YOO-HOO! UNDECIDEDS + "PERSUADABLES" / Hear The Speech John Kerry Doesn't Want You To Hear

Sunday, August 22, 2004

ELECTION 2004
Ed Koch: I'm voting for Bush
New York Democrat: Kerry doesn't have stomach to go after terrorists

Posted: August 22, 2004
7:02 p.m. Eastern

By Aaron Klein

Former New York City Mayor Edward Koch, a Democrat, will for the first time in his life vote for a Republican presidential candidate this year because he feels Kerry "doesn't have the stomach" to fight terrorism, Koch told WorldNetDaily.

"While I don't agree with Bush on a single domestic issue, they are all trumped by the issue of terrorism, where he has enunciated the Bush Doctrine and proven his ability to fight this war," said Koch. "The Democratic Party just doesn't have the stomach to go after terrorists."

Koch, now a partner in a Manhattan law firm, was mayor of New York from 1978-89, and served for nine years as a U.S. congressman until 1977. He's known for his liberal views on various issues, including his staunch support of same-sex marriage and leftist ideas for the economy and environment.

While he has in the past deviated from conventional liberal thinking, strongly supporting the death penalty and taking a hard line on "quality of life" issues, Koch has always supported Democratic presidential candidates.

But the former mayor says he was sickened by what he witnessed at the Democratic National Convention last month and now feels the Democratic Party is moving in the wrong direction.

"I saw Kerry surrounded by radical politicians like [former President Jimmy] Carter and [Sen. Ted] Kennedy. ... I know Kerry will succumb to their pressure if elected. They are with Kerry not because they like him, but because their true candidate Howard Dean couldn't get elected, and they wanted someone who they can have elected and dominate," charged Koch.

"As long as Kennedy and Robert Byrd are considered major leaders of the Democratic Party, and while we're seeing radical candidates like Howard Dean, whose radical-left supporters have been described by the press as 'Deaniacs,' the Democratic Party will be limited in its ability to serve the country well in times of crisis and war like we face now."

Koch thinks Kerry is putting on a facade by campaigning as tough on terrorism, and worries the Democratic nominee plans to pull American troops from Iraq prematurely, signaling to al-Qaida and terror-supporting Mideast dictators that the U.S. doesn't have the will to fight terrorism.

"Kerry says now that he'd stay in Iraq, but the people who support him would get out tomorrow. If he's president, they would pressure him to do that," Koch said. "They don't care what Kerry says now. They believe he is saying things simply to ingratiate himself with mainstream Democrats and some Republicans."

Koch has been impressed with Bush's response to the Sept. 11 attacks, and says terrorism must rank as the most important issue for voters in the November elections.

He says he supports Bush because "I think the Bush Doctrine of pre-emption is crucial. Bush says 'We will go after the terrorists and the countries that harbor them.' And he has demonstrated that he means it by invading Afghanistan and Iraq, both threats to their regions and to the U.S."

The security of Israel is another major issue for Koch, who is proud of his Jewish heritage and says he is frightened by the "prospects of disaster" in the Middle East if Kerry is elected president. Koch says he "cannot understand why Jews who care about Israel would vote Democrat this year."

"Look at what Kerry said before the Council on Foreign Relations, where he made his foreign-affairs positions known. He said if he were president, he'd select James Baker and Jimmy Carter as emissaries to Israel. They are two of the most hostile politicians toward Israel! These are the last people you'd send if you cared about the Jewish state and the Middle East.

"And when Kerry was accosted by Jewish leaders for saying that, he claimed he hadn't seen that part in his speech, that it was inserted at the last minute by staff people. Now as a politician, I know you read this kind of speech dozens of times. He knew it was in there. So Kerry doesn't tell the truth, either."

Many Jews feel Carter and Baker have taken a consistently pro-Palestinian line, and some were worried by Carter's comments at the convention, where he linked the Bush administration's policy toward Israel to anti-American sentiment.

"Violence has gripped the Holy Land, with the region increasingly swept by anti-American passions," Carter told the convention in a prime-time speech many Democrats said marked his revival as a central figure in the party.

Koch says he found it "both interesting and disturbing" that Kerry omitted any reference to Israel during his acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention.

"But I am convinced that President Bush will never trade Israel's special relationship with the U.S. for political support, be it domestic or international. Bush is probably the most supportive of Israel of any U.S. president in history. I doubt John Kerry and the Deaniacs who now embrace him would have the same resolve."

Koch points to Bush's isolation of Arafat, and his viewing of Israel as a strategic partner in the war on terror as positive foreign-policy elements.

Koch says he plans to campaign for Bush among the Jews of New York and South Florida in the coming two months. He says he will write a flurry of op-eds in Jewish newspapers, and has already started hitting the airwaves, talking to several Jewish radio shows, including Israel's Tovia Singer Radio Show, which many American Jews follow online.

"You see, I was elected mayor because New Yorkers trusted my insights and common sense," explains Koch. "And I believe they still do. They and the rest of America must realize Islamic terrorists want to destroy us, and there are hundreds of millions of them. I want a president who is willing to go after them before they have the chance to kill us."

Aaron Klein is WorldNetDaily's special Middle East correspondent, whose past interview subjects have included Yasser Arafat, Ehud Barak, Shlomo Ben Ami and leaders of the Taliban.

Why Bush Must Be Re-elected

Edward I. Koch
Thursday, July 22, 2004

I support the re-election of President George W. Bush. Why? Because I believe one issue overwhelms all others: the president's strong commitment to fight the forces of international terrorism regardless of the cost or how long it takes to achieve victory.

I do not agree with President Bush on a single major domestic issue, but in my view those issues pale in comparison with the threat of international terrorism. Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the evil poster boys of mass murder, are revered and supported by millions of Muslims throughout the world. The stated goal of al-Qaida and its supporters is to kill or convert every infidel, and that means Jews, Christians, Buddhists and everyone else who will not accept Islam's supremacy.

These terrorists are convinced that non-Islamic nations do not have the will and courage to persevere in this ongoing struggle, which could last decades. They believe the democracies are weak-willed and will ultimately yield to whatever demands are made upon them.

By withdrawing their troops from Iraq in response to terrorist attacks, Spain and the Philippines have already shown that, tragically, terror tactics, including suicide attacks, car bombings and the beheading of innocent civilians, do work.

The terrorists also intend to destroy moderate Muslim governments that want to live in peace with countries that are not Islamic.

Shortly after 9/11, President Bush announced his commitment to the struggle against Islamic fanatics, who believe they can destroy the values of Western civilization and democratic governments everywhere. On entering this war against terrorism after 9/11, President Bush said, "We shall go after the terrorists and the countries that harbor them.

This Bush Doctrine rivals in importance the Monroe Doctrine, which limited the colonization efforts of foreign powers in the Western Hemisphere, and the Truman Doctrine, which contained the spread of Communism. President Bush has proven that he is prepared to keep to his commitment to fight terrorism.

If John Kerry were to win this presidential election, would he stand up to terrorism to the same extent as George Bush has? I don't think so. Regrettably, my party, the Democratic Party, now has a strong radical left wing whose members often dominate the party primaries. Those same left-wing radicals have an anti-Israel philosophy, reviling that democratic state which shares the values held by a majority of Americans.

Kerry is a patriotic American who performed heroically in the Vietnam War. Regrettably, he surrendered his philosophical independence to the left wing in the recent primaries in order to prevail over the original darling of the radicals, Howard Dean. Kerry owes his nomination in large part to the supporters of Dean and the support of Senator Ted Kennedy.

Kennedy sadly demonstrated his loss of any sense of decency with his crude attacks on President Bush using unacceptable, abusive language. The hatred deliberately stirred by Kennedy directed at President Bush is contemptible and dangerous. It encourages our terrorist enemies with whom we are at war, and it incites the crazies in our own country.

On July 9, a Kerry-Edwards fund-raising concert was held at Radio City Music Hall. During that concert Hollywood comedienne Whoopi Goldberg engaged in unprintable, despicable, sexual references to the president and the vice president. She combined the president's family name with allusions to the female anatomy, and she made a sexual reference to Vice President Dick Cheney's first name by referring to the male anatomy.

Even worse was Kerry's thank-you from the stage to all of the performers saying that they conveyed "the heart and soul of our country." Shameful.

Now a comment about the war in Iraq. Most Americans understand that few, if any, wars go smoothly. Just cast your mind back to the American Revolutionary War, during which New York City was occupied by enemy forces for seven years, or the American Civil War, in which Confederate armies won victory after victory on the battlefield, or even World War II, in which the Nazi menace was defeated at an enormous cost in human lives. Should we have gone to war with Iraq? I believe the answer is yes.

During a daily briefing after 9/11, then CIA Director George Tenet told the president that Iraq had the ability to wage chemical and biological war on the U.S. He referred to Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction as a "slam dunk." Had the president not engaged in the pre-emptive war against Saddam, and if this madman had subsequently released in the U.S. biological agents or poison gas, which he had already used against the Kurds and Iran, does anyone doubt that the president would have been impeached?

The security agencies of nearly every democratic nation provided to their president or prime minister the same description of Iraq's weapons-of-mass-destruction capability. The U.S. Congress had the same information and concurred with the president's decision. The U.N. Security Council unanimously concurred, passing Resolution 1441.

But it was President Bush who had the courage to take up arms in defense of the U.S. and our allies. That is what leadership is all about.

A poll released by the Washington Post on July 14, 2004, showed that "55 percent of Americans approve of the way Bush is handling the campaign against terrorism" and "51 percent also said they trust Bush more than Kerry to deal with terrorism, while 42 percent prefer the Democrat."

We also should not forget that President Bush, in my opinion, has been the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House. At the U.N. Security Council and in the U.N. General Assembly, allies of the U.S. and others who are indifferent or hostile to our country have conveyed the view that if we end our alliance with Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, they would welcome back the U.S. into their circle. President Bush has refused to abandon our ally Israel.

In my opinion, the U.S. presidents who have been Israel's greatest friends are, in order, the current President Bush, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. This November, we Americans in the Jewish community should remember our friends. We should thank President Bush for his courage in the war against terrorism and for his strong and consistent support for Israel and democracy.

Edward I. Koch is the former mayor of New York City. His commentary for Bloomberg radio is republished here. You can hear his weekly radio show by going to www.bloomberg.com/radio.

UNFIT #19:
JOHN KERRY'S "MORE SENSITIVE WAR ON TERROR"

(viewing movie requires Flash Player 7, available HERE)

NEW! compleatjohnkerry.blogspot.com

NEW! unfitforcommand.blogspot.com

johnkerryisdangerousforamerica.blogspot.com

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Remarks by Ron Silver as Prepared for Delivery at the 2004 Republican National Convention

NEW YORK, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire

I want to thank the President and the Republican Party for holding this event in my hometown, my father's hometown, my grandfather's and great grandfather's birthplace.

Just over 1,000 days ago, 2,605 of my neighbors were murdered at the World Trade Center -- men, women and children -- as they began their day on a brilliantly clear New York autumn morning, less than four miles from where I am now standing.

We will never forgive. Never forget. Never excuse!

At the end of World War II, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Allied Commander of the South Pacific, said: "It is my earnest hope - indeed the hope of all mankind - that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past, a world found upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice."

The hope he expressed then remains relevant today.

We are again engaged in a war that will define the future of humankind. Responding to attacks on our soil, America has led a coalition of countries against extremists who want to destroy our way of life and our values.

This is a war we did not seek.

This is a war waged against us.

This is a war to which we had to respond.

History shows that we are not imperialists . . . but we are fighters for freedom and democracy.

Even though I am a well-recognized liberal on many issues confronting our society today, I find it ironic that many human rights advocates and outspoken members of my own entertainment community are often on the front lines to protest repression, for which I applaud them but they are usually the first ones to oppose any use of force to take care of these horrors that they catalogue repeatedly.

Under the unwavering leadership of President Bush, the cause of freedom and democracy is being advanced by the courageous men and women serving in our Armed Services.

The President is doing exactly the right thing.

That is why we need this President at this time!

I am grateful for the chance to speak tonight to express my support for our Commander-in-Chief, for our brave troops, and for the vital cause which they have undertaken.

General Dwight Eisenhower's statement of 60 years ago is true today . . .

"United in this determination and with unshakable faith in the cause for which we fight, we will, with God's help, go forward to our greatest victory." Thank you.

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Pinging N.E. Ohio freepers!

thx! :)

You got that right! Koch and Silver and the entire list of Democrats that have brains should be highlighted everyday until the election. In my corner of the world, St. Paul mayor Randy Kelly (D) spoke at the President's last swing through and endorsed Mr. Bush. In my district, the Bush coordinators are two former RATs and in my State Rep. race, one worker is a young man who thinks he is a RAT but is supporting the (R) candidate running here.

There is a shift. You doing a good job of widening it with a crowbar...

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democrats with brains demographic bump

Bump

"family is more important than party"...
Italy is with Bush!
Go president!
Four more years!
We need someone who can make decisions even when they are unpopular!
THANKS GOD GEORGE BUSH IS THE AMERICANS' PRESIDENT!
I'm with you!

thank you!

THE CELEBRITY

A Liberal Hollywood Actor Who Speaks Up for Bush

By BRUCE WEBER

Published: September 1, 2004

The actor Ron Silver was leaving a cocktail party at the Four Seasons restaurant on Monday evening, headed for Madison Square Garden, when he ran into Henry A. Kissinger, whom he once played in a made-for-television movie. They greeted each other warmly, but as they shook hands, Mr. Kissinger raised a quizzical eyebrow and said, in his distinctive, German-tinted rasp, "What are you doing being a Republican?"

It was the question of the night for Mr. Silver, who has long been known as a liberal Democrat, but who spoke from the podium on Monday, the opening night of the Republican National Convention.

He was asked the same thing, over and over, by a variety of people, including Brit Hume, the Fox News anchor, who compared Mr. Silver to Zell Miller (the Democratic Senator from Georgia who will deliver tonight's keynote address), and insinuated that because of his political views he was being blackballed in Hollywood.

Before the cameras rolled in the Fox booth, high above the Garden floor, Mr. Hume explained to Mr. Silver that he was going to ask him why his loyalties had shifted. "And then I'm going to ask you how your career is going since," he said.

The attention paid to Mr. Silver reflects the unusual territory he has staked out, both politically and in the entertainment world. Arnold Schwarzenegger, erstwhile movie star and current governor of California notwithstanding, the Republican convention is not heavy on Hollywood glamour. The list of "celebrities for Bush" is laden more with stars from country, heavy metal and evangelical music than from the movies and television.

But Mr. Silver is a highly visible Hollywood figure with ample credits on popular television series ("The West Wing," "Chicago Hope"), in movies ("Reversal of Fortune," "Ali") and onstage (David Mamet's "Speed-the-Plow," for which he won a Tony Award in 1988).

In addition, for most of the 1990's, he was president of Actors' Equity, the labor union, and in 1989 he was a co-founder, with Alec Baldwin, Susan Sarandon, Christopher Reeve, Blair Brown and Stephen Collins (most, if not all, outspoken Democrats) of the Creative Coalition, a group that advocates on behalf of First Amendment rights, arts support and public education.

So as well-connected and outspoken in the traditionally Democratic circles of Hollywood as Mr. Silver has been, his support of President Bush can be described as a defection.

Even his 21-year-old daughter, Alexandra, who accompanied him to the convention but whose first presidential vote in November will be for John Kerry, teases him about it. As they waited for their ride to the Garden, which was delayed in traffic, Mr. Silver paced nervously.

"He was much less uptight as a Democrat," Alexandra remarked.

In fact, he is still a registered Democrat, and Mr. Silver told his convention audience that he has not disavowed the left's social agenda. But at the moment he represents a particular slice of the American political spectrum: voters who put national security before ideology and want to keep President Bush's hand on the nation's rudder.

"I'm a 9/11 Republican," he said. "If we don't get this right, all the other things don't matter worth a hill of beans. I'll live to fight another day on health care, environmental concerns and sensible gun legislation. But this is such a predominant issue that it towers above all others, and I'm not certain both parties are capable of handling it the right way."

Mr. Silver said he admired Senator Kerry, whom he described as honorable, but added he did not think the candidate represents the rank and file of the Democratic Party, most of whom, he said, "I think are Howard Dean-Kucinich-Sharpton-Michael Moore people," the kind of people "who like the projection of American force for humanitarian reasons, so they'll support Clinton's intervention in Bosnia, but they don't like it in support of our own defense."

In response to Mr. Hume and to others, Mr. Silver said he had no evidence that his views had cost him any work. He has just finished filming a "Law & Order" episode, and he's revisiting a one-man stage show, based on the life of the rock 'n' roll impresario Bill Graham, that he worked on in the late 1990's.

But socially, he said, he has felt ostracized in Hollywood, reopening a chasm created when he supported Rudolph W. Giuliani, whom he describes as a friend, in his campaigns for mayor of New York.

"I just don't get invited to the same dinner parties I used to like to go to," Mr. Silver said. "And when I do get invited, there's no engagement. It's 'Ron, you're too smart for this,' 'Ron, you must be kidding,' 'Ron can we not talk about the war and have a nice dinner party?' And then they talk about it, but everybody has the same opinion.

"I'm getting friendly with the Gatlin brothers, what can I tell you?"

On Monday there was no such social disdain, but there was some surprise.

Running into Al Franken, the comedian and liberal talk show host, at the Four Seasons party on Monday, Mr. Silver said, "I'm speaking tonight."

Puzzled, Mr. Franken asked, "For Bush?"

Reinforcing the point, Mr. Silver replied, "I'm speaking."

"For Bush?" Mr. Franken said.

"I'm speaking," Mr. Silver said again.

"For Bush?" Mr. Franken said.

As Mr. Silver excused himself, Mr. Franken was asked his reaction.

"It's crazy," he said, and his facial expression made the case that he really thought so.

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"[I'm] crazy," he said, and his facial expression [Makes] the case that he really [Is].

<< David Gergen
KERRY-DNC TALKING POINTS
(served with a dollop of plausible deniability/faux objectivity)
Hardball with Chris Matthews
September 2, 2004 >>

If Gergen, in his terminal, post-clinton-"administration" phase, was draped with any scrap of residual credibility and/or moral integrity he surely shrugged it off and shed it during his September 2 Hardball horror show appearance.

The scumbag!

What has happened to the party I've spent my life working in?

The answer to Zell: The Cold War is far from OVER, contrary to all the bull about it being over! The communists are still here................everywhere!

The schools and universities, the "entertainment" business, the old LAMESTREAM media, many judgeships, much of the law community, the state department, etc. are quite largely infiltrated by those who wish to bring this nation to its knees. They have nearly WON. It will take a REVOLUTION of thought (and action) to change things for the better.

The fact that the LAMESTREAM media went into fits about Zell's passionate speech just shows how sick and ruthless they are. Their influence is still huge, and must be ENDED!

The commies and socialists are still here, and doing quite well. It's very tough times, and we need to be tough to kick their sorry *sses!

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