Kerry to travel to Iraq, meet with troops. What does this mean?

[WebeBlue]

article: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/12/09/kerry_to_travel_to_iraq_meet_with_troops/?rss_id=Boston%20Globe%20--%20National%20News



Senator John F. Kerry, who rooted his unsuccessful presidential campaign in an alternate vision of the Iraqi occupation, will visit that nation next month during a swing through the Middle East.

The Massachusetts Democrat is to meet with National Guard troops from Massachusetts, other active-duty armed forces personnel, and others during the tour. The dates of his travel, the length of his stay, and his exact itinerary were being withheld for security purposes.

''He's going because he wants to thank the troops from Massachusetts," said Kerry spokeswoman April Boyd. ''While he's there, he'll also be meeting with military commanders, embassy officials, and Iraqi government leaders. The purpose will be to discuss the war in Iraq and the war on terrorism."

snipped... see article in full, The Boston Globe, url provided.


I am getting more confused, not less confused with each passing day. I NEED to keep my faith in Kerry despite clear signals from him as to what he is doing, but the quiet signals with him going to soldier's funeral, the seemingly non-action on vote fraud, and now he plans to go to Iraq next month?? What to think, what to think?
:crazy:

[Hello_Kitty]

1. I dunno. I'm glad he's going.

He's still a Senator and therefore, needs to serve his constituents wherever they are. He will no doubt be swamped by soldiers wanting to talk to him.

[DireStrike]

2. Did they really need to call his campaign "unsuccessful"?

Everybody knows that. Bias.

[bemildred]

3. He's "unifying behind the pRresident" and

trying to shore up support for the war.

[klook]

4. They'll finally get to meet their duly elected Commander-in-Chief (n/t)

[JI7]

5. what did it mean when he went to Vietnam, South America,etc ?

[bunkerbuster1]

6. It means he won't bullsh*t them when they ask hard questions

Unlike a scumbag DoD secretary we know.

[BeatleBoot]

7. What To Think? He's a Stud, that's what...

[bush_is_wacko]

28. This is my take too!

You go Kerry! Get the truth out there, keep fighting, and shove it right in Bush Co's face! This is good news! Maybe a hidden message here too. "I AM YOUR DULLY ELECTED COMMANDER IN CHIEF and I will not abandon you!" :yourock:

[bunny planet]

33. You can bet he won't be bringing a fake, plastic turkey either!

[demnan]

8. don't be confused

the election is over, Bush will be inaugurated and Kerry has gone back to being the Senator from Massachusetts. That's not Kerry bashing here, it's just the truth.

[Dawgs]

9. How bout a answer-question session with the troops?

What does he have to lose now? I say go over and answer questions from the troops(like Rummy). He is a representative of the American government for Christ's sake.

[TheDonkey]

10. Not much surprise. He is being an active senator

There have been many senators that have traveled to iraq. Kerry isn't sitting on the sidelines anymore.

[madrchsod]

11. nothing

[Bleacher Creature]

12. It just means that he's trying to stay in the game

for 2008.

[WebeBlue]

13. When Kerry said 2008, do you think he means Second Term as President?

I am still holding onto Kerry sitting as President and CIC as elected righteously in 2004, and in hanging onto wispy threads of hope, have concluded that when Kerry (who has said very little publicly) said in media that he thought he might run in 2008, it's because he plans to run for his Second Term.

That's my take on things given the perplexing signals coming from all directions, and I'm sticking to it. He seems more to me to be acting very Presidential than as a Senator going about normal business.

[Imagevision]

14. Excellant photo-Op -- Excellant way to come back in and join the fight

Don't forget!...Timing is what Kerry is all about and I think he has it down pretty-pat!

John Conyers is asking for an investigation hearings next to take place in Ohio?...not too shabby! :)

[liberalpragmatist]

15. He's not going to be President

I wish it were so but he is not going to be inaugurated on Jan. 20.

He's a United States Senator, and a delegation from the FR committee is planning a trip. He hasn't gone, so he's going now. He'll be assured high-profile coverage.

And who said that this is shoring up support for the war? That's a ridiculous statement. Senators and Congressmen have been visiting Iraq for over a year to meet the troops and to see what the conditions really are like. It's the responsibility of government. Why hasn't W actually gone to truly visit Iraq (and I don't mean a photo-op with a fake turkey)?

[purduejake]

22. Really?

Have all of the votes been counted yet? Has the fraud issue been dealt with yet? Last time I checked, the fight was just beginning.

[Leilani]

16. He should have been there a long time ago.

Hell, he was running for Commander-in-Chief, & he's never been to Iraq.

During the campaign cycle I called on him to go there...or send Wes Clark on his behalf.

Many Senators have made numerous trips; he never went.

Too little, too late.

Now it's just a photo op for 2008.

[bunny planet]

35. By 2008 nobody will even remember he went to Iraq. This is for now and to.

show respect and concern for the troops, something Kerry has always done. If he had gone during the campaign, the Republicans would have screamed that he was using the troops as a campaign prop. BTW, he ends up making President Fake Plastic Turkey look pretty f**cking stupid at the same time he looks well.......Presidential. Kerry is a statesman, * is a codpiece wearing, landing on an aircraft carrier, mission not accomplished buffoon.

[LittleClarkie]

37. (checks profile) Damn. Female. I can't have your children then

Thank you, bunny.

As for not having gone to Iraq yet, did the other candidates go to Iraq? Was the same criticism leveled at them?

No matter what Kerry does, I fear someone will say "Too little, too late."

I believe he is living up to his promise to oppose the Bush regime regardless of the outcome of this election.

I think the troops will be glad to see him. He will listen to them as he listened to the veterans during the Winter Soldier hearings, and then tell us what they're saying.

I can't believe RW radio is trying to spin the exchange between the soldiers and Rummy as planted by a reporter. Yeah, the other soldiers cheering were plants too. It would be good to hear the truth from someone we can trust.

My candidate -- the Rodney Dangerfield of politics. It shall always be thus I fear.

[Leilani]

45. The other candidates did not get the nomination

Several times during the campaign, early on, I wrote to the Kerry Campaign asking, "Please go to Iraq, to judge what the situation is, to see how you can fix it."

And "If you can't go, send Wes Clark on your behalf, to get the true story of what is going on over there."

Maybe, if he had done that he would have been able to campaign on more than "I have a plan" or "I'll bring Allies into Iraq."

[bunny planet]

51. I'm flattered that you'd considered procreating with me Littleclarkie.

So true, what you said about Kerry being the Rodney Dangerfield of politics. It seems as if someone who is as authentic as I believe Kerry to be is often viewed with constant skepticism in this cynical world. I don't know why, just a feeling, but I have always trusted in Kerry's utmost sincerity especially when it comes to our soldiers. Just a vibe, but I'm usually not wrong about those.

I am glad he is going to Iraq. I do think the troops will be very glad to see someone there who has seen combat and will really listen to what they are saying. I also believe that most of them voted for him. I must confess I'm concerned for his safety. I hope he goes, gives some comfort, let's those young men and women be heard, and comes back home to give us something we sorely need, some truth for a change.

[Catherine Vincent]

17. What the hell is Kerry going to Iraq for!? I don't get it!

....said George W. Bush.

[WebeBlue]

21. Cat girl25, Tx, gave me a big grin with your comment. n/t

[zulchzulu]

18. Sheesh...a few things

Senators and congresspersons have been going to Iraq for a while now. Maybe Kerry wants to see how bad it is...ever think of that.

As for the lie about Kerry's "seemingly non-action on vote fraud", maybe you didn't get the memo. HE IS WORKING ON IT!

I'm glad he's going over there to see the mess for himself and you can bet he's going to come back with proof that this war is a quagmire.

[WebeBlue]

20. Lie is a strong word there, might have pointed out

poor word useage or framing of the sentence, but I really do take exception to using the word "lie" as if my intent was to mislead or to lie...that is hurtful. I think choosing to use "seemingly non-action" indicates there seems to be non action while at the same time indicates there indeed may be action.

Whatever....hey thanks zulchzulu for the help, it's not like I know my way around DU yet, but guess I'll learn with helpful folks like you ready to shoot from the hip less any protocol of mentoring or helpfulness.

[zulchzulu]

24. Before you accuse Kerry of doing nothing about the vote, do your homework

I've seen enough of the Kerry bashing here and elsewhere that he "isn't doing anything" about the voter fraud and results of the election to make me sick and wonder what the intentions of people are.

I can refute the lie (and it is a lie) that he is "doing nothing" and it's like dealing with a Hannity-type person that just keeps coming back repeating the lie. It gets pointless after a while.

Kerry has made statements about voter fraud, has had people in Ohio, Florida and elsewhere looking into the problem and is going to make a point of working on legislation on voter and election reform in the next years.

Here's Kerry on 11/9/04:
http://www.kerrysupport.com/media/kerry_110904.mp3

More on Ohio, Florida etc.:
http://www.google.com/search?q=kerry+election+ohio+florida+lawyers&btnG=Search&hl=en&lr=

[WebeBlue]

29. Are you being deliberately obtuse here...

zulchzulu, we are on the Same Page...get it. I did not in any way state Kerry was doing nothing, and I'm really resenting your insistence that my word useage implies otherwise. I'm not the one you need to beat up here, I'm way way way way way way way on Kerry's side and am counting heavily on him for more reasons than you can imagine...so knock it off. You are preaching to the choir here so take it to the masses and convince someone outside the choir.

[zulchzulu]

47. Hey champ... you wrote "the seemingly non-action on vote fraud"...

Perhaps you forgot what you posted in your thread.

My points (as seen in the previous threads) are that your point is WRONG. And I see the same BS from others propagating the LIE that Kerry is doing "nothing".

Please retract your point and I'll gladly not make it a point that you are bashing Kerry with a lie.

Simple.

Do it.

[DemBones DemBones]

48. You mean the fake memo from Cam Kerry?

Not buying it that he's "working on it." He caved. He hasn't sent us a single note about what he's doing, despite our sending him several hundred dollars.

John Kerry won't get a dime from us in 2008. He didn't have our back.

[blackangrydem]

19. He's still on the stump

[radar]

23. Guess we'll get to see

...How the "guy who doesn't support the troops" gets treated by the people with the final word on the matter - the soldiers.

I.E. crowd size and cheers vs jeers. Public Q & A sessions a la townhall meetings that media will be filming.

[lukasahero]

25. Yeah right

I'm not doubting the reception, I'm doubting the coverage... I do not believe we will "get to see" anything.

My answer to the original question of what's he doing? Hmmm, sounds like he's acting like a President is supposed to in my opinion.

[livinginphotographs]

32. Re: I'm not doubting the reception, I'm doubting the coverage...

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Those who control the press control the people. And we can investigate voter-fraud all we want, and scream at brick walls all we want (I've spent the last couple of years doing the exact same thing, to no avail), and the sheeple are still going to believe what they want to, regardless of what reality is.

[Fla Dem]

26. Will be looking forward to his visit. I think it will be covered bigtime.

Mainstream media will cover it because it IS news. Presidential candidate visiting the troops is good TV. RW will cover it as a grand standing stunt on Kerry's part. But who cares what they think.

[uppityperson]

27. Keeping it simple, maybe it's because he is a decent human.

Forget conspiracy theories and political "why" and "what if"s, perhaps it simply means he is a decent human who truly cares about others. Perhaps I'm naive, but it could be that basic.

[LittleClarkie]

30. I would try not to read so much into each individual action

Those who think he's speaking in code may find he's actually been pretty plain.

If we take things at face value, Kerry is making sure all the votes get counted, that the election gets investigated, and will likely also fight for election law reform because as he said, it's a travasty that we can't trust elections in America.

But, if we take things at face value, we may also find something we don't want to hear, that he's not trying to flip the election. If something big enough in the voting process is found, that could change. But I don't think that's the goal. Fair and honest elections are the goal. As many have said, it's not about Kerry, it's about the vote. Apparently he agrees, if we take him at face value.

Regardless of the outcome of the election, as he said on Nov 19th, the Bush agenda must be fought. And so he is laying plans to form a PAC to fight for Social Security and health care and such. And I think it fits into his pattern that he's also concerned about the soldiers and the mess in Iraq. The best way to speak to that coherently is to speak from first-hand knowledge. Hence he is going to Iraq to see for himself what's going on. Good for him.

Go with what's being said up front unless you are given good reason to believe otherwise.

I think in saying "regardless of the outcome of the election" Kerry is at the least acknowledging that all the votes haven't been counted, not neccessarily that he thinks he can be president at this point.

Not that he wouldn't want it, mind you, as messy as it would be. But if grabbing the presidency without most of the country believing that he deserved the presidency would rip the country in two, he wouldn't go there. Not while there are soldiers in the field esp.

That's what I think, anyway.

[livinginphotographs]

31. Not a fucking thing.

Sorry, I'm feeling pissy tonight and need to get some things off my chest.

Kerry was mealy-mouthed about opposing the Iraq War from the beginning, and didn't change much throughout the election. He said, "The world was safer without Saddam," then had to backpeddle on that. He voted for the IWR and said he would've done it again.

I'm sorry, but it's how I feel. I know we couldn't criticize him through the election, and I agreed with that, but now that it's over (and I really don't think an investigation, however legitimate, into voter fraud is going to change that) I think we need to do some serious soul-searching. The thugs stole this country, and I'm not sure what could possibly be done to get it back.

Sorry for the depresso-rama in this post. Maybe I should just go to bed.

[quaker bill]

34. It means he is going to Iraq to meet with the troops

It is the patriotic thing for a Senator to do.

[journalist3072]

36. John Kerry

It's quite simple. John Kerry 'gets it.' He's been there, done that, as far as fighting for his country in a foreign place. So he knows what our troops are going through.

[Patriot Acts]

38. Kerry will spend more time with the troops.....

...I bet! More time than Bush does, minus the fake ass turkey, this will get the troops thinking. It will definatly be VERY interesting to watch and hear about.

Do you all think this will make Bushie wanna go back for another visit... he would hate to be outstaged, I would think? At any rate, Im very happy to hear he is going. Just hope the Bushies don't ambush him when he gets there.

[LittleClarkie]

39. Can't you see Bush competing with Kerry for the next 4 years

to see who can look the more "presidential."

Bush will keep losing in that regard.

[Patriot Acts]

40. Yep....

.....should be fun.

I just hate to think about what Rush is going to say. I hate the guy but still tune in to hear what "they" are saying. You can still get the truth by listening to the Rush show... just listen to what he is saying, and believe the opposite = the facts!

[Patriot Acts]

41. This is my 100th post here at DU

Time to celebrate......

[Patriot Acts]

42. I would like to thank.....

.....all the little people that made this possible.

[mtnsnake]

44. LOL

[Stephanie]

43. WHO is flying the plane?

What sort of aircraft will he fly on? What sort of protection will he have? This trip is terrifying to me. It's the perfect opportunity for the BFEE.

Who watches Kerry's back in Iraq?

[LittleClarkie]

46. Does he still have Secret Service following him around

if so, for how much longer?

In the back of my mind, that bugs me too. I don't want him to be Wellstoned.

[DemBones DemBones]

49. Why should they Wellstone him when he did what they wanted?

He conceded. Early. Long before all the votes were counted.

Way to fight for us, John. :eyes:

[LittleClarkie]

50. Gee, I hadn't heard that sentiment expressed before

Thank you. Every Kerry thread needs a Whiner 49er in it, dontcha know.

Because he's vowed to fight them regardless of the outcome of the election, that's why

[DemBones DemBones]

52. So who are you? Little

Goody Two Shoes? Or Pollyanna?

:shrug:

I say what I think about politicians.

[LittleClarkie]

54. No, I'm not Pollyanna. But it's like the words "John Kerry" are a signal

to come into a thread, regardless of what it's about, and complain about how "he didn't fight for us" "he's lost my respect" "he conceded too soon".

Say what you think, but not the same thing over, and over, and over in every thread with the words "John" and "Kerry" in it. Okay, we got it, we got it. We can't mention his name without someone collapsing in the middle of the thread crying "He shoulda fought for us." Even the birthday card thread I started. Oh right, I'm going to put "fight for us you coward" in the middle of a birthday card.

Alright already! I'll go get him an olive switch so he can properly atone.

[DemBones DemBones]

55. OK, sorry to rain on your parade, BUT

I don't go into every thread about John Kerry to say he turned out to be a disappointment when the crunch came. It just wouldn't take much for him to be supporting the recount and reform efforts. I say so from time to time because he needs to know that many of us won't support him in 2008 because of his actions post-election.

I supported him very strongly and I did so from the time it became evident he would be the nominee. I took my Kucinich avatar off way back in the spring and started giving more money to Kerry, though I supported Kucinich's staying in the race and trying to effect some reform in our wussy GOP-lite platform.

Some, maybe as much as $200-$300, of what we gave to Kerry was specifically to fight any election problems. I gave money so I have a right to complain, even on his birthday.

[Patriot Acts]

53. Whiner49, thats cute....

....but I agree with him. I was stunned and I'm still in shock over the way Kerry handled the days after the election. He told us all along that it was the most important election EVER, EVER!!! Then he seemed to be the first one of us to throw in the towl. I just don't know about that. Something smells funny! ...Or is the smeller the feller??

[DemBones DemBones]

56. EXACTLY!!! And he raised money to fight

election irregularities.

[uppityperson]

57. I agree too and will be the first to apologize

if Kerry is truly working behind the scenes, etc, rather than just getting on with life. His early concesion stunned me. If his concession is for a broader purpose and not just not-fightingfor-us, I'll apologize. Time will tell.