Hidden Message from Bill Burkett Discusses Giving "Information" to the DNC?
I actually can't confirm this is the text of Burkett's actual message, because Yahoo now seems to be requiring membership in Burkett's Texas Democrats Yahoo group to read messages. I don't know if it's always been like this or if that group too is now "scrubbing" the record.
HawkeyeLonewolf tells me that at this address is an interesting post by Burkett.
This is the text as Hawkeye reports it. If anyone has a membership or can verify this, I'd appreciate it:
...Now dammit, I've worked with Rove, Hughes, Bartlett and Bush. They knew he was a little "pretty". There was even a story about Rove's comments about Edwards being a little "pretty". What that means is that they knew he wouldn't be able to scrap. And they haven't.So when someone claws Kerry what does he do, "Whine" to the FEC?
I spent some time on the phone with the Kerry campaign seniors yesterday after having to threaten to whip a little ass in order to get through seven layers of bureaucratic kids trying to get a job after the election. I talked with Max Clelend.
I hope he got the message, but even if he did, I'm not sure that his side of the issue can beat out the other half of the advisors. And that's a problem. There seem to be two factions within the Kerry advisors = one camp is the Gore holdover group who say play nice, we may make someone mad. The other includes people like Max Cleland who say kick ass. And the candidate can't seem to follow instincts and lay down some blood. The comments that he made Friday would have been effective if they'd been made the Monday after the convention, but two weeks later just doesn't work.
I'm concerned.
You have a candidate and all of us do. Your candidates are afraid to fight down and dirty. The people say they're sick of this- and they are. But Bush has nothing to lose. And he will do ANYTHING to get what he wants. SO when they do the attacks, if the turnout is lowered, as you are concerned, then he wins. If he scars Kerry, he wins. He wins in all directions unless there is a counterattack.
I said all of this to Max. I asked if they wanted to counterattack or ride this to ground and outlast it, not spending any money. He said counterattack. SO I gave them the information to do it with.
But none of them have called me back.
No, I'm sorry but until this party and this candidate learn to handle Bush, we in all honesty will lose this election. We have the emotion, the backlash, the issues, and discontent, but we don't have the passion for a fight. And that's what is about to get the elec tion tight enough that the dirty tricks in the voting booth and counting will work.
I've tried everything. Why do you think that my knowledge and ability was sufficient that I received death threat and actual shots fired at me? It's because I was willing not only to break ranks, but to fight. And I know how to fight them.
But the DNC is afraid of me, I guess, and afraid to do what I suggest.
...I've volunteered to come back to come back out with more. Others have too. But this candidate doesn't know how to fight and the campaign organization seems destined to loss in spite of the victory handed it by circumstance.
I'm sorry, I hope I can change my observation - and soon. But every time we get momentum, we take a week off and lose focus.
George Bush is vulnerable on the issues. So put him on the defensive dammit.
And you don't do that by being a nice guy.
...
For me, I've been to war. Most of you have quickly forgotten that I was the insider who broke ranks with the Bush Team and fought them in the legislature when our Democratic State legislators and LT. Gov were in bed with Bush to make him President. I fought many of the people whom you now consider HEROS because of Ardmore and Albuqurque. Why? because Bush was as corrput in Texas as he has been in Washington. And I exposed it.
While I hear all of you commenting and cannonizing the Repblicans who have jumped ship from the Bush Administration - Ambassador Wilson, Paul O'Neill, Richard Clarke, etc
Ahem. Clarke and Wilson-- Republicans? As Eric Stratton said, "Forget it, he's rolling."
and then watching as the Modereate Republicans like Richard Holbrooke, and John McCain take to the headlines building compromise and disarmament, I know that I was one of the first on June 25, 1997; followed by the funergate scam and others.If you want to turn this cuntry around, it can't be done with Bush in the White House. If you want to return freedom to our streets, it can't be done with Bush in the White House and Ashcroft as DOJ. So quit letting Ashcroft hide. Call him out.
If you want fiscal responsibility returned, you can't have that with Bush in the White House and the senate under the control of the Republicans.
Do more than talk. Be ready to gird up and go into battle. And when you go to battle there are scars. This isn't a gentlemanly event. It's war. And in war people get cut up, injured and killed. Take some risk. Be a leader nationally and at home. Quit just waiting for this victory to come to you so you can get some nice appointment out of it. If you wait, it will be a very long wait.
Bill Burkett