Kerry Plan for a Stronger America

[xlt66]

Kerry will make us as strong as France!

1990 - Kerry Votes Against B-1 Bomber

(S. 3189, CQ, Vote #273, 10/15/1990)

1990 - Kerry Votes Against B-2 Stealth Bomber

(S. 3189, CQ, Vote #273, 10/15/1990)

1990 - Kerry Votes Against F-14

(H.R. 5803, CQ, Vote #319, 10/26/1990)

1990 - Kerry Votes Against F-15

(S. 3189, CQ, Vote #273, 10/15/1990)

1990 - Kerry Votes Against F-16

(S. 3189, CQ, Vote #273, 10/15/1990)

1990 - Kerry Votes Against Patriot Missiles

(S. 3189, CQ, Vote #273, 10/15/1990)

1990 - Kerry Votes Against Aegis Air Defense Cruiser

(S. 3189, CQ, Vote #273, 10/15/1990)

1990 - Kerry Votes Against Trident Missile System

(S. 3189, CQ, Vote #273, 10/15/1990)

1990 - Kerry Votes Against M-1 Abrams Tank

(S. 3189, CQ, Vote #273, 10/15/1990)

1990 - Kerry Votes Against Bradley Fighting Vehicle

(S. 3189, QC, Vote #273, 10/15/1990)

1990 - Kerry Votes Against Tomahawk Cruise Missile
(S. 3189, CQ, Vote #273, 10/15/1990)
Over Kerry's Senate Career, Kerry Repeatedly Votes to Cut or Eliminate B-2
Stealth Bomber

(H.R. 3072, CQ Vote #203, 9/26/89)
(H.R. 3072, CQ Vote #310, 11/18/89)
(S. 2884, CQ Vote #208, 8/2/90)
(S. 2884, CQ Vote #209, 8/2/90)
(S. 1507, CQ Vote #174, 8/1/91)
(H.R. 2521, CQ Vote #206, 9/25/91)
(S. 2403, CQ Vote #85, 5/6/92)
(S. 3114, CQ Vote #216,9/18/92)
(S. 2182, CQ Vote #179, 7/1/94)


Over Kerry's Senate Career, Kerry Repeatedly Votes to Cut or Eliminate
Missile Defense
(S. 1507, CQ Vote #168, 7/31/91)
(S. 1507, CQ Vote #171, 8/1/91)
(S. 1507, CQ Vote #172, 8/1/91)
(S. 1507, CQ Vote #173, 8/1/91)
(H.R. 2521, CQ Vote #207, 9/25/91)
(S. 2403, CQ Vote #85, 5/6/92)
(S. 3114, CQ Vote #182, 8/7/92)
(S. 3114, CQ Vote #214, 9/17/92)
(S. 3114, CQ Vote #215, 9/17/92)
(S. 1298, CQ Vote #251, 10/9/93)
(S. Con. Res. 63, CQ Vote #64, 3/22/94)
(S. 1026, CQ Vote #354, 8/3/95)
(S. 1087, CQ Vote #384, 8/10/95)
(S. 1745, CQ Vote #160, 6/19/96)
(S. 1873, CQ Vote #131:, 5/13/98)
(S. 1873, CQ Vote #262, 9/9/98)
(S 1635, CQ Vote #157, 6/4/96)
(S. 2549, CQ Vote #178, 7/13/00)

In 1984, when Kerry was running for U.S. Senate, Kerry clearly stated his
position on defense programs. He called for the elimination or reduction in
the following programs: (Here are the actual documents)

* Cancel MX Missile
* Cancel B-1 Bomber
* Cancel Anti-satellite system
* Cancel Strategic Defense Initiative
* Reduce by 50% Tomahawk Cruise Missile
* Cancel AH-64 "Apache" Helicopters
* Cancel Division Air Defense Gun (DIVAD)
* Cancel Aegis Air-Defense Cruiser
* Cancel AV-8B "Harrier"
* Cancel F-15 Fighter Aircraft
* Cancel F-14A Fighter Aircraft
* Cancel F-14D Fighter Aircraft
* Cancel Phoenix Air-to-Air Missile
* Cancel Sparrow Air-to-Air Missile

Kerry has long held views against the U.S. Military. When Kerry unsuccessful
ran for Congress in 1972, the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune wrote:

"On what he'll do if he's elected to Congress, Kerry said he would 'bring a
different kind of message to the president.' He said he would vote against
military appropriations."

Two years earlier when when Kerry had just returned from Vietnam and was
running for congress, Kerry was interviewed by the Harvard Crimson on
February 13, 1970. Kerry had the following to say:

"I'm an internationalist," Kerry told The Crimson in 1970. "I'd like to see
our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United
Nations."

[anastrophe]

i notice there's nothing on his record since 2000. i presume since 2001 he's become a born again hawk.

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by xlt66

"I'm an internationalist," Kerry told The Crimson in 1970. "I'd like to see
our troops dispersed through the world only at the directive of the United
Nations."

If it was "with the agreement of a majority of the U.N." it would be a very
good idea. That is the first thing that I've heard that makes me lean toward
either Kerry or Bush.

[anastrophe]

the U.N. is a nice idea gone bad.

[plazul]

Originally Posted by Bill Sikes

If it was "with the agreement of a majority of the U.N." it would be a very
good idea. That is the first thing that I've heard that makes me lean toward
either Kerry or Bush.

This voting record, like all voting records, is misleading. Kerry did vote to cancel some weapons systems after astronomical cost overruns and borderline fraud by contractors like Lockheed. He also voted against bringing many defense bills out of committee to the floor because they contained tons of patronage pork.

Over the decades since WW II defense contrators have cost this country *trillions* in change orders, affiliate bidding, collusion bidding, and fraudulent cost accounting.

The intent here is to make Kerry look weak on defense. He's not. But he's no chump either and he understands that if we don't have accountability in our defense establishment it will weaken our over all defense because of disproportianate spending on expensive weapons systems.

The incredible thing about Zel Miller's speech was that he implied that opposing a weapons project was comparable to treason. Funny that not long ago he introduced John Kerry to an audience as a great American hero.

My uncle Bill, now deceased, worked on (among other things) the radar reflecting composite materials for the new generation of stealth aircraft. He was proud of his work. But he also said that the cartel of defense contractors in this country is nothing but organized crime.

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by plazul

This voting record, like all voting records, is misleading.

I had thought there might be more to the "record" than met the eye. I'm not
in the U.S.A., BTW, so hear really very little of campaign details. All I can find
in today's Daily Telegraph is "Bush has largest budget deficit in US history" -
which, to be fair, is possibly not *entirely* Mr. Bush's fault.

[plazul]

Bush wants us to believe that the account deficit is all because of the "Clinton recession" and 9-11. Bilge. Don't take my word for it. If you're interested, try to Google up an objective analysis of the impact of the Bush tax cuts which have caused major revenue shortfalls and will continue to do so if they're made permanent.

[Bill Sikes]

Originally Posted by plazul

Bush wants us to believe that the account deficit is all because of the "Clinton recession" and 9-11. Bilge. Don't take my word for it. If you're interested, try to Google up an objective analysis of the impact of the Bush tax cuts which have caused major revenue shortfalls and will continue to do so if they're made permanent.

Ha! Ha! You should hear our dear leader Benito B liar the faults of previous
governments. Really funny, I think not. They (politicians) do seem to be
similar the world over. Me? I'd replace them with ordinary people yanked
from real life to serve terms of (say) 7 years - much as people here in
Britian are picked to serve on juries.

[plazul]

Originally Posted by Bill Sikes

Ha! Ha! You should hear our dear leader Benito B liar the faults of previous
governments. Really funny, I think not. They (politicians) do seem to be
similar the world over. Me? I'd replace them with ordinary people yanked
from real life to serve terms of (say) 7 years - much as people here in
Britian are picked to serve on juries.

If we ever get real campaign finance reform ordinary people might actually have a shot at running for political office, including the presidency. When that happens democracy will have finally arrived.

[anastrophe]

Originally Posted by plazul

The intent here is to make Kerry look weak on defense. He's not.

i'd be interested in counterposing voting records that back that assertion.