Yes, Dante had vision. In his Inferno, the lowest rung in the pit of Hell (a frozen lake at the core of Dis) was reserved for the greatest of the sinners -- the traitors...Well, now the-shell-of-a-man-formerly-known-as-Tony-Blair has another Discontent beside him, the-shell-of-a-man-formerly-known-as-Ralph-Nader...SeeNotNews made the-shell-of-a-man-formerly-known-as-Ralph-Nader's announcement on NotBeSeen's Meat the Press its lead story this morning. Indeed, they served up his juiciest quotes, including: "The liberal Intelligentsia has allowed its party to become a captive of corporate interests." Of course, Tim Russert allowed the-shell-of-a-man-formerly-known-as-Ralph-Nader to utter this demagogic and deceitful statement without challenging it with the simple fact that belies it...If the Democratic Party were indeed a captive of corporate interests why are the campaigns of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mekong Delta) and Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) barely solvent while the _resident, who has the 500+ dead US soldiers and a $500+ billion budget deficit on his hands, has collected $150 billion so far for his own war chest? Oh, yes, and of course, the-shell-of-a-man-formerly-known-as-Ralph-Nader came on strongly in favor of "gay marriage," Rove's choice for the crown jewel issue of this presidential campaign...It is all too clear, painfully, pitifully clear...There is hope. Terry McCauliffe, DNC chairmain, was on SeeBS Fork The Nation, pressing the attack on the _resident's shameful record both in the White House AND in the Alabama National Guard...MEANWHILE, JFK has given us another powerful sign that he is not going blink or turn the other cheek...
Letter from Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mekong Delta) to the
_resident: Dear President Bush, Over the last week,
you and your campaign have initiated a widespread
attack on my service in Vietnam, my decision to speak
out to end that war, and my commitment to the defense
of this nation. Just today, Saxby Chambliss-- a man
elected to the US Senate on the back of one of the
most despicable campaigns ever conducted against Max
Cleland, a true American Hero-- was carrying this
attack for you.
Repudiate the 9/11 Cover-Up and the Iraq War Lies,
Show Up for Democracy in 2004: Defeat Bush (again!)
http://johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0221d.html
John Kerry Addresses Bush/Cheney Campaign Attacks
Kerry Sends Letter Challenging President to Debate on War
February 21, 2004
For Immediate Release
Atlanta, GA –
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry gave the
following statement regarding President Bush’s attacks
on Kerry’s service to the country upon his arrival in
Atlanta, Georgia today. John Kerry also released a
letter challenging the President to a debate on the
Vietnam era and the impact of their experiences on
their approaches to presidential leadership. In the
letter, John Kerry says, “This is not a debate to be
distorted through your $100 million dollar campaign
fund. This is a debate that should be conducted face
to face.”
John Kerry said:
“As they did with John McCain in South Carolina in
2000 and as they did with Senator Max Cleland, they
have again questioned my commitment to the defense of
our country. I'm not going to stand by and let the
likes of Saxby Chambliss and the Republican Party
question my commitment to keeping our nation strong -
I've voted for some of the largest defense and
intelligence budgets in our history.
“I'd like to know what it is Republicans who didn't
serve in Vietnam have against those of us who did.
I'm tired of Republicans trying to divert attention
from the real issues -- here in Georgia you've lost
70.000 jobs, you've got 1.3 million Georgians without
health insurance -- and that's what this race should
be about. These are the real issues they should be
willing to talk about instead of engaging in the
politics of fear and questioning our commitment to
fighting for the country we fought for in uniform.
“One way or another we're going to have a debate about
the future not the past. We’re not going to let them
make this about a war 34 years ago, when we need to
talk about the war today.
“Republicans like to question the patriotism of
Democrats who question the direction of our nation.
They put Max Cleland in an ad with Osama bin Laden to
question his commitment to the defense of our country.
This President came to Georgia to campaign for Saxby
Chambliss and didn't say a word about it. Now his
surrogates are at it again. Well, I don't think that
politics of fear has any place in our country, and I'm
still waiting for the Republicans to tell me what more
Max Cleland has to leave on the battlefield of Vietnam
to prove his commitment to our country.”
Letter to President Bush:
February 21, 2004
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20500
Dear President Bush,
Over the last week, you and your campaign have
initiated a widespread attack on my service in
Vietnam, my decision to speak out to end that war, and
my commitment to the defense of this nation. Just
today, Saxby Chambliss-- a man elected to the US
Senate on the back of one of the most despicable
campaigns ever conducted against Max Cleland, a true
American Hero-- was carrying this attack for you.
As you well know, Vietnam was a very difficult and
painful period in our nation's history, and the
struggle for our veterans continues. So, it has been
hard to believe that you would choose to re-open these
wounds for your personal political gain. But, that is
what you have chosen to do.
I am fighting to become the presidential nominee of
the Democratic Party. Even before Democrats make
their choice, you’ve launched a campaign of attacks
against me. I am determined to run a campaign on the
great challenges facing this country-- from creating
jobs, to solving our health care crisis to getting our
nation's ballooning deficit under control. But I will
not sit back and allow my patriotism to be challenged.
America deserves a better debate. If you want to
debate the Vietnam era, and the impact of our
experiences on our approaches to presidential
leadership, I am prepared to do so.
This is not a debate to be distorted through your $100
million dollar campaign fund. This is a debate that
should be conducted face to face.
Mr. President, I hope you will conduct a campaign
worthy of this nation’s future.
Sincerely,
John Kerry