Here’s a touching note that John Kerry wrote to his presidential campaign staffers on the anniversary of his defeat in 2004:
As Election Day 2005 approaches, we’re reminded again of all your hard work in 2004, and the incredible efforts you made for us and John and Elizabeth. You wore your heart on your sleeve, put in long days and endured even longer nights, showed guts and you sacrificed.
So touching, so beautiful. Oh, the man has the common touch. And, I know that John Kerry in fact is reminded at least once a month of my own contribution to his campaign — specifically when the mailman at one of Kerry’s five houses drops off Kerry’s campaign bank statement showing the leftover $17 million in donations from people like me who scraped up every spare dollar for Kerry to get rid of Bush.
Yes, in both time and money, I gave my all in 2004; how else could I face my kids in 20 years when they want an explanation for why America lost its place of pre-eminence and respect as a beacon of justice in the world? But Kerry, it turns out, did not give his all; instead, he hedged his bet, and held back $17 million to give himself a head start against his rivals in 2008.
In the first place, Kerry, if you didn’t need all the money, why’d you ask for it? Second, Kerry goes on to write, “We need to be there for these friends who were always there for us last year.” Oh, I feel the love! John Kerry, you want to be there for me this year? Then give my money back, because I gave for the 2004 race, not to give you a piggy bank for 2008.
This is not only unseemly, it should be illegal. I dug deep and often for this bastard in 2004.
Posted by: tstreet on November 3, 2005 12:22 PMWhat annoys me is his insistent drubbing emails -- my opinion (and my response to his organization) is this -- "You had your opportunity to talk straight and be tough and you blew it, so shut the fuck up and let someone else talk, someone who has the brains and the balls to stand up at the right time ... "ripeness is all," said the Bard and you have rotted on the vine.
Posted by: Saintperle on November 3, 2005 1:44 PMWhy do men think only they can have courage?
Posted by: Joyful on November 3, 2005 7:34 PMMy apologies -- someone who has the brains and ovaries to stand up at the right time ... someone with real balls, like Barbara Boxer, Barbara Lee, Nancy Pelosi... ok? I CERTAINLY don't think there are any maes in the Democratic Party right now with the right stuff.
The Republicans like to think they have all balls all the time, but what they have is scared little boys acting tough -- until someone asks them to put up or shut up -- like, perhaps, the Vietnam era draft?
Posted by: Saintperle on November 3, 2005 9:15 PMSorry, Saintperle, I just went through that routine on one of my lists, and I responded reflexively. It is a cliche that's reached retirement age, though.
Posted by: Joyful on November 6, 2005 2:38 PM