Kerry Calls for Impeachment...But Only in Private

[BurtWorm]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donnie-fowler/kerry-calls-for-impeachme_b_12327.html

Kerry Calls for Impeachment ... And Then Gets Backed Down
READ MORE: 2006, George W. Bush

The Washington DC crowd must be all a-twitter with fear. Another Democrat has dared to call for real accountability by the White House ... at least until the handlers got to correcting the record. According to DC political newsletter "The Hotline" (published by the National Journal), John Kerry on Wednesday night said that if Democrats retake the House, there's a "solid case" to bring "articles of impeachment" against President Bush for allegedly misleading the country about pre-war intelligence.
The remarks came during a DC holiday party for 2004 campaign staff and was reported to the newsletter by at least two attendees.

It's not so much that I think the country needs to go through another impeachment, even if this time it might be for something that matters more than sex. (Have you heard the joke, "Why doesn't someone just give him a blow job so we can impeach him?")

What infuriates me is that the conventional thinkers immediately get afraid that such fighting back is impolite. Are you kidding? Only hours after the party, Kerry's office walked him back by saying that he was only joking, "Is it really a story that, with a smile on his face and to ensuing laughter, at a Christmas party for his hardest working troops who are still working to win in 2006, a Democrat joked about why these diehard Democrats needed to keep dreaming of a Democratic Congress?" And "The Hotline" reports that some at the party "said the comment made them uncomfortable." Good.

Kerry and his national advisors were too damn polite...

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. Kerry Claims To Have Integrity....But Only In Private.

What a loser! This was our candidate?

PLEASE DON'T RUN AGAIN JOHN! Your time has passed. Please don't dilute the field, and draw money away from viable democrats who are actually interested in becoming president in '08. I beg of you, there are 2 chances for you to get the nomination in '08....Slim and None.....and Slim has left the building.

[nemo137]

5. You rememeber why we pitched a fit over the Clinton impeachment?

Other than the pure bogusness of the charges? Because it was an obviously political ploy to get the Big Dog out of office. Most of the country - Dems, Reps, Indies - saw that. Imagine if Bob Dole had been leading the charge for impeachment. People would see it as nothing more than a cheap attempt to undo the last election. Now, you'll forgive me for saying that if Kerry actually came out and said "We need to pursue impeachment," that the reaction for the county as a whole would be similar, yes?

Just a thought.

[LittleClarkie]

24. From someone who was there:

...since I was there, and saw and heard exactly what was said, and how, let me say to you:

not drunk
not running at the mouth

completely focused
completely enjoying himself among friends
talking through the issues
mentioning the "i" word with a twinkle in his eye, 'cause he knew people were thinking about it

Does anyone care to know the truth?

No *handlers* were spotted, BTW. It was almost all friends, except of course for whomever decided their own ego needed elevating via Wonkette. yeeccchhh. Off to wash my hands now...

[ClintonTyree]

2. Figures.......

how a man who could be so brave in battle can be such a coward in the political arena stuns me. STAND UP for something, Kerry! Act like a doormat and you'll be treated like a doormat.

[mattclearing]

3. It was a stupid thing to say.

If '06 becomes a referendum on impeachment, short of some smoking gun, like audio of Bush saying, "Fuck you Tenet, give me some intelligence I can use," Dems will lose.

As it is, only 42% of Americans support impeachment, if Zogby is to be believed, and that's only if it's proven he deliberately misled us into war. Without a smoking gun, that number drops to 32%.

People aren't ready to go there yet. I don't know if they will be by November, but it does us no good to talk about it now.

Win the '06 elections and we can impeach all we want.

But if we make this election a referendum on impeachment, we risk losing for no reason other than that people don't want two years of chaos until '08, or (god forbid), fucking Cheney in office.

[wisteria]

21. I don't think it was stupid- Kerry isn't stupid. This was a private

jest that was meant to revive up those working for Dem wins in 2006 to perhaps focus on while they work towards victories. This was not meant to be a referendum-get real here. Can't you see that any Dem that speaks out-on anything is going to be preyed on by the Repubs?

[mattclearing]

32. Yeah, Kerry says a lot of things in private that he doesn't want

public. Ask Mark Crispin Miller. If he was smart, he'd work towards what he wants without telegraphing his punches.

[sandnsea]

31. Well how do we get them there?

God, I donated money to Sharpton two years ago just because he dared to utter the word. Now we've got our Presidential candidate teasing about taking the House in order to impeach Bush, and we're too dumb to realize how far we've come. Joke or not, he's right, it is crazy that Republicans impeached over a lie about a blowjob and not lies about war. There's your talking point right there.

[mattclearing]

33. I agree with you.

My concern is that the midterms will turn into a referendum on impeachment, rather than a referendum on opposing Bush's extremist policies. Opposing Bush's extremist policies is a fight we can win. Then we can impeach.

If it becomes a referendum on impeachment, people may decide not to take a chance on Democrats.

[blm]

4. So Kerry gets attacked for saying impeach, just like we all KNEW HE WOULD

because that is the only purpose of the DC media.

I expect more attacks from those angry that Kerry is the only senator who even mentioned impeachment in private. Somehow, it will all get twisted to be his fault that no other Dems are talking about it.

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Who in the DC media has attacked Kerry?

:shrug:

[blm]

19. Post 18 was s'posed to be your reply.

.

[KharmaTrain]

13. Why Not Say It In Public?

I'll bet there are Repugnicans who have said the same thing in "private". Wasn't it things that were said in "private" that led to the outting of a CIA agent as well?

Private means one's afraid to speak out...not a sign of leadership, but of weakness. Somehow, though, my radar senses we've got some rear-guard trolling at work here. The wingnuts have been working hard lately to find people to hate around and a quote to latch on to...and here's something for them to gnaw on. Sure enough this article will make it onto hate radio.

Impeachment is very counter-productive and any sensible Representative and Senator knows that. The Democrats would need overwhelming majorities in both Houses (like they had in '74)...a gain of upwards of 50 seats. That's not gonna happen. Then there's the months of "investigations" and going from the Judiciary Committee onto the House and Senate. Seemed so fast for Clinton, but fast forward the events and any "vote" or action wouldn't take place well into 2008 and in the middle of the election. Kerry, of all people, would know what type of distraction that kind of circus would create for his or any other candidate's chances...thus why my radar is suspect of this story.

[blm]

17. There have been two prior attempts by the RW to link Kerry to impeachment

talk earlier this year.

So, although I do believe he said something akin to this, it is likely to be blown out of proportion by those not interested in being helpful to our side overall.

[KharmaTrain]

20. I Did Some Following Up...

...and I don't like what I've been reading. Looks like someone forgot there are no such thing as 100 of your closest friends being in one place at one time. Just the conjecture...which this appears to be...is something stupid to put out there for someone to grab on and let loose with. If you're gonna talk "private"...make it one-on-one...not at a party fundraiser.

[sandnsea]

28. Hey, you think he didn't know where he was?

You think he didn't know EXACTLY what he was saying? You think he doesn't know how to get things talked about that need to be talked about?

I swear, some days I have a hard time deciding which side is really dumber than a box of rocks.

[blm]

18. It will catch on....just as it has before.

Media can never seem to find his Iraq speeches or his withdrawal plan or his submitted legislation, but, damn, they sure can magnify whatever little political germ they can distort.

[rsmith6621]

6. Kerry Is A Political Chickenhawk

He moaned and groaned at how * mislead our country into Iraq and then he is a Chicken$hit to say Impeach BUSH in public.....This kind of crap from him makes me wonder what went on between the Kerry & * campaign Election night Nov 02, 2004.....Now my thoughts are that Kerry caved into bush so that he wouldnt have to try and clean up the crap they said they would throw at him........

Yep Kerry is didnt belive in you and me nor those in Ohio that were disinfranchised. otherwise they would have asked for a recount on the spot.

[Mass]

8. So, who do you know who has called for *'s impeachment

in public among our elected officials.

I think I know one person: Charlie Rangel.

So may be you may wonder why they dont (not even Kucinich)? Could it be because most people do not want the country to spend the next two years in an impeachment trial and that this could be the best argument for the GOP in 2006.

[napsi]

26. Kerry is a disgrace

and I'm ashamed I voted for him. He is a spineless politician and no better than the bastards who are screwing us now.

[LittleClarkie]

27. I on the other hand would vote for him every day and twice on Sunday

But that's democracy for ya.

[Coastie for Truth]

9. Americans (outside of political junkies) are CAUTIOUS

"measure twice and cut once" yaadaa yaadaaa yaadaa

"Smoking gun" and "to a moral certainty"

[rd_kent]

10. THIS is why he lost!!!

He is spineless!!!

[globalvillage]

25. He lost because he told a joke?

I thought he lost because he was aloof.
Which one is it?

Or did he lose because the 'liberal' media took his words completely out of context, applied their own interpretation, and used that against him?
That had a lot to do with it, IMO.
So, I guess I agree to some extent with the title of your post, and disagree vehemently with the rest.

[sandnsea]

29. Because the "grassroots" are friggin' idiots

And responded to everything the man said last year exactly like they're responding now. He gives them an early Christmas gift, and they don't even know what's in the box. They think it's coal and it's really a diamond.

[rd_kent]

34. Maybe youre right?

Maybe I have missed the bigger point, but I feel it is time for Dems to stand up and speak the truth. Fer Kerry to make a statement like than, then backpeddle and say it was in private, blah, blah, blah is the wrong thing we need right now.

[Mass]

11. Note to Donny Fowler

Talk about insider talks. I could not care less whether Kerry's spokeperson said it is a joke or whatever.

Today, there are a few important votes in the Senate and the House that are a lot more important for us that what David Wade said or did not say.

May be we would be better if ALL Democratic Strategists were focused on making clear to ALL Democratic Senators and Reps that they would be better if they voted for us, not against us. That is what would be useful, not focusing on things that are irrelevant to ordinary American people.

[Greeby]

12. Voting for impeachment, before he votes against it?

:eyes:

[karynnj]

14. As a Senator, he can not vote for impeachment

The House votes to impeach - the Senate to convict

[Greeby]

15. I know, but change it too much and the paraphrase loses its punch

:)

[LittleClarkie]

22. Thinking of a new joke, before posting the old one?

Just sayin'...

[EstimatedProphet]

16. The problem isn't that Kerry said this

The problem is that NO ONE ELSE IS SAYING IT! Why aren't our guys screaming this from the rooftops?

[sandnsea]

30. Merry Christmas!!

He threw it out there, one more friggin' time, we're too fucking stupid to run with it.

[wisteria]

23. Nothing wrong with Kerry's words, joking or otherwise. There is

something wrong with those that have to make something out of this. Either misreading him or accusing him of backtracking.