Sen Kerry speech starting now on C-Span I

[globalvillage]

KG has the text here for those who like to follow along.

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=2723

Senator John Kerry
“Dissent”
Faneuil Hall
April 22, 2006

Thirty-five years ago today, I testified before the Foreign Relations Committee of the United States Senate, and called for an end to the war I had returned from fighting not long before.

It was 1971 – twelve years after the first American died in what was then South Vietnam, seven years after Lyndon Johnson seized on a small and contrived incident in the Tonkin Gulf to launch a full-scale war—and three years after Richard Nixon was elected president on the promise of a secret plan for peace. We didn’t know it at the time, but four more years of the War in Vietnam still lay ahead. These were years in which the Nixon administration lied and broke the law—and claimed it was prolonging war to protect our troops as they withdrew—years that ultimately ended only when politicians in Washington decided they would settle for a “decent interval” between the departure of our forces and the inevitable fall of Saigon.

I know that some active duty service members, some veterans, and certainly some politicians scorned those of us who spoke out, suggesting our actions failed to “support the troops”—which to them meant continuing to support the war, or at least keeping our mouths shut. Indeed, some of those critics said the same thing just two years ago during the presidential campaign.

more...

[Sydnie]

1. they sure are taking their time getting to it

enough with the commercials for C-SPAN ... get to the good stuff already!

[babylonsister]

2. Someone found a brain over there? I can't wait! nt

[globalvillage]

4. I hear this Powers guy was good. n/t

[Sydnie]

3. Good. They are going to show Powers speech too nt

[globalvillage]

5. You were at the speech, weren't you, sydnie? n/t

[Sydnie]

6. Yes

those three lonely claps before the crowd joined in (in the first applause) was me! It was way too quiet in that room and after that ... it was not quiet anymore!

[globalvillage]

7. .

:yourock:

[babylonsister]

8. Our Sydnie, warming up the crowd! Yes! And thanks! nt

[sandnsea]

9. Capt Powers is doing quite good too

I love watching the speech in that infamous Hall. It's awesome.

[globalvillage]

10. Mrs Keyes. "Where is the leadership?'

"Then, as now, those leaders are not in the WH"
Good crowd reaction.

[sandnsea]

11. Judy Droz is good too!!

I'd never heard her speak before. She's a very powerful woman. Good speaker.

[globalvillage]

14. Excellent. n/t

[LSK]

12. got it on and the VCR is recording it

Is that the hall where he conceded in 2004?

[Sydnie]

13. That was my daughter and I stand on the left

when Keyes was speaking and they panned the crowd. She has on a light blue sweatshirt and I have an orange scrunchie in my hair and a blue jacket on.

I stood quiet often all by myself. But I don't mind. The speech MOVED ME!

[globalvillage]

16. Big standing O for the Senator!

[babylonsister]

15. Here we go, and the crowd goes wild!!! nt

[globalvillage]

18. Again, standing O

It's the home crowd, but still...

[_dynamicdems]

17. This is great. They didn't cut the pre-speeches. I'm really happy to

be able to listen to the speeches by Johathan Powers and Judith Droz Keyes.

[babylonsister]

19. I love Senator Kerry all over again; "time for truth". nt

[YvonneCa]

69. Me, too. n/t

[LSK]

20. damn, hes on This Week (ABC) right now too

[globalvillage]

21. Is he on right now?

[LSK]

23. yes - in Chicago

I thought this would happen, thats why Im taping CSPAN

[globalvillage]

24. Here, too

I switched. He's doing great on "this week"

[babylonsister]

22. This speech is a barn burner and is supposed to be on tonight

as well. Decisions...:)

[H2O Man]

25. It's very good.....

this is the John Kerry that reminds me of the young man 35 years ago.

[seabeyond]

27. a clue in. during every kerry speech i hear excellent, kick ass

he is so good, so presidential. if only he did this in past, if only he did this in other speeches, yet i hear this every speech the man makes. it just seems like people forget from one speech to the next speech that every time the man speaks we are all so thrilled, or impressed, or longing he had won, or or or

[LSK]

29. yeah I know what you mean

[H2O Man]

32. I respectfully disagree.

I thought Kerry was unimpressive in the early democratic primary season; got in gear to win the nomination; and then was not particularly strong for much of the campaign versus Bush. I'm not big on the "careful candidate Kerry." This is the guy I like -- and I think this is the authentic John Kerry.

[LSK]

37. you have a point, but this is the Kerry I have seen since 2004

His campaign staff must have really supressed him badly. I hope he puts it all on the line next time he runs.

[seabeyond]

38. not strong vs bush. for real. wow that one knocked me on my butt

hard and fast. i just dont get that one. at no point was bush strong. like today he had the media and fellow repugs say how strong he was/is, but that doesn't make it true. total illusion. smoke and mirror. and people would buy it cause they wanted to buy it. but again, certainly wasn't because it was true. at bush's finest where he didn't make a fool of himself, he wasn't strong. kerry's very worst, he wasn't ever the foolish incompetent bush was.

[H2O Man]

43. Perhaps you felt

that Kerry responded to the "swift boat liars" in a strong and timely manner. As far as your thoughts on Bush being strong, I'm not sure what that is about. I have never said Bush was strong. I was talking about Kerry.

[seabeyond]

46. not particularly strong for much of the campaign versus Bush.

this is where i got the idea you were syaing bush was stronger than kerry.

and good of you to totally change what we are talking about to something totally out of blue like my perception of kerry's handling of smear boat,.... iwthout me having said a word. you psychic....? i wonder. or jsut a story teller to win your argument/

i totally know and understand and comprehend all that happened with swiftboat and it isnt a small sentence.... if you want to discuss that part of the campaign, i am on it. but really, we werent talking about that were we?

[H2O Man]

60. Hopefully you have

the capacity to distinguish between Kerry and Bush. My saying that Kerry wasn't particularly strong in much of the campaign versus Bush is distinct from what Bush was. Perhaps you don't grasp that, which would explain you being knocked on your hind-parts.

You brought up the part about Bush's strength. That belongs to you, and you alone.

You also disagreed with my saying Kerry wasn't particularly strong. I mentioned the most glaring, easily identified example that many democrats found frustrating. Perhaps you found Kerry's response strong and timely, perhaps not. The key word that seems to have escaped you is "perhaps." That is perhaps another cause for your lack of balance.

[seabeyond]

64. diss me all the way thru you lecture, lol lol and what maybe i will

succumb. what is this. must all disagreement entail dissing a person to win argument. obviously i have the capacity to distinguish the two men, i wondered about your ability. i just simply disagree with you assessment. i brought up the illusion created about bush strength and what does that have to do with belonging to me and me alone. are you really suggesting this didn't happen. a perception of bush being strong when all clear evidence pointed to exactly the opposite.

and yes i do disagree with you saying kerry wasn't strong. so what. we disagree. i strongly. i know there were dems that agree with you. i believe they bought into it like they bought into the kerry flip flop, though i didn't agree with that. or kerry not having a plan, though i dont agree with that.

and perhaps, you aren't particularly fond of kerry, or perhaps you weren't impressed with kerry, and perhaps that has colored your view of kerry and perhaps that has caused you to not be so awfully balanced.

i guess i am just not way impressed with you style of disagreeing. instead of going to the subject at hand, discussing me as if you know a single thing about me any what i am think or believe. ????

anyway h20, i guess your op was that you liked? this speech. good on you. glad you enjoyed.

[Sydnie]

40. I saw him speak several times during the campaign live

and this IS the man that showed up to speak. It's a shame that every speech he gave during the campaign did not get coverage as did blivet**.

Live, this is the man that shows up. and I agree .... I LIKE this man.

[LSK]

41. they were different speeches because it focused on other things

This speech is solely on Iraq and foreign policy. In his campaign stops he had to cover everything and maybe a condensed speech on multiple topics does not come off as powerful.

Some of his campaign speeches are available in the CSPAN archives.

[seabeyond]

44. me too. i listened to his speeches any time i could find it

and i like each and every one of them. the words weren't too big for me, like media and repugs wanted to pretend. he wasn't too nuanced for me. he clearly said in simple sentences what he represented. it was total fable time. bush strong and clear (incompetent and unable and muddled and fuzzy) no plan flip flopping kerry ( 20 minute laid out plan on iraq, small business, education, and health care, simple as pie and articulate)?????

listening to the two different descriptions of these men as i listened to the two had me turn ff news and haven't turned it back on.

[Tuesday_Morning]

73. That was my experience too

I saw him speak twice during the campaign. He was dynamic, smart and every bit the leader.

[_dynamicdems]

61. Kerry wasn't always in top form early in the campaign because he was

recovering from cancer. He went out on the campaign trail earlier than his doctor ordered and he looked sickly. He didn't have the punch or the vigor that he usually does. The media honed in on that and deliberately showed some very nasty photos of the man when he looked pretty horrible. A friend just commented recently that the whole BotoxBS was probably designed to get the Kerry campaign to bring up the cancer issue. That would have given the opposition a green light to talk about the senator's cancer, which would have otherwise seemed inappropriate.

I saw him later in the campaign and he was terrific. He was on the mark and very powerful when he spoke. He was very inspiring and the crowd cheered and shouted. Many people had tears in their eyes when he spoke. This WAS in 2004, but this was NEVER reported on the news. The would take the worst snippets they could find or the worst photos they could get and put those on television. Often they didn't even show his speeches but would paraphrase select parts of his speeches with a demeaning slant.

It was heartbreaking for someone who actually attended some pretty Kickass 2004 speeches. I'll tell you, the whore media did a hatchet job of the first order. I'd rant at the television and call them lying bastards until my family thought I was ready for a straight jacket.

[seabeyond]

67. there were some dems that said kerry was weak..... there was A LOT

of dems that thought kerry was kick ass and the closer and closer election day came, the more impressed A LOT of people were with kerry. those people cannot be dismissed just cause

i could remember seeing huge ass turn outs for kerry. and the people were jazzed. and media, would pan a small shot and say not much excitement, just flat out lies. then i would hear people at the things saying how energized adn what a wonderful feeling adn how good kerry and edwards and the wives were.


on edit: i can remember a particular time tweety adn others talking about kerry saying that the dems were only voting ofr the man be anybody but bush bullshit. that was a dem campaign thing clear back in 2002 and 2003. but once people got to know kerry that was not the case. they promoted that clear to the end. and dem mouths would get on and confirm. piss me off hearing that on tv. i liked kerry. was not anything but bush. was alright, go kerry. want you as pres.

[_dynamicdems]

77. That was one of the most difficult things to endure during the campaign:

being denied by the MSM. I would go to these events and the outpouring of love and support for JOHN KERRY, not for ABB, was incredible. It was energizing and inspiring and then some puke on television would totally distort what happened.

[YvonneCa]

70. You bet, it is! n/t

[karynnj]

98. Did you watch any of the rallies on CSPAN

in the fall - he was great. There was almost NO unfiltered media coverage.

If Kerry was unimpressive in the early primary season how did he win. He was never a party or media favorite.

[EFerrari]

26. This is the best speech I've heard him give, I think. n/t

[burythehatchet]

57. At the risk of being labeled a freeper

I'll hide my comment under yours.:)
When you type something in MS Word, there is a tool called the Flesh-Kincaid reading scale. It measures the grade level of the text. When I write something that reaches the high end of the scale, 12th grade, I know I have to rewrite the text because most people are going to read it and lose interest in the message.

This is precisely John Kerry's problem. He is weak campaigning because he simply cannot, or will not "dumb it down for the average Joe. His message could not be more accurate and pertinent, but if Joe can't listen to him because it makes Joe feel stupid, the message is lost on everyone except intellctual people who can follow what he's saying.

I watched his speech on the SPAN and realized, once again, what he says is the right thing, but he still cannot say it in American. He speaks English. Popular politicians speak in American. Somewhere between Kerry's style and "I'm the decider" lies a way of speaking that will connect with the public. Al Gore has figured that out, that's why he has won over so many people.

[seabeyond]

71. "dumb it down for the average Joe.

i hear your argument here. i know what you are saying. i cannot disagree more. i am sorry kerry cannot be dumb enough for the dumb. well no i am not sorry. i dont want a president that is even that capable of being that dumb, hence bush. i cannot condone dumbing down. it is the feeding and spiraling of dumbing all of us down. that i and my boys see as so excessive in their school environment. we have just got to stop this dumbing down of america, firstly. i dont want to be a contributor to that

but secondly, you are asking for someone other than kerry. it is like asking bush to be smart and articulate. he is not. cannot be. you are asking something of kerry that he isn't. not going to get it. it is like asking him to be charismatic like clinton. again he isn't clinton. but then clinton isn't kerry either.

[burythehatchet]

78. There is a way to be smart

without telling your audience how smart you are.

There is a way to construct a sentence that is meaningful without throwing in a half dozen prepositions. If a sentence has twelve commas in it, its not really going to reach as many people as one would hope.

[seabeyond]

80. i agree to disagree. it is like all the changing of gore to make him more

oh what the people can handle. doesnt work making someone something they are not..... wont work to ask kerry to dumb himself down.

and i dont believe in dumbing down. i dont think that is what the problem was anyway. a lot of factors come into play before this. further i say that kerry has simplified his message so to simple sentence and people still bitch. so i dont think the bitching is even about that

[burythehatchet]

82. It was unfortunate of me to use the phrase "dumbing down"

because you seem to have gotten hold of that without trying to understand the point.

[seabeyond]

83. i DO understand your point. i DONT agree with you.

i DONT think that people cannot understand kerry. i dont think he is hard to understand even for someone with just a high school education like myself. i am pretty sure any college graduate can understand the words kerry uses. i dont agree with the basis of your problem. i dont htink the problem is they dont understand. i think they just use that to diss the man and it is bullshit. so for him to (think think think, owrd other than dumb down. well i used simplify) simplify his message isnt going to do any good either they will still say he is too nuanced because that is what they have pinned on him and that is what they are going ot use on him whether it is true or not.

same as gore liar. they judge lying in the presidential debates. bush 13 flat out lies. gore one exaggeration of truth. gore still was stuck with lying even though he didnt lie. bush still was called a straight shooter and good christian man even though he lied and all evidence showed he did not live the good christian life

so

simply

i dont agree with you

[burythehatchet]

81. Here's an example....

I took the first few paragraphs of Kerry's Faneuil Hall speeach, and applied the reading level analysis. Here are the results:

Reading Ease: 45
Grade Level: 15.2


...and here is an explanatino of those stats.

READING EASE
Rates text on a 100-point scale; the higher the score, the easier it is to understand the document. For most standard documents, aim for a score of approximately 60 to 70.

The formula for the Flesch Reading Ease score is:

206.835 – (1.015 x ASL) – (84.6 x ASW)

where:

ASL = average sentence length (the number of words divided by the number of sentences)

ASW = average number of syllables per word (the number of syllables divided by the number of words)



GRADE LEVEL
Rates text on a U.S. school grade level. For example, a score of 8.0 means that an eighth grader can understand the document. For most documents, aim for a score of approximately 7.0 to 8.0.

The formula for the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score is:

(.39 x ASL) + (11.8 x ASW) – 15.59

where:

ASL = average sentence length (the number of words divided by the number of sentences)

ASW = average number of syllables per word (the number of syllables divided by the number of words)

[seabeyond]

84. bah hahahah. after my post above, lol i read this

interesting. but that is about all i can say with this. i really do not have a problem with understanding what kerry says. seems simple as pie to me. i must be well beyond grade 15.....

[fedupinBushcountry]

72. Yep

to bad so many Americans are so stupid. But I myself being a high school graduate got everything he said, and he said it eloquently and forcefully. To bad you want to be grouped with Americans that don't want to think and comprehend.

I hate Bush speak, it is low and demoralizing to anyone's intellect. I'm tired of living in a stupid, one word, one phrase America. That attitude has taken us down a dangerous path, and this mother of 3 and wife of a retired military man, will not let America continue to reign on stupidness and catch phrases, that is not what I want in our leaders, I want the real man, the real words and the real explanations, and if I have to educate people on that, then bring them on.

[burythehatchet]

79. Here are two sentences, each saying the same thing:

Grade level 5-8: Families often find it hard to follow treatment recommendations. They are short of time. They may also doubt their skills.

Grade level >12.0: Adhering to treatment recommendations is often fraught with difficulties, for families have a multitude of scheduling commitments, and may also be highly insecure about their abilities.

http://www.informatics-review.com/FAQ/reading.html

The reading level of the average American adult is 7th grade.

I really don't know what that has to do with "stupidness and catch phrases, that is not what I want in our leaders, I want the real man, the real words and the real explanations". And, as you say, "if I have to educate people on that, then bring them on", I would say best of luck and let me know if I can help you do that before the 2080 election cycle.

[seabeyond]

87. good example. i see what you are saying

still #2 waS EASY. lol.

[seabeyond]

88. lol lol looking at those two sentences

and how i really just do not see a difficulty difference in the two, reminds me of my brother that tells me this house is just too intellectual. (i am suppose to do something about that. my son is suppose to be a kid, not read adult books) and brother has said i use tooooo big of words. i have heard this before, people saying they dont understand. color me purple......

you have me thinking.

[burythehatchet]

89. OK, I looked up a speech that I think was

one of the greates I ever heard. It was by one of my favorite Democrats, Mario Cuomo, and the speech was at the 84 Dem convention. The speech is here if you want to read it: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/cuomo1984dnc.htm

I ran the stats on that speach and here are the results:
Reading Ease: 64.7
Grade Level: 8.6

You and I and most educated people find Kerry easy to understand, but we don't make up the majority. As I said in another post the average reading level of adult Americans is 7th grade. My pont is that Kerry could say the same thing and reach more people.

[fedupinBushcountry]

91. It may be hard

but I'm willing.

[seabeyond]

85. see as a high school graduate, and a mother of two

i couldnt agree with you more. bush doesnt and hasnt said anything in 5 years. the only reason he gets by with his 3 word press speeches, mission is (lol) accomplished. ok that on was really two,.... is cause media lets him off the hook and doesnt go after him, but praises him. whereas kerry gives a detailed plan, which takes words and he is dismissed as boring. or nuanced. adn doesnt have a plan. he would never get away with a three word plan

and i too am tired of kids in school being proud of being stupid, and my boys ridiculed because they value academics

[fedupinBushcountry]

94. My oldest

was very smart, but as a freshman in high school it wasn't cool to be smart. So he started down the wrong path, I saw this by the friends he kept, luckily he played baseball and had to have the grades to continue.

He started down a slippery road, but luckily he pulled himself back, with a little help from this tough love Mom (my husband was in the military and gone a lot so I was both Mom and Dad a lot). He realized that he wanted to do well and become what he wanted to become, not follow the crowd.

He is a high school History teacher today, and he loves his job, and more importantly his students really like him, he is very straight foward with them, because he has been there done that.

[ProSense]

86. Kerry's speeches,

including his acceptance speech and the one yesterday, are well-received.

Rating Kerry's and Bush's Convention Speeches

Gallup's convention polling this year finds few differences in the public's overall ratings of Kerry's and Bush's acceptance speeches at their respective parties' conventions. A slight majority of Americans, 52%, rated Kerry's speech at the Democratic convention as excellent (25%) or good (27%), while just about half of all Americans rated Bush's speech at the Republican convention as excellent (22%) or good (27%). About one in five adults nationwide rated both speeches as "just okay," and fewer than 1 in 10 said the speeches were "poor" or "terrible."

Again, partisan viewpoints make a big difference in ratings of the acceptance speeches. Eighty-one percent of Democrats rated Kerry's acceptance speech as excellent or good, compared with 52% of independents and 22% of Republicans. Seventy-seven percent of Republicans rated Bush's speech positively, while 42% of independents and 24% of Democrats shared that point of view.

How Did the Conventions Affect Americans' Vote Choice?

When Americans were asked if the conventions made them more likely or less likely to vote for the candidates, Gallup found that Kerry fared slightly better than Bush. After the Democratic convention, 44% of Americans said they were more likely to vote for Kerry, while 30% said they were less likely and 18% voluntarily responded that it didn't make much difference. Polling after the GOP convention found 41% of Americans saying they were more likely to vote for Bush, 38% saying they were less likely, and 18% saying it made no difference.

Following the Democratic convention, 76% of Democrats said they were more likely to vote for Kerry as a result of that convention, compared with 45% of independents and just 11% of Republicans who felt that way. After the Republican convention, the results were essentially the reverse. Seventy-seven percent of Republicans said they were more likely to vote for Bush as a result of the convention, compared with 33% of independents and 8% of Democrats.

http://poll.gallup.com/content/default.aspx?ci=10021&VERSION=p

It also shows there are/were a lot of kool-aid drinkers in this country, because the convention speeches are independent of the other candidate.



Kerry won 48.3% of the popular vote, compared to Al Gore's 48.4%. Also, Kerry received 59 million plus votes, more than any Democratic candidate in history.

[EFerrari]

75. LOL! I know what you mean I think. There's been a wave

of popular anti-intellectualism rolling out since St. Ronnie of the death squads I think. Before then, people seemed to enjoy hearing English because it made them feel included by smart people or something.

Mr. I'm Mr. Pointer has made it tough for English teachers everywhere.

[Mass]

93. Do you realize how your post is totally elitist.

I am happy Gore does not do what you describe, but I can assure you the average Joe who wants to listen understands perfectly Kerry. Only elitists or people who feel themselves sooooo superior to others dont (sad but true).

[burythehatchet]

97. I'll make you a deal

I will accept any label that works for you , if you make an honest attempt to refute the content of my posts in this sub-thread.

[Mass]

100. What? That the average Joe cannot understand what Kerry says?

Do you know an average Joe? From your post, you seem to be an intellectual who never gets out of academic circles.

Actually, I know people who are average joes with no more than a high school diplomas and who have no problem to understand him when they listen. The only problem is that they cant listen because our media people have decided that they would not be interested because they are too stupid to understand what he says.

[burythehatchet]

101. ok, never mind

[karynnj]

99. Did you actually put Kerry's text through the analysis?

I find Kerry's words very easy to understand. I really don't think that Gore's sentences are sigificantly different. Kerry's delivery of speeches is far better than Gore's. Also remember Kerry won his debates with Bush as measured by the various pollsters, suggesting his regular speech is as understandable.

There are many reasons for liking Gore or listing qualities that show he would be an excellent President, but his speaking skills are very low on that list - I admired Gore and voted for him, but I seriously didn't like the tone (talking to 4th graders) he took. Kerry is one of the most eloquent people of his generation. You have to remember that some who say they don't "understand" him, never listened.

[wildflowergardener]

102. speech - dumbing down

I think one question you might ask before talking about Kerry dumbing down his speech, is who is listening to them? I wonder if it isn't the ones who are just really interested in politics who are listening to them. I really like his speeches.

A co-worker during the election had decided he didn't like Kerry after not hearing any of his speeches - probably just going by what he saw of him on the main stream media in bits and pieces. I think alot of how a candidate is perceived is how much coverage they are given and what parts are chosen to be shown.

At this point after having dumb, don't you think alot of people would be glad to have someone who sounds smart? They might be thinking maybe like-able isn't the only thing I should be looking for after the mess Bush has made of things.

Meg

[globalvillage]

28. OK, back to C-Span.

He was good on "This Week"

[LSK]

30. same here

[LSK]

31. speeches like this should be on primetime on all networks

Yet today we live in a society where stupidass reality TV junk is on primetime and issues that shape our world today are pushed to repeats on cable on Sunday morning.

[globalvillage]

33. But

then how would we keep up with Tom and Katie?

[babylonsister]

34. You are SO right, LSK! Can you imagine if every American could

hear this? We think the tide is turning? It'd be a tsunami!

[Daphne08]

39. I was just thinking the same thing!

[IndyOp]

35. It is on again today at 5:00 pm Eastern!

4:59 PM EDT

Speech: War in Iraq
U.S. Senate, Kerry, J. (D-MA)
Judy Droz Keyes

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[k j]

36. We are all called

There is a call to adventure in all of our lives, and how, and if, we respond to that call can define the course of our lives.

John Kerry is calling for a force to counter the “stubborn pride, incompetence and self-deception” as the BEST way to support American troops. Many of us have already answered that call and we’re ready, seasoned and on the path, together.

We are where we are. There is only the path ahead. There is only “the next right thing” in front of us to do.

THANK YOU, JOHN!

[_dynamicdems]

63. I agree. It was both a wake-up call and a call to action.

Senator Kerry is rousing the troops. The fight is now. The biggest battle we will ever face isn't against foreign terrorism, it's against domestic terrorism by our own government. In November 2006 we have to take back our democracy or all is lost. People need to wake up and realize this. If every person would just listen to this speech and listen to the voices in the crowd maybe they would understand that this isn't just "politics" as usual. We are fighting for our very existence. Just like Rome, implosion from within is a greater danger to a democracy than is any military threat.

I'm cynical about our media and am afraid they will downplay both the speech and the message of the speech. If it gets any mention, I'm afraid it will be that "Kerry attacks Bush Administration." We need to get the message out through grassroots efforts and that message is NOT "Kerry 2008" as much as I personally would like to see that. If we do not get the message out that the bastards in control of our country are destroying the truth and the values our country is based on, 2008 might be too late for any hope of salvation. We were lied to in 1971 and it is happening again, 35 years later. Little, power-hungry chickenhawks have once again screwed us over. People are dying and so is our democracy.

[globalvillage]

42. "It is time for us to go."

Tell it, JK!

[_dynamicdems]

65. AMEN! He also used the "L" word...quite emphatically! BRAVO!

"...and the outright LIES that it broadcast." (Referring to the administration.)

[DemReadingDU]

45. Excellent speech!

Kerry needs to run in 2008. So many in the country are waking up and listening to what he has to say.

[globalvillage]

47. Patriotism does not belong to those who defend the president's position

it belongs to those who defend the country.

[ProSense]

76. Excellent quote!

That got a "dayum!" in my household. Brilliant speech!

[k j]

48. Sing it, Big John!

B-)

[globalvillage]

55. Damn, he was rockin'

I have to read the speech again. I can't believe they ran this at the same time as "This Week", though.

[k j]

62. Also, first thing I heard

when I turned on the news this am I heard: "breaking news! OBL tape reported found!" Cracked me up.
Do I think it's all one big co-inkydink? I DO NOT!

People in power today are afraid of John Kerry, just like Nixon was. Why? Because he, like Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, remind us that WE are the soul, voice and government of this country.

Where is my old freak flag? I need to fly it today. :hippie:

[0007]

49. This is so good........It needs to be replayed until every American

has heard it.

[_dynamicdems]

58. Absolutely! We need to reclaim the truth. NOW. n/t

[LSK]

50. My country right or wrong

"When right keep it right, when wrong make it right."

- Sen John Kerry, April 22, 2006

[k j]

51. Thank you, John!

The call to adventure, for mean, means no need to carry baggage. Just move forward, light. The “things I’ll carry” are hope and resolve and an unwaving spirit and knowledge that I am not alone on this quest.

THANK YOU, JOHN.

[malaise]

52. Superb John Kerry

Dissent -speak truth to power.

Take that Bushco -Fugg off (photo from Direland)

[babylonsister]

53. Be still my heart and pass the tissues! nt

[LSK]

54. Ted Kennedy on Meet the Press (NBC)

[Greeby]

56. Once again the question must be asked

[babylonsister]

59. I'm more convinced daily that we got Diebolded. nt

[malaise]

66. I was convinced

on election night. Exit polls don't lie. Professor Freeman's paper was all the proof I needed.

[YvonneCa]

68. I just watched...

...the speech on C-Span and then the interview on This Week. My thoughts are still a little 'raw' to use your word (yesterday).
I LOVED the speech. These are the words the country needs to hear....and I think...the words John Kerry has needed to say FOR A VERY LONG TIME. It was good to see him (before he actually spoke) rewarded by applause for what he did in 1971. Has that ever happened before publically? I've never seen it. It was wonderful and long deserved.

During the speech, I found myself clapping and cheering {keep in mind that I got up at 6:30 a.m. to watch, and this is going on at 7:00 or so on a SUNDAY morning. :7 } I switched right over to ABC for the Stephanopolous interview immediately after...missed the very beginning...but what I saw was EXCELLENT. He stayed very 'on message' in defending the generals and handled the CIA arrest story well. I thought he seemed a little annoyed at the way George S. asked some of the questions toward the end of the interview. But he did VERY well and ended with a great SMILE !

My impulse when it was over was that I felt compelled to do something to show support for John Kerry and demonstrate my own patriotism for doing what JK said to do 'at home'..."My country, right or wrong...When right, keep it right...When wrong...MAKE IT RIGHT." This is where my activism (small as it is) is coming from. Sooooo.... I dug out all my decorative American Flags (that I usually display on patriotic holidays) and put them out in both my front yard and back yard! Maybe my neighbors will notice and ask why...and I'll tell them to watch C-Span at 2:00 p.m. :7

What a wonderful day ! And I think this is the beginning of another big push in the next few days to meet the May 15th deadline for Iraq and get the troops home.
:patriot:

[babylonsister]

74. YvonneCa...

:yourock: :patriot:

[YvonneCa]

95. Thank you...so do you! n/t

[blm]

92. This deserves a thread of its own - it's lost down here.

.

[YvonneCa]

96. Thanks...

...I appreciate your kind words.:patriot:

[k j]

90. John Kerry's speech on C-Span

begins again, NOW! :patriot: