RFK, Jr. to endorse JFK this afternoon in NYC...from ABC's The Note...

[flpoljunkie]

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/politics/TheNote/TheNote.html

The Note has learned that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will endorse John Kerry this afternoon in Gotham City. RFK and JFK will team up to hit Bush Administration on their handling of environmental risks immediately after 9/11.

The Riverkeeper should help Kerry tap into a new cash network and may help him with enviros who have been flirting with Howard Dean. (We do wonder if Mr. Kennedy, Jr., will wear one of his favorite fishing-inspired ties!)

Despite the swirling winds of a campaign finding its sea legs, the Kerry effort has picked up some impressive endorsements this week and sources say there are more to come in the next few days.

[blm]

1. What enviros

could possibly "flirt" with anyone but Kerry and Kucinich on the environment?

Riverkeepers is pretty influential down here in SC, surprisingly. This is good news.

The endorsement I am looking forward to the most is the Firefighters, which should be before the end of this month. Damn, can those guys activate and work hard.

[JI7]

2. one reason i love kerry so much

long and GREAT record on the environment. i love hearing him talk about it. and robert kennedy jr's big thing is the environment so it's a good one.

[PAMod]

3. This endorsement is more impressive than the roll-call of Senate D's

Robert Kennedy, Jr. is all-environment, all the time.

[JI7]

4. that's why i like it

not because he is a kennedy but because i know of his involvement on the environment and how important an issue it is for him .

[blm]

5. He and Kerry both sounded the alarm on environmental racism, too.

Which is a BIG plus in my book.

[TheDonkey]

6. What is enviromental racism? (nt)

[blm]

8. Well, it's when corporations or federal or state govts.

choose areas near low-income neighborhoods and communities to dispose of their waste. Bio, chemical and in some cases, nuclear. It generally has a devastating effect on the residents and especially the children, usually minorities.

[Fabio]

12. Environmental Racism

like BLM said, is the term applied to the fact that uneven amounts of potential environmental hazard or emission sites are co-located within poorer socioeconomic areas, ie a disproportionate amount of SuperFund sites are located in poor neighborhoods. So are powerplants, btw.

I think it is a great term and I am happy that people have identified it as an important issue. The candidates who attended the League of Conservation Voters debate actually discussed the issue at length. And it was a hi level discussion -- not suprisingly, Sharpton, Braun and Kerry were all very insightful. Dean was good on lead issues, which is more of a children's health issue.

I went to the debate. I was very pleased at the fluency of the candidates in these areas. I tell you what, the thought of Joe Lieberman as nominee doesn't get me too excited, but he does know his stuff in the area of environmental protection and sustainability. I definately respect him for that, and he aint like Shrub. To me, intelligent environmental advocacy is one of two or three dedrock issues for the future of the Democratic Party.

[blm]

17. Thanks for elaborating.

I can only speak at gut level.

;)

[TheDonkey]

18. Thanks blm and Fabio! (nt)

[DrFunkenstein]

20. Environmental Racism Got Me In (And Out) Of Politics

When I was a senior in high school, I joined the Concerned Citizens of Union County to fight the placement of a trash incinerator in a densely populated minority area - the black/Latino section of my hometown. Not that the incinerator should be in anyone's backyard - the research done on the model showed that a significant amount of carcinogens were released into the air.

We had meetings with local officials, with Scott Weiner then-head of the EPA in NJ, and even Gov. Jim Florio. The town had signed the contract in the 70's, before any research had been done, and the surrounding towns were against it. But it didn't matter. The decision was ultimately that of the County Freeholders, a crooked bunch if I've seen one, and they coasted it in. They even broke ground the night before to pre-empt the protests that were scheduled.

I became very disillusioned with the political process, and didn't really pay attention again for several years (although I voted for Clinton). It really wasn't until 9/11 that I got back into politics, although the Green Party had briefly piqued my interest.

After watching Bush respond to 9/11, I realized how dangerous my apathy was. So I began studying international politics with the same fervor that I had given my grad school studies. Once I came across Sen. Kerry, I began to focus more and more on his career, realizing that he represented a real chance to get the politics I passionately believed in to the national and international stage. So here I am, defending someone I truly, truly believe in.

And that is the ballad of DrFunkenstein.

[blm]

22. Great testimonial.

I'm a longtime BFEE watcher, and knew of Kerry's work on BCCI and IranContra. CIA drugrunning was a big story, too (but it seemed only in California) so he definitely made an impression there.

[sandnsea]

24. Iraq War

I've been moderately involved in a few local campaigns. I've always been a political observer and try to keep up with what's going on. Everything that has happened since 9/11 has concerned me, but it wasn't until the actual invasion that I knew it was all wrong. I knew if they knew where weapons were that they would have sent Special Ops in to secure those locations. Just like they did with the oil fields. They didn't. It meant they didn't know a thing. Then I started pouring through reports, etc. and put together a petition back in April and posted it around and invited people to copy it and send it to Senator Rockefeller, Byrd, Congresswoman Harman and some others. Now it's election time and so this is the focus. When I began reading Senator Kerry's speeches, policies and what he has actually accomplished, he was the clear choice. Even though I live in a teeny town and can't do much in that regard, I can still give some money, write LTTE's and chatter away everywhere I can. I like to pop around the internet and make posts on local newspaper sites and just do whatever I can. I figure every little drop helps! It's probably not a ballad, more like a footnote, but it is what it is!

[hedda_foil]

7. And he's also endorsed Arnold.

Sorry, RFK Jr has lost any respect I might have had for him because of that.

[Fabio]

11. Yeah.

You must have a tight family.

[blm]

13. But, RFK has done much for the poor

in getting them heat during the winter, sounding the alarm on rivers and lakes, and a whole lot of work on other environmental issues including renewable energy.

You lose respect for him and yet praise a guy who wants to deregulate electricity? Uh...that would be one HUGE disaster for the poor and working class, but that doesn't bother you.

[sandnsea]

16. Gads, don't support family

It would turn the entire world upside down to say something positive about your own family. Good lord. The things people find to nit-pick about.

[genius]

19. I find that hard to believe.

Despite the fact that Arnold is married to his cousin, Arnold and Robert are opposed on everything they stand for.

[DrFunkenstein]

21. So Are Me And My Step-Family

My Mother married into a family of blue-collar Republicans, a category I refer to as "dupes." But I'll be damned if I wouldn't give them every ounce of support I had if they went (God forbid) into politics.

[Jonte_1979]

9. Gotham City?

I didn't know there actually was such a town.

I bet the inmates of Arkham Asylum support Bush.:D

[blm]

10. heheh...

had to laugh.

[Fabio]

14. I was there too.

Great crowd. I am proud for him.

Some incredibly hot women too.

[DrFunkenstein]

23. Which Campaign Has The Hottest Supporters?

As a rule of thumb, the further left a candidate is, the hotter his supporters are. I haven't seen Kucinich's supporters, so I don't know if that's the case here.

That may ultimately just be my own bias for urbane, intelligent women, but that's what I've always found. I'm not sure if that holds up for men, as I honestly haven't been checking. Forgot to put on my queer eye (as opposed to beer goggles?).

I know for a fact that Kerry's camp has the single most beautiful woman - my lovely, wonderful, brilliant wife!

Note: I'm sad that she didn't speak to Teresa in Portuguese last night, though! My wife loves Teresa - they share that "I don't put up with bullsh*t" quality. Maybe it's a lusophone thing...

[sandnsea]

15. Here's a link!!! I'm Thrilled!!!

This is outstanding!!! There are few people I respect more than Robert Kennedy, Jr. I saw him speak on C-Span at a Civil Rights Honorary in Alabama. He's an amazing person and still fighting for equal rights and the environment. He's done so much. This is the best endorsement yet!

http://www.blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/000239.html#more