Here is the argument they will use on Kerry if he is the nominee :

[kentuck]

(I could draw up their argument for each candidate)

But they will say that Kerry is a Massachusetts "liberal" and they will put his name in the same sentence with Michael Dukakis. They will say it over and over and over, repetitively.

And they will say that his voting record is more liberal than the senior Senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy.

And they will question his ability to be the commander-in-chief because he threw his medals from Viet Nam over the fence at the White House toward Richard Nixon. Now what kind of patriot would do such a thing? General Clark never done anything like that?

And they will repeat these like a mantra for weeks on end. How does Kerry counter them and disarm them?

[SimpleMan]

1. I agree completely. nt

-

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. It doesn't help that the convention is in Boston

I just read something on this from a right winger:

"The Democratic Party convention this summer is in Boston - home of the Kennedys and Mike Dukakis. If John Kerry wins the nomination - and make no mistake about it: he is not in possession of the Big Mo in New Hampshire - can the Democrats win with yet another Northeastern Liberal? That image of the Kennedys and all the other lefties surrounding Kerry and his running mate will not play well in Bush's red states."

http://www.americandaily.com/item/4412

[JI7]

3. i agree, but i expect kerry is prepared for them

it's actually already started. they always mention kennedy,dukakis,massachusettes liberal when talking about him. but i'm pretty sure he is ready for it.

[LiberalBushFan]

4. They'll say "You voted for the war. Now you have an agenda."

And Kerry will feel forced to begin every sentence he ever says with "Saddam was evil dictator, but"

Sorry but most people don't have the attention span to get to the "but". That's why only a simple one-sided message will work. That's why I'm glad Clark says "I would not have voted for the IWR."

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. Gee, that's the same question RW whore Jennings asked last night:

JENNINGS:Senator Kerry, you're also from New England, from the state where the president believes that activist judges are threatening the basic sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman.

The Republicans will certainly remind people or make them know that you were lieutenant governor to Michael Dukakis. The Republican National Committee chairman, I believe, will make a speech tomorrow in which he will say that you are more liberal than Teddy Kennedy.

Show Democrats how you push back.

KERRY: I look forward to that fight, and I particularly want to have that debate with this president.

I am a veteran. I fought in a war. I've been a prosecutor. I've sent people to jail for the rest of their life. I have, as a lieutenant governor, helped to fight to create a national plan on acid rain to protect our rivers and lakes and streams for the future.

As a senator, I've stood up for years and fought for fairness. I've also voted for welfare reform. I am a gun owner and a hunter since I was a young man. I think that my education reform -- the other significant efforts to try to make the workplace fair in America are as vital to people in the South and the Southwest and the West and the Midwest of this country as anywhere else.

I look forward to standing up and holding George Bush accountable for pushing seniors off of Medicare into HMOs, for prohibiting Medicare from even negotiating a bulk purchase price, from turning an energy bill into a bonanza for his friends in the oil industry to the tune of $50 billion.

The workplace of America, Peter, has never been as unfair for the average American as it is today. And there are more ways to describe that than I have in 60 seconds. But over the course of the next months, Americans will come to understand there's a way to make America fundamentally fair and live up to our promise to all of our citizens.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A39875-2004Jan22?language=printer

And the medals question, that's straight from the mouth of RW whore Robert Novak on Crossfire today:

NOVAK: Senator, the first time I met you, over 30 years ago, you came to Washington as a young war hero who was protesting against the war. It was brought up last night that you threw away your medals.

KERRY: I actually threw away my ribbons, not my medals, yes.

NOVAK: Your medals -- those ribbons means a lot. Your courage and intrepid behavior was an inspiration.

KERRY: Yes.

NOVAK: Those ribbons and medals mean a lot to a lot of us.

KERRY: Yes, they do.

NOVAK: Everybody makes mistakes. Do you think that that was a mistake, as a young man who felt that deeply?

KERRY: No, Bob, it was not a mistake. It was a very heartfelt and painful expression, symbol, if you will, of the anger that a lot of veterans felt.

And it was the only way to sort of get the nation's attention and sort of shake the nation and say, hey, look, this is what's happening. I'm proud of what I did in Vietnam personally. I'm proud of the men I served with. I'm proud of what I did to earn those. But, on the other hand, it was a way of saying to the nation, stop, look, and listen. And I think it did that.

I will tell you, it was a very difficult thing for everybody to do. There was great emotion in that ceremony. Those vets were crying. They were angry. But it really teaches you a great lesson about the consequences of the decisions you make about going to war. I remain proud of my service. And I said it then. I said then, I'm prepared to go to war again to defend my nation, but it's got to be with all of the nation coming to the sense that -- or the vast majority of the nation coming to the sense, this is really the last resort and this is what we have to do.

And that's how wars ought to be engaged in.
http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0401/23/cf.00.html

[NewYorkerfromMass]

10. Sounds like he's got the 60 second answer perfected

that was great.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

28. What is best is Kerry does not run away from liberalism,

instead, he argues for liberal values. If you think that is a losing argument, you may be in the wrong party.

[elperromagico]

11. Good defenses, both.

I like the way he turns the argument around; it could be very effective.

[Old and In the Way]

47. The Kerry should have said: "Any other questions, Bob? Good.

I have one for you.

Why'd you ought a CIA agent? You do love America, don't you Bob? Bob, I'll be discussing this with you, in more detail, after I'm elected in Novemeber."

[sweetheart]

6. I'm glad he threw his medals away

Any person who still carries around their medals from decades ago is lost in the past. Instead, he used the power of that past to fight for justice and moved on.

I'm sure he can respond very effectively. Methinks its pure press relations... and mass media press relations in that if there are 10,000 people in the kerry press office banging down every door of every radio station, every newspaper, website, television station and more...every minute, then kerry wins.

We have to become like the way israeli's shout "antisemitism" when someone makes even the slightest insult.... and scream until they stop.

I agree they will attack... and we will fire back.

[IndianaGreen]

29. Kerry never threw his medals away!

He confessed that the medals he threw were from a friend of his. This confession came about after he was confronted about this by a reporter who knew that Kerry had lied.

[sweetheart]

35. oh! well, then oops!!

i misunderstood. He still has his medals... ok... well... ? i tried... give me some facts, and i'll spin up a good defense with them.. but geesh, this is like a swamp!

[IndianaGreen]

39. Mr. Both Ways (Article about Kerry and his medals)

From conservative columnist Mona Charen, a rather accurate portrayal of Mister Waffles:

Mr. Both Ways
Mona Charen
September 5, 2003

Kerry's website notes that he served as "co-founder" of Vietnam Veterans Against the War. One of the other key figures was Al Hubbard, who spelled America with a "k." Kerry participated in one of VVAW's most famous protests, Dewey Canyon III, "a limited incursion into the country of Congress." Members of VVAW marched on Washington wearing tattered fatigues. They circled the Capitol and attempted to gain entry to Arlington National Cemetery. By nightfall, they had settled in front of the White House. While one of their number played taps, veterans -- including Kerry -- stood up one by one to throw the medals they had earned in Vietnam over the White House fence.

Years later, Kerry's medals turned up, framed, on his office wall in Washington, D.C. A reporter asked him if these were the same medals he had so theatrically thrown over the White House fence. Kerry was forced to acknowledge that he had thrown some other sailor's medals and kept his own. Mr. Both Ways. Some days he said America needed to feel ashamed of what it had done in Vietnam. On other days, when other winds were blowing, he claimed to be proud of his service.

How does that make sense? If America did something fundamentally "wrong" in Vietnam, as Kerry again insisted in his announcement speech, can any serviceman look back with pride on his participation? Kerry doesn't appear to have worked this out morally as, say, a Japanese soldier might need to do after World War II. The Japanese could reason: "I did my duty. That's the best I can say of my participation in an aggressive war." But Kerry's Vietnam War changes as his current political needs change. His moral reasoning is as shallow as yesterday's poll.

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/monacharen/mc20030905.shtml

[sweetheart]

43. i guess kerry is sorta like me some days

I've gotten so pissed at the USA and its evil behavior as a nation that i've said things on this forum that i would surely regret were i to seek public office... like that america deserved 9/11 and had it coming for its own mass murders abroad.

Then after tossing away the medals, i remember in other instances a tremendous love and reverance for the great aspects of the country (none of them remotely republican).... just i'm not in public office nor will I be.

I understand kerry's dillemma. I will defend him if he wins, just i think he should go down to the white house today with a camera crew and throw the damn things to come clean. Either that or bury them in his yard and say it is no longer important... but hanging them on the wall is a way to get crucified.

For all human beings, human rights.

peace,
-s

[Jacobin]

7. No. they will put Kerry's name with Ted Kennedy in every sentence

In the heartland, that is the worst epithet there is.

It's already started on Inanity's radio hoopla today. Calling Kerry more librul than Kennedy.

If Kerry gets the nod, the GE is doomed, unless Smirk is caught in bed with a live goat or a dead boy and its on tape.

[bicentennial_baby]

9. That's pretty much how I feel

I hate to say it, but I want to be realistic.

[quaker bill]

37. Oh and perhaps they will note

That he served as Lt. Governor in the Dukakis Administration too.

I know it is all a bunch of BS, but since when did that ever hold them back.

[sandnsea]

8. Watch C-Span

If anybody watches that whole program and doesn't think Kerry can beat back anything thrown at him, they just don't want to see it.

[elperromagico]

12. That's the problem: It's a whole program.

Too many Americans have been trained to think in sound bytes. I think (or hope) Kerry realizes that.

[sandnsea]

15. Turn it on

Catch the replay. America isn't shutting that off. Believe me. ;)

[kentuck]

18. Unfortunately, that is very true....

The vast majority of Americans do not wish to hear a 10-point plan on how to fix the economy or how to create a healthcare system that would benefit us all. If you're looking for votes, tht is the wrong route to go. They listen to soundbytes. They will take the soundbytes above and run them over and over and over. To respond one time, effectively with a positive program, unfortunately cannot defeat such a strategy.

[sandnsea]

20. It's an hour of soundbytes

Turn it on, catch the replay. Get back to me.

[quaker bill]

38. We just may get a chance to find out.

I am not too terribly sure about it, but perhaps we will soon see.

[kentuck]

13. But if were to get to this point, it would mean Kerry is on the defensive

and that is not the place from which you want to fight your political battles. He would need to go on the offensive. He would need some ammunition about Bush that would put Bush on the defensive. And as Karl Rove has said, they like to fight from the offensive. Who, can any of them, put Bush and the Repubs on the defensive?

[sandnsea]

19. Pssst...

Kerry LOVES fighting from the defensive. And if he wins this thing, every Democrat is going to have to get in there and fight with him. And as long as he's slightly on the defensive, they will.

[IndianaGreen]

14. Kerry is prowar, pro-PATRIOT Act

Kerry won't get the vote of those that oppose the war on moral and ethical grounds.

Kerry won't get the vote of civil libertarians on the Left and the Right.

Kerry is Skull & Bones. The voters that are concerned about the stranglehold that this secret society has on the levels of power will never vote for a Bonesman.

Now, add to those the number of voters that will see Kerry as a gun grabbing member of the Eastern Establishment, and you have the ingredients for an electoral disaster.

[Monte Carlo]

21. An extremist is one who won't change her mind and won't change the subject

While you are so busy with everything wrong with John Kerry, I feel you disregard his considerable attributes as a Presidential candidate for this election. Not every Skull n' Bones is a James Bond villian.

[Jacobin]

24. Lots of people would like to change the subject on Iraq and make it

go away,....particularly die hard Kerry fans.

I have a prediction. Iraq is not going away. It is a roman candle about to explode.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

30. Iraq is a losing issue for Dean

and I hope he keeps pushing it.

Iowa results:
Among voters who 'somewhat disapprove' of the war in Iraq, Kerry received 34% of the vote, Dean received 14% of the vote.
Among voters who 'strongly disapprove' of the war in Iraq, Kerry received 34% of the vote, Dean received 29% of the vote.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/primaries/pages/epolls/IA/index.html

[Jacobin]

34. I doubt the popularity of this invasion. The kettle is about to explode

over there.

It's getting worse and not better.

[Old and In the Way]

49. You are correct.

Too bad George was not smart enough to use the Senate authorization to do it's intent. To back the UN inspections with force, if necessary. He could have saved many lives and let the UN continue to find no evidence of WMD. For that he should be impeached.

No one voted for unconditional War, they voted to give the President the authority to use this option IF it was needed. It clearly wasn't, but no one held a gun to this administration's collective head to commit ground troops based on information they fabricated.

The fault lies not in being responsible Representitives of the people, it lies in the irresponsible actions of the President who initated the war for his own personal political and economic agenda.

[Monte Carlo]

33. The nominee is not going to seize the issue by being a defeatist.

It can be difficult to inspire voters by scaring them about exploding Roman candles.

I am not overly concerned with the IWR issue. As far as I see, Democratic voters aren't overly concerned with it, either.

[sugargoose]

16. A LIBERAL?? OMG

How terrible!!

Whys is this a dirty word?

[Jacobin]

23. In case you haven't noticed

unless you happen to inhabit an urban area on the coasts, and some between the coasts, this is the favorite "slur" in the heartland.

We can pretend it doesn't exist, but I live in the middle of the red states and hear it day in and day out.

And a MA librul is comparable in the little minds of red state voters to beezlebub or worse.

I know its nuts. I'm not making this up. these same people elected George Fucking Bush, if you doubt their ability to discern.

[KaraokeKarlton]

17. No, they'll start circulating his book "The New Soldier"

n/t

[DJcairo]

22. Nothing's worse than a video of him screaming his head off!

IMHO

[IndianaGreen]

25. I rather have a candidate that shouts like Vince Lombardi

than one that tells me he is against the war, then votes for it, and follows that by telling me that his prowar vote was a vote to prevent war.

[mikehiggins]

26. Counter them?

How do you counter this: The GOP prints up millions of postcards showing Kerry with Jane Fonda and say "while american soldiers and pilots like John McCain were being tortured in Viet Cong prisons, John Kerry was living the high life with commie supporter Jane Fonda"

They hire buses full of VietNam era vets to follow him around from state to state with signs calling him a traitor.

And then we argue national security?

Just how stupid are we?

Kerry goes on Crossfire and tells Gabble-er that "everybody" agrees we won't go into that stuff we did as kids? What kind of total moron could even think that possible? Isn't Kerry bragging about what he did as a soldier? Isn't he trotting out his old buddies to testify about what a great and brave man he is?

Don't you think thousands of VietNam veterans are foaming at the mouth at the thought of him running for the Presidency?

Kerry is a master of negative campaigning. Just what does he think the Bush White House will do if there is a possiblity of Lurch getting elected?

The man will be labeled a traitor, for Pete's sake. Who do you think is going to give a shit that Dubya drank his way out of the national guard?

Why do you think Kerry doesn't want to touch the Bush accusations with a ten foot pole?

Why do you doubt for a second that this isn't exactly what is going to happen if Kerry gets the nomination?

Look at who we're running against. See any glint of human decency over there? Any shame? Any conscience?

Kerry is certain death for the Democratic party if he gets nominated.

Simple as that.

[IndianaGreen]

27. Kerry will lose the popular vote as well as the electoral vote to Bush

Kerry won't carry the border states because he will be seen as another gun grabber.

After the Columbine massacre, Kerry was among those that said that trigger locks could have prevented the massacre. Astonishing statement!

[tishaLA]

31. Agree with all that

but I would also add that they will attack his "masculinity" by constantly portraying him as a "kept" man (i.e., Heinz money, etc.). Gillespie today gave a speech where he said "Who would have imagined it? Teddy Kennedy is the conservative senator from Mass?"

It's everything one would expect, but I think playing games like this, in part, keeps us afraid of our own shadows instead of arming us against chimpy.

[isbister]

32. Here is the argument we will use on bush if he is the nominee

As you know, the record bush has to defend is a little bit more than the few sentences listed here against Kerry.

I'll get us started on our argument against bush.... I'll just do a teenie fraction of bush'srecord. His1 year, 2003, environtmental assault record:

December

Federal court blocks EPA plan to cripple Clean Air Act (12/24/03)

Court blocks Bush administration's Clean Air Act changes (12/24/03)

EPA revs up motorcycle pollution plan (12/23/03)

Another senior EPA official resigns in protest to Bush administration policies (12/23/03)

Forest Service clears way for logging in Tongass (12/23/03)

Bush administration streamlining oil and gas permits (12/23/03)

Forest Service opens grizzly bear habitat to snowmobiles (12/22/03)

New EPA mercury rule fails to account for 'lost' emissions (12/19/03)

Fish and Wildlife Service says fate of Missouri River wildlife takes precedence (12/18/03)

Forest Service scraps plan to ignore bulk citizen comments (12/17/03)

Judge overturns NMFS decision not to protect orcas (12/17/03)

EPA proposes sluggish plan to reduce smog and soot (12/17/03)

White House abandons plans to weaken Clean Water Act protections (12/16/03)

Court rejects Bush administration's snowmobile plan (12/16/03)

EPA enforcement cops returning to the environment beat (12/15/03)

EPA proposes industry-preferred mercury pollution plan (12/15/03)

USDA grant program makes energy the new cash crop (12/12/03)

Park Service says 'Let 'em snowmobile' in Yellowstone (12/11/03)

BLM wants to weaken grazing protections to help livestock industry (12/05/03)

Timber! Bush signs bill allowing lots more logging (12/04/03)

EPA planning to loosen mercury pollution rules (12/03/03)

November

Alaskan wilderness: Open for business (11/21/03)

Bush administration finally takes blame for Klamath fish kill (11/18/03)

Judge criticizes White House pro-industry mining rules (11/18/03)

EPA moves to fill landfills with radioactive waste (11/18/03)

Clarke conflicted over role at Interior Department (11/17/03)

EPA considers streamlining of toxics release inventory (11/17/03)

Bush administration seeks increase in use of ozone-depleting pesticide (11/14/03)

Park Service workers speak out against Bush policies (11/13/03)

EPA considers exempting small business from toxic release reporting (11/12/03)

Forest Service short-changes environmental review on grazing permits (11/10/03)

Mine safety official fired for whistleblowing (11/08/03)

Revised Everglades recovery plan not worth the wait (11/04/03)

Superfund cleanups lag for third straight year (11/04/03)

EPA flushes mandatory sewage treatment rule (11/03/03)

October

White House considers dropping some fish protections to promote logging (10/31/03)

Bush administration ignores damming evidence (10/29/03)

EPA may allow continued phosphate dumping in Gulf of Mexico (10/28/03)

Costly USFS and BLM outsourcing studies prove unhelpful (10/23/03)

EPA changes rule to exempt hazardous waste requirements (10/23/03)

EPA rule changes will increase pollution, studies say (10/22/03)

EPA developing ways around the Clean Water Act (10/22/03)

EPA will not regulate dioxins from sewage sludge (10/17/03)

EPA dodges Clear Skies comparisons (10/16/03)

Dirty secrets: Bush administration ignored Whitman's warnings on Clean Air Act enforcement (10/16/03)

Forest Service lets snowmobiles roam through caribou range (10/15/03)

Bush administration declares open season on endangered species (10/13/03)

Prominent conservationist condemns endangered species proposal (10/12/03)

New EPA dam proposal threatens salmon (10/10/03)

EPA further delays long overdue Clean Water Act enforcement upgrade (10/10/03)

Judge orders Interior Department to stop stalling on owl habitat protection (10/10/03)

Interior Department eases mining rules (10/09/03)

EPA shields pesticide makers from lawsuits (10/06/03)

Privatizing forests doesn't add up (10/05/03)

More Superfund sites, but less money (10/01/03)

September

EPA to issue daily air quality alerts (09/30/03)

White House study: benefits of environmental regulation far outweigh costs (09/29/03)

BLM opens millions of acres of wilderness to energy development (09/29/03)

EPA strikes deal with polluting factory farms (09/25/03)

White House recommendations could shut the public out of environmental review (09/24/03)

GAO finds that energy production pollutes wildlife refuges (09/24/03)

Corps of Engineers violates judge's ruling, won't lower Missouri River flows for wildlife (09/24/03)

Forest Service to sell Tongass timber at a loss (09/23/03)

White House plays down global warming evidence (09/21/03)

Interior Dept. provides $12.9 million in conservation grants (09/17/03)

Bush touts air pollution plan at dirty power plant (09/15/03)

Interior Department fires worker after land payment scandal (09/15/03)

Bush administration refuses to defend roadless rule (09/15/03)

Interior Department promotes offshore oil and gas drilling in Alaska (09/14/03)

Private contractors to determine endangered species' future (09/12/03)

Bush administration plays dirty in court case over water quality (09/10/03)

White House instructed EPA to hide potential health risks following 9/11 (09/09/03)

EPA opposes Bush plan to relax Clean Water Act (09/05/03)

EPA finds nearly 300 mountaintop removal violations (09/04/03)

EPA offers new water-saving program (09/04/03)

EPA balks at court ruling to protect waterways from pesticide pollution (09/03/03)

EPA lifts ban on selling polluted sites for development (09/02/03)

August

EPA passes the buck on regulating global warming pollution from cars (08/28/03)

EPA on global warming gases: Bring 'em on! (08/28/03)

EPA officially rolls back Clean Air Act protections (08/27/03)

Corporations shaped Bush energy policy, GAO says (08/25/03)

Park Service spending less than promised (08/21/03)

Oily deal on offshore drilling rights (08/21/03)

President making empty promises on parks funding, critics say (08/15/03)

Third Interior official under ethics investigation (08/14/03)

Bush taps Utah Gov. Leavitt to head EPA (08/11/03)

Bush administration offers to double logging in Northwest (08/08/03)

BLM maximizing energy development, minimizing environmental protection (08/07/03)

FWS puts wildlife in critical condition (08/06/03)

EPA makes misleading claims about support for Clear Skies plan (08/05/03)

Judge holds corps in contempt in Missouri River dispute (08/04/03)

July

EPA hides research on Senate clean air plan (07/30/03)

Bush administration taking on illegal logging abroad (07/29/03)

U.S. Forest Service exempts some logging projects from environmental review (07/29/03)

Forest Service rewriting Yellowstone plans with a grizzly ending (07/26/03)

Out with outsourcing, Bush administration decides (07/25/03)

EPA reconsidering proposal to weaken Clean Air Act rule (07/25/03)

Criticism forces NPS not to raid Mount Rainier repair funds (07/24/03)

Bush climate plan all study, no action (07/24/03)

Inspector General faults Interior officials for faulty land swap (07/23/03)

Judge holds Corps in contempt in Missouri River dispute (07/22/03)

BLM revs engines of off-road vehicle riders (07/19/03)

Federal judge forced to intervene in Klamath River water plan (07/18/03)

Bush asks Supreme Court to overturn roadless protections (07/18/03)

DOE attempting legislative end-run around court ruling on nuke waste (07/17/03)

Bush pushing to privatize park service (07/15/03)

Corps of Engineers rejects judge's ruling on Missouri River management dispute (07/15/03)

Interior bumps up funding under ESA for land conservation (07/14/03)

EPA quietly backs off on reducing drinking water pollution (07/12/03)

Bush administration sending mixed signals on energy strategy (07/09/03)

Bush administration taps new group to speed up energy development in Rockies (07/08/03)

Court rules against Cheney task force secrecy (07/08/03)

EPA enforcement program in shambles (07/07/03)

Agency swamped with public comments supporting manatee protection (07/07/03)

Illegal Navy sonar linked to porpoise deaths, environmentalists say (07/01/03)

Judge halts Montana timber sale, rules that Forest Service broke its own rules (07/01/03)

June

EPA rejects temporary ozone waiver for power plants (06/26/03)

Bush administration calls for more gas drilling on public lands (06/24/03)

White House whitewashes EPA environment report (06/23/03)

Fish and Wildlife Service reduces protected habitat for threatened mouse by half (06/23/03)

EPA concerned about Yellowstone snowmobiles (06/21/03)

DOD reneges on plan to test for perchlorate pollution at U.S. bases (06/20/03)

BLM vows to fix maligned land appraisal process (06/19/03)

Bush administration undermines critical habitat designations (06/18/03)

United States and European Union teaming up on hydrogen fuel cells (06/16/03)

Bush administration moves to roll back the Roadless Rule (06/09/03)

EPA letting polluters off the hook (06/06/03)

Department of Agriculture encouraging farmers to cut greenhouse gas (06/06/03)

Forest Service plan would triple logging limits in Sierra Nevada (06/05/03)

DOE snow job helps oil drilling in Alaska (06/03/03)

DOE moving ahead with new nukes (06/02/03)

May

White House buries mountaintop mining regulation (05/30/03)

White House forest-fire plan axes environmental protections (05/30/03)

Park Service opens Maryland seashore to Jet Skis (05/30/03)

Interior giving up on endangered species protection (05/29/03)

EPA failing to keep track of water quality (05/27/03)

Bush administration cuts wildlife protection, boosts logging in Northwest forests (05/27/03)

BLM opens fragile dunes ecosystem to off-road recreation (05/23/03)

BLM vows to fix flawed land-exchange program (05/23/03)

GAO chides Department of Agriculture for lax enforcement of wetlands protections (05/22/03)

Christie Whitman, embattled EPA chief, resigns (05/21/03)

National security, privatization put chokehold on funding for parks (05/18/03)

Pentagon accused of covering up perchlorate pollution (05/16/03)

GAO report on forest fires a blow to Bush administration policies (05/15/03)

EPA proposes easing, delaying smog control rules (05/14/03)

White House transportation plan steamrolls environmental protections (05/14/03)

FWS designates critical habitat in Hawaii (05/14/03)

Department of Interior official under ethics investigation (05/13/03)

Park Service pushes for personal watercraft on Lake Powell (05/13/03)

Fish and Wildlife Service signs off on mining in Montana wilderness (05/13/03)

Bush chills on subsidizing Alaskan gas pipeline (05/09/03)

Navy's illegal use of sonar blasts dolphins, whales in Puget Sound (05/08/03)

EPA drops "senior death discount" calculation (05/07/03)

EPA secretly considering amnesty for livestock farm polluters (05/05/03)

Energy Department illegally approved Mexican power plants, says judge (05/05/03)

Fish and Wildlife Service drops controversial manatee rules (05/05/03)

April

EPA reports record drop in fuel economy (04/30/03)

BLM approves Powder River Basin development (04/30/03)

White House bans EPA from discussing perchlorate pollution (04/28/03)

EPA Administrator Whitman misusing agency investigators (04/26/03)

White House says "ready, aim, shoot" on wilderness (04/25/03)

Fish and Wildlife Service holds the line on habitat protection plans for imperiled wildlife in California (04/24/03)

White House unveils its pro-industry chemical security bill (04/24/03)

Forest Service permits grazing in violation of federal law, says judge (04/24/03)

New Missouri River management plan imperils protected birds (04/22/03)

Independent panel challenges Bush administration air pollution policies (04/21/03)

White House favors offshore oil drilling in Alaska (04/21/03)

Bush administration considers delaying endangered species protection (04/19/03)

EPA cleaning up far fewer toxic waste sites (04/18/03)

EPA cracks down on diesel pollution (04/15/03)

EPA will force mining company to clean up pollution in Montana river (04/15/03)

BLM moves to overturn drilling ban in Alaska's Western Arctic Reserve (04/15/03)

BLM to relax permitting process for oil and gas development (04/14/03)

Bush administration rolls back wilderness protections (04/11/03)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife signs off on plan to reopen Imperial Dunes to off-road vehicles (04/10/03)

EPA tries to bolster urban cleanup efforts (04/10/03)

Interior Department paves way for new roads on federal lands in Utah (04/09/03)

EPA stifles staff objections to Pentagon pollution exemptions (04/09/03)

Interior Department paves way for new roads on federal lands in Utah (04/09/03)

Bush administration abandons protection plan for California coastal treasure (04/08/03)

Corps keeps oil spill secret, citing national security concerns (04/08/03)

Bush administration short-changing endangered species protection (04/07/03)

Bush taps another timber industry insider for environmental post (04/07/03)

Bush administration attacks world heritage status of Yellowstone (04/07/03)

New U.S.-- Mexico pollution treaty lacks funding to make a difference (04/04/03)

Bush administration looking to privatize park service jobs (04/04/03)

Bush administration begins diverting water from Klamath River -- where salmon kill occurred -- to farmers (04/03/03)

Bush administration giving away federal water rights in national park (04/03/03)

EPA fines company $34 million for pipeline spills (04/02/03)

Bush administration slightly raises SUV gas mileage requirements (04/01/03)

Bush administration ends court battle over California off-shore drilling (04/01/03)

March

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes stream protection in Alabama (03/28/03)

Whitman changes her tune on Pentagon environmental exemptions (03/26/03)

Interior Department favors boosting offshore drilling by reducing corporate costs (03/26/03)

National Park Service officially adopts snowmobile plan (03/25/03)

EPA backtracks on pledge to close loophole for California air polluters (03/25/03)

EPA cooks fish data to allow more pollution (03/21/03)

GAO slams Bush administration for stalling on chemical security (03/18/03)

Interior ordered to continue protecting manatees (03/18/03)

Bush administration proposes stripping protections for endangered wolves (03/18/03)

EPA allows sludge dumping in Potomac River to continue for seven more years (03/18/03)

Forest Service to double logging in Sierra Nevada forests (03/18/03)

EPA halts the use of toxic wood preservative (03/17/03)

EPA conflicted over Pentagon proposal to exempt the military from environmental laws (03/13/03)

EPA withdraws water-pollution cleanup rule (03/13/03)

EPA data on "Clear Skies" clearly wrong (03/10/03)

EPA exempts oil and gas industry from water pollution rules (03/10/03)

Pentagon chiefs ordered to hunt for environmental exemptions (03/07/03)

Defense Department seeking exemptions from environmental laws (03/06/03)

National Park Service sends Yellowstone bison to slaughter (03/04/03)

Judge orders federal protection for California fish (03/04/03)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service outlines sea otter recovery plan (03/04/03)

New EPA guidelines assess cancer risks for children (03/03/03)

Bush administration intervened in Nevada mining dispute at request of industry (03/03/03)

February

Interior officials escalate rhetoric over Arctic Refuge (02/28/03)

Bush administration rejects wilderness protection in Alaska's Tongass (02/28/03)

Department of Transportation to expedite more environmentally harmful road projects (02/27/03)

Bush administration to build world's first emission-free power plant (02/27/03)

U.S. EPA seeks to weaken endangered-species protections (02/27/03)

Bush air pollution plan weakens current law, threatens public health (02/27/03)

Bush administration flunking on salmon recovery (02/26/03)

Bush administration sets sights on drilling in Western Arctic Reserve (02/26/03)

Scientists debunk Bush's global warming plan (02/25/03)

Bush administration using guise of security to expand corporate secrecy (02/25/03)

White House ordered to reveal climate change documents (02/21/03)

EPA delays report on mercury risk for children (02/20/03)

National Park Service overturns ban on snowmobiles in national parks (02/20/03)

BLM opening sensitive Wyoming lands to drilling (02/18/03)

White House gets industry support for voluntary pollution cuts (02/12/03)

EPA plans to relax toxic air pollution standards (02/11/03)

Bush official touts Western coal, weaker mining regulations (02/10/03)

Spotted owl denied federal protection despite additional logging threat (02/10/03)

Bush administration pushing for pesticide exemptions from international environmental treaty (02/07/03)

GAO halts lawsuit over Cheney energy files (02/07/03)

Bush administration wins sweetheart water settlement for wealthy California farmers (02/06/03)

White House fuel cell plan ignores today’s oil insecurity (02/06/03)

EPA failing to protect Louisiana's environment and public health (02/04/03)

OMB pushes for industry-skewed cost-benefit analysis (02/04/03)

January

New EPA air rules for ocean vessels too weak (01/31/03)

GAO faults EPA oversight on factory farms (01/31/03)

Bush administration seeks waiver on ozone-destroying pesticide (01/30/03)

BLM putting grazing restrictions out to pasture (01/30/03)

Bush snowmobile decision defies logic, not to mention scientific findings (01/30/03)

Polluting industries getting off easier under Bush administration (01/29/03)

Sierra Nevada forest protections under fire by Bush administration (01/29/03)

Bush administration wins court victory on mountaintop removal mining (01/29/03)

In Bush's State of the Union address, actions speak louder than words (01/28/03)

California's giant trees threatened by Bush forest plans (01/27/03)

Interior Department may privatize National Park Service (01/27/03)

Manatees finally get protection (01/24/03)

Ignoring health risks, EPA chooses not to ban dangerous weed killer (01/21/03)

Pentagon again taking aim at environmental laws (01/19/03)

Bush administration setting its sights on oil in Western Arctic Reserve (01/17/03)

Federal study contradicts Bush claims of curbs on Western energy development (01/17/03)

EPA sticking with unsafe perchlorate standard (01/16/03)

Environmental experts nixed from international development agency (01/16/03)

Bush administration to revisit spotted owl protections (01/14/03)

Court sides with environment, upholds EPA stormwater rule (01/14/03)

Bush administration says logging good for wildlife (01/14/03)

Defense Department targets environmental laws (01/13/03)

EPA proposes water pollution trading scheme (01/13/03)

Bush administration planning to remove federal protection for America's wetlands and small waterways (01/10/03)

Despite scientific concerns, Interior Department approves power plant near Yellowstone (01/10/03)

Bush administration considers new nukes (01/10/03)

EPA seeking legislative 'fix' to let air polluters off the hook (01/07/03)

Bush administration paves way for new roads in parks, wilderness (01/06/03)

Bush administration pushing to lift grizzly bear protection (01/05/03)

Bush administration blamed for Klamath River fish kill (01/05/03)

Forest Service loosens logging restrictions for small-scale projects (01/03/03)

NRDC: The Bush Record 2003 - Index

[IndianaGreen]

40. If you can't put that into a sound bite

you don't stand a chance!

[isbister]

44. I didn't count 'em

but that was a couple hundred sound bites from one issue in one year.

The point is that we have quite a library to choose from. Combining your point with mine, if we whittle all of them down to the few thousand outrageous ones and then whittle those down to the few hundred "does great damage to the country" ones, we'll easily have a couple of sound bites worth a day.

The original post had what, a couple of lines against Kerry?

People often joke that they'd vote for a ham sandwich over bush and I believe with the right attitude, armed with bush's record, we Dem's could convince the American people that the ham sandwich would do a better job than bush... we could get a ham sandwich elected!

--If you vote for a ham sandwich, you'll never have to listen to it mangle the english language.

--A ham sandwich doesn't invade other nations, you can trust that a ham sandwich won't get the country into war.

--A ham sandwich shows in its everyday life that it truly is a uniter, not a divider... unlike bush, a ham sandwich knows how to reach across the aisles to get the job done.

--A ham sandwich will not present a danger to your environment.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

41. If only that were all of it

[LibDemAlways]

46. All DUers know that the chimp's record sucks.

But it won't matter. Kerry (or whoever the Dem nominee is) is going to be spending most of his time defending himself against vile personal attacks. Sen Kerry, is it true you tossed medals over the White House fence during Vietnam? Why would you do such a thing when our brave men were still fighting and dying over there? Where was your judgment, your common sense? Senator Kerry, do you consider yourself a liberal in the tradition of Michael Dukakis? Senator Kerry, you have stated that your vote on the IWR was the right decision. You also supported the Patriot Act and No Child Left Behind.
Why should people vote for you, when they can vote for the man whose major legislation you have supported? Senator Kerry, it's been said that you "look French." Could you please tell our audience something about your ancestry? Senator Kerry, you call yourself a Catholic yet you support the killing of the unborn in direct opposition to your church. Why?


It's not going to be pretty, and Kerry can't and won't win anywhere in the South.

Clark holds the "General" card and if he comes out of New Hampshire unbloodied (given the beating the whores are currently administering) he's our best hope. For God sakes, all Hume could come up with was accusing him of being a repuke. Seems to me that's not going to turn too many moderate repuke types off -- the type we'll need in Nov,
Clark doesn't have Kerry's baggage. The Dems have got to step up to the plate, tell Rove and the whore media they are not going to choose our nominee, and nominate a fighter who will send the chimp and Cheney's sorry asses back to Texas.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

48. Bush's record won't matter? Then what argument do we use against him?

:shrug:

btw, Clark's candidacy is doomed. There is no way our party is going to nominate someone with absolutely no political record.

[bigtree]

36. His veteran campaign will play extremely well down south

Tons of veterans there because the overall lower economy caused a lot of southerners to choose the military as a career.

[IndianaGreen]

42. Do you think they will cheer Kerry for creating more veterans?

Kerry's vote for an unnecessary and avoidable war in Iraq created more veterans, and more dead and wounded.

[mvd]

45. I've been hearing about a Republicans for Kerry movement

Now given, it's not as big as that Reagan Democrat one yet, but it shows promise that Kerry can have wide appeal. One of my aunts is a conservative Catholic, and she likes and might vote for Kerry. Also saw a lifelong Republican coming up to meet Kerry on C-SPAN this evening.