Imagine if John Kerry Could Be As Honest As Dianne Feinstein. Just Imagine

[David Zephyr]

Senator Dianne Feinstein: “I don't think there would have been 77 votes in the Senate to authorize use of force had these statements not be made...”

Imagine if John Kerry could say the same thing. Imagine.

I don't want the following statement from my Senator Feinstein regarding her recent public misgivings about her voting for the Iraqi War Resolution to go without notice here at the DU. It is too important of a development. Of course, I wish Feinstein would have voted with my other Senator Barbara Boxer who opposed the measure and voted against it, but nonetheless, I was pleased to hear Senator Feinstein’s comments in the Senate.

So for those of you who missed this, here are Senator Feinstein's very own words on the Senate Floor which she also repeated again in a hearing with Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Senator Kerry should consider echoing Senator Feinstein's words on the Senate floor regarding his voting for the Iraqi War Resolution...that is unless he thinks the invasion was the correct thing to do.

****
Senator Feinstein Speaking on the U.S. Senate Floor on Feb. 5, 2004:

"My vote, in particular, was based largely on intelligence, and statements about that intelligence, related to Saddam's certain possession of chemical and biological weapons and the probability or likelihood, that he had both weaponized and deployed them. Also, the fact that he had violated the U.N. missile restrictions and possessed a delivery system for a chemical or biological warhead, and could deliver that warhead 600 miles, threatening other Middle Eastern nations or perhaps, from offshore, the United States.

"There were many statements made by the administration that when combined with the intelligence created an overwhelming case, I think particularly for me and for many others. I don't think there would have been 77 votes in the Senate to authorize use of force had these statements not be made...

"I now fear that the threat was not imminent, that there were other policy options, short of war, that would have effectively met the threat posed by Saddam Hussein." http://feinstein.senate.gov/04Releases/r-intell.html


Also: Boxer on her vote against the IWR: http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/4259343.htm

[Dookus]

1. I don't think we should hold up

Feinstein as an example of anything we want our candidates to emulate.

[David Zephyr]

3. Honesty Should Always Be Held Up.

I can not see how anyone could possibly not appreciate her candor. I watched her say these same words to Colin Powell and the pain on her face as she looked back on her vote.

[Zhade]

13. Oh, I admire her candor.

But as my Senator, she has really pissed me off.

The IWR vote. PATRIOT Act - she actually recently said people were overreacting to the PA and that it wasn't all that bad.

Her husband sits on the board of a defense contractor, so her IWR vote is easy to understand.

No, she's not nearly a great example.

[tishaLA]

17. I couldn't agree more

who ever thought progressives would ever hope someone had the honesty of Diane Feinstein? It's like wishing for the intelligence of chimpy.

[goodhue]

6. thank you

Although in this case she is on the case. Thanks to her constituents.

[Dookus]

9. I've been a constituent of hers

since the early 80's. You can have her.

[David Zephyr]

11. Were You Pleased With Her IWR Vote?

Or are you disgusted with her spoken misgivings about it, Dookus?

This is what this thread is about.

[Dookus]

12. I was not pleased with her IWR vote....

but my displeasure with her goes far beyond a single vote.

[David Zephyr]

20. And Neither Was I

And I've had my own problems with Senator Feinstein --- many of which are posted here in the DU archives. She's been no Senator Boxer by any stretch of the imagination. We agree.

But, here is one of the 77 Senators who voted for the IWR now saying that the war wasn't necessary, could have been avoided. One has broke ranks. I think that is a good thing.

And it would be refreshing to hear that from others who, correctly so, should be ashamed of how they voted.

[Dookus]

21. ok...

then we agree on that much. I'm glad she now has partially recanted. But the mere fact that 98.5% of her constituent communication urged her to vote against it and she did so anyway still bugs me.

[David Zephyr]

22. And, You Know What

maybe those communications from her supporters and constituents who "urged her to vote against it" (like I did) must now be weighing on her mind.

I think if you'd seen her when she spoke to Colin Powell, looking him in the eye as she said those words, you'd been moved. She essentially told him that he was part of misleading Congress to a war that could have been avoided.

Boxer was sitting just to her side and, rather than rub it in, when she got to speak she simply mentioned that she'd voted against the war to Powell because she hadn't believed him.

The reason I bring this here is that it seems to have gone completely without notice whatsoever that Feinstein was saying the war could have been avoided and that Bush would not have had all of the 77 Senators voting for the IWR if he'd not lied and exaggerated a threat.

[Dookus]

24. ok, I see your point

and I don't hate Feinstein. She has just disappointed me many, many times.

I guess I'm just a Boxer guy :)

[goodhue]

15. point taken

I don't want her. Although she would be an improvement over Coleman.

[mountainvue]

26. Thank you.

[goobergunch]

2. For the record

Feinstein endorsed Kerry a few months ago.

[David Zephyr]

5. Everyone In California Knows That. This Is About Her Statement.

It blew me away watching her say it to Colin Powell.

[Meldread]

4. I tried. Didn't happen. Can't picture it. -nt-

I just can't imagine John Kerry giving a simple answer. Especially to Yes or No questions like: "Do you bare some responsibility for the people dying in Iraq?" The obvious and truthful answer is "Yes, I do." That is the exact answer John Edwards gave.

[David Zephyr]

7. A Great Many of Us Believe He Thinks the Invasion Was Correct.

He'd liked to have "exhausted all other avenues"
He'd liked to have "built a larger coalition"
He'd liked to had a "better post-war plan"

But he's never said that invading Iraq was a mistake.

Perhaps because he doesn't think it was.

[Zhade]

14. DING DING DING! We have a winner!

Throw in the PPI-PNAC links, and now you're cookin'!

Anyone - ANYONE - who voted for the IWR was either opportunistic, afraid to dissent, or a fool to believe there was a threat. Millions of people worldwide knew better.

So, why didn't Congress? After all, they have more access to intelligence.

Nope, the IWR vote is simply inexcusable. As I was on the right side of history with my fellow outspoken protesters, my conscience is clear.

[WiseMen]

8. Charletons give simple answers when a complex answer is the truth.

Good for Edwards that his truth required a simple answer.
I don't believe it is simple for Kerry. It has been one of the
most painfull period in his life - wrestling with decision, then
fighting Bush for months over iraq policy, then being impotent
to stop the bombs from falling. Edwards' answer would not be
the truth for the John Kerry I know.

[mmonk]

10. Yes, Edwards says this policy is necessary because of 9/11

His honesty is similar to bush's and Lieberman's.

[Zhade]

16. "Charlatans" give the appearance of regret but never actually express any.

Not that Edwards is my guy, but I as yet have seen zero examples of remorse from Kerry that come close to Edwards' yes-I-bear-responsibility answer.

[revcarol]

18. You mean his "I bear the responsiblity, but it was the right thing to do

because Saddam was a bad man" answer? and "9/11" in the next sentence, just like Bush?

[mmonk]

19. yeah, that's it

[Zhade]

23. Again, Edwards is NOT my candidate.

And as such, I don't know everything about him, because I didn't think until now that he had a shot.

Now I'll pay more attention to him, of course.

But Kerry still hasn't given me reason to trust that he thinks Operation Occupation was a bad thing. Not one shred of evidence so far, and with Will Marshall advising him, I am very leery of a continued Pax Americana under Kerry.

[mountainvue]

25. When was he dishonest?