Greatness, Gratitude, and Grief

MS. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON

BuzzFlash,  

For Senator Edward Kennedy's Greatness -- We Americans Send Our Love and Our Gratitude  

I know that I speak for many of us Americans who "hated" to hear that Senator Kennedy suddenly became ill and was in the hospital. And, when hearing what caused his seizure and suspected prognosis, I felt anger, loss, sadness and then hope that Senator Kennedy, because he is such a tenacious fighter with a strong sense of conviction, will be the one to determine his own destiny.  

I know that some of my feelings are based on pure selfishness because if Senator Kennedy were to leave his office, he would leave a very large cavity in the Democratic Party and in Congress. Senator Kennedy could be trusted to tell the truth. Putting it plainly . . . he couldn't be bought. Not because he was a Democrat, but because he respects the lives of all Americans, not just those who can or will vote for him.  

He has always been an example of what a real Democrat is in Congress. Because anyone, especially today, who insists on voting Republican is placing a vote against themselves, mocking the American way of life, giving this country away to the GOP elite, and has been voting against themselves for at least the past 30 years.  

Below are some statements from 2005 that Senator Kennedy has made, telling the nation that we, as a nation, took the wrong road by following the criminal leadership of the Bush GOP administration. A road that has led to death and destruction for this country, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and when reading this, remember how the Bush GOP lies, and that our government, those failed checks and balances, must stop them if they intend to attack Iran, just for the sake of stopping the US elections because McCain, who is too much like Bush, will never win. 

The Bush GOP administration does not have that power to invade another sovereign country and never did have that power. That's why the invasion of Iraq is treasonous with crimes against humanity . . . plus so much more.  

Statements from Senator Kennedy validate that earned trust, and they are evidence of a great leader: One who cares deeply for the American people and one who takes his oath of office very seriously. One who was not afraid to speak the truth about the illegal and treasonous Bush GOP administration.  

Senator Kennedy is "the" example of pure Democratic Party democracy in action. The difference between leaders and great leaders.  

* * *

January 25, 2005

There is a critical question about accountability. Dr. Rice was a principal architect and advocate of the decision to go to war in Iraq, at a time when our mission in Afghanistan was not complete and Osama bin Laden was a continuing threat because of our failure to track him down.  

* * *

SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY DISCUSSES AMERICA'S FUTURE IN IRAQ AT THE JOHNS' HOPKINS SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

January 27, 2005

We must learn from our mistakes. We must recognize what a large and growing number of Iraqis now believe.  The war in Iraq has become a war against the American occupation.  We have reached the point that a prolonged American military presence in Iraq is no longer productive for either Iraq or the United States.  The U.S. military presence has become part of the problem, not part of the solution.We need a serious course correction, and we need it now.  We must make it for the American soldiers who are paying with their lives. We must make it for the American people who cannot afford to spend our resources and national prestige protracting the war in the wrong way. We must make it for the sake of the Iraqi people who yearn for a country that is not a permanent battlefield and for a future free from permanent occupation. (snip)

We need a serious course correction, and we need it now.  We must make it for the American soldiers who are paying with their lives. We must make it for the American people who cannot afford to spend our resources and national prestige protracting the war in the wrong way. We must make it for the sake of the Iraqi people who yearn for a country that is not a permanent battlefield and for a future free from permanent occupation

* * *

Sen. Kennedy speaks out on Downing Street Memo: 'Twisted intelligence; Distorted facts'

RAW STORY

June 7, 2005

"The contents of the Downing Street Minutes confirm that the Bush Administration was determined to go to war in Iraq, regardless of whether there was any credible justification for doing so. The Administration distorted and misrepresented the intelligence in its attempt to link Saddam Hussein with the terrorists of 9/11 and Osama bin Laden, and with weapons of mass destruction that Iraq did not have.

"In addition, the Downing Street Minutes also confirm what has long been obvious - that the timing of the war was linked to the 2002 Congressional elections, and that the Administration's planning for post-war Iraq was incompetent in all its aspects. The current continuing crisis is a direct result of that incompetence.

* * *

November 10, 2005  

KENNEDY STATEMENT ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S EFFORTS TO EXAGGERATE THREATS IN THEIR MARCH TO WAR

It was little more than a devious attempt to obscure the facts and take the focus off the real reason we went to war in Iraq. 150,000 American troops are bogged down in a quagmire in Iraq because the Bush Administration misrepresented and distorted the intelligence to justify a war that America never should have fought.

As we know all too well, Iraq was not an imminent threat. It had no nuclear weapons. It had no persuasive links to Al Qaeda, no connection to the terrorist attacks of September 11th, and no stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction. (snp)

The Administration's case for war based on the linkage between Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda was just as misguided.

Significantly here as well, the Intelligence Estimate did not find a cooperative relationship between Saddam and Al Qaeda. On the contrary, it stated only that such a relationship might develop in the future if Saddam was "sufficiently desperate" -- in other words, if America went to war. But the estimate placed "low confidence" that, even in desperation, Saddam would give weapons of mass destruction to Al Qaeda.

* * *

Senator Kennedy's Floor Speech on the Nuclear Option

"America has stood for fairness, opportunity and justice. Generation, after generation, our nation has been able, often with intense debates, to give greater meaning to these values in the lives of our citizens.

But what we have seen in recent years is a breach of these values in order to reward the powerful at the expense of average Americans. Those in power passed massive tax breaks for the wealthy and short-changed everyone else. They granted sweetheart deals to Halliburton Corporation in Iraq while our troops went without armor. They let the polluters write the pollution rules for our water and our air.

They let the oil industry write the energy policy in secret meetings in the White House. Two weeks ago, over the opposition of every Democrat in the House and Senate, they forced through a federal budget that preserves corporate tax loopholes at the expense of college aid, and slashes Medicaid for poor mothers to pay for tax breaks for millionaires. They twisted arms for three and a half hours in the dead of night on the floor of the House to pass a so-called Medicare reform that rewards HMOs and drug companies at the expense of senior citizens and the disabled.

* * *

Reflecting back to those years, January 27, 2005, US Troop Casualties in Iraq (according to the Gov. which in reality we have no idea because of the lies constantly told by the Bush GOP administration) Fatalities 1,420; wounded in action 10,622; average number of troops dying per day 2.33.

We don't know what could have changed had all of the Democrats in Congress formed an immovable block against the Bush GOP criminal administration . . . but, we will always have the words of those who fought against their crimes and those who went along with them . . . great minds are recognized by their great and unselfish deeds. Sharing the details of his health couldn't have been easy for Senator Kennedy, but again, open and honest.

"Heroism -- unbounded courage and compassion joined." Joseph Addison.

A true example of a hero today -- the total lack of selfishness . . .

Selfishness - "Consuming happiness without producing any." Joan Tepperman..

Senator Kennedy was always dedicating his intelligence, experience, and expertise for the good of mankind, all of mankind . . . most of us Americans don't have the words to express our thanks in the great oratory that someone such as Senator Kennedy deserves, but our hearts, minds, and our prayers, our sincerity and support for these troubled times will be with Senator Kennedy and his family . . . We expect you, Senator Kennedy, to fight this, because we need you, we trust you, you speak not only for the liberal and progressive Democrats, but for all Americans. We would miss you, your thoughts, your voice, terribly.

Thanks BuzzFlash,

Shirley Smith

MS. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON