If elected, Kerry would face daunting problems

[ringmastery]

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped... /

On the economic front, most observers expect higher interest rates in late 2004. Kerry will face a sluggish economy and perhaps a double-dip recession.

The reason for the higher interest rates is the Bush deficits. At some point soon, money markets will start demanding a better return if they are to keep buying government bonds.

To undo the fiscal mess, Kerry would be torn between reassuring Wall Street with a lot of deficit cutting and trying to find some funds to restore domestic social investment.

Foreign policy and domestic security will not be pretty either. As the focus shifts from imagined threats (Saddam Hussein) to real ones (the scandalously weak state of domestic preparedness against terrorist attack), a Kerry administration would need to spend more on everything from port security to Public Health Service monitoring of a possible biological or radiological attack.

On the foreign front, a Kerry administration would also need to spend more money, at least in the short run, to stabilize and honorably extricate the United States from Iraq. Even a multilateral occupation force would demand a lot of American financial help.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Yes he will..but I'd rather a competent man who isn't a sociopath

be in charge of dealing with those problems.

[bryant69]

2. Sounds like it would be a challenge

As opposed to all those other times when being president was easy.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[trotsky]

8. Ha ha ha

Great comment.

Clinton took the sow's ear that Bush I gave him in '93 and made a silk purse. It can be done, with true leadership and vision - neither of which the current dunce in the White House has.

[Lone_Wolf]

3. This is probably why McCain is being considered for VP...

We need a united country to fix these problems. Bush has done so much damge that this would be the only way to unite the U.S.

[davhill]

4. I agree

But the country is now polarized beyond repair. Conservatives and progressives both live in their own little worlds and cannot speak rationally except to themselves.

[Killarney]

5. Good points in that column

It's going to be VERY hard.

Shrub uses some line in all his speeches about not passing on problems to future presidents and future generations. I laugh every time I hear it because he's going to pass on the largest deficit in history, at least two wars, fractured alliances, foreign policy problems in at least 5 countries, etc. Dickhead.

[whosinpower]

7. I had thought the same thing

A year ago, when the Iraq war was launched, it occured to me that whomever replaced Bushco would have a monumental task ahead of them to put the nation back on the track of peace and prosperity, if they can....there is a possibility that the road to ruin is too far traveled down to turn around and go back. As is the Iraq war - it IS a conundrum...pull out and face ridicule, stay and endure hypocrisy....

[rock]

6. No sh*t watson

but I believe Kerry's up to the task.

[bluedog]

9. look at it this way

he can always blame bush for the mess the country is in!