Kerry Blames Bush for Partisanship in D.C. ( Wow, strong statements)

SAN FRANCISCO - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) criticized Republicans for denying him a chance to cast a Senate vote, blaming a partisan culture created by President Bush (news - web sites) and calling his rival "the greatest divider as a president in the modern history of this country."


As he returned to the campaign trail after a one-day interruption for Senate business, the four-term Massachusetts lawmaker made it clear Wednesday that he would try to make the political maneuvering in the Senate an issue in his presidential bid.


Kerry told donors at a $2 million breakfast fund-raiser and later in a speech to union workers that he canceled all his campaign events Tuesday to return to Washington to vote for more spending on veterans' health care.


"But oh, no," Kerry said at the fund-raiser. "Oh, no. Not in this Senate, not with these people. Once again, it's my way or the highway, shut the door, lock the people out, don't let them take part in the democracy, don't respect the institution. Don't show the common courtesies that actually bring people together to find the common ground. So they found a way all day to twiddle their thumbs, do very little, attend a reception at the White House, but not let John Kerry vote.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=2&u=/ap/20040624/ap_on_el_pr/kerry

but he also sounds like he's whining.

he is laying out the truth, I dont think people are going to buy that he hadnt voted because they accept he needs to be out campaigning...so I think the Reps stepped in it on this one, and it's going to backfire on them and they are going to look petty.

He shouldnt spend TOO much time on this but a day or two of righteous indignation will probably be just fine.

because he's leaving himself open to attacks.

If he's upset about this he should quit the senate - which is a point that hard to argue with.

Plus him saying "they did this to John Kerry" - well, I just find it irritating when anyone talks about themselves in the third person.

Of course he's leaving himself open to attacks. He does that by A) breathing, B) being a Democrat and C) daring to question King George's policies. The only people Karl Rove and Co. don't attack are Zell Miller and various sycophants.

Welcome to Bush's "united" government.

Bush was still governor when he campaigned.

McCain was still senator when he campaigned.

Lieberman was still senator when he campaigned.

Starting to get the picture here?

Kerry quitting the senate would only increase our minority status - to which i say, fuck that.

-as

C'mon, John, start fighting! Let your voice be heard! BE the opposition! The American people need to know that there's somebody running against Bush! Stir up some controversy, goddamnit......

They should all be sent back to their cesspools on Nov. 2.

I believe that US voters want strong candidates. They want them to take stands on issues boldly and loudly.

Keep up the strong language JFK!!!!

I'll be glad to vote for John Kerry in November, but I remember JFK.

Many of us do.

...it beats the hell out of typing "John Kerry" all the time. Besides, they are his initials... so I see no reason to not use them. Especially on Internet boards where initials and acronyms rule the day (See: LOL, WTF, IMO and so on)

I take it you don't like Kennedy very much then. Granted, I wasn't around for the first JFK, but I've studied the history and I have to say, RFK was damn groovy! But I've got mixed feelings about his elder brother.

And I'll bet her request wasn't because she didn't like Kennedy.

The initials JFK will always and forever refer to John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Any use of those initials to refer to Kerry are an insult to Kennedy's memory, an insult to all of us who remember Kennedy and lived through the national and personal grief of his assassination, and miss him still.

Further, use of those initials to refer to Kerry actually does harm to Kerry. Trust me. I could bring up Lloyd Bentson's famous line to VP Candidate at the time Dan Quayle: "And you, Senator, are no John Kennedy." Kerry doesn't hold a candle to Kennedy, never will. Those initials will ALWAYS bring up Kennedy's memory, and will ALWAYS paint Kerry in a less favorable light. And if there's ANY whiff of Kerry trying to capitalize on his initials vis a vis Kennedy, there'll be a backlash like you wouldn't believe, and it'll be well-deserved.

I'd also like to say I don't much care for your flip attitude.

I recall the JFK years very well.
He was a great man. For me, his assassination
and the cover-up of his assassination marked the turning point
of this country. The ascent into the abyss we are witnessing today.
Kerry is not half the man JFK was. He could never even come close.

Good for Kerry. Somebody has to speak up about this.

glad he is calling a spade a spade