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Do you want to help get our troops out of Iraq? Then read this...

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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 08:40 PM
Original message
Do you want to help get our troops out of Iraq? Then read this...


Faneuil Hall is a place of history. It was there that the spirit that gave birth to the principles of our country soared among the rafters and lifted up a people burdened by a tyrannical government. It was there that men like James Otis, Samuel Adams and Benjamin Franklin spoke out not only against tyranny but spoke out for a better tomorrow. They believed in the inalienable rights of all people to live free and unabridged and suffer only that which is "necessary for the great end of society, the best good of the whole."

For those who don't know much about this great hall or the men that made it famous, you may remember it as a backdrop to yet another historical event. This last event however was not a crowning victory of liberty and justice; this event was shrouded in the air of defeat and filled with broken hearts and dreams. It was here that John Kerry gave his concession speech in 2004 and I for one will remember that day and that back-drop for a long time. Until that time, I had never put my heart and hopes on anything other than my own selfish interests. I had never considered that participation in Democracy was just as vital as putting on a uniform and defending it with my life, if need be. It wasn't until I began to realize that I was losing one of the most precious gifts given to me by all those who came before, that I finally participated in not only the Defense of this Democracy but the Process of Democracy.

This was also the back-drop where my childish dream of American democracy died. Like millions of others, I too believed John had lost the election. I had no idea that it had been blatantly and brazenly stolen by Demons whose only purpose was to hang onto ill-gotten power and avoid taking accountability for the murder they contracted. How was I supposed to know? I hadn't found DU yet. Alone and living in a country that approved torture, approved deception, approved ignorance and pride, I lost all hope.

But the Lord works wondrous ways and at my darkest hour, he brought me here and taught me how to not only care for others more than myself but it's here I learned that the dream that had died was but an insubstantial fantasy. It was here that I found and finally understood the words "America the Beautiful, my country 'tis of thee". You are my countrymen and I am well-served and hardly worthy.

I have already taken so much from you and have given so little in return. I know we're emotionally exhausted and many of us feel dejected and cheated. We all know the tide of the battle has shifted in our favor but the force needed to reverse the course of that behemoth has sapped a great deal of strength and worn the patience of even our greatest heroes. But let there be no doubt, the Tide has turned and they do not have the strength to turn it back. Come what may, the war on our values, the war on our compassion and the war on quite possibly the very survival of the Earth has shifted in our favor. We have the moral high ground and NOW is the time to gain momentum. Now is the time to wash over Washington in a tidal wave of iron-hard determination.

Let me assure you, ending the war in Iraq is not going to be easy but it can be done. And I believe, Senator Kerry may have just given us an answer on how to do it. Now you may not like Senator Kerry, you may feel betrayed by his decision to back down from the election theft fight, you may disagree with his views on any number of issues but all of that is irrelevant. Getting our people back home alive is way beyond Senator Kerry, he has neither the authority or the coalition of support to achieve this on his own. You may not like Senator Kerry, but if you hate the war more I ask you to please support Senator Kerry's Iraq Withdrawal Plan. He has called for a withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country of Iraq by May 15th if the Iraqi government fails to take control of their country and put an end to sectarian divisiveness. He has set May 15th as the day our troops could come home. May 15th. If the Iraqi leadership should somehow get their collective shit together, he has set yet another deadline: the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops by the end of this year.

John cannot hope to get this initiative moving on his own. If this is to succeed, we must come together as one voice and lend our full support and remaining energy. We must set aside casual differences and minor idealogical battles and focus like a laser on May 15th. We are awash with the flotsam and jetsam from disillusioned souls, all of us here carry the War in our hearts and pray for the safe return of our citizen soldiers and we pray that peace can come to the Land of Iraq for they deserve it even more than we.

When John Kerry stood last at Faneuil Hall, he stood in defeat; plagued by his own demons. I cursed him for fleeing a battle I didn't understand and branded him cowardly. For this, I am sorry. I now know the nature of the beast we need to defeat and I also know he cannot be beaten by a single cut. We have skewered the Demons and they are bleeding from many wounds but now we need to join for one great heave and put an end to a lie. May 15th can be that day. A Senator of the United States of America has called for the complete withdrawal from Iraq and has called for accountability for the lies told to get us there. Will you stand with him and help get our troops out of Iraq? You don't have to make him President, you don't have to even like him, just stand with him and help bring our boys and girls home and put an end to American's killing Iraqi's.

Here's his speech and his acknowledgment of who we are and what we believe in. Watch it and decide if this is worth fighting for. It is for me.
http://www.johnkerry.com/
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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 08:48 PM
Response to Original message
1. Smooches to you for a great post! nt
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marla101 Donating Member (32 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-02-06 07:16 PM
Response to Reply #1
22. then read this
The War’s Liberal Enablers
http://www.counterpunch.org/donnelly05012006.html

If we do not understand and confront what happened last time around- we are destined to repeat it.

I don't believe Kerry has good intentions AT ALL. He just wants to take credit when the troops come home. Well where was he 2004? He wouldn't even let us talk about the war. Protesters were put in "free speech" cages outside the democratic convention.

A Kucinich delegate in Boston and the totalitarian democratic party
http://bellaciao.org/en/article.php3?id_article=2305
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rockymountaindem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 08:52 PM
Response to Original message
2. Awesome post
Thanks for your great thoughts. They mean a lot to me as a Kerry fan.
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karynnj Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 08:57 PM
Response to Reply #2
3. This is a truly beautiful post
Hopefully people will listen to you and sign.
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globalvillage Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 08:58 PM
Response to Original message
4. Now that's a post
worthy of introducing that incredible speech.
Isn't Faneuil the perfect setting for a speech on the right to dissent?

:yourock:
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IndyOp Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 09:01 PM
Response to Original message
5. Damn. This is a such a good post I won't even rant about...
well...anything.

:hi:
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ProSense Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 09:02 PM
Response to Original message
6. Beautiful statement! n/t
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_dynamicdems Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 09:05 PM
Response to Original message
7. Bravo! That was one hell of a post!
Thank you, that was wonderful.

The nature of your post is so pro-unity that anyone who comes to this thread to whine absolutely has to be a troll. Let's see if your terrific post will bring them in. If it does, you know that you have been successful in creating a tremor of fear in the opposition.

Let's prove that Democratic Unity isn't an oxymoron.
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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 09:25 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. _dynamicdems, what a great line, and so often discounted!
"Let's prove that Democratic Unity isn't an oxymoron.":applause: :applause:
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disndat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-02-06 12:52 PM
Response to Reply #9
20. Yes, but,
it is a BIG mystery why he caved in so fast, that morning to the Bush campaign,
when there were already reports of irregularities with the Ohio election. Kerry's speeches are pure platinum, like Mario Cuomo's, who, as governor, Cuomo did nothing of note. Democrats don't have to be united to win elections. That is the nature of the party. Don't forget, the Democrats DID win '00 and '04, except for the huge juggernaut of the Bush/Cheney/Rove Crime machine that crushed out both victories.
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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-02-06 01:38 PM
Response to Reply #20
21. Fallujah...
Edited on Tue May-02-06 01:39 PM by mikelewis
Bush was holding up the attack on Fallujah until after the election had been "decided" and was planning on using this as a way to force Kerry into capitulation. The Battle of Fallujah was being hailed as the battle that would end the insurgency and the Administration was holding up the attack until the election had been decided. While the overt fraud was substantial, a long investigation would be required to root out the fraud. Kerry decided to bow out of the fight and work on bringing down the GOP network that stole the election. People like Tom Noe and Jack Abramoff were immediately targeted but it wasn't only these two, Republican operatives have been fumbling then falling ever since the last election. This of course was not Kerry's doing but he was involved in the leadership that decided to fight back. The information gleaned from the 2004 and 2005 races has been used to hit them and put the crooks back on their heels.

Our elections are still rife with fraud but many people have either lost their positions or have landed in jail. The Neocons have been planning this take-over for 20 years or more and it's going to take some time to root out the rats that still remain. But it's important to know that the Dems are not, I repeat, not, oblivious to the reality of election fraud. But with a Republican controlled House, Senate and Scotus, the outcome was certain. They kept their powder dry and risked alienating a lot of people but ultimately, what choice did he have? Fight a battle that he could not win and be labeled as obstructing the war and costing more American lives or bow out and fight the battles he could win?

This is a battle we can win but only if people can put aside the irrelevant past and realize this issue has absolutely nothing to do with the last Presidential election. By 2008, no one will remember how we got out of Iraq and who led the charge, this is not about running for President, it's about getting our troops out of harms way and showing the world that reason and compassion still exists in America, if only stifled and embattled. We can win this fight and get our soldiers home if we can focus in on this one single goal. Get our troops out by May 15th or at least the end of the year. That's all we want. Too many people like to shoot the messenger when it's the message that means more than the carrier.
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wisteria Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 09:16 PM
Response to Original message
8. Wonderful thoughts recognizing an excpetional man-Senator Kerry and
a noble cause. Thank you!
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MH1 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 10:13 PM
Response to Original message
10. Wonderful post! - also don't miss
the two speeches that preceded Kerry's - Captain Jonathan Powers (who was in Iraq), and Judith Droz Keyes, whose husband served with Kerry and was killed in Vietnam, shortly after telling her that he and John had agreed they needed to speak out against the war when they got back from 'Nam. Both are very moving. Transcripts are linked in the right sidebar of johnkerry.com.
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YvonneCa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 11:10 PM
Response to Original message
11. I bought it from C-Span...
...and am showing it to anyone who will listen. This is the ONLY thing worth fighting for: "Truth is the American bottom line." I stand with John Kerry...in support of our troops, in support of his initiative to end the war in Iraq, and in any future efforts he may make to claim the Presidency to which (I believe) he was elected. :patriot:



P.S. BEAUTIFUL post!
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jenndar Donating Member (911 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon May-01-06 11:12 PM
Response to Original message
12. Yay!
That speech was amazing. Always glad to read it again.
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rox63 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-02-06 06:58 AM
Response to Original message
13. Thanks for a fantastic post!
I had the privilege of being at Kerry's speech on 4/22/06, and I was so moved, I was near tears by the time he finished.
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SunDrop23 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-02-06 07:31 AM
Response to Original message
14. Eloquent post and Kerry's speech was beautiful.
It was a speech by a true statesman.
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Alamom Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-02-06 07:35 AM
Response to Original message
15. Great post . I thank you for the opportunity to read words from
a true American, (you) mikelewis. Also, for bringing Sen. Kerry's speech to our attention once again.

As I read this I realize, they have almost worn us out and almost made us believe, we can't do anything. We are blocked every way we turn by corruption.

Of coure, you are right. We have to fight and this is worth fighting for.

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mikelewis Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-02-06 07:40 AM
Response to Original message
16. A simple plan....
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Hissyspit Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-02-06 08:26 AM
Response to Original message
17. ... he cannot be beaten by a single cut
That much is clear. Well put.
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SunDrop23 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-02-06 10:59 AM
Response to Reply #17
18. Good point...get involved locally
I can't beat the Bush crime family from my little house in central North Carolina, but what I can do is try to effect the political landscape locally - thinking if we can build a base at the local level, we can take it regional, then statewide, etc. A domino effect if you will.
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blm Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue May-02-06 12:47 PM
Response to Reply #17
19. True - NOTHING happens unless the Dem party UNITES behind this plan.
Just like Kerry needed the Dem party to believe in machine fraud, he needs other Dems to believe in this withdrawal plan.

Ted Kennedy, Gary Hart, Bob Kerrey, Tom Hayden, Russ Feingold, Max Cleland support this plan - we need MORE to push it through.
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