OT: Great statement from 2002 House Debate on the IWR (Pete Stark, Democrat of California)

[Luftmensch067]

Caught this during this morning's replay of 2002 debate on C-Span 3. Had to search a bit, but found it here:

http://frwebgate1.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=16754976451+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Stark).
(Mr. STARK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in support of the
resolution, the amendment by my distinguished colleague and neighbor,
the gentlewoman from California. The reason we should support her
amendment is very simple. There is absolutely no evidence that any
thinking person could give that says we are in any danger from Saddam
Hussein today. You are in more danger from the snipers running around
in Prince Georges County that we cannot find.
If you vote against the Lee substitute, you are automatically
sentencing, some of you old men who have never been in service or never
worn a uniform like the last speaker, thousands of Americans to sure
death. You know that the President wants blood. He wants to go to war.
That is why we are going through this. And so you are giving an
inexperienced, desperate young man in the White House the execution
lever to kill thousands of Americans. Some of you did that and you
could look at the 50,000 names on the wall down on the Mall. And is
Vietnam still in business? The last time I looked. Don't do it again.
Support the Lee amendment.

[beachmom]

1. That's painful to read, because that should have been Kerry's

speech before he voted no. I bet you he feels the same way. But what is done is done, and it can't be taken back.

[Luftmensch067]

2. Well, we know it's what he thought, anyway

He had to make the decision whether to trust the office even if he didn't trust the man. Mistake or not, we know he put much anguished and careful thought and study into that vote.

Actually, I liked this speech exactly because I could imagine JK making it.

I don't know anything about Pete Stark, but now I'm going to look at his more recent statements about the war.

Btw, did anyone hear the BBC interview with Tony Blair? It's astounding to hear a head of state actually being called out by the media!

[karynnj]

3. same here - though it would likely have been more

like Kerry's own 1991 war speech where he read anti-war poetry on the floor. But, I think he did think he could push Bush towards the UN and inspections - by working with him rather than fighting him directly. Reasons aside, it's really clear he wishes there was not a yea next to his name.

I am glad that he did very clearly speak against the war before it started. I wonder if he would have been more actively speaking out against the war at that time if he wasn't dealing with cancer then. (I think I have that timing right.)