Kerry on cnn ---after the commercia.l

[rodeodance]

[nolies32fouettes]

1. what happened?

[globalvillage]

2. Here's what I caught, nolies

Not a transcript, but this is basically what I heard:

Wolfe started by asking why Sen Kerry called for more troops in ’05 but now says no more troops.
Kerry:
The situation has changed so dramatically, troops aren’t going to make a difference.
You can’t have security unless you resolve the fundamental difference.
What they need to know is that we’re going to leave at some point appropriately.
McConnell said we don’t have a plan, that’s not true
We ought to set some firm transfer of authority
One year.
Require Iraqis to resume major responsibilities.
Most Americans would believe a year is the outside limit.
Unless you leverage the necessity for them to assume responsibility, they won’t do it.
What the prez keeps doing is set up a straw man.
McConnell said precipitously.
A year is not precipitous.
The president continues to scare America.
Either it’s open ended or we’re going to leverage them into a different behaviour.
Set the date. Have an international conference.
Have an envoy to negotiate.
The president rejected the ISG.
He kicked them to the curb.
You can’t resolve the issues of the ME unless you have dialogue with Iran and Syria.
What is the admin going to do if this isn’t open ended?
They can’t have it both ways.
Wolfe showed a clip of McCain
Kerry:
I say to mccain, stop distorting what we’re saying
We all agree there are high stakes.
We’re not talking about walking away.
Don’t use those words. Those are the words of fear and distortion.
We’re talking about how you are successful.
Iranians delighted about how we’re bogged down in Iraq
The Iranians today are stronger than they were 6 mo ago
And the way you respond to the Iranians is not to put more troops in, raising the stakes, allowing them to kill more inflame the Arab street.
Our own intelligence is saying the presence is creating more terrorists.
We’re fighting to get this right. We’re fighting to be successful, and the only way is to get Iraqis to stand up for Iraq.
They’re not going to do that as long as the American security blanket is there to cover them.
Why not use the full power of the purse as Feingold is suggesting?
You can’t pull the rug out from under the troops that are there.
I’m not saying end this tomorrow morning.
One year ought to be enough time to do that.
Enough time to have the diplomacy necessary.
If the stakes are as high as you say, where are the other countries?
Why aren’t they involved?
This admin turning focus from Afghanistan to do what they want to do in Iraq.
Both of our top generals have said more troops won’t resolve this.
It’s adding to the problem.
That’s why Hagel Coleman are reacting as they are.
This admin is going it alone.
We want to be bipartisan.
Shift responsibility to Iraqis
We can leave troops in Kuwait.
What we’re doing is strengthing Iran. Strengthening terrorism
It’s bad policy.

Then some stuff about '08 that Sen Kerry avoided.


Again, not word for word, but pretty much the highlights.

[BayCityProgressive]

3. I'm sorry

but this is just plain embarassing. Kerry has taken every possible position on this war since it started. I can't help but laugh whenever I hear him speak. He certainly would never get my vote again, he is a joke.

[globalvillage]

4. What are you talking about?

What of this is inconsistent?

[YvonneCa]

5. I don't agree...

...he has been completely consistent in his position (if you read transcripts, listen to speeches, and watch Senate preceedings). If, however, your get your coverage of his position only by television,I can see how you would think this...TV coverage is pathetic.

[karynnj]

6. His position here is Kerry/Feingold

How is that a change?

He is against the surge and still in favor of Kerry/Feingold which gave the Iraqis 1 year while specific things happened in parallel - like the regional summit.

[karynnj]

7. His position here is Kerry/Feingold

How is that a change?

He is against the surge and still in favor of Kerry/Feingold which gave the Iraqis 1 year while specific things happened in parallel - like the regional summit.

[seabeyond]

9. let me see... this war is continually progressing and shifting. you expect

kerry to sit on what he said two years ago when things are totally different today. i believe that is bush approach and look how it fails. you do not find a yesterday solution for today. that is poor management and problem solving.

[blm]

10. Kerry has addressed each stage of the process and the war appropriately, and you are

trying to point blame for a situation that was NOT the same in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Kerry has said there were three different wars going on - the first to remove weapons and Saddam, the second to allow Iraqis to vote, and after their third vote in Dec 2005, the war is now a CIVIL WAR.

You should be disturbed with those who decided AGAINST investigation into war decisions, AGAINST investigating Downing Street Memos, AGAINST Iraq withdrawal vote last June that dealt with reality of civil war in Iraq, and those who WON'T change their positions even given new facts.

[Inuca]

13. Remember Colbert?

We cannot have a guy who thinks on Wednesday something else than what he said on MOnday because of what happened on Tuesday, can we? What a horrible mistake that would be. So much better to stick to your guns, like the wonderful president we have now.

[seabeyond]

14. why do people ignore the obvious.... purely for agenda? n/t

[TayTay]

8. Excellent appearance,.

Sen. Kerry started to take on McCain and other Repubs last fall over their support for endless war and endless troop deployments. It's nice to see other Democrats, like John Edwards, start to also challenge McCain and follow Kerry's lead on this.

This was a good strong appearance. Kerry was consistent with views he has had since 2002 on the war and on how it should be viewed. Nice job.

[nolies32fouettes]

11. SOunds like a good interview. Thanks.

[globalvillage]

12. It was.

The solution, as Sen Kerry has said all along, is political and diplomatic. And the sooner that begins, the sooner we can get out. He believes, as he did with Kerry/Feingold, as the ISG concluded, that will take about a year.
And he whacked McCain, which is always good.