What is Ford Thinking?

I'm watching MSNBC as part of my morning routine. I'm usually greeted by pleasant news of Democrats making strides to regain a majority, but this morning, Lester Holt let me down.

Apparently Democratic candidate for Tennesssee senate Harold Ford Jr. will issue a statement today calling for Senator John Kerry to apologize to the troops for his mis-spoken/mis-interpreted joke targetting President Bush's incompetance.
My question to Ford: why?? Why even bring this up? As far as I know, the Corker campaign hasn't linked Kerry and his statement to Ford, so why would they bring this to light? I understand that in order to win in Tennessee, Democrats need to be more conservative than a New York Democrat. I myself, find my political beliefs to be more in line with Ford than someone like Nancy Pelosi.
Still, I don't understand why Ford is emphasizing the Rethuglican frame of Kerry's botched speech. From what I've seen, most clear minded political thinkers from both sides of the spectrum see Kerry's statement as a non-issue.
I guess I'll have to wait and see what Ford actually says (if he hasn't already released a statement), but the thought of him even bringing it up just bothers me. We should be focussing on issues that matter: Iraq, Afghanistan, health care, education. We don't have time to worry about poorly delivered remarks, and Mr. Ford should know better.
Of course, if MSNBC is wrong or Mr. Ford changes his mind I will proudly eat crow!

•  Reason

  Because the only thing Ford loves more than trying to destroy social security, is mimicking Republican attack lines on his fellow Democrats.

  by Paleo on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:27:33 AM PDT

  •  He supports lieberman

    hope he loses... and he will because you can't out right wing the GOP..

    give your money to webb or mccaskill instead if you like ford

    by EdwardsRaysOfSunshine on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:50:26 AM PDT

    •  Ford

      Believe me, Ford would never get a cent from me.  In the end, he'll lose if for no other reason than the racial factor.  Which is, of course, the last reason in the world why he should lose.  

      by Paleo on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:52:40 AM PDT

    •  Hope he loses?

      Sorry, but you may as well say "I hope the Republicans maintain control of the Senate."  

      Look, I'm not happy with him either, but we need him to win.

      by Rick Oliver on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:28:28 AM PDT

•  People are talking

  about that crap down here. I agree that it is a non-issue, but the media won't let it die. Ford used it tie into Iraq though, he may be getting good mileage out of it.

  by TheGardener on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:28:11 AM PDT

  •  There's a reason

    why Ford and his people are where they are and I'm just an internet blog-head, so maybe you're right and they do have some good reason to bring this up. I'm just a little frustrated, that's all.

    by zoso553 on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:29:38 AM PDT

    •  Hey me too,

      I live here and I get frustrated everyday. Frustrated that otherwise intelligent people are still swayed by these inane attempts to play to false patriotism, fear, and stereotype. But I also get frustrated by the otherwise intelligent people on our side that don't understand the reality of the south. It isn't perfect, but we are far from living in the dark ages down here. The preconceived notions of Dems that live outside of this region are often patronizing. This has to stop if we are going to live up to our potential as a party.

      by TheGardener on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:37:33 AM PDT

  •  may be Ford should first return the money

    May be Ford should first return the money Kerry raised for him?

    Now THAT would be a principled position, don't you think?

    by Friar on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:48:12 AM PDT

    •  Wish I could give this more then one rccmd n/t

      by ScienceMom on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:56:05 AM PDT

•  The more I know of him

  the more that I dislike him.

  I hope that we can retake the Senate without Harold Ford Jr, because he is clearly a panderer.

  by CryMeARiver on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:28:42 AM PDT

  •  I don't care for the guy either.

    But, I'll refrain from ripping him until next week.

    by Scout Finch on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:29:36 AM PDT

  •  It's about the majority.

    Not about whether you like or dislike one particular candidate.

    51 so-so Democrats is better than 49 great ones.

    by leftilicious on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:31:15 AM PDT

    •  Well, all I can say

      is that I'm glad that I don't live in Tennessee and have to pull the lever for this guy.

      I have a Republican Senator and Ford is to the right of him in almost every issue.

      Your point about majority is noted.

      by CryMeARiver on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:38:07 AM PDT

      •  I wouldnt

        I would vote for the Green guy and be proud it about even though he is too crunchy for my tastes.

        But i guess some can hold our nose and crash the gate at the same time.

        by naufragus on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:41:53 AM PDT

    •  Really....

      I thought it was having more votes on Bills.  Just having 51 Dems doesnt equal 51 votes.  

      by naufragus on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:39:36 AM PDT

      •  Not about votes in the Senate

        51 Dems means Majority Leader Reid & commitee chairmanships.

        Starve the corporate beast, buy local!

        by EthrDemon on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:04:45 AM PDT

    •  This time around its about the majority

      Next time around we'll be even better prepared with another year and a half of the fifty state strategy and the year round precinct organizing that's going on.

      by Thom K in LA on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:52:04 AM PDT

    •  Not at all

      There's nothing wrong with Ford or any other Dem candidate having opinions which differ from the periphery of principles the party supports.

      But there must be a core set of principles which all Dem candidates are all required to support. And one is that you don't try and score points in your race by sabotaging the national party or any other Dem candidate's race.

      
      "I think John Kerry's remarks were badly handled and perhaps ill-advised. But I understand the point he was making and share his indignation that our President and his party would try to make political hay out of this, rather than actually supporting our troops with resources, a plan, and the humility to change course when they're wrong."

      Would that have been so hard, Harold? Ford's take is, at best, an incredible ignorant manouevre from a panicked candidate.

      by thingamabob on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:02:24 AM PDT

•  No, Harold! Don't do it!

  Kerry has finally grown a pair, and I get the sense that he has provided an example for Democrats across the country, who have begun to sprout pairs of their own. We need to stop shoving our tail between our legs every time they take one of our comments out of context, twist it and lie about it. We need to stand up and say No, Fuck You. Fuck. You. Kerry finally has done that, and he's inspired lots of other to do it, too.

  The fact that we haven't been able to do that until now is why we keep losing. No wonder they always say we have no ideas and bullshit like that. We have ideas - we're just too chickenshit to articulate them forcefully.

  Rather, we were, until John Kerry called Snow a stuffed suit and referred to Rush as "doughy." I think that's my favorite part.

  Here's hoping that MSNBC is wrong. If they are, the crow will be theirs to eat, not yours.

  by leftilicious on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:30:01 AM PDT

•  STOP BASHING FORD

  What do we want all our guys to lose because they stand on principle defending Kerry, guess what KERRY MADE A HORRABLE MISTAKE in the media enviornment we play in. Dems can't mispeak....the Repubs can , if this is what Ford thinks will help win the race that's all that matters, most people in this counrty are Morons easily swayed by phony
  utrages like this Kerry qoute, we have to deal with that reality.

  by nevadadem on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:30:18 AM PDT

  •  "This media environment"

    is only the way it is because we let it be that way.

    We can take back control of the media, if we speak with one forceful voice and don't cut each other off at the knees.

    by leftilicious on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:34:45 AM PDT

    •  Yes, exactly.

      The media is in the entertainment business now, they flit from perception to perception to sell their products.  If they perceive that enough people agree on anything, it becomes truth.  When the Rep's started the talking spin machine with "Kerry insulted the troops" with every Republican on message, the Dem's needed to fight back and get their party on message too.  That's the arena in the media and the Dem's need to learn how to fight in it as it is too late for this election to recreate it.

      by Karma for All on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:43:00 AM PDT

  •  We should just stop bashing everyone on our side

    for just a few days more.  Is that even possible?  

    I thought we'd learned some lessons when Kerry came out swinging against Rove yesterday.  

    Note what happened when Cheney screwed up last week with the torture thing.  Bush behaved as if it never happened, simply said "We don't torture, period."  

    Now, why can't the Democrats just get in line for a few days?  Just say "Bush's policy is Stand still and Lose" or any of the other gems from Kerry's retort yesterday.  

    Kerry showed the party the way to fight back.  Ford is cowering because it's been the MO of the Dem party to cower away when someone speaks the truth and Rove starts pulling strings and gets every Republican in the nation on the same message.  The Dem's need to stand together and stand strong, and finally stay on message too.  I hope Kerry doesn't back down tonight.  Schumer made a statements saying Bush owes the troops an apology for Iraq, Carville said the same as well.  Hope the others stick with it.    

    by Karma for All on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:40:29 AM PDT

  •  Why apologize?

    They want to make it an issue, let's make it an issue.  I particularly like Olbermann's "Bush too stupid to even know what Kerry is talking about" framing.

    Starve the corporate beast, buy local!

    by EthrDemon on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:07:47 AM PDT

•  Not impressed...

  He's covering his ass, he ought to focus on his home state and Iraq, etc.

  by number six on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:30:19 AM PDT

  •  What, exactly, do you think he is doing?

    I've spent the last 24 hours defending Kerry here and applauding him for hitting back, but I don't have a problem with Ford using this to his advantage

    he ought to focus on his home state and Iraq

    Having not seen his statement, I can only imagine he is using this to focus on his home state, which doesn't like Kerry much at all.  He'll use this to distance himself from Kerry, who lost TN pretty badly in '04.

    Plus, hopefully, he'll use this as an excuse to talk about the disaster in Iraq.  It is the perfect segue for Dems to talk about Iraq.  

    by bawbie on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:34:19 AM PDT

    •  What he could have done.

      Distance himself, when asked, without joining the Republican media play.

      However, he's trying to be Lieberman on the Senate floor during the Clinton impeachment here.

      He's just helping keep the story alive. He's easily played. He'd probably do the same thing in the Senate (which he probably won't get to anyway).

      by Frank on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:46:58 AM PDT

•  He's being a well reasoned candidate

  That's what he's thinking.

  Kerry fucked Ford with his stuypid gaffe. Ford is trying to pick up the pieces.

  - Albert Einstein

  by Walt starr on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:30:45 AM PDT

  •  There are no pieces to pick up.

    Dems are rallying to Kerry's defense. Corker's not saying a word about it. Why should Ford?

    by leftilicious on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:32:12 AM PDT

    •  Corker WILL bring it up

      Ford and Kerry have a bit of a history.  See my comment below

      by GoldnI on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:37:54 AM PDT

    •  Nope, Dems are not rallying to Kerry's defense

      You need 100% rallying or it's nothing.

      Kerry is the one who fucked up here, don't blame Ford for attempting to keep his campaign going. Kerry just handed another 10,000 votes to Corker because that's about how many mouth breathers who were not planning on voting this year but will now show up to cast a vote for Corker because KErry is an idiot.

      - Albert Einstein

      by Walt starr on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:41:18 AM PDT

    •  Dems are rallying?

      Dems are now asking him to stay home, don't come campaign with me.  Kerry's already cancelled all appearances with candidates.

      Corker may not have said anything yesterday, but that doesn't mean he wasn't preparing to connect Ford (in whatever tortured way he could) to Kerry's comments.  Ford just took that away from Corker.  Now it is a non-issue in TN.

      by Maggie Mae on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:28:03 AM PDT

  •  This is really pissing me off

    Kerry has told this joke for months.  I suppose it's just coincidence that 1 week before the Republicans are going to lose an election they decide to make a big fucking deal about it?

    They are desperate and their standard operating procedure is to fire up the Right Wing Noise Machine and take a Dem comment out of context and blow it up.  If it wasn't Kerry, it would of been someone else.

    We can't run around hiding, trying desperately to not say something that the Republicans are going to take out of context and attack us with.  It's simply not possible.  Especially when they are desperate.  We MUST fight back when they attack.  The fact that this is about Iraq is a bonus, because it makes it all the easier to attack back.

    by bawbie on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:40:25 AM PDT

    •  YES!!! Fight BACK!!!

      Don't look wrong and weak.

      by DrWolfy on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:06:14 AM PDT

•  I'm not trying to bash Ford

  Like I said, I find many of my own views in line with him. Just needed to vent. Make no mistake...if I lived in Tennessee I'd vote for Ford in a second

  by zoso553 on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:34:00 AM PDT

  •  Hmmmm..

    ...I don't like that Ford is using this non-issue to his advantage (he's wrong) but we need his seat.

    We can rip him after he wins.

    God, I feel dirty.

    by StarkyLuv on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:35:44 AM PDT

  •  views like?

    by naufragus on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:43:42 AM PDT

•  Is this the first of a flood of Ford diaries?

  We don't need this.

  by bumblebums on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:34:58 AM PDT

  •  I agree

    There has been a kind of undercurrent about Ford being less than desirable. But right now the only thing that matters is the (D) behind his name. I hope he wins, and if he and those like him become the New Right, I can handle it. In fact, that would be my dream: People like Ford represent the mainstream Right in this country. Then there might be some constructive arguments between Right and Left.

    by Still Thinking on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:40:56 AM PDT

    •  I'd take bernie sanders over lieberman or ford

      any day of the week..

      I can list about 10 sitting senators without a D..

      jeffords,
      chafee
      sanders over ford in two seconds

      (while I hope chafee loses - he actually said he didn't vote for bush in 2004)

      by EdwardsRaysOfSunshine on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:53:04 AM PDT

      •  Yes but

        None of those people are Dems running against Ford or Lieberman, so I guess the point is moot.

        There are "unreasonable" Dems and "reasonable" Repubs, it's just that the majority of Repubs are jerks. I can stand reasonable, thoughtful, objective Repubs (a very rare breed, indeed). I'm still going to disagree with them, but at least you can have the kinds of arguments with them where positive change can come about.

        Right now we want more (D)s than (R)s though. It's the only way for change. Baby steps.

        by Still Thinking on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:07:20 AM PDT

  •  Heh

    Well, you know the answer.

    Ford will be bashed.

    Kleeb will be bashed.

    Braley was already bashed.

    And so on.

    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:46:33 AM PDT

    •  that is depressing

      because it is so true

      by diplomatic on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:22:12 AM PDT

•  Let's see how he plays it...

  ...if every Dem makes a statement on Kerry THEN pivots to a devestating attack on the White House (like Kerry did), that is a good thing....Focus on our soldiers taking orders from Maliki, plus the Pentagon "chaos" chart...Make sure Bob Corker's and Tony Snow's day are as miserable as John Kerry's...Make them respond and answer to Iraq attacks....Don't sit back....

  In fact, this could be the way to play it...Turn it to our advantage. Shit happens in campaigns....The best ones use it to their advantage...

  by Volvo Liberal on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:36:08 AM PDT

  •  Disagree

    This thing has a 24-hour shelf life.  The MSM can fall prey to the right-wing echo chamber.  But if there's not "there there," it will lose interest after a day.  Just by mentioning it, Ford, and others, will be keeping the story alive.  

    by Paleo on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:40:25 AM PDT

•  There is a reason to bring this up

  Ford was one of Kerry's earliest supporters back in 2004.  If I were one of Corker's people, I'd be thinking, "Hm, Ford and Kerry have a history together, and look at this horrible thing Kerry just said*...let's tie it back to Ford!"

  Ford was most likely pre-empting them here by distancing himself from the remark.

  *Disclaimer--No, I personally don't think it was a horrible thing to say, Kerry just misspoke.

  by GoldnI on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:36:58 AM PDT

  •  good point

    I was just wondering myself if this is a pre-emptive move on the part of the Ford campaign.

    by zoso553 on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:37:58 AM PDT

•  There's no doubt in my mind

  That it's pre-emptive.  The Rethugs would LOVE to be able to tie Ford back to this.

  by GoldnI on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:40:27 AM PDT

•  I May Get Flamed For This...

  But Kerry has handled this whole thing wrong. He should have...

  • ...Never given that damn press conference. I know a lot of people like that he "fought back", but he elevated the story to bigger news by doing it & extended its life in the news cycle.
  • ....Issued a press release. All he had to do was release a 4 or 5 sentence statement saying "you know damn well that I would never say anything demeaning to the troops." He could of then offered the same attack of Bush being misleading, and then offered a general apology to anyone that may have misinterpreted his words.
  • ....Go away & shut up. Get off the damn television. I can understand doing Imus, but I think I just saw a preview saying he's going to be on CNN tonight.

  by Rimjob on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:42:26 AM PDT

  •  I agree with you

    I agree with everything Kerry has said so far, but he's making this into a bigger issue than it needs to be.

    by GoldnI on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:44:45 AM PDT

  •  Actually, Rimjob, you're dead on......

    Of course Kerry just misspoke and was talking about dumb Dubya, not insulting the troops.  Even plenty of conservatives (e.g., Scarborough, Matthew Dowd, Dick Armey) acknowledge that.

    But you're right that Kerry himself prolonged the story, and that's politically tone deaf.  The press release you suggest would have been the politically smart approach.

    Doesn't Kerry have aides savvy enough to steer him on these things?

    by DCCyclone on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:45:56 AM PDT

  •  Agree in part

    He did issue a press release.  I didn't have a problem with the public statement.  But I don't get why he's going on King tonight.  It'll only shove the story into another news cycle, when it would otherwise die a deserving death in the MSM.

    by Paleo on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:46:39 AM PDT

  •  Wouldn't have worked

    Tony Snow attacked Kerry Tuesday morning, in preparation for Bush inserting the Kerry attack in his stump speech. The White House intended to blow this story up, and they were going to succeed - whatEVER the president says becomes news.

    I say that as somebody who thinks Kerry fucked up his own role in this. "I apologize to no one" was possibly the worst thing he could have said in his statement.

    by daveweigel on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:47:20 AM PDT

  •  Are you a member of the crowd that

    used to say Dems should grow a spine?

    If so, you are being a hypocrite.

    Go ahead and give me my donuts.  This apologizing right and left makes the dems look:

    1. Wrong

    2. Weak

    Deja Vu all over again.

    by DrWolfy on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:04:28 AM PDT

•  It's Ford's Campaign

  Ford has run a campaign that's 90% perfect so far, with odds heavily against him.  We need him to knock off Corker.  Let him run his campaign the way he thinks is best for him.  He's a good Democrat and knows his state's voters very well.

  by tailor324 on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:44:31 AM PDT

•  Same reason he misstated the NJ case

  Ford is pandering.

  Wheh I said that about his gay bash, I was excoriated.

  On this relatively trivial issue in comparison, daily kos will be up in arms.

  by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:44:50 AM PDT

  •  It's not so much that he's pandering

    But with both the NJ case and this, he had to make a pre-emptive move so that Corker wouldn't tie it to him.  I'm not saying it's right, but I am saying don't assume the worst about him.

    by GoldnI on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:49:07 AM PDT

    •  Um

      the gay bash was ALL pander.

      This is relatively trivial.

      But people will freak out now.

      by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:51:42 AM PDT

      •  Disagree

        Both are the same. Pandering chickenshit.

        Stabbing your own side in the back in a vain attempt to appeal to people who will never vote for you.

        by PhilK on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:09:40 AM PDT

        •  Sigh

          You really equate this to gay bashing?  Shaking my head.

          by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:17:18 AM PDT

      •  Pandering is when you pretend.

        When it comes to gays and medical marijuana patients, Ford's not pretending.

        by ben masel on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:21:26 AM PDT

•  Ya know

  I can't say that I am surprised.

  Ford is definitely not my first choice in the Democratic party that I would want to watch my back.

  by bam bam on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:46:19 AM PDT

•  Once again the double standard

  prevails here at Dkos.

  Folks, our big netroots candidate, Jon Tester out in Montana, ALSO called for Kerry to apologize.  But gee I don't see one comment, NOT FUCKING ONE, criticizing Tester, let alone throwing the invictive towards him that you're throwing towards Ford.

  by the OTHER rasmussen on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:47:55 AM PDT

  •  Did he?

    Heh.

    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:51:59 AM PDT

    •  hey good morning

      yeah, its here.

      And for those too lazy to link:

      In Montana, Jon Tester, the Democratic challenger to incumbent Senator Republican Senator Conrad Burns, also sought to distance himself from Kerry.

      ``Senator Kerry's remarks were poorly worded and just plain stupid,'' Tester said in a statement late yesterday. ``He owes our troops and their families an apology.''

      I'll be waiting with bated breath for the diaries pilloring Tester.

      by the OTHER rasmussen on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:54:01 AM PDT

      •  Sure to come

        Let's see what the ALl Powerful One has to say.

        His FP post yesterday was just totally wrong.

        by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:55:32 AM PDT

        •  I'm not so sure

          that it was wrong at the time, but it sure is getting to be wrong now.  This story is growing , not shrinking.  I've already seen Tony snow aand now Lynne Cheney on.

          Its sad, but the apology has to be issued and soon.  Thing is, there's really no Dem leader who can tell him to STFU that he'll listen to.

          by the OTHER rasmussen on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:08:55 AM PDT

          •  I was sure

            Because I knew today was coming.

            Now what will Kos say about TESTER? See, he won't rip him so he looks like a hypocrite.

            Hell, he will be a hypocrite.

            by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:16:32 AM PDT

  •  What if

    Why can't people wait until the elections are over? Then there will be enough time to deal with these things? Just couple of days to victory, i hope Tester and Ford do what ever is needed.

    by allmost liberal european on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:53:46 AM PDT

  •  What is so hard about this?

    We've all been there, but how many of us have refused to apologize for an unintentional slight? This is where John Kerry wants to take his stand? Apologize and end this distraction.

    by jhecht on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:58:41 AM PDT

    •  Since when has apologizing

      made the Right Wing Noise Machine shut up?

      by bawbie on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:00:38 AM PDT

      •  NEVER...

        It only makes the Dems look stupid and weak, as USUAL.

        by DrWolfy on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:03:05 AM PDT

      •  Who cares about the right wing noise machine?

        The MSM is having a field day with this. This should not be the main story 6 days out from an election. Why is it so hard for Kerry to say, "I have explained my gaffe, I have apologized to the offended parties, it is time to move on." Instead we have to wait for someone to find the hook and drag him off the stage.

        by jhecht on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:12:31 AM PDT

        •  Err, other than he said that this morning?

          It's not hard for Kerry to say that...no one will move on though.

          it is about the Right Wing Noise Machine because that's who the MSM gets their stories from.  And they aren't going to STFU about this just because Kerry "apologized".  They haven't in the past and they aren't going to now.  The only way they will move on is when they have their next thing to misconstrue, blow out of proportion and attack Dems with.  

          They are desperate and are going to throw everything they've got at us.  We can roll over, play dead and hope they pass us by, or we can stand and fight.

          by bawbie on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:16:57 AM PDT

  •  True

    And his statement was much worse than Ford's.

    by Rick Oliver on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:34:25 AM PDT

  •  Maybe that's because

    there's a history here. Tester's is good. Ford? Eh.

    And I don't think I'd be the only one around here that basically had good feelings about Tester and a hold-my-nose-and-vote-the-party feeling about Ford. This is just another "You sure he's a Democrat? Really?" moment for Ford--Tester really hasn't had any of those prior to this.

    by ChurchofBruce on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 09:29:58 AM PDT

•  This shit is demoralizing

  I joined this site because its' stated goal is electing Democrats. This race is tight, and for those of us working hard to get the man elected, it is damn pitiful to hear him smeared by our own.  I use daily Kos as inspiration, you know a place to turn after a few less than pleasant phone calls. Work together people.

  by TheGardener on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:51:31 AM PDT

•  The Reality Of The Situation....

  ....somebody HAS to be thrown under the bus right now to get this off the top of the hour news, off the front page, and off the tip of voters tongues.  WE all know that's what he meant, but MOST other Democrats I know, don't, and I live in Austin, Texas for God sake.  Kerry didn't screw up, anymore than Howard Dean screwed up with his "God, Guns, & Gays" comment or the with the "scream" speech - which wasn't a scream at all, but the Repukes have now created a MSM time bomb for us somehow - we can't ignore it, we have to diffuse it.  I'm not condoning Ford's actions, nor anyone else's, but I understand them given the circumstances and the dminishing amount of news cycles left to clear this crap up.

  by tkmattson on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:53:39 AM PDT

•  Well, if the GOP and media will not let it die

  Kerry needs to get his story out there. And if he can criticize BushCo about Iraq while he's at it, that's good too.

  by Naturegal on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 07:54:04 AM PDT

•  Boo Frickin Hoo

  Talk about double standard.

  This board has loudly bitched about a lack of balls by Democrats in attacking back.

  Yeah, Kerry F-ed the joke, but so what?  Why aren't the Dem candidates saying "He was not insulting the troops" rather than tucking tail and falling over themselves to be the first to apologize.

  Wimps.

  Wimps.

  Wimps.

  by DrWolfy on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:02:08 AM PDT

•  Starting to believe Ford is unprincipled

  Will this guy say anything and stab anyone in the back just to get elected?

  I can understand pandering to the locals, but at some point you'd hope he stand up for the truth.  He knows Kerry meant nothing disparaging about the tropps with his statement, but yet he pretends it was??

  That is disingenuous bordering on evil.

  by diplomatic on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 08:24:43 AM PDT

  •  Well

    There's a whole lot of people 'round here that will gladly cheer him on while he stabs people in the back--just as long as he gets elected. It's all about the most Blue Uniforms, right?

    by ChurchofBruce on Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 09:40:38 AM PDT