List of Kerry Convention Speech Promises

A list of promises and pledges in John Kerry's Thursday night speech:

* Recruit allies to help rebuild Iraq.

* Add 40,000 active duty troops, including a doubling of special forces to fight terrorism.

* Immediately implement the recommendations of the Sept. 11 commission to improve America's security.

* Will not privatize Social Security or cut benefits.

* Create incentives to revitalize manufacturing and invest in job-creating technology and innovation.

* Eliminate tax incentives that encourage companies to ship jobs overseas and reward companies that keep and create jobs in the United States.

* Enforce protections for American workers in trade agreements.

* Cut the deficit in half in four years.

* Cut middle-class taxes and reduce the tax burden on small businesses.

* Repeal Bush's tax cuts for people making more than $200,000 a year.

* Institute an education plan that sets high standards, provides for smaller class sizes and demands accountability from parents, teachers, and schools.

* Give a tax credit for college tuition.

* Save families up to $1,000 on health care premiums by cracking down on waste and abuse in the system; ensure patients can chose their own doctors; allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors; and allow Americans to buy less expensive prescription drugs from other countries.

* Invest in vehicles that run on alternative fuels and other energy-saving technology.

HELP IS ON THE WAY!

"I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty."

"My fellow Americans: We are here tonight united in one simple purpose: to make America stronger at home and respected in the world."

"We have it in our power to change the world again. But only if we're true to our ideals and that starts by telling the truth to the American people. That is my first pledge to you tonight. As president, I will restore trust and credibility to the White House."

Text of John Kerry's Acceptance Speech!

9-11 Commission Report

Just picked this book up at Wal-mart for 7 bucks.

Today, The Better Angels Of Our Nature Are Just Waiting To Be Summoned

"Today, the better angels of our nature are just waiting to be summoned. We only require a leader who is willing to call on them, a leader willing to draw again on the mystic chords of our national memory and remind us of all that we, as a people, everyday leaders, can do; of all that we as a nation stand for and of all the immense possibility that still lies ahead."

"I think I’ve found just the guy. I’m married to him."

"John Kerry will give us back our faith in America. He will restore our faith in ourselves and in the sense of limitless opportunity that has always been America’s gift to the world."

"Together we will lift everyone up. We have to. It’s possible. And you know what? It’s the American thing to do."

Kennedy Says Bush Should Be Replaced

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Democratic titan and patriarch of the country's most enduring political dynasty, told the party faithful Tuesday night that America can only reclaim its greatness by denying President Bush a second term.

"The goals of the American people are every bit as high as they were more than 200 years ago," said Kennedy. "If America is failing to reach them today, it's not because our ideals need replacing, it's because our president needs replacing."

Kennedy, who worked tirelessly to win the 2004 convention for Boston, greeted the cheering throng by saying, "Welcome to my hometown." About 100 members of his extended family joined him in the city that is the birthplace of the Kennedy dynasty. Loyalists cheered and waved "Kennedy" signs and homemade placards reading, "Kennedy you're still the one."

Despite the Kerry campaign's admonition to convention speakers not to risk alienating undecided voters with red-meat attacks on the president, Kennedy unleashed what amounted to the latest in a string of flame-throwing verbal assaults on Bush. In recent months, for example, he has called the war in Iraq a fraud "made up in Texas," a political product "marketed" by the Bush administration to win elections and ultimately Bush's Vietnam.

"More than 900 of our service men and women have already paid the ultimate price," he said in his convention address, his voice at times cracking. "The administration has alienated longtime allies. Instead of making America more secure, they have made us less so."

Kennedy likened Bush to a "monarch named George who inherited the crown" — drawing laughs. And, invoking the memory of Democratic icon Franklin D. Roosevelt, he told the crowd: "The only thing we have to fear is four more years of George W. Bush."...


After his speech, Kennedy and 1,800 family members, friends and supporters were heading to a star-studded, invitation-only tribute at Symphony Hall honoring his more than four decades of public service. Headliners for the salute include U2's Bono, composer and former Boston Pops conductor John Williams and cellist Yo-Yo Ma.

Kerry Urges More Time for Sept. 11 Panel

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said Tuesday that the Sept. 11 commission should continue working another 18 months to ensure its proposed reforms are adopted, a challenge embraced by the bipartisan panel.


With the two candidates determined to project a proactive image on the commission's work in this election year, President Bush (news - web sites) has assembled a task force to review the 10-member panel's work. Kerry has said he should implement the five-day-old proposals immediately.

"Backpedaling and going slow is something that America can't afford," Kerry said. "It will take real, bipartisan leadership and real action to protect this country of ours. You can't treat the commission's report as something that you hope will go away."

Kerry, speaking before the USS Wisconsin in this port city en route to the ongoing Democratic National Convention, said Bush could immediately implement many of the commission's recommendations by executive order. He said Congress should do its part and act swiftly when legislation or funding is needed.

"Now that the 9-11 commission has done its job, we need to do our job," Kerry said. "We understand the threat. We have a blueprint for action. We have the strength as a nation to do what has to be done. The only thing we don't have is time. We need to do it now."

Clintons Vow to Make Kerry Next President

Bill Clinton stirred the opening night of the Democratic National Convention Monday with a summons to send John Kerry to the White House, accusing President Bush of botching both the economy and the war on terror.

"Strength and wisdom are not opposing values," the former president said sarcastically of the man who followed him into office. He said Republicans "need a divided America, but we don't."

Eager to draw attention to Kerry's record of military service, Clinton said the Yale graduate could easily have stayed out of the Vietnam War three decades ago. The former president said he, Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney all did so, but not Kerry. "He said, send me."...


Clinton was buffeted by charges of dodging the draft throughout his 1992 campaign and presidency, and in a moment of self-criticism made the point that Kerry volunteered for the Southeast Asian conflict.

"During the Vietnam War, many young men including the current president, the vice president and me could have gone to Vietnam but didn't. John Kerry came from a privileged background and could have avoided it too.

"Instead he said, send me," Clinton said.

"When they sent those swift-boats up the river in Vietnam, and told them their job was to draw hostile fire to show the American flag and bait the enemy to come out and fight, John Kerry said, send me," Clinton continued.

TIME Kerry Up Close, Personal

Great photo collection from Kerry friend, George Butler.

http://www.time.com/time/election2004/photoessay/gatefold/13.html

Kerry Girls Rock the Vote

Vanessa and Alexandra Kerry Rock the Vote tonight at the Democratic Gain & Rock the Vote jump off party in Boston!


(REUTERS/Marc Serota)

Kerry On to Florida

John Kerry kisses his wife Teresa Heinz Kerry as former senator and astronaut John Glenn looks on during the baseball game between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees tonight. (AFP/Getty Images/Ezra Shaw)

After an unscheduled stop to allow him to watch a key baseball game in Boston late Sunday, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry took his campaign plane to the Sunshine State, which so clouded Democratic aspirations in the 2000 presidential election.

On Monday, Kerry was to address a rally at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, where he will argue that the same commitment, imagination and innovation that took man to the moon should be used to provide affordable health care...

All stops on the tour have been chosen to include states that are expected to witness some of the closest battles on election day, November 2.

John Kerry Diverts His Plane to See Red Sox-Yanks Game

John Kerry made a surprise visit to Boston for the Yankees-Red Sox baseball game on Sunday by secretly entering a city tightly secured for the Democratic convention that will nominate him for president.

"This plane is diverted," Kerry told reporters aboard his chartered Boeing 757 shortly after it left Columbus, Ohio, ostensibly for Titusville, Florida.

"It's a wonderful rivalry and it's a great event," Kerry said. "I love the Red Sox, the idea of missing a Yankees-Red Sox series right before convention week was not acceptable."



John Kerry arrives on the field at Fenway Park in Boston, with his wife Teresa Heinz-Kerry. (Jim Young/Reuters)


John Kerry smiles before throwing out the first pitch before the start of the game between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. (REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi)


John Kerry winds up to throw out the first pitch before the start of the game. (REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi)


John Kerry throws out the first pitch at Fenway Park. (Jim Young/Reuters)


John Kerry throws out the first pitch at the Red Sox Yankees game at Fenway Park! (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)


John Kerry speaks to veteran Will Pumyea after Kerry threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park for the Red Sox vs Yankees game. (Jim Young/Reuters)

Yahoo List Serve for Convention Bloggers

Check out this Yahoo List-Serve set up for Bloggers who will be covering the Convention:
This group is a discussion space for anyone interested in the blogging events and blog resources around the Democratic National Convention. It is open for anyone who will be blogging about the Convention, from Boston or elsewhere.

Blogger Matthew Stoller (who actually founded this Blog and went on to bigger things) is the Blog Community Coordinator for the DNCC! Congratulations Matthew!

Here's a few links that Matthew shared on the Yahoo List-Serve:

This is the most popular list of bloggers coming to the Convention:
http://www.cyberjournalist.net/news/001461.php

Here's a feed of bloggers from the cyberjournalist page:
http://radio.weblogs.com/0001014/categories/dncRssFeed/rss.xml

Dave Winer has created a site called Convention Bloggers:
http://www.conventionbloggers.com

Here is a way to sign up for Convention alerts:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/conventions/

Democratic Convention Schedule

Day-by-day schedule of Dem Convention:
Boston nominating event runs from July 26-29

BOSTON - The Democratic Party has chosen "Stronger at Home, Respected in the World" as the overall theme of its 2004 national convention, which will take place July 26-29 in Boston. MSNBC Cable will carry the convention live for eight hours each day, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. ET, more than any other television network. Here's a day-by-day look at the agenda, which also features daily themes:

Monday, July 26
With the theme of "The Kerry-Edwards Plan for America's Future," Democrats will roll out six speakers to focus on domestic issues, including their biggest gun in former President Clinton. In addition to Clinton, Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones of Ohio who will talk about the campaign's economic plans; Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin will cover health care; and Rep. Bob Menendez of New Jersey will talk about defense issues. Also on the agenda: Sen. Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore and former President Carter.

Tuesday, July 27
Speakers on this day will focus on what the campaign is calling Kerry's "Lifetime of Strength and Service." They include: Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Christie Vilsack of Iowa, Gov. Janet Napolitano of Arizona and Teresa Heinz Kerry.

Wednesday, July 28
In addition to serving as Edwards' debut before the convention, this day will focus on the Kerry-Edwards plan for "A Stronger, More Secure America." Speakers will include: Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico; Mayor Martin O’Malley of Baltimore; and retired Marine Lt. Col. Steve Brozak of New Jersey. The highlight will be Elizabeth Edwards' introduction of her husband and the vice presidential nominee's address to the convention.

Thursday, July 29
The convention culminates with John Kerry's acceptance speech. He will be preceded to the podium by some of his crewmates from Vietnam, including Jim Rassman, the Green Beret whom Kerry rescued. Kerry’s daughters, Alex and Vanessa Kerry, and two stepsons, Chris and Andre Heinz, will also speak. Kerry will be introduced by former Sen. Max Cleland from Georgia.

Stay Informed:
America 2004 - The Democratic Convention

JohnKerry.com

Democratic National Committee

Pre Convention News Round Up

Pre Convention News Round Up

At the New York Times, Adam Nagourney tells how Kerry Sees Hope of Gaining on Terror Issue:

BOSTON, July 24 — Senator John Kerry says he will seek to persuade voters over the next three months that he would do a "better job than George Bush" in protecting the nation from terrorism, but he acknowledges that the president now holds an advantage on this pivotal issue.

In an interview on Friday laying out the framework for the Democratic convention starting here on Monday, Mr. Kerry pointed to his military record and criticized Mr. Bush's terrorism policies in declaring that he would challenge the president on what polls suggest is Mr. Bush's greatest strength. Mr. Kerry said "it takes time" for a challenger to gain public confidence on such issues, but said he was "not worried about that."

To demonstrate his point, he reached for a copy of the Sept. 11 commission report that was issued on Thursday, which he brought to the interview, and said that if he is elected he will carry out most of the report's recommendations right away.

"Safer, stronger?" Mr. Kerry said of Mr. Bush's record with a hint of sarcasm as he waved the 567-page book overhead. "I'm just quite confident that as the next months of the campaign go on I am going to have the ability to be able to make it clear to America that I can make this country safe and strong."

Over at the LA Times, Ron Brownstein shows how Kerry's Strategy Accents Positive:

WASHINGTON — John F. Kerry's strategy for the Democratic National Convention rests on a bet that voters are ready to change direction and need more to be reassured about his virtues than persuaded that President Bush has failed, sources familiar with campaign strategy say.

With that in mind, Democrats plan to focus more on boosting Kerry than bashing Bush at the convention that convenes Monday in Boston. And they are framing a message that, while also trying to spotlight Kerry's policy agenda, places the greatest emphasis on telling his personal story.

"Who he is, where he comes from and what he believes: That is the most important thing to convey," said Tad Devine, a senior Kerry advisor.

Senior Kerry aides said the Democrats would try above all to persuade voters that the Massachusetts senator could defend the country as commander in chief and held strong beliefs that had guided his decisions.

"Seventy-five percent of this week is that he will keep you safe, and 25% is that he is a man of conviction," one senior Kerry aide said.

The Chicago Tribune runs an interview showing how Kerry strives to offer voters 'a better vision':

DENVER -- Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry declared America is neither safer nor stronger under President Bush's stewardship and said when he accepts the party's nomination this week he will urge Americans to seriously ask themselves if they are satisfied with the nation's direction and place in the world.

The Massachusetts senator said in an interview that the Bush administration has pursued ideologically driven policies that have shattered global alliances, produced a burgeoning federal deficit and placed U.S. security in peril. He also dismissed White House claims that the war on terror has made America safer.

"Safer is not the test," Kerry said, sharply articulating his words as he pointed to a bound volume of the bipartisan commission's report on the Sept. 11 attacks. "The test is whether you've made America as safe as it can be and should be given the options we had available to us."

USA Today also runs an interview with Kerry entitled The President Misled America:

The president misled America. I don't know about deliberately, but he misled America, he misled the world. He misled Americans in Congress about how he was going to go to war. About what he would do. About why. We now have a new rationale for having gone to war. And I say to voters plainly and clearly: I laid out in my speech on the Senate floor precisely the steps that I think we needed to take to use the authority that we were giving the president. If I had been president, I would have used that authority more effectively....and I would have brought countries to our side through effective diplomacy, by being patient, by using up their excuses, by working through the international objections, so that if we needed to go to war we went to war with other countries on our side that shared the cost.

I have been 100% consistent. Saddam Hussein was a threat, he needed to be held accountable to the U.N. resolutions, but it needed to be done in the right way. George Bush did it in the wrong way, and broke his promises to Americans.

This should also be a big week for biographical articles, such as The Private Ambition of a Very Public Man in the LA Times and Discipline and Ambition Overcame First Defeat in The Washington Post.

Clinton: The President Who Took bin Laden Seriously

The president who took bin Laden seriously
Republicans are trying to blame 9/11 on Clinton, but the official report shows that he responded to al-Qaida threats far more effectively than Bush.

- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Joe Conason

July 24, 2004 While the nonpartisan members of the 9/11 commission have sounded excruciatingly even-handed as they issued their final report, the Republican congressional leadership -- which has always tried to thwart the 9/11 investigation -- blatantly insists on blaming Clinton for the intelligence failures that resulted in the fateful attacks.

Two days before the report appeared, House Speaker Dennis Hastert and his leadership team exploited a briefing on the report to mount a partisan assault.

Their script, repeated by Hastert and his whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., suggested that "eight months of the Bush administration" couldn't make up for the policies established during "eight years of the Clinton administration."

Check the comments for the full story

New Look!

The Unofficial Kerry Blog has made a couple of minor updates and improvements that we hope you will enjoy. Each post will now have it's own page when you click on the time stamp and we've done away with the Haloscan Comments and are now using Blogger's comment system.

Apologies for the loss of archived user comments! We did save the source code incase we decide we prefer the Haloscan Comments! Let us know what you think!

Wavering Voters Have Doubts About Bush

Voters who haven't firmly committed to a presidential candidate are in a sour mood.

They tend to be more disapproving of President Bush, have a gloomier view of the economy and be more likely to think the country is headed down the wrong track. The mood of these persuadable voters prompted one veteran Republican strategist to warn the Bush campaign that dramatic steps are needed to prevent them from bolting to Democrat John Kerry.
 
 
Voters are waking up to the damage that Bush has done to our country! They are overwhelmingly seeing that it is time for a change and that change is Kerry/Edwards!

It's time to take your voices to the streets, my friends and rally the cry for change. America can not afford 4 more years of Bush! 

JOHN KERRY CHOOSES EDWARDS!!! YESSSS!!!!!!!!

One of very few politicians who knows what it's like to be both rich and working class (Bush and Cheney know only one class...can you guess which one it is?!? Knew you could!), Edwards is an excellent choice for Vice Presidential running mate for John Kerry. Edwards is from the South, has lived in both Carolinas. Edwards won the Democratic Presidential Primary in South Carolina, and was the only candidate other than Clark and Kerry who even came close to winning in any Southern state. A Kerry-Edwards ticket has had a substantial lead in the polls nationwide over any other combination of candidates, including Bush-Cheney.

John Edwards was born in a poor mill-working family in Seneca, SC, less than 10 miles from where I live. His family was forced to move to North Carolina while he was still young because the mill where his father worked in South Carolina was laying people off. Edwards has respect here that no one else has had as a politician. Democrats were overwhelmingly in favor of him, and independents and even many Republicans had many good things to say about him. There were many things they liked about Edwards in the race that they could not see in any other candidate. He gained massive applause, applause that I have never witnessed anywhere else, at the South Carolina Democratic Convention on May 1st. People here in South Carolina can really identify with someone who knows personally what it's like to suffer from a manufacturing layoff. There are parts of many cities in South Carolina that look like a war zone, with all the small businesses and homes boarded up. A lot like the city of Flint, as portrayed in Roger and Me and Fahrenheit 9/11.

Although many people here saw things they liked in Edwards that they could not see in Kerry, I credit Edwards' participation in the Presidential Primary race for helping to give Kerry a solid chance to beat Bush in November. Edwards attracted the attention of many Republicans and independents...including many who told me personally that they had voted for Bush in 2000...that helped them to see what they were dissatisfied with in Bush. These people were helped to change their mind about Bush by Edwards' participation in the race.

By joining John Kerry now, Edwards will greatly boost our chances of:

Sending Bush Home in 2005!!!

John Kerry visit's the "Field of Dreams" and Brings Hope to America!


John Kerry walks out of a cornfield onto the baseball diamond with local children during a campaign stop at the "Field of Dreams" movie location in Dyersville, Iowa Sunday, July 4, 2004. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)



John Kerry walks on to the baseball diamond of the "Field of Dreams" movie location with the local children in Dyersville, Iowa Sunday, July 04, 2004. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)






John Kerry plays baseball during a campaign stop at the "Field of Dreams" movie location in Dyersville, Iowa Sunday, July 04, 2004. (AP Photos/Gerald Herbert)