Kerry: America needs a 'regime change' too

The Union Leader, Manchester, NH ^ | 4/3/03 | STEPHEN SEITZ

[RJCogburn]

PETERBOROUGH — In a campaign appearance in the Monadnock region yesterday, U.S. Sen. John Kerry brought a basic reason why he should be America’s next President: We can do better.

“Just because the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision in its selection, and an error in its decision in the year 2000, doesn’t mean we have to live with it for six more years,” he told an overflow crowd at the Peterborough Public Library.

Kerry, 59, appeared at the behest of former state Sen. Mark Fernald of Peterborough, who said he has not made up his mind about who he is supporting for President in 2004.

“I’ve invited other candidates to town, and I hope they come,” he said. “But today I think Senator Kerry did a good job. He handled some tough questions, and I’m impressed.”

Kerry’s comments ranged over a wide field, from the economy, to the environment, to the war in Iraq and its aftermath.

“Ultimately, we have to let the Iraqis run Iraq,” he said. “Now that we have put lives on the line, the only exit strategy is victory. The troops are doing an extraordinary job.”

Kerry also said he would appreciate it if those who criticize the military for its conduct thus far keep quiet for a while. He is a Vietnam veteran.

“War is tough,” he said. “Trust the process for a few days. We’re achieving our goals, but war is unpredictable.”

While he voted for the legislation that is allowing the Bush administration to conduct the war, Kerry said that President Bush broke a number of promises he made in order to get that support.

“I voted to give the President to have a legitimate threat of force for the reasons he gave: to go to the United Nations and form a coalition. This President failed. It was a failure of diplomacy,” he said. “We need not only a regime change in Iraq, but also in the United States. We need a President who will respect the institutions we have built up over many years.”

A new President is needed, Kerry said, to restore American credibility.

“A new President has to declare a new day,” he said. “I won’t cede the right of the United States to defend itself, but America will be a leader in the world.”

On the economy, Kerry said that President Bush’s tax cuts, as structured, were doing more harm than good, and that he’d try something else: encouraging investment in technology, encouraging more responsible development to demonstrate to other countries how development can be done, and a one-time tax cut to the middle class.

“We are faced with the challenge of stimulating the economy in the face of massive deficits,” he said.

Kerry had prostate cancer surgery earlier this year, and said his health was fine.

“Some people are worried about having a President without a prostate,” he said. “The problem is, we’ve had too many Republican Presidents without a heart.”

Nell Conkright, of Greenfield, is part of a recently formed Democratic organization that is examining the candidates.

“Senator Kerry did pretty well,” she said. “We had (former Vermont Gov. Howard) Dean here recently. I think Kerry’s a middle-of-the-road candidate, and he’ll go far. But Dean gave concise answers to questions, and I like that.”

[RJCogburn]

We need not only a regime change in Iraq, but also in the United States.

Well, I realize it is just political rhetoric, but this statement is in poor taste, IMO.

News from the first, and most important primary state.

[Carbonsteel]

We need not only a regime change in Iraq, but also in the United States.

That's crossing the line just a bit.

[mware]

We need not only a regime change in Iraq, but also in the United States.

Whatever comes in '04, this president did not kick the can down the road for another to deal with later.

[Liz]

Sen Lieberman tells donors: " I know how to beat Bush. Al Gore and I did in 2000.”

"Kerry's a nothing. I got the hyphenated-American vote locked up, for God's sake. My grandfather, Senor Shaquille O’Liebermanelli Fu Ching changed his name. I claim Irish, Latino, Black, Mediterranean, and Oriental voting blocs...er, I mean, roots."

" A donation of $10 grand gets you a ticket to my Hyphenated-American Pander Party. Help yourself to corned beef burritos, pastrami Egg Fu Yung, grits in Marinara sauce, vintage Manishevitz, and oregano bagels stuffed with teriyaki-glazed ham, chitlins and chili peppers."

[anoldafvet]

"We need not only a regime change in Iraq, but also in the United States". You're absolutely right "Ketchup Boy", we need to vote all of you RATS out of office.

[csvset]

Lol, do you write comedy?

[Flyer]

the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision in its selection

The U.S. Supreme Court made no selection. They stopped the recount. If Kerry can't get this straight he has no business running for President.

[LS]

This is the latest "throw-something-against-the-wall-and-see-if-it-sticks" strategy from the Dems. "I support the war, but AFTER the war we need to get rid of the 'regime' that caused the war (i.e., Bush)."

This will be no more successful than the rest, but it is an interesting iteration of "I support the troops, but hate the President."

[HarryCaul]

“Just because the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision in its selection, and an error in its decision in the year 2000, doesn’t mean we have to live with it for six more years,”

I suppose this plays to the democratic base, which is where Kerry should be aiming now, but if they're dumb enough to play this '04 election itself this way, they're gonna lose big. People as a whole are tired of this line.

[FreedomPoster]

LOL Bump! That's great!

[Skywalk]

From the article, he messes up the Supreme Court decision but I don't see where he said that "regime change" was needed. I think Kerry knows that those exact words would be overstepping acceptable bounds.

But one thing about Kerry, the man is UG-LEE. Understand, I don't care about someone's looks, and I never understood the fascination with Kennedy, but Kerry is NOT someone you can picture delivering TV addresses or States of the Union.

I just don't picture it, not at all. NOT EVER.

[Cicero5]

Poor taste? I'll go one better... for this spineless, big-haired, no-nuts moron to make a statement like that now, demonstrates precisely why he doesn't have what it takes to be the President. We had one President that lacked any character or conviction (slick willie). I think most Americans are happy having a president they can be proud of.

[Trueblackman]

Yes Yes Mr. Kerry 9-11 would have happened and President Al Gore would still be standing around holding his finger to the air to see what way the winds of world opinion would be blowing and Saddam woulds still have WMD, the UN would run the US and the Israelis would have their backs to the ocean, while Americans would have to put up with 3 dollars a gallon gas prices, a recession, Hollywood A-Types voiceingf their corrupt political view and the US Military under UN/NATO Command. Thank God the Surpemes stopped this nightmare.

[Fraulein]

“Some people are worried about having a President without a prostate,” he said. “The problem is, we’ve had too many Republican Presidents without a heart.”

MAJOR BARF!!!!

[palmer]

Kerry had prostate cancer surgery earlier this year, and said his health was fine.

Kerry reminds me of Paul Tsongas.

[PGalt]

We need not only a regime change in Iraq, but also in the United States

We are in the middle of a regime change. The Democratic Crime Syndicate, like Saddam, is being relegated to the ash heap of history. The mission statement of FreeRepublic is reason for the former. The mission statement of President Bush is reason for the latter.

[joesnuffy]

Hyphenated - American Pander Party.....thats funny!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

This President failed. It was a failure of diplomacy,” he said. “We need not only a regime change in Iraq, but also in the United States.

Nope. The prior president failed us all in a spectacular way. For Kerry to say this at this time is disgusting. He not only resembles Herman Munster, he apparently as the same mental capacity.

[Liz]

Only when I'm confronted with fatuous politicians like Kerry and LIEberman.

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

Excellent point! I was telling everyone who would listen in 2000 that whoever won the election was going to have one tall task cleaning up all of Clinton's messes.