Philzone.org Discussion Board: Archive 2004: Politics Archive 2004: Dear Mr. Bush...

To George W Bush,

KEYS TO THE RAIN

Hammer and ripsaw, the waves keep a-risin'
Step up and tells us the name of your poison
I took a step forward, fell out of my hat
at the sign in the window saying “Take What You Lack”
I went to inquire just about how much pain
was needed to purchase the keys to the rain
I mean, who do you think is gonna believe it
when you tell ‘em you got keys to the rain?

Sweet Mary was walking her dog in the fire
singing some tune called “My Hope and Desire”
Her tears were like needles that hung on a chain
She didn’t ask nothing ‘cept more of the same
Her blue eye was scarlet, her blind eye was fame
She wore a tattoo that read “Lock Up the Rain,”
I mean, who do you ever get to believe it
when you tell ‘em you got keys to the rain?

Yo no soy marinero, por tu sere
Por te serai, por tu sere
Para bailar a La Bamba
Se necesita un poco de gracia

The prodigal son steals off in the night
He done if before and it worked out all right
He took a wrong turning, wound up in a ditch
He coulda done worse, though, and ended up rich
His songs were cut open and found to be clay
The hope of the future served up in a tray
I mean, who do you think is going to believe it
when you tell ‘em you got keys to the rain?

You caught me and held me and called me your own
Then kicked in my teeth and left with my bone
Now I know you ain’t little but I ain’t that small
and you had surprise on your side, after all
So I’m making a wish, I never done that before
This is the first time and I hope there ain’t more
But just who do you think you’re going to get to believe you
when you tell ‘em you got keys to the rain?

The just and the crippled push up the flowers
And nothing remains but the songs of the hours
I hope you can dig it. I know that you will
but please don’t run hide when I come with my bill
And before you get trying this noose on for size
it’s so quick to fall, yes. And so slow to rise
And who do you think you ever get to believe it
when you tell ‘em you got keys to the rain?
Yeah, who do you think is going to believe it
when you tell ‘em you got keys to the rain?
(Box Of Rain, pp 122-3)

Signed,
John Kerry
9-30-04

what the heck does this mean?

KERRY: I understand what the president is talking about, because I know what it means to lose people in combat. And the question, is it worth the cost, reminds me of my own thinking when I came back from fighting in that war.
And it reminds me that it is vital for us not to confuse the war, ever, with the warriors. That happened before.
And that's one of the reasons why I believe I can get this job done, because I am determined for those soldiers and for those families, for those kids who put their lives on the line.
That is noble. That's the most noble thing that anybody can do. And I want to make sure the outcome honors that nobility.
Now, we have a choice here. I've laid out a plan by which I think we can be successful in Iraq: with a summit, by doing better training, faster, by cutting -- by doing what we need to do with respect to the U.N. and the elections.
There's only 25 percent of the people in there. They can't have an election right now.
The president's not getting the job done.
So the choice for America is, you can have a plan that I've laid out in four points, each of which I can tell you more about or you can go to johnkerry.com and see more of it; or you have the president's plan, which is four words: more of the same.
I think my plan is better.
And my plan has a better chance of standing up and fighting for those troops.
I will never let those troops down, and will hunt and kill the terrorists wherever they are.



KERRY: I couldn't agree more that the Iraqis want to be free and that they could be free.
But I think the president, again, still hasn't shown how he's going to go about it the right way. He has more of the same.
Now, Prime Minister Allawi came here, and he said the terrorists are pouring over the border. That's Allawi's assessment.
The national intelligence assessment that was given to the president in July said, best-case scenario, more of the same of what we see today; worst-case scenario, civil war.
I can do better.