Reply #7: He can't figure out how to promote a strategy thats not all-or-nothing

[mulethree]

There's no all-or-nothing, point by point 'decisive' strategy when you have to account for what the Iraqi's will ask for and future uncertainty.

The media seems to require a deadline and commitments before they will label it a strategy.

Kerry can talk about a strategy that includes uncertainties like international support, contingencies and so forth, and do it straightforward leaving a lot of qualifiers assumed and leave the stage having communicated 'yes has a plan'.

But Bush seems incapable of it. He either gives a 1-2-3 plan and comes off sounding ignorant, or he brings up so many qualifiers and hem-haws so much that he comes off as 'we're playing it completely by ear'.

They could have the exact same plan with appropriate branch strategies and qualifiers and Kerry could give a 'has plan' impression while Bush exudes 'clueless'.