Newsview: Retooled Bush Speech Has Zingers

[Rose Siding]

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - By President Bush (news - web sites)'s latest reckoning, John Kerry (news - web sites) is a failed lawmaker, a politician who would strip health care from millions, a reckless, ineffective Massachusetts tax-and-spender, and — worst of all — a wimp.

After his lackluster debate performance and a government report undercutting his rationale for invading Iraq (news - web sites), Bush rolled out a revamped campaign speech Wednesday to refocus attention on his Democratic challenger. The speech bristled with new zingers that laid out in harsh and personal terms why Bush thinks Kerry is unfit to be commander in chief.
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In his 48-minute address, Bush ratcheted up his rhetoric by warning that the Democrat had left a "record of weakness." Later, to emphasize the point, Bush said Kerry had a "history of weakness."
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During his lengthy remarks on Iraq, Bush also avoided mention of a report presented Wednesday by the top U.S. weapons inspector in Iraq, Charles Duelfer, who concluded Saddam Hussein did not vigorously pursue a program to develop weapons of mass destruction after international inspectors left Baghdad in 1998. The finding contradicted prewar statements by Bush and top administration officials.

Bush also avoided references to the rising U.S. death toll in Iraq, which stood above 1,060 Wednesday.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041007/ap_on_el_pr/bush_retooled