Thursday, August 28, 2008

Kerry's great speech

Kerry settles scores in 2004 do-over

DENVER, Colorado (AFP) – John Kerry reported for duty four years after his mauling by Republicans on Wednesday to settle a string of unpaid scores with a withering attack on Senator John McCain.

Had the 2004 nominee shown such fight during his own race, he might have been in Denver at the Democratic National Convention seeking renomination for another four years in the White House.

But he seemed desperate to make sure that 2008 White House nominee Barack Obama would not make the same mistake -- by failing to fight off attacks on his patriotism and character which doomed his own campaign.

He also laid into his old friend and Republican presidential candidate McCain, with whom he forged a bond as both are Vietnam war veterans.

"John McCain voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time. Ninety percent of George Bush is just more than we can take," Kerry said, in the first of a volley of attacks which stirred up the Democratic convention crowd.

"To those who still believe in the myth of a maverick instead of the reality of a politician, I say, let's compare Senator McCain to candidate McCain," Kerry said.

"Candidate McCain now supports the wartime tax cuts that Senator McCain once denounced as immoral.

"Candidate McCain criticizes Senator McCain's own climate change bill.

"Candidate McCain says he would now vote against the immigration bill that Senator McCain wrote.

"Are you kidding? Talk about being for it before you're against it."

That final jab was a reference to one of his most notorious comments, which did more than anything to damn his presidential campaign, when Kerry said he was for an Iraq funding bill, before he voted against it.

The Massachussetts senator, who took his bow at his own convention in 2004, with the words "I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty" also slammed McCain for perceived deficits in national security judgement.

"When John McCain stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier just three months after 9/11 and proclaimed, 'Next up, Baghdad!' Barack Obama saw, even then, an occupation of, undetermined length, undetermined cost, undetermined consequences, that would only fan the flames of the Middle East.

"Well, guess what? Mission accomplished," he said, echoing the banner draped behind Bush in 2003 when he declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq from a US aircraft carrier.

Kerry, who has been mentioned by some observers as a possible secretary of state in any Obama administration, also vowed to combat efforts to assail McCain's efforts to his question Obama's patriotism.

"How insulting to suggest that those who question the mission, question the troops.

"How pathetic to suggest that those who question a failed policy doubt America itself.

"How desperate to tell the son of a single mother who chose community service over money and privilege that he doesn't put America first.

"No one can question Barack Obama's patriotism."


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Kerry did a fantastic job last night, as did Bill and Biden. Every major speaker at the Democratic Convention has been amazing!
Yes, some of the lesser names, even Harry Ried, have not been particularly inspiring, but they also shouldn't take the spotlight away from the major players.

But this convention has been excellent so far! I can't wait to see how Obama seals the deal tonight!

Complete speech from Crooks and Liars:

Sen Kerry Blasts McCain: “Let’s compare Senator McCain and Candidate McCain”