In many ways, “netroots” really is confrontational and does hold politicians accountable. In the 1960’s and 70’s large numbers of people just showing up for a demonstration was a statement. At YKOS more than 1,500 people showed up and these attendees represented tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of people who read and write in political blogs every day.
The disbursement of information is a powerful tool and the people who attended the YKOS Convention represent a growing political movement. Howard Dean talked about campaigns as dialogue and listening, not just for listening for the sake of getting elected, but in a way that actually integrates the ideas of constituents into the policies and positions of candidates.
On the other hand, the holding back of information is deceptive and undemocratic. Our leaders need to be held accountable. The results of “Netroots” has been the opening up of campaigns and candidates to questions outside of the traditional media and Washington beltway mentality. “Netroots” demands that Candidates and Politicians enter into real and meaningful dialogue.
Immediate and Specific Application of Honest and Open Dialogue
Upon my return from Chicago, I read that my opponent, Senator John Kerry, was AWOL relative to one of the most important votes of this Senate term–the FISA vote http://156.33.195.33…
My first reaction was that, for a U.S. Senator to miss such an important vote, there had to have been a family crisis or a medical emergency. To my astonishment, Senator Kerry?s spokesperson said he left the Senate to go on a charity bike ride http://video1.washin…
As the facts have come out, this statement by a spokesperson may not have been the entire truth. The charity bike ride was the next day?August 4th! Senator Kerry was present in the U.S. Senate in the morning of August 3rd at 9:38 am when he voted to approve a U.S. District Court Judge http://156.33.195.33… .
However, there seems to be no record of Mr. Kerry being in the Senate after this morning vote was taken although 2 more votes were recorded on August 3rd http://156.33.195.33…
I recently sent Senator Kerry a letter http://edoreilly.com… calling upon him to tell his employers, the people of Massachusetts, what time he left work on August 3rd, whether he entered into any of the debate on the FISA bill, and exactly where he was at 9:16 pm when the FISA vote was taken at his place of employment, the United States Senate.
Riding or Posing?
Until a response from John Kerry, himself, to the contrary, the truth may be that Senator Kerry was not really riding at the time of this vote, as stated by his spokesperson. Senator Kerry may actually have been posing at a gathering the night before the race. To think that a U.S. Senator could be AWOL for one of the most important votes of this session because of the lure of sound bites and photo ops is almost beyond belief.
Most Americans can not leave their jobs at their leisure. When I was a corrections officer, it would have been unthinkable for me to just leave my post in a guard tower to get my picture taken for even a well known, worthwhile and important charity event. When I was a firefighter, it would have been unconscionable for me not to respond to a medical emergency or a fire because I wanted to bask in the lights of cameras. Is not our Constitution of equal merit?
Senator Kerry?s spokesperson said he would have returned to Washington if needed. Does the U.S. Senate not debate and exert the power of persuasion over fellow Senators within the U.S. Senate Chamber? Isn’t the job of a United States Senator more than a perfunctory activity?
The FISA vote was an extremely close vote where one vote would have made a difference. If Senator Kerry is a leader, as he self proclaims, he had a duty to at least stay and try to persuade just one fellow Democrat to stand up for our Constitution. The bottom line is that by not voting, Senator Kerry subverted the very nature of the democratic process.
Furthermore, by being AWOL on the FISA legislation, Senator Kerry has given up all future credibility to lead any fight against this Imperialistic Presidency. Leaders lead by example.
In 2002, Senator Kerry, over the objections of Senator Robert Byrd and the insistence of Senator Kennedy, voted to give the Executive Branch unbridled power to wage war in Iraq which has left us in the present situation. Last week, Senator Kerry gave the Executive Branch unbridled power to electronically eavesdrop without a warrant on the citizens of the United States.
As with Iraq, Congress is going to have a difficult time undoing the damage done, as this op-ed in Saturday?s New York Times so succinctly states: http://www.nytimes.c…
Senator Kerry has insisted that he is leading the fight in Washington. When it came to the FISA vote and standing up for our Constitutional Rights, there is no doubt Senator Kerry was leading the flight from Washington.
In the tradition of “netroots”, perhaps Senator Kerry could speak for himself rather than through a spokesperson on the FISA vote. How can the principles of “netroots” and open dialogue occur through spokespeople? The people of Massachusetts and this country want honest and open dialogue in order to insure the integrity of the democratic process. After all, when it comes to photo ops and sound bites, has Senator Kerry ever had difficulty standing front and center?
Ed O’Reilly
Democratic Candidate for the U.S. Senate from, and for, Massachusetts
<
p>
The vote was 60-28. 60-29 would not have caused a shift in the slightest.
<
p>
Also, if it took you until May 20th, 2007 to be aware of what a blog was, I wonder what other monumental things you’re unaware of.
Thenk you for your prompt comment, JoeTS. You are correct the vote was 60 in favor. If the Democrats had threatened a filibuster, the only way to invoke cloture is by a vote of 60. 59 would not have been enough for passage of the FISA legislation. This really means the vote margin was one, does it not?
<
p>
I wonder how much heart there was to stay and filibuster this piece of legistlation with vacation plans pending for many members.
<
p>
We certainly know that Senator Kerry did not even stay for the vote itself.
<
p>
I may not have known about blogs, but I certainly know a little about the 4th, 5th and 6th Ammendments to the U.S. Constitution. As a criminal defense trial attorney for 25 years, I have filed hundreds of motions and memoranda and been trial counsel in well over 1,000 trials.
<
p>
Although I didn’t have the time to look at blogs, I have actually been working to protect the Constitution for 25 years while you may have been reading about the Constitution on a blog–with all due respect.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
Democratic Candidate for the U.S. Senate from, and for, Massachusetts
Hi JoeTS,
<
p>
Sorry, here is a link to the filibuster and cloture process:
<
p>
http://www.senate.go…
<
p>
Thank you.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
Now how does this change the remark?
<
p>
<
p>
What happened here is JoeTS called you out on a comment that was wrong or at best misleading. Maybe you should acknowledge it instead of the dissertation of filibusters.
who has some spine deserves to be considered in this election. All it takes is someone to stand up and speak to sway votes. I see no indication of John Kerry having the guts to do so.
<
p>
What you are selling is the concept of defeat. So what if he didn’t vote? He couldn’t have swayed the vote. Well, he could have swayed someone who might have wanted to be swayed. If he didn’t try, then he just simply accepted defeat. That is not leadership.
<
p>
See comments below for full revelation about whom I support.
“All it takes is someone to stand up and speak to sway votes”
<
p>
You may not like it but the fact is that floor speeches in the Senate DO NOT SWAY VOTES. It just doesn’t happen. The Senate is not a debating competition. A Senate vote just doesn’t happen at the spur of a moment. The outcome of the FISA vote was surely known by all involved far before the actual vote was ever held.
<
p>
Quite honestly, you have absolutely no idea about what Kerry did before the vote to try to sway FISA supporters. None whatsoever.
<
p>
I have no idea what he did to sway FISA supporters. It wasn’t on the news, wasn’t broadcast on blogs and wasn’t heralded by the Kerry campaign. Since any small measure is trumpeted on a regular basis, I can only assume that there wasn’t anything to broadcast.
blah, blah, blah. That’s what you sound like.
<
p>
But to get back to this, how does that have anything to do with the misleading statement.
If John Kerry had voted, there would still be 60 in favor and a cloture.
<
p>
I don’t like John Kerry either, Ed, but with all due respect, attack him over things that have substance or are defendable positions. Saying that John Kerry is a figure of such amazing charisma and influence that he would have swayed this vote out of cloture should he have been there is ludicrous. As his opponent you should know this.
Hi JoeTS,
<
p>
I would have to agree with the lack of sway.
<
p>
There was, however, another proposal being worked on by the Democrats leading up to this vote called the Democrats Plan This bill would not have given the Attorney General the power to decide on whom to eavesdrop.
<
p>
Actually, John Kerry missed two important votes on August 3rd having to do with FISA. Senate Bill no. 2011 was defeated at 9:37 pm. John Kerry should have been in the Senate to support his two Democratic Colleagues, John D. Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee who co-sponsored this alternative to the Bush plan. Democrats Bill Defeated
<
p>
John Kerry abandoned the Democratic ship on August 3rd and failed to fight to the end for the Democratic Proposal.
<
p>
I see your point–sway is to stay as no stay is to no sway. So, no sway, y stay? I stay, no way!
<
p>
It is all about building relationships and alliances isn’t it?
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
At this point you have not provided anyone a reason why they should vote for you. Instead we get these kind of postings which in my opinion don’t do much to help you. I believe I made a similar statement before without a response. Detail the issues and what plans you have the address them. Then convince us that you are able to go to the Senate accomplish these goals. Give us details of your past work to support your arguments. At that point you will be treated like a credible candidate. Not really interested in these line line statements; I support the environment, etc.
<
p>
Good luck,..,
Hi John,
<
p>
I am running out the door and probably won’t be able to get to your request for a few days.
<
p>
In the meantime, there is quite a bit of where I stand on the issues in my previous Bluemassgroup Postings
I have given my positions on climate change and renewable energy in these articles.
<
p>
I have also stated that I believe in a single payeer health care system and marriage equality on my website Edoreilly.com and on some of these earlier postings.
<
p>
In short, I hope to bring the skills and knowledge of our Constituion, that I have obtained as a criminal defense trial attorney for 25 years with over 1,00 trials under my belt, to the United States Senate. Couple this with a real connection to the working people of Massachusetts and a passion for progressive ideals and you may find me a qualified candidate. I have the skills of a trial attorney and the heart and soul of a firefighter.
<
p>
Sorry I can’t spend more time blogging today, but I am sure we will continue our dialogue in the future.
<
p>
Thank you asking to know more about who I am and what I represent.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
only had 2 sponsors. Word is that they didn’t have enough time to push this through and McConnell went back on his word helping Bush to force the vote. The reord on the vote for the Dem Bill shows 12 Senators not voting. Why only hold one accountable? Because you seek to run against him? That’s a poor excuse if you are so hot about this not passing.
<
p>
And speaking of building relationships and alliances perhaps you should take a good, long, hard look at Kerry’s relationship in the Senate and the many alliances he has built over the years. It might actually enlighten you as to how off base you are.
We’re having a hard enough time holding our own Senator(s) accountable without doing so on behalf of other states. Don’t forget, Kerry wasn’t exactly logging in a full weeks while running for president…one would think we’d “get him back” after the campaign were over.
I have 1651 posts under the “John Kerry” category on my blog, 164 of those are speeches and floor speeches, 406 are press releases and statements and 706 are Kerry in the news. Given that I have substantial proof that Senator Kerry has been very active in the Senate, could you show exactly where he hasn’t? I don’t think you can.
Let’s break this down:
<
p>
<
ul>
<
p>
<
p>
<
p>
Senate offices produce tons of paperwork, but they don’t tell me much about a Senator.
<
p>
On the other hand, the handy-dandy table maintained by Fantasy Congress puts him at 78th in voting attendance.
Thank you for showing how uninformed you are. It’s kind of sad that you would this claim and not know what the heck you are talking about. It’s also kind of sad that former resident of MA knows more about your Senator than you do. Chances are I know about both your Senators than you do. But hey, thanks for sharing.
The fact that you snidely flail at someone rather than refute their arguments shows how weak the argument for Kerry has become. Kind of sad we have so many coming out of the woodwork here to attack anyone who doesn’t make excuses for the junior Senator.
Word is that they didn’t have enough time to push this through and McConnell went back on his word helping Bush to force the vote.
<
p>
…the executive branch can force the legislative branch to take a vote on anything.
<
p>
Face it. The Democrats caved, for no apparent reason whatsoever.
I disagree with the previous comment in which the poster states that Kerry’s vote would have made no difference. I certainly makes a moral difference. One cannot predict the effect one’s actions have on others and Kerry should stand up and vote with the voice we have given him. Should a senator only cast a vote when he thinks he can sway the outcome?
That John Kerry would have delivered a speech with such conviction and energy it would have spawned the slow clap of the century and swayed the vote.
Excellent YouTube selection.
I liked it, too.
<
p>
Ed O’
Gore’s recent book begins with Senator Byrd’s speech against the AUMF. It was a great speech made to an empty chamber. The days of Senators Clay and Webster are gone.
As Ed’s posting points out, the blogosphere opens political discourse to millions of people who otherwise are outsiders in politics. This is a very significant event. On a different scale, the US Senate is also a venue for discussion. Senate debate has been crucial in many important moments of American history. When Kerry abandoned the Senate debate on FISA, no matter what the reason, he abandoned his Constitutional duty!
Maybe not. If you did you would know that often times there is a limited amount of time alloted for any debate and not all of the 100 Senators get a chance to debate on various bills.
<
p>
On the other issue of the blogosphere, Senator Kerry has been actively engaging in coversation on the blogosphere and with bloggers for a few years. He’s very good at making outsiders feel that they are listened to and he and his staff pay very close attention to the dialogue in the blogosphere.
….who can pass up a chance to have your bicycle tire explode right in front of Laura Inghram?
Trust the Republican in the group to not miss anything! You’re gonna owe me another 6 soon. I found that post as well. For those who are wondering, here’s what the Porcupine is referring to.
I Love oreally?’s comments,as a genuine war hero he uses the words AWOL? AWOL Ed? AWOL?, Thats a military term as a former 1st responder,now turned lawyer you should know you dont use terms you did not earn. You are running against him for the vote he made to take on a madman with weapons of mass destruction certified by the commander in chief (military term ed).Lets not critisize a late night vote,He missed to support a charity he has supported for years,as a cancer survivor he knows this is very important also.Or is it not ED? He has always been there for the Vets.
Check out a Ma. Vet’s Hospital. Checkout it’s conditions and service. Check out how low they are in the number of doctors and how long it takes for vets to get service. Just walk thru one of them and then lets see if u think kerry has always been there for the vets. He should be fighting everyday with vigor to change things. Give me a break pbdydem.
Kerry may have his faults but he has been incredibly outspoken and active in his support for vets and his disgust with the treatment vets are receiving. To even suggest that Kerry is not supportive of vets or has turned his back to their plight is ignorant in the extreme.
You made my point. You and other kerry supporters get your info from the papers and WATCHING the news. The lame duck sen. kerry loves soundbites on the news because he knows he fools some people like yourself!! Try getting the truth and the facts on your own. From real life.
I mean you know for a fact that Sen. Kerry is solely responsible for the sorry state of our nation’s VA hospitals and that he doesn’t work for veterans.
<
p>
My bad. I guess the liberal-leaning and Kerry-loving Boston Herald was simply spinning propaganda for the “lame duck senator” when it published a couple of stories on his Hire a Hero Act. Damn MSM and their web of lies.
<
p>
I’m glad that people like you, people that are in the know, people that are smart enough to completely ignore newspapers, TV and any other MSM, are around to let the rest of us know that it’s Senator Kerry that’s responsible for the state of our VA system. Not President Bush. Not outgoing VA Secretary Nicholson. It’s Senator Kerry.
<
p>
Nice sleuthing, Fox Mulder.
could not find time to vote to protect the very Constitution which he has sworn to uphold, I have to wonder about his efforts and votes on other matters of lesser consequence. There does seem to be a distinct correlation between highly visible media opportunities and lack of actual action. Call me whatever you like, but don’t tell me I don’t support veterans (my dad was one). I’ve supported veterans by protesting this idiotic war from the beginning and I expected the same from someone who knows what a useless war is all about.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly volunteer and supporter here.
Duh, Ever hear of agent orange? Kerry runs the V.A? As a Vet I never counted on the V.A. Check out our whole Healthcare system. It is not for the people who served our country,or for the people who need it most.Check out Halliburton,Bechtel,and Blackwater! Dont trash those who served.Kerry has always fought for the troops even when Idiots tried to call Bush AWOL. Kerry said it was wrong! The looney left never understood the statement made in a debate some years ago “John,If you thought the war was so wrong,why did you go?” Its easy to criticize,harder to fight! Kerry served then completed his mission. paco,go to the local VA hospital and help a vet,ask him why his pay got cut the minute he lost his leg!Why he has no PTSD services,ask how much they charged him to ship armor for his Humvee.Then tell him its Kerry’s fault. Oh by the way he never came to your picnic either! Get real!
You were all over the place. But I digress. But thank u for agreeing with me about the state of MA. Vet’s Hosp., because you said on your first line you never counted on them!!!Again, that is my point!! You SHOULD be able to count on them!!!
West Rox is an excellent inpt hospital and JP is an excellent outpt facility–although with a poor physical plant.
But a scroll through the Veteran’s Issues on my blog will turn up a lot from Kerry on this: http://blog.thedemoc…
<
p>
Then of course you can also check his campaign website and Senate website for that info. It’s quite clear Kerry does fight with “vigor” to change things.
but here in massachusetts, sen. kerry’s ‘leadership’ is more a rumor or a wish than any tangible thing that we experience in our neighborhoods.
he just can’t be present to vote against the destruction of the Constitution. Thanks. I feel warm and fuzzy knowing from his web site, consultants and media folks how much vigor he exhibits.
I see you live in southern California. If you’re interested i n trading Feinstein for Kerry and a Representative to be named later (probably Lynch), or a one-on-one Kerry for Boxer, please let me know…
Kerry is evil incarnate because he didn’t vote on FISA but Feinstein is a better senatorial option because she voted in favor of FISA.
<
p>
So, really what matters to you is voting. Doesn’t matter how someone votes just as long as they’re voting.
Because heaven knows Feinstein and Kerry never did anything before this vote. Feinstein’s is a rare mistake, Kerry’s just another among many.
take a few minutes tonight to review feinstein and kerry’s voting records & their ratings from various interest groups.
<
p>
kerry has the more progressive voting record and gets higher ratings from progressive and liberal interest groups.
<
p>
but I’m just going by the facts and I know how much you hate that.
You’ve been here for 2 months, published no diaries, and every comment you made save one has been to defend Senator Kerry. It seems that your only contribution to this site is to attack Ed O’Reilly. So why should I take your attacks seriously?
Despite all the hysteria from a group of O’Reilly acolytes, the fact remains that Kerry is one of the US’s most progressive senators.
<
p>
If people don’t like his personality or are pissed about missing a vote, hey, that’s their right. I may not agree with them but God Bless America and all that.
<
p>
But the idea that Ed O’Reilly should be considered a more progressive, more qualified, more acceptable option than Kerry is enough to get me to stop lurking and get involved.
<
p>
The reality of this farce of an O’Reilly campaign is that by running Ed is going to rob the Senate of one of the most vocal antiBush Democratics. HRC, Obama, Biden and Dodd will all be running for president. What other Senators have the national profile of Kerry and the willingness to take on Bush and this Administration? Kennedy, Byrd, that’s about it.
<
p>
Instead, Kerry will be campaigning against a guy that stepped down after one year as Chairman of the Gloucester School Committee because he claimed it was too much work.
<
p>
So, yeah maybe I don’t write about too much else but as far as I’m concerned, making sure that Senator Kerry doesn’t have to spend the next six months campaigning is about as good a progressive cause as there’s going right now.
On one hand, you’re right. Kerry’s voting record is progressive, and I was surprised that Feinstein’s wasn’t quite as much so. That’s because Feinstein represents the Democratic Party as a party of strong progressive values without apology. I don’t see that with Kerry.
<
p>
As for this:
<
p>
<
p>
That is simply nauseating. At a time when the Democrats are choosing a presidential nominee (by mid-March the process will be over) and preparing the ground to run against Sununu and other Senators, this is the best progressive cause you can find? To make sure that Kerry doesn’t have to campaign against a challenger, to make sure that Kerry doesn’t have to answer for his record for the first time in six years — to the party that nominated him? I utterly reject the assertion that avoiding the exercise of democracy is a “progressive cause”.
and I’ll admit that I was a little fired up about the progressive cause stuff.
do you know anything about volvos ?
I just want to clarify a statement made. I have always been involved in my local community and, in the 1990’s, I was elected to the Gloucester School Committee. I decided to donate as much free time as possible to improving our public schools. I was elected by the voters of Gloucester on a city wide basis, just as I was in the 1980’s, when I served as a Councilor at Large on the Gloucester City Council. Once elected to the Gloucester School Committee, it was an honor to be further elected by my fellow school committee members to act as Chairman.
<
p>
Approximately half way through the two year term, I realized that I couldn’t devote the time necessary to being Chairman and felt that someone else, who had more free time, could do a better job. My only consideration was the best interest of the children. I gave up being Chairman, but stayed on the School Committee as an active member until the end of my term. I believe it was the right thing to do. As I have spoken across this Commonwealth, I have consistently stated that I served on the Gloucester School Committee and, for a time, as Chairman.
<
p>
As anyone who has served in local government will attest, it is very difficult to balance a full time job (often working over 60 hours per week) AND public service. As Chairman of any committee, nearly all communication must go through you and it is not the attendance at the committee meetings or the sub committee meetings that takes up so much time. It is also the tens of hours per week spent on the telephone, etc.
<
p>
As most people know, I have stepped away from my law practice and I am devoting my life, full time, to running for the U.S. Senate. Many of my biggest supporters are people who have known my work ethic as an attorney and my devotion to public service.
<
p>
My long work history is the best way to gauge my work ethic and my dedication to public service. I attended Watertown Public Schools, paid my own way through college by working in a factory, and later in a bank. I worked full time as a corrections officer and, later, as a firefighter and a lobsterman, while I studied and attended law school at night. I built a very successful criminal defense law practice from scratch. I managed to work full time and attend City Council and School Committee Meetings at night. I also served on the North Shore AIDS Health Project Board of Directors.
<
p>
Lastly, I have never had a straight month off from work in my entire adult life and I am upset that the Senate is on vacation for the month of August, while we have Americans serving and sacrificing in war(s). There is no doubt I certainly would have stayed in the U.S. Senate on August 3rd and for however long it took, in order to preserve the rights guaranteed by our Constitution. As for any other commitments, if elected, my full time job as a United States Senator will always come first.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
As a blogger who is on many press lists for the Senate, including Senators Feinstein and Boxer, I can say categorically I see more action from Kerry’s office than Feinstein or Boxers. Senator Kerry actively engages with the blogosphere both local and national. I’d take Kerry or Feinstein or Boxer any day thanks, being a former resident of MA for 33 years and still having family and friends residing there, I am very aware of Kerry’s long history of serving MA and know he is respected and supported there.
which is worse than not showing up at all.
<
p>
I suspect you might prefer Kerry to Feinstein on other matters as well.
You can see how atrophied the instincts of Kerry-ites are, if this is the best they can come up with.
<
p>
I’m not in and have never served in the military, so I would appreciate it if you would provide a list of all the terms in the English language I am not permitted to use.
<
p>
Am I even allowed to say “military”?
because a vet fought for you to be able to do so!
excellent point. The Battle for Democrats Spine and Soul is one of the best articles I’ve read describing the problems illustrated in Ed’s post.
<
p>
Oh, and I’m an Ed O’Reilly supporter and volunteer. Believe it or not, I met Ed right here on BMG when he started posting the things I wanted to hear about challenging conventional wisdom and taking a stand for what is right. So, all of you here who read Ed’s first post were witness to my first encounter with him. Good things do happen via blogs.
I called Senator Kerry’s office this afternoon to ask where he was when the Senate voted on the “Protect America Act.” This, of course, is the Act on which Senator Kerry failed to vote at 9:16 p.m. on August 3, 2007. (For more than 20 years I worked in Washington. 9:16 p.m. is not really very late for D.C. folks to work.)
<
p>
The “Protect American Act” basically purports to remove all Americans’ international calls and emails from the privacy protections of the 4th Amendment and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. It allows the National Security Agency to vacuum up all our calls and emails solely on the basis that one party is a “person reasonably believed to be located outside the United States.” This includes loyal Americans located outside the United States, for instance, in Afghanistan or Iraq.
<
p>
The only check on the NSA’s data collection is by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Right. THAT Attorney General.
<
p>
The NSA can now snoop legally (though not, I am sure, constitutionally) through all of our international calls and emails, all of them, whether business, personal, political, or any other kind. NSA’s supercomputers are doubtless up to the task of storing and sorting through every single one of these, and for a long, long time.
<
p>
Remember, you needn’t be a terrorist for the NSA to scarf up your emails. This is equal opportunity violation of our privacy. It’s one of the Bush administration’s most egregious assaults on the civil liberties for which we Americans fought our Revolution against King George III.
<
p>
Oh, BTW, the government will pay your friendly service provider to provide it with your international call and email data. You won’t know about it, and the Act provides that you can’t sue your ISP.
<
p>
Quite a bit at stake there, wouldn’t you agree?
<
p>
But Senator Kerry’s staffer told me that the Senator hadn’t stayed to vote that evening because “his vote wouldn’t have made any difference.” Those were the staffer’s very words.
<
p>
Out of curiosity, I checked on the Senate’s August 3rd vote at 9:38 a.m. That very morning, bright and early, Senator Kerry voted to confirm Timothy D. DeGiusto, of Oklahoma, to be the U.S. District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma. The vote was not even close. Four senators were absent. But 95 senators besides Senator Kerry also voted AYE. Would you say that Senator Kerry’s vote “made a difference” here, except to confirm the new judge unanimously?
<
p>
Twelve hours later, though, with the chance and the duty to defend to the utmost his Massachusetts constituents’ constitutional right to privacy, Senator Kerry was off to ride his bike for charity. Or something.
<
p>
My own father died some years ago, painfully and horribly, of cancer. I respect Senator Kerry’s commitment to raising money and awareness to benefit cancer victims. I served for years as a federal civil servant, however, and like all of us needed a leave slip, signed in advance by a supervisor, for any time I took off work — regardless of whether it was to help a dear friend hospitalized by a stroke or to attend my father’s funeral, and regardless of my putting in extensive uncompensated overtime.
<
p>
Just as I once worked for the people of the United States, Senator Kerry works for us. Have Massachusetts voters given him a leave slip to ride his bike instead of doing his job? If so, I missed it.
<
p>
On the evening of August 3rd our senior Senator, Edward Kennedy, stuck it out to vote NAY on that pernicious Act. Our junior senator, instead, finked out.
<
p>
harper
how much communication is routed all over the world? If you have security software, take a look at where some of your emails are routed through. Basically, anything and everything that you think is limited to communication within this country IS NOT! You can be a subject of eavesdropping just for being on an internet phone system. Could someone please explain this to our esteemed Senator so that he can look into how much this bill infringes upon our country’s constitutional rights? Or maybe he doesn’t want to quite get it. Why is there no outrage?
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly volunteer and supporter here – just to make sure you know.
you must know that there are times when a vote does not make a difference. At 12:30 or 12:45 Bernie Sanders was on the radio heading into conference on his committee (I remember what committee he is on) expecting that he could argue against any vote being taken in a rush on Friday. We obviously disagree on this. There was not a day of floor debate.
<
p>
I personally think Kerry did the right thing by keeping his committment to the Pan Mass Challenge. Ted did the right thing by voting — dont you think that their offices were in contact?
If Senator Kennedy’s Office was in contact with John Kerry, John Kerry should say so, but it doesn’t change the fact that he did not participate in these two important votes on August 3rd.
<
p>
The Pan Mass Challenge was August 4th and there is no reason, Senator Kerry could not have still ridden the next morning. I agree the Pan Mass Challenge is a very worthwhile event and, like many of us, have suffered from the consequences of cancer.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
stayed in Washington past 9pm (potentially all night) and then taken a red-eye to Logan with everyone else trying exit DC. Then he would bicycle 190 miles in 90+ degree heat for the next two days. He is only 63 years old. What’s a little heat exhaustion?
<
p>
Partly this is sentiment–and my sentiment is that if it was a vote that stood no chance of making a different as it was that he should have done exactly what he did and kept his committment to the Pan Mass. I say partly because I think the reality of the way the timing worked out would have made it impossible to participate in both.
no red-eye for the Senator.
the vote was happening. At 1pm they didnt even know for sure that there would be a vote. Does Kerry have a private jet? It doesnt influence how I feel about this particular issue – Not doubting that he has a private jet actually — do you know that he has?
fly commercial very frequently. There have been stories in the news about people meeting him on commercial flights. Like this one: “You never know when your luck is going to change. Private First Class Junior Andino of Massachusetts, found that out recently when he had a chance meeting with John Kerry on a flight from Washington, D.C. to Boston.”
http://blog.thedemoc…
…why are we so willing to characterize Kerry’s Pan Mass Challenge ride as a photo op? He is a cancer survivor, and a 250 mile bike ride for a man in his 60s is no small thing. And yes, doing things in Massachusetts, for people and for charity, is part of his job description. Seriously, why does Kerry need a photo op exactly? How does this help him politically?
<
p>
There is no doubt that Kerry should have been there for the vote. Don’t get me wrong, he totally screwed up. It’s not the first time. He’s good at screwing up, and that’s a big part of why he’s not president.
<
p>
He’s also one of the MOST progressive senators we have in all of Washington, which is probably another reason he’s not president. It saddens me to think of the millions of dollars and thousands of hours likely to be spent in the next year challenging one of the most progressive senators from the left, when that time and money could be put into so many causes that would ACTUALLY make our society and state better. Just for starters, I’d start with this list, where a significant amount of time and money might actually make a difference.
<
p>
Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure he’s a great guy. I think he’s got a lot of courage taking on this fight. I think Kerry is a very flawed man, and a flawed senator. I just don’t see why this is the fight that progressives should get behind.
I think you make several good points and I have thought about them prior to this post. Photo Op–As a long time supporter of John Kerry’s, I have watched how he runs campaigns and he does so through the media. Running a campaign through the mass media is so much easier than visiting communities and actually entering into dialogues with the people of Massachusetts. I also have observed that Senator Kerry has a penchant for mingling at celebrity events.
<
p>
As for the 250 mile bike ride, Senator Kerry was doing a 90 mile bike ride in May and was not even planning to attend the Massachusetts Democratic Convention until he heard that someone was running against him and announcing his candidacy at the convention.
<
p>
My question is how does a person who states on his website that he is working every day, ALL day, to bring our troops home, have the time to train for these bike rides? You are right, a person must train many hours per week and invest in the best bicycle equipment in order to ride so well and so far.
<
p>
John Kerry is not President because he did not stand up for progressive ideas and not because he is too progressive. John Kerry never speaks from the heart. He also voted to send thousands of troops to war based upon his own personal political ambition. That is not a progressive ideal. Now, he has not stood up for the Constitution.
<
p>
While I share your concern about the thousands of hours I am putting into this race, you will have to consult with Mr. Kerry about the millions of dollars being spent.
<
p>
John Kerry failed the people of Massachusetts with his vote to authorize military action in Iraq and his inability to stand for Progressive ideals in the Presidential Race.
<
p>
I sincerely believe that we need to take Democratic Ideals to a new level without fear of losing an election or being consumed with winning. We must speak from the heart and lead from the head with the courage of convictions in order to bring new Democratic Leadership to our country.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
Democratic Candidate for the U.S. Senate from, and for, Massachusetts
not true
<
p> “My first reaction was that, for a U.S. Senator to miss such an important vote, there had to have been a family crisis or a medical emergency. To my astonishment, Senator Kerry?s spokesperson said he left the Senate to go on a charity bike ride http://video1.washin…
<
p>
Not born yesterday. You are running against Kerry but didnt know that he was riding in the Pan Mass Challenge although it was posted all over his web site and in the paper.
that reaction is absolutely in character for Ed O’Reilly. He really believes what he says. It takes a while to get used to someone who doesn’t pander to the press and has genuine gut reactions to things. In the time that I’ve been communicating with Ed, I can guarantee that is what he really thought. Isn’t that refreshing? He still believes that Kerry has some sense of responsibility, despite all evidence to the contrary.
I’m sure that it’s a complete coincedence that he put out a press release, updated his blog (for the first time in months) and threw together a rambling diary about this issue.
<
p>
The guy is in a campaign. Be it a completely ridiculous campaign by a candidate with no discernible qualifications to be a US Senator, but it’s a campaign. Maybe he’s not pandering to the press (or maybe they’re just not paying attention) but it’s pretty clear that he’s pandering to the BMG audience and trying to convince them that he’s the answer to their progressive prayers.
Now, let me see. For someone who termed our campaign ridiculous, you certainly have spent more time than I have on my blog. Why would you do this?
<
p>
Additionally, where is your anger coming from? Were you given this blog name at birth? You can always change it, Masshole.
<
p>
Peace.
<
p>
Ed O’
<
p>
Ed, in that post alone you showed more spine and fight than I’ve seen in our current junior Senator since he won the Democratic nomination for president.
Ed, you’re running for US Senate, to be my Senator, was I not supposed to be visiting your website and blog? I know millions of other would-be voters aren’t paying attention to you; I figured that you would appreciate that at least one potential voter actually took the time to visit your website and peruse your background before terming your campaign “ridiculous.”
<
p>
Instead of picking Internet fights at 2 AM like some 12-year old on a sugar high, why don’t you write a rambling diary on your national immigration policy or your plan to create jobs in Massachusetts? Maybe you could be taking this time to update your website or blog. Please tell me that as a candidate for US Senate that you have something better to be doing with your time than picking Internet fights because if not I feel really sorry for the people that are giving you their money.
<
p>
This isn’t the Gloucester School Committee, Ed. You’re running for the United State Senate. You’re supposed to be convincing us that you’re a statesman. So far you’ve only managed to convince me that you’re a guy with nothing better to do at 2 AM than sit on the Internet and ridicule potential voters.
<
p>
I bet you treated George Sideris better than this, Eddie Esq.
<
p>
I am not going to convince you or anyone else. Politics should be about putting your ideas and who you are out there and letting the voters decide.
You seem to be an angry person and I don’t choose to fight with you.
<
p>
Peace, Masshole.
<
p>
Ed
Ed:
<
p>
I see you’ve encountered your first “masshole” on the net. Congratulations! Although he is no doubt “special” in his own way, he is not unique. There are millions more out there. While it’s great to see you are now realizing the power and influence of the “net-roots” movement – the internet giveth, and the internet doth takeith away. Not everyone on here is here for serious substantive debate. And arguing with the anonymous is both frustrating and fruitless.
<
p>
But on my own behalf, thanks for coming on and sharing your thoughts. I may or may not vote for you, but I appreciate your effort anyway.
<
p>
And, I also hate it when they call me Eddie, Esq.
<
p> – Ed Prisby
Thank you for your kind words, Ed. I love the Murrow quote on your blog.
<
p>
In 25 years of practicing law, this was the first time anyone has ever called me by the Eddie… term. I wish I had more time to enter into dialogue, but I will continue to post as time permits.
<
p>
Take care.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
<
p>
“Good night and good luck”
went down I just cant believe this is an honest statement. This sounds more like a “purple arguement” style expression of astonishment.
<
p>
when I heard Bernie Sanders go off at 12:30 I expected one of three things: 1. the vote could be delayed, 2. The vote could be midday and Kerry would vote, or 3. The vote would be at night – in which case I was 50-50 hoping he would be able to vote. Bernie held out some hope that a vote could be delayed altogether. I wouldnt want Kerry to skip the Pan Mass committment if the vote was so lopsided as it was. The blame goes to Harry Reid – if anyone on our side. He could have held an equivalent press conference accusing Bush of playing politics with national security.
…the Democrats in the Senate made no effort to filibuster (hence no need for a cloture vote) and the Democrats in the House obviously voted in favor of the surveillance bill–otherwise it would not have passed.
<
p>
AND given the recent 6th circuit decision on the NSA wiretapping, it will be virtually impossible for any of you to get standing to challenge the law.
<
p>
BTW, it will be interesting to see what the Dems do after they secure power in 2009. The Republicans may very well rue the day that this passed. What goes around really does tend to come around.
<
p>
Exactly! All it takes is one Senator — ONE — to filibuster. It takes sixty — 60 — to stop a filibuster. In the bad old days of anti-civil rights filibusters, Senators once held up all Senate business for 57 days, trying to stop the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
<
p>
Harry Reid had cots brought into the Senate for an all-night session in July when the Republicans started to filibuster the Iraq pullout bill, but he caved when the first cloture vote was lost. Where was the Democratic leadership? Why didn’t they force the Republicans to really filibuster and expose them the way the Civil Rights Dems exposed the racists in 1964?
<
p>
Kerry didn’t have to be the one who filibustered the FISA bill, but the fact that none of the Democrats did is atrocious. And the fact that Kerry blew off even being present to vote shows how little the political process of debate — and standing up for what he believes — means to him. “His vote wouldn’t make a difference” is not the point. “His voice wouldn’t have swayed anyone” — which is a pathetic situation — is not the point. The point of being a Senator defending Constitutional protection of speech is just that — to defend, to be there, to speak out.
…the delivery of the cots was in noted in the Suedddeutsche Zeitung (Munich’s newspaper of record) a couple of weeks ago. It was hilarious.
<
p>
Two, it was not the Republicans who would have been required to filibuster, but it was the Democrats who opposed the bill who would have had to filibuster the bill. There were obviously not enough Democrats who opposed the bill to filibuster it.
<
p>
Three, regarding Kerry, much as I despise him, nobody here has suggested whether or not he “paired off” with another senator on the opposite side of the issue, so that their votes would cancel. We’ve discussed this on other threads hear, and until I hear from anyone who has made an investigation (I am totally disinterested in the matter, so I am not going to), I’ll give it a rest.
The Dems would have had to filibuster the FISA bill, you’re right. But the cots were brought in last month for a threatened Republican filibuster, as the linked NYT article explains.
<
p>
My point is that a filibuster is a tool used by people who are serious about stopping legislation. It imposes enormous pressure on the Senate. It is available to a single Senator, who may not win, but who makes a stand. The Dems didn’t even try to use it against FISA. The Republicans who tried it against the Iraq pullout bill didn’t have to sustain it because the Dems decided to pull the bill instead of forcing the filibuster to continue.
<
p>
As for vote-pairing, it’s a parlor game level of politics, not leadership.
Why should it matter to you if kerry paired off or not. It’s kerry’s job to be there,,,it’s not complicated,,actually, it’s quite simple. Just be there and do your job!! ( as coach Belichick would say)just do your job!,,,If kerry paired off,,,how do you think the conversation went? Truly, let’s be realistic. How do you think the conversation went with the republican? I will give you a realistic clue. kerry was afraid to commit to anything like this bill,,( shocking isn’t it),and his pal a fellow repub. ,would agree to not vote,,so they can not be committed to this bill and they can start their August Vacation sooner. But the former is the real reason. kerry was probably so excited when he saw on the schedule that the bike race was the next day. It would give his croonies something to say to exonerate him from his true duties. Study kerry,,really study him and you’ll see these tricky calculated moves. Actually, if he wasn’t a senator he would be very interesting to analyze. But since he is a Senator,,,,IT SCARES ME!!
Re derrico @ Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 15:30:23 PM EDT
<
p>
the Senate is not the entire legislature. The leadership (Pellosi) in the House could have stopped the legislation just by not calling for the vote. That is the prerogative of the leadership, and that is, again, where she failed. Democrats at the national level are next to worthless. And the Republican fascists in the GWBush malAdministration know it.
<
p>
Re paco @ Wed Aug 15, 2007 at 18:06:32 PM EDT
<
p>
I’m sorry to have to inform you but It’s kerry’s job to be there is incorrect. It is a senator’s job to be (a) elected, and (b) be alive. Strom Thermond was considered a senator even though he was barely sentient for most of the last 20 years. Tim Johnson is still a senator even though he is (or has been) gravely ill, and hopefully he will recover.
<
p>
As you would have been informed if you read the comments here from only a couple of days ago, “pairing off” has been a long term practice. If you want to find out whether Kerry “paired off” with another senator in order to not have to sit in the Senate well to cast a vote, why don’t you call his office? (I quite frankly don’t care enough about the issue to call his office.) And if he did pair off, with whom did he pair off? The “12 senators who did not vote on the bill” suggests that there was more than a bit “pairing off” (even numbers, you know).
We now understand that Senator Kerry spent some time on Aug. 3rd readying himself to ride the 250 mile Pan Am Challenge on Aug. 4th. My question is did you participate in this event, know about it or even show up for a photo-op? Do you understand the significance of a leader doing real outreach to cancer survivors, their family and friends to help shape national policies? This country is at war with cancer and this is important work. Senator Kerry chose to do this work as a participant who spent many hours training for the event and not just show up for a photo-op. I am a cancer survivor and I, like many other survivors, appreciate the Senator’s sincere committment to the war on cancer.
<
p>
The importance of FISA is well noted, but the reality is that the outcome of the vote was a foregone conclusion. You are ridiculing Senator Kerry for not remaining in the senate chambers for a meaningless photo-op while ignoring the war on cancer. I am pleased he had the courage to make the right decision.
<
p>
In your post you cited: “Netroots demands that Candidates and Politicians enter into real and meaningful dialogue – Immediate and Specific Application of Honest and Open Dialogue.” Your transparent comments in this post appear to be “politics as usual.” I humbly suggest you may need to attend additional conferences before attempting to apply Netroots principles.
<
p>
Good luck on your continuing education.
TAF
<
p>
It is a sad day indeed when a Democrat is defended with GOP framing and a grassroots candidate is trashed for not understanding netroots principles! Who is in need of an education?
this is a straightford issue with a couple perspectives being spun for political gain. Should Kerry have skipped the Pan Mass challenge to cast a vote on what was a done deal? I think he did the right thing and you think he should have skipped the Pan Mass. Spinning is as other than that is GOP style framing.
you can’t see the ridiculousness of using that terminology? Let’s have a war against GOP framing!
started it. Say your sorry.
On August 3rd, I returned from the Netroots convention in Chicago learning more about this very powerful, progressive movement. That night, I donated and attended a function in support of the Massachusetts Democratic Party. On August 4th, I attended two grassroots Democratic Party events.
<
p>
I have had cancer. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 42 years old, struggled for nearly a decade, and she died at 50, leaving six children, a loving husband, and her first grandchild, my daughter, Amelia. I have given money to various cancer causes throughout the years, as I have done for many others, including MS, MD, CDLS, and ALS.
<
p>
The Pan Mass Challenge would have gone on without Senator Kerry, but he could have done both. At the very least, he could have been a rider among riders.
<
p>
I have now told you where I was. I have sent Senator Kerry a letter, delivered by courier, calling upon him to tell us exactly where he was on August 3rd.
<
p>
Is it too much to ask of an elected official to tell his constituents what time he left work on the day of one of the most important votes of this term?
<
p>
If your answer is yes, I have a different view of democracy.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
Ed,
<
p>
If you don’t mind the questions:
<
p>
Have you ever taken part in any major / mass actions of popular protest in the last 7 years and, if so, in what events?
<
p>
Have you marched on Washington?
Have you protested the war?
Have you done anything to try to prevent the invasion of Iraq?
<
p>
Have you done anything to raise awareness about electoral fraud?
Have you taken part in any popular action to try to secure our electoral process? If so, what?
<
p>
Have you taken part in any popular action to protect our environment? If so, what?
<
p>
Have you taken part in any popular action to raise awareness of economic injustice?
<
p>
Have you taken part in any popular action to protect our organized labor force?
<
p>
Thanks in advance,
Banned
Answering any of those questions “no” would make you a bad activist, not a bad senatorial candidate.
who is running to the left of the incumbent, and offers up criticism that calls into question the passion and devotion of said incumbent, would do well to prove his or her own passion, courage, and conviction on those same issues in order to set him or herself apart.
how much passion, courage and conviction it takes to give up your entire career to fight against an entrenched poltical incumbent? I’m going to guess it takes a whole hell of a lot more than say oranizing a war demonstration. It is a very serious commitment. Ain’t no picnic nor a peace rally.
Amen!!!
I’d love to be able to have that kind of passion.
you have no friggin clue. Being a candidate is the most awful, full time job I can imagine. It’s a commitment to working almost 24/7. It takes passion to commit to such an endeavor under the best of circumstances. Ed O’Reilly has taken on the effort of his lifetime. Don’t even waste our time trying to tell me he’s on a vacation.
From my perspective, this was a softball question for Ed O to provide positive input on himself. Any pol can tell you what he thinks you want to hear, but it’s up to us to process all the info about a candidate to determine whether he / she represents a real improvement over the opponents.
<
p>
I’m really trying to be as objective as possible about this, and I’m trying to give Ed O a chance to persuade on his merits without having to go negative on his opponent.
My own 1 week vacation will be over in a couple days and I will probably be wasting less of your time.
if you happen to be a senator who reeaallly wants to be president.
I have given up a very lucrative law practice and am now devoting full time to run for the U.S. Senate. I am very fortunate to have the ability to do this without going into bankruptcy. Many factors had to come together in order for me to make this commitment and I am grateful that I can do it.
I have never had a straight month off in my entire adult life as the U.S. Senate now is now enjoying and never will, if elected. I will take the opportunity, when the Senate is not in session, to travel around this great state in order to keep in touch with the people who elected me and perhaps a few that didn’t.
As I am driving the opposite way from the traffic jams heading to the beautiful North Shore on these beautiful summer days, I am reminded why I am working full time at being elected.
<
p>
My candidacy is about bringing our troops home as safely and quickly as possible and finding ways to prevent war in the future. It is about working to wean ourselves from fossil fuels and promoting renewable energy, providing quality and universal health care through a single payer system, and steadfastly standing up for Democratic values without fear of being re-elected or elected to higher office. We need to bring fresh ideas and new energy to Washington and change the insider political culture that so clouds our nation’s policies.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
edoreilly.com
Although I will not necessarily reveal the VINTAGE of those answers.
<
p>
Or my definitions of economic injustice, enviornmental protection, and which war.
<
p>
I had no idea I was Senatorial material!
You are welcome to answer them in detail if you like, but what makes you think these things alone are an indicator of whether you are Senatorial material?
This is a very interesting post. I will attempt to answer it without the benefit of really thinking it over. Please allow for an age differential as I am 54 years old and don’t get credit for the things I did when I was younger such as volunteering at the Wounded Knee Legal Defense/Offense Committee on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, participating in Vietnam War demonstrations, or walking with Dr. Spock and others against the Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant.
<
p>
Well, not knowing the significance of 7 years, here I go:
<
p>
I have not marched in Washington.
<
p>
Protest Iraq–I was one of those middle aged people protesting the invasion of Iraq on the Boston Common, but didn’t do the sing along.
I volunteered as an attorney to represent people who might be arrested for protesting–pro bono.
<
p>
Preventing the Invasion of Iraq–Yes, I changed from being a long time John Kerry supporter to supporting Howard Dean’s candidacy for President with a sizable contribution and attending his events. I have continually supported candidates who oppose the war.
<
p>
Raise Awareness on Electoral Fraud–Yes, I have consistently brought attention to the fact that the Democratic Party had lawyers in place in Ohio to contest the 2004 election and that part of the $15m John Kerry did not use in the Presidential campaign was earmarked to fight election fraud.
After Florida in 2000, I consistently discussed the legal argument that the Supreme Court should not have gotten involved in what was, essentially, a state’s rights case. I also have pointed out that it is very interesting that the Republicans have consistently demanded not to have “Activist Judges” appointed when the truth is that the Supreme Court went well beyond its jurisdiction getting involved in the Florida electoral process.
<
p>
Secure our electoral Process–there are some real problems with money and elections and especially where John Kerry can move money raised throughout the country for a Presidential Campaign and use it to run for a Senate Seat in Massachusetts. On my website I have also noted that John Kerry’s campaign kickoff was not meant for the regular people from Massachusetts as there was a $1,000 minimum and $2,300 to have some semi-private time with your elected U.S. Senator. I have been stressing that money means access and access usually means influence.
<
p>
Protect the Environment–I have donated throughout the years to various Environmental Causes and belong to organizations such as the AMC and Mass Audubon. On a personal level, I use organic and biodegradable products and eat as much organic and locally grown products as possible. I have an organic garden as I have had for dozens of years, going back to a community garden plot in Watertown. We are mad about re-cycling. I support environmental candidates and have a detailed plan on renewable energy which I have been speaking about. As a lover of nature and a person who lives by the sea, I will do everything possible to stop global warming and protect our water and air from pollution. Also, I do not have a private jet or access to one.
Economic Injustice–I have spoken a whole lot about it, but not any “popular action”. I am not a person from privilege and my family roots are from humble beginnings. I am particularly concerned with the effects of CAFTA and NAFTA and the suppression of wages in Mexico and Central America.
Social Injustice–Although not “economic” injustice, but surely social justice, I attended the service at St. Paul’s on June 14th of this year and marched up through the Boston Common, with others, in support of marriage equality. I stayed with the marriage equality supporters demonstrating in front of the State House for some time on that historic day. Again, I didn’t pollute the air with my voice in the sing a long.
Labor–I have been a member of organized labor, e.g. Locals 1347 and 762 of I.A.F.F and have a whole lot to be thankful for based on the power of worker unity.
<
p>
There may be more, but it’s late, and I’ve been on the campaign trail all day and didn’t get back until late. As you might have deduced, I do not need much sleep, but I think it is time to sign off.
<
p>
Thanks for the interesting questions.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
I’ll let your statements stand without further comment.
the disagreement Now we know I’ve had cancer and sick family members and you have had cancer and had sick family members. My opinion has nothing to do with my cancer history.
<
p>
I disagree that it is a big issue that Kerry kept his committment to the Pan Mass rather than hung around for a vote that would have no effect on the outcome. I dont think that there is any way he could have been sure that he could do both.
My full time job has always come before any other collateral commitment. There are only so many Senators and this legislation was only one vote shy of allowing a filibuster that could have blocked its passage. The Republicans should never have been able to cut away more of our civil liberties.
<
p>
This is all about fighting for Democratic values and not phoning in to see how things are going at work.
<
p>
I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly
Can Kerry turn the leftover money from his presidential campaign back into Senate cash? If memory serves, he sat on $14 million of our money through 2004 and still had it after Bush was inaugurated…I’d hope he wouldn’t turn it back on many of the activists who donated it in the first place.
I really enjoy what you post. You have intelligence, toughness and class. Keep up the great work. Please read on kerry’s opponent’s web-site http://www.edoreilly.com Page 5, 2nd article down. The money Mr. O’Reilly and fellow progressive activists donated ( millions)in 2004 will be used against them. Because kerry never came close to spending it all. Except alot to pay himself back. Please read the letter it’s interesting.,,thanks,,,,,,,,,paco
Yes, Senator Kerry took over $7 million from the Presidential Fund that many people donated extra to Defeat GWB, and has moved it to his Senate Fund.
<
p>
As you might remember a month or so ago, he has been cited for misusing some of the Presidential funds for lavish expenses and refuses to give back $1m plus that was misused for things like stereo equipment on the campaign plane, etc.
<
p>
Ed O’Reilly