A good review of Dems' thoughts on Iraq--tonight, Cspan3

[ginnyinWI]

Murtha, Kerry, and Biden:

HISTORY ON C-SPAN
U.S. Policy in Iraq
Tonight, we will review what people have been saying on the U.S. strategy in Iraq. We begin with Rep. John Murtha’s (D-PA) call in 2005 for a withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Afterwards, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) on Iraq & Vietnam. Then, the Iraq Study Group’s final report and Sen. Joe Biden's (D-RI) plan to end the war.
MON. ON C-SPAN3 AT 8PM ET

[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[Gregorian]

2. Kerry's slamming home runs.

Patriotism doesn't just belong to those who support the president's position.

He's calling for action.

Another great comment- My country right or wrong. When it's right keep it right. When it's wrong, make it right.

Good stuff. I just ended.

[karynnj]

4. I just watched it again too

My husband and I went to Boston to see it. It was the most amazing speach I have ever seen and Faneuil Hall with all its history and beauty was the absolutely perfect place for it. It is even better watching it now a year later when the majority of Democratic Senators have begun to reach the same point. It was interesting seeing this on the day the Reid used almost the same words - that there is no military solution, only a political (or diplomatic one).

It also hit me who long and how many times Seantor Kerry said words like that - and it is now clear how carefully he worded things. There was no sentence where you could lift part of it as they did to Reid. Maybe someday people will see what an incredible job he did leading to get us to the point where a very hefty majority of people know we should set a deadline and get out.

[Gregorian]

6. Interesting.

I did not know that was a year old speech. That makes it all the more powerful.

I'm slowly learning. Slowly catching on and gaining experience. I've gone from Green Acres, in 1999, to Amy Goodman now. Bush really has united us. :)

[ginnyinWI]

7. Kerry's a truth-teller

It's one of his core principles--so he often gets out there ahead of the pack and tells it like it is. And sometimes gets shot down for it. And now, a year later, the rest are catching up. ;)

[karynnj]

8. It was given on April 22, 2006 - which was the 35th anniversary of his Senate testimony

It was a few weeks after he wrote the editorial that recommended that Bush give the Iraqis a deadline for forming their government or we would leave.

He had already in October 2005 put out a detailed plan that would take the US out of search and destroy and policing. Kerry took an enormous risk proposing this and a bigger one explaining how those actions done by Americans, not knowing the culture or language, put the soldiers at incredible risk and fueled anti-American sentiment. It recommended withdrawal in 12-15 months, which dove tailed nicely with Senator Feingold's flexible target date for withdrawal - announced in August, 2005.

After the speech you saw, Kerry introduced legislation that set a deadline for withdrawal and called for a major diplomatic push (and other provisions). Feingold also introduced a bill. They combined forces with Kerry/Feingold. Kerry is particular was attacked, ridiculed and condemned - even by powers in the Democratic party for this. The leadership, which did not want Iraq legislation before the election, created the non-binding Levin amendment, which was not all that different form the 2005 Levin amendment as an alternative to give Democrats something to vote for while they voted against the binding Kerry/Feingold amendment. Senator Warner, the Republican chair treated Senator Kerry with more respect and friendship than the leading Democrats did.

Although the Democratic leadership did not want to speak of Iraq before the 2006 election, Iraq and corruption were the issues the election turned on. It is interesting now to hear Reid and others literally using Kerry's words - "there is no military soltion, the solution is political (or diplomatic)" I hear this now from Reid and many Democrats and many military people. Kerry has said it repeatedly since 2005. (It was also the undlying principle of his 2004 Iraq plan as explained at NYU.) Earlier this year, 48 Senators voted for a bill that resembled Kerry/Feingold and recently 51. The ideas Kerry articulated - so clearly here - are where the majority of the party is now. Whether he is ever given credit, he moved where the country was on this war - as surely as he moved opinion in 1971. It's too bad that he has had to fight so hard to claim a place as a leader of the party - a position he won when he easily won the nomination.

[Gregorian]

10. Thank you!

Your post totally changed my image of John Kerry. I honestly did not have any idea. It's hard to stay on top of it all, there is so much. Obviously you are paying attention to Sen. Kerry.

What an eye-opener. I can't even speculate on why he doesn't get the respect he is due. But I have a totally new respect for him.

I haven't been formulating my own opinions. And this is why a good media is so important.

It's way too nice to be sitting here. I'm off to go ride my bike and look at blue skies. But I thank you for replying with the truth. I'm more informed because of you.

Gregg

[karynnj]

11. What a kind compliment

I am one of the people who are part of the john Kerry group here. I really liked Kerry in 2004, but following him (and others) since, I am more convinced than ever that he could have been an exceptional Presiident, the best of my generation.

I agree with you a godd media is important - for 2008, we need to figure out how to make people see our candidate as who he/she is. I firmly believe if people would have seen Kerry as clearly as previous candidates were seen, he would be president.

I watched Kerry give incredible speeches on issues from alternative fuels/environment, healthcare, Iraq, and how to deal with the war on terror on CSPAN. The crowds in October were huge and entusiastic. Little of that was seen on MSM.

(Here's a link to his and Teresa's book. He is amazing on the environment - on area he and Teresa worked on for decades each.)http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3228189&mesg_id=3230622

Their interaction with the crowd at the end in the Q & A shows how distorted their images were in 2004.

[Gregorian]

12. Sadly, he WAS elected.

I think you might have forgotten the link. Easy to do.

[karynnj]

13. Oops - editted to add

I agree they clearly stold Ohio - even if it were done only in ways that were not illegal just as not having enough voting machines.

[YvonneCa]

3. Let C-Span hear your appreciation...

... [e-mail] [e-mail]



Here's mine:


Thank you for airing Senator Kerry's Iraq speech from last year, given on the 35th anniversary of his 1971 Senate testimony about the Viet Nam War. I ordered the DVD from you last year, but hadn't watched it in a while.

After seeing that speech again tonight, I was struck by how it very clearly spelled out our country's current dilemma in Iraq. The Senator's words could have been spoken today, and they still ring true.

Senator Kerry is a patriot. He should be President...that's obvious to anyone watching this speech. Please re-play this speech often...if possible, on C-Span 1 or 2 so that more people will have access to it.

Thanks again for all you do.
--

[ProSense]

5. It was really good that C-Span aired this tonight. If anyone missed it, here

is a link to Senator Kerry's entire speech.

[karynnj]

9. thanks for the link