heard and heard 'profoundly.'

[BlueIris]

4. :-)

[Mass]

5. I agree.

[_dynamicdems]

6. While I understand their goal, it is not very logical to ignore an

actual plan to get us our of Iraq. Senator Kerry's plan was ignored last year. This Senate Resolution will probably be ignored this year.

Their protests only serve to draw attention to the war, but the are not going to get anyone to stop the war in a single day. It is just not going to happen. There are reasons why it isn't and if they were to actually read his resolution (my guess is that they did not) they would understand this.

If groups such as this were to get on board with an actual plan, there might be some notice taken. To ignore Kerry's plan because it doesn't call for instantaneous withdrawal is not only unrealistic, but pretty much a cutting off nose to spite face tactic. When the VVAW protested Vietnam, John Kerry would absolutely have gotten on board with a plan that would have had us out of Vietnam in the same time frame. Are people just stupider now or is it simply the "do it my way or not at all syndrome"? If it is the latter, then they are as much a part of the problem as they are of the solution.

When a group such as this ignores a concrete, firm and realistic plan such as Senator Kerry's, they start to lose credibility in my book.

[TayTay]

8. I don't think they are ignoring it. I think they are re-evaluating.

There is nothing wrong with paying attention to this constituent with a genuine right to ask their government or governmental representative for a 'redress of greivances':

Dear Senator Kerry,

When my son joined the Army my entire family signed on too. We are blue collar people some of us living week to week but we all live every day wandering if our loved one will come back. You say you hear our voices and you say you feel my pain but you can't unless you walk in my shoes. My son Corporal Justin Spencer is a Cav. Scout in the US Army. He has already spent a year in Afghanistan. I almost lost my son in a Humvee accident and because of the grace of God his life was spared. He should be getting discharged from the Army this August but because of a STOP LOSS he may now go to Iraq. I spent a year while he was in Afghanistan wondering if he was ok and was his life constantly in danger. On my way home from work each night I would stop at the top of my street and freeze...praying when I turned the corner that someone from the Army wasn't waiting for me in my driveway to tell me my son was dead. Losing him would be unbearable, not knowing what for would kill me. Now I wait in limbo hoping to hear that the troops will be coming home soon. If they don't start coming home soon my son will go again and I'll go back to the place I had to live for a year. He will go because he has no choice. My choice is to live free or die.

Sincerely,

Joanne Spencer
MA

http://www.mfso.org/article.php?id=535

There is also nothing wrong, and many things right, with hearing that 'profoundly.' Not all criticism is bad. Some criticism is wonderful and should be listened to.

[_dynamicdems]

9. The letters are great and all legislators are (and should be)

getting them.

The problem that I have with the organization is this:

"On March 1, 2006, members of Military Families Speak Out, along with an Iraq Veteran Against the War, met with Senator John Kerry in Washington, DC, and delivered the following letters from MFSO members in Massachusetts. The military families were disappointed in Senator Kerry's unwillingness to show leadership and call for the troops to be brought home now."

The families met with Senator Kerry and that is great. Their letters no doubt had an impact on him.

He met with them. He listened. He's spoken out against the war and has a plan to bring the troops home.

I don't have a problem with the criticism as long as they are also willing to give credit where due.

I certainly hope they will have something positive to say about Senator Kerry's efforts and his fight.

[WildEyedLiberal]

11. I agree - protesting is meaningless if no viable solutions are endorsed.

All the protesting and redressing of grievances in the world doesn't really matter if you don't actually support a realistic solution. I'd take people a lot more seriously if they actually looked at the realistic options on the table for ending the war instead of continuing to blame those who actually are trying to bring the troops home for not bringing them home yesterday. There's a point at which endless protesting without bothering to look into viable solutions just amounts to people wanting to hear themselves make a fuss. I know there is a legitimate grievance there, and that's what makes this worse, IMO - this is a very real and serious issue and deserves more than self-righteous protests in support of unrealistic objectives.

[karynnj]

12. I think they may simply be unable to support anything

other than a call to leave today, which refects the intensity of their desire to end this war. If anyone in government understands that it has to be John Kerry. In the Q&A section of his Senate testimony he is asked about some of the Senators' plans - which he rejected, very politely but very strenuously.

What I would question is why their comments name Kerry rather than anyone else. Bush is the one with the power to change things instantaeously - Kerry can't. So, why Kerry and not any other Senator. They are demanding that he lead - which of course is what he is doing - just not entirely the way they want him to.

The difference between the 1971 and the 2006 Kerry is that while still intensely aware of the cost of war, the geopolitics of this area are different from Vietnam, so he is still trying to push for the diplomacy he sees as the only real answer to the problem.

I don't see that their support is that much a plus for Kerry. In fact, it might slightly hurt if it helped disquise the fact that Kerry's proposal is a serious suggestion, and not just out now. It is more important to get the diplomacy part of Kerry's proposal out there. (Both the Republicans and Biden are apparently distorting his plan as just withdrawal - probably for the same reason - to marginalize Kerry.)

In the end, I think most of these people likely see that Kerry cares and that he is closer to their position than anyone. If Kerry were President, he could deal with this in a far better way - implementing his ideas, which would bring down the chaos and the fighting - because he would work until he found a successful way. The problem is that he can't convince him that even in the case of staying till the end of the year, he is speaking of staying under very different circumstances. That this will likely not be implemented - unless the entire Arab world advocated for it and started the diplomacy themselves or if Bush thought it would be a way out of a bad situation - means it can neither be proved or diproved.

[TayTay]

18. I think that some protests are more meaningful than others

and can accelerate a call to conscience that is already there. I don't think it's an accident that the call to withdrawal came last week. I really don't.

I really don't think Sen. Kerry would mind this group doing what they do at all. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to find him meeting with them again real soon.

[TayTay]

10. Saugus, Mass solider killed in Iraq: Town mourns.

Massachusetts values that we maybe don't hear enough about:

Editorial: Saugus prepares to honor life of American hero

Friday, April 7, 2006

Saugus came together like never before in 2003 to cheer on the Saugus American Little League as it vied for a national title.

Monday and Tuesday, the town will come together again. And while this time for a solemn event - the wake and funeral of Scott Procopio - it will also be a time to celebrate the life of this American hero, a 20-year-old Marine corporal who understood the risks, yet didn't hesitate to volunteer for a second tour of duty in Iraq.

Procopio made the ultimate sacrifice for his country Sunday, just three weeks into his second tour when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb in Ramadi.

In the days since, Procopio's family, area veterans, the Marines, state and local police and town and school officials have been planning what may turn out to be the biggest funeral in this town's history. That may be a small comfort to his family and friends, but nevertheless a worthy tribute.

The War in Iraq is now in its third year and many of us at home have gone about our daily lives, perhaps with only passing thoughts about our men and women in uniform and inharm's way. It's when a young life is taken that the harsh reality of the war rushes back.

Saugus Superintendent Keith Manville said Thursday that the day of the funeral, Tuesday, the town's public schools will likely be closed. That would be a wise decision, as Scott Procopio's funeral will give students a lesson - of bravery, sacrifice, duty and honor - that could never be taught in a classroom.

And for all of us, Procopio's sacrifice - one that so many other American heroes have made before him - is a lesson best described by words spoken on an unknown date by an unknown defender of Khe Sanh, Vietnam: "To those who have defended it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never taste."

http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/news/view.bg?articleid=11780&format=text

[benny05]

13. Thanks for sharing

I saw his name on the In Memorium list on "This Week" yesterday. Devastating for Saugus.

[ProSense]

14. They're having a press conference tomorrow.

Cantwell and Sen. Kerry Reception
1 hour, 50 minutes ago

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Stacy Bannerman, 253-859-6465,or Ryan Fletcher 202-641-0277

News Advisory:

Families tell Senators "You Set Milestones, We See Gravestones"

On Tuesday, April 11 at 4 p.m. Military Families will gather to hold a press conference outside of a planned reception held by Senator Maria Cantwell for Senator John Kerry and Theresa Heinz Kerry. The families, who have loved ones serving in Iraq or who have returned from Iraq, will call on both Senators to do everything in their power to bring the troops home now. They will speak from first hand experience on having loved ones in harms way, in a war based on lies. Following the press conference the families will attend the reception to further remind the two Senators of their responsibility to soldiers and their families. The families will also wear arm bands with the current casualty count of 2,352.


WHO: Military Families Speak Out Press Conference outside reception with U.S. Senator John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry and Senator Maria Cantwell


WHEN: Tuesday, April 11 at 4 p.m. (Reception from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.)


WHERE: The Westin, 1900 5th Ave. South Seattle, Washington


For more information, go to: http://www.mfso.org


http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20060410/pl_usnw/military_families_to_hold_press_conference_outside_of_sen__cantwell_and_sen__kerry_reception112_xml

Realistic and logical, that's the stance everyone should take. Look at how many people were cheering Biden for saying what many others have said while trying to characterize Kerry's plan as immediate withdrawal.

When people say "out now," what does that mean? Provide a date, broadly, in months, and then everyone can determine if the approach is realistic. Even Murtha's plan, which was also characterized as immmediate withdrawal, called for a six to twelve month time frame.


Having said this, what is your vision of everything in their power?

[karynnj]

15. Everything within their power

is less than the organizers think it is. Even if the Senators went to the Senate floor every day and asked for time and demanded Bush issue an order that the soldiers return immediately, nothing would happen.

Oddly, by asking for what the organizers consider less acceptable, a sensible well balanced plan that tries to minimize American casualties while attempting to push for productive negotiations - there's a chance that if things get bad enough, Kerry's alternative plan (obviously with no credit) could be adpoted.

There are only 3 routes I can see where Kerry can have an impact:
1) Persuading Americans that his plan makes sense - increasing the % of people who are against Bush's program. This could make staying politicly harder.
2) Persuading the people around Bush that this is a way out - that assumes they want to get out.
3) Persuading leaders in our countries (UK, Arab countries etc - who would then press Bush to adopt the plan.

Having an impact with any of them is a long shot.

As to the protesters, I hope they make a distinction between Kerry who is really somewhat close and Hillary who they protested yesterday (or today) in RI. It sounds like they were invited to the event. It's nice that Teresa will be with them.

[TayTay]

16. Have a little faith here.

Who's your guy here?

How did he get his start in politics?

Have some patience and some faith. Let this play out because it is a good thing.

[karynnj]

17. I didn't mean it as negative - and I do see that

if there's any politician who can credibly lead a movement to create pressure for change it's John Kerry. My point was more that they see to be demanding immediate action - which isn't possible.

The biggest problem is thinking what could pressure Bush to doing this - he really seems in a bubble and he won't move. I do think his plan is brilliant.