Democrats have begun eating their own again

Iowa candidate asks Kerry to cancel campaign visit

A Democratic Congressional candidate from Iowa is canceling a campaign event later this week with Senator John Kerry.

Brucy Braley says Kerry's recent comments about the Iraq war were inappropriate.

Braley's decision to distance himself from Kerry came as a furor grew from comments Kerry made about the Iraq War during a campaign stop in California on Monday.

http://www.eyewitnessnewstv.com/...

The biggest reason the dems lose is not because they don't have ideas or because they have the wrong message, it is because the American public doesn't think the democratic party has backbone to stand up against the opposition be it terrorists, criminals, or their politically rivals.

The American people want politicans with strength of character.

For weeks, Republicans on the campaign trail have been looking for something -- anything -- to talk about other than the record of the Republican Congress and the way the Bush administration has conducted the war in Iraq.

Monday, they got their wish. While stumping for local Democrats in California, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., addressed students at Pasadena City College and made a comment about education and the war in Iraq that lent itself to much controversy.

A Democratic congressman told ABC News Tuesday, "I guess Kerry wasn't content blowing 2004, now he wants to blow 2006, too."

http://abcnews.go.com/...

This is decidedly not strength of character. This is showing you are afraid to say or do anything wrong. The American people want a party that isn't afraid to make mistakes or back down from their principals.

America wants to elect fighters not pansies.

•  fight or get out of the way

  by ECH on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:23:58 PM PDT

  •  I hope this makes the rec list

    so that everyone will remember the name of Brucy Braley and any other Democrat who condemned Kerry over this.  I hope there are serious consequences for these people, whether it's a massive drop in fundraising or a future primary challenge or whatever.  I'd love to know who the congressman was who made the comment about 2004.  

    by rsquire on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:11:54 PM PDT

    •  I don't think that's constructive

      I trust that the cantidates have a better handle on their own districts, are focused on winning and are being savvy about what will appeal to or turn off voters. I don't think making a mental hit list/purge list at this time is useful. I agree it seems pretty cowardly, but , I would hope we are open enough to judge or officials by how they serve us, not by something they did during a campaign.

      by mariachi mama on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:19:13 PM PDT

      •  It's about character

        and it's very instructive.  How do you expect these people to stand up to the Administraion when they're pissing themselves at the first hint that the Republicans are invoking the troops for political gain?  If they fold so quickly over this, when most of the media and the public actually seems to get the fact that Kerry didn't do anything wrong, how will they react in a tougher situation.  

        Not to mention the fact that they're clearly undermining the Democratic party, which is pretty much the cardinal sin for Democrats as far as Kossacks are concerned.  This is exactly the kind of thing that has everyone so pissed at Lieberman.  It plays right into the Republicans' hands for no good reason.  

        by rsquire on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:24:27 PM PDT

        •  this close to the election

          the worse thing we can do is make this a big story.

          take a deep breath

          by buhdydharma on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:27:08 PM PDT

          •  but we must!

            the foot needs a shootin'

            by diplomatic on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:34:11 AM PDT

        •  The substance of this controversy

          is certainly comparable to Iraq and Lieberman.

          You think maybe you have a perspective problem here?

          by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:27:54 PM PDT

          •  the media certainly does

            The realities of what's happening to this country under the Republicans are too much to stomach for the masses so it is much more pleasant to entertain ourselves with trivial bullshit.

            by diplomatic on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:25:55 AM PDT

            •  And KErry does not know this?

              by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:41:47 AM PDT

              •  the man can't help himself

                that's why there needs to be an intervention.

                I happen to agree with the substance of his comments but now it is time for him to go on vacation for exactly 7 days.

                by diplomatic on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:46:55 AM PDT

    •  Wait a minute...

      I'm a voter in the Iowa 1st CD.  I have to admit, my first reaction was disappointment that he'd distanced himself.  But given two seconds to think about it, I got over it.  

      There's a week until the election, not a month.  And the Rethuglican cacophony drowns out facts too well to argue about it this particular week.  Early voting is already happening here.  If Kerry came here now, it would be too easy for the Rethugs to keep making the story about Kerry and not about Braley's stance on the issues.  Braley's going to win this thing, but not by a huge margin.  Giving up any of that margin for this bullshit now is just stupid.

      And as for remembering Bruce Braley, I hope you do.  Personally I remember that he was one of the first Democratic candidates I'd seen this cycle with the balls to stand up to Bush on Iraq.  In fact, I think one of his early ads may have actually been the first one I saw that made me stand up and cheer.  This was long before the "cool kids" in the Democratic party figured out it might be a good idea to fight back.  And his stance on the issues is pretty consistently progressive.  I'm all for that too.

      So, I voted for him back on Oct. 16th, and I'd still vote for him today.  Kerry's a big boy, and as he proved today, he's more than capable of standing up for himself.  But he doesn't have to.  He's got us to help.  And in another week, we'll have a few more progressive candidates like Braley to help us too.

      by SuperMom on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:46:52 PM PDT

  •  it's lead, follow or get out the way ..

    but close enough

    by shpilk on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:41:29 PM PDT

•  Well

  Kerry did lose IA. So keep that in mind. Also, after his campaign in 2004, I am not supporting him in 2008.

  by jiacinto on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:24:58 PM PDT

  •  amen

    a friend today told me someone should make Kerry stay absolutely silent in election years and only allow him to talk in odd-numbered years.

    by Nathaniel Ament Stone on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:26:34 PM PDT

  •  So why did he ask Kerry

    to come campaign in the first place?

    I'm not sure I should be second-guessing a guy in the last week of a close race, but I think this is a mistake. Never give in to the republicans. Never!

    I would love to see candidates pile onto Kerry's rebuttal, play up the class war aspects of privileged republicans sending working class kids to die in Iraq.

    Basically, anything that keeps the focus on Iraq is good for us and bad for the Republicans. Caving in and letting them set the terms of debate is suicide.

    by Brain Donor on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:34:11 PM PDT

    •  Right

      Never ever EVER play into Republican frames. We've been doing that for 20-30 years now and as a result, we've seen our once overwhelming strengh in Congress turn into a minority. I think that most Democrats Get It now, but Braley apparently does not.

      by metal prophet on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:02:38 PM PDT

    •  Caving has been the dem's weakness..but

      I was so glad to see Kerry finally say he's sick and tired of the distortions.  I was cheering.  It made my day.  Bravo.

      by CarlaMalia on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:08:49 PM PDT

•  I don't know exactly what the hell went

  on here today - yeah I heard the Kerry thing and response, kos and Olberman nailed it, why the fuck all this sturm und drang is what I don't get. Get a fucking grip folks.

  by melvin on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:25:39 PM PDT

  •  Here's my theory

    we're the Boston Red Sox.

    Ever since 1994, and especially since 2000, we're used to losing, and we expect to lose. We're completely psyched out by the opposition, and are just waiting for the hammer to fall. So anytime anything minor goes wrong, we think it's the precursor to our inevitable collapse. We just don't know how to deal with success because it's been so long.

    by AnnArborBlue on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:27:27 PM PDT

    •  It is called low self esteem.

      Dean should work up some classes, or at least get the party a support group so that we have others to cry and bawl with when anybody looks at us cross eyed.

      by hopscotch1997 on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:38:25 PM PDT

      •  Interesting

        Dean has not issued a statement in support of Kerry has he?

        by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:39:27 PM PDT

        •  come on man

          hopscotch was being lighthearted.

          Look, I agree with you on Kerry's mistake, but you seem like you're looking for a fight here.

          by AnnArborBlue on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:42:36 PM PDT

          •  Not really

            I predict fights because a lot of candidates are going to criticizie Kerry.

            Kleeb already did.

            You think that will spark fights?

            by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:47:48 PM PDT

    •  Yes

      I wish we would all remember how so many posters were sure that Macaca/Drudge selectively quoting Webb's novels would just bury Webb in VA. The media did their best, but that just fizzled. And then the NJ Supreme Court's gay-not-quite-marriage decision was somehow Karl Rove's October Surprise. And no one was talking about that two days later. And anyway, on top of it, we're stuck with the situation, and we have to deal with it. I honest to God can't see Americans -- those same Americans who as of today give Dems at 15-point generic lead -- overlooking what the Republicans have wrought just in the last six weeks (child-predator-coddling, the deadliest month in Iraq in years, a slew of wife-(and other female-) beating allegations, the bizarre attempt to claim they never advocated "stay the course," Ney pleading guilty but remaining in Congress and no one forcing him out...) because John Kerry, who ain't running for anything, said something wrong.

      by jamfan on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:41:39 PM PDT

    •  Nothing Lasts Forever

      we're the Boston Red Sox.

      The famous 'Curse of the Bambino' lasted 84 years -- from 1920-2004.  In 1920, when the Boston Red Sox traded their ace pitcher, Babe Ruth, to the New Yankees, they didn't win the World Series again until 2004.

      Anyone bet this losing Democratic streak's gonna last that long?

      The streak (if there is such a thing) ends next Tuesday, November 7th.

      You heard it here first!  

      by JekyllnHyde on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:45:26 PM PDT

    •  You make an excellent point

      Though, on the Congressional side of things, I think that's only a view amongst younger Democrats, particularly those who came of age politically since 1994. Older Democrats remember the time when we held commanding majorities in the House and (to a lesser extent) the Senate.

      by metal prophet on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:09:40 PM PDT

  •  All I can say is...

    ...given the myriad of ways the Republicans have fucked up our foreign and domestic policy for the last six years, if the voters decide to let this comment by Kerry swing this election in favor of the Republicans, I'll be forced to conclude that the American people are complete idiots who deserve whatever the Republicans give them.

    by Angry White Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:34:41 PM PDT

    •  Guess it's all they've got.

      That and that silly story about melvin, Elise, and buhdydharma having an affair!

      Boo!

      

      by melvin on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:40:28 PM PDT

      •  !!!

        

        by buhdydharma on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:57:30 PM PDT

        •  that's you isn't it?

          lol

          by diplomatic on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 09:31:38 AM PDT

          •  close enough!

            I'm shorter!

            by buhdydharma on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 11:28:24 AM PDT

            •  oh the tinfoil hat makes you look tall

              that and the short little horsie.

              by diplomatic on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 11:36:24 AM PDT

              •  This is much closer!

                

                Old, short, bald, thick....but happy!

                by buhdydharma on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 12:11:04 PM PDT

      •  Wait...now I'm having an affair with you

        and buhdy?!

        I learn something new everyday! Um...wake me up next time! heh

        ;-)

        by Elise on Thu Nov 02, 2006 at 06:12:38 PM PDT

  •  Thank you melvin

    The response has been ridiculous.

    by mariachi mama on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:42:28 PM PDT

  •  Fucking amen, brother.

    Nuff said.

    by Pager on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:48:01 PM PDT

  •  Glad I'm not the only one

    I log on check out the diaries and it's just drama.  Then I heard the audio, read some stuff, came back here and it's still all drama.

    by fabooj on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:46:21 PM PDT

•  Brucey supports Edwards

  he worked on the Edwards campaign so this could be just politics

  by naufragus on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:29:20 PM PDT

•  mmm ... our own

  crunchy... tasty...

  by Hprof on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:29:25 PM PDT

•  Full of It

  Democrats are going to have their bellies so full of GOP carcasses, there will be no room to snack on any of their fellow Dems (for a little while, anyway).

  Republican - It's the Other White Meat

  by HarveyMilk on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:29:38 PM PDT

•  Easy for you to say

  Kerry did this to himself by his botched joke and his fanning the flames.

  I'll remind you what Josh MArshall worte today:

  Whatever Kerry meant to say, it provided plenty of grist for feigned outrage from Republicans. It certainly didn't sound good. But I take it as a given that it was a botched jab at President Bush because I don't believe a bunch of Republicans who never served in the military have more respect for the military than a Democrat who did. But that's life. Republicans are looking for everything they can get. Fine.

  But it's important not to foget one thing. John Kerry isn't the Democratic party. And this election isn't about John Kerry. It's about Iraq. It's about the man who's actually president, the man whose policies have led to the disaster the country is facing. George W. Bush.

  This whole national drama we're involved in is about the president's continued refusal to accept responsibility, or more properly speaking, accountability for anything. He wants the policies and politics of the country to proceed along as if his policies hadn't already led us into disaster after disaster. That's what this election is about, not the 2004 election or anything else.

  by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:29:39 PM PDT

•  Kleeb also criticized Kerry

  I think you are going to have to hold your fire on this.

  by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:30:46 PM PDT

  •  Perhaps...

    ...but where was all that Republican outrage back in 2005 when WaPo published MARINE RECRUITERS and PENTAGON OFFICIALS saying things like this:

    "The job market is dwindling, and it's hard for a young man or woman to find something other than the fast-food business,"

    "These kids have tested the labor market and gone on to college but didn't perform well," said Curtis Gilroy, director of accessions for the Pentagon.

    This is the Repubs pretending to care about poor, rural people all over again.  Or better yet, pretending that poverty and economic woes are not the reason a lot of people sign up.  I don't think we need to hold our fire - we need to call them out.  Bullshit:

    All of the Army's top 20 counties for recruiting had lower-than-national median incomes, 12 had higher poverty rates, and 16 were non-metropolitan, according to the National Priorities Project, a nonpartisan research group that analyzed 2004 recruiting data by Zip code.

    by weirdmusic657 on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:40:16 PM PDT

    •  Good question

      Let's get back to it after the election.

      by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:46:44 PM PDT

    •  I'm so sick of the double standard

      n/t

      by CarlaMalia on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:12:06 PM PDT

    •  I don't get it

      I'm an educator as well as a rock-solid Dem.  To me, there's no there there in any of this.

      You get a lousy education, you end up in Iraq.

      Hey guys, who is doing the fighting over there?  If Bush hadn't coopted the National Guard Troops, we would be using only that "all-volunteer" army.  It's not like people are flocking from Grad school to go join the Marines.

      Fuck the Re-thugs for trying to stand prouder and taller about Service, when they haven't served and they don't give a shit about education or the people that do.

      by Mi Corazon on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:54:33 PM PDT

    •  Kerry didn't tell a joke. He's not a joker.

      He was speaking the truth.  The educated officers in the military had a choice.  Too many of the soldiers never did.

      by goodasgold on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 11:23:21 PM PDT

•  What a PUSSY

  Look this Iowa candidate can do whatever the hell he wants, its his campaign, but I think by this maneuver he shows himself to be a spineless worm that will not stand up against the right wing noise machine bullshit.
  I wrote a diary about my take on this Kerry nonsense:
  http://www.dailykos.com/...

  by Akapl on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:32:54 PM PDT

•  I think Kerry

  should sayhe's become a distraction and take the next 6 days off.....although I agree with his response today.

  by nevadadem on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:34:32 PM PDT

  •  I thik he will

    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:35:42 PM PDT

    •  That's I think he will.

      Or maybe I think he should.  (Must remember--proofread title, not just body.)

      by Tenn Wisc Dem on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:44:10 PM PDT

  •  Better yet, not say it, just do it. n/t

    by red clay dem on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:36:21 PM PDT

  •  So send Kerry and the Gays to Cancun

    for a week?

    by naufragus on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:39:33 PM PDT

    •  How about Tennessee?

      by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:40:35 PM PDT

    •  Send me, please please! n/t

      by BoxerRebellion on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:41:01 PM PDT

    •  No, Antarctica

      by vegancannibal on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:23:54 PM PDT

    •  I'm holding out for Fiji ..

      I won't settle for anything less!

      by shpilk on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:38:19 PM PDT

      •  after reading the latest from there,

        maybe not ..

        how about Hawaii?

        by shpilk on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:42:55 PM PDT

  •  I agree.

    And it wouldn't be inappropriate for some campaigns to be quietly telling him that's what they want.  Kerry's not dumb.  He said what he needed to say today (wish he said it two years and a bit ago), and he could certainly graciously say that he's not going to give the RePugs any more opportunity to make the race about him, and rest the next six days.

    But for a Congressional candidate to cancel him only keeps Kerry's remark on the front page.  And that's just dumb politics.  IMO

    by Tenn Wisc Dem on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:42:19 PM PDT

•  The only thing I'm angry with Kerry for

  is his failure to refer to Rush Limbaugh as a "fat-assed man cunt." I would have settled for a reference to the RNC as a "collective nursery school for tittie-babies." Unfortunately, wishes are fishes, and the pool is dry.

  by steve davis on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:36:19 PM PDT

  •  Ya know

    your languague is offensive to women. Would you mind toning it down?

    by mariachi mama on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:40:33 PM PDT

    •  (sigh) you could always just ask. trolling it

      isn't all that helpful, considering I'm not a troll, and that's clearly intended as an attack against Rush, not an attack on women.

      by steve davis on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:47:50 PM PDT

      •  I didn't TR

        I just asked.

        by mariachi mama on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:49:35 PM PDT

        •  O.k. Sorry! I gather one had to see the movie

          American Gigolo in Europe in order to get the reference I was originally making. It wasn't a great movie, so probably it wasn't a great reference.

          by steve davis on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:51:12 PM PDT

          •  mike hunt

            maybe you should have tried a different movie reference

            by yet another liberal on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:26:04 PM PDT

            •  LOL!! Wasn't that also an old Don and Mike

              crank-yanking "joke" on their radio program? (I put that word in quotation marks because I actually found Don and Mike funnier when they  weren't simply being rude to guests or having people have sex in one of the radio station's offices).

              by steve davis on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 05:09:25 AM PDT

      •  "not an attack on women"?!

        no s#%t. that's not the point. By that logic you're saying it's okay to walk around saying "asshole" in a restaurant if you're not talking about anyone in it.

        by falsehope on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:06:50 PM PDT

    •  Some of my best friends have vaginas

      That's what they tell me anyway

      by bernardpliers on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:47:56 PM PDT

  •  I avoid the "c" bomb, but have

    to agree. We've been far too restrained.

    by kidneystones on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:41:26 PM PDT

    •  There are plenty of ways....

      ....to insult Rush Limbaugh without insulting women. Words like asshole, dumbass, dumbshit, evil, Nazi, fucker, dickweed, etc.

      by metal prophet on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:14:11 PM PDT

      •  I concur. n/t

        by kidneystones on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:15:23 PM PDT

  •  Uprated because not troll-worthy.

    But, could you please not use that word?  You knew it would offend women when you did it, right?  Don't pretend you didn't know.

    by Joelarama on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:13:51 PM PDT

  •  ever use ****s ??

    they come in handy .. everyone knows what you mean, and you don't have to insult those who might take offense.

    by shpilk on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:31:33 PM PDT

•  Make that some Democrats.

  I don't have a taste for them, myself. I think canceling at this point is a little hasty and shows even more about that candidate than just no courage.  It shows impulsivity, and poor decision making techniques.  He needed to give it a little time, or at least a day or so to let it pass or at least show potential for damage. At this point, canceling appearing with Kerry is reactionary, and smells like fear.  

  My feeling is that it might blow over.  A lot of talking heads are playing it down a little, and those who are still talking it up like Blitzer for example, were  already well known shills for the other side.  Nothing new for him to grab onto something like this, but Buchanan, Tweety, Scarboro, and some others are not hysterical about it.  And since when does one person represent the Democratic party.  Just because Kerry says something then why is the whole party doomed in the elections?  God, if Limbaugh can make fun of a person with a disease like a damn 4 year old, and nobody in the Republican party criticizes him, then we ought to be able to keep it together to support someone who made a stupid one line mistake in a speech.  It is believable that Kerry isn't able to joke around without fucking up.  He just isnt a funny man.

  I hear that Bush is appearing on Limbaugh's show tomorrow.  Now that is a disgrace, and nobody is even complaining.

  by hopscotch1997 on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:36:34 PM PDT

  •  I agree

    I say he should wait a week and then decide if he wants to campaign with Kerry.

    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:37:53 PM PDT

    •  Right.

      Maybe keeping company with Kerry later this week will help him decide what he wants to do.

      by hopscotch1997 on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:40:13 PM PDT

      •  Heh

        You missed my joke.

        There is no time to worry about Kerry.

        Put this behind us.

        by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:41:20 PM PDT

        •  Heh.

          I got the part about the election being in a week.  I was joking back, but you musta missed mine.

          by hopscotch1997 on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:42:49 PM PDT

          •  I did

            Slow uptake for me today.

            A lot of bruises.

            by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:45:36 PM PDT

  •  the few so called dems who act in that manner

    are pretty shallow. we need the seats but i wonder if we really need politicans like this. the rethugs stick together and that has been a real advantage for them. someone needs to kick their silly butts like boys/girls no money when you sound off and act silly.

    by stodghie on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:55:51 PM PDT

  •  Nothing Kerry has said

    will make the Iraq war go away for the public or the White House.  The only thing that will, is another war.

    by goodasgold on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 11:38:21 PM PDT

•  Many Dems are too busy trying

  to get elected to be up to speed on the rapidly changing dynamics of this story. Not an excuse, just an observation.

  There will be some who turn on Kerry.

  Smart Dems will salute and thank Kerry for speaking out.

  Cause Kerry is right.

  by kidneystones on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:37:48 PM PDT

  •  Smart Dems

    will worry about getting elected and not whether Kerry is right.

    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:38:37 PM PDT

    •  Yeah

      but they should keep it on the down low, and not put out posturing press releases.

      by bumblebums on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 11:29:57 PM PDT

      •  Exactly.

        by goodasgold on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 11:39:53 PM PDT

      •  True

        by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:42:55 AM PDT

•  I don;t want my

  candidate showing "courage" I want him to win and being with Kerry now isn't a gread idea.

  by nevadadem on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:39:57 PM PDT

•  I'm fed up with this folderol

  Kerry flubs a joke and the world ends for the Democrats?

  What the fuck is wrong with people? I don't understand the willingness to march to this tune. The caterwauling from the Republicans is disgraceful. They get the vapors and faint all over the parlor and the media rushes about dabbing their foreheads.

  They're all drama queens and should be slapped until they snap out of it.

  Pathetic display, all around.

  by bumblebums on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:39:58 PM PDT

  •  You think?

    In a perfect world, we would not have a gay bashing candidate in Tennessee, a stone cold conservative in Nebraska and other assorted maladies.

    In this world, let's let Kerry go away for a week and win this election.

    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:44:29 PM PDT

    •  I've thought about this

      and you're right. Considerations of imperfect worlds and rough roads brought me around to a more sober perspective. I don't know who Braley is, nor do I have any clue what he's up against in his district. There's a candidate here in CO who will move away from Kerry tomorrow, and I can see why it makes sense, in an imperfect world, to do everything possible to win the election.

      Anyway, there it is. Republicans suck and the media blow.

      by bumblebums on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 11:10:30 PM PDT

  •  Same thing with the Webb

    novel scandal.."the sky is falling" mindset.

    by mariachi mama on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:48:18 PM PDT

  •  Bush can joke about finding WMDs

    and {see list of about 47 similar insults to our troops} this has traction? Ridiculous ..

    Meanwhile, Iraq is back on the table, thanks to John Kerry. A 28% issue, and the vicious reaction from the WH is not bound to endear those Republicans running to undecideds and moderates.

    I happen to think the damage is for Republicans, more than Democrats. People like Braley need to buck themselves up.

    by shpilk on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:37:10 PM PDT

•  ack

  Idiotic.  Kerry should back out as a distraction, fine.  Good.  Either way, Braley should also STFU. No comment.  Asshole.  

  Now THIS is what the GOP has going for it.  They would STFU in this situation.  

  by markymarx on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:42:13 PM PDT

  •  I agree with that

    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:44:58 PM PDT

  •  Well, that's not exactly what they did

    Many Repuke candidates cancelled appearances with Reynolds and Hastert during Foleygate.

    by jamfan on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:47:41 PM PDT

    •  'Foleygate' is not remotely equivalent

      by bumblebums on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:50:54 PM PDT

    •  This compares to Foley?

      You must be kidding.  

      by markymarx on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:51:49 PM PDT

      •  No, not at all

        I think this whole thing is a joke, actually, and Foleygate quite serious. What I'm saying is that that was the perfect example of the media-exalted GOP unity and stonewalling strategy falling apart -- some of them running around screaming about Democrats being behind the story leak, some of them calling Democrats gay bashers, some of them vowing to support Hastert till death do they part, and some of them running and hiding from Hastert like he had the plague. They would have handled it way, way better if they had had a unified strategy and then STFU as you point out they are usually so good at. My point was simply that you seemed to be giving the Republicans too much credit there, and they're not a perfect rapid-response team.

        by jamfan on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:00:21 PM PDT

•  John Kerry fired a

  stupid bullet at George W Bush.  Bush pulled a few soldiers in front of him to get them to take the stupid bullet for him.  Some things never change.  Guess what George, some of us saw you get hit.

  by illinifan17 on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:51:06 PM PDT

•  I don't understand

  why what Kerry did is thought of as "so bad" by a lot of people. I didn't think he was our best candidate in '04, and he hasn't really impressed me with his actions or leadership much since then. BUT, in the last two days, even though he screwed up his "joke", he actually stood up to, and rebutted what the repub's have thrown at him. It reminds me of Bill Clinton's faux news interview: finally a Democrat that will actually stand up to the slime that the repub's spew every chance they get.

  Was Kerry's "performance" perfectly executed, IMO no, but at least he finally said "I've had enough"...haven't we all from this administration?

  by Kentucky Kid on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:52:03 PM PDT

  •  most here have it the reverse

    We hated how Kerry ran his campaign, but have respected his leadership since then.

    He has been on the right side of every issue and vote I can think of this term of congress.  He has raised funds for low-profile democrats and was working to widen the field of competitive challengers long before this election looked anywhere near this competitive.

    Definitely agree his scathing rebuttal was a highlight.  If his flubbed-joke brings out more republicans to vote, his rebuttal will bring out a few more democrats too.

    by Scientician on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:58:52 PM PDT

    •  If Kerry had said...

      ....about Iraq what he said about Vietnam in 1971, he would have beaten Bush in a landslide, if he'd voted against the war and had been denouncing it for months on end.

      by metal prophet on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:18:11 PM PDT

    •  i honestly don't believe that kerry's remark

      will influence that many voters. the only thing it was good for were the talking heads on tv and the scared rethug politicans.

      by stodghie on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:57:58 PM PDT

•  You know what

  The comment was boneheaded and ultimately it gives Dubya something to talk about.  The political ramifications of this may be great or non existant, I really don't know (my predictions can be totally off sometimes) but I do have to say that I approve of Kerry's response.  Kerry did not apologize, he did not back away, instead he continued to criticize the Republicans.  I have to say that was a good move.  The media was expecting him to apologize and take back his comments.  Instead he used to the opportunity to further bash Bush and remind voters of Iraq.  That was good.  

  A Democratic congressman told ABC News Tuesday, "I guess Kerry wasn't content blowing 2004, now he wants to blow 2006, too."

  Lol, who is that congressman?  I kinda agree with the statement.  Okay, seriously, let's not turn this into a big deal.  Funny that Democrats can utter one sentence that "ruins an election" yet Republicans can let New Orleans be destroyed and its population suffer, molest house pages, lie to start a war, ignore warnings of a major terrorist plot, not properly supply our troops in Iraq, out a covert CIA agent, and allow Saudi Arabia and lobbyists to make our legislation yet suffer no consequences.  Motherfuckers.

  by SoCalLiberal on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:55:17 PM PDT

  •  have to take issue

    Kerry lost 2004.  It was not a blow-out, catastrophe or landslide.  Some (not necessarily you) think of it that way, but to them, go look at Dukakis in 1988 for a blowout.  

    The 51% isn't what we wanted and most of us believe this Kerry we're seeing now would have won, but at least it wasn't 55% Bush, and 300+ electoral votes.  Kerry wasn't bad enough to bring on a GOP tidal wave, and give them dozens more congressional seats.  Bush never had a mandate and that has helped us these past two years.  The GOP never got large majorities in either house and that's helped too.  Try stopping Bolton in a 60 seat republican senate.

    by Scientician on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:03:23 PM PDT

    •  I think that "blowing it"

      Refers to Kerry losing after we expected him to triumph over Bush.  No, Bush had no mandate.  We're leading now but there's a lot of time left for the Republicans to recover.  You have to remember, lots of the Democrats and Independents are essentially critically thinking voters.  They can come up with all sorts of reasons not to vote for the Democrat.  Republicans are like a little cult, they do what the Dear Leader tells them too.  They have all those names and people at their disposal.  

      by SoCalLiberal on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:20:18 PM PDT

  •  Guess what?

    The comment was boneheaded and ultimately it gives Dubya something to talk about.

    They are going to find something to blame Dems for.  Kerry told this joke at many campaign events the last couple months.  He slips up once and it's the end of the world.  The Right Wing Noise Machine does this every cycle, be it Wellstone's funeral or Kerry's your-gay-daughter moment or even Busby's illegals-voting moment.  They find one innoculous comment, use their Noise Machine and blow it out of proportion.  And everytime we Dems roll over, play dead and apologize when told to apologize. Not this time.  Kerry's response was exactly right and this has the added benefit of being about Iraq which is the topic we want the media to be talking about.

    We are right and they are wrong and it's about time we start acting like it instead of apologizing for being right.

    by bawbie on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:20:17 PM PDT

    •  Hah

      We are right and they are wrong and it's about time we start acting like it instead of apologizing for being right.

      I couldn't agree more.  We need to find a way to destroy the right wing noise machine.  Isn't there some way we could lock them all in prison or something?  Or send them to Mars with Bush's big mission?  Or how about any of them actually go to Iraq to fight with our troops.

      by SoCalLiberal on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:21:53 PM PDT

      •  I agree too.

        And yes, we need to destroy the right wing noise machine.  It's on my "to do" list.  But I'm not going to hold it against a candidate in a tossup race not being 100 percent confident we'll be able to do it this particular week.

        by SuperMom on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:58:44 PM PDT

•  FWIW

  Lou Dobbs was livid at Kerry for the remark.  Then, his web-poll for the show showed 74% of people watching did not believe Kerry should apologize to military members for the remark.

  Yes, it's a web poll, but I didn't notice any freeping attempts on it, and moreso, Dobb's audience are largely republicans upset about illegal immigration.

  I think America "gets" that kerry wasn't insulting the military and the Democrats should stick to that.  No one needs to "defend" an anti-military remark, they can obviously say "If I believed Senator Kerry had spoken ill of our military, I wouldn't have invited him here"

  by Scientician on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:55:23 PM PDT

•  Braley just gave this story

  another news cycle.

  Moronic way of handling this.

  by Newsie8200 on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:55:41 PM PDT

  •  He's a piker

    Wee Sleekit, couring, timorous beastie.

    by bumblebums on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:04:23 PM PDT

    •  4 for Burns nt

      by mariachi mama on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:21:18 PM PDT

•  I'll have the roast Lieberman

  with a side of Tauscher pilaf please.  What do you have for soup today?

  by ActivistGuy on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 08:57:45 PM PDT

•  Breathe people...this is only a story if WE

  make it one. Its designed to stir us up

  CALM THE FUCK DOWN!!!

  by buhdydharma on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:00:16 PM PDT

  •  Right on

    Congressmen have the right to decide what statements they have found offensive or not.

    Either way we won't help anything if we get caught up in disputes with those who are distancing themselves from Kerry comments.

    It would just distract from the regular business of electing Democrats.

    by seby1689 on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:39:18 PM PDT

•  Fair or not, Kerry will be a distraction at

  this point when the focus needs to be on the failed policies of the Repugs.

  by PrometheusSpeaks on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:04:45 PM PDT

•  Kerry's gaffe is a morale boost for the Falange

  The Dems had the GOP, especially their pitchfork peasant wing, demoralized and unlikely to come out in large numbers to vote.  In the last week before the election, a little rebound is expected.  But now Kerry gives a battle cry to the goose steppers, and could cost us the Tennessee and Virginia Senate seats, might put the Montana and Maryland seats in play, as well as cost House seats that would mean a very narrow takeover in Congress, not a 10-20 seat margin.  All because Senator Get Stuck might arouse the 2-3% to come out that would have stayed home.  Nice going, John.  Always knew you were a great influence on the campaign trail.

  by vegancannibal on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 09:20:51 PM PDT

•  Duh Irony

  Agree that Braley is behaving like a wimp and this whole saga is much ado about very little …

  But given thousands of times that GWB has mis-spoke. Gimme a frickin' break!

  Has W ever NOT screwed up his lines?

  This too shall pass and we will control the house and with a bit of luck the senate too and my hero Conyers will do a little investigation (it won't hurt a bit!).

  by The Third Man on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:08:21 PM PDT

•  Exactly

  And Kerry was absolutely right to refuse to apologize and to go on the attack. That's what Republicans do. They NEVER apologize no matter how out of line they are, and so nothing ever sticks to them. Remember Cheney telling Patrick Leahy to "go f*** yourself" because Leahy had the gall to ask him about Halliburton contracts? And remember how Cheney responded. No apology. Nope. He said "It felt good and it was overdue." Swagger swagger bully bully.

  Bruce Braley doesn't deserve to be elected. Sorry. We don't need wimps and cowards anymore.

  I am so sick of wimpy whiners. I can hardly wait to dance on J. Kenny Blackwell's political corpse next Tuesday night. We are going to be partying all over Ohio.

  by anastasia p on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:13:50 PM PDT

  •  I'm curious.

    Before this article, had you ever even heard the name Bruce Braley before?  I'm really not trying to be confrontational or anything, I'm just wondering if you're basing your decision on his character on anything besides this, or if it's just a knee jerk reaction because we're all sick of spineless Dems.

    I'm happy you're looking forward to kicking Blackwell out.  I'm happy for you too.  But I'm also happy that I finally am going to get rid of Jim Nussle in the 1st, and have the opportunity to elect a progressive Dem who's smart enough to fight this battle AFTER he gets elected instead of before.  

    The alternative would be electing a rightwing nutcase whose been solidly for Social Security privitization and who's perfectly happy with the mininum wage where it is, since that's what he pays some of his employees. Braley's already shown he's not scared of the fight.  But now is not the time to fight the noise machine for bullshit.

    by SuperMom on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:49:32 PM PDT

•  It's not "eating their own",

  it's separating the wheat from the chaff. It's bad, right before an election, but it gives some visibility to those people who have to be held to account for their lack of spine down the road.

  Actions like Braley's will not be forgotten.

  by shpilk on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:29:02 PM PDT

  •  Might be too draconian

    in this case to write Braley off, or any other candidate who might find it expedient to put some space between their campaign and Kerry right now. Some districts are tough sledding, and the priority is on winning. It's what you have to do to win sometimes, and I reckon Kerry would agree.

    It took me a couple hours to calm down and accept this.

    by bumblebums on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 11:19:33 PM PDT

•  Kerry is a Fuckup

  so its good to distance oneself from him

  get real people

  perception is everything in politics

  Kerry has been riding the anti republican wave for a few weeks now trying to pump himself up for another whitehouse bid

  but Surprise!

  he fucked up

  and now damage control is necessary

  dont blame the candidate who sees kerry for the lead balloon that he really is

  by aatm on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 10:58:29 PM PDT

  •  Not true whatsoever

    Kerry did NOT fuck up. They took what he said out of context. Kerry then SUCCEEDED, spectacularly in defending himself and calling these bastards on their bullshit.

    We have to decide if we are the part of Al Gore, Russ Feingold, Howard Dean, and John Kerry, or the party of Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman, Tom Vilsack, and Bruce Braley. And if we are that second party at the heart and soul, then not only have we lost the election, we've lost the battle for America.

    by Mikesco on Tue Oct 31, 2006 at 11:17:39 PM PDT

•  Ugh

  I phonebanked for Braley. I can't believe he'd sell out his party like that and cave to Rove-spin!

  Screw Braley and every "Democrat" who's not willing to stand up to Bush. That's the whole point of electing Democrats in the first place!

  Kerry deserves our praise for what he did. Just like when Bill Clinton did his smackdown of Chris Wallace and the media portrayed it as "losing his temper" but nobody else thought of it that way, now the media is saying this is bad but anybody who hears the whole thing will probably love Kerry standing up for himself.