tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91371152024-03-07T14:34:54.436-08:00Independents For John Kerry BlogThis blog was started by the founder of <a href="http://www.independentsforkerry.org"><b>Independents For Kerry (IFK)</b></a> after the results of the 2004 election, to promote the values and ideals that Kerry championed on the Presidential campaign trail.<br><br>
59,000,000 people voted for Kerry and supported his vision for America. Their efforts continue here.i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.comBlogger272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-43452778113091346982007-01-28T16:35:00.000-08:002007-01-28T17:30:52.446-08:00Kerry Out in '08, But Wins Contest of Ideas<p class="MsoNormal">By now we all know John Kerry has decided not to run for President in 08.<br /><br />My own feelings are mixed, which is why I couldn't bring myself to post immediately. I'm hugely disappointed Kerry won't be President, but in many ways I think he made the right decision for ‘08. It would have been incredibly hard to repeat as the Democratic nominee and in the end John may be right, he can do more NOW to end the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Iraq</st1:place></st1:country-region> war by focusing on his job as a Senator over the next 2 years.<br /><br />Much like Al Gore, Kerry is now completely free to speak his mind about the issues without the media spinning each word as some '08 position statement. While Kerry will eventually play a big role in the Democratic Party's '08 chances with his johnkerry.com email list and fundraising efforts, he is now free to focus on <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> rather than fundraising for President.<br /><br />AND, perhaps more important for <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>. While Kerry lost his bid in '04, he won the contest of ideas, and should set the stage for a Democratic victory in ‘08:</p><ul><li>-American Foreign Policy is re-focusing on international treaties and cooperation. </li><li>-Global warming is commonly accepted as fact now, even by the Bush Administration</li><li>-Stem Cell research is favorably viewed by a majority of Americans</li><li>-National health care is being discussed and promoted by Republicans and Corporations</li><li>-Energy <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Independence</st1:City></st1:place> is a major topic of discussion for both parties</li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>This doesn’t even include the things Democrats were strong on to begin with: Protecting social security, education, better wages, environmental protections, etc.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Clearly John Kerry’s priorities in ’04 have become the priorities of Americans going forward. Thank you, John, for leading us into the future.<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You can count on us to help you continue your efforts!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">As for this blog, I’m not yet sure what will happen. I’d like to focus my attention on global warming and alternative energy solutions, so I may start something new down the road.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to all who visited and posted here.<o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Let’s turn our challenges into opportunities. Time to get to work! <span style=""> </span>–IFK Editor</p>i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-67172256663717815392007-01-20T11:58:00.000-08:002007-01-20T14:51:57.895-08:00Yawwwwwn, Hillary's InOh, how exciting this must be for the talking heads and Republican smear machine. Their number one lightening rod just made it official.<br /><br />Look, Hillary is a savvy politician, but lets face it folks she's no Bill. AND even if she was, so what!<br /><br />Isn't it time to move beyond Clitonomics? Last I heard we still lived in a democracy not a Monarchy. Do we really need to alternate between a Bush or a Clinton every 4 to 8 years?<br /><br />Surely there must be another qualified leader in the US?<br /><br />But hey, welcome to the big top, Hillary. Won't this be fun?i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-65695548141684812162007-01-05T07:06:00.000-08:002007-01-05T07:15:19.203-08:00Terry McAuliffe Demonstrates He's a Clinton Brown NoserHey Terry, I always thought you were a weasel whenever I saw you on TV. Now you've proven it without a doubt. Thanks for the new Hillary ass kiss book. Your Monday morning quarterbacking isn't winning <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Dems</span> any elections either.<br /><br />Kerry was trying to run a positive, hopeful convention. He thought America wanted change and was sick of the negative, lies and deceit. Too bad he was two years ahead of his time and Americans have regretted their vote ever since. Get a life would you. - Love <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">IFK</span> Editor<br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:-1;"><a rel="nofollow" name="part1" target="_blank" href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070105/ap_en_ot/democrats_mcauliffe_book_1">Ex-Dem. Party boss blasts Kerry in book</a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:-1;"> Former Democratic Party boss and Clinton friend Terry <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">McAuliffe</span> is lambasting John Kerry's unsuccessful presidential campaign, calling his effort to unseat President Bush "one of the biggest acts of political malpractice in the history of American politics."</span>i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-80877326147316419312007-01-02T17:12:00.000-08:002007-01-02T17:30:53.509-08:00Rudy Giuliani Blows his 2008 ChancesI never thought Rudy G. had a prayer of getting the Republican nomination, once his marital affairs and other shady business dealings came to light, (not to mention his unforgivable decision to build the NY Emergency Command Center next to the Twin Towers, thus rendering it useless and costing lives when the towers collapsed) but I didn't think he'd be the one to highlight his own weaknesses.<br /><br />This story speaks for itself. How do you trust the guy and his team with American classified secrets if he can't even keep his own. Wow. - IFK Editor<br /><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070102/ap_on_el_pr/on_the2008_trail"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Giuliani campaign strategy is out</span></a><br /><blockquote><br />The presidential campaign strategy for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani — complete with a $100 million fundraising target for this year — is out of the bag.<br /><br />The 140-page schedule for the Republican's budding presidential bid was reported in Tuesday's editions of the New York Daily News.<br /><br />The paper said an anonymous source obtained the document after it was left behind on a campaign swing in 2006, but Giuliani spokeswoman Sunny Mindel claimed it was actually pilfered from luggage from a private flight.</blockquote>i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-13303439132916084752006-12-31T11:29:00.000-08:002006-12-31T12:14:55.849-08:00New Year's Resolutions for 2008 Presidential Hopefuls<span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">OK</span>, it's New Year's Eve 2006 and you're running for President of the the United States in 2008, or strongly considering it, or leaving the impression you are considering it. What's your new year's <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">resolution</span>?<br /><br />Before you answer let me put it another way: What are your personal goals for 2007 and beyond, and what are your goals for America?<br /><br />What sets you apart from the other contenders in your own party as well as the opposition party?<br /><br />What makes you a visionary leader, a problem solver, a big picture planner who understands the details? Where will you take this country on your watch should we elect you?<br /><br />Rather than promising what you're going to do if elected, show us, and ask us to help you.<br /><br />What's your vision? Will you ask Americans to join you in a great new mission for the betterment of humanity and the future of our species or will you ask us to go shopping?<br /><br />If you can explain your vision/mission in a clear, concise way, we just might might make you the next President.<br /><br />So about that resolution...no pressure, now.i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-37157743952912933552006-12-30T18:31:00.000-08:002006-12-30T19:12:42.305-08:002008 Presidential Race Should be about Global Warming Solutionsby Jim Witkins<br /><br />What's the number one challenge facing America and the rest of the world?<br /><br />It's not Iraq, terrorism, homeland security or Al <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Qaeda</span>.<br /><br />It's not immigration, outsourcing, or job creation.<br /><br />Want a hint? Al Gore and John Kerry have been talking about it for years. They are the two potential Presidential candidates most <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">knowledgeable</span> and up to speed on the dangers America is facing if we continue to ignore this problem.<br /><br />Of course I'm talking about GLOBAL WARMING caused by our dependence and reckless use of fossil fuels.<br /><br />We all know Gore has a movie on the topic, but Kerry also made it a critical component of his 2004 Presidential bid touting alternative energy <span onclick="BLOG_clickHandler(this)" class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Independence</span> as both a national security strategy, a way to create jobs and lead the world in innovation, and an important step to reducing global warming causing gases.<br /><br />And, yes those other problems seem more immediate and we should work to solve them, but the fact remains that the American public and business world is going about their daily routine with their heads in the sand when it comes to the consequences of Global Warming.<br /><br />The problems we face today will seem like small potatoes if we don't address Global Warming immediately.<br /><br />Global Warming solutions should be the focus of the 2008 US Presidential Race.<br /><br />Which 2008 candidate can offer real leadership, ideas and immediate actions?<br /><br />They will get my vote.i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1167353153611603882006-12-28T16:38:00.000-08:002006-12-28T16:45:53.640-08:00If you never change your mind why have one?John Kerry turns around the mindless slogan "flip-flopper" and takes aim at President Bush's failed Iraq Policy urging him to change course and his mind, before more American troops are killed or maimed for a policy failure. - IFK Editor<br /><br /><br /><b>When Resolve Turns Reckless</b><br /><br />By John F. Kerry<br />The Washington Post & Truthout.org<br />Sunday 24 December 2006<br /><br />There's something much worse than being accused of "flip-flopping": refusing to flip when it's obvious that your course of action is a flop.<br /><br />I say this to President Bush as someone who learned the hard way how embracing the world's complexity can be twisted into a crude political shorthand. Barbed words can make for great politics. But with U.S. troops in Iraq in the middle of an escalating civil war, this is no time for politics. Refusing to change course for fear of the political fallout is not only dangerous - it is immoral.<br /><br />I'd rather explain a change of position any day than look a parent in the eye and tell them that their son or daughter had to die so that a broken policy could live.<br /><br />No one should be looking for vindication in what is happening in Iraq today. The lesson here is not that some of us were right about Iraq or that some of us were wrong. The lesson is simply that we need to change course rapidly rather than perversely use mistakes already made and lives already given as an excuse to make more mistakes and lose even more lives.<br /><br />When young Americans are being killed and maimed, when the Middle East is on the brink of three civil wars, even the most vaunted "steadfastness" morphs pretty quickly into stubbornness, and resolve becomes recklessness. Changing tactics in the face of changing conditions on the ground, developing new strategies because the old ones don't work, is a hell of a lot smarter than the insanity of doing the same thing over and over again with the same tragic results.<br /><br />Half of the service members listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial died after America's leaders knew that our strategy in that war was not working. Was then-secretary of defense Robert McNamara steadfast as he continued to send American troops to die for a war he knew privately could not be won? History does not remember his resolve - it remembers his refusal to confront reality.<br /><br />Clark Clifford, the man who succeeded McNamara in 1968, was handpicked by President Lyndon B. Johnson because he was a renowned hawk. But the new defense secretary reviewed the Vietnam policy and concluded that "we cannot realistically expect to achieve anything more through our military force, and the time has come to begin to disengage." By the time he left office, he had refused to endorse a further military buildup, supported the halt in our bombing, and urged negotiation and gradual disengagement. Was Clifford a flip-flopper of historic proportions, or did he in fact demonstrate the courage of his convictions?<br /><br />We cannot afford to waste time being told that admitting mistakes, not the mistakes themselves, will provide our enemies with an intolerable propaganda victory. We've already lost years being told that we have no choice but to stay the course of a failed policy.<br /><br />This isn't a time for stubbornness, nor is it a time for halfway solutions - or warmed-over "new" solutions that our own experience tells us will only make the problem worse. The Iraq Study Group tells us that "the situation in Iraq is grave and deteriorating." It joins the chorus of experts in and outside of Baghdad reminding us that there is no military solution to a political crisis. And yet, over the warnings of former secretary of state Colin Powell, Gen. John Abizaid and the entire Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington is considering a "troop buildup" option, sending more troops into harm's way to referee a civil war.<br /><br />We have already tried a trimmed-down version of the McCain plan of indefinitely increasing troop levels. We sent 15,000 more troops to Baghdad last summer, and today the escalating civil war is even worse. You could put 100,000 more troops in tomorrow and you're only going to add to the number of casualties until Iraqis sit down together at a bargaining table and compromise. The barrel of a gun can't answer the question of how you force Iraqi nationalism to trump sectarian loyalty.<br /><br />The only hope for stability lies in pushing Iraqis to forge a sustainable political agreement on federalism, distributing oil revenues and neutralizing sectarian militias. And that will happen only if we set a deadline to redeploy our troops.<br /><br />Last May, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., the head of U.S. forces in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad gave the new Iraqi government six months to make the necessary political compromises. But a deadline with no teeth is only lip service. How many times do we have to see that Iraqi politicians respond only to firm, specific deadlines - a deadline to transfer authority, deadlines to hold two elections and a referendum, and a deadline to form a government - before we understand that it's time to make it clear that we are leaving and that we will not sacrifice American lives for the sake of squabbling Iraqi politicians?<br /><br />Another case where steadfastness long ago gave way to stubbornness is our approach to Iraq's neighbors. Last week in Damascus, Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and I met with Syrian president Bashar al-Assad. We were clear about U.S. expectations for change in his regime's policies, but we found potential for cooperation with Syria in averting a disaster in Iraq - potential that should be put to the test. Washington can't remain on the sidelines, stubbornly clinging to a belief that talking to our enemies rewards hostile regimes.<br /><br />Conversation is not capitulation. Until recently, it was widely accepted that good foreign policy demands a willingness to seize opportunities and change policy as the facts change. That's neither flip-flopping nor rudderless diplomacy - it's strength.<br /><br />How else could we end up with the famous mantra that "only Nixon could go to China"? For decades, Richard Nixon built his reputation as a China hawk. In 1960, he took John Kennedy to task for being soft on China. He called isolating China a "moral position" that "flatly rejected cowardly expediency." Then, when China broke with the Soviet Union during his presidency, he saw an opportunity to weaken our enemies and make Americans safer. His 1972 visit to China was a major U.S. diplomatic victory in the Cold War.<br /><br />Ronald Reagan was no shape-shifter, either, but after calling the Soviet Union the "evil empire," he met repeatedly with its leaders. When Reagan saw an opportunity for cooperation with Mikhail Gorbachev, he reached out and tested our enemies' intentions. History remembers that he backed tough words with tough decisions - and, yes, that he changed course even as he remained true to his principles.<br /><br />President Bush and all of us who grew up in the shadows of World War II remember Winston Churchill - his grit, his daring, his resolve. I remember listening to his speeches on a vinyl album in the pre-iPod era. Two years ago I spoke about Iraq at Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., where Churchill had drawn a line between freedom and fear in his "iron curtain" speech. In preparation, I reread some of the many words from various addresses that made him famous. Something in one passage caught my eye. When Churchill urged, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty, never give in," he added: "except to convictions of honour and good sense."<br /><br />This is a time for such convictions.<br /><br />*************<br /><br />Senator John Kerry is a Democrat from Massachusetts.i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1164859813594405972006-11-29T19:55:00.000-08:002006-11-29T20:10:13.633-08:00Christmas Presents for the PlanetWant to give a more thoughtful gift this year than another tie or sweater or crummy box of chocolates. How about giving a gift that helps the planet and your fellow earthly inhabitants?<br /><br />Get a Terra Pass!<br /><a href="http://www.terrapass.com/">http://www.terrapass.com/</a><br /><br />For as little as $29.95 you can buy a carbon offset for a car, house, or airplane trip. A Carbon Dioxide offset reduces your carbon footprint, in other words the CO2 gases being released in the atmosphere due to your every day activities.<br /><br />Give the gift that future generations will appreciate! - IFK Editori11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1164649635007931252006-11-27T09:36:00.000-08:002006-11-27T09:47:15.036-08:002008 Presidential Polls are LaughableDid you hear the latest poll? (2 years out from anyone actually voting)<br /><br />People say they like McCain, Giuliani, and Obama! That's great, but it's meaningless.<br /><br />Lets see where the polls stand when the primaries start.<br /><br />Lets see where they rank in comparison to John Kerry after 250 MILLION DOLLARS of negative ads are aimed at them. <br /><br />Kerry ranks low now because people think they know him, but they really have no idea who the rest are. The rest will sink and Kerry will rise, when people once again realize everyone running for President is a mere mortal. -IFK Editor<br /><br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061127/ap_on_re_us/popular_politicians_poll">Poll: Giuliani, McCain, Obama rank high</a>i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1163516768277236462006-11-14T06:54:00.000-08:002006-11-14T07:06:08.480-08:00US Ranks 53 out of 56 For Worse Global Warming OffendersGlobal Warming solutions should rank high among the new democratic agenda. I've been following and posting articles about it since starting this blog and hope to see some movement from the US Government now that the Democrats have control of both Houses. Kerry spoke extensively about this issue on the campaign trail in 2004 and since then, however you wouldn't know it from the sound bite media who never seems to care about issues that mattered, but are happy to make up non issues to cover.<br /><br />There are some moderate Republicans who will be willing to work with Democrats to fund alternative energy solutions and carbon emission regulations so it's a good issue to tackle, and SOON.<br /><br />Climate Crisis is a national security issue, an environmental issue, an economic issue and a moral issue. What shape will we leave the planet for future generations? -IFK Editor<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061113/ap_on_sc/climate_change_ranking">Sweden tops climate change list</a><br />Sweden, Britain and Denmark are doing the most to protect against climate change, but their efforts are not nearly enough, according to a report released Monday by environmental groups.<br /><br />The United States — the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases — ranked at 53, with only China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia doing worse.<br /><br />"We don't have any winners, we only have countries that are better compared to others," said Matthias Duwe of the Climate Action Network-Europe, which released the data at the U.N. climate conference. "We don't have big shining stars."<br /><br />The index ranks 56 countries that were part of a 1992 climate treaty or that contribute at least 1 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. The countries make up 90 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.<br /></blockquote>i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1163261055879270222006-11-11T07:37:00.001-08:002006-11-11T08:04:15.920-08:00Dems Win. Now We Want LeadershipIf you're like me you were more relieved than excited by the Dems sweeping into office. <br /><br />I'm not celebrating much. The challenges they face are many. I'm hopeful, but realistic. They will face an obstinate president and a Republican "Noise Machine" that once they get over the shock and finger pointing will regroup to go on the attack. Dems will need to show quick results and work even harder. Not only will they have to challenge Republican ideology, but they will have to govern, trying to undo the mess Republicans have made over the last 12 years. <br /><br />The temptation for both parties will be to start the '08 horse race already, before even doing the job Americans are paying them to do.<br /><br />With great power comes great responsibilities. Don't let us down. <br /><br />IFK Editori11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1163261021393744862006-11-11T07:37:00.000-08:002006-11-11T08:03:41.546-08:00Dems Win. Now We Want LeadershipIf you're like me you were more relieved than excited by the Dems sweeping into office. <br /><br />I'm not celebrating much. The challenges they face are many. I'm hopeful, but realistic. They will face an obstinate president and a Republican "Noise Machine" that once they get over the shock and finger pointing will regroup to go on the attack. Dems will need to show quick results and work even harder. Not only will they have to challenge Republican ideology, but they will have to govern, trying to undo the mess Republicans have made over the last 12 years. <br /><br />The temptation for both parties will be to start the '08 horse race already, before even doing the job Americans are paying them to do.<br /><br />With great power comes great responsibilities. Don't let us down. <br /><br />IFK Editori11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1162751703728157052006-11-05T10:23:00.000-08:002006-11-05T10:35:03.813-08:00Vote Nov 7 - Democracy Requires Participation!Maybe Americans get what they deserve from our government. All the flag waving and talk of patriotism by both parties and in many states less than half of the eligible electorate can even be bothered to vote. Here are the numbers. <br /><br />Makes you wonder how much we value the freedoms we've supposedly championed since our birth as a nation when it's too hard to even participate in the process of being a democracy. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Please get informed and go vote this Tuesday. Nov 7</span>. Don't vote for a party. Vote for your country.<br /><br /><br />-IFK Editor<br /><br />From the Associated Press<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">State by state voter turnout</span>, by percentage of voting age population, in the 2004 presidential and 2002 elections. Turnout historically is higher in presidential election years.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">State 2004 2002</span><br />Ala. 55.1 40.7<br />Alaska 69.9 53.1<br />Ariz. 53.4 34.1<br />Ark. 51.3 40.1<br />Calif. 59.8 36.6<br />Colo. 65.0 44.9<br />Conn. 66.1 42.7<br />Del. 62.4 39.6<br />D.C. 58.2 32.9<br />Fla. 63.9 44.2<br />Ga. 53.8 34.2<br />Hawaii 48.9 44.4<br />Idaho 60.8 43.6<br />Ill. 61.7 41.8<br />Ind. 54.0 33.8<br />Iowa 68.8 47.2<br />Kan. 60.8 43.3<br />Ky. 57.3 36.8<br />La. 58.7 38.2<br />Maine 75.3 51.9<br />Md. 62.7 45.4<br />Mass. 64.6 48.9<br />Mich. 66.4 44.1<br />Minn. 77.3 62.8<br />Miss. 52.9 32.1<br />Mo. 64.4 45.0<br />Mont. 63.5 48.0<br />Neb. 62.0 38.8<br />Nev. 54.3 35.1<br />N.H. 71.9 48.3<br />N.J. 63.3 37.2<br />N.M. 57.2 37.8<br />N.Y. 59.2 36.7<br />N.C. 56.4 38.6<br />N.D. 64.8 48.1<br />Ohio 66.3 38.4<br />Okla. 56.7 40.8<br />Ore. 71.2 50.5<br />Pa. 62.5 38.6<br />R.I. 58.1 44.3<br />S.C. 51.9 36.2<br />S.D. 68.2 60.4<br />Tenn. 54.6 38.0<br />Texas 52.2 32.8<br />Utah 58.5 36.8<br />Vt. 66.5 48.9<br />Va. 60.5 29.2<br />Wash. 65.4 41.0<br />W.Va. 53.1 30.9<br />Wis. 73.9 44.5<br />Wyo. 64.1 50.0<br />U.S. 60.7 39.7<br />___<br />Source: Center for the Study of the American Electorate, American Universityi11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1162413199217144612006-11-01T12:07:00.000-08:002006-11-01T21:57:08.953-08:00Kerry's "Stuck In Iraq" Joke Frames The Debate Around IraqLove him or hate him, John Kerry's joke gone bad about getting "stuck in Iraq" has focused the midterm 2006 election back on what the GOP least wants: IRAQ!<br /><br />Beneath the hubbub about a joke is the underlying truth that <span style="font-weight:bold;">Iraq is a quagmire</span>. 100+ American soldiers died in October alone. Bush has no solution. Iraq is a tragic and massive failure and the President and his party are responsible for it. He lied about WMD's as an excuse to invade and he's too stubborn to alter course. American lives and tax payer money are being wasted. It’s a national disgrace, which has taken a toll on how we are viewed around the world and how we view ourselves as Americans.<br /><br />Sure the Republicans, sensing an opportunity to score quick political points at the expense of Kerry, attacked his comments as anti-troops, but the 800 pound gorilla in the room still remains the <span style="font-weight:bold;">President's "stuck in Iraq" policy</span>.<br /><br />Most average voters know John Kerry is a distinguished Vet himself. They probably realize he made a stupid blunder and will forget about it. <br /><br />What they won't forget when they enter that election booth next Tuesday is that President Bush is an incompetent leader who lied about the reasons for going to war in Iraq and who has no plan to win the peace and bring our valiant troops home. <br /><br />So please by all means when you go to the polls on Tuesday Nov 7, ask yourself which party is really going to serve the troops by providing leadership that can help them complete their mission and get them home?<br /><br />-IFK Editori11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1162332188412637072006-10-31T13:50:00.000-08:002006-10-31T14:22:04.146-08:00White House Attacks Kerry's Iraq Comment in Shameless Diversion TacticI guess since the Republican Party has no plans to bring home the troops from Iraq, or a coherent policy for winning the peace there, they'll attack John Kerry instead. <br /><br />It's really shameful. This is just another stunt by the White House to paint Kerry as some sort of critic of the troops and by extension the Democratic Party. Give me a BREAK!!! <br /><br />Kerry's fighting to protect these men and women who risk their lives, while Bush is using them as political pawns.<br /><br />Who's the real patriot? Here’s a hint. It ain't the President.<br /><br />-IFK Editori11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1161652180479896832006-10-23T17:47:00.001-07:002006-10-23T18:09:40.503-07:00Republicans No Longer "Staying the Course" in IraqSo, Bush has burried the slogan, "<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061023/pl_afp/usiraqpoliticsbush_061023220632">Stay the Course</a>" referring to American Troops in Iraq, now if only he would bury the policy that matches the slogan.<br /><br />We even hear whispers and rumors of some secret new Republican plan to "succeed" in Iraq, but they can't say any more until after the 2006 midterm election apparently. Here's Kerry's reaction to this news...indignant and rightly so! - IFK Editor<br /><br /><blockquote>STEPHANOPOULOS: Some are suggesting that the White House actually is thinking about a radical change in strategy, but they’re going to wait until after the elections.<br /><br />KERRY: Well, there you go. That’s a really beautiful thing. While young Americans are on the line and their lives…<br /><br />STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you think that’s happening?<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4530">KERRY: I think it’s immoral to have the lives of young Americans being put on the line, waiting for an election day event or strategy. If you’ve got a better strategy, Mr. President, we deserve to have it now.</a><br /><br />And the fact is that, for 3 1/2 years, we’ve been sitting here with a strategy that many of us have said, again and again and again, will not work. It will not work. Our own generals have said there’s no military solution. What are we doing?<br /><br />We’re pursuing the same old, same old. And the president, contrary to what he said in the interview, has said again and again, we’re going to stay the course. And he keeps playing this demagogue card that somehow it’s a white flag of surrender, in the United States of America, to suggest the way to actually get the job done.<br /><br />We don’t have to sit around and be bullied by a bunch of people who have misled America, lied to America and, in fact, have made America less safe. And I’m not going to stand for it.</blockquote>i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1161651919992129742006-10-23T17:47:00.000-07:002006-10-23T18:05:20.053-07:00Republicans No Longer "Staying the Course" in IraqSo, Bush has burried the slogan, "<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061023/pl_afp/usiraqpoliticsbush_061023220632">Stay the Course</a>" referring to American Troops in Iraq, now if only he would bury the policy that matches the slogan.<br /><br />We even hear whispers and rumors of some secret new Republican plan to "succeed" in Iraq, but they can't say any more until after the 2006 midterm election apparently. Here's Kerry's reaction to this news...indignant and rightly so! - IFK Editor<br /><br /><blockquote>STEPHANOPOULOS: Some are suggesting that the White House actually is thinking about a radical change in strategy, but they’re going to wait until after the elections.<br /><br />KERRY: Well, there you go. That’s a really beautiful thing. While young Americans are on the line and their lives…<br /><br />STEPHANOPOULOS: Do you think that’s happening?<br /><br /><a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=4530">KERRY: I think it’s immoral to have the lives of young Americans being put on the line, waiting for an election day event or strategy. If you’ve got a better strategy, Mr. President, we deserve to have it now.</a><br /><br />And the fact is that, for 3 1/2 years, we’ve been sitting here with a strategy that many of us have said, again and again and again, will not work. It will not work. Our own generals have said there’s no military solution. What are we doing?<br /><br />We’re pursuing the same old, same old. And the president, contrary to what he said in the interview, has said again and again, we’re going to stay the course. And he keeps playing this demagogue card that somehow it’s a white flag of surrender, in the United States of America, to suggest the way to actually get the job done.<br /><br />We don’t have to sit around and be bullied by a bunch of people who have misled America, lied to America and, in fact, have made America less safe. And I’m not going to stand for it.</blockquote>i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1160452793109881792006-10-09T20:50:00.000-07:002006-10-09T20:59:53.210-07:00Kerry Launches Blog to Coordinate Final Fundraising and Volunteer Efforts for 2006 RacesKerry is on fire lately, barnstorming the country in a final push to fundraise and get out the democratic vote for House and Senate races. Democrats can smell blood in the water, but this is no time to let up.<br /><br />Kerry is setting an example of party leadership through his intense drive and passion on the issues and using his clout to help get Democrats elected around the country. <br /><br />For the latest volunteer opportunities and ways to get involved visit:<br /><a href="http://www.johnkerry.com/">http://www.johnkerry.com/</a><br /><br />Kerry can't do it alone. He's counting on all of us. We got your back John. -IFK Editori11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1160017361657181402006-10-04T19:06:00.000-07:002006-10-04T20:03:49.646-07:0010 Reasons the Democrats deserve your vote in Nov. 2006OK, lets do a little side by side comparison of the two parties. Which one would you trust to lead you? Which one will you vote for this Novemeber?<br /><table cellpadding="5"><br /><tr><br /> <td width="50%" align="left" valign="top"><b>DEMOCRATS</b><br><br /> <ol><li>Telling the truth on Iraq - The course is broken. A new strategy is needed.</li> <br /><li>Fighting a smarter war on terrorism - fully funding port security and implementing the homeland security commission recommendations. </li><br /><li>Protecting Social Security - a promise is a promise.</li><br /><li>Fighting for affordable healthcare for all - Healthcare should be a right not a privilege.</li><br /><li>Offering solutions for energy independence - incentives for new technologies and no more tax cuts for big oil.</li><br /><li>Balancing the budget - common sense budgets. Cut spending and yes raise some taxes. </li><br /><li>Protecting your drinking water, air, and environment - It's the only one we have.</li><br /><li>Cutting global warming emissions - rejoin the world's efforts to stop global warming. Lead the way with technology research.</li><br /><li>Ending Special Interest Hold over Washington - give power back to the voters.</li><br /><li>Working for the Middle Class and those who aspire to join it - give everyone a chance with affordable education, decent wages and a safety net.</li></ol><br /></td><br /><td width="50%" align="left" valign="top"><b>REPUBLICANS</b><br><br /> <ol><li>Lies, Lies, Lies about Iraq. No Weapons of Mass Destruction. No ties to Osama bin Laden. No real plan to win the peace.</li><br /><li>War in Iraq creating more insurgent terrorists rather than defeating them.</li><br /><li>Tried to Dismantle Social Security, the most popular government program in American history.</li><br /><li>OK with 40 million uninsured Americans and a drug bill that benefits the drug companies.</li><br /><li>Leave no Oil company behind policy instead of planning how Americans will have secure affordable energy in the future.</li><br /><li>Spending, spending, spending - your children are inheriting a crushing debt.</li><br /><li>Destroying our natural resources and poisoning our water, air and neighborhoods.<br /><li>What global warming? Can you say Katrina?</li><br /><li>Pandering to lobbyists, right wing extremists and illegal fundraisers. </li><br /><li>Working to hold power even if means coving up a sexual scandal involving minors.</li></ol><br /></td><br /></tr><br /></table>i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1158336598364124932006-09-15T09:04:00.000-07:002006-09-15T09:09:58.473-07:00DNC Rolls out "PartyBuilder" Web 2.0 siteBetter late than never. Learn More about <a href="http://www.democrats.org/page/content/partybuilder/">PartyBuilder</a> at the DNC site.<br>- IFK Editor<br /><br />---<br />This article can be found online at the following location:<br /><a href="http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/columns/executive_tech/article.php/3631476 ">http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/columns/executive_tech/article.php/3631476 </a><br /><br />The Democratic National Committee is rolling out this week a Web 2.0-like service that may grow into something akin to MySpace for the party faithful.<br /><br />PartyBuilder is the name of the Democrats' new tool. With party organizers waxing optimistic about their chances of reclaiming the U.S. House of Representatives this fall, the online networking service is appearing just in time to make a difference in some close races -- or so the Democrats hope.<br /><br />Roll Your Own Political Network<br /><br />Like a lot of other "social networking" sites, the strength of PartyBuilder lies in the enthusiasm of the users it attracts. Unlike MySpace and Facebook, which skew toward school-age participants, PartyBuilder is designed to attract Democratic political activists.<br /><br />Plenty of political candidates, of course, have been using the Web effectively for years. Sen. John McCain broke new ground (for a politician) when he raised millions of dollars through his Web site during his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in 2000. In the 2004 race for the White House, Howard Dean and the Democrats' eventual nominee, John Kerry, both tapped into the networking potential of Meetup, a meeting-planning service.<br /><br />PartyBuilder takes these steps by individual politicians to the next level. Some of the features that are built into PartyBuilder are:<br /><br />* MyFriends. Perhaps the essential core of any networking site, MyFriends is the Democrats' name for the list of people you've invited into your circle. PartyBuilder has three levels of relationships: your friends, friends of friends, and unrelated users. People can allow messaging from individuals in any of these categories or restrict any category so that only a notification is received whenever an attempt at contact has been made.<br /><br />* Find People. Once a user is registered with PartyBuilder, he or she can find other active Democrats in a particular geographic area via a ZIP code search. Each participant can opt out of such searches by selecting a check box on the profiles page, but the party is encouraging people to be findable.<br /><br />* Groups and Events. PartyBuilder users can easily form groups. Once in a group, it's a simple matter to notify everyone of events being organized locally. The host of an event can directly message everyone who's signed up to attend.<br /><br />* Personal Fundraising. Perhaps most important in terms of its potential political impact, fundraising is built into PartyBuilder. Users can invite others to contribute to a campaign or cause. If multiple efforts are running simultaneously, fundraisers can track them via a unified reporting tool. The system automatically reminds recipients to send a thank-you message as soon as a contribution has been received.<br /><br />* Letters to the Editor. To keep those crucial op-ed pages hopping, PartyBuilder includes a letter-writing function. A user simply enters a ZIP code and a list of area newspapers that print letters to the editor is generated. Any or all of the media outlets in the list can be selected to receive the letter the member writes.<br /><br />* Blogging. Last but certainly not least, PartyBuilder is a complete blogging system in its own right. The user clicks "Write a Post" and the now-familiar blog interface allows one's stream of consciousness to be immediately posted online. The system is complete with "tags," key terms that help others find similar posts. While a participant is wriring a blog entry, PartyBuilder suggests tags that similar posts have used. If bloggers adopt the suggested tags, it could conceivably make posts on the same topic easier for other people to find.<br /><br />To be sure, none of this technology is particularly new or revolutionary. But considering that many politicians have no Web savvy at all, most local candidates could never create the suite of features that PartyBuilder has conveniently integrated for them. Just add motivated volunteers.<br /><br />Getting an Edge on the Net<br /><br />In a telephone interview, the DNC's Internet director, Josh McConaha (rhymes with "hay") overflowed with confidence that PartyBuilder will make a difference in the U.S. elections this fall.<br /><br />"By making easier the work that activists have always done," McConaha said, "it will make them more efficient at reaching out to voters."<br /><br />PartyBuilder quietly went live on Sept. 1, with a "soft launch" (mainly an e-mail to party insiders) on Sept. 5. No serious public relations effort has been directed toward major media, prior to a formal announcement that's expected to be issued today.<br /><br />Despite its low-key introduction, the service attracted almost 10,000 registered users in its first week alone, according to McConaha. That number is expected to grow geometrically -- and PartyBuilder's users are already forming groups as fast as bunnies multiply. "I think we have 500 groups now," McConaha estimates. That's one for every 20 users.<br /><br />Isn't the Republican Party's "MyGOP" service a lot like PartyBuilder? "No, not at all," McConaha says. Unlike PartyBuilder, which is almost entirely self-directed, the Republican site requires central approval for any major activity, he explains. "Everything's very top-down and Soviet with them."<br /><br />Next week in this space, I'll describe MyGOP and how the two competing Web services may make or break this year's midterm elections and the 2008 contest for the White House.<br /><br />For more information on PartyBuilder, visit the DNC site. For details on MyGOP, see its page at the Republican National Committee.i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1155687716073528932006-08-15T17:03:00.000-07:002006-08-15T17:21:56.166-07:00Swift Boat Clones Back Joe LiebermanA new group with ties to the Swift Boat Liars who smeared John Kerry's distinguished Vietnam record during the 2004 Presidential race are now backing Joe Lieberman's 2006 race for senate. <br /><br />Get the full scoop and well documented paper trail at the Democratic Daily. <br /><a href="http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=3881">Group with Ties to SBVT, ‘Vets For Freedom’ Back Lieberman</a><br /><br />Joe should denounce the group as a GOP front group. While he's at it he should drop his bid for senate.<br /><br />As someone who claims to be an "independent" I suppose if he wants to stay in it and let the voters decide that's fine, but being a Bush lacky formerly of the Democratic Party doesn't make you a moderate anything in my book. It makes you part of the problem. <br /><br />Time to go Joe. Stay in the race if you want, but your days are numbered either way. Americans want a new direction for this country.i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1154628259905934812006-08-03T10:27:00.000-07:002006-08-03T11:04:20.116-07:00If Lieberman Loses in CT - What does it mean for the Democratic Party?By IFK Editor<br /><br />With less than a week to go before an important Democratic primary in Connecticut, a new poll shows <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060803/ap_on_el_se/connecticut_senate">Lamont leads Lieberman</a> by 54 to 41 among like primary voters. What does it mean if these results stand up? <br /><br />If you listen to the conservative talking heads it means that democrats are crazy anti-war peaceniks. Lieberman is a “victim” of liberal Bush haters. His only crime is supporting the president during a time of war. The Fox News’s of the world wrongly twist the truth to accuse democrats of being weak on defense and fighting terrorism, and in their world if Lieberman is thrown overboard it only underscore how weak the democratic party really is on defense. <br /><br />In the REAL world nothing could be further from the truth! <br /><br />First let me ask, could anyone actually be worse than Republicans at planning and executing a war in Iraq. They can't rebuild New Orleans after Katrina, yet they insist they are the party to rebuild Iraq and their only “plan” is staying the course. <br /><br />The course is broken! The course is broken! The course is BROKEN!<br /><br />Use your common sense. If you had a car that wasn’t running properly and you took it to a mechanic and it came back with the same problems, would you go back there? Maybe you’d give them the benefit of the doubt the first time, but how many chances would they get before you took it to another mechanic? <br /><br />If Ned Lamont beats Joe Lieberman to win the Democratic nomination next week it will be because Joe kept taking his car back to the same mechanic, even though his car trouble was never solved.i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1154620916165270532006-08-03T08:50:00.000-07:002006-08-03T09:01:56.300-07:00Swiftboaters Still Active and Going After MurthaBlogger James Boyce makes a convincing case that the same people involved in spreading dirty lies about Kerry's military duty are now at it again, only this time in an effort to defeat vocal war critic John Murtha of Pennsylvania. When is enough, enough?! Isn't it time these scum faced some consequences for all the smearing and lies they've propagated. Read his piece and get angry. Contact the media in your area. Hold them accountable. Don't let the media repeat their false message, without a direct challenge. -IFK Editor<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-boyce/blood-in-the-water-swift_b_26318.html"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Blood In The Water: Swiftboating NeoNuts To Launch Attack On John Murtha Tomorrow</span></a><br /><br />Tomorrow at 11:00 am in Johnstown, Pennslyvannia, there will be a press conference outside of John Murtha's campaign headquarters where a recently-formed group called Veterans For Truth will announce a major veteran's rally to be held in October in an attempt to stop John Murtha from getting re-elected.<br /><br />I first found out about this late on Monday when Max Cleland left me a voicemail message - the summary of Max's message: same people, same tactic, same strategy, same donors, different candidate.<br />Sadly, Max is right.</blockquote>i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1154392369978282702006-07-31T17:15:00.000-07:002006-07-31T17:32:50.003-07:00Kerry proposes universal coverage by 2012As a recently uninsured person, I have a new appreciation for how important health care is. I have catastrophic coverage to protect against anything major, but I am paying out of my own pocket and will probably put off any regularly scheduled preventative trips to the doctor until I can regain employee sponsored coverage. Hopefully this is only temporary, and I remain healthy during this period, but now I understand the dilemma facing millions of American families. It’s not right. <br /><br />Kerry is leading on this issue within his own party and clearly ahead of the Republican party on this important issue. -IFK Editor<br /><br />Read full text: <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060731/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_health_care;_ylt=AjJVgKOyAA.UJcJCDfKGekCM5QcF;_ylu=X3oDMTBjMHVqMTQ4BHNlYwN5bnN1YmNhdA--">Kerry proposes universal coverage by 2012</a><br /><br /><blockquote>BOSTON - Sen. John Kerry on Monday proposed requiring all Americans to have health insurance by 2012, "with the federal government guaranteeing that they have the means to afford it."<br /><br />The Massachusetts Democrat, whose name is figuring prominently in 2008 White House speculation, repeated his 2004 presidential campaign call for expanding the federal Medicaid program to cover children. He also proposed creating a program to cover catastrophic cases so an employer providing insurance doesn't have to pass the cost to his other workers, and; offering Americans the ability to buy into the same insurance program used by federal workers such as members of Congress.<br /><br />Kerry proposes to pay for the program by repealing tax cuts enacted during the Bush administration that benefit those earning over $200,000 annually. He did not immediately elaborate on how he would enact his insurance mandate, but one aid said he would do so with a requirement written into the legislation spelling out that the government covers anyone who is uninsured.<br /><br />"One of my biggest regrets is that fear talk trumped the health care walk, and that we are less safe abroad and less healthy at home because of that," Kerry told a crowd of several hundred during a midday speech at Faneuil Hall. The senator had previously delivered two other speeches at the Revolutionary War meeting house laying the ground work for a second presidential campaign.</blockquote>i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9137115.post-1153331029456884402006-07-19T10:29:00.000-07:002006-07-19T10:43:49.483-07:00Stem Cell Debate - Kerry is RightIn an Op Ed John Kerry clearly outlined why the debate on stem cells is a false debate between pro-life and science. Life saving research can be done in a moral way that lives up to our high values. See his text below. Readers may also want to learn more about <a href="http://www.wicell.org/index.php">Stem Cell Research</a> and the newly formed National Stem Cell Bank. -IFK Editor<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Text From Kerry's Stem Cell Op Ed</span><br /><br /> I’ll never forget almost two years ago standing in Winnacunnet High School’s gymnasium in Hampton — talking with people from across New Hampshire who believed in the promise of stem cell research to find cures and save lives. Many in wheelchairs, many who had lost loved ones to disease, and many who knew a cure wouldn’t come in time for them but could save others wanted leadership that fought for them back in Washington.<br /><br /> One woman stood up, her frail body shaking, and pleaded for her government to embrace stem-cell research. It was the moral clarity of her message that will stay with me forever. “It’s too late for me,” she said, “but we need to do this for those who still have hope.”<br /><br /> I have not forgotten the look in her eyes, or my promise to her and so many others.<br /><br /> That’s why I am so troubled that the president’s political adviser, Karl Rove, has announced that President Bush is threatening to use the veto pen for the first time in his presidency to strike down a stem-cell research bill that offers hope to millions of Americans suffering from devastating illnesses.<br /><br /> President Bush has signed 1,163 bills into law without vetoing a single one of them. A veto now would send a message to all Americans that, on crucial issues, our differences are greater than our shared convictions. It would tell the world that America no longer wants to be the country that pushes the envelope of scientific knowledge and discovery.<br /><br /> Congress has taken the politics out of stem-cell research. It’s time the White House does, too.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">What a tragedy it would be if the first veto of Bush’s presidency were used to make a political wedge of something that Washington and the rest of America overwhelmingly support - regardless of their political party - and a promise that offers hope to millions and could put American on the path to leading the world in the discovery of cures.</span><br /><br /> The issue of stem-cell research is deeply personal and raises profound moral questions. But people of goodwill and good sense can resolve these complex ethical issues without stopping lifesaving research. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Growing numbers of conservatives have looked at the scientific facts and searched their own consciences in realizing that opposing this groundbreaking research isn’t a “pro-life policy,” that an ethical consensus can be found to ban human cloning while protecting stem-cell research.</span> The House of Representatives has passed bipartisan legislation, and as early as this week the Senate is poised to pass groundbreaking stem-cell legislation, with the support of Republicans like John McCain, R-Ariz., Bill Frist, R-Tenn., Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Nancy Reagan.<br /><br /> The stakes couldn’t be higher. Right now, more than 100 million Americans – more than 600,000 right here in New Hampshire – suffer from illnesses that may one day be treated or cured with stem-cell therapy. Stem cells could replace damaged heart cells or cells destroyed by cancer, offering a new lease on life to those with a diagnosis that once came with a death sentence. Research has the potential to slow the loss of a grandmother’s memory, calm the hand of an uncle with Parkinson’s, save a child from a lifetime of daily insulin shots or permanently lift a best friend from a wheelchair.<br /><br /> Some of the most pioneering cures and treatments are now right at our fingertips, but because of politics they could remain beyond reach. Every day we wait, more than 3,000 Americans die from diseases that may someday be treatable because of stem-cell research. Instead of facing the facts, this Administration seems prepared to continue arguing that supporting stem cell research gives the American people false hope. Imagine if we’d told researchers studying polio that they were creating false hope. Imagine if we’d told those working to eradicate small pox that they were creating false hope. It’s unthinkable.<br /><br /> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Americans have been presented with a false choice between the sanctity of human life and the scientific knowledge that can save it. The president’s veto rests on the false assumption that we have to choose between our dreams and our principles. We can have both.<br /><br /> We can support our scientists, help the sick and ensure that our legal and ethical boundaries reflect our unshakable sense of human dignity.</span><br /><br /> I’ll never forget that woman who told me ‘it was too late for her’, but not too late for millions of others. Nearly two years later, it’s still not too late for this President to change his mind before tying the hands of doctors and ethicists with a veto. It’s not too late to give millions of Americans what they want most of all: hope.i11ustratorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10255397785630533542noreply@blogger.com0