Posted on 04/26/2023 1:41:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Kennedy’s candidacy for US president is not to be ignored when it comes to peace
Robert Francis Kennedy Jr, near the very beginning of his April 19 announcement to run for US president for the Democratic Party, spoke these words:
“Fifty-five years ago last month, I sat as a 14-year-old boy behind my father as he … announced in a Senate caucus room in Washington, DC, his campaign for president of the United States. And my father at time was in the same, in many ways, the same position that I’m in today.
“He was running against a president of his own party. He was running against a war. He was running against – he was running at a time of unprecedented polarization in our country.”
In this way the son tells us right away that he is “running against a war,” Joe Biden’s cruel US proxy war against Russia using Ukrainians as cannon fodder.
He reminded us that his father was given very little chance of winning and felt he would likely lose. But on June 6, 1968, the day of his assassination, RFK Sr had won the primary in California, an urban state, and South Dakota, a rural state.
The son is telling us that his is a candidacy not to be written off lightly. RFK Jr was polling at 14% among Biden voters even before he announced. And nearly 44% of Democrats want anybody but Biden, with only 25% wishing him to run in 2024.
A video of the entire two-hour speech, impressive in many ways, is to be found here and a transcript here. Kennedy did not read from a prepared text. although the speech appeared to be carefully outlined. It had a refreshing air of informality. And it deserves a careful listen.
Many of the points in the speech are summed up in the section on “Peace” at RFK Jr’s campaign website, Kennedy 2024.com, as follows:
“Annual defense-related spending [by the US] is close to $1 trillion. We maintain 800 military bases around the world. The peace dividend that was supposed to come after the Berlin Wall fell was never redeemed. Now we have another chance.
“As president, Robert F Kennedy Jr will start the process of unwinding empire. We will bring the troops home. We will stop racking up unpayable debt to fight one war after another.
“The military will return to its proper role of defending our country. We will end the proxy wars, bombing campaigns, covert operations, coups, paramilitaries, and everything else that has become so normal most people don’t know it’s happening. But it is happening, a constant drain on our strength. It’s time to come home and restore this country.
“When a warlike imperial nation disarms of its own accord, it sets a template for peace everywhere. It is not too late for us to voluntarily let go of empire and serve peace instead, as a strong and healthy nation.”
And on Ukraine:
“In Ukraine, the most important priority is to end the suffering of the Ukrainian people, victims of a brutal Russian invasion, and also victims of American geopolitical machinations going back at least to 2014.
“We must first get clear: Is our mission to help the brave Ukrainians defend their sovereignty? Or is it to use Ukraine as a pawn to weaken Russia? Robert F Kennedy will choose the first. He will find a diplomatic solution that brings peace to Ukraine and brings our resources back where they belong.
“We will offer to withdraw our troops and nuclear-capable missiles from Russia’s borders. Russia will withdraw its troops from Ukraine and guarantee its freedom and independence. UN peacekeepers will guarantee peace to the Russian-speaking eastern regions.
“We will put an end to this war. We will put an end to the suffering of the Ukrainian people. That will be the start of a broader program of demilitarization of all countries.
“We have to stop seeing the world in terms of enemies and adversaries. As John Quincy Adams wrote, ‘Americans go not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.’”
Those are strong words and realistic categories like “empire,” “proxy wars,” “coups,” “geopolitical machinations going back to 2014,” all ugly imperial facts alluded to euphemistically or not at all in the mainstream media.
This is a candidacy that cannot be ignored or reduced solely to the pros and cons of mRNA vaccines or Kennedy family squabbles over the candidacy as the mainstream media have done. For example, in its brief back-page coverage, The New York Times, the foremost mouthpiece of the imperial establishment, there is nary a mention of war with another nuclear power now hanging over Americans’ heads.
This is not to say that we should accept all of RFK Jr’s words at face value. But given the present enthusiasm for war in every corner of the Democratic Party’s political establishment and among much of its base, it is difficult to see his candidacy as opportunistic.
He even goes so far as to praise China’s Belt and Road Initiative, contrasting that expenditure to America’s on endless wars, a taboo view, to put it mildly, among the US political establishment.
RFK Jr’s candidacy deserves to be treated skeptically like all candidacies, but not cynically. His speech merits a respectful hearing.
Don’t forget anti-pharmaceutical industry as well. We really have to real in the price of health care in this country.
I want to see a Trump-Kennedy matchup. That would blow the deep state right out of the water.
“It’s time to come home and restore this country.”
That is the winning line-
It’s MAGA in Lib Talk, for all you NeverTrumper Phony-Fancy-Pants that think our PDJT the GOAT is a bit too “un-washed”.
The Turn of the Modern Left could not be more evident than when a true Liberal Democrat, with actual Dem BonaFides, speaks like a Trumper and smacks the Dem Nominee.
Gotta call the FAA ‘bout them Propelling Porcine Pilots-
Neither of them will be “allowed” to run.
It will be interesting to see if he can gain any traction. His voice, yes, I know he has medical condition, is very offputting. Makes Biden sound young. His views are way out there, not a socialist like Sanders, but definitely not mainstream. Doubt he’ll pass muster with AOC and her gang.
https://twitter.com/rncresearch/status/1651237346484822018/mediaviewer
Can he walk better than this guy?
I want to see a trump kennedy ticket. Let’s face it social issues will never be taken up by anybody...just a lot of lip service. This combo would hopefully get more votes than they can steal.
as long as kennedy dont talk
Isn’t that Bannon’s goal as well ? I don’t get how that could hurt Trump.
Oh I know but it will be interesting watching them trying to take these 2 down. Over 2/3’s of Repubs support Trump and Kennedy may well get traction because even most Dems have become sick of Biden so it might be harder for them than they think. I don’t think they can risk killing a third Kennedy, that would be way too obvious. And the only way they can try and stop Trump is to keep him off the ballot.
RFK is hardly perfect. I like certain things about him, dislike other things about him. But as a VP, with Trump, I think they would be unstoppable — except, of course, for hugely over-the-top obvious voter fraud.
Both parties are basically dead. The fact that RFK is a “Democrat” and Trump is a “Republican” is essentially meaningless to me. I see no reason why they should not team up to take on the Deep State.
Too bad Biden cancelled the debates (not that I blame him). RFK would have mopped the floor with him
But how will Hunter make a living? He can’t survive just off his paintings! Have you no mercy RFK Jr.???
Unfortunately I don’t think he stands a chance.
He accused the deep state of destroying the middle class!
Robert Kennedy Jr is a past years democrat. The dems are commies today.. a party with no feeling for the people. just win at any cost so they can keep control.
There are republicans who are past years democrats and would vote for him over Trump.
I did not like John Kennedy to win.. he was too far from my beliefs.. but he was closer to a republican than the dems, who have no feeling any more.. just power and lies.. nothing for the people out here.
If the 2 cannot get together.. he is a threat to Trump and the dems would love that.
the world is so messed up!!!!!!!!!
I don’t trust Kennedy. The notion that a Kennedy would be an anti-Deep Stater seems unlikely.
Which, no doubt, is the reason why biden's handlers ordered him to cancel the debates for.
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