Posted on 04/03/2003 4:03:44 AM PST by RJCogburn
PETERBOROUGH In a campaign appearance in the Monadnock region yesterday, U.S. Sen. John Kerry brought a basic reason why he should be Americas 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, doesnt 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.
Ive 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 Im impressed.
Kerrys 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. Were 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 wont 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 Bushs tax cuts, as structured, were doing more harm than good, and that hed 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, weve 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 Kerrys a middle-of-the-road candidate, and hell go far. But Dean gave concise answers to questions, and I like that.
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.
That's crossing the line just a bit.
Whatever comes in '04, this president did not kick the can down the road for another to deal with later.
"Kerry's a nothing. I got the hyphenated-American vote locked up, for God's sake. My grandfather, Senor Shaquille OLiebermanelli 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."
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.
This will be no more successful than the rest, but it is an interesting iteration of "I support the troops, but hate the President."
Kerry reminds me of Paul Tsongas.
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.
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.
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