Kerry's answer to Bush

[Mass]

http://www.johnkerry.com/news/releases/release.html?id=59

Kerry Says Bush Address Ignores America’s Priorities

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Kerry tonight issued the following statement on President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address this evening:

“The President missed a golden opportunity tonight to admit that he made a mistake in Iraq and to share with the American people a plan for gradually removing our troops and allowing the Iraqis to solve the political crisis in Iraq. Instead, he glossed over the disastrous war and its multi-billion-dollar price tag and implied again that our presence in Iraq is somehow improving the situation in that chaotic and turbulent country. The Congress must stand up against Bush’s plan to escalate the war with a new surge of troops and I will be introducing legislation shortly to demand that the Administration set a date for withdrawing troops from Iraq. The President’s address came up short in other areas as well – like his idea to tax worker health benefits and his failure to seriously address the challenge of global climate change. Our economy is headed in the wrong way; wages are barely keeping up with inflation and family income is on the way down,” Kerry said.

More specifically, the President missed the mark on several fronts:

* ENERGY: Once again the President only paid lip service to a meaningful energy agenda that will reduce our dependence on foreign oil. His record speaks for itself – we’re more dependent on foreign oil than ever before. Tonight the President failed to embrace bold policies to break our oil dependence. The President says the nation should reduce U.S. gas usage by 20 percent over the next 10 years, but a goal without a roadmap for getting there is useless. The President should have included more funding for hybrids and battery technology.

* HEALTH CARE: Providing more people with meaningful, affordable health care is a laudable goal, but taxing worker health benefits to get there is a terrible idea. We need to increase the number of insured Americans, not play a shell game that risks coverage for those who have coverage today. As many as 35 million people could face higher taxes under the President’s plan while many millions more will face a choice of higher taxes or inadequate coverage in future. The President’s plan could actually increase the number of uninsured if employers decide to shift the entire premium cost to workers or offer only high-deductible plans.

* IMMIGRATION: Once again the President called for immigration reform that includes a guest worker program. I support comprehensive immigration reform and I’m disappointed that President Bush walked away from the issue last congress in the heat of the midterm elections. I hope that he’ll work with the Democratic-led congress to make comprehensive reform a reality.

[Sanity Claws]

1. Webb is supposed to give the Democratic response

Is it proper/usual for a Senator to give a statement before the official Democratic response? It seems that it's kind of stealing the party's thunder.

[Dean Martin]

2. Maybe Kerry is

getting disullusioned too finally and doesn't expect much from Webb's response, given the reactions from the Dems in attendance tonight.

[Mass]

6. Webb's answer was excellent and very forceful.

After the Democratic answers in the previous years, it was a pleasant surprise. If you have the opportunity to hear it, it is worth it.

[Dean Martin]

9. I won't get a chance until Thursday

at the earliest to listen. This pc at work doesn't allow us to listen to audio/videos.

[madokie]

23. here's a link to the Webb's speech in case anyone wants to see it.

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/23/sen-webbs-democratic-response-to-the-sotu-the-wars-costs-to-our-nation-have-been-staggering/

[cynatnite]

3. It's not unusual for other dems to respond...

I heard Obama will have one as well.

[stillcool]

4. Webb is giving the Democratic Response.

other senators and congress-people.....can, and have already posted their positions on the web..like you and I....cool huh?

[Mass]

5. Webb gave an excellent answer and Kerry is certainly allowed to answer too.

Every senator has or will answer.

Do you not think your reaction is excessive. He did not go on TV and made a declaration. He posted it on his website.

[blm]

7. Webb released his response earlier, and other Dems release their responses after prez.

speaks. They do it for the newspapers who need to hit their deadlines for the first edition.

[Sanity Claws]

10. That makes sense

I was just wondering what the usual order of things was. I figure after over 200 years, a lot of protocol has arisen regarding responses.

[wisteria]

15. It was done tasfully and subdued. Kerry spoke of different things than Webb did.

Also,while Webb was speaking, other people like Obama and Clinton were giving interviews. So, I would say Kerry respose allowed you to hear his friend Webb's live response and them listen to Senator Kerry's response.

[beachmom]

26. There were statements faxed to media from a lot of Dems, so yes

it is proper. Webb's was the official Dem response. Many other Dems sent out statements, while still others made media appearances.

[pookieblue]

8. thanks for posting this

Bush health care thing, had me confused.

<<but taxing worker health benefits to get there is a terrible idea. We need to increase the number of insured Americans, not play a shell game that risks coverage for those who have coverage today. >>

this clears it up for me a bit. I knew that when Bush said it...something was fishy.

[wildflowergardener]

11. quote

I'm afraid I was not paying as much attention to the state of the union address as I might have. I was having a more interesting time watching Cheney's scowling face behind president Bush - and everyone's reaction to what he was saying.

I agree about the health care. I am not worried about anything like this passing, because thankfully, the republicans are not in charge anymore - but it does seem like Bush is going out of his way to alienate people with this health thing. The one thing I do get at my job is health insurance and I am lucky in that I don't have to pay for it, but I don't want to have to pay tax on it. Why not reward employers who give their employees good health insurance rather than punish the employees.

Also, I'm glad that Kerry responded to Bush. I hope every democrat does. It's better then them blindly accepting what he says.

Meg

[Morereason]

12. Kerry looked undignified sprinting out immediately at the end

I just don't get the Kerry worship. I voted for him. Glad he is in the senate. But as a Presidential candidate he proved himself too weak.

[wildflowergardener]

13. Kerry

I don't understand why some people like other candidates as well - but I respect their right to like them and talk positively about them. Why I like Kerry - there are many reasons - it started from watching his speech that he gave protesting the war in Vietnam during the 2004 elections - it was then, that I started to admire him so much - I'd never heard of him before. I also started to like him more during the debates when I saw how intelligent he was. I think he would make such a good president, esp. after what we have had and still hope that he will be president some day.

People like different candidates for different reasons and are turned off as well. I don't care for some others - and maybe I'm not even sure why, but someone else likes that person - I say talk them up as much as they want - I'm not going to get in their way.

Meg

[Morereason]

14. I actually really like him - But no more as presidential material

I appreciate him, his work, and what he did as a soldier and as a protester. I just would never vote for him for President again. He did not fight. I am afraid he will not fight if he gets in too. We need a fighter. Really we need someone as forceful as Bush in a way, only more considerate of the common man, instead of for the rich. And of course wiser. :)

[wisteria]

18. Fair enough, I would just ask that you keep an open mind and

if he does decide to run, you allow him the opportunity to demonstrate to you that he has changed and learned a lot from his experiences in 04.

[Apollo11]

20. His positions are constantly changing

What he is saying about Iraq now is not what he was saying back in 2004.

What he told us about counting every vote is not what he actually did.

But then this is the guy who had 2 kids with his first wife, and then later had their marriage officially annulled by the Catholic Church.

So there is no kind of pledge or promise that cannot be taken back later.

And you want us to believe that this guy has our backs????

[Mass]

22. Why is it with some people bringing the crap about his divorce.

Kerry's wife said she did not care that the wedding was annulled because she was not even catholic, and remained friend for him until she died. Or are you opposed to divorce?

I could understand if you were a freeper, but you are not. So, what is the point!

[Apollo11]

27. Big difference between divorce and annullment

I read somewhere that Julia Thorne contested the annullment. And I can understand why. Because for the annullment to be granted, it would mean that she was mentally incapable on her wedding day. Unless Kerry found some other grounds for annullment that I don't know about.

I find it hard to believe anyone who says they are still good friends with their ex spouse.

I know from personal experience - that's not how divorce usually works.

[Mass]

29. I remember that we already had that discussion. You seem to have

had a particularly hard divorce. I feel sorry for you, but this seems to me to be a particularly poor reason to blame Kerry, except if you want to blame Kennedy and many other Democratic Catholic political people.

There is no divorce in the Catholic Church. The only way to be able to marry again is annulment. This certainly talks about how way back the Catholic Church is, but, if somebody wants to be married again in front of the Church, this is the only way, which explains for this not so great technique. I am sure Julia Thorne may have been shocked at the beginning, but she said that she did not care because, as I said, this was of no value for her as she was not catholic.

It is notable that her twin brother is still Kerry's best friend and the head of his PAC. It probably says a lot about how this issue is overblown, even if I do not like annulment any better than you do.

BTW, when he asked for annulment, they had been divorced for more than 10 years and they both were already remarried.

[wisteria]

25. Flexibility is something that is required when situations change the course of action should change

too. That is the problem with Bush. Senator Kerry assesses a situation and plans accordingly. I would think many Americans have changed their initial opinions about the war since it first started. Perhaps, they have even changed it a couple of times. The Senator IMO,believed that some of the original Iraq plan by the White House might net some positive results, although he never wanted to see Bush take us into this war to begin with. He voted to allow Bush the authority necessary to protect this country, not to wage an ill advised war. After Bush waged he war, Senator Kerry cautioned about what still needed to be done to achieve the final objective. Bush never took the senators or anyone else's advise. Kerry has written several good follow-up op-eds detailing the current situation laying out a plan and advising that the President needed to act quickly or the situation was only going to get worse. Somehow, I don't see Senator Kerry's position as wrong. Actually, he has followed the developments in Iraq and elsewhere closely and has adjusted his game plan accordingly. Senator Kerry and Senator Feingold together have the most comprehensive amendment for ending this Iraq conflict to date. Others in the senate are just now catching up to what Kerry/Feingold proposed back in June of 06.
As for the voting issues. The senator has dealt with this matter in a couple of ways, through legislation and commentary.
Perhaps, your biggest issue with the Senator is that he has not done things the way you would do things. Understandably, you may see things from a different perspective, I am sure Senator Kerry would welcome your point of view. Why not contact him and share them?

[Apollo11]

28. Not everyone supported the invasion of Iraq

For example: Al Gore, Howard Dean (and others)

Here's why Al Gore endorsed Howard Dean in December 2003 ...

Gore praised Dean's opposition to the U.S.-led war in Iraq. The former vice president called the Iraq war a "catastrophic mistake" by the Bush administration, a move that leaves the United States less effective in the nation's battle against terrorism. He said the United States is now in a "quagmire" in Iraq.

"He was the only major candidate who made the correct judgment about the Iraq war," Gore said. "And he had the insight and the courage to say and do the right thing. And that's important because those judgments -- that basic common sense -- is what you want in a president."

http://edition.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/12/09/elec04.prez.gore.dean/

[blm]

31. Back in 2004 Iraq had not voted THREE TIMES for a governing body. EVERY Dem wanted Iraqi

people to have their votes and move into governing themselves.

Anyone saying the same thing today they were saying in the fall of 2004 is crazy like Bush. Kerry called for withdrawal AFTER the Iraqis voted because the mission was basically completed at that point. When Bush again didn't listen and Iraq fell into civil war through his stubbornness, Kerry agains called for withdrawal with a timetable.

Everyone in DC knew Iraq was in Civil War early last year - Kerry and Feingold wrote their withdrawal plan with that reality in mind - only 13 senators voted for that withdrawal and the others were still pretending that civil war was still some ways off.

The DNC - Terry McAuliffe and Donna Brazile - was charged with securing the election process for the four years BEFORE the vote. They didn't do their job, at all. Elections need securing BEFORE the vote. After is too late, especially when faced with hostile Sec of States and partisan court systems.

[seabeyond]

24. you like him. you think he is good. if he wins primary, you wont vote for him?

you would vote for who? even though you like him, appreciate his work?

[blm]

32. You must not know that it was Kerry who uncovered more government corruption

than any lawmaker in modern history - he had to FIGHT every step of the way - against the entire DC powerstructure and even his own party's leaders.

People who do not fight don't uncover IranContra, BCCI and CIA drugrunning.

[wisteria]

16. Your comment is acknowledged. However, others may have

a different opinion and even an explanation for the quick exit.

[LittleClarkie]

17. And again, why is it worship just to merely report what he's said

It's not Hillary worship, or Gore worship, or Edwards worship, or Obama worship, when other supporters report what a certain possible 2008 candidate said. That's all that's happening here.

The worship comes later. We strip down to our civies and dance around a bonfire chanting "Kerry Krishna, Kerry Krishna"

Perhaps you'd care to join us?

[Mass]

19. Everybody does not have to be for the same guy. Honestly, there are

some Democrats I do not understand the worship for.

But, I forgive him for getting out of there quickly. Who wants to spend anymore time shaking hands with Bush. He left before it became impossible to leave.

[seabeyond]

21. worship? you werent purposely

trying to be offensive though were you? i dont get why people pretend they want to be heard yet throw words in to shut down conversation

well i do get it. it isnt about conversation, but a jab

[blm]

30. Kerry was strong - the DNC organization at the time was the party's weakest link.

Had the DNC done the job they were charged with for four years and secured the election process in EVERY STAE as they promised they would after 2000, then more of the votes Kerry earned would have been cast and counted with fewer problems.

DNC was also weak in its stable of spokespeople who usually got their asses handed to them by the RW pundits on a daily basis between 2001 and 2005 - they were so schooled in defending Clinton all these years they knew little about the records of other Democrats they needed to speak up for.

Thankfully, Chairman Dean has been feverishly working to rebuild the collapsed party infrastructure all over the country where it suffered from years of neglect in too many states.