[Perlstein]

Dear Mr. P,

Can you give us the short course on why you would want Kerry as President without dissin' Dubya? We all hear how much The President is hated by the left...we just want to hear why Kerry is so loved by the left.

Kind regards,
Liberty
-----
My article "Sting LIke a Bee" in the Voice gives some praise of Kerry--who isn't "loved" by the left: liked by some, loved by a few. But here's a very short course: I don't think Kerry is the kind of person who would run a White House, as Bush did, that would make our most important liaison in Iraq (and his special guest at the State of the Union Address) a spy for Iran, Ahmed Chalabi.

Kerry strikes me as smart and competent and thoughtful. That's a start. He was very brave in leading the investigation of the way the Reagan Administration negotiated with hostage-takers in Iran; I admired that, certainly. He worked hard with McCain to try to heal the wounds of Vietnam; he didn't have to do that, and it didn't help him politically.

He believes in some basic liberal principles that I believe in concerning economics: that corporations can't be trusted to regulate themselves, for example.

That's a few things. I'd better move on, though.

By the way, I welcome individual discussion any time at rperlstein@villagevoice.com.

RP

[veronica]

Kerry strikes me as smart and competent and thoughtful.

Then you are shallow, dishonest and self-deluding. I am not trying to insult you, I really mean it.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Kerry's OWN
Vietnam Veterans Against the War

http://www.vvaw.org

NOT a "right wing wacko site"

"Our military response to the attacks has caused more civilian deaths
in Afghanistan than the hijackers caused in our country."

http://www.vvaw.org/commentary/?id=8

(Is this how Kerry would deal with another 9/11
This is not the Iraq war, it's in response to 9/11?)

Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement on John Kerry

http://www.vvaw.org/commentary/?id=400

Who wants a self confessed war criminal like Kerry?

Not Me!

[Phantom Lord]

Couple things before I run off...

1) John Kerry has been in the Senate for 20 years now. Could you please list for me his legislative accomplishments?

2) You wrote above, "He believes in some basic liberal principles that I believe in concerning economics: that corporations can't be trusted to regulate themselves, for example."

Of course some regulation is needed, no one disputes that. But, regarding corporate power, no corporation has the one tool that government does have to make people do what they want done, and that is the power for force through the use of arms. No business can force me to do anything, but government can. Shouldn't government and the power it weilds be far more concerning to citizens that the supposed "power" that a corporation might have?

[KJacob]

Kerry strikes me as smart and competent and thoughtful. That's a start. He was very brave in leading the investigation of the way the Reagan Administration negotiated with hostage-takers in Iran; I admired that, certainly. He worked hard with McCain to try to heal the wounds of Vietnam; he didn't have to do that, and it didn't help him politically. He believes in some basic liberal principles that I believe in concerning economics: that corporations can't be trusted to regulate themselves, for example. That's a few things. I'd better move on, though.

sound like a ringing endorsement to me

[jwalsh07]

Kerry strikes me as smart and competent and thoughtful.

Odd how two folks can have such divergent views of one man.

Kerry strikes me as a despicable sonuvabitch who stabbed our brothers in arms in the back for self aggrandizement.

Of course he was "smart", "competent" and "thoughtful" while doing it but I would think those attributes used in the manner Kerry used them should disqualify him from the White House.

Will you be going to the protest in DC on September 12th?

By the way, you're not very good at this. I don't particularly care for Bill Clinton but he could teach you a thing or two about obfuscation, strawman arguments and the many and diverse meanings of "is".

[kevao]

I don't think Kerry is the kind of person who would run a White House, as Bush did, that would make our most important liaison in Iraq (and his special guest at the State of the Union Address) a spy for Iran, Ahmed Chalabi.

An honest mistake. Chalabi passed on info to the Iranians only "inadvertantly". Could have happened to anybody. It's not like he stole classified documents or anything.

[ableChair]

Kerry strikes me as smart and competent and thoughtful. That's a start. He was very brave in leading the investigation of the way the Reagan Administration negotiated with hostage-takers in Iran; I admired that, certainly. He worked hard with McCain to try to heal the wounds of Vietnam; he didn't have to do that, and it didn't help him politically.

He believes in some basic liberal principles that I believe in concerning economics: that corporations can't be trusted to regulate themselves, for example.

You're kidding, right? Kerry is one of the most extreme leftists in the U.S. Senate today. Stalin, Pol Pot, Hitler (yes, YOUR boy, too) were also "smart and competent and thoughtful". That means nothing by itself. As for his Reagan investigation, he led an investigation that only served to compromise the defeat of a socialist totalitarian regime. How is that a good thing? As for Kerry's disastrous work on the POW/MIA committee, all Kerry cared about was getting U.S. businesses up and running in the DPRV.

Corporations are NOT trusted to run themselves, in deed, in the United States. That's why we have regulations for their operation. What's your point?

[FourtySeven]

I don't think Kerry is the kind of person who would run a White House, as Bush did, that would make our most important liaison in Iraq (and his special guest at the State of the Union Address) a spy for Iran, Ahmed Chalabi.

Don't expect an immediate reply, if at all, since you're swamped, but:

Wasn't Ahmed Chalabi's office recently randsacked and he himself deposed as our "most important liaison", specifically because of his ties to Iran? In other words, I don't think his ties to Iran were known at the time he was a special guest of Bush's at the SOTU address you mention.

I could be wrong though.

Back to reading this thread. Actually, I'm going to continue at home, this is fascinating. I'm still behind myself, by about 100 posts, and that's just searching for your replies! LOL

This is as entertaining as I'd hoped. Thanks again for the ping dead!

[cake_crumb]

"He was very brave in leading the investigation of the way the Reagan Administration negotiated with hostage-takers in Iran; I admired that, certainly. He worked hard with McCain to try to heal the wounds of Vietnam; he didn't have to do that, and it didn't help him politically."

It probably helped him personally.

He worked hard ordering documentation of POWS who's remains were never returned to be shredded...the same exact thing he crucified Oliver North for doing.

He then killed the Viet Nam Human Rights Act, attaching non-humanitarian aid to Vietnam to progress on human rights issues, in the Senate Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs, which he chaired.

H.R. 2833 stated that Hanoi would get NO goodies from the US unless it demonstrated progress in the following areas:

1. the release of all political and religious prisoners from all forms of detention including imprisonment and house arrest;
2. respect by the Vietnamese government towards the right to freedom of religion, including the
3. right to participate in religious organizations not connected to the Vietnamese government;
4. respect for the rights of members of ethnic minority groups in the Central Highlands and elsewhere; and
5. an end to government complicity in severe forms of trafficking in human beings, in particular, women and children.

His excuse was "it may hinder rather than advance the cause of human rights in Vietnam."

In gratitude, Hanoi designatied John Forbes Kerry's first cousin, C. Stewart Forbes, CEO, of Colliers International as the exclusive real estate representative in Vietnam. A contract worth millions.

All of this information if freely accessable via the internet. Google it.

Admirable qualities indeed.

[jimfree]

Kerry strikes me as smart and competent and thoughtful. That's a start. He was very brave in leading the investigation of the way the Reagan Administration negotiated with hostage-takers in Iran; I admired that, certainly. He worked hard with McCain to try to heal the wounds of Vietnam; he didn't have to do that, and it didn't help him politically.

Hello again Rick. The political benefit would seem to me to be substantial. He had turned his back on his VN experience in 1971. Why not seek innoculation by working with a 7 year POW?

Cheers!

Jim

[Southack]

"He believes in some basic liberal principles that I believe in concerning economics: that corporations can't be trusted to regulate themselves, for example."

Have you spoken out against *lawyers* regulating themselves (e.g. federal and state BAR Associations)?

5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

[Liberty Valance]

Thanks for replying to my post. Of course I disagree with what you've said but i do appreciate it.


"He [Kerry]was very brave in leading the investigation of the way the Reagan Administration negotiated with hostage-takers in Iran; I admired that, certainly."

Kerry couldn't have anything get in the way of his precious sandanista commie buddies in Nicaragua thats for sure. We all know it was "for the children".

:o)

[Howlin]

He worked hard with McCain to try to heal the wounds of Vietnam; he didn't have to do that, and it didn't help him politically.

You show your ignorance; Village Voice is it?

Perhaps you should take at look at your own paper's archives.

When John Kerry's Courage Went M.I.A.

[WOSG]

"Kerry strikes me as smart and competent"

Excuse me, but what actions has Kerry taken, what accomplishments has he made, in the past 25 years, that make him 'competent' to be a President of the United States?!?

He's never had a real management position, never had a private sector business job (lawyer). He's not even had a single executive position in the political realm except for a brief stint as the powerless lt gov under Dukakis for 2 years ...

He hasnt even led a Senate committee, what makes him fit to lead a nation?

So, please, what evidence for the 'competence' appellation on Kerry?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..my article "Sting LIke a Bee" in the Voice gives some praise of Kerry--...

Sheesh.

Can someone with a stronger stomach than myself check Perlstein's replies on this thread, and assess how many include links or references to 'my articles in the Voice'? This guy posts more pop-ups than Drudge.