Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Kerry disagreed with Howard Dean's belief that politics were behind terror alert system

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread		 This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (1/22-2007 thru 12/14/2010) Donate to DU
 
Becky72 Donating Member (457 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:14 PM
Original message
Kerry disagreed with Howard Dean's belief that politics were behind terror alert system
Edited on Thu Aug-20-09 07:16 PM by Becky72
In 2004, CNN reported that: "Former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean asserted again Wednesday that "ample evidence" exists that President Bush was playing politics when he approved raising the terror alert level Sunday -- a contention Bush administration and campaign officials deny."

John Kerry's reaction to a question about Dean's comment is highlighted by Glen Greenwald today:

John Kerry proved his Seriousness by attacking Dean for making such an irresponsible claim:

Kerry was campaigning Monday in Grand Rapids, Mich., where he dismissed suggestions that a decision to raise the terror alert level was politically motivated. . . .
Kerry dismissed former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's comment that raising the terror level might be politically motivated.

"I don't care what he said. I haven't suggested that and I won't suggest that," Kerry said. "I do not hold that opinion. I don't believe that.''


Other winners, according to Greenwald, were Josh Marshall and John Olbermann for having had the insight to realize that Ridge was being manipulated. Marc Ambinder is one of the losers for justifying the media's dismissing behavior at the time. Chris Matthews was equally pathetic by acting as if Dean was crazy at the time.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
kenny blankenship Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:16 PM
Response to Original message
1. OK we made a subprime choice back then. Don't beat us up with it.
Howard is just a little too real for Washington, maybe. Everything that's true there is a lie.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Uzybone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:19 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. Kerry also said this
""I believe this administration, in its policies, is actually encouraging the recruitment of terrorists," Kerry told "American Morning" on CNN. The administration hasn't reached out to other countries and the Muslim community, he said, and hasn't done enough to protect U.S. ports, chemical plants and nuclear facilities."

That is as real as it gets.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
kenny blankenship Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:25 PM
Response to Reply #4
11. Kerry could convince Americans about inadequate protections of ports, etc-the reality of the threat
Edited on Thu Aug-20-09 07:29 PM by kenny blankenship
He just couldn't convince them of the realness of John Kerry.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Uzybone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:17 PM
Response to Original message
2. Attacking Dean??? Another example of Greenwald being a hack
That quote was in no way an attack on Dean.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Raineyb Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:23 PM
Response to Reply #2
7. No it was an example of the media atmosphere at the time.
You should actually read the article before accusing Greenwald of hackery. Greenwald made no such accusation.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Uzybone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:24 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. Maybe you should read both articles
Greenwald said Kerry was "attacking Dean".

Read the Salon article as well as the CBS.

What Kerry said that Greenwald quoted was in no way an attack.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mass Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 08:12 PM
Response to Reply #9
23. Greenwald is not a hack. The problem is that the OP is not interested in what he says.
Edited on Thu Aug-20-09 08:14 PM by Mass
He is interested in reviving the 2004 primary wars.


Here is the full paragraph from what the OP is extracted.

Indeed, so strong was the stigma against those who said such things that Josh Marhsall felt compelled to insert this qualifier into the first paragraph of his column: "Now, I'm a respectable columnist. I don't want to draw rolled eyes. But think about it." And in 2004, after Howard Dean argued that the Bush administration was raising the terrorist alerts for political purposes, John Kerry proved his Seriousness by attacking Dean for making such an irresponsible claim:

...
That was because, as Atrios suggested, anyone like Dean who uttered such a suggestion was demonized as being among "the less stable among us,"
...


Note that Greenwald places the comment in context. We were in the middle of an electoral campaign and Kerry was asked a loaded question. He was not commenting spontaneously on Dean.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Becky72 Donating Member (457 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:32 PM
Response to Reply #2
16. That "hack" just made Ambinder apologize
For saying that those who believed in the politicization of the thread level did so because of their "gut hatred" against Bush.

http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/08/liberals_and_gut_hatred_or_why_im_sorry_i_wrote_what_i_wrote.php
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
nadinbrzezinski Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:19 PM
Response to Original message
3. I wonder if a letter ot the Senator is in order? Perhaps a copy from Ridge's book
I mean there are times you say... fuck some of these folks have been in DC a little too long...

Ok, ok I will make sure to insert a get well card too.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
sandnsea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:21 PM
Response to Original message
5. Evidence. For the thousandth time
there was no evidence. Now there is.

A Presidential nominee cannot run around making accusations without evidence. That IS the job of surrogates like Howard Dean.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Becky72 Donating Member (457 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:24 PM
Response to Reply #5
10. The CBS article doesn't mention "evidence"
It says that Kerry disagreed with the assertion that the thread level "might" be politically motivated.

Kerry dismissed former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean's comment that raising the terror level might be politically motivated.

"I don't care what he said. I haven't suggested that and I won't suggest that," Kerry said. "I do not hold that opinion. I don't believe that.''
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
sandnsea Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:49 PM
Response to Reply #10
18. lol. Because it's fodder for fools n/t
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mass Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:56 PM
Response to Reply #10
19. And of course, they always are right in what they write.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
The_Casual_Observer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:23 PM
Response to Original message
6. Ol' John was so wooden & diplomatic & dignified about everything that he'd
never pursue something like this. It was as if he assumed everyone was as honest & standup as he was about everything. No way to run against as bastard like jr.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
gatorboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:24 PM
Response to Original message
8. What do you think would have happened if Kerry said it was a hoax?
Edited on Thu Aug-20-09 07:24 PM by gatorboy
I'm sure you don't mean to be naive, Becky but let's be honest. Kerry would have been massacred.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Becky72 Donating Member (457 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:26 PM
Response to Reply #8
12. Oh, pardon me. I forgot Kerry was just Playing Chess
Edited on Thu Aug-20-09 07:27 PM by Becky72
I stand corrected. Kerry was going to get massacred one way or the other. In fact he was, with the Swiftboat smears. If one is going to lose, one might as well lose with dignity by telling it like it is.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
gatorboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:26 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. So you were being naive.
I stand corrected.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Becky72 Donating Member (457 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:29 PM
Response to Reply #14
15. Huh?
Why do you act as if you don't know I was being sarcastic in my last post?
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
gatorboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:56 PM
Response to Reply #12
20. Becky, If Kerry was already massacred, there would have been no need for the fake alert.
For some God-awful reason Bush was seen as someone that could protect the country during an attack (Even though 9/11 was on his watch...). False terror alerts were used to give Bush a little more edge. And it was the edge he needed.

But don't tell me that Kerry wouldn't have been seen as a kook if he came out and said the terror alerts were fake. Maybe you don't remember at the time but the "You're either with us or against us" mantra was pretty powerful stuff.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
PassingFair Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 08:00 PM
Response to Reply #8
22. If he had voted against IWR he would have WON.
I just LOVED his "reporting for duty" salute at the convention that year.

NOT.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
LostInAnomie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:26 PM
Response to Original message
13. Dean is rarely ever wrong. It's a fucking shame more Dems don't pay attention to him.
He should have been our '04 candidate.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
burning rain Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:33 PM
Response to Original message
17. That was of a piece with Kerry's campaign.
He was too gentlemanly, too relentlessly high-tone to win a national election. You can win in Massachusetts the Kerry way, but don't expect to become president.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mass Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 07:59 PM
Response to Original message
21. Greenwald understand why this happened. But sadly, you choose to restart 2004 primary wars.
How useless.

No sure what your goal is. Greenwald was to show how problematic such a choice was.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Becky72 Donating Member (457 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 08:41 PM
Response to Reply #21
24. Wait..another person attacked Greenwald for being a "hack"
Edited on Thu Aug-20-09 08:41 PM by Becky72
And why don't you accuse Greenwald for saying Kerry "attacked" Dean? Why not say he's igniting primary wars?

This is simple: Dean got it right, and Kerry got it wrong.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Mass Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 08:48 PM
Response to Reply #24
25. I read Greenwald's post. Sorry, he making a real point that you missed totally.
Edited on Thu Aug-20-09 08:55 PM by Mass
(Well, you chose to ignore it, by cutting your paragraph out of context and extracting what you wanted).

But suit yourself and start stupid attacks when there are real issues these days. Good luck.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
MarjorieG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Aug-20-09 08:58 PM
Response to Original message
26. Kery knows, knew everything, least naive person, but still optimistic legislator, yet knows what's
political to admit. The country did not understand why we needed to switch from Bush, and contrary to those who saw this an easy win, never was. Not many believed election stolen.

Katrina a turning point.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Fri Apr 26th 2024, 06:48 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (1/22-2007 thru 12/14/2010) Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC