Kerry Says He's Not Out Of The '08 Race

'Botched Joke' Won't Stop Former Democratic Nominee

(AP)  Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry insisted on Sunday his "botched joke" about President George W. Bush's Iraq policy would not undermine a possible White House campaign in 2008.

"Not in the least," Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004, said when asked if the furor over his comment had caused him to reconsider a 2008 race. "The parlor game of who's up, who's down, today or tomorrow, if I listened to that stuff, I would never have won the nomination."

One of the Republican politicians mentioned in a crowded field for the White House, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, said he would not make a decision until September — a relatively late date in the campaign cycle — to focus in the private sector on trade policies.

"We have lots of time for personal ambition," the Georgia Republican said. "And I think an awful lot of this early energy is wasted, and we ought to be focusing on, you know, how are you going to compete with China and India, how are you going to solve the problem in Iraq?"

Gingrich said Arizona Sen. John McCain and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, both of whom have set up presidential exploratory committees, were the likely front-runners of the Republican Party. But Gingrich said voters are yearning for a clearer conservative voice.

"I think Mitt Romney has an opportunity to fill that," Gingrich said, referring to the outgoing Massachusetts governor.

McCain said Giuliani was an "American hero" for his leadership in New York following the Sept. 11 attacks. But McCain called himself the best presidential candidate based on a "record of being a conservative Republican, of knowledge on national security and defense issues."

McCain, who supports a ban on abortion except in cases of rape, incest and to save a mother's life, said he doubted a constitutional amendment could pass but that one would not be needed because "it's very likely or possible that the Supreme Court should — could — overturn Roe v. Wade." He was referring to the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that established a woman's right to abortion.

The high court is deciding this term whether to uphold a 2003 federal law banning the procedure opponents call "partial-birth" abortion in a case conservatives hope could be used to reverse the landmark 1973 abortion-rights decision.

At least two conservatives, Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, have called on Roe to be overturned. Legal analysts have said if the court issues an anti-abortion ruling, justices would be more likely to impose restrictions rather than abolish the right.

"I'm a federalist," McCain said. "Just as I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states, so do I believe that we would be better off by having Roe v. Wade return to the states. And I don't believe the Supreme Court should be legislating in the way that they did on Roe v. Wade."

McCain called the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward gays "very effective." He said he opposed gay marriage, but as to civil unions, "people ought to be able to enter into contracts, exchange powers of attorney, other ways that people who have relationship can enter into."

Kerry said he would decide early next year whether to run for president.

Shortly before the Nov. 7 elections that brought Democrats back into power in the House and Senate, Kerry retreated from public view following his remark to a college audience that young people might get "stuck in Iraq" if they do not study hard and do their homework.

"This is over. This was a misstatement. All of us make them in life. You wish you could have it back, but you can't," the senator said Sunday.

Kerry said Sunday he had made the decision to keep a low profile after the White House attacked the joke as insulting to U.S. troops and several Democrats called the comment a needless distraction before the pivotal congressional elections.

"Since we had very close races, I made the decision to make certain that I didn't distract. The results speak for themselves," he said.

On running in 2008, Kerry said he had not yet made a decision whether to set up an exploratory committee.

"Right now, my focus will be what happened on election day," he said, citing a need to work toward solutions on Iraq, energy independence and health care. "The American people are waiting for us to lift up an enormous challenge."

Both Kerry and Gingrich appeared on "Fox News Sunday." McCain was on "This Week" on ABC.

[exusmcsgt]

Kerry is not the leader he perceives himself to be.

[rharrin1]

But he would be better than bush the one that you right wingers supported the last time.

He's better than the republicans that are thinking of running.

[wayfedup]

...and George W. Bush is SURELY not the World leader ANY of you so-called "CONSERVATIVES" thought he was; MORTIMER SNERD could do better!!

[wayfedup]

BOBCAT GOLDTHWAIT would be a better president than GWB!

[wayfedup]

LARRY th' CABLE GUY would be a better president than GWB!

[wayfedup]

ROSEANNE BARR would be a better president than GWB!

[wayfedup]

HELL... ANYONE WOULD BE A BETTER PRESIDENT THAN "DUH-BYUH"!

[wayfedup]

doesn't speak too well for you "stooges" who voted for Bush, does it?

[pendragon679]

wayfedup: My dachshund could run this country better than King Dubya...

Having said that, Mr. Kerry, I implore you...no I BEG you...do NOT run in 2008. Having your name on the Democratic ticket would only ensure another 4 years of Republican rule, another 4 years of tax cuts for the wealthy, 4 years more of corporate welfare, 4 more years of the middle class paying for the excesses of the wealthy & powerful, 4 more years of sky-high deficits, 4 more years of our men & women being shot at & killed for oil, 4 more years of war profiteering by Halliburton, good Lord, where will it end????

[bob_burd]

Of course this vain, arrogant b@stard isn't out of the race. He could care less that his presence only harms his party and the future of the upcoming election.

American of both parties know him as well as they want to.

Selah

[tibu987]

Would someone please tell Sen. Kerry that I said that yes, he is out of the race for President in 2008.
Jeeeeeeeeeeez, I gotta tell everyone.
'Nuff said.

[ketch65]

I think any and all politicians are in the same conspiricy. They grew up going to the same schools, their families vacationed together no matter what party they are or were affiliated with.

It's all a scam. They're all yacking it up nightly on the phone, emailing each back and forth, blah blah blah.

It's all a joke!

[tibu987]

Yes, Ketch65, there is somd truth to that. There is a fraternity of wealthy, educated (does not mean intelligent), good ole boys, out there that dominate our politics, Dems or Repubs. It is precisely these arrogant, megalomaniacs, in their ivory towers, so out of touch with the people, that have ruled us for quite some time. Sad state of affairs.
As one of the few intelligent things that Reagan (yuck!) ever said:

Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.
Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004

'Nuff said.

Oh, lord....here we go again, another flip flop, first he is not and now he is still "in the running"

[thgdriver]

"Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) said he is still considering another run for the White House".

Hel@, After his latest "JOKE" I thought he was after Jay Leno's job on the tonight show. What a funny funny man.

This guy will Always make the Republicans look good on election day!!

[observantx]

I voted for you during the last election, but please, do not subject us to another failure. If you run, they will swift boat you to death again. You have regrettably displayed a taste for shoe polish too many times. That and the botched joke have killed your chances. Serve your country in your present capacity and let it be.

[JStudebaker]

Give the man a break. Before you join the tired "flip flop" or "swift boat" chorus, ask yourself whether you've ever botched a joke or misspoken in a public forum. If you're grammatically perfect, ask yourself if your current President has ever butchered our national language in a public interview or debate.

It is shameful that a number of our fellow citizens repeatedly fall for lame political tricks such as the atrocious and vicious character assassination of one of our nation's true heroes.

[jsilver2th]

It seems I've heard our own El Presidente botch a few lines in his times-

[frankly6]

Kerry is a decent man who had the courage to volunteer to serve his country in a terrible war. When he saw that he and his friends were dying for a pack of lies, he again had the courage to speak out. He has been so viciously attacked for speaking out against a new Viet Nam. I think it shows courage that he is still up for a fight. Having said that, I don't think he's got a chance.

When it comes to demeaning the military, Kerry is a serial offender. Last year, he accused soldiers in Iraq of going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing women and children. In 1972, Kerry opposed switching to an all-volunteer army, arguing that such an army would be "an army of the poor and the black and the brown. We must not repeat the travesty of the inequities present during Vietnam I also fear having a professional army that views the perpetuation of war crimes as simply doing its job."

When Kerry returned from Vietnam and testified before Congress in 1971, he accused the military of engaging in widespread atrocities and war crimes, recounting soldiers' stories that American GIs had "raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan. . . . " Many of the stories Kerry recounted then and in a book he wrote turned out to have been fabrications, and you say he is a decent man?

[frankly6]

These kinds of things did happen in Viet Nam and have happened again in Iraq. It does not honor our country or to our military to sweep them under the rug and pretend that Americans are simply incapable of attrocities. Part of what makes us a great country is our willingness to fight against this kind of injustice whether it's commited by other countries or our own.

[ourtomorrows]

Kerry is a war hero, it is hard to deny that and one must give him credit, a huge amount of credit and respect for volunteering to serve his country. He is a decorated war hero and should be given the respect that his service deserves.

However, one must separate that from his record as a US Senator. Were one to examine his record as a US Senator, one would see that he has been and is, a complete flop. He has done NOTHING for the state of Massachusetts and, with the notable exception of talking a good deal, nothing for the health of the nation. He is a war hero but he is a pathetic excuse for a US Senator and would make a pathetic excuse for a President. He has no business in the Senate, let alone the White House.

He is an elitist snob whose ability to understand the needs of the average American is somewhat lacking.

Would that he would, for the good of the Democratic party, just go away. A Kerry run in 2008 virtually ensures a Republican victory. The Democratic Party needs to recognize that Kerry and Dean are not the team to retake the White House. Neither for that matter is the bloated former Vice President and now movie guru Gore or the aristocratic Dodd of CT. Enough with the East Coast/West Coast wacko liberals, find someone who can actually reflect the concerns, beliefs and dreams of the American people!

[jw218389]

Al Gore would be a much better choice. At least he can tell a joke!

I'm a Democrat but I've had enough of John Kerry.

Picture McCain vs Kerry - it would be Reagan vs. Mondale all over again. OUCH!!

A much better choice would be Obama - except I'm not sure the rural (and very xenophobic) Midwest would vote for a black man.

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to WW II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. As a hypothetical, I can say, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed but maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country who can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front, being a big one. But now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?... I'm waiting.

[bob_burd]

That idiot Kerry reminds me of Lurch in the Adams Family. Same mentality, but uglier.

This collossal waster of time and money should shut up and stick to falling down on ski hills, if he's graduated from bunny hills by now. Maybe he could give US soldiers in Iraq lessons on how to self-inflict a minor wound so they can leave the war zone the same way he left Viet Nam.

The swift boat guys had him dead to rights.

Remove yourself from the gene pool, creep.

Selah

[themartyred]

well he's a HE LL of a lot more decent man then the cowards *** Cheney whot got FIVE deferments out of Vietnam and George Bush who was so drunk and high on drugs that poppy got him out of, yes, again, Vietnam...

I'm so sick of republicans being such hypocrites, take the GAY issue for example, they RAIL against openly gay people's rights all the while these creeps who scream about *** are the ones who are hiring MALE prostitutes and trying to pick up little boys because they're scared of being found out for being gay. F'n HYPOCRITES of the worst degree...

and don't even get me started on IRAQ! Even right-wingers are saying Iraq was a fraud, mistake, lie. KISSINGER is now saying it, KISSINGER!

[stick130]

Knowing what I know now to be fact, Gore would have been the much better President. My reason for believing that is Gore looks to the future when he makes a decision. History is the only judge,you make a thoughtful decicion after you ask,what will these implacations be 20 years from now? That's the best someone can do. When it's broke {like it is now }we need someone that will make a decision that will help everyone down the road.

[chicatibu]

Kerry%u2019s out of the 2008 presidential race he%u2019s just to arrogant and stupid to realize it.

[boydgood]

I will vote for anybody in the next presidential election who: 1. is against abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or danger to mother's health, 2. is 100% behind protection for the environment--clean water, clean air and lots of open space, plus expanded power and budget for the EPA, and for keeping and expanding the endangered species act, 3. is for civil unions, 4. is for better immigration laws which will keep everyone happy (aliens and Americans) and allow the USA to be a nation under the rule of law, and 5. bring peace to the middle east. Of course, it will only be possible to bring peace in the middle east when all interested parties are brought to the negotiation table (clerics, government leaders, militia leaders, etc). Kerry, Gore, Clinton, McCain, etc are all good, except how can we have a woman who believes in killing babies? Marriage is for having babies, that is why gay marriage is useless. European old growth has been gone for centuries, but in North America we still have some left to save, and we should act fast to do so.

[peacethinker-2009]

I think the Dems need someone else. Kerry doesn't have the smarts or persona to make a good leader. I hope the Dems can get their sutff together and rally behind someone with "it". Sad thing is I don't see anyone electable on the horizon. I have no problem with a woman or minority president, but the mass of ***** would so it's going to have to be a white man.

[bob_burd]

Even Democrats aren't dumb enough to give this gelded eunuch another shot. Maybe they can trot out Teddy Kennedy or the Screamer.

Selah

[peterbaldwin-2009]

The Bush/Chaney swiftboating noise machine is out in force with republican trolls slinking around enraged with purple heart envy, as the Bush/Chaney duo are. Have patience: they will slink back into the fetid sewers after Bush gives the command to retreat.

What they don't understand is that American has had it with the current batch of sissies and will not be fooled anymore.

[mjv2944]

Its not the botched joke as much as it is just a plain old joke in as much as he is a part of whats wrong with the House and the Senate. Maybe the house is on the way to recovery, but the Senate has a long ways to go. Kerry, Hillary or Gore are not who the dems need to run. None are electable, all are the same old recycled political hacks. Dems need someone new with some fresh ideas or they will loose. We definitely do not need another neocon in the White House. It will take us years to recover from Dubya and his band of cutthroats.

[frankly6]

peterbaldwin

Well said.

[afmca]

Oh my God . nooooooooo! He had his chance and he blew it in 2004. He is just not adept enough to run for President. He "joke blunder" probably cost the Democrats 2-3 races and tightened up many more. He can't win. He just needs to fade away!

[j-whitman]

I'm watching MSNBC,, they are saying nobody's discussing anything in DC except withdrawing from Iraq,,, Looks like it's now been reduced to 1 option --- getting out..... Why is the GOP attacking Kerry instead of Bush ??

[tibu987]

Kerry is not an electable candidate. The Dems had better come up with a candidate soon that has more appeal.To me, nobody comes to mind in the current list. I do not believe that Kerry, Gore, Hillary, Obama, Edwards, are electable. Who? I don't know. It needs to be someone with a immpecable record (Hmmm!), and some heavy experience in the ring. Any ideas?

[pendragon679]

boydgood, what color is the sky in YOUR world?

[huskerarmy]

Hey, Tom Noe just got 20 years. I'm not sure how that criminal convictions strategy is supposed to work but you GOPers are sure giving it a heck of a try. Maybe you aren't the best ones to be giving election advise?

[huskerarmy]

Here's the deal Democrats. The Rove Swift Boat Machine will hammer on who ever is nominated. The truth didn't matter in the last swift boat campaign and it won't matter in the next one. Truth be damned, the GOPer party no longer cares about anything but winning. If Hillary is nominated, there will be allegations of lesbianism. If Obama is nominated, there will be an alleged affair with a white woman. If a veteran is nominated, he will have exposed American secrets to the enemy and so on. American's are wising up to GOP corruption and its fear and smear tactic. There has been a slew of GOPer indictments and convictions and there is no shortage of examples of their dirty politics. The GOP has lost it's moral compass and it's time for the Dems to go after it... Put the GOPers on the defensive and make them explain their dirty tricks: Ann Richards = lesbian, Max Cleland = traitor, John McCain = cracking up while a POW, the Harold Ford ads and the orchestrated swift boat lie. The word is out. We shouldn't be worrying too much about who is "electable." It's all in the packaging. Actors, wrestlers and frat boys are electable in the good ole USA these days. The Dems need to just choose their best candidate, and then take it to the GOPers with a vengance.

[huskerarmy]

Here's the deal Democrats. The Rove Swift Boat Machine will hammer on who ever is nominated. The truth didn't matter in the last swift boat campaign and it won't matter in the next one. Truth be damned, the GOPer party no longer cares about anything but winning. If Hillary is nominated, there will be allegations of lesbianism. If Obama is nominated, there will be an alleged affair with a white woman. If a veteran is nominated, he will have exposed American secrets to the enemy and so on. American's are wising up to GOP corruption and its fear and smear tactic. There has been a slew of GOPer indictments and convictions and there is no shortage of examples of their dirty politics. The GOP has lost it's moral compass and it's time for the Dems to go after it... Put the GOPers on the defensive and make them explain their dirty tricks: Ann Richards = lesbian, Max Cleland = traitor, John McCain = cracking up while a POW, the Harold Ford ads and the orchestrated swift boat lie. The word is out. We shouldn't be worrying too much about who is "electable." It's all in the packaging. Actors, wrestlers and frat boys are electable in the good ole USA these days. The Dems need to just choose their best candidate, and then take it to the GOPers with a vengance.

[huskerarmy]

Here's the deal Democrats. The Rove Swift Boat Machine will hammer on who ever is nominated. The truth didn't matter in the last swift boat campaign and it won't matter in the next one. Truth be damned, the GOPer party no longer cares about anything but winning. If Hillary is nominated, there will be allegations of lesbianism. If Obama is nominated, there will be an alleged affair with a white woman. If a veteran is nominated, he will have exposed American secrets to the enemy and so on. American's are wising up to GOP corruption and its fear and smear tactic. There has been a slew of GOPer indictments and convictions and there is no shortage of examples of their dirty politics. The GOP has lost it's moral compass and it's time for the Dems to go after it... Put the GOPers on the defensive and make them explain their dirty tricks: Ann Richards = lesbian, Max Cleland = traitor, John McCain = cracking up while a POW, the Harold Ford ads and the orchestrated swift boat lie. The word is out. We shouldn't be worrying too much about who is "electable." It's all in the packaging. Actors, wrestlers and frat boys are electable in the good ole USA these days. The Dems need to just choose their best candidate, and then take it to the GOPers with a vengance.

[bseece]

Kerry should stay out of the race. He is not a viable candidate for the Dems and should not waste money in an area he knows he can't win. Back someone who can win: Go Hillary :)

[thgdriver]

afmca/tibu987

The John Kerry/Charles Rangel ticket looks like a winner to me in 08.

[bushrocks1]

Would I send my son to this war? You might ask would I send him to WW II? Or Vietnam? Maybe you would distinguish those conflicts and whether you would send your son to fight in them. But that question is misdirected in a very important way: I can't command my son to go to war. He has to make that choice. So the better question would be: would I volunteer to fight in Iraq, WW II, Vietnam? Would I volunteer to fight in any war? Respond if drafted? I don%u2019t know. I'm not equivocating, only addressing that it is a hypothetical. As a hypothetical, I can say, sure I'd fight. But I have nightmares of battle (from my past life as a Jacobite). So how do I feel toward those who do volunteer? Impressed but maturely knowing that many things go into their decision. But I do strongly believe that a country who can't find those men is doomed. The fact that we can find them is one reason why I say there is no failure in Iraq. Objectively, I also believe it for other reasons. An attempt to establish democracy in the Middle East is a bold, brilliant, noble effort, facing a high chance of failure. That's why I greatly respect and admire those who have made the attempt--the Bush administration. They have been resolute, something I have not seen in my lifetime. They may not succeed, for reasons outside their control or fault: traitors on the home front, being a big one. But now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?... I'm waiting.

[joeshields56]

Kerry may say that "He's Not Out Of The '08 Race" but he is, just as Adlai Stevens was out of the '56 race but mistakenly ran again (and lost again). It is as obvious as a thing can be in politics.

[the74blaster]

It%u2019s an interesting point of view to call anyone who does not agree with the president unpatriotic or a traitor, considering our constitution.

After all if our forefathers had not disagreed with King George in 1776 would our country even exist?

Why is it that disagreement then is considered patriotic and now it%u2019s unpatriotic to disagree with the Bush administration?

Does that make me unpatriotic for voting for democrats to voice my disapproval of the GOP?

The fact is that we live in a free country and expression of a position that the country is heading in the wrong direction does not make anyone unpatriotic or a traitor.

Apparently many others felt the same and voted the GOP majority out of congress. It%u2019s refreshing to see that Americans are starting to hold the politicians accountable for their record, regardless of what Rush Limbaugh says.

Hopefully, the Democrats will see the light and do something that%u2019s in our country%u2019s best interest.

The GOP got what it deserved with this mid-term election.

[huskerarmy]

"But now those traitors have apparently occupied the high ground. Yet... we're still in Iraq. Why?... I'm waiting."

That's like sticking a ball in my hand and then saying "Why are you holding that ball?" A bit childish don't you think? Nobody ever said "Bring them home this very second." Did they?

And calling anyone who doesn't support this phony war a "traitor" is no different than calling for one party rule. We still execute traitors don't we? I am old enough to remember when reactionaries called those who opposed the Viet Nam war, supported civil rights, or opposed the Joseph McCarthey witch hunt as "traitors." The very concept of democracy in your paradigm has been relegated to a religion of absolute truth and the all knowing state. What you espouse is in fact the antithesis of democracy. I fought for this country in war just so I could have the right to criticize it. When the day comes that I've lost that right, then I truely would have fought in vain. Nobody who is defending the occupation of Iraq as an act of "national defense" does so without considerable contortion of fact and reason. And when our country commits our young men and women to a war for an unjust purpose, it is by the desire of the framers of the Constitution of the United States of America our patriotic and indeed democratic duty to speak out against it.

[huskerarmy]

"If you go back and listen to his comments about the military, you will find that he is no friend of the military."

IF you go back and look at his voting record, you will find that he has been a great friend to military veterans. The military is nothing without the men and women who serve in it.