Several questions for Senator Kerry

[Tigermike 3,715]

I wonder if Mr. Kerry will ever answer any of these questions? I think the odds good of John Kerry flip floping 20 - 30 more times between now and November.

One blessing likely to result from John Kerry's rapid clinching of the Democratic presidential nomination is that Democrats will finally be forced to give us their solutions for the nation's problems.

Up to this point, most of their candidates have fueled their campaign engines only with high-octane anti-Bush. Once Kerry becomes the putative nominee -- assuming he isn't there already -- perhaps we'll begin to see a fleshing out of his alternative proposals, instead of merely his empty criticisms.

A few questions that I'd like to see him answer are:

-- Health Care: Your party acts like it owns this issue, lamenting that we have over 40 million uninsured. You tell us, essentially, that your highest economic aspiration is to restore the Clinton economy, at which point we'll be able to provide health insurance for nearly everyone. But if you'll recall, after Bill Clinton shamelessly exploited this issue against the first President Bush, he barely made a dent in the problem despite the considerable economic prosperity that coincided with his tenure. How will you be able to do more with a Clinton economy than the master himself could?

-- National Defense: In your incessant complaints about Iraq, you seem long on process and short on substance. You talk about the president's failure to build a sufficient international coalition through "multilateralism." How many resolutions would Iraq have had to violate and for how long for you to believe American military action was warranted -- even without the participation of every nation whose blessings you seem to prefer over American security? Do you truly believe that any amount of persuasion would have convinced these intractable nations?

Let's put it in terms you can better understand. Bush bent over backwards to set a new tone in trying to get along with your party, and you rebuffed him at every turn. If you Democrats won't go along with him, and often aren't even civil about it, what makes you think other nations with vastly different agendas would? And how in good conscience could you effectively entrust to other nations your constitutional duty of safeguarding America's interests?

Stated more bluntly, do you believe America should ever act unilaterally to protect its strategic interests, or would your presidency defer those decisions to the United Nations, as you suggested in the '70s and seem to be repeating today?

In retrospect, despite your bellyaching about multilateralism and weapons of mass destruction, can you bring yourself to admit Iraq is better off without Saddam Hussein? Was ousting him a moral cause?

-- War on Terror: You say that George Bush hasn't been effective in leading the war on terror and has diverted too many of our resources to Iraq. Do you base your claim on the fact that we routed the Taliban in short order despite your party's predictions of quagmire, that we've captured or killed some two-thirds of known al Qaeda members, or that we haven't been attacked again since Sept. 11, 2001? Or is it that you just have no confidence in our military and intelligence services?

-- Tax Populism: George Bush's tax cuts, despite your rhetoric, were skewed against the rich -- that is, the rich got a lesser percentage reduction. Why, then, do you mischaracterize them as "tax cuts for the wealthy"?

-- Budget: You complain about President Bush's budget imbalances, yet if your plans are implemented on "health care, education and the environment," not to mention others, Bush will look like a fiscal scrooge. Given that your tax increases are likely to retard the recovery, how are you going to balance the budget without dangerous reductions in defense spending?

-- Education: Since we have proof that throwing ever-increasing federal dollars at education doesn't improve the quality of education, at what point will you quit demanding more? Is there any amount of domestic liberalism that Bush could implement that would satisfy you?

-- Leadership: I've noticed a disturbing pattern in your approach to issues. You have not only flip-flopped on the most important ones. You have tried to "nuance" your way out of your reversals, always using the same template. You voted for: NAFTA, the Patriot Act, No Child Left Behind, and the Iraq war resolution. On every one, you refuse to own up to your vote and insist it was not the legislation that was objectionable but the way it has been implemented. Doesn't presidential leadership require you to own up to your decisions? What part of Harry Truman's "the buck stops here" do you not understand?

LINK

[Tiger Al 0]

Why don't you forward those questions to him and see if he'll answer them for you, or at least get one of his staff to do it. Send it to both his Senate website and his campaign website. Keep us posted.

[Tigermike 3,715]

Why don't you forward those questions to him and see if he'll answer them for you, or at least get one of his staff to do it. Send it to both his Senate website and his campaign website. Keep us posted.

I just did Al. Let's see if or how anyone bothers to reply.

There were more spaces to send money to Kerry than to ask questions. You can be sure of that.

[Tiger Al 0]

I've actually gotten responses from some politicians. I have e-mailed Shelby and Sessions a few times with actual questions and never got a response. During the beginning of the Democratic debates I e-mailed all of the candidates, no questions but some statements, and the only one to reply was Carol Moseley-Braun. I thought that was nice, since I didn't give them any reason to reply. She didn't even ask for a contribution!

[channonc 466]

You probably won't get a response from the Senate office due to the fact that you are not from Mass. Personal office staff is dedicated to answering constituent mail only. Unfortunately, mail that isn't from Mass. will most likely be trash. Just FYI.

[Tigermike 3,715]

I actually sent the questions to his campaign website.

[AUloggerhead 2,516]

You probably won't get a response from the Senate office due to the fact that you are not from Mass. Personal office staff is dedicated to answering constituent mail only. Unfortunately, mail that isn't from Mass. will most likely be trash. Just FYI.

Even when the questions are cleary directed to his running for President?

Tigermike, your list of questions are exactly the type I would like to see answered. Maybe you can forward them to some news organizations as well on the off chance some reporter will ask these types of questions to Kerry directly.

[Tigermike 3,715]

As much as I would like, I cannot take credit for the questions. I read the article, liked the content and posted here. But I would love for Mr. Kerry or someone on his staff to respond. I doubt if they will but I did send to them. Only time will tell.

[channonc 466]

You probably won't get a response from the Senate office due to the fact that you are not from Mass.  Personal office staff is dedicated to answering constituent mail only.  Unfortunately, mail that isn't from Mass. will most likely be trash.  Just FYI.

Even when the questions are cleary directed to his running for President?

Yep. In the Senate, you cannot be involved in campaigning without taking a leave of absense. Hence, why they all have staffs in Washington as well as a seperate campaign staff. Now many people do take the leave of absense and go over to a campaign staff, but not necessarily.

His personal office is there for constituents. Period. Most offices work like that. His running for President is seperate than his job as a Senator, even though the 2 are related.

[CCTAU 3,536]

Once you get an answer, send the questions again. I'm sure they'll come back with the exact opposite answers, depending on the week!!!

[AUloggerhead 2,516]

Thanks for clearing that up channoc. Are you on a senator's staff too?

[channonc 466]

I work for the Senate Commerce Committee, under Sen. Hollings from SC.

[Tigermike 3,715]

I have already receive a "canned" reply. I will let you know of any further developments.

John Kerry is The Real Deal and the one who can Win! Thank you

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[Tiger Al 0]

I work for the Senate Commerce Committee, under Sen. Hollings from SC.

Isn't he retiring?

[channonc 466]

Yes he is. Which is why this election is even more important. We will probably be losing a lot more seats in the Senate.

[CCTAU 3,536]

Yes he is. Which is why this election is even more important. We will probably be losing a lot more seats in the Senate.

DARN!

No, really!