Kerry says he won’t run for president in 2008

[Roon]

WASHINGTON - Democratic Sen. John Kerry, who fell 118,601 Ohio votes short of the White House in 2004, said Wednesday he will not run for president in 2008.

“We came close ... certainly close enough to be tempted to try again,” the Massachusetts senator said, recalling his defeat.

“There are powerful reasons to want to continue that fight now. But I have concluded this isn’t the time for me to mount a presidential campaign.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16790110/

[H2O Man]

1. I respect Kerry.

I think that he is one of the individuals who can help make the US Senate live up to its potential. That is, in my opinion, more important than his running for president again.

Thank you, Senator Kerry.

[StClone]

2. A good man dropped by lies

Republicans are good at tainting perceptions (Swiftboating). But, it don't work so well on remaking reality (Iraq Invasion) does it Freeps.

[BeFree]

29. And also today

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x465752

Verdict Is In: Two Ohio Workers Found Guilty Of Rigging Vote Recount In 2004

The first semblance of justice from the stolen election of 2004 finally comes from a court in Ohio.

[Erika]

46. But they are lies

That's all the bushbots know.

[BearSquirrel2]

68. Partially ...

Yes they lied, and he didn't bother to defend himself. Kerry had a lot of good things to say and it's too bad that his sentence structure is so complex that he cannot effectively communicate those things to a mass audience. Kerry lacked the ability to communicate to a broader audience.

BTW, I think he would have made a good president (with boring speeches).

[BobRossi]

3. There is a God.

No DINO's please.

[blm]

7. missed history class?

.

[XanaDUer]

10. WTH?

nt.

[karynnj]

15. Senator Kerry is not a DINO

His credentials as a Democrat stretch back to his high sshool years. I seriously doubt you come close.

[LSK]

16. are you lost???? this thread is about John Kerry

Arguably the best Senator currently in office.

[nam78_two]

18. Kerry is not a DINO-he is one of the best Dems in the senate.nt

[Reterr]

23. Please read a book every now and then instead of going by swiftboaters and Fox news

:eyes:

Yeah Kerry is a DINO unlike Obama, Hilary and ugh Edwards :sarcasm:

[saracat]

40. That is a disgustingly ill informed comment. There is no better a Democrat than John Kerry.

We have lost the opportunity to have the best possible president.This is a sad day for this nation.

[saracat]

That is a disgustingly ill informed comment. There is no better a Democrat than John Kerry.

We have lost the opportunity to have the best possible president.This is a sad day for this nation.

[saracat]

41. Dupe delete

[donheld]

48. DINO?

:shrug:

[badgerpup]

69. yet another silly-ass confusing acronym....

:hi:
Democrat In Name Only = DINO

Sorta like Lieberman.
Sez he's an Independant Democrat, but he's really a self-serving opportunistic asskisser with no conscience Conservative Neocon Republican. He's wearing the uniform, but he sure ain't one of the team.
:rant:

There's RINOs, too.

[Voltaire99]

49. Too true. Leave Kerry to count his married billions. (nt)

[D23MIURG23]

51. Yeah, unlike all those worlking and middle class senators.

:shrug:

Like Hillary, Obama and Kennedy I suppose? Maybe Tester isn't a filthy rich. That would make one senator.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

55. Or Shelby, Smith, Alexander, Hagel, Snowe, etc. (n/t)

[tavalon]

56. Despite being very pleased about his decision

I cannot agree that he is a DINO. He is a good Democrat who made some choices that I disagreed with in the running of his campaign.

[DWilliamsamh]

76. There are a lot of things you can say about Kerry...

DINO is not one of them. He's been a strong Liberal voice in congress for thirty years. He ran a terrible campaign marked by a stunning inability to communicate his positions, followed by a lack of will to fight for every vote to not only be "counted" but counted accurately.

DINO does not describe him at all... that's Hillary and Biden et al.

[partylessinOhio]

4. A Viet Nam veteran cut to ribbons by the evil twins, Bush and Cheney.

Another major part of the destruction they have perpetrated on a once great nation.

Kerry should have ran at the time he made such an inspirational and chill raising speech at the Democratic National Convention in the seventies. He was young and completely focused on ending the fighting in Viet Nam. When I heard him speak all those years, I said that man should be running for President of the United States. He was a hero and I will always remember him as one.

John Kerry and Al Gore were both victims of Bush/Cheney smears and their vote fraud.

I'm sorry that both John Kerry and Al Gore decided to run again. It is America's loss.

[Eric J in MN]

5. text of John Kerry statement

http://www.johnkerry.com/

...I sought the presidency to lead us on a different course. There are powerful reasons to want to continue that fight now. But I've concluded this isn't the time for me to mount a presidential campaign. It is the time to put my energy to work as part of the new Democratic majority in the Senate, to do all I can to end this war and strengthen our security and our ability to fight the real war on terror.

The people of Massachusetts have given me an incredible privilege to serve in the Senate, to represent the birthplace of freedom, the cradle of liberty, and a state where in Faneuil Hall patriotic dissenters stood on principle. I want to continue representing Massachusetts, and that's why I am running for reelection so I can use my voice all day every day to end this war and galvanize grassroots action to force Washington and our Democratic Party to live up to its responsibility.

Together, all of us, starting with the three million of you who have built this online community, must remain steadfast in protecting the principles we fought for every day of our campaign. You have a responsibility to urge those who are running this time to step up and address those issues, and particularly on Iraq to find not just a new way forward, but the right way forward.

Above all else, the mission we must all join is to end the war in Iraq.

Our first step toward that goal is to force President Bush to set a deadline to redeploy our troops.

I hope you will come to http://www.setadeadline.com and take the opportunity to speak out on the importance of setting a deadline to redeploy our troops and bring our heroes home. Speak out at http://www.setadeadline.com.

Now that a new Democratic Congressional majority has convened in the U.S. Capitol, a deadline must be set. Working together as Americans, holding leaders accountable, is our best hope to ensure that it is.

Please come to http://www.setadeadline.com and get on board.

Thank you,

John Kerry

[Warren Stupidity]

31. "Above all else, the mission we must all join is to end the war in Iraq. "

Thank you Senator Kerry. You have found your true mission again.

[blm]

6. I agree, Senator, it's time to keep pushing for an end to Iraq occupation.

That is where your heart and your soul is at this point. Help do that, and hopefully more will begin to bother to understand the selflessness and public service that has always driven you.

You could have had it GIVEN to you many times over the past 40 years, but chose to work for the CITIZENS' interests instead of the elites' - Thankyou.

Some of us understand already.

[Joe Chi Minh]

65. Spot on, blm. I don't think many people recognise true nobility, the placing of compassion

for his comrades-in-arms, under constant deadly siege in Iraq, and for the suffering Iraqi people, before personal ambition to be President.

You can only feel sorrow for the posters on here who delight in sneering at him. Are we permitted to wonder aloud if they are genuine Dems or neocon fifth-columnists? How could you tell the difference?

[Flying Dream Blues]

8. Thank you, Senator. Your service is needed most right

where you are!

[Radio_Lady]

9. Still think he would have made a heckuva good President...

Now, he'll go on to represent Massachusetts for six more years.

[Unbowed]

38. I'm going to have to move to Mass

And yeah, he would have made a hell of a President.

[tavalon]

57. And represent them well

[Dukkha]

11. No surprise I wouldn't want to go through all that again

Leading a victorious campaign then losing the election to Diebold.

[blm]

13. he's actually not running so he can stay in the senate and press for an end to this war

before it widens.

He's doing what he's always done - made the most moral choice the way he sees it.

[cadmium]

22. This really is the big issue. He has

a tight band going with Hagel, Feingold, Kenndy and a few determined others. Everything else -- fiscal matters and global matters anyway--pale in comparison to the Iraq mess right now.

[politicasista]

60. and Boxer too

They work good together. :)

[cadmium]

63. I didn't mean to leave anyone out. There are several more.

It will take a dedicated team---The administration and they enablers have too much money and power at stake to let go of the Iraq occupation easily.

[politicasista]

81. Oh, I know you didn't.

It's all good cadmium. :hi:

[Matariki]

12. Waiting for the usual gang of Big Bad Godzillary blamers...

any minute now....

[mdmc]

21. lol

|
V

[Rageneau]

14. IMHO, he didn't "run" in 2004 either.

He sort of loped, and took lots of rest stops.

[Vexatious Ape]

17. Couldn't agree more. A half-ass campaign from start to finish.

[wisteria]

27. Oh he ran and he ran well. Why not ask the part;y why they didn't back him up when he needed it. n/

[midnight]

33. Yes he did. I was very inspired by his message that hope

was on the way.

[Yukari Yakumo]

42. Agreed.

He never came off as someone who could go on the offensive when the need or the opportunity arises. The Swift Boating exposed this. When the Swift Boaters attacked, all Kerry did was dodder along. BIG mistake.

Even in 2004, Bush was absolutely vulnerable. Regardless of the Rethugs dirty tactics, Kerry should have crushed Bush. Instead he lost by a slim margin.

[mdmc]

19. God Bless John Kerry!

A great liberal lion:patriot:

[nam78_two]

20. One of the best dems in the senate and a good man.nt

[Reterr]

24. Oh well...He would have gotten my vote in the primaries had Al Gore

decided not to run...

But now, I think I will just stay home for the primaries :eyes:
I am still hoping Gore will run. Kerry was my second pick. Instead we have :Obama, Hilary, Edwards, Biden, Richardson and Vilasak...

Talk about underwhelming choices...

[Olney Blue]

25. Senator Kerry, I appreciate your service.

:patriot:

Our country is lucky to have you on our side.

[blondeatlast]

26. I'm saddened, but I know he'll continue to fight the good fight.

He impressed me from the VVAW days and has precious seldom disappointed me.

Thank you, sir. :patriot:

[klook]

28. Saw a great bumper sticker the other day--

"I support our veterans. I voted for one."

I appreciate Sen. Kerry's commitment to undoing the disaster the Bush administration has wrought in Iraq. He's a great public servant.

[TankLV]

30. That is a wise decision. Good for him, and our country...

He is needed in the Senate...

Very angry that the election was stolen TWICE!

[McCamy Taylor]

32. Good. We need someone who isnt math challenged. Counting votes is basic.

[blm]

74. You need a DNC that does its job and SECURES the election process and vote count

BEFORE the election.

THAT is where most of the votes get stolen or cancelled.

But it seems everyone wanted Kerry to be doing Terry McAuliffe's job, instead. Did everyone clamor for McAuliffe to do Kerry's job and craft substantive Dem policies and win the debates and speak at campaign rallies all over the country?

[DWilliamsamh]

77. Exactly how much control did the DNC have over state election

boards? Zero. The DNC DID how ever have millions of dollars and hundreds of Lawyers poised and ready to engage, had Candidate Kerry only wanted to fight. He didn't. Period. He "called off the dogs." That is noone fault but his own.

Don't get me wrong, I voted for Kerry,even after he ran a terrible confused campaign, and not just because he was the nominee. I truly believed he would be a good president. I truly believed he would be able to start reversing the damage done but BushCo. But like many here, I think he proved he is not Presidential material when he decided not to fight in a naked political calculation that the didn't want to ruin his future chances by seeming to be a "sore loser."

I think he is best as a strong liberal voice in the Senate. I wish he had been strong enough to be President.

[blm]

78. Those Dem election expert lawyers are the ones who TOLD Kerry there was no legal case

to continue in court.

And the DNC does set the national strategy. Dean is fixing the collapsed party infrastructures state by state - the party infrastructures in states that never reveived national support for many years.

And it was the DNC's job to stay on top of vote suppression tactics, purged voter rolls, and to launch a mission to secure the voting machines before the election - You think DNC's OFFICE OF VOTER INTEGRITY had no job to perform?

If McAuliffe hadn't allowed the collapse of all those infrastructures, then why they heck has Dean been working his ass off rebuilding them the last two years?

[wisteria]

34. I am choking up too, Senator. I believe with all my heart you would be a great president.

I also respect and believe in the road you have decided to take for the next two years. I support you 200%.

[Divine Discontent]

35. what a man what a man what a man

what a might good man!

He doesn't need to apologize for the good job he did in the debates against Shrub. The RIGHT WING media couldn't stop mocking him, bringing up Viet Nam, and frankly, they stole Ohio with the CRIMINAL (yes, proven) former Sec. of State Blackwell, running the ship there AND being the BUSH 04 campaign chairman for Ohio.

nuff said.



www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- antibush prodem stickers/shirts

[oberliner]

36. I wonder if he'll back Edwards

After all, he was his running mate.

[Divine Discontent]

37. I would say....

Yes.

[Hulk]

39. I'm PROUD of him...

For once he makes the right decision...not to mean that he doesn't often...but it seems like he's been led around on a leash since running for pres in '04. Good for him. I hope he speaks out loud and clear in the Senate. I hope the same for Hillary too!!

[karynnj]

71. Led on a leash since '04

who mad him:
- vote against Condi
- submit and push kerry/feingold
- filibuster Alito
- write excellent legislation for small businesses hurt by Katrina, then removing his name to get the Republican votes - it then passed with over 80 votes

He has spoken out strong.

[txb]

43. Guess he could read the writing on the wall.....

...from the very low polling data, to the legions of Dems who swore they would never, ever vote for him again after he abandoned his quest to "count every vote" in 2004 (after about 4 and a half minutes)....

I'm glad to have Senator Kerry doing what he does best in the Senate.
And while I agree that he would've made a helluva President, and I voted for him.....

I am also relieved that he is smart enough to know that he burned enough Dem bridges when he handed over the Presidency to * in 2004 with little more than a shrug.

I trust that his staff read MY email and the emails of thousands of others who gave time, blood, sweat, et. al. to the campaign and were blindsided by his skull n' bones decision to not contest the election.

At least THIS morning, they made the RIGHT decision.

[Erika]

45. He is class and knew there was no proof about the election

We love him 100%. Take your burning elsewhere.

Kerry fought for our country, something W ran from.

If you can't honor Kerry, respectfully, keep your mouth shut.

[politicasista]

61. Amen sister n/t

[karynnj]

72. You said it Erika -

He is the only politician I would ever say that I love 100% - there is something special about both Teresa and him. They are extraordinary people.

[The Count]

80. How lawyerly of him! Drop fighting for my vote - because he had no proof!

Thay's the difference between him and Gore (whom he maligned, btw)

[HoneyBee]

50. I echo your sentiments. I wanted him to be at LEAST as angry as I was.

I wanted him to fight hard against the "swift-boating" and Rovian tactics. I wanted him to push HARD and count the votes. He disappointed me on each of those levels. I want a stronger candidate. We deserve a stronger candidate. We can put up a stronger candidate. We should not resolve ourselves to accepting less.

[tavalon]

58. I'm with you one hundred percent

I was one of those thousands who gave time, blood, sweat and on the day of his betrayal of us, tears of rage. That said, he has earned my respect back to some extent while continuing his career as a Senator. I do not begrudge him that seat, now or ever. But it would have been damn hard to vote for him had he run and gotten the nomination. It's much the way I will feel if Hillary gets the nomination. I wish she would just let it go and stay where she can do some good. He had the good sense to do that.

[Erika]

44. I love him and his wife

Bush was just too dirty.

[Leopolds Ghost]

47. Very saddening. n/t

[stevietheman]

52. I read this as country over party, then party over his own ambitions.

Clearly a good thing.

But certainly this is also good for Democratic prospects in 2008. Democrats need someone who will fight tooth and nail for the Presidency.

Kerry can help that person behind the scenes by showing that Democrats will end Bush's War responsibly.

[Joe Chi Minh]

66. I think that's very perceptive. Country, party, self. That kind of integrity

and nobility is evidently not recognised by some on here for what it truly is.

He proved himself THE top man in every way, despite the grotesque and laughable maunderings of those who like to parrot the neocon MSM's talking points.

[Echotrail]

53. It's ironic when this came out the same day:

http://www.cleveland.com/ap/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-29/1169672401303240.xml&storylist=topstories
2 election workers convicted of rigging '04 presidential recount

It's too bad the 28% that approve of Bush are running the country. If the majority ruled, if we had a representative democracy, Kerry would be president today.

Hey -- it's not too late!

It's official. The 04 election was rigged, as many of us have known all along. It's not too late to put the elected president in office. NOW.

[newyawker99]

54. Hi Echotrail!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[theaudacity]

59. Good democrat, Good Senator, terrible prez candidate.

Watching his campaign sit idly and do nothing to disprove easily disprovable attacks was too much pain to go through a second time.

[politicasista]

62. And you think the same won't happen to Obama?

Think again.

[theaudacity]

64. well, given the subject, I am compelled to reply

I guess I would be a hypocrite if I allowed a baseless attack like that one with no evidence to back it up to fly over the plate (ala Kerry). You think Obama is just going to sit there and let Republicans attack him without responding? Please explain.

[Joe Chi Minh]

67. The one capital letter you erroneously missed was in "Democrat",

though you capitalised the second "good" (Senator)erroneously. Was that a Freudian slip?

[theaudacity]

70. nope, i am just a shitty typist

[johan helge]

73. John Kerry - my hero

John Kerry is a big hero of mine. The differences between the two candidates in 2004 say much about the two parties, and the Democrats can be proud of this. Another example of this is McGovern - Nixon in 1972. The American people, I'm sorry to say, cannot be much proud of their choices in these two years (provided Bush really won Ohio, a very shaky assumption). They chose the crooks, not the heroes.

[DWilliamsamh]

75. Thank God he's staying out.

I would have zero confidence in him after the terrible campaign he ran in 2004

[The Count]

79. You didn't come close, YOU WON!. refusing to admit this makes you unacceptable

(and that goes for your running mate too)