A few days ago, I wrote an article entitled “Kerry’s Almost, Kinda-Sorta Leadership on Climate Change, Not Quite Enough” http://www.bluemassg… I stated that I support the Boxer-Sanders Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act as does Senator Kennedy and 16 other U.S. Senators. Senator Kerry has proposed a weaker piece of legislation to stop global warming.
Later, on the very same day my article was posted, USA Today reported Senator Kerry was the one Senator who received the most Automaker PAC money in the last several years–$232,509 http://www.usatoday….
In 2005, the Senate voted on stricter fuel economy standards in an amendment by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill. It was defeated by a vote of 67-28 as reported by USA Today http://www.usatoday…. In this 2005 vote, Senator Kerry voted against stricter fuel economy standards.
On yesterday’s Huffington Post, James Boyce, commented on this vote by Senator Kerry as well as the fact that only 6 U.S. Senators bothered to read the 92 page, National Intelligence Estimate report prior to voting on the Iraq war resolution http://www.huffingto… John Kerry joined 48 Republicans in voting to authorize military action in Iraq. Senator Kennedy did not.
I have called upon Mr. Kerry to donate the entire $15m left in the 2004 Presidential Campaign Fund to Charitable Veterans’ Groups http://www.edoreilly… but Mr. Kerry has not responded to date. This money was earmarked for a Democratic victory in the Presidential Election of 2004 and not meant to promote Senator Kerry’s own personal, political ambitions.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words.
Ed O’Reilly
Democratic Candidate for the U.S. Senate from, and for, Massachusetts
I’m growing rather fond of your posts. They are great reminders of what could be happening in the Senate (and isn’t or hasn’t because John Kerry stopped working for me and you). How any member of Congress could miss the overwhelming desire for change is beyond me. Democrats and Republicans need to grow new spines and do their jobs for the sake of the country. Higher fuel standards should be just the beginning.
Thank you for your positive comments. As you said in one of your earlier comments “time is wasting” http://www.bluemassg… . I couldn’t agree with you more. Let’s stop the special interests stalemate(s). We need more action and less words.
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Ed O’Reilly
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to be fighting the great battle of “politics as usual”? Can you tell us about the obstacles you face in running against an entrenched insider? What are your motivations and why are you willing to take on such a difficult struggle? How can we support candidates like you? What do you need to keep going? Thank you for your posts and for your willingness to take on the real issues.
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I love your questions! I would like to answer more when I have more time, such as later tonight or first thing in the morning.
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One word that keeps coming up in conversations is “real”. I think we have something special here and it is not about a battle against as much as it is something new that is happening and it is hard to describe. I’ll post more later, but I do want to say that I feel unbelievably energized and so do the people around me.
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I look forward to answering more later, but I have to run.
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Thanks.
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Ed O’Reilly
I asked questions that the media won’t ever ask. If you answer, we will learn something about your candidacy. This being a public forum, it’s good to think about it. You are running against an incumbent who, despite his lack of concern or regard for the citizenry, has a lot of support. Answer carefully, but give us “real” and “positive”. Most people can discern the difference here. I think you understand, and I expect you to give some great answers.
I apologize for not responding when I got in from the office last night or even early this morning as I had hoped. Last night, I met clients as I have done for years–at night. Last night was an unusually long night as Attorney Ben Richard, who worked for me for years, took over my law practice. Ben is an exceptionally bright young man whom I met while he was an assistant district attorney. We tried cases against each other. He left the District Attorney’s Office and came to work for me several years ago. Ben is intelligent and quick witted as well as being an excellent trial attorney. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate him and wish him well. I will stay on as a consultant.
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I stopped taking new clients months ago, but I have an obligation to those clients who retained me previous to my decision to run for the U.S. Senate. So last night, I didn’t get home until after midnight and had to go to court today. Tonight, I appeared before the Wakefield Democratic Town Committee and then I went to Lowell on a campaign stop. It is nearly 3 a.m. and I just turned on the computer and, wow, a whole lot of comments on this one little post!
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I only discoverd blogging a month ago–the weekend of the Democratic Convention. Since then, I have come to enjoy the depth of the dialogue and the honest attempts to really get to the issues that concern many of us.
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Something seemed to change after my post on global warming was put on the front page of bluemassgroup yesterday. I had noticed a few changes prior to this, but the type of comments and the quickness with which they appeared, raised a red flag. I decided to ignore these posts, but tonight’s posts on this short article confirmed what I already had sensed.
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Last week there was an ad for “a” blogger from John Kerry’s office and this article from Mr. Kerry’s on line director tried to downplay this Senate race and the “ad” said the blogger(s) would be hired for the national campaigns Mr. Kerry was involved in. I do not know of a national campaign Mr. Kerry is involved in.
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When I saw the “ad” post, the first question I had was why would Senator Kerry hire a blogger? I am a candidate and I can write and therefore, I can be a blogger. I think it is obvious what is happening with some of these posts. With that said, let’s get back to our conversation before we were so rudely interrupted.
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I welcome the real Senator Kerry to enter these discussions at any time.
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Q. How does it feel to be fighting the great battle of politics as usual? I do not feel like I am fighting politics as usual because I think the paradigm has changed. If anyone is fighting as usual, they are missing the boat. The people of Massachusetts are, for the most part, very educated political consumers and the internet has evened the playing field greatly.
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However, many people don’t understand the dark side of politics. I have seen it and I am going to only operate in the light. Addtionally, there are also many people who operate in the shadows of campaigns and are never accountable for their actions. Karl Rove is one of those people in the extreme.
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I am not sure what the biggest obstacle is going to be, but surely the $15m Senator Kerry kept from the Presidential Campaign Fund that was earmarked to defeat GWB could be an obstacle. The fact that Mr. Kerry recently transferred over $7m of that money to his own Senate Campaign certainly confirms that he will use that money for his own political ambitions anywhere and anytime.
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Perhaps I am a bit idealistic, but I honestly feel that a U.S. Senate seat can not be bought or inherited. It must be earned. However, money can be used to hire people for any purpose and the intent can not only be to get a positive message out, but to destroy another candidate by negative energy.
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The way that I am going to prevent money from tainting this campaign is by meeting as many people face to face and talking honestly in every medium. I firmly believe the means must be as important as the end. I anticipate this campaign to be as important as the end result. It is very obvious what money has done to the political process in Washington and the result is that the federal government is behind some states in terms of global warming as well as health care. There are other more blatant examples.
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Q. What is my motivation to run and why am I willing to take on such a difficult struggle? This has brought a bit of a smile to my face because there are so many reasons for this challenge and on so many levels.
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First, I have to say the passion behind my candidacy is John Kerry’s vote to authorize military action in Iraq. I firmly believe, in the depths of my heart, that John Kerry voted to authorize military force based solely upon his own selfish political ambition to become President. When Mr. Kerry made this vote, I began to look at him differently than I had for decades. I understand that politics is politics, but this was the most important vote, not only of Mr. Kerry’s entire political career, but of this generation.
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I remember my mother the day my brother went to Vietnam. I will never forget it for the rest of my life. I also know the effect war has upon the veteran that goes to war and his or her family. Politics as usual does not apply to a vote on sending people to war.
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Robert Shrum, Kerry’s chief campaign strategist in 2004, has now confirmed what many of us already knew–that Mr. Kerry evaluated his own political career before voting to authorize military action in Iraq. Mr. Kerry’s vote was not a mistake as he continues claim. Senator Kerry?s vote was a deliberate and calculated political maneuver based upon his own political ambition.
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Aside from the passion that drives my candidacy, I have a firm belief that we can change “politics as usual”. I know that I can’t be everything to everyone, but I can be myself to everyone. If people choose to vote for me, I will give everything I have to help bring back the America I grew up believing in. We need a drastic change of course and people are ready. The question is whether the politicians in Washington are ready.
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Q. What can you do for me as a candidate? I have built a very successful law practice on word of mouth. I truly believe that the word spreads by people talking. The thing I have to say is I’ll let people decide what they can do to help, how they can do it and where they can chip in. My candidacy is not designed from the top down. With all of this in mind, let me say that I am in need of some help in scheduling and with getting back to people who have volunteered. This campaign has grown faster than I had ever believed.
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Additionally, I have not really begun fundraising and obviously need money to run this campaign. I have put some of my own money in thus far, but I do need to address serioius fundraising rather soon.
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I do not expect people to give large sums, but there is a way for anyone to become a fundraiser for my campaign through Act Blue. I am not sure of the intricacies, but the Act Blue website explains how to do this. I would really appreciate any effort in this area and Act Blue is an excellent organization dedicated to Democratic principles and causes.
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Also, I am willing to travel virtually anywhere and anytime to meet groups of people. The gatherings do not have to be large and I don?t expect anything other than the opportunity to meet as many people as possible. This is very important and I would welcome any opportunity.
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Q. What do I need to keep going? You don?t have to worry about me dropping out. I am in this for the long haul. Last week, I was inland on a campaign stop and it was the first really warm day here in Gloucester. Although I was disappointed about not being able to enjoy the first real summer day on Cape Ann, I thought of our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and how much they would appreciate just being anywhere in the United States–anytime of the year.
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In summary, I do need some people to help with fundraising. I do need some people with organizational skills. I already have quite a few volunteers, but welcome more. This is a team effort and I will do my part. A sense of humor is a plus.
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Lastly, this campaign has taken on a life of its own and sometimes I have to step back, take a look and just be in awe of its energy. I do appreciate any help people can give and my email is ed@edoreilly.com
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Before I sign off for the night, I just want to say that fairdeal is making me laugh as he/she seems to be fighting like Davey Crockett. Hang in there; I?ll try to help out with all those mosquitoes in a day or two. How about that post with all the links? This is fun. Just think, a month ago, I didn?t know what I was missing. I need to sleep?Amherst Democratic Town Committee tomorrow and Provincetown on Monday.
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Thank you.
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Ed O?Reilly
Democratic Candidate for the U.S. Senate from, and for, Massachusetts
he has a tremendous knack for telling his audience of the moment just what they want to hear. i’m not sure whether that is better characterized as political acumen, or as some kind of pathology. but at any rate, he can superficially be a very pleasing candidate.
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how to you intend to connect the dots between kerrys bromides and policy diatribes, and the real gutbucket inadequacies of his looong tenure in washington?
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how do you reach the people who say, ‘well gee, he says all the right things’ ?
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Let’s talk about new ideas, new energy and connecting with the people of Massachusetts. I am tremendously energized by the people with whom I have met over the last several months and I realized that I was not inventing the wheel. I am just tapping into a huge energy reserve of the people.
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I need to run.
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Ed O’Reilly
but i have lived within 3 miles of john kerrys townhouse for nearly 20 years. and i do not recall ever seeing or hearing of him stepping foot in the neighborhood that i was living and working in. maybe he has, but i don’t know when or where it was.
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while i was visiting my uber-republican cousins in ohio last autumn, they wanted to tweak their massachusetts relative about their archenemy ted kennedy. so kinda snarkily, my cousin asked how long it had been since kennedy had been spotted in massachusetts. as it turns out, sen. & mrs. kennedy had visited the somerville pediatrics clinic down the street from me, and read to the kids and met the parents only three days before. with that answer, my cousin took on a somewhat defeated look. and he changed the subject.
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yeah, ted’s a washington guy. but he knows where somerville is. and he knows where dorchester is. and chicopee.
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but kerry? where is he? do we need to catch an early catamaran to the island in hopes of meeting with our representative in washington? granted, he deigned to meet the masses in natick the other day. be still, my beating heart!
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the kerrys live in a political, social, and bureaucratic circle of their own.
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people want someone who knows what it’s like to sit in traffic, and to worry about bills, and to look at a mortgage payment and a health insurance tab and the cost of the school their kid wants to go to, and who really has ideas about how it can all work out. and they want to know that they’re not standing all alone.
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Where John Kerry spends his social life or whether John Kerry is working like hell to pull us out of this disaster of a war and the criminal mistakes made by the Bush administration?
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I suppose everyone has their own priorities.
John Kerry refused to even listen to his constituents regarding their initial doubts about the Iraq fiasco. Ted Kennedy was there for us. What does it take to make change? We need Ed O’Reilly to challenge conventional wisdom. John Kerry could have stood up for us and the military from day one but he failed miserably, almost more than Bush because he must have known from his experiences what was going to happen. That is not leadership — it’s disgraceful pandering for political gain. Enough is enough. We need new leadership.
What we need from Ed O’Reilly is to tell the truth. The automaker pac money he is talking about also includes Union money given to Kerry in order to defeat Bush in 2004. The same Bush who has attacked Kerry for supporting raising the CAFE standards. But of course Kerry has kept fighting, including writing the Kerry-McCain bill to raise CAFE standards. I think we’ve had enough dishonesty in the political arena. Let’s stick with facts instead.
I used to love that part of the Al Franken show when he would quiz callers about whether or not a Bush supporter was telling a lie or a leasel (weasel attempt to mislead but not quite a lie).
the pac money and individual contributions that were not used to defeat Bush. Fact is, a lot of people gave money and it wasn’t used for the intended purpose.
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I think Ed O’Reilly is already way ahead in any “truth” contest.
and know someone who said they saw him dine at Fig’s.
Really??
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What’s your record of accomplishment on environmental issues?
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As for Kerry, here’s some evidence of his strong environmental credentials.
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http://www.csmonitor…
http://www.grist.org…
http://www.lcv.org/c…
http://www.ontheissu…
http://www.grist.org…
http://www.sierraclu…
What have you done in the way of support for the environment? I’m not asking what issues you now support. I want to know what your past actions on the environment are.
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If your website is any proof, there’s nothing of significance to report. Why is that?
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Why did you think environmental activism wasn’t important enough to mention in your bio section on your website? What’s your record of achievement?
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Why do you think you’re qualified to lead in this area?
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Usually from people who seem to spend most of their time complaining about others than actually working to make things better. Posts that are full of smear and dissatisfaction, but not a lot of supportable fact or substance. This particular post is just a collection of spurious complaints, as far as I can tell.
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Senator Kerry has a stellar record on the environment, stretching back more than 35 years. He has never stopped fighting on every front for progress on the large issues, such as national global climate change policy, and on the practical methods of how we promote better environmental stewardship legislatively and in our everyday lives.
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Senator Kerry started his life as a passionate environmentalist at the grassroots level and he continues to spread that passion in the same way, exhorting his supporters and constituents and all the citizens of this country to keep up, as he does, with the newest developments and possibilities for the future, and becoming activists on both the local and national level for the health and preservation of our natural resources.
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Kerry’s record is one of tireless action. Yours is entirely unknown. Seems to me you’re just here to try to get attention and smear a good man who works hard every day for his state and his country.
Was bedeutet “Luftmensch”?
the kerry flacks are streaming out of the woodwork!
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stellar record
tireless action
passionate exhorter
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it’s like a contest to see which first-time commenter can heap the most accolades and adjectives onto our distinguished junior senator.
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are these folks who want to be on the payroll? or already are?
Just a citizen who is proud that we have two of the best senators in the country right here in Massachusetts, both of them. And who believes in truth rather than meaningless smears.
And it’s insulting to suggest that the only reason someone would comment positively on Kerry’s record is that they were paid to do so.
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On the other hand, some of the comments I’ve read here could have come straight from the mouths of the drooling right wing pundetariat.
if never heard any of the people who i know, work with, or have met (about 80% of whom could be characterized as staunch liberals) speak so glowingly about sen. kerry and his accomplishments.
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maybe they’re all crazy. or shy. or ignorant. or apathetic. or drooling.
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Aren’t you glad I’m here now? Now you can hear what you’ve been missing! đŸ™‚
figure out what this pain in my back that feels like a knife wound really is.
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it seemed to mysteriously crop up moments after i heard sen. kerry say;
“when I vote to give the president of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein; it is because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a threat and a grave threat to our security and that of our allies in the Persian Gulf region, I will vote, because I believe it is the best way to hold Saddam Hussein accountable.?
I’m not a Kerry staffer.
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Although… I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
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sorry…
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Fairdeal I’ve been a Kerry fan for years. I like him, I like what he has done and is doing for our country. Of course he has made mistakes, including the big one you mentioned. But he regrets it, and I don’t even think his worst critics on the left would even think that he doesn’t regret it. And now he is a really important and powerful advocate for those of us who want the carnage to stop.
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If Mr. O’Reilly wants to be taken seriously, he needs to bring the truth to the table as opposed to using misleading information in order to paint Kerry as something he’s not. Which in this case is weak on the environment.
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As for helping you with the knife in your back. I’ll get right to it as soon as I figure out if I will ever be able to stop the bleeding from the horror of the Bush years. I wish us both luck.
i’d be pretty encouraged by how fast the kerry bloggers have sprung into action to defend their guy.
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it shows that people are beginning to realize how vulnerable kerry is. and maybe beginning to get a handle on how shallow the love for the senator really is in massachusetts.
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i mean, if people on blue mass group(!) are being accused of being kerry “haters”, that’s not a very good sign is it?
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you can call them baseless accusations, but the dissatisfaction with john kerrys judgment and ah-hem leadership is very, very real.
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people are ready, eager even, for a viable alternative.
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like cockroaches. Too bad talk radio has gotten so right wing &/or insipid—Jerry Williams used to be able to smoke out the real reasons he pissed people off.
I’m a big fan of democracy. I think you should vote for O’Reilly. And considering it’ll just be me and a few paid staffers voting for Kerry, it should at the very least be a fair fight.
Hey, fairdeal, I just read how you spent your night and it looked like fun!
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It doesn’t look like any of those mosquitoes bit you.
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These postings say a lot about a campaign, don’t they? I can’t help but be amused by them.
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However, it is a bit sad when taken seriously.
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Ed O’Reilly
Hi Mr. O’Reilly,
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Not only did I not engage in name-calling (politics as usual indeed) as you did, but I did not try to invalidate you or disparage your motives. I simply said that we needed to deal with facts instead of the misleading information you posted about John Kerry. I actually think you’re better than that.
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I’m just a single mom who is struggling to get through school a little later in life, Mr. O’Reilly. I think John Kerry is a good man, and like the rest of us a flawed (wo)man. I think he is doing everything in his power – because as you said about yourself, he has a little more than a passing familiarity with war – to get us out of Iraq. And I think you should tell us what you have done to fight global warming and help the environment, as opposed to trying to tear down someone like Senator Kerry who has real cred when it comes to these issues.
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Best of luck on the trail.
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Sincerely,
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The Mosquito
You ask for O’Reilly to “tell us what you have done.” What do you mean? As an individual, like changing light-bulbs? Or as a lawyer, like maybe lining up court dates so he doesn’t have to drive as much? These are the kinds of options open to individuals who are not legislators. These are not the same kinds of things that a politician can and should be doing. Other people have already blogged about Kerry voting against higher mileage rules for vehicles and other missed and ignored opportunities in the Senate. I won’t repeat them here. Maybe Kerry changed light-bulbs, too; well and good, but that’s not what we elected him to do.
Enough with the mea culpa rhetoric! Kerry’s “mistake” is indelible. It doesn’t wash out by saying “oops!” I bet he wishes he had voted the other way, because now the war is not popular. That’s the way his voting works. Besides, his “mistake” isn’t the only excuse he uses. He also says the authorization resolution contained language about negotiation, and that his vote in favor of the use of force was also a vote to negotiate first. This explanation completely contradicts the notion of a “mistake,” by saying that he was in support of the actual authorization resolution after all. Which is it? Mistake or intentional participation in the Bush/Cheney scenario? It can’t be both.