tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52377972024-03-12T21:20:45.152-07:00The Unofficial John Kerry BlogThe First Blog Supporting John Kerry Before the 2004 Election.
<BR>The Unofficial Kerry Blog is not affiliated with the John Kerry for President 2004 Campaign, Friends of John Kerry, Inc. or John Kerry for Senate '08.
<BR><a href="http://kerryblog.blogspot.com/"> The Unofficial Kerry for President Blog!</A>Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.comBlogger2913125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-43258444588597224902008-04-29T11:18:00.000-07:002008-04-29T11:25:45.843-07:00Human Rights Campaign Endorses John Kerry for Re-electionThe Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has announced it is endorsing John Kerry for re-election to the U.S. Senate. <br /><br />Joe Solmonese, President of the Human Rights Campaign, made the following statement: “Senator Kerry has been an outspoken leader for GLBT equality in the United States Senate. Most recently, Senator Kerry’s leadership was crucial to the advancement of legislation to lift the discriminatory HIV travel ban. We are pleased to endorse Senator Kerry for re-election and look forward to working with him on achieving equality for our community."<br /><br /><br />Senator Kerry responded, "I am honored to have the endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign, one of the savviest, most respected and most influential political, civil rights and human rights organizations in our country. When you’re in a fight to change our country, you can always count on HRC to be there with you in the trenches, and there’s no better ally in the fight to advance the cause of freedom and equality for all Americans. I have been proud to work with the Human Rights Campaign for close to 25 years now in the U.S. Senate. We’ve fought together to combat AIDS, including our fight this year in the Foreign Relations Committee to lift the HIV Travel Ban, to pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to end discrimination in the workplace through ENDA, and to work toward the day when same-sex couples are granted the same rights other Americans take for granted. We’ve spent a lot of our energy these last years stopping bad things from happening with a Republican in the White House. We’ve been proud to fight those fights, but I can’t begin to tell you how much I look forward to serving in a bigger, stronger Democratic majority in Congress under a Democratic president so we can wage and win the progress we’ve been waiting for and which the community deserves."<br /><br />Senator Kerry's office issued a press release which described the Senator's activities on behalf of GLBT rights:<br /><br /><blockquote><br />Kerry has a long record of fighting for equal rights for all gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered (GLBT) Americans.<br /><br />Twenty-four years ago, one of Kerry’s first acts as Senator was to introduce a bill prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. He supports passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and has adopted a nondiscrimination policy for his Congressional offices based on sexual orientation and gender identity.<br /><br />He is an original co-sponsor of the Hate Crimes Prevention bill, which would extend federal jurisdiction over serious, violent hate crimes. It would also finally include crimes motivated by sexual orientation and sexual identity to be considered hate crimes.<br /><br />Kerry also introduced the HIV Nondiscrimination in Travel and Immigration Act that would repeal the outdated, misguided provision in the Immigration and Nationality Act, which bars HIV positive individuals from entering the United States, including HIV positive family members, doctors and experts, as well as refugees seeking asylum. This long standing ban against those with HIV only serves to stigmatize the disease and discriminate against those infected. <br /><br />In 1990, Kerry cosponsored the first Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act (CARE)—which represents the largest discretionary federal investment in treating individuals with HIV and AIDS. Kerry also sponsored the Vaccines for the New Millennium Act, aimed at boosting contributions to the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, a non-profit group working to promote development of an HIV vaccine in 2000. Kerry also introduced the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria Act, which would increase the federal funding of international HIV/AIDS efforts from approximately $1.7 billion in 2003 to $1.9 billion in 2004. This effort led to the Act’s unanimous passage in May 2003. AIDS activists have characterized Kerry as one of Congress’s top leaders on HIV/AIDS policy.<br /><br />During the Clinton Administration, Kerry opposed the White House’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy.” He was one of a few senators to testify before the Senate Armed Services Committee and call on the President to rescind the ban on gay and lesbian service members. <br /><br />Kerry has repeatedly said that same-sex couples should be granted rights, including access to pensions, health insurance, family medical leave, bereavement leave, hospital visitation, survivor benefits, and other basic legal protections, that all families and children need. He has supported legislation to provide domestic partners of federal employees the benefits available to spouses of federal employees including the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. He was one of 14 Senators -- and the only one up for reelection in 1996 -- to oppose the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). <br /><br />In Massachusetts, just last spring, Kerry worked with Governor Deval Patrick and progressive legislators to help defeat a narrow and discriminatory constitutional amendment that would have banned same sex marriage in Massachusetts . <br /><br />The HRC is America ’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. Altogether, HRC endorsed 14 Senators or candidates for Senate it says will continue advancing the issues the campaign cares about. In 2006, the HRC and its 700,000 members were involved in 200 House and Senate races. Their candidates won 94% of those races. </blockquote>Karen van Hoekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09004215390305691685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-27649546679486033612007-12-11T09:48:00.000-08:002007-12-11T10:30:38.314-08:00Kerry: No truth to rumor of Obama endorsementIn response to a question from the Washington Times during a telephone press conference today, Senator Kerry said that he had not yet decided whether to endorse anyone for President. As for rumors that he planned to endorse Sen. Barack Obama, the Senator replied, "I've made no decision -- I don't know where this comes from. I heard this rumor when I landed today. It's a rumor. I have made no decisions whatsoever not only as to who I might endorse but as to whether or not I will."Karen van Hoekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09004215390305691685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-63175849671592236722007-11-10T21:49:00.000-08:002007-11-10T21:49:27.839-08:00Kerry Spokesman, David Wade Sets Limbaugh Straight on Swiftboat SmearsKerry spokesman David Wade issued the following slap down today in response to Rush Limbaugh, who said on his radio show that Kerry’s Swift Boat attackers in 2004, “<em><a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200711090008?f=h_latest">were right</a> on the money and nobody has disproven anything they claimed in any of their ads, statements, written commentaries, or anything of the sort</em>.” <br /><br /><blockquote>David Wade said:<br /><br />“<strong>At first I thought, that’s not Rush, that’s just the OxyContin talking. Nonetheless, this is a despicable but unsurprising new lie from a man whose closest brush with combat came when customs officials tried to take away his Viagra.</strong> <br /><br /><strong>This portly peddler of hate is once again wrong on the facts. John Kerry served his country with honor in Vietnam, and has fought for his fellow veterans ever since. The lies and smears of the Swift Boat Veterans for Bush were disproved conclusively in 2004 by the men who fought by John Kerry’s side in Vietnam, by the military’s own records, by investigative journalists, and by the incredible contradictions that exposed these right wing smear artists. It is long past time that we end the politics of fear and smear that we have seen used against decorated veterans from John McCain to Max Cleland and John Kerry.</strong> <br /><br /><strong>Rush Limbaugh’s ignorance and determination to divide Americans is just another reminder that you can’t spell ‘Rush Limbaugh’ without the letters L-I-A-R.</strong>”</blockquote> <br /><br />Media Matters has an excellent fact check of the Limbaugh smear, proving once again that when it comes to slandering veterans, the right wing is wrong. The fact check <a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200711090008?f=h_latest">can be found here</a>. <br /><br />Cross Posted from <a href="http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2007/11/09/kerry-spokesman-david-wade-sets-limbaugh-straight-on-swiftboat-smears/">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-71182078921541523642007-10-30T23:29:00.000-07:002007-10-30T23:29:26.937-07:00Clear Channel Sends Edict to Not Play Springsteen’s ‘Magic’Bruce Springsteen currently has the No 1 album in the charts, he'll probably be up for a Grammy for the Best Album of the Year, and his tour is sold out across the country, but even still Republican owned, censor machine Clear Channel is out to pull The Boss from the airwaves. Readers here know, I'm a big Springsteen fan and I have written about him here more than a few times over the years, so I gotta say, this really ticks me off. Big time. <br /><br />Clearly Bruce Springsteen's latest, 'Magic' has got the Noise Machine in a huff. Could it be because of this cut of the album, <em><strong>Last To Die</strong></em>, inspired by John Kerry:<br /><br /><object width="350" height="266"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z8IigcQQmMs&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Z8IigcQQmMs&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="350" height="266"></embed></object><br /><br />I long ago gave up listening to mainstream radio, but this is wrong, just wrong... Read on here: <a href="http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2007/10/30/clear-channel-sends-edict-to-not-play-springsteens-magic/">Clear Channel Sends Edict to Not Play Springsteen’s ‘Magic’</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-89198253416378523132007-10-30T00:16:00.000-07:002007-10-30T00:16:09.273-07:00John Kerry Offers Post-Kyoto Global Climate Change ApproachSenator John Kerry spoke to the Council on Foreign Relations today. His address, “After Kyoto, Eyes on Bali: Global Climate Change and American Leadership,” focused on the security challenge of global climate change and the way forward as the U.S. approaches the next round of global climate change talks in Bali in December. Sen. Kerry and Sen. Boxer are leading the Senate delegation to this next round of international discussions in December.<br /><br />The text of John Kerry’s speech is below:<br /><blockquote>I’d like to focus my introductory remarks on an issue which frankly not enough people are talking about in the context of our foreign policy – but which could have a greater long-term impact on our security than any other: and that is global climate change.<br /><br />There will be critical meetings this year about our security --- Secretary Rice’s Mideast Summit in Annapolis, perhaps some meetings between US and Iranian officials. But potentially just as important is the meeting which will happen just over a month from now, when delegates from 154+ nations arrive in Bali to start work on a new international climate change treaty, and I’ll be leading a bipartisan delegation from the US Senate. <br /><br />The road to our present predicament is littered with missed opportunities, but we still face the same, ever more acute, choice: either America finally leads the world in crafting a comprehensive new international agreement, or the countries of the world will pollute our way into a catastrophe of unknowable parameters but undeniable peril.<br /><br />We’ve all heard the warnings. Drought. Famine. Floods. Refugees. Devastated crops. Lost GDP. Instability. Border tensions—and more of the failed states that shelter and breed terrorists. The plagues seem to stop just short of the Old Testament slaying of the firstborn in Egypt. But we can’t wait for divine intervention—we have to act. How’s this for a call to action? Here’s a recent headline from Time magazine: “How to prevent the next Darfur. Step One: Get serious about climate change.” I’m pleased but not surprised to hear that the Council is once again ahead of the curve, and I look forward to hearing from the Independent Task Force chaired by Tom Vilsack and George Pataki.<br /><br />I don’t intend to use this forum to dwell on or re-litigate the science, but let me say briefly, since the start of the industrial age, atmospheric CO2 levels are up 35%, to 380 parts per million. Scientists say that anything above 450 —which means a total warming of 2 degrees centigrade—passes a tipping point into catastrophic climate change. And guess what? Unless we slam the brakes—now—we’ll hit 600-700 ppm by 2100.<br /><br />Mobilizing to solve climate change is especially tough because of the delayed onset of its impact—emissions stay in the atmosphere for 100 years, so the window for preventing climate change may close before we even begin to feel its full force. But the first signs are there: Recently we learned that Arctic sea ice is down 39% from its long-term average—and maybe as much as 50% since the 1950s. Two weeks ago, Nature warned that oceans—which historically absorb about a quarter of our CO2—are losing their capacity to serve as a “sink” for our emissions. As a result, the increased CO2 in the atmosphere has outpaced even our own dire predictions by 35% over the last 7 years. That’s the evidence: clear, growing, and urgent.<br /><br />I don’t have to emphasize just how much we’ve been set back by 8 years outside the international system. It is crucial that our delegation to Bali send a clear message to the world that America is finally serious about fixing climate change. We’re ready to end the era of obstruction and start leading by example.<br /><br />We, as a nation, are indispensable to this process. Our inaction is a green light to all the world’s polluters. But it’s humbling to remember that even when we had leadership that recognized the problem, a White House that signed a treaty, we still couldn’t put a system in place that reduced CO2 emissions. Kyoto failed. And it failed because we weren’t able to bridge the gap between developed and developing nations.<br /><br />Our primary goal in Bali must be to arrive at a mandate for future negotiations to finally reach a truly global agreement on a truly global effort-- not one that leaves the world’s largest emitter of the past and the largest emitters of the future outside the system. That’s why we failed last time.<br /><br />Ten years ago, the issue simply wasn’t ripe for solution—it wasn’t possible to craft a treaty that China would sign and the US Senate would ratify. I can’t emphasize enough how much—and how quickly—things have changed in both countries. You’ve witnessed the sea change here over the past few years. What is less well known is that today, a country like China finally grasps that they have an immediate and vital interest in getting this right. China has 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities. Chinese villagers in Yunnan have watched their sacred Mingyong Glacier disappear before their very eyes. China put forth a climate change plan this year. They’ve already begun setting ambitious goals, such as a 20% cut in energy intensity by 2010. Next year, China’s fleet-wide fuel efficiency will be 36.7 mpg—higher than the Senate’s proposed target for 2020. There’s a cartoon out there that China won’t listen—but the reality is that a diplomatic breakthrough may be within reach.<br /><br />That’s the best thing that could come out of Bali—an agreement on a serious mandate for moving forward. Ultimately, it boils down to this: the only fair, realistic solution is shared but differentiated responsibility. The US and other industrialized nations must accept mandatory caps and acknowledge that poorer nations won’t forego economic growth or bear the cost of other’s past emissions. China and other developing countries will have to take on their own binding commitments—not the same form as ours— but perhaps a commitment per unit of GDP growth instead of population or a single-industry cap. Down the road, China, India, Brazil, Mexico and other developing nations will have to lower absolute emissions. But today we must share the challenge of putting China on a path to doing so without infringing on its right to economic development. The consequences of China’s failure will be ours too.<br /><br />That is why, in Bali and beyond, we must also commit ourselves to a massive new campaign aimed at fostering green development. And at the heart of that effort must be coal. We have to spread carbon capture and sequestration techniques—which can capture up to 100% of coal’s emissions—to China and the rest of the developing world. We must be realistic about the fact that a developing county like China—rich in coal, growing at 11%, and in need of a cheap source of energy—won’t adopt clean coal technology unless we help them. And their decisions may be irreversible: Today the Chinese are building one coal-fired power plant per week—most are not even designed so that they might be retrofitted later with clean technology. That’s the real cost of inaction in real time. Coal accounts for 80% of China’s CO2 emissions, and the EPA tells us that Chinese pollution accounts for ¼ of the smog over Los Angeles. That too is a cost of inaction. We should create an internationally-funded research consortium devoted to developing green technologies and spreading them to developing countries—we need to do everything we can—not just to develop green technologies, but to see them actually adopted by billions of people.<br /><br />We should be reducing tariffs on green producers overseas, rewarding countries that meet emissions standards, and helping US companies to sell green products overseas. We should be financing low-carbon energy sources and vehicles through institutions like the World Bank, and building capacity for energy and environmental data collection.<br /><br />Finally, we must address deforestation—which accounts for 20% of emissions, Because they pull CO2 out of the air, forests are the planet’s natural defense. This needs to be a major part of our next agreement, and in the meantime we need to make sure these countries have tools to measure the problem and capacity to start addressing it.<br /><br />We must begin thinking of climate change as a major issue in our foreign policy and national security. We should recognize that the solutions to many of our greatest challenges-- energy security, terrorism, democracy promotion, and climate change—all intersect when it comes to our use of energy. Over the next 25 years, oil consumption in developing Asian nations will double to 32 million barrels per day—accounting for 80% of increased global demand for oil, much of it housed in unstable, authoritarian regimes. All of our most pressing geopolitical concerns point us in the same direction: a massive investment in alternative energy and green technology.<br /><br />This is a test of America as a world leader in the 21st century. We need a new environmental diplomacy—a commitment to make the fight against global warming an integral part of our foreign relations and our national security strategy. Just ask the 11 high-ranking retired soldiers from every branch of the military who called it “a serious national security threat”—a “threat multiplier” that sparks and exacerbates conflict.<br /><br />In the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the world’s two superpowers walked back from the brink of mutual assured destruction. Kennedy and Khrushchev set up a hotline between Washington and Moscow because they understood that, at the end of the day, the buck stopped with them. That’s where America, China, and the developing world stand today— we’ve taken brinksmanship as far as it goes. Now it’s time to reach for the phone and give diplomacy a try. Our security depends more than ever before on our ability to influence others— we must get back into the business of good old fashioned persuasion.<br /><br />Ultimately, the threat of climate change demands a new approach from America that looks an awful lot like the America we remember, the place Lincoln called “the last best hope of earth”. We should recommit to the hard but vital work of diplomacy and reengage with the rest of the planet. We must return to an understanding of the world where real strength means not just the absence of restraints but also the moral leadership that comes from leading by example.</blockquote><br />The <a href="http://www.cfr.org/publication/14661/conversation_with_john_kerry_audio.html">Council on Foreign Relations</a> has made an audio of Kerry's speech <a href="http://www.cfr.org/content/publications/media/2007/10-29-07-Kerry.mp3">available here</a>.<br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2007/10/29/john-kerry-offers-post-kyoto-global-climate-change-approach/">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-84078500433549452402007-10-18T00:41:00.000-07:002007-10-18T00:41:17.872-07:00John Kerry’s Time Is ComingPolitico had a piece on the value of John Kerry's endorsement of an '08 presidential candidate on Tuesday, that made a few points that I have made here in the past and added some snark, that we could have done without. Here's a few quips:<br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6380.html">Whither John F. Kerry?</a><br /><br />He is his party’s most recent presidential nominee. He came tantalizingly close to winning. And yet no one is looking for him to put his stamp on the 2008 Democratic primary or wondering aloud who he’ll endorse — even though Al Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile says that in the early-state contests, “most of the voters would be thrilled to know who Kerry would back and why.” <br /><br />But the lack of an audible clamor for an endorsement by Kerry is more than a bit deceiving, as is the perception that he’s still wandering around in that wilderness to which all losing Democratic nominees are cast. The two top candidates who aren’t married to Elizabeth Edwards are quietly seeking his advice and support. An associate suggests that Kerry may hold off on endorsing until closer to the primaries, but when he does make his choice, that candidate will get access to a 3-million-name e-mail list, possibly the largest in the party.<br /><br />When a Defense Department official accused Hillary Rodham Clinton of “reinforcing enemy propaganda” after she asked the Pentagon to start preparing for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, the Kerry associate says it was the Clinton team’s idea to have Kerry out front denouncing that accusation.<br /><br />Kerry’s road back from the ashes of 2004 has been studded with self-inflicted setbacks. Ultimately, it won’t be as triumphant as Gore’s.<br /><br />But nor will it take as long — and there are growing signs that the events of the post-2004 period have granted Kerry at least the right to say, “I told you so.”<br /><br />[...]<br /><br />Kerry’s vindication is coming quicker, if more quietly. His party already has embraced his position on Iraq. His argument that no military solution exists for the situation there is now the de facto Democratic stance. In June 2006, when Kerry helped force a vote on a phased U.S. troop withdrawal, his colleagues gave him a serious razzing and only 13 votes. Just over one year later, this past July, the same measure got 52.<br /><br />Delaware Sen. Joe Biden recently sang Kerry’s praises during the Senate floor debate over Biden’s proposed “soft partition” of Iraq: “I wish to tell him how grateful I am for his joining in this amendment ... because an awful lot of people around the world look to my colleague for his insights into what we do about the most critical issue facing American foreign policy today.”<br /><br />The Bush administration recently achieved a new nuclear pact with North Korea by using the approach Kerry advocated in 2004. The Washington Post noted on Oct. 4, “The agreement was reached after bilateral negotiations between the United States and North Korea, held in parallel with the six-nation talks, just as Kerry had suggested.”</blockquote><br />Elizabeth Wilner prattles some and then goes on to say:<br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6380_Page2.html">Then, after a laudable</a> effort to help elect Democratic candidates in 2006 — the kind of effort Gore didn’t undertake after his loss in 2000 — came one botched joke about U.S. troops serving in Iraq. Donations of $14 million and visits to 35 states were instantly obscured a week before Election Day. The blowback was so severe that a few months later, Kerry had to exit the 2008 field before he really entered it.<br /><br />His recovery has since been gaffe-free. Not coincidentally, his Senate colleagues who hope to trace his steps to the Democratic nomination seem to be recognizing the assets he brings to the table.<br /><br />Which is the flip side of the swift-boat coin: The tactic may have damaged Kerry’s own chances in 2004, but his support could help inoculate other Democratic candidates against similar efforts to impugn their patriotism in 2008.<br /><br />He also brings brass to the table — not only his own Vietnam service but also a small army of veteran supporters built during his presidential campaign and his efforts to support veterans who ran for office in 2006.<br /><br />[...]<br /><br />Kerry’s assets are not inconsiderable given that the current president plans to hand off the Iraq war to his successor and the top Republican candidates seem to be lifting the weak-on-terror charge from the Bush campaign playbook. It seems unlikely that between 2004 and 2008, the need for Democrats to show some trappings of strength will just disappear.<br /><br />Maybe not worth a Nobel Prize, but certainly worth a little respect.</blockquote><br />Having spent nearly two and a half years since the '04 election chronicling most of <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?cat=2">Kerry's work in the Senate</a> and <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?cat=4">many of his speeches</a> over that time (not to mention covering events with Kerry here in L.A.), I would have to no doubt claim bias that Kerry's endorsement does indeed hold a lot of weight for whoever it goes to. Kerry has been vindicated many times over that time period, and more so in the past few months it seems. I can't count how many times I have said here on The Dem Daily that "<a href="http://www.google.com/custom?domains=blog.thedemocraticdaily.com&q=%22Kerry+was+right%22&sa=Search&sitesearch=blog.thedemocraticdaily.com&client=pub-3836155801483731&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%230000A0%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%230000A0%3BVLC%3A000066%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BALC%3A0000A0%3BLC%3A0000A0%3BT%3A000066%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BFORID%3A1&hl=en">Kerry was right</a>," but it is numerous.<br /><br />All that said, as for now, still undecided on an '08 candidate myself, I must say that most likely, whither go John F. Kerry's endorsement, will probably go mine. <em>Stay tuned</em>...<br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2007/10/18/john-kerrys-time-is-coming/">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-14430504844388483552007-10-12T20:00:00.000-07:002007-10-12T20:00:10.767-07:00John Kerry Congratulates Gore, IPCC on Nobel Peace Prize WinThe congratulations are pouring in for Al Gore and IPCC in the wake of the announcement this morning that they were "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101200364.html">jointly awarded</a> the Nobel Peace Prize today for their work educating the world about global warming and pressing for political action to control it." In a brief public appearance today in California, Gore "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101200364.html">vowed to</a> use the award to speed up needed changes in awareness and urgency in addressing climate change."<br /><blockquote>"<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101200364.html">It truly is a</a> planetary emergency, and we have to respond quickly," he said.<br /><br />The <a href="http://nobelpeaceprize.org/eng_lau_announce2007.html"><font color="#0c4790">Norwegian Nobel Committee</font></a> characterized Gore as "the single individual who has done most" to convince world governments and leaders that climate change is real, is caused by human activity and poses a grave threat. Gore has focused on the issue through books, promotional events and his Academy Award-winning documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth."<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.ipcc.ch/"><font color="#0c4790">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change</font></a>, a joint project of the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization, has been monitoring evidence of climate change and possible solutions since 1988.</blockquote><br />Senator John Kerry chimed in and congratulated Vice President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for winning the Nobel Peace Prize today: <br /><br /><blockquote>“This is not only an incredibly well deserved honor for Vice President Gore, it reflects a global awakening to the urgency of taking action on global climate change. Way back when it wasn't easy, Al Gore began criss-crossing the country and the planet to help bring the science of climate change to people everywhere in a compelling way. He's been dogged and tenacious, and with the IPCC he's stood up for the truth against the deniers and the dividers who want to delay action and risk global catastrophe. Their efforts have rightfully been recognized with the highest honor the world community can bestow on those who help define and meet the great challenges of our time.”</blockquote><br />Al Gore's statement on winning the Nobel is <a href="http://blog.algore.com/2007/10/i_am_deeply_honored.html">available here</a>.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2007/10/12/do1202.xml">naysayers</a> are questioning what raising awareness of Global Warming has done for world peace, but one simply needs to look back to 2004 Nobel Peace Prize winner <span class="h3teaser"><a href="http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2004/maathai-bio.html">Wangari Muta Maathai</a> and remember that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wangari_Maathai">Maathai, an environmentalist</a>, "founded the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Belt_Movement" title="Green Belt Movement">Green Belt Movement</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grassroots_democracy" title="Grassroots democracy">grassroots</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalism" title="Environmentalism">environmental</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-governmental_organization" title="Non-governmental organization">non-governmental organization</a>," which had "planted over 30 million trees across Kenya to prevent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_erosion" title="Soil erosion">soil erosion</a>." </span><br /><br /><span class="h3teaser">It's not rocket science, it's common sense. With out a sustainable environment, global strife over water, fertile grounds for farming and so many other issues will lead to conflicts around the world. </span><br /><br /><span class="h3teaser"><strong>Related Post:</strong> <a rel="bookmark" href="http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2007/10/12/al-gore-wins-nobel-peace-prize-with-un-panel-on-climate-change/"><font color="#209e4d">Al Gore Wins Nobel Peace Prize with U.N. Panel on Climate Change</font></a></span><br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://thedemocraticdaily.com/2007/10/12/john-kerry-congratulates-gore-ipcc-on-nobel-peace-prize-win/">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-65651948679333935682007-10-02T23:18:00.000-07:002007-10-03T11:13:32.469-07:00John Kerry on How to Restore Integrity to Our GovernmentUPDATE: VIDEO AT KERRYVISION. The KerryVision camera crew was at the Q&A with bloggers and has posted <a href="http://www.kerryvision.net/2007/10/jk_and_the_bloggers.html">a lovely video </a>with behind-the-scenes material, including the question and answer blogged here. <br /><br />On Monday, the Unofficial Kerry Blog had the opportunity to ask John Kerry his opinion on the best way to confront the corruption in our government and go about restoring integrity, in a political climate in which some are demanding impeachment of Bush and Cheney while others believe that the Democrats need to focus on getting other parts of their agenda through. <br /><br />First the context: Senator Kerry gave the last in his series of Faneuil Hall speeches on Monday, October 1st. The speech was a tour de force, as the Senator spoke passionately about the ideas he has stressed all along -- responsibility, fairness, shared sacrifice and service --, this time applied specifically to the economic problems threatening the American middle class. You can watch video of the speech on KerryVision (KerryVision had its own crew there filming) <a href=http://www.kerryvision.net/2007/10/senator_kerry_at_faneuil_hall.html>here</a>, or at JohnKerry.com <a href="http://www.johnkerry.com/2007/10/2/jk-at-faneuil-hall-our-mission-is-clear-and-the-cause-is-just">here</a>. Afterwards, the Senator made time for a brief Q&A with bloggers. Below Boston has posted their question and answer <a href="http://www.soapblox.net/belowboston/showDiary.do?diaryId=1160"> here</a>. I next asked this question (you can download the audio by doing a right-click save-as <a href="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~kvh/UnofficialBlog/20071001JK_on_corruption.wma"> here</a>; the Senator's feelings on the issue come through more forcefully than a transcript can convey): <br /><blockquote><br />KVH: I have a question about what we can do about the level of, frankly, corruption in the government -- you know, some people are saying that anything less than impeachment of Bush, Cheney, et al. would not be adequate, while other people say if the Democrats invest too much energy in investigations and hearings and so forth, it's going to detract from getting other important business done. What do you think should be the focus in terms of restoring integrity to the government?<br /><br />JK: Well, the focus has to be on winning a complete government that believes in those things. That means adding more seats to the House, more seats to the Senate, which we can do. I mean, we have very important races -- Jean Shaheen in New Hampshire, Tom Allen -- I mean, you know, Tom Allen in Maine, and in Colorado, Tom Udall, and so forth. If we can grow four, five or six seats, then we're in a position to override a ve -- you know, to get things done, which we can't do today. The House can pass something with a House rule, because they work differently. But in the Senate it takes 60 votes to actually do anything. So I'd rather focus on doing America's work in a way that draws the lines very clearly between what they're doing and what we want to do.<br /><br />If you do get too caught up in the fracas of politics, they'll throw everybody out. And you don't want to do that in a state where you've got a very fragile line in a semi-red state or a purple state or whatever you want to call it.<br /><br />So I think common sense says they are corrupt. But the books aren't going to be closed on that corruption if we can win the government. If we get an Attorney General in place and we have a Congress that then can move, we'll hold people accountable. And I don't disagree with you. I have not seen a level of real corruption -- I mean, it is corrupt, what we've seen in terms of the Justice Department, the contracting, the giveways, the quid pro quos, I mean all of the above. And it's just a lack of enforcement that's allowing it. </blockquote><br />As he always does, the Senator gave a thoughtful answer that showed he's given the matter serious thought. Thanks to Senator Kerry for taking the time to talk with us on this important issue.Karen van Hoekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09004215390305691685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-11234081024667482692007-09-28T21:45:00.000-07:002007-09-28T21:45:22.859-07:00Rush IndignationRush indignation... it's everywhere... from TPM Election Central: <a href="http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/09/breaking_white_house_faults_rush_over_phony_soldiers_comment.php">Breaking: White House Faults Rush Limbaugh Over "Phony Soldiers" Comment</a>... That's right... Even the White House didn't get Rush's back on this: <br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0T8i4D6fBaE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0T8i4D6fBaE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> <br /><br />Here's a round-up of posts on Limbaugh's "phoney soldiers" smear: <br /><br />Media Matters: <a href="http://mediamatters.org/items/200709280010">Limbaugh falsely recasts "phony soldiers" smear</a><br /><br />TPM Election Central: Exclusive: <a href="http://tpmelectioncentral.com/2007/09/exclusive_dem_rep_to_introduce_house_resolution_condemning_rush_limbaugh_on_monday.php">Dem Rep To Introduce House Resolution Condemning Rush Limbaugh On Monday</a><br /><br />Swampland: <a href="http://time-blog.com/swampland/2007/09/re_phony_soliders.html">Re: Phony Soliders</a><br /><br />Think Progress: <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/28/senate-dems-limbaugh-letter/">Senate Democratic Leaders Demand Apology For Limbaugh’s ‘Outrageous,’ ‘Unconscionable’ Remarks</a><br /><br />CNN's Political Ticker: <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/28/dems-seize-on-limbaughs-phony-soldier-comment/">Dems seize on Limbaugh's 'phony soldiers' comment</a>... On Thursday, John Kerry, a "<a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/28/dems-seize-on-limbaughs-phony-soldier-comment/">veteran of the Vietnam War</a>, called the comments a "disgusting attack.""<br /><br /><blockquote>“<a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/09/28/dems-seize-on-limbaughs-phony-soldier-comment/">In a single moment on his show</a>, Limbaugh managed to question the patriotism of men and women in uniform who have put their lives on the line and many who died for his right to sit safely in his air-conditioned studio peddling hate," Kerry said in a statement. "He is an embarrassment to his party, and I expect the Republicans who flock to his microphone will now condemn this indefensible statement.”</blockquote><br /><br />VoteVets Respond to Rush: <br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/drnQ5Pvc6nE"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/drnQ5Pvc6nE" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6661">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-3082262936823478382007-09-26T22:26:00.000-07:002007-09-26T22:26:05.398-07:00Bush Declares War on Bipartisan Bill to Provide Health Insurance to ChildrenJohn Kerry says all there is to say and then some, about Bush's plan to <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/25/AR2007092501474.html">veto the SCHIP bill</a>... <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/bush-declares-war-on-bipartisan-bill-to-provide-health-insurance-to-children-2007-09-26.html">Four days from now</a>, a wildly successful effort to provide healthcare to 6 million low-income children will disappear.<br /><br />This summer, in a rare moment of bipartisanship, Democrats and Republicans in Congress came together to expand the State Children’s Insurance Program (known as SCHIP) to provide healthcare to millions more children. It was a simple test of priorities, and both sides agreed to put kids first.<br /><br />Unfortunately, President Bush has chosen a different course. He is putting ideology and political confrontation ahead of the health of our nation’s children, has unilaterally declared war on SCHIP, and is threatening to veto the bipartisan bill.<br /><br />If the president follows through on his threat, his stubbornness will carry a serious price for American families. Health insurance for millions of children is on the line, and we know what happens when children lack access to proper care: Minor conditions become costly chronic diseases and preventable illnesses can even claim the greatest cost — the life of a child.<br /><br />That is why Congress rose above partisan divisions to pass a bill expanding coverage to 3 million additional children — 2 million of them poor enough to be eligible for Medicaid, but still uninsured.<br /><br />President Bush is not even willing to spend enough to retain the children who are currently on the SCHIP rolls. Make no mistake: Under the president’s proposal, kids will be kicked off SCHIP, and they will go uninsured.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this president’s war on SCHIP doesn’t end with a low-ball figure or a veto threat...</blockquote><br /><br /><a href="http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/bush-declares-war-on-bipartisan-bill-to-provide-health-insurance-to-children-2007-09-26.html">Read on here</a>...<br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6652">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-70540894238543498672007-09-26T19:04:00.000-07:002007-09-26T19:04:33.185-07:00John Kerry: U.S. Must Stand with Burmese Demonstrators<em><strong>Editors note:</strong></em> I've been trying to make the time since the monks starting marching in Burma a few days ago, to write about the situation there, but I've had a lot on my plate. The situation with th epeaceful protest, has <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/26/AR2007092600185.html?hpid=topnews">turned for the worse</a> as the photo from today, below shows:<br /><br /><a href="http://ratchasima.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/20070926-rangoon-pdc-2.jpg"><img src='http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/wp-content/burma926.gif' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />Andrew Sullivan has a round up of news stories, blog posts and <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/09/freedoms-front-.html">he notes that</a> "the <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article2539435.ece">Times of London</a> has several blog reports from inside the country." From one eyewitness:<br /><br /><blockquote>A respectful old monk is in the vanguard of the column singing national anthem and holding flags of fighting peacock.<br /><br />Despite [being] peaceful, demonstrators have been beaten to break up the crowd, and they are still together reciting "<a href="http://www.urbandharma.org/ibmc/ibmc1/metta.html">metta sutta</a>" (A discourse on loving-kindness, about disseminating love to those who are aggressive).</blockquote><br /><br />Senator John Kerry spoke from the floor today in support of the peaceful, democratic uprising in Burma. He praised the bravery of the demonstrators and condemned Burma’s brutal junta. Kerry emphasized the need for strong U.S. diplomatic leadership to rally the international community in defense of the Burmese people. Below are Kerry’s remarks, as prepared: <br /><br /><blockquote>Mr. President: Against all odds, the long-suffering people of Burma have risen up against one of the world’s most repressive regimes. What began a month ago as modest, impromptu protests has since mushroomed into a nation-wide, peaceful democratic groundswell. Tens of thousands of students have joined Buddhist monks in the streets, marching and chanting in unison against Burma’s brutal military rulers. <br /><br />The Burmese people should know that America and all free peoples across the globe stand in awe of their commitment and courage. Their actions follow in the venerable footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Lech Walesa, and all those heroes who understood that nonviolent resistance is humanity’s greatest weapon against tyranny and injustice. I want to join the President of the United States, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and many others in letting them know: We support your struggle. We stand with you. <br /><br />What is happening today in the streets of Rangoon is as tenuous as it is unexpected. The cabal of generals, who pillage Burma under the guise of governing it, could easily meet these non-violent protests with a bloodbath, just like they did in 1988. And we must do all that we can to ensure that this does not come to pass.<br /><br />No one should doubt the Burmese junta’s potential for brutality and large-scale violence. Since taking power, they have killed tens of thousands of Burmese and razed more villages than have been destroyed in Darfur. Over half a million have been internally displaced, and an additional one million refugees have fled the country. These tyrannical thugs have engaged in the systematic use of forced labor, human trafficking, forcible recruitment of child soldiers, torture, and rape — an appalling laundry list of human rights violations. <br /><br />And, yet, despite such grave danger, the people of Burma have stood strong in the face of this extraordinary evil, to demand democratic reforms and basic human rights. They have done so with dignity, and they have done so peacefully. <br /><br />The United States and the rest of the free world must stand with the people of Burma. The President’s decision yesterday to target the top generals for financial sanctions is a step in the right direction — but it will not solve the problem. And it is not enough. <br /><br />The massive pro-democracy demonstrations in Burma represent the best opportunity for genuine political change in nearly twenty years. Burma’s “Saffron Revolution” is also an excellent chance for America to finally show greater diplomatic leadership on the world stage. <br /><br />The United States must lead the international community in pressuring the military junta to release all political prisoners, starting with the venerable Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and take steps down the path towards political change. <br /><br />This week’s gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly is a tailor-made forum to get tough with Burma’s generals. From the halls of the United Nations to the headquarters of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the message to the Burmese military must be clear: The world is united behind the people marching in your streets. Do not meet peaceful protest with still more butchery. We are prepared to act in concert against you unless you immediately embark on serious negotiations toward sharing power with the people of Burma.<br /><br />Showing diplomatic leadership on Burma also requires that we demand better from those countries that have propped up this brutal regime and are thus best equipped to pressure it: India and, in particular, China. The President and the United Nations must engage in strenuous diplomacy with Beijing — which carries the most sway with Burma’s generals — and urge the Chinese to press for political reform. <br /><br />China has in its grasp a momentous opportunity to demonstrate leadership commensurate with its growing power and status. Beijing can host the 2008 Olympics as an enabler of cruelty and repression or as a responsible stakeholder in the world community. This is an important test. The world is watching.<br /><br />As the international community exerts greater pressure on the military junta, it must also reach out more aggressively with humanitarian assistance for the Burmese people. <br /><br />The people of Burma have suffered not only under the bullets and bayonets of the current regime, but also from decades of misrule that have transformed their resource-rich nation into one of the poorest in Asia. Many of Burma’s 52 million people live in abject misery. About one-third are mired in poverty. Nearly half of all children never get to go to school. Malaria and tuberculosis are widespread, and mortality rates in Burma are among the highest in Asia. At least 37,000 died of HIV/AIDS in 2005, and over 600,000 are infected with HIV. <br /><br />Burma’s suffering destabilizes Southeast Asia. Heroin and methamphetamines, HIV-AIDS and other infectious diseases, as well as hordes of refugees are spilling across Burma’s borders into neighboring countries.<br /><br />The international community must respond to this ongoing tragedy by providing humanitarian aid to a desperate and deserving people. Current levels of international assistance are woefully insufficient. We need a network of public and private donors to fund health, education, and infrastructure projects. The resilient and brave Burmese people have shown they are more than worthy of our support and compassion.<br /><br />I want to close by offering a final word of warning: We must not forget Burma’s last great democratic uprising in 1988 — one that was brutally crushed by the military at the cost of some 3,000 innocent lives. That day and the repression that followed show the horrible human toll of our collective failure to act. <br /><br />A peaceful, pro-democratic outcome in Burma is within reach: the UN, ASEAN, India, and especially China must stand with the United States in solidarity with the Burmese people. We must not fail the people of Burma once again. </blockquote><br /><br />The <a href="http://ratchasima.net/saffron-revolution/">Saffron Revolution</a> has photos, video links and links to other Burmese bloggers, blogging the protest, that looked a bit like this days after it first started: <br /><br /><a href="http://ratchasima.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/20070924-rangoon-nnm9.jpg"><img src='http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/wp-content/burma924_01.gif' alt='' /></a> <br /><br />TIME <a href="http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1665607,00.html">has coverage here</a> and <a href="http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1663397,00.html?iid=sphere-inline-bottom">here</a>. <br /><br />Bush announced sanctions against Burma yesterday and while addressing the U.N. General Assembly, he "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/25/AR2007092500136.html">called on the</a> world body to do more to fight tyranny, disease, ignorance and poverty, and pointedly demanded that it reform its own institutions."<br /><br />AP News reports: <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20982926/">Myanmar security</a> forces opened fire on Buddhist monks and other pro-democracy demonstrators Wednesday for the first time in a month of anti-government protests, killing at least one man and wounding others in chaotic confrontations across Yangon. <br /><br />Dramatic images of the protests, many transmitted from the secretive Southeast Asian nation by dissidents using cell phones and the Internet, riveted world attention on the escalating faceoff between the military regime and its opponents. <br /><br />Clouds of tear gas and smoke from fires hung over streets, and defiant protesters and even bystanders pelted police with bottles and rocks in some places. Onlookers helped monks escape arrest by bundling them into taxis and other vehicles and shouting "Go, go, go, run!"<br /><br />The government said one man was killed when police opened fire during the ninth consecutive day of demonstrations, but dissidents outside Myanmar reported receiving news of up to eight deaths. <br /><br />Some reports said the dead included monks, who are widely revered in Myanmar, and the emergence of such martyr figures could stoke public anger against the regime and escalate the violence. </blockquote><br /><br />Kerry is right, a "peaceful, pro-democratic outcome in Burma is within reach"... "We must not fail the people of Burma once again."<br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6649">The Democratic Daily</a>Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-54058988729071851342007-09-25T00:09:00.000-07:002007-09-25T00:09:19.470-07:00U.N. Summit Urges Action on Climate Change - Bush SilentAs world leaders met in N.Y.C. on Monday for the first U.N. climate summit, the Bush administration sat idly by and virtually ignored the summit, except for a brief appearance at a "small dinner" on Monday night. <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20951571/">With tales of rising</a> seas and talk of human solidarity, world leaders at the first United Nations climate summit sought Monday to put new urgency into global talks to reduce global-warming emissions.<br /><br />What’s needed is “action, action, action,” California’s environmentalist governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, told the assembled presidents and premiers.<br /><br />The Bush administration showed no sign, however, that it would reverse its stand against mandatory emission cuts endorsed by 175 other nations. Some expressed fears the White House, with its own forum later this week, would launch talks rivaling the U.N. climate treaty negotiations.<br /><br />President Bush didn’t take part in the day’s sessions, which drew more than 80 national leaders, but attended a small dinner Monday evening, a gathering of key climate players hosted by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.</blockquote><br /><br />John Kerry issued the following statement on Bush's decision not to attend the summit: <br /><br /><blockquote>“The Bush Administration has done everything in its power to downplay, discount, and distract from the threat of climate change, so it’s not surprising that the President is skipping a series of high-level meetings designed to address the problem,” Kerry said. “As heads of state of 80 different countries and representatives from 150 countries gather in New York to chart the global response to climate change, the President’s absence sends a clear signal that he isn’t really serious about an international emissions reduction plan. The President needs to exhibit leadership and spend some political capital by committing to serious domestic emission reductions and rejoining the world’s leaders in a new global strategy to tackle this urgent issue.”</blockquote><br /><br />Last Thursday, "<a href="http://www.net.org/warming/climate-negotiations-briefing.vtml">veteran advocates</a> for confronting climate change hosted a phone briefing in advance of the United Nations meeting "The Future in our Hands: Addressing the Leadership Challenge of Climate Change," being held at the U.N. in New York on Monday, September 24." John Kerry was one of the participants on the call. <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.net.org/warming/climate-negotiations-briefing.vtml">During the call</a>, experts discussed this important meeting and the latest developments in the political landscape surrounding U.S. climate policy. They also examined President Bush's "Meeting of Major Economies on Energy Security and Climate Change", as well as the December U.N. climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia, which will focus on a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol.</blockquote><br /><br />I had to miss the call, as it was the day I was driving my daughter to college, but the <a href="http://www.net.org/newsroom/podcasts/climate-negotiations-briefing_9-20-07-www-net-org.mp3">audio of the call is available here</a> and the transcript <a href="http://www.net.org/warming/briefing-transcript.pdf">is available here</a>. <br /><br />Dan Froomkin noted in his White House Watch column on Monday that "The <a href="http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=304">last</a> <a href="http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=271">two</a> times the Pew Research Center asked people to describe President Bush in a single word, chief among the overwhelmingly negative responses was the word "incompetent."" I'd say that sums it up. From the Iraq War to Global Warming... Bush is incompetent, incompetent, incompetent. <br /><br />The U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday that "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/24/AR2007092400128.html">a 15-year international</a> effort to stem global warming has not halted the buildup of greenhouse gas emissions and that governments must take "unprecedented action" to reverse the trend." Ban told delegates, "Today, the time for doubt has passed." <br /><br />That the "time for doubt has passed" is of no consequence to the Bush administration, who "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/24/AR2007092401563.html">has conducted a</a> concerted, behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign to try to generate opposition to California's request to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks, according to documents obtained by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform."<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/24/AR2007092401563.html">Schwarzenegger spokesman</a> Aaron McLear questioned why Bush officials would go to such lengths to mobilize opposition. <br /><br />"The Clean Air Act gives California the right to set its own emissions standards. Regardless of pressure, the EPA has a responsibility to allow California, and all the states that are behind us on the issue, to exercise our right," McLear said.</blockquote><br /><br />It's obscene that the Bush administration has turned such a blind eye to Global Warming and is pulling these political manuevers to influence the laws passed on the state level. It's obscene that Bush can't be bothered to show up at the U.N. summit, other than to attend a small dinner. Instead of attempting to make a difference and offer some real solutions, the "<a href="http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070925/NEWS/709250368">Bush administration</a> will offer a variety of <strong>diplomatic carrots</strong> this week to encourage China, India, Brazil and other large developing nations to join a global effort to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, which are warming Earth's atmosphere." <br /><br />Diplomatic carrots. How quaint. The world suffers under the leadership of America's imcompetent president. <br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6636">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-89549965281066320962007-09-24T16:46:00.000-07:002007-09-24T16:46:15.812-07:00Kerry Statement on Ahmadinejad Visit to U.S. and Speech at Columbia UniversityIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in N.Y. today delivering a <a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/24/protests-at-columbia-over-iran-leaders-speech/index.html?hp">speech at Columbia University</a>. Before the speech Columbia University President Lee Bollinger ripped into Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, "<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/24/us.iran/">going through</a> a long list of documented actions and remarks by the firebrand Iranian leader and his government." <br /><br /><blockquote>"<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/24/us.iran/">Mr. President</a>, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator," Bollinger said to applause from many of the 600 people in the room for a speech from the Iranian leader.<br /><br />Bollinger cited the Iranian government's "brutal crackdown" on dissidents, public executions, executions of minors and other actions.<br /><br />And he assailed Ahmadinejad's "denying" of the Holocaust as "ridiculous" and "dangerous propaganda." He called the Iranian leader either brazenly provocative "or astonishingly uneducated."<br /><br />"The truth is that the Holocaust is the most documented event in human history," he said.</blockquote><br /> <br />Ahmadinejad's visit to the U.S and his speech has been the source of a lot of controversy with many speaking out about the visit. Senator John Kerry made the following statement today about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the United States and his address at Columbia University:<br /><br /><blockquote>“Today Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was permitted the freedom that he denies to his own people, the right of free speech. I hope the Iranian people welcome him home with tough questions about why he believes he should enjoy liberties his own people do not share,” said Kerry.<br /><br />“I'm proud of the Columbia students and faculty today who reminded the world that this man engages in the cruelest forms of oppression to strengthen his brutal regime. <br /><br />“Calls for 'research' and 'study' don't change the fact that this man is a Holocaust denier who trades in anti-Semitism. It is long past time for the world to renounce this bigoted revisionist history, and important for everyone to remember that this demagogue fronts the world's largest state sponsor of terror, aids and abets the killing of American soldiers in Iraq, and is illegally pursuing a nuclear bomb."</blockquote><br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6634">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-17517396920242215832007-09-18T13:27:00.000-07:002007-09-18T13:27:15.362-07:00Kerry Condemns Student ArrestI'm not sure which is more disturbing at this point, the many videos that have surfaced on the internet(s) of the student getting tasered at the John Kerry event in Florida yesterday, or the fact that <a href="http://michellemalkin.com/2007/09/17/student-tasered-at-john-kerry-forum/">once again the wingnuts are blowing</a> a situation out of proportion that is connected to John Kerry. <br /><br /><a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/09/students-rally-.html">ABC News</a> (and other news outlets) report that John Kerry <a href="http://www.johnkerry.com/2007/9/18/jk-a-good-healthy-discussion-was-interrupted#comments">issued a statement today</a> in response to the incident leading to the arrest of a student at the University of Florida:<br /><br /><blockquote>"In 37 years of public appearances, through wars, protests and highly emotional events, I have never had a dialogue end this way. <br /><br />I believe I could have handled the situation without interruption, but again I do not know what warnings or other exchanges transpired between the young man and the police prior to his barging to the front of the line and their intervention.<br /><br />I asked the police to allow me to answer the question and was in the process of answering him when he was taken into custody.<br /><br />I was not aware that a taser was used until after I left the building. I hope that neither the student nor any of the police were injured.<br /><br />I regret enormously that a good healthy discussion was interrupted."</blockquote><br /><br />Rick Klein of <a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/09/students-rally-.html">ABC News notes</a>, "For politicians, hecklers come with the territory. But the arrest and detention of Meyer at Kerry speech on Monday stood out in at least two respects: Police acted aggressively in trying to silence Meyer, and the entire incident was captures on video -- making it an immediate Internet and TV sensation."<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/09/students-rally-.html">Videos show Meyer</a> being pulled away from the microphone after as he sought to ask Kerry, D-Mass., <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CheY0jYXJjY&NR=1">a rambling series of questions</a> that touch on allegations of voting improprieties in the 2004 election, possible impeachment of President Bush, Iran, and Kerry’s membership in Yale's secret Skull and Bones society. <br /><br />Kerry sought to answer at least some of Meyer’s questions even as Meyer was dragged off by campus police -- and after police used a Taser to try to subdue him as he was being arrested. <br />[...]<br />The University of Florida has scheduled a news conference to discuss the incident at 3 pm ET today.</blockquote><br /><br />Todd <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6605">has already posted</a> about this mess below, but I'm chiming in here because the incident is <a href="http://ace.mu.nu/archives/240819.php">being used</a> by <a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/09/17/video-cops-tase-moonbat-at-kerry-speech-just-to-watch-him-squirm/">the wingnuts</a> <a href="http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/2007/09/17/lefty-student/">to slam</a> John Kerry (and <a href="http://www.mahablog.com/2007/09/18/tasered/">us lefties generally</a>) and I am mad as hell that yet again, the blathering idiots are twisting news to in effect swift boat John Kerry again. <br /><br />Clearly the cops were out of control here, using excessive force in my opinion, and Meyer wasn't simply asking a question but ranting. This incident is not indictive of liberals nor is it indictive of any Democratic political event. During the NH primary, I was at en event where a LaRouche supported started to ask Kerry a question and the audience tried to shut the questioner out. Kerry insisted on answering the questioner and although the questioner ranted on for sometime, Kerry and the audience let him speak. There were no cops dragging him off, no one harmed the man for speaking his mind. And I will note the man was in much closer proximity to Kerry, than Meyer was yesterday. <br /><br />ABC's Klein notes that "<a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2007/09/students-rally-.html">Kerry, who was the</a> Democrats’ nominee in 2004, is no longer assigned Secret Service protection, and does not bring his own security to events. That left University of Florida police in charge of security -- to notable results on Monday."<br /><br />People need to take a deep breath and put this into perspective. This could have happened anywhere, at any event. It's not about John Kerry. It's about one person pushing the envelope to be heard and cops using excessive force. I am like many who have seen the video or read the news stunned by this. Knowing Senator Kerry personally, I agree, he could have "handled the situation without interruption" if the school police had allowed him to. <br /><br /><strong>RELATED POST:</strong> <br /> <li><a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6609">What Happened From John Kerry’s Perspective</a></li><br /> <li><a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6605">Student Tasered at Kerry Event</a></li><br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6607">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-86985515302137554062007-09-16T21:34:00.000-07:002007-09-16T21:34:57.375-07:00Kerry and McCain Debate the Iraq WarJohn McCain may be "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/us/politics/16mccain.html?ex=1347595200&en=cdd6b5596bf1a89b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">vocal on Iraq</a>" but "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/us/politics/16mccain.html?ex=1347595200&en=cdd6b5596bf1a89b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">quiet on Bush</a>" as the N.Y. Times points out, but John Kerry made certain on 'Meet The Press' that viewers knew that "the <em><strong><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20806501/">Bush-McCain strategy</a> of escalating our troops</strong></em> in the middle of a civil war has no relationship directly to what you need to do to resolve the civil war." <br /><br />Kerry was relentless with McCain through out the entire debate and at one point, he noted that mcCain, evidently had been debating himself. McCain insinuated that Democrats wanted to “<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/washington/16cnd-policy.html?ei=5088&en=39aaa3bd497de216&ex=1347595200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1190002662-YhTYQv3AcPuWotMxONgNSw">To pull the plug</a>" on Iraq... Kerry responded, “<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/washington/16cnd-policy.html?ei=5088&en=39aaa3bd497de216&ex=1347595200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1190002662-YhTYQv3AcPuWotMxONgNSw">We’re not talking</a> about abandoning Iraq... We’re talking about changing the mission.”<br /><br />McCain was putty, repeating every Republican talking point he could grasp out of thin air. Kerry was masterful, leaving no corner of the Iraq War issue unexposed. The transcript is as follows:<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20806501/">MR. TIM RUSSERT:</a> Our issues this Sunday: The president restates his belief in the war.<br /><br />(Videotape)<br /><br />PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH: We must help Iraq defeat those who threaten its future and also threaten ours.<br /><br />(End videotape)<br /><br />MR. RUSSERT: And he calls for an “enduring relationship” with Iraq that would keep American forces there “beyond my presidency.” What now? With us, decorated Vietnam veteran, 2004 Democratic presidential nominee Senator John Kerry; and decorated Vietnam veteran, 2008 Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain. Kerry and McCain square off. A debate: Should we leave or should we stay?<br /><br />Then, the very latest on the 2008 race for the White House. Insights and analysis from Chris Cillizza of washingtonpost.com; and Chuck Todd, political director of NBC News.<br /><br />But first, the debate over the war in Iraq. Front and center across the country in our nation’s capital yesterday as anti-war protesters and counterdemonstrations were held. The debate is also front and center this morning right here on MEET THE PRESS. We’re joined by two men who have seen war, who feel they should be president, and who have very strong but different views on the way forward in Iraq. With us, Democrat John Kerry, Republican John McCain.<br /><br />Welcome both.<br /><br />SEN. JOHN McCAIN, (R-AZ): Good morning.<br /><br />MR. RUSSERT: Let me start with you, Senator McCain. What should be the U.S. strategy in Iraq for the next year?<br /><br />SEN. McCAIN: The U.S. strategy in Iraq should be to defeat al-Qaeda, to do everything we can to reverse the increasing influence of Iran in Iraq, and to achieve or move towards the goal of military security and a functioning government.<br /><br />MR. RUSSERT: General Petraeus was in Washington, and he testified and he agreed that in order to do that we will lose, on the average, two U.S. men or women per day...<br /><br />SEN. McCAIN: Mm-hmm.<br /><br />MR. RUSSERT: ...15 will be wounded or injured per day...<br /><br />SEN. McCAIN: Mm-hmm.<br /><br />MR. RUSSERT: ...at a cost of $300 million per day. Is it worth it?<br /><br />SEN. McCAIN: Well, General Petraeus’ answer was pretty much the same as mine. All of us are saddened and frustrated by the course of this war. It was very badly mismanaged by the former secretary of defense and this administration. I, late in 2003, said this strategy is doomed to failure, that we had to fix it, that we had to adopt the strategy that we’ve now adopted. And it is now succeeding. Are we heartbroken at the loss and sacrifice of these brave young Americans? Of course. But the point is that now that we are succeeding with this strategy—and that’s the opinion of most observers—and abandon it and go—either go back to the previous failed strategy, which some Democrats want to do, or set a date for pullout and indicate that we’re leaving the neighborhood, then there’s no doubt in my mind of the consequences. And that’ll be genocide, chaos in the region and far worse than the situation we have today, which I believe can succeed if given sufficient time.<br /><br />MR. RUSSERT: Senator Kerry, your response.<br /><br />SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA): Well, the Bush-McCain strategy of escalating our troops in the middle of a civil war has no relationship directly to what you need to do to resolve the civil war. So you can put additional troops in and secure a small area here or there, but everybody knows there are not enough troops to be able to secure all of the areas you need to secure and, most importantly, it does absolutely nothing to resolve the fundamental differences, Tim. A policy of putting more troops in and staying is a policy for staying. It is not a policy for winning or for changing the equation. And the fact is that over the last four and a half years, they’ve had ample opportunity to make any of the fundamental political decisions that really don’t relate to security. An oil revenue law does not take security to be passed. A de-Baathification law does not take security to be passed. It takes political will. They haven’t shown the political will. We have to change the fundamental equation and create leverage in our relationship.</blockquote><br /><br />READ ON <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6596">HERE</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-56317134036158166052007-09-16T01:02:00.000-07:002007-09-16T01:02:07.065-07:00Kerry & McCain to Debate Iraq on ‘Meet The Press’John Kerry and John McCain will be on "Meet The Press' Sunday morning to debate the Iraq War: <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/"><img src='http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/wp-content/DebateIraq_224p.jpg' alt='' /></a> <br /><br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/">Exclusive!</a> Senators John Kerry (D-MA) & John McCain (R-AZ) debate the war in Iraq. How will the Petraeus report affect U.S. policy? We'll discuss the future of the War with two key senators and Vietnam veterans -- only on "Meet the Press."</blockquote><br /><br />This is don't miss Sunday morning TV! Last Sunday, <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6535">Kerry and McCain were on 'This Week'</a>, but the show was not in a debate format, Kerry's interview followed McCain's and Kerry was able to wipe the floor with McCain's 'stay the course' stance on Iraq. Before Kerry decided not to run in '08, I thought the perfect face-off for '08 was perhaps John Kerry and John McCain. McCain's candidacy has fallen flat now, and as for John Kerry, <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6547">he's still leading the charge</a> on ending the war in Iraq. <br /><br />The Blue State has <a href="http://www.thebluestate.com/2007/09/sunday-news-s-2.html">the full Sunday line-up here</a> which includes General Wesley Clark and Senator Chris Dodd on "CNN Late Edition". Clark <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6588">endorsed Hillary Clinton</a> on Saturday. <br /><br />Let's hope the debate doesn't get tied up on the MoveOn ad kerfluffle and McCain's comments on Saturday that MoveOn “<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/14/politics/main3262322.shtml">ought to be thrown out of this country</a>.” McCain has taken to carrying "<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/09/14/politics/main3262322.shtml">a blown-up</a>, laminated poster of the MoveOn ad to his campaign stops" proving he has an issue with the First Amendment: Freedom of Speech. We live in a country, last I checked, that people and organizations don't get thrown out of the country, for expressing their views. <br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6591">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-83133230333410865832007-09-13T23:24:00.000-07:002007-09-13T23:24:24.593-07:00Kerry: Bush Iraq Policy Still Wrong After All These YearsTonight in his address to the nation, Bush "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/13/AR2007091301746.html">tried to turn</a> a corner in the fractious debate over Iraq" by ordering the "first limited troop withdrawals since voters elected an antiwar Congress last year." <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/13/AR2007091301746.html">But the move did</a> little to appease Democratic leaders, who dismissed it as a token gesture masking an open-ended commitment of U.S. troops.<br /><br />Bush said progress on the ground means he can pull out by next summer the additional combat forces he sent in January -- roughly 21,700 troops -- and he opened the door to further troop reductions if conditions improve. Although the president offered no forecast for how long it will take, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, told Washington Post reporters and editors yesterday that current U.S. projections anticipate Iraq reaching nationwide "sustainable security" by June 2009.</blockquote><br /><br />Senator John Kerry issued the following statement this evening, in response to the remarks by President Bush:<br /><br /><blockquote> "Only President Bush could applaud a race back to the starting line when the finish line should be in sight. This is proof positive that the Bush escalation has been a failure. President Bush should acknowledge that the Iraqis have squabbled while American troops fought, squandering the political opportunity our brave soldiers died to create," said Senator John Kerry. "This is more of the same flawed strategy in the face of overwhelming evidence that there is no military solution to Iraq’s civil war. We must change this disastrous Bush policy, and we must change it now."</blockquote><br /><br />Glen Kessler of the WaPo offers a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/13/AR2007091302710.html?hpid=topnews">fact check on Bush's speech</a> noting that Bush was "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/13/AR2007091302710.html?hpid=topnews">citing facts and statistics</a> that at times contradicted recent government reports or his own words." <br /><br />Read on<a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6577">here</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-37858420237415568152007-09-13T12:45:00.000-07:002007-09-13T12:45:43.937-07:00Kerry on Boehner’s “Small Price”John Kerry <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/boehners-small-price_b_64259.html">responded to today</a> to Rep. John Boehner's "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/boehners-small-price_b_64259.html">stunningly cavalier</a>" response to the pointed question asked yesterday on CNN by Wolf Blitzer. <a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/horsesmouth/2007/09/gop_leader_boeh.php">Blitzer asked Boehner</a>: "The loss in blood, the Americans who are killed every month, how much longer do you think this commitment, this military commitment is going to require?"<br /><br /><a href="http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/horsesmouth/2007/09/gop_leader_boeh.php">Boehner responded</a>: "The investment that we're making today will be a small price if we're able to stop al Qaeda here, if we're able to stabilize the Middle East, it's not only going to be a small price for the near future, but think about the future for our kids and their kids."<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3lUS4NQu9uo"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3lUS4NQu9uo" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />Kerry's slammed Boehner for his "cavalier" statment and demands an apology:<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/boehners-small-price_b_64259.html">What a stunningly</a> cavalier statement about the lives of the young men and women who serve our country.<br /><br />Whether you support or oppose the Bush escalation, no American should ever for even a moment think the cost of war is small.<br /><br />A single life is a large price to pay for any endeavor. Sometimes, in our national interest, we choose to pay that awful price, but we must always make sure that the policy is worthy of it.<br /><br />Visit our wounded warriors at Walter Reed hospital and ask whether the price they paid was small. Talk to the mothers, fathers, husbands and wives of those who have been killed and ask them to measure the price of war. Young lives stopped short, children who won't have a mother or father there as they grow up, when they graduate, when they get married -- that loss is many things, but it is not small.<br /><br />Where is Representative Boehner's apology? And where is an Iraq policy equal to our soldiers' tremedous sacrifice?</blockquote><br /><br /><strong><a href="http://johnboehner.house.gov/contact.asp">Call Boehner's office</a>:</strong> <strong><em>202-225-6205</em></strong>. <strong>Demand an apology</strong>. <br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6572">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-55138901427356496372007-09-11T11:35:00.000-07:002007-09-11T11:35:08.224-07:00John Kerry’s Opening Statement at Petraeus-Crocker HearingIt's day two of the Petraeus follies on Capitol Hill. General Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this morning to once again discuss the "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR2007091100738.html">progress report on</a> the war in Iraq and explain a new military plan to withdraw the 30,000 reinforcements sent there earlier this year to improve security."<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/11/AR2007091100738.html">Opening today's hearing</a> on the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), the committee chairman, called for a moment of silence in honor of the nearly 3,000 victims of the terrorist strikes. He expressed skepticism about President Bush's "surge" strategy and the ability of Iraqi political leaders to govern the country in a centralized system.</blockquote><br /><br />Senate Foreign Relations Committee member John Kerry made the following statement at today’s hearing (as prepared for delivery):<br /><br /><blockquote>General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker, thank you very much for coming before the Committee today, and thank you for your exemplary service. The country owes the brave men and women who serve in the Armed Forces -- and in our diplomatic corps -- an awesome debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they make every day under extremely difficult circumstances in Iraq. <br /><br />This is a historic moment: Not since General Westmoreland appeared before Congress 40 years ago has an active duty general played such a major public role in the national debate. <br /><br />Many thousands of the names inscribed on the Vietnam wall were added after that testimony, after it should have been clear that the strategy would not work. We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past. That is why we have a solemn duty here to ask the tough questions about Iraq. We owe our troops a strategy that is worthy of their sacrifice, and it’s clear that the current strategy -- the President’s escalation -- has failed to achieve its goal of bringing about a resolution of the fundamental conflict between Sunni and Shia. <br /><br />We all agree that there is no American military solution to an Iraqi civil war. That’s why the escalation had a single, simple goal: to create "breathing room" for Iraqis to make the political compromises that will hold their country together and end their civil war. <br /><br />We heard the bottom line from the GAO last week: only 3 of the 18 benchmarks that the Iraqi government agreed to over a year ago have been met – including only 1 of the 8 benchmarks for political reconciliation. Over 15 months after the Maliki government took power, the Iraqi parliament still has not passed legislation on oil revenue sharing, de-Ba'athification, and provincial elections. The constitutional review process vital to political reconciliation is nowhere close to completion. <br /><br />Yet despite the obvious lack of movement on political reconciliation, we keep hearing that we are making progress in Iraq. General Petraeus has effectively asked for more time to allow the escalation strategy to succeed. He has spoken about reduced levels of violence, and success in “bottom-up reconciliation” efforts against Al Qaeda, as justification for continuing the current mission. <br /><br />Let’s be absolutely clear: whatever “tactical successes” we have achieved have not translated into the strategic success we need to turn the tide. The escalation has failed to resolve the fundamental conflict between Sunni and Shia that continues to drive the Iraqi civil war, and there’s no reason to believe that more of the same is going to make a difference. <br /><br />All summer, supporters of the escalation urged us to wait until September. Wait until September to hear from General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker. Well, September is here, and despite your best efforts, the result is clear: Without deadlines, without accountability—there has been no real political progress in Iraq. <br /><br />We should not be asking any more American troops to sacrifice their lives and limbs for Iraqi politicians who refuse to compromise. That’s why I believe more strongly than ever that we need to change course in Iraq. <br /><br />As I have been saying for a year and a half, we need to (1) change the mission to pursuing Al Qaeda, training Iraqi security forces, and protecting U.S. facilities and personnel; (2) set a deadline for redeployment that is necessary to make the Iraqis to make the tough compromises necessary to end their civil war; and (3) engage in the intensive diplomacy necessary to get Iraq’s neighbors to play a more constructive role in stabilizing Iraq.<br /><br />I believe that strategy protects our vital national interests and gives us the best chance to succeed.</blockquote><br /><br />In related news, a new AP/Ipsos polls shows that "<a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_526821.html">the public sees</a> the Iraq war as a failure and thinks the U.S. troop buildup there has not worked." <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_526821.html">The pessimism</a> expressed by most people -- including significant minorities of Republicans -- contrasted with the brighter picture offered by Gen. David Petraeus. The chief U.S. commander in Iraq told Congress on Monday that the added 30,000 troops have largely achieved their military goals and could probably leave by next summer, though he conceded there has been scant political progress. <br /><br />By 59 percent to 34 percent, more people said they believe history will judge the Iraq war a complete or partial failure than a success.</blockquote><br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6554">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-82236413298846900502007-09-10T19:04:00.000-07:002007-09-10T19:04:02.654-07:00Kerry Says Petraeus-White House Report on Iraq Fails to Make the CaseIt was day one of the Petraeus follies on Capitol Hill today. Petraeus, the "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091000806.html">top U.S. commander</a> in Iraq told Congress today that the military objectives of the Bush administration's troop increase strategy in Iraq "are in large measure being met," and he forecast a reduction of U.S. forces in coming months without jeopardizing gains." <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091000806.html">Appearing with the</a> top U.S. diplomat in Iraq to report on military and political developments in the four-year-old war effort, Army Gen. David H. Petraeus claimed major progress for the so-called "surge," the deployment of an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq last spring.<br /><br />Citing a drop in the overall level of violence in Iraq, Petraeus said, "I believe that we will be able to reduce our forces to pre-surge levels . . . without jeopardizing security gains we fought so hard to achieve." He said he also believes that "it is possible to achieve our objectives in Iraq over time," although this will be "neither quick nor easy."<br /><br />Petraeus said he has "recommended a drawdown" of U.S. forces starting later this month with the withdrawal of a Marine unit. Further "redeployments" should continue into next year, with U.S. troop strength dropping to about 130,000 troops by mid-July 2008, he said.<br /><br />The much-anticipated testimony of Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker at a joint hearing of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees could help shape upcoming congressional decisions on funding for the Iraq war. The pair also is scheduled to testify together Tuesday at separate Senate hearings, one before the Foreign Relations Committee and the other before the Armed Services Committee.</blockquote> <br /><br />Senator John Kerry issued the following statement today, in response to testimony from General Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker:<br /><br /><blockquote>“It spoke volumes today when General Petraeus said the Iraqi politicians have been sitting on their thumbs while American soldiers sweated it out all summer. Nothing today suggested that President Bush’s eight months of escalation have done anything to achieve political progress in a deadly civil war,” Kerry said. “The three recent independent reports – from the General Accounting Office, the National Intelligence Estimate and the General Jones Commission - all say the opposite. I am looking forward to hearing from both of these public servants tomorrow during the Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee hearing.”</blockquote><br /><br />Michael Abramowitz notes in the WaPo, that the "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091001303.html">long-awaited testimony</a> this afternoon of Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker, once seen as a potential turning point in war policy, seemed more like an exercise of kicking the can down the road."<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/10/AR2007091001303.html">Petraeus left the larger questions</a> -- what will be the future size and mission of the American "footprint" in Iraq -- unanswered. He offered hints that the reductions might continue beyond next summer but said he would not be able to offer a definitive judgment until March.<br /><br />"Our experience in Iraq has repeatedly shown that projecting too far into the future is not just difficult, it can be misleading and even hazardous," Petraeus testified.</blockquote><br /><br />I'm not sure what the line up is for Senator's on the Foreign Relations Committee questioning Petraeus tomorrow, but no doubt, Kerry will not be holding any punches. <br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6547">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-63856590922012765852007-09-05T21:26:00.000-07:002007-09-05T21:26:04.536-07:00Kerry: The Escalation Didn’t WorkJohn Kerry posted on <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/5/121020/0010">DKos</a> and the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-kerry/the-escalation-didnt-wor_b_63167.html">HuffPo</a> today about Bush's Iraq Escalation. The bottomline... <strong>It Didn't Work</strong>. Here's a few quips from Kerry's post: <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/5/121020/0010">The escalation failed</a> to do the one and only thing it was supposed to do. The entire Iraq policy of George W. Bush has failed since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s statue in Baghdad. No amount of parsing or spinning can change those simple facts: the escalation is and was the wrong answer. <br /><br />I chaired a hearing on the GAO Report yesterday, the report that stated that Iraqi civilians overall aren’t any safer, that the political benchmarks aren’t being met in Iraq, that, in short, none of the rationales for the escalation in Iraq have come to pass. It unfolds with maddening, enraging regularity: the Administration claims goals for their policy, they gradually back off of those goals and substitute smaller, less easily measured goals, and then muddy the waters hopelessly on whether even those modest new goals have been met. Time and again we’ve been through this. <br /><br />That’s why the Congress set up some clear benchmarks to measure what’s happening in Iraq. Mitch McConnell praised the “clarity” those benchmarks brought to the debate. “Just wait until September,” they all said. “We put in these meaningful benchmarks, we can judge in September.”<br /><br />Well, how do they judge those benchmarks now? Only three of 18 have been met. Another four were “partially met,” which sounds like a “Gentleman’s C” if I’ve ever heard of one (and, for anyone who saw my college transcript, I have.).<br /><br />Judgment time is here, and the only verdict is the same one we had in January, the same one we've had for a long time in Iraq: the Bush policy is a tragic failure. It's a policy that not only isn't working; it can't work. A political solution in Iraq cannot come about without a clear deadline on where our troops will be pulling out. Only Iraqis can end this civil war, and they aren't - and won't be - making any progress with an open-ended, massive presence by our military in their country.</blockquote><br /><br />In an update on Kerry's DKos post, Kerry responded to the many questions of "what can we do about it?"...<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/9/5/121020/0010">A lot of you</a> are asking about what we can do about it. That’s the right question. I can't guarantee success, but we're closer than we've ever been. The media swirl around this debate doesn't capture the dynamics I see in Congress. Republicans are much more nervous about this, and there's far less Democratic disunity than the media storyline portrays. I'm talking to my colleagues every day (I just got out of a caucus meeting), and the Bush-advanced fallacy that the escalation is working just isn't a big part of our discussions. I think we hammered that reality home pretty hard yesterday at the Foreign Relations Committee with some important validation from Sen. Lugar.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the Republicans are not confident at all. Their party is being driven over the cliff by the President’s stubborn insistence on sticking to this failed policy. And they know it. No one wants to consign themselves to a permanent minority, but that's what's happening. They're not unified at all on this.<br /><br />But the main question is: what can we do about it? I'm going to make this case in any way I can. Television, newspapers, you name it. There's no magic bullet to this; we simply need to apply as much pressure as possible in as many ways as possible. I'll be back with some specific actions from time to time because concerted action by many people toward a single goal gets the best results. But do as much as you can all the time. Drop by your representatives’ office and let them know your feelings. Write, call, fax, email, get in contact any way you can. These actions aren't glamorous, but they really do make a difference. And don't lose faith. The other side in this debate is intent on outlasting us, convinced that we'll give up. You and I have to make sure that they are wrong on that.</blockquote><br /><br />Kerry's opening statement from Tuesday Foreign Relations Committee on the GAO Iraq Banchmarks report <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6499">is here</a>. <br /><br />Remember, as Kerry said, "there's far less Democratic disunity than the media storyline portrays," so keep an open mind when you read the latest spin piece from the N.Y.Times: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/06/washington/06cong.html?ei=5088&en=58bf2204413650f6&ex=1346731200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1189052307-MqQY6AEuYy323DUuLFQE2w">Democrats Newly Willing to Compromise on Iraq</a>.<br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6509">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-26284121861978755422007-08-29T17:59:00.000-07:002007-08-29T17:59:15.455-07:00A Katrina ReflectionThe New Orleans Times-Picayune has an Editorial today aimed at Bush. The Times-Picayune says: <a href="http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/editorials/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1188367660232970.xml&coll=1"><strong>Treat us fairly, Mr. President</strong></a>...<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/editorials/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1188367660232970.xml&coll=1">Nobody wants</a> to have to compete for disaster relief. <br /><br />But that is what Louisianians have had to do in the two years since Hurricane Katrina struck. <br /><br />Despite massive destruction caused by the failure of the federal government's levees during Katrina, despite the torment caused by FEMA's slow response to the disaster, despite being hit by a second powerful hurricane less than a month later, Louisiana has had to plead to be treated fairly by our leaders in Washington.</blockquote><br /><br />Of all the photos from Katrina, the two below are among the most memorable in my mind: <br /><br /><a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=426"><img src="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/wp-content/milverthahendricks.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=438"><img src="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/wp-content/god_help_us.jpg" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Historian <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=585">Douglas Brinkley</a> chronicled many photos from Katrina in his book, <a href="http://thegreatdeluge.net/">The Great Deluge</a>. There's a <a href="http://thegreatdeluge.net/Photo_Gallery/">photo gallery here</a>. <br /><br />From The Guardian UK on the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina a reflection from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=408">music legend Fats Domino</a> who <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=406">was missing</a> after Katrina: <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2157830,00.html">The King of New Orleans</a>, Fats Domino, is one of the few optimistic people in the still devastated city. "Everybody is doing the best they can. I think New Orleans will recover," he said on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.<br /><br />He is one of the lucky ones. His house in the city's poor and exclusively black Lower Ninth district, from which he was rescued by helicopter, was destroyed in the flooding. But musicians from around the world - Elton John, Joss Stone, Neil Young and many others - have put together a tribute CD to be released next month to pay for its reconstruction and others in the Lower Ninth.<br /><br />Speaking in Tipitina's jazz hall, Domino, 79, said he was born and raised in New Orleans, liked everything about the place, from the food to the music, and did not want to live anywhere else. "I think we will be all right," he said.<br /><br />That is not a view shared by many of the city's 250,000-plus residents still waiting to return to their homes or the 100,000-plus still in exile in Texas and elsewhere.</blockquote><br /><br />The recovery goes on in the Gulf. John Kerry noted today in response to Bush's platitudes from New Orleans that Bush aasn’t learned the lessons of Katrina: <br /><br /><blockquote>“President Bush showed once again that he hasn’t learned the lessons of Katrina. Empty claims ring hollow to the survivors of Katrina still struggling to get back on their feet. While the President hailed the progress made by Louisiana schools, less than twenty percent of the money needed to rebuild the schools has been pledged to New Orleans. The Gulf Coast needs a sustained federal effort to help small businesses and homeowners return and rebuild. It’s time for President Bush to listen to his own advice and make a real commitment to Gulf Coast recovery.”</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>Enough Is Enough</strong>. <br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6472">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-13011254018716608092007-08-29T13:55:00.000-07:002007-08-29T13:55:28.573-07:00Anger and Sadness Mark Katrina AnniversaryToday marks the two year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. And sadly the question begs to be answered, why have "<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-08-28-rebuild_N.htm">those dependent</a> on government assistance to rebuild their lives," been overlooked and met with delays. <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-08-28-rebuild_N.htm">While middle- and</a> upper-class neighborhoods have rebuilt using private insurance and contacts, residents of low-income areas such as the Lower 9th Ward and Holy Cross — roughly 20,000 of them — for the most part remain scattered throughout the region, their return uncertain.<br /><br />The flooding that began after Katrina hit on Aug. 29, 2005, delivered an estimated $150 billion worth of damage to the Gulf Coast region, making it the worst disaster in U.S. history. Of the $116 billion appropriated by Congress to Gulf Coast recovery, $34 billion has been earmarked for long-term rebuilding. But less than half of that has made its way through federal checks and balances to reach municipal projects. <br /><br />Throughout the Gulf Coast, residents are asking why their government — at every level — hasn't done more to streamline the process and bring more rebuilding dollars to the region. <br /><br />"We're working ourselves close to death," says Scott Darrah, a New Orleans civic activist. "But we can't move it past further than what we have today. The government needs to step up."</blockquote><br /><br />Yesterday, Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, made the following statement on the eve of the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina:<br /><br /><blockquote>“Two years after Hurricane Katrina there is still a long way to go to get the Gulf Coast region back on its feet. Too many families and businesses are still struggling with too much red tape and an incompetent federal response that put our kids in toxic trailers and mismanaged billions of taxpayer dollars. Two years ago, Katrina pulled back a curtain and showed the world the true extent of poverty and inequality that still exists in our country. Remembering this tragedy with photo ops isn’t enough. We must finally force accountability and action from the federal government that will get our families and small businesses back on track.<br /><br />“When Katrina hit, there was no effective safety net to help the individuals and small businesses that were devastated by the storm. And two years later, we still lack a plan that ensures that a Katrina-like response never happens again. I’ve worked with Senator Mary Landrieu and others on a bipartisan basis for two years to provide the government with critical tools to respond more quickly and effectively in the case of future disasters. We passed a disaster loan reform bill in the Senate, and we need to get this legislation on the President’s desk and signed into law.” <br /><br />“Many families and businesses owners have put themselves back on track and the Gulf Coast region is making progress because of their own hard work and determination. It’s long past time that Washington gives the victims of Katrina a policy that equals their incredible perseverance and hope.”<br /><br />See here for <a href="http://sbc.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=280651">more information about the legislation</a>. </blockquote><br /><br />Bush made an appearance at a "<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070829/ap_on_re_us/katrina_anniversary">recovering school</a> in the Lower 9th Ward — a predominantly black, low income area that was all but obliterated by the storm" and led a moment of silence followed by platitudes.<br /><a name='more'></a><br /><blockquote>"<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070829/ap_on_re_us/katrina_anniversary">Better days are ahead</a>," Bush said as he sought to assure residents that his administration had not forgotten the region and would make good on the promises of aid.<br /><br />"We're still paying attention. We understand," the president said.<br /><br />Protesters, remembering the government's slow response in the storm's immediate aftermath, planned to march from the Lower 9th Ward to Congo Square to spread their message that the government has also failed to help people return.<br /><br />"People are angry and they want to send a message to politicians that they want them to do more and do it faster," said the Rev. Marshall Truehill, a Baptist pastor and community activist. "Nobody's going to be partying."</blockquote><br /><br />Today's anniversary is a stark "reminder of the desperation that filled New Orleans' flooding neighborhoods in the days after Katrina hit." <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070829/ap_on_re_us/katrina_anniversary">Images of dead bodies</a>, people in the flood zones calling from their roofs and waiting days for help, and of the thousands of evacuees packed into the grimy and damaged Superdome, are still fresh in many minds.<br /><br />Politicians have used the date to pitch policy. Scholars and activists have released a steady stream of reports on the state of recovery.<br /><br />An international people's tribunal, spearheaded by legal activists trying to build a case under international law accusing the United States of human rights abuses during and after Katrina, has also been convened to take testimony from victims.</blockquote><br /><br />It's stunning to mark the two year anniversary of <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?cat=47">Katrina</a> with the fact that in so many ways our government is still failing the people of the Gulf. As <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6449">historian Douglas Brinkley</a> pointed out in the WaPo a few days ago, victims of Katrina are "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/24/AR2007082401209.html">still in the middle</a> of the Katrina saga" and suffering from the Bush Administration's "Reckless Abandonment."<br /><br />A year ago The Dem Daily marked the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4020">a few</a> <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4019">posts</a> <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4028">including one referring</a> to an article in the <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/globe/">Boston Globe</a> that featured this photo of "Mounds of debris fill a waste collection point in New Orleans": <br /><br /><img src="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/wp-content/toweringreminderkatrinanola.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />The sad fact is, 2 years later, when it comes to Hurricane Katrina, we're still "<a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=400">waiting for a leader</a>."<br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6471">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-75479540732052664632007-08-28T19:25:00.000-07:002007-08-28T19:25:33.553-07:00Kerry Says Census Statistics on Uninsured Americans Show Urgent Need for ActionThe latest Census Report is out today, showing that although the poverty rate dropped in '06, "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/us/28cnd-census.html?ex=1345953600&en=9c16e11a5ed45dc3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">the percentage</a> of Americans without health insurance coverage hit a record high." <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/us/28cnd-census.html?ex=1345953600&en=9c16e11a5ed45dc3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss">Census officials</a> attributed the rise in uninsured Americans to 47 million from 44.8 million in 2005 mostly to Americans losing employer-provided or privately purchased health insurance. The percentage of people who received health benefits through an employer declined to 59.7 percent in 2006 from 60.2 percent in 2005.<br /><br />The percentage of people with government-provided health insurance also dropped, to 27 percent from 27.3 percent.<br /><br />The number of uninsured children increased to 8.7 million, or 11.7 percent, in 2006, from 8 million, or 10.9 percent, in 2006. </blockquote><br /><br />Senator John Kerry made the following statement today in response to the Census Bureau’s report that 2.2 million more Americans became uninsured over the last year, including 700,000 additional children under the age of 18: <a name='more'></a><br /><br /><blockquote>“As President Bush promises to veto kids’ health care and chips away at bipartisan efforts to insure low-income children and poor families, the health care crisis in this country is growing,” Senator Kerry said. “Today’s news serves as even more evidence that programs like SCHIP must be fully funded and extended to the growing numbers of uninsured Americans. Health care costs are soaring and our health care professionals are feeling incredible burdens. 47 million people in this country have no health care coverage, yet this President continues to choose tax cuts for millionaires over funding commonsense, workable programs that cover the poorest Americans. And now the administration proposes to limit the ability of states to extend SCHIP to vulnerable children of the working poor. It’s time for this President and his allies in Congress to stop playing politics and get their priorities straight.<br /><br />“In Massachusetts the news has not been so grim—the number of uninsured has dropped dramatically because Gov. Patrick is implementing an innovative new program to provide quality health coverage for everyone. Massachusetts has set an example for the rest of the country -- now it’s time for Washington to do what’s right to reverse years of ignoring the needs of the uninsured, including rejecting the president’s latest effort to restrict access to SCHIP.”</blockquote><br /><br />Earlier this year, John Kerry introduced the Countdown to Coverage Act, which calls on Members of Congress to either pass legislation that would ensure quality coverage for every American by 2011 or be forced to pay the full cost of their federal insurance plan. Kerry also sponsored “Kids First,” a bill that would cover all uninsured children in the country and also introduce an amendment to SCHIP that would have fully funded the program to $50 billion dollars. Both of John Kerry’s efforts would be paid for by rolling back the Bush tax cuts for millionaires. <br /><br />Access to affordable Healthcare should be a right not an option. <br /><br />Cross Posted From<a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6468">The Democratic Daily</a>.Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5237797.post-50888166131983421822007-08-27T15:35:00.000-07:002007-08-27T15:35:45.612-07:00John Kerry Tells Bush to Restore Integrity to Justice DepartmentAs Hart noted below, Alberto Gonzales resigned today and even the wingnuts are "swimming away from the sinking Ship of State." The WaPo reports that Gonzales' resignation ends "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/27/AR2007082700372.html">a controversial cabinet</a> tenure that included clashes with Congress over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys and over the use of warrantless wiretaps in the war on terror." <br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/27/AR2007082700372.html">In a brief statement</a>, he called his 13 years in public service a "remarkable journey," but he gave no explanation about why he chose to resign now after resisting months of pressure to quit.</blockquote><br /><br />Gag me... The praise from Dubya is nauseating:<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/27/AR2007082700372.html">In a brief statement</a> from an airport tarmac in Waco, Tex., President Bush praised Gonzales as "a man of integrity, decency and principle." The president also asserted that his attorney general had been unfairly maligned.<br /><br />"It's sad that we live in a time when a talented and honorable person like Alberto Gonzales is impeded from doing important work because his good name was dragged through the mud for political reasons," Bush said.</blockquote><br /><br />Gonzo's resignation "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/27/AR2007082700372.html">marks the loss</a>" of yet another BushCo loyalist "<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/27/AR2007082700372.html">at a time when the</a> president's support in public opinion polls has been lagging and amid a fight with Congress over the future of Iraq war policy." <br /> <br />Senator John Kerry issued the following statement today, following the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez:<br /><br /><blockquote>“Alberto Gonzales turned the Justice Department into a political arm of the White House and he should have resigned long ago,” Kerry said. “From the firings of the US Attorneys to evasion about illegal wiretapping, Gonzales single-handedly damaged the integrity of our legal system and subverted efforts to get to the truth. This is a critical moment. President Bush can either continue on a divisive and destructive path, or choose in the next Attorney General someone who knows they’re not the president’s lawyer but rather the nation’s top law enforcement officer. The President should choose a replacement that gives the department a fresh start, untainted by controversy; and even with Gonzales gone, Congress must keep pushing until we get truth and accountability on unanswered questions involving everything from illegal wiretapping to the US Attorneys scandal.”</blockquote><br /><br /><strong>RELATED POST:</strong> <br /><br />Cross posted from <a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6451">The Democratic Daily</a>.<br /><a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=6453">John Kerry Tells Bush to Restore Integrity to Justice Department</a>Pamela J. Leaveyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06883318298753742680noreply@blogger.com0