We can win but I feel this must be done at the Convention speech..Agree?

[vetwife]

My name is John Kerry and I unlike George W. Bush am willing to admit when mistakes are made. I am human. I pretend to be no more than human. I will never take our young men and women into harms way unless we absolutely have to and only with the help of our allies. I was given itelligent information that was beefed, up, distorted, misleading and I voted for Resolution 1441 about non compliance of reporting WMD's., which also gave the president the power to go to war. Call me a Waffler, I'm not. Call me human who is willing to admit to human error of deceit but it was George Bush and his rush to war that was deceptive., and unwilling to admit any mistakes..ever. I am a man who has faced combat and seen human suffering from fellow soldiers. I have seen the effect of a war torn country. I am a man who can lead this country and willing to admit when I make mistakes. I voted for the war and I no longer believe that was a correct choice. I did believe what was presented to me as truth. My vote was based on that deception.
That does not make me a waffler that makes me human. Given the information that has since been revealed my vote would be that of
Senator Graham. I must live with that vote but as Jay Rockefeller stated, we were mislead.

This is what he needs to say regarding his war vote and this needs to be said forcefully, passionately and with contrite.
I stand behind John Kerry whatever he decides but his handlers had better tell him this in my opinion. Who agrees?

[vetwife]

1. Kick for comment

[vetwife]

2. Anyone?

[joanne]

4. It's definitely what I would like to hear

Although I definitely support Kerry/Edwards, I cant forget they supported this illegal war. Only a few sane members of Congress didnt.

I'd be thrilled to hear him say this but whether he would or not is another thing.

And the fact is, there are millions of Americans who also supported the war but dont know because they realize they were lied to. It's proven by Chimpy's meltdown in the polls and the record fundraising for the Kerry campaign.

[K-W]

3. Stop making the war vote a big deal.

It simply isnt. I understand the emotional reaction, but it was a political vote that left him rehtorical wiggle room. We are only helping the republcans by blocking his escape route.

He voted to give Bush the power to go to war if it was neccessary. Bush abused that power. Its easy, its technically correct and it doesnt require Kerry admitting that he supported the war, which is exactly what Bush wants him to do.

[Forkboy]

5. "Stop making the war vote a big deal."

How long O'Lord,how long?

[K-W]

6. Ive got the future to worry about.

The past isnt going to change on me any time soon, so I choose to focus on things I can have osme effect on. Kerry wouldnt have brought us into Iraq. That is all I need to know going into this election. He wont do the horrible things Bush will do.

[mike_c]

8. you're willing to overlook the consequences of that vote....

Thousands dead, tens of thousands wounded and maimed, a country shattered and delivered into occupation and colonialism, another country at ground zero for every angry Islamic militant in the world. Stop making such a big deal over that beceause it might cost us points or something?

[Jackpine Radical]

15. Dammit, we have to get past this business.

K-W's take is good and simple.

We were in crisis, and I stood behind the Commander in Chief.
He betrayed us.

We now have to take responsibility for cleaning up the mess he made in our name.

End of story.

Personally, I demonstrated against the war from the beginning, and supported Dean for his antiwar stance. Well, we went to war anyway, and Dean is not the nominee. I will now put my efforts into getting Kerry elected. That is the only chance. Whining, voting for Nadir, or sitting it all out are stupid, self-indulgent non-options that can only serve to bring greater harm to the world.

[vetwife]

21. Yeah K-W's take is a good one...

You all know me..You know I have a vets org. You know I have CD out called Take it Back..You know I support Kerry. I am on C-Span and Guy James and support Kerry big time and do a lot of campaigning I am just thinking of ways that puts the people unsure at ease. That is why I asked your opinions. I also know some folks at the DNC.

[mike_c]

7. it would get my attention....

It would demonstate that Kerry is capable of admitting his prior position was wrong, and that would certainly lessen the sense that my other objections are insurmountable. One step at a time only works if steps are made.

[vetwife]

10. I think he can accomplish three things with that statement

He admits that he was duped and human and willing to say he was mislead.
He admits he is defined once and for all his Iraq position. Kills it in the debates and waffling vote.


Kills the Nader factor.

Look I am voting Kerry no matter what but I am thinking of the Nader voters and those holding out because they want accountability from everyone in Washington. I am a huge Kerry supporter but don't say it doesn't matter. He can't afford to make one wobble. Not this time. He is fightig some of the most crooked, lying bunch of...where did I hear that? Oh yeah from Senator Kerry !

[Jackpine Radical]

17. Remember Ed Muskie?

His political death followed immediately upon his announcement that he had been "brainwashed" about Vietnam.

And then there was that Jimmy Carter guy and his sense of malaise.

Admitting to error is not always good for your political health.

I think Kerry knows more about running for President than I do, and I'm not presuming to tell him how to do it.

[BeFree]

9. But you need to remember

The way the IWR shakes out is that a vote for it was a vote that would seemingly, to the sheeple anyway, protect America. Had Kerry voted no, boosh would be saying Kerry supports terra. If boosh could pin that lie on Kerry the election would already be over. As a Vet's wife, surely ya know where I'm coming from?

[vetwife]

11. They are saying it anyway..Look what they did to Max..

As a vet's wife I know where you are coming from but turning it on Bush and the thirst for war by not being there makes him stronger !IMO..he can't play nice any longer. Pull out the unexpected and Katy barr the door. He could reinterate that he would lead us and not leave us vunerable. He could cover it and take away the Naderites.

[vetwife]

13. I am listening to a veterans radio station who want to hear this

We have to think that the thousands coming home with little or no benefits are going to pay a huge price. Now guess what, this is gonna come up..Get it out there now ! that is my only suggestion.

[BeFree]

24. Kerry will and has been attacking boosh on Iraq

As time draws nearer to Nov. 2, expect Kerry to attack even harder if the troops remain. But the only thing Kerry needs to apologize about is the fact that he trusted boosh's word... something he has already done.

My point is that Kerry has played the game masterfully so far. That fact gives me great assurance that he and his people will be able to handle the mess they will inherit.

[mike_c]

12. 147 members of congress voted "no...."

I haven't heard any of them being accused of have "supported terrorism." Most people I've talked about this with admire their courage.

[vetwife]

14. No I mean the R wingers accuse Kerry as supporting terrorism

trying to influence the undecided !

[vetwife]

16. But they are not running for President......

[Jackpine Radical]

19. That was my immediate response too.

And in thier individual states & districts, they ARE getting the Traitor treatment. I've herad some pretty nasty stuff from one of Feingold's opponents, for example.

[BeFree]

22. None of those 147 are running for President

If they were, they'd be pinned with the 'support terrorists'.

The election cycle has really just begun. You can expect to see many of those 147 pinned. Or do you believe the pukes won't use that?

[Guaranteed]

18. He's not going to get anywhere near saying that.

He's not even going to talk about the war.

It's a goddamned shame. How does one make up for cowardice? With more cowardice, of course.

[Jackpine Radical]

23. There's a difference between cowardice and strategy.

His job right now is not necessarily to make points with the antiwar crowd. It is to get elected.

Almost all Repugs & a rather large minority of Dems supported the war in some degree. That adds up to a majority by my guess. I think he has to tread lightly & carefully in this area.

[gristy]

20. One should never say what one is not or what one does not want.

When a coach calls time out, he doesn't say "I don't want you guys slogging around out there any more. No more of this sitting around on defense." He has to say "I wanna see some hustle out there! Jenkins! When your man is bringing the ball down, you get in his face, you hear!"

So if Kerry feels he has to address the waffling meme, he has to do it from a positive angle. That he brings a wealth of experience and will continue his practice of considering issues wholely on their own merits, with all available evidence and information, and without any ill-conceived bias or agenda.

Well the end of that last sentence is a little negative (using the words bias and agenda), but in this case he's introducing his own meme to stick to bush, rather than trying to use a meme which has already been co-opted by the RW.

Kerry's acceptance speech should not include any comment that he will "admit it when mistakes are made". There are better ways to show his humility and humanity.