John Kerry on Meet the Press...

[elizm]

[Goldeneye]

1. You guys get Kerry .....I get power hour.

Its only 8 here....sucks.

[Sydnie]

2. It doesn't start here until 10 AM

Bummer!

[L. Coyote]

3. On right now 7 am in AZ

"We are not safer thn we were 2 1/2 years ago."

Problem is the way the Bush administration .... gone it alone

Rumsfeld ... worst war leader in history

Kennedy being show calling for draw-down ..."to ease the pervasive sense of occupation."

Kerry disagrees.

[Sydnie]

4. Thanks for the updates

for those of us not getting the show yet.

What else is happening?

[elizm]

5. Just my opinion but...

I felt like Kerry started out strong in the interview but now I am seeing just more of the same. He is constantly trying to defend himself against Russert...I just don't see any fight in him....And his voice (and rambling) is starting to lose me again. He should take some lessons from Barabara Boxer.

[DoYouEverWonder]

16. I guess you're just not use

to listening to people who can speak in whole sentences anymore?

I know after 4 years of W, most people just don't have the attention span anymore.

[zann725]

54. I didn't see any rambling at all. Russert kept those questions flying.

The pace was fast. And I remember thinking that the conciseness of his answers was obviously something he learned from the campaign.

[elizm]

6. He sounds like he's whining...

He is letting Russert do the same things to him that they(the press)did during the election! It is sickening to watch.

[The River]

9. Yep..Same Old Same Old

I'll still vote Dem in 08
who ever the nominee,
but I won't lift a finger to
help if he is that nominee.

[Sydnie]

13. You have to clear the table to get to new items

This is not a bad thing. Let him ask the questions that we already know the answers to, it's ok. It gives Kerry a shot at talking about it rationally and getting is message out there.

I don't know what you "I'll not support him again" people expect short of him falling on his sword or making a charecature of himself by wringing his hands on national tv.

Walk a mile in his shoes from his perspective not from yours. Could you have withstood the hammering he has taken and remained calm? That's what we need, you know. Level headed presentation, even if we don't always like the subject matter. Honest answers even if we don't like the subject matter.

Beating his chest is a blivet** thing, not Kerry's.

There's a time and a place. This is not that time nor that place.

[electropop]

66. No chest beating, bleating, whining.

What he should have done is legitimately speak out on the massive evidence of fraud, and VOTE against the Ohio electors. This is _not_ too much to ask of a candidate who repeatedly made a major campaign promise to protect our votes. If he can't vote to defend the Constitution and the American public, he should get out of the way.

[ClassWarrior]

33. Thanks for that glimpse into your character.

So glad you honor the Progressive value of responsibility.

NGU.

[zann725]

56. Why all these negative JK comments from Newbies?

Hmmmmm?

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

11. I thought the same but didn't want to use the word :(

Kerry is still in CAMPAIGN MODE!

This is nuts.

Isn't he SMART? Can't he step up to Russert's screwball questions?

This almost feels like a ** interview :(

[flyarm]

25. he didn't even

stand behind kennedy! his last statement was..."the courage of the american people"....
i feel sick...not a mention of questions in the election..on a day where another election fraud is taking place..in iraq!
i love this man, i fought my heart out for him...i feel let down right now..and i don't care what anyone else has to say about it..
the hours , the days, the months , the years working for this man..and i feel let down..and my checkbook is empty ..from all the money i gave this man...and he did not support us today at all...he knows there was election fraud..he knows the pnacer's are going to destroy this nation..he knows...he knows we have no chance of ever winning even a seat in congress without election reform and he said not a word about it. Even when tim russert said someone will run against him for his seat in the senate in 2008..all he could say is he can't and won't think about 2008 right now....well when the hell will he??

feeling my democracy ripped from my hands, but they won't get it from my soul!!!!!!!!..

fly

[Pirate Smile]

He didn't agree with everything Kennedy said although he did agree with

part (I remember his differentiating but I can't recall the specifics right now - it will be in the transcript).

The courage of the American people he is talking about is all the people HE MET while campaigning. He heard a lot about the difficulties many people are dealing with on a daily basis. That makes complete sense.

So he disagrees with part of Kennedy's plan. Big deal.

2008 is far away. That was a smart comment. Who knows what the hell could happen by then. Who would have thought so much would happen between 2000 and 2004.

[Carolab]

57. Re: Not agreeing with Kennedy's plan

perhaps it is in light of the fact that the Sunnis refused to participate and would continue fighting against the Shia and the Kurds. Still, I think it is Iraq's problem to figure out.

[Amaryllis]

52. I am not sure he knows this election was stolen. He hasn't said anything

since the election to convince me he knows. And if he doesn't know, that is very disturbing. What makes you think he knows?

[ginnyinWI]

23. Russert is not against him

And I think John Kerry sounded strong, authoritative, decisive, and like a leader. I didn't hear any whining.

[dandrhesse]

29. Kerry made a great showing if you were looking for it.

The statements that Kerry made were nothing he hasn't said on CSPAN but remember not everyone gets cable. This is a chance to reach a bigger audience.

Kerry said that the majority of the American public doesn't want to do away with Roe v Wade, neither does the majority of the congress and he personally thinks that Bush doesn't want to overturn it either.

That was great, that gives any reporter a legitimate reason to directly ask Bush to state his position (again). He probably won't answer but it's great that Kerry threw it out there.

He didn't look like he was whining to me, he accepted responsibility for any errors and said flat-out that he was wrong about his decision to confirm Scalia and defended it well.

I was really proud of him. Say what you will, but it must be tough to have the MSM against you as well as the Bush Administration, I give him credit for coming on the show and answering all the questions that critiques from the Right have raised. He answered every question, fully and directly. That is something we haven't seen Bush do, ever.

[zann725]

58. He gave a great interview! He looked relaxed, and full of Integrity...

I savored every minute. Russert gave him a REAL interview...plenty of questions, plenty of time.

My favorite part was when Kerry said he'd sign the form authorizing the release of all his Military records, IF others were willing to release ALL theirs too! And we KNOW who that would be!

[zann725]

55. Perhaps you're not on the right site? People here tend to like Kerry.

With your clear disdain for him, why would you come here?

I thought he gave a great interview...was extremely concise and coherent...full of integrity. Something we all miss so much in the current Admin.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

65. I thought DU was a large tent? If you took the time to read many of

the posts, not all are so enamoured of Kerry, nor did they initially want him as the Democratic candidate. I for one am one of them. Last time I looked this wasn't a Kerry website, or is it?

[Pirate Smile]

7. I don't think he sounds whiny. He defended Dean. Russert always

tries to get them to go after each other.

Russert asked about SBLiars, Cambodia, Corsi moving to Mass. Kerry answered that switching CIC was the hurdle they couldn't get over. SBLiars were discredited but he should have came out earlier and more forcefully. Laughs at Corsi.

[ClassWarrior]

35. He DIDN'T sound whiny.

Once again, RW spin seeps into everything like diahrrea.

NGU.

[Pirate Smile]

41. I was responding to the person who used that word. He did well.

It does suck when the RW talking points get accepted and regurgitated by our own party. I can't believe how much of that sh@# flies around here now days.

I should have re-phrased my response better but I was responding quickly because I thought a false impression of the interview was being given and we know how quickly these threads snowball into negativity.

[ClassWarrior]

42. Oh, I know what you were saying. I was just confirming your opinion.

And most of the time it probably isn't people from our own party accepting and regurgitating this puke. Oh well.

NGU.

[ginnyinWI]

43. you got that right, CW! n/t

[FULL_METAL_HAT]

8. Russert is a RW attack dog :( Kerry's military record but NOT **'s ??

The sad news is Russert has his talking points from on high.

This shows he's no longer a journalist seeking truth.

Talking about the Swift Boat Liars, he just asked Kerry three times "will you sign <the document release> form?" As if it matters to ANYONE except the SORE WINNERS.

And Kerry just taking it and almost whiningly defending his military record and never nailing ** makes me feel that he's complicit with this BS. All he'd have to say is "this is rediculous when **'s record is still cloaked in REAL secrecy".

Okay commercial over, here's his chance to stand up!

[ginnyinWI]

24. nobody put a gun to JK's head to go on MTP

He chose Russert, so give him a little credit for knowing what he's doing. I've read that Russert is a liberal, and his questions are certainly more fair than the crap you get on cable. Think Russert didn't talk to him about them before the show? JK was in control of this interview, make no mistake. Look: they gave him the whole hour, for crying out loud! Don't assume that Democrats are pushovers, cause you will be wrong.

edit: (why do Democrats always have to paint themselves as poor victims??)

[zann725]

59. I liked the questions Russert asked. Gave JK a chance to respond in FULL

to questions and issues that the Repugs had "spun" against him during the campaign. Russert presented each, and then let Kerry set the record straight. I thought it was an extremely fair interview.

Throughout the interview, I was reminded anew how very much I miss Kerry's intelligence and integrity on a daily basis.

[Cherie59]

28. It frustrated me too...

Hello, Russert- the election is over!
It made me so mad. Never mind W's military,
or lack of military record. This is exactly
why I have been boycotting the MSM. Guess
the boycotting will still continue.

[L. Coyote]

10. If only Scrubya could talk half this well.

Kerry is presenting reasoned discussion, not "God and freedom" sound bites. I'm enjoying listening to him outside of campaign mode. We need more John Kerrys.

The close election was not a Bush mandated.

Dean is not to liberal. That is a stamp from the campaign.

Back from the ads. Pro-life Democrats question from Tim.

"Too many people believe if you are pro-choice, you have to be pro-abortion."

"You have to have room to talk about these things in a rational way."

"Abortion has gone up with these Draconian policies the Republicans have." Went down under Clinton.

"This administration that keeps talking about family values does precious little to put that in place..."

"...insure every child ion America, that's a family value"

[L. Coyote]

12. on Scalia, "I was wrong."

Scalia "idealogically rigid and so far to the right..."

Unlike Scrubya and Rice, Kerry willing to discuss "...my mistakes"

"I do not believe we have to raise the retirement age ... Bush ... phony crisis..."

Roll back 1/3 of Bush's tax cut saves social security into 22nd century.

Russert doing a good job, bring in lots of quotes. Good accountability method -- you said...???

President's SS plan dangerous for Social Security and the country.

[MelissaB]

14. Excellent summary, L. Coyote!

Thanks! I decided to watch and stay away from my computer.
Well done! :toast:

[Starone]

20. "My mistakes"

Such a breath of fresh air to hear anyone in leadership take responsibility. Good for JK and the Dems; Repugs always lay it on those below them and weasel out of the hot seat.

[alexisfree]

69. thank you

[GetTheRightVote]

15. thank for the posting, listening

:kick:

[Miami Liberal]

17. I'm watching

even though I can't stand Russert. Kerry is doing a good job IMHO, he just said Dean would be a good DNC chair and I agree.

[bush_is_wacko]

18. Meet the Press NBC? n/t

[Miami Liberal]

19. Yes, it's on NBC. n/t

[Alizaryn]

21. MSNBC 10:00pm est will replay the show.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

22. He hasn't said ANYTHING about election reform or disenfranchisement

He is pretty much rubber-stamping the results! Yes, "Bush won, we were rising, but flattened out on election day after Osama tape came out."

You have to admit the guy has shitty timing - on the day they will be showing millions voting and cheering in Iraq.

[ginnyinWI]

26. he is the only Dem who should not be talking about it

Leave it to others! JK talking about it makes him a whiner. Let others prove it, I say. Unless he can come with documented proof, better not to say anything. This goes for every Dem. It really doesn't exist unless there is documentable proof.

I see nothing wrong with his timing. He is on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, and has a right to talk about Iraq. Biden was on Face the Nation, same reason.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

31. I respectfully disagree. Many look to him and say, "Well he's

not complaining, it must have been legit." I also think any time you squelch the truth, you lose. Besides, there are very few Democrats talking about it. Kerry is legitimizing the 2004 election results and this will set back all the efforts for reform

There would have been NOTHING wrong, IMO, to AT LEAST saying that MANY democrats were disenfranchised and did not get to vote (not enough machines, confusing instructions, etc). This is all very well documented. I also think it would have helped to get the issue out that the machines were malfunctioning -- when people picked K they got B. And that if Florida had been closer there would be no way to recount since the Republicans voted against having paper trails. So we wouldn't even know who really won.

I was still on his bandwagon until today. He is a bright, intellegent person, who would have been a million times better president. But for me, he lacks the courage of conviction that I am looking for in a candidate.

[DETERMINEDPROGRESIVE]

34. Though I'd love to see him come out pullin all punches,

I still can't help but think he handles it exactly as he should. He is a perpetual thorn in the side of the right wing right now, and he knows he has to stay there. If he comes out too strong he too quickly can be dismissed as bitter and his words lose legitimacy. He is still in the senate. We have already seen him put up a fight there and not back down. I know he will continue to expose, albeit a little at a time, this evil administration. But if he does it all at once, as some of us want him to, then he will just so quickly be written off and he will lose the ability to force change. If he just said everything we wanted him too, as strong as we wanted him to, the media and conservatives would paint him as a sore loser who's message isn't worth listening to. But we need his message. Not for us, but for those that don't yet have a clue what is going on in their evil government. But they need it fed to them a little at a time. They need to see Kerry as smart, as determined, as fighting for us. They need to see he is respected, and can be respected. If he just lays it all on the table all at once, well we might like it, but the unexposed masses will more than likely be berrated with media and conservative criticisms of him as a sore loser and deceitful, and his message is lost.

I like him on the 'inside', fighting the battles in the senate with a voice of reason. It will take time, but I know he won't back down, I know Barbara won't back down, and with them, and others, our message will be known. Patience is the key.

[ClassWarrior]

36. Bingo.

There are plenty of people who'd like to see him blow himself up on national television. I'd prefer him to just sit and tick quietly...

NGU.

[ginnyinWI]

46. Yes, his game is

chess, not boxing. ;)

[ginnyinWI]

45. he did say it already

At the Martin Luther King day luncheon. Talked about voter disenfranchisement and sounded really mad! More will be happening on this front from him and the rest of the Dems.

[beammeup]

49. Of course he should have brought it up! If Al gore had been more of a

whiner in 2000, the U.S. and the world might not be in the mess we're in now.

[IndyPriest]

67. I believe Kerry thinks he lost; but he could learn

I love JK. I think he'd be a terrific president. He was pitch perfect on Iraq, the Swifts, his criticism of * economics, health care, social security, etc. But I think he does not have the whole story about the election. I have no doubt he COULD get it, but somebody who knows him well is going to have to feed him the right info.

[L. Coyote]

48. My thought was, "Great timing John, before the State of the Union."

[zann725]

63. And on the same day as the Shrub-controlled Iraq Election!

n/t

[Last Lemming]

50. The republicans were so worried

about that tape they didn't even change the threat leve--no I've been altambiguous-they were so worried about the tape that they didn't want to draw any attention to it.

In it, bin Laden talks about election fraud and disses Bush bigtime

[zann725]

60. The timing was perfect. He raised question to the Iraq election...

so much so that Faux News this evening brought Lieberman on to criticize Kerry's comments on MTB about the Iraq elections! That was the stamp of approval for me!

[mousie]

27. I think Kerry did very well (as always)!

Even with the attack dog goin' after him, he handled himself perfectly. I do wish we could see and hear more from Kerry... he has so much wisdom to share! And he still seems like the one who is truly acting presidential!!! :)

[dandrhesse]

30. I don't think it's from lack of trying. The MSM is doing it's darnedest

to play down anything and everything Kerry says or does, because by contrast he makes Bush look like a chicken with his head cut off!

[mousie]

32. exactly... I agree... yet Kerry handles it all so well! n/t

[KittyWampus]

37. There's Lots Of DU'ers REady To Do The Same To Kerry

many of them are disruptors.

[PresidentObama]

38. Kudos Senator Kerry

Good interview, Kerry gave a good showing.

[Pirate Smile]

44. That's the truth.

[ginnyinWI]

47. I've said it before:

I think he is the single most qualified person in the U.S. to be the president, no question about it.

[zann725]

62. He looked SO Presidential. Such intelligence, and dignity & integrity...

integrity...integrity.

[Klimmer]

39. Here is the transcript of MTP (1-30-05) interview . . .

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6886726 /

JK did very good I thought! A man of clarity and facts. Damn it, he is THE PRESIDENT!

:thumbsup:

[dandrhesse]

51. Thanks for the link

[imaginary girl]

53. Thanks for the link. I thought he did very well, as well.

Did anyone else find it interesting that he mentioned his kids health initiative when talking about the disputed nature of the election results? That's the same plan that some felt acted as a front for his message to supporters before ... I know it's an unpopular theory for some, but if it was a message before, it could clearly be seen as such again today.

<snip>

I won more votes than any candidate on the Democratic side has ever won in history. I lost, Tim, to an incumbent president by a closer margin than an incumbent president has ever won re-election before in the history of the country, and if you add up the popular vote in the battleground states, I won the popular vote in the battleground states by two percentage points. We just didn't distribute it correctly in Ohio.

So I think we did a great job, and we are going to continue to build on that campaign as I am now with my Kids First health plan. We have over 400,000 co-sponsors through the Internet who want to fight for this, and we are going to fight for it.

[zann725]

61. You're right! The "We just didn't distribute it correctly in Ohio" comment

was extremely interesting. He chuckled cynically afterward. Generally he tries to maintain the 'high-road' there, but comments like that 'shows' his hand a bit.

I thought the timing of his first real major TV interview SINCE Nov. 2 was interestingly timed to appear on the same day as Iraq's bogus election. I think it's his way of drawing an comparison between the two without having to directly say so.

I enjoyed the entire interview so much!

[imaginary girl]

64. Good point about the timing -- I was connecting it to the State of the

Union speech later this week, but either would make sense.

[k8conant]

40. I thought he did well and didn't sound whiny or petty...

I wish he had supported Kennedy's call for a timetable, but he did not.

[NationalEnquirer]

68. I need a new "I BELIEVE" thread, I BELIEVE IN KERRY!

This guy is ON THE BALL, he is no chimp idiot like ***.
He knows what he is doing, and perhaps is smarter than the rest of us, and/or he knows what REALLY is going on, but more to the point, after all his years in the dirty biz of politics, HE KNOWS HOW TO PLAY THE GAME.
Sit back and watch that master...?
One can hope!