Daily Archives: October 21, 2004

Connie Wilson: Kerry Speaks at Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in Waterloo, Iowa

Posted on October 21, 2004 by bfialindathieman

Kerry Speaks at Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in Waterloo, Iowa

By Connie Wilson

[To see Connie's photo of John Kerry, click on “more >>” at the bottom of the main page excerpt of this article.]

Wednesday, October 20, 2004

John Kerry brought a strong military-influenced message to Iowa, under the slogan “A Fresh Start: Succeeding in Iraq and Winning Against Terrorism” on Wednesday, October 20, 2004, at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center in downtown Waterloo, Iowa. About 1,000 listeners heard retired Admiral Stansfield Turner, (former head of the CIA from 1977 to 1981), list the reasons why he and many other military men feel that Kerry will make the better President this election year.

Said Turner: “John Kerry will make us safer and more respected around the world. The country cannot afford four more years of George W. Bush. He dragged us into Iraq unnecessarily and now there are 87 attacks a day on U.S. troops. All of us believe that John Kerry will make a far better Commander-in-Chief than George W. Bush.”

 The military experts on the platform (the “all of us” referenced), included Lieutenant General Edward D. Baca, retired head of the National Guard; Lieutenant General Claudia J. Kennedy, (who appeared with Edwards at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds earlier), the nation’s highest-ranking female officer until her retirement; Major General Melvyn S. Montana of the National Guard and Turner, himself. Kerry noted that he also has the support of two former Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under Presidents Reagan and Clinton, Admiral William Crowe and General John Shalikashvili.

Turner was a very effective, forceful and plain-spoken speaker for Kerry. First, there are Turner’s own impeccable credentials: Commander of the US Second Fleet and NATO Striking Fleet; Atlantic Commander-in-Chief of NATO’s Southern Flank; an expert on foreign policy, arms control, nuclear weapons and terrorism, who is currently serving as a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland, former head of the CIA (1977-1981).

Turner spoke clearly and forcefully. He noted that there were many other military experts who also hold the opinion that Kerry would be the better peace-time or war-time leader. He cited George W. Bush’s sending troops into battle without sending sufficient numbers of them, without sufficient equipment for them, and without sufficient planning for their exit from the country. “He dragged us into Iraq unnecessarily.”

Internationally, said Turner, “In four years as pResident, he (“W”) has not learned about the world”. Turner noted that Bush came to office not knowing much about international affairs and did not even have enough interest in the wider world to travel widely.
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Schulte: King AWOL From Campaign

Posted on October 21, 2004 by bfialindathieman

Schulte: King AWOL From Campaign A Message to Blog for Iowa from Joyce Schulte, Democratic Candidate for Congress, District 5 Greetings to you…. In all the months that I have been running for Congress, seeing my opponent has been minimal. … Continue reading →

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Trouble Brewing for Sioux City Judge Who Granted Lesbian Civil Union Dissolution

Posted on October 21, 2004 by bfialindathieman

Trouble Brewing for Sioux City Judge Who Granted Lesbian Civil Union Dissolution Sharon Malheiro writes: Below is an article that appeared in yesterday's Des Moines Register about the fight that is going on in Sioux City regardng Judge Jeffrey Neary. … Continue reading →

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