St. Louis "Swing State" Missouri newspaper endorses KERRY

[Bluebear]

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/9886702.htm?1c

ST. LOUIS - The St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Sunday endorsed John Kerry for president, saying he understands President Bush "took a wrong turn by transforming the war on terrorism into an invasion of Iraq."

The paper said Bush has failed to acknowledge problems in Iraq, passed on a huge debt load to the next generation, and presided over a decline in jobs, health insurance and median household income.

"In the troubled election of 2000, Mr. Bush ran as a compassionate conservative who wanted to create a 'lockbox' for Social Security and unite the nation, while conducting a humble foreign policy that eschewed nation-building," the endorsement said. "He pried open the lockbox, conducted an arrogant foreign policy, tried to grow a democracy in burning sand and left the nation more divided than at any time since Vietnam."
--snip

"John Kerry's campaign has given up on Missouri because they recognize his 20-year, out-of- the-mainstream record does not represent Missouri values," campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Millerwise said. "John Kerry is running as the complainer in chief but offers no credible alternatives, just attacks. (Sunday) in The New York Times he likened the war on terror to fighting gambling and prostitution, further demonstrating that he fundamentally does not understand the kind of enemy we face."