Full Speech Text: Bob Graham

In case you didn’t get enough the first time ‘round, here’s the full copy of Graham’s speech (via the DNC):

Fellow Democrats, thank you. And most especially, fellow Floridians, thank you for granting me the honor and privilege of serving you for nearly four decades. My family and I are so grateful to all of you for the wonderful adventure of public service you have made possible. Florida, you’ve made the difference for me; I know you’re going to make the difference for John Kerry and John Edwards. And this time, when the votes are counted, fellow Floridians, we are going to make a huge difference for America.

My fellow Americans, I want to tell you why I am casting my vote for John Kerry and John Edwards. The preamble to the Constitution tells us that one of the most important responsibilities of the government is to “provide for the common defense.” It has now been over one thousand days since the September 11th terrorist attacks changed our nation. One thousand days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, America had already landed on the beaches of Normandy and was rolling to victory in World War II. In that same amount of time in this new war on terror, we have not yet secured the beachhead. John Kerry and John Edwards will.

In this new century, we have seen the rise of perilous new threats. And yet we have not stopped them; we haven’t even stood up to them. John Kerry and John Edwards will. At a time when all freedom-loving people are looking for leadership to unite the world in a war against terrorism, America has not provided it. My friends, John Kerry and John Edwards will.

As Governor of Florida, I learned how little the FBI and CIA communicate with the state and local law enforcement agencies that are our first line of defense against terrorist attack. As Florida’s senator, I saw seaports where the greatest security was often little more than a chain-link fence. As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I have seen the places in the world where the worst biological weapons were manufactured, where nuclear materials go unprotected, and where the next generation of terrorists is being recruited. And as chairman of that committee, I investigated the September 11th attacks and saw how they should have been prevented.

From all of my service, I’ve come to this conclusion: Yes, there are real threats. But there are also real solutions.

Just last week, the September 11th commission was the latest to recommend major changes in the way we fight the war on terror. Few of these are new. Most are obvious. Sadly, over one thousand days after September 11th, none of them are in place. The ideas are there. It’s the leadership that has been missing.

We know that North Korea and Iran have nuclear aspirations, if not nuclear weapons. And yet only John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to keep the world’s deadliest weapons from falling into the world’s most dangerous hands. We know that money is the terrorists’ lifeline, and yet it was John Kerry, long before September 11th, who had a plan to cut off the sources of terrorist funding.

We know that our bridges, tunnels, trains, buses, chemical plants, food and water supplies, are still vulnerable to attack, and yet only John Kerry and John Edwards are willing to make the investments we need to truly be safe. And we know that Iraq didn’t attack the United States on September 11th; Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda did.

And that is why John Kerry and John Edwards will not only win the peace in Iraq, but will fight the war on terror wherever it needs to be fought: the palaces of the Middle East, the banks of Europe, the ports in Florida, the firehouses of Boston. John Kerry recognizes that victory in the war on terror requires all of the resources of the United States-diplomatic, economic, intelligence, and military.

Today, “recruiting billboards” for al Qaeda are being erected on the main streets of the Middle East. We need to work with our allies and like-minded people of the Islamic world to tear down those billboards and drain the swamp of terror. Providing for the common defense is not a piece of rhetoric from a founding document - it is the most solemn responsibility we entrust to our leaders. This is a war that demands new resources and new ideas. But most of all, it is a war that demands new leadership.

And when Americans ask, “Who will provide that leadership?” I can tell you, John Kerry and John Edwards will. For our children and grandchildren, for our security, for our country, we must elect John Kerry the next president of the United States.

Seriously: Graham's Getting Ignored

Now I really feel sorry for the guy. Nobody in Blogger’s Roost is listening. Nobody in the upper deck is listening. He’s getting applause of about the same volume that we heard during the 4:00 speeches. The Florida delegation is doing their best to give the crowd CPR … but I think I see EMT’s checking the Utah delegation for a pulse.

No kidding: the crowd didn’t realize he’d finished until the post-speech bumper music started. They picked “Jump,” thank God, and the crowd’s coming back to life.

It’s too bad for him, really.

I Feel Sorry For Bob Graham

Going from Al Sharpton to Bob Graham is like going from, well, Al Sharpton to Bob Graham. Not an easy slot for anybody … but right now in the hall, Graham’s speech feels like the post-climax afterglow, and everyone’s gone out for a smoke.

Oh … hey … he’s still talking …

Graham Gone but Not Forgotten

Thomas Beaumont of the DesMoines Register is arguing that Graham's departure from the race helps Clark. Primarily because Graham has left behind a pretty healthy campaign staff in Iowa that appear ready and willing for Clark to pick up the charge. But Clark may be thinking otherwise. The Washington Post has an article this morning claiming that the Clark camp is going to forget about Iowa and New Hampshire. They've started too late to catch up in those states, which typically expect candidates to be on their soil for a considerable amount of time during the year prior to the elections. They plan to focus on later but equally important primaries in the South and West. This is a risky decision, Clark might be better advised to try to make a decent showing in NH at least.

Furthermore, Graham's resignation from the race also helps Clark by eliminating one of his very few foreign policy challengers; Graham is Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

Finally, Graham might be gone for now but don't count him out as someone's VP candidate. Florida is an extraordinarily important state in the Electoral College (as we all know) and with the President's brother governor of the state, Democrats will need every leg up they can get. Graham, the state's senior senator could be that leg.

Graham Drops Out

Bob just told Larry King that he's done ... here's the WaPo story:

Bob Graham, a political veteran whose low-key style failed to gain traction in the crowded Democratic presidential race, said Monday night he was ending his campaign.

"I'm leaving because I have made the judgment that I can not be elected president of the United States," Graham said in announcing his exit from the race on CNN's "Larry King Live."

He said he was not successful because he started his campaign too late and had trouble raising money.

Dems' Favorite Songs

Fox News has a list of the Democratic candidates' favorite songs. The list is quite telling I think:

Former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun-- "You Gotta Be," Des'ree.

Al Sharpton-- "Talking Loud, Saying Nothing," James Brown. He called it "James Brown's song about the Republican Party."

Sen. John Edwards-- "Small Town," John Mellencamp.

Sen. John Kerry -- "No Surrender," Bruce Springsteen.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean -- "Jaspora," Wyclef Jean.

Sen. Joe Lieberman --"Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow," Fleetwood Mac; "My Way," Frank Sinatra.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich -- "Imagine," John Lennon.

Rep. Dick Gephardt -- "Born in the USA," Bruce Springsteen.

Sen. Bob Graham -- "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes," Jimmy Buffett.

Bob Graham Hits the Airwaves

As if competing with Gov. Dean's guitar, Graham hit the stage yesterday, working backstage and giving a cameo appearance on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. Keillor remarked, "Whenever you're finished in politics - and I hope it's not soon - there's a career for you in comedy".

Graham is also appearing on NHPR's The Exchange, today.

Graham Op-Ed: We've Offerred

Seeing the Graham blog, I posted a comment offering the Senator a post on our op-ed page. You may see the comment here.

FYI, I made the same offer to the Dean campaign on July 4, and received no response.

Graham Plays Catch Up With Cross–Iowa RV Tour

Local coverage of the Graham Iowa campaign from the Burlington Hawk Eye. Sample from the stump:

Graham called the recent increase in deficit spending as "immoral."

"What it essentially says is that this generation, by not paying their bills, is going to increase the burden for our children and grandchildren," he said. "That goes against the way America has always been."

Grahams Start "Web Log"

It seems that Dean has started a trend. From the Tallahassee Democrat:

"Bob and I have started blogging," says a cheery public announcement issued by Adele Graham last week.

That's not to be confused with jogging. To "blog" is to start a "Web log," which Florida's senior senator is doing in his presidential campaign.

"Bob has been keeping a journal for decades," she wrote. "Now, Bob and I are using a blog to keep a journal online. On our blog, you can read about what is going on with the campaign and you can also share your ideas with us."

Bob Graham Eyes Potential Grounds For Bush Impeachment

Really. Turnabout, as they say, is fair play ... and it seems this election may be getting serious. From Yahoo / Reuters:

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Bob Graham said on Thursday there were grounds to impeach President Bush if he was found to have led America to war under false pretenses.

While Graham did not call for Bush's impeachment, he said if the president lied about the reasons for going to war with Iraq it would be "more serious" than former President Bill Clinton's lie under oath about his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

"If in fact we went to war under false pretenses that is a very serious charge," Graham, the senior U.S. senator from Florida, told reporters in New Hampshire.

"If the standard of impeachment is the one the House Republicans used against Bill Clinton, this clearly comes within that standard," he said.

Graham To Open Campaign Offices In Iowa

Eight of them, in fact, and he's also planning a visit to Quad-Cities later this month. Here's the account from the Quad-City times.

Florida Sen. Graham Tells Oklahomans He's Electable

Honestly: what else would he say? That he's not? Nonetheless, you can see the stump speech developing. Here's the account from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune:

Graham, a former Florida governor, said he's from "the electable wing of the Democratic Party" and described himself as a "moderate, commonsense Democrat." ...

... "I can beat George Bush in Florida and I will not have to have the U.S. Supreme Court to cast the last vote to do it," he told about 150 people at the state Democratic Party headquarters in Oklahoma City ...

... Graham, the former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Bush had not done enough in the war on terrorism, referring to terrorist leader Osama bin Laden as "Osama bin Forgotten."

Graham Is Working To Carve Out A Niche

From the Concord Monitor (NH):

According to one recent poll, Graham's name recognition among New Hampshire Democrats has doubled from 42 percent to 80 percent during the past four months. Nonetheless, the percentage of those who plan to vote for him stood at 2 percent.

Most polls put Kerry ahead, followed by Dean.

"You've got Dean on one side the state, and you've got Kerry on the other side," said Bill Cashin, a former Manchester alderman who is supporting Graham. "We understand the numbers. We know we're in an uphill fight, but I think we're going to see some surprises."

Presidential Hopefuls Parade in N.H.

AP:

AMHERST, N.H. - While people across the country celebrated Fourth of July with barbecues, baseball games and parades, residents of the first-in-the-nation primary state sized up possible presidents.

Four presidential hopefuls made their pitch to voters while marching with kids on bikes, Revolutionary War re-enactors, scouts, unicyclists and bands. New Hampshire's primary is scheduled for Jan. 27, 2004.

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean had the most supporters — and noisemakers — while marching in Amherst and then Merrimack, both within 15 miles of the Massachusetts state line. Kerry has ranked first in New Hampshire's latest polls and Dean has come in second.

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and Florida Sen. Bob Graham had fewer supporters present, but both shook as many hands and kissed as many babies as the regional candidates.

Bob Graham Gears Up With Marketing Deal

From Bay News (FL):

Florida Senator Bob Graham’s Democratic Presidential Campaign is shifting gears.

The former sunshine state Governor recently signed a deal to sponsor a team in the NASCAR Craftsman truck series.

According to published reports the truck will be covered with Graham’s campaign logos when it makes its debut at the Auto Parts 500 in Kansas City on Saturday.

Graham Stumps In Arizona

From the Arizona Republic:

As the glow of military success in Iraq fades, President Bush will face the same decline in popularity his father experienced after the first Gulf War, U.S. senator and presidential candidate Bob Graham said Friday.

A bad economy sank the first President Bush, and "we're having a very parallel, indifferent, clueless" approach to the current slump, the Florida Democrat said on his first visit to Arizona.