Kerry Says Bush Needs 'Some Space' on Iraq (Dean Appears w/Kerry)

[Khephra]

PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - Democratic White House hopeful John Kerry, who has barely mentioned Iraq on the campaign trail this week, said on Monday he wanted to give President Bush ``some space to get things done.''

``I'm trying not to talk about it in politics,'' he told reporters aboard his campaign plane en route from Topeka, Kansas, to Portland for a rally with Howard Dean, a former rival for the Democratic presidential nomination.

``I want to give the president some space to get things done and see what happens,'' Kerry said. ``I wish the president would lead. He needs to lead, lives are at stake. He needs to be really bold.''

snip..........

At a rally in Portland, where Dean proved he could still draw huge and enthusiastic crowds, Kerry spoke of Iraq in general terms, urging that its reconstruction be internationalized and denouncing a war of choice rather than necessity, all without mentioning the president by name.


snip.....


Dean, who vehemently opposed the Iraq war -- unlike Kerry who voted for the congressional resolution authorizing the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq -- was not so kind to Bush.

After praising Kerry's heroism as a decorated Vietnam War veteran, Dean told about 4,000 boisterous supporters crammed into a downtown city square, ``I can't wait for a commander in chief who actually served abroad. There's a lot of talk in this election about patriotism ... I haven't heard from anybody on the other side who spent a day of their life overseas.''


more.........

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-campaign-kerry.html

[malatesta1137]

1. don't want to knock him when he's down huh?

would Bush do the same? and 'more space'? Bush takes enough naps during the day to 'get things done' at a record slow pace as it is.

[belle]

2. Good cop, bad cop, eh? Seems like a smart tactic...

[Democat]

46. Americans don't want a "good cop" for president - they want a fighter!

Kerry needs to look tough, not wimpy, to win during a war.

[Bandit]

86. Please don't be so presumptuous as to speak for all Americans

I do not consider the US at war. I do not want a War President. I want a good man with intelligence and cunning to win the hearts and minds of the rest of the world not through war and killing but through love and giving. Unless of course you don't consider me an American because I don't care for War.

[yardwork]

3. Kerry is giving the Chimp all the rope he needs to hang himself.

[section321]

37. Agreed. You know Bush can't fix it.

The Iraq War is totally and inseperbly Bush's. As it goes worse and worse the buck lands on Bush's desk. Regardless of where he says it should land. People know its his fuc&up.

[Kahuna]

84. Riiiight! Things are very fluid and change on a daily basis...

But one thing we all know. Bush is a FU artist. As long as bush has anything to do with it the results will be disastrous. Kerry can afford to wait and see what kaos unfolds after the June 30th handover.

[struggle4progress]

38. Give him enough space and Bush can get lost in it ...

[rooboy]

4. As Napoleon once said...

when your enemy is busy making a mistake, it is rude to interrupt.

[Speck Tater]

5. Brilliant! N/T

[oblivious]

11. Perfect

That was funny!

[Kahuna]

80. Absolutely! The red meat crowd have not learned their lessons...

There's nothing wrong with red meat. You just have to serve it in moderate portions. They want Kerry to feed them a steady diet of red meat. The same way they continually demanded red meat from Howard Dean. That red meat may be filling to them. But mainstream voters tire of it easily.

[WilliamPitt]

6. Awesome. Just awesome.

[eileen from OH]

17. Is it? I dunno, Will.

It can also sound like he isn't distinguishing/separating himself from Bush. At least, not enough. Plus, Bush doesn't have much space and time left, what with the Big Ol' June 30 deadline coming up. I guess I prefer a more pro-active response, like "I want to give Pres. Bush space, and not politicize the issue, but time is running out. What WILL happen on June 30? Have we had that answer? When will we get that answer? I think the American people have a right to know." That kind of thing - not an attack, per se, but pushing the question and tossing the ball back at Bush, rather than a hands off approach. Bush is the penultimate non-engaged candidate (hell, non-engaged person) and I'd like to see Kerry show he's hot to find an answer. Contrast somehow that Bush didn't even ask his own father (the earthly one, that is) for advice and how he (Kerry) would not hesitate to consult with world leaders, historians, and experts in the region to try and resolve the issue.

eileen from OH

[WilliamPitt]

28. In the minds of most Americans, he is miles away from Bush

Most voters at this point are probably only skimming the surface of being interested in this race, and are likely working off visceral impressions and latent (or not so latent) cultural and/or regional and/or economic and/or religious biases.

Bearing that in mind - i.e. channeling the spirit of someome mostly disinterested in politics or someone who things they are informed by CNN - Bush and Kerry are parsecs apart:

Bush is the plain-spoken fella from Texas, Kerry is the hairdo monotone guy from New England.

Bush is the gun-totin' NRA member, Kerry is the Democrat gun-grabber.

Bush loves all life, Kerry supports abortionists.

Bush is for business, Kerry wants to tax you to smithereens.

Bush thinks marriage is between man and woman, Kerry wants known sodomists to date your 14 year old son.

Bush landed on the aircraft carrier, Kerry either threw his medals away and insulted the country or flip-flopped like the Dukakis flip-flopper he is and kept the medals dishonorably.

Believe me, as far as most people know, Bush and Kerry have little in common. And then there is this:

1. Every time Kerry has criticized Bush on the war, Bush's people fan out to every media outlet with "Kerry is politicizing the war and getting soldiers killed because morale is important and Kerry's politicizing kills morale which kills soldiers!!!:" or words to that effect, and *that* becomes the story. Here, he is above the fray. And...

2. He has Howard Dean there to say what needs to be said. This is not Kerry = coward and Dean = The Man...though Dean is certainly The Man on many levels. This is strategy. If it damages you to say something publicly, have a strong proxy to drop the bricks for you. It gets the job done, and at the end of the day, I trust the long-term strategy the Kerry crew has. Strategy tops big-dog contests any day of the week. And then...

3. The other reason Kerry is going above the fray: Never get in the way of a perfectly good train wreck.

A lot of people here seem to want our candidate to go into this election with pinwheeling fists and karate kicks flying high. A lot of people want that NOW. It's an emotional reaction I happen to share, but at the same time I believe that strategy would ultimately fail. Reason #1 why it would fail is that going Defcon 1 in a campaign costs a barnload of money, and if Kerry went Defcon 1 on Bush in the middle pf May, he'd be flat broke by the conventon and dead in the water to boot.

You saw what the media did to Dean with 'The Scream.' I think Kerry saw him get chopped down and took a very serious lession very deeply to heart. The lesson? They can end you in a day, and are watching for the chance, so don't fuck up and give it to them.

See #3 again. Najaf. Fallujah. Nearly 800 dead troops. Abu Ghraib. No WMDs (sorry, Wolf).

[Tellurian]

32. I liked your monologue Will...

that was an apt description of precisely what is going on and what needs to be done. Sometimes I am astonished at how some will push, pull, shove, and kick.. just for the instant gratification of seeing their candidate emanate sparks of hellfire and damnation shooting out of both fists..and leveling the field in an instant. It can't be done. In fact it could ruin him in one tiny instant...Cooler heads have to prevail to win.

I saw the Diane Sawyer interview demonstrating exactly how the GOP ops pranked the public into believing Dean was screaming, when actually he was just trying to be heard over the roar of the crowd. All it took was some fancy footwork by a sound technician to filter the roar of the crowd and pump up the volume on Dean's microphone..and voila, instant madman.

[WilliamPitt]

33. I am equally astonished

at the level of rage that seethes within the Democratic ranks - from far left to the center, people have their RPMs pegged at 12,000 with fire coming out the tailpipe. There really is an epic amount of pent-up anger out here in the ranks of the attention-payers. The folks are pissed and want a street fight. Like I said, I feel that as well, but I am also glad that someone not in berzerker mode is calling the shots at Kerry headquarters.

[VelmaD]

35. Someone keeps telling me...

that "anger is a gift". :) While I agree that it's a good thing that someone with a little more perspective is running things for Kerry...I think it's vital that the Kerry campaign figure out a way to channel all that pent-up anger.

You keep reminding me to channel my own personal rage into action and the result is a vast improvement in my mental well-being. If we could channel our collective anger into effective action maybe we wouldn't just get Kerry elected, but we could do something to help fix our national psyche as well.

[Tellurian]

39. hmm.. I was wondering..

who is running things for him?

Do you mean Teddy's man?

[Emillereid]

50. Sure hope you're right -- that's not the way it's playing where I am.

I don't know anyone -- I mean anyone -- even within the ranks of the democratic party faithful -- who is enthusiastic for Kerry. I've never seen such shallow, reluctant support for a presidential candidate. Even the few people I knew who preferred Kerry in the primaries are angry and disillusioned by him. Most of us just feel stuck with him -- like a reluctant bride facing a marriage that doesn't feel right -- but well the invitations have been sent and the money has been spent. We dream of a new prince who would ride in from somewhere, swoop us off our feet and receive all the pent up passion and energy we have to give. Maybe there's a decent bridegroom in Kerry that just hasn't been able to break free from his handlers -- I hope so. Cause if he can't excite us, he's not going to excite anyone else either.

I expected to be a precinct captain and go door to door -- but I can't even imagine doing that for Kerry. I sat at a Kerry table in a Mall recently and the whole time I was afraid someone might ask me to argue Kerry's case -- and I knew I couldn't -- all I could muster was that he was better than Bush (I hope!). I doubt if I'd be much use doing precinct work when I can't even seem to convince myself that this is the guy I want.

Like I said in the beginning I hope you're right and there is some kind of long view strategic thinking going on in the Kerry campaign. The stakes are high -- and I for one believe it's his to lose. But counting on your opponent defeating himself, one with a 200 million dollar purse at that -- is a helluva gambit to play. I hope he can win after this inauspicious opening.

[Invalence1]

61. Those of us who are that old...

remember the unforgettable bouts between Muhammed Ali an Joe Frazier. When yur up against a strong, power punchin' barroom brawler of an opponent, a little subtlety is in order. Don't fight your opponent's fight. Draw him into yours.

[mac56]

76. Welcome, Invalence1!

I remember it well. The old "rope-a-dope".

[MaineDem]

64. I don't know where you are but here there's plenty of excitement

The ground-pounders are willing to do whatever they can to "Kerry forth" the message. The problem here is the lack of an organized Kerry campaign right now. But I'm assured that's just around the corner.

There is tremendous grassroots support around here...and not just from Democrats. I have had numerous life-long GOPers tell me that they're supporting Kerry this year. I'm very encouraged.

[Kahuna]

81. So true. Howard Dean is not the candidate for a reason...

So for people to expect Kerry to act like Howard Dean or Wesley Clark or Joe Lieberman or John Edwards is foolish, to put it politely. Why should Kerry emulate the losers????? Duh.

[eileen from OH]

49. Yeah, but. . .

You CAN push and shove without LOOKING like you are pushing and shoving. You can voice, ruefully, your doubts about the Bush policy and thereby cause to bloom (sorry, it's gardening time) the very same doubts that others may have.

Yeeps - I mean, Kerry is Mr. Nuance, right? So why can't he learn some phrasing - especially putting things into QUESTIONS rather than criticism - that draws a harsh spotlight on what's happening?

I'm not asking for a wrecking ball - I'm asking Kerry to voice the bloody QUESTIONS that middle America, including those who haven't made up their minds, are asking. Reflect what America is feeling - DOUBT - verbalize that doubt, lay out the ambivalance that America is feeling about Iraq. SAY the question that middle America is asking "What will happen on July 1? You brought us this far and some of us followed you, and trusted you. Where are we going with this? And 'staying the course' isn't an answer, because "the course" just as our reasons for going in, has changed. Over and over, it has changed."

QUESTIONS turn Bush into the waffler, the indecisive one, the flip-flopper - because he doesn't have answers, or the answers have changed. I don't need condemnation (though it's good for the Dem soul!) I need Kerry to voice the questions that a lot of Americans - on both sides of the Iraqi issue - have right now.

Hopefully, that made sense. (Mid-week beers, gawd, I love 'em.)

eileen from OH

[Invalence1]

62. Ever heard the phrase....

"timeing is everything"?

[Kahuna]

83. Whatever Kerry would say the media would counter with.. What..

would you do different, Senator Kerry? Isn't that the same thing the president is already doing? Kerry already knows from experience the reaction of the whore media. There is no reason for him to play their game...any more.

He also knows from experience that if he comes up with a good plan, bush will usurp it and the media whores will give bush all the credit for coming up with a brilliant plan.

[eileen from OH]

34. Yeah, but. . .

Btw, I think that will probably be on my tombstone - "Yeah, but. . ."

I don't think he needs to go on the attack - not what I'm saying, at all. It's just that by acquiescing to Bush by saying he needs "space" he also says, tacitly, that Bush needs more of a chance to finally get it right and even that he maybe, maybe just MIGHT get it right. He actually FEEDS into the worst of the Bush/Rove smears, which you didn't mention - the waffler. By not coming out decisively against the Bush approach and offering a strong, clear alternative plan, he appears soft and gives them less of a reason to choose him.

And your points. . .

1. Kerry speaking out against the war, or Bush's war, generates a whole cycle of Rove smears. That's gonna happen regardless. You think he'll get a pass just because he doesn't take him on? Hell, being a real, live war hero wasn't enough to stop them from turning him into a traitor. I'm a big believer in being above the fray, but there IS a way to get a point across without giving a pass. These people will not give a pass on anything - no how, no way. And trying to predict what will or will not work in that area is an exercise in futility.


2. Yep, he's got Howard Dean and Max Cleland and Ted Kennedy to do the pit bull thing. And that's how it should be, really. But, again, there's a difference between attacking and being a pit bull and looking like you're rolling over. There IS the base to consider, too. Because WE are paying attention now. We watched as the Dems rolled over in 2002 and got smacked for their efforts. Again, yes, let 'em be the pit bulls - but back 'em up and don't give points away. There's a reason that Dean struck a chord with so many of us - it was the "what I want to know" speech in California. I'm not saying that Kerry has to make that speech, but he needs to remember why it had such a huge impact on a LOT of disillusioned Dems.

3. Yep, the train wreck. Nope, don't get in the way, I agree. But there is a (here it comes) nuanced way to point out the train wreck and where it will lead and what you'd do to avoid it - and saying "give the Prez some space" aint' the way to do it.

Again, I do not want karate kicks (though former ballet training makes me lethal in toe shoes) or Defcon 1 in May. What I do want is forceful opposition and alternatives. It IS possible to attack, without sounding like an attack. It IS possible to plant troubling questions about Bush policies without appearing overly partisan.

And, oh yeah, I saw what happened to Dean after "the scream" and I am not advocating anything of the sort. But just as Arianna Huffington advises Kerry to embrace, not Sept. 11, but Sept. 12, Kerry SHOULD be asking what will Iraq look like on July 1. It's a question to which they do not have an answer. And asking it, over and over, isn't an attack, in no way implies a lack of support for the troops, but it echoes (like Dean's did for disaffected Dems) what a shitload of people are wondering.

eileen from OH

[Tellurian]

45. He actually FEEDS into the worst of the Bush/Rove smears, which you didn't

mention - the waffler..

Sorry, I don't see it..

I saw what Kerry said as a clever dig 'giving Bush more space' because Kerry is making the assupmtion Bush is overwhelmed by all the scandals raucously racing through the White House plumbing his ratings.. It gave me a laugh...

"But just as Arianna Huffington advises Kerry to embrace, not Sept. 11, but Sept. 12, Kerry SHOULD be asking what will Iraq look like on July 1."

I don't see the metaphorical comparison of the two at all... like an almost and then you lose your train...

[eileen from OH]

52. well, my train is this. . .

the push that Bush & Rove & Co. make towards "the future". Don't worry about prison abuses, we must look to the future, when it will never, ever, ever, ever, EVER happen again. Forget why 911 happened, focus on preventing future 911s. Whenever ANYTHING that they did in the past comes back to bite them in the butt, they do this push for forward-thinking, to avoid having to (gasp) admit responsibility or (double-gasp) a mistake. So, how's about using that? How's about a little forward-thinking in Iraq? How's about telling us how life, in Iraq will be different on July 1 than it was on June 30?

Huffington's point is that Sept. 11 was a huge tragedy but it opened up an incredible opportunity to unite the world against terrorism - i.e. the world's reaction the next day. Bush "owns" Sept. 11 but Kerry needs to talk about what happened the next day, when the world was with us, and W pissed that away. Let Bush have Sept. 11 - Kerry needs to own Sept. 12.

You saw what Kerry said as a clever dig and, admittedly, I didn't see him say it - just read it. You may be right, and that it was a sly little dig. But on it's face, and just reading it, it didn't hit me that way.

eileen from OH

[Invalence1]

59. Very good words.

Were I not of buddhist persuasion, I'd say "amen, brother". Ah well, I've said it anyway. :-}

[molly]

73. AMEN, Will !!!

"Strategy tops big-dog contests any day of the week"

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

[Eurobabe]

77. I tend to agree

best to lay low and let Bu$h implode. Many people are still only peripherally interested in the Nov. election. Heck I used to be a swing voter, I never paid attention until October! People are awakening though, I can feel it.

[struggle4progress]

42. We can start asking about June 30th when June 30th comes.

The Iraqis, of course, are going to be somewhat irritated shortly afterwards when they find out what a sham the "handover of power" is. We will act as if unpleasantly surprised that * hasn't handled it better. Meanwhile, * will, of course, blame the UN that nothing's working out, since he's not about to take responsibility for anything.

[turiya]

24. why is it

that you think it is awesome no matter what Kerry says?

[WilliamPitt]

29. Because I'm dumber than a bag of hammers

and my mom dresses me funny. I smell like bananas, too.

[sniffa]

78. bwahaha

[Geo55]

31. I agree ...except

"Victory in this "War on Terror," a propaganda war from the beginning, has been given to the September 11 attackers by the hand of George W. Bush, and by the hand of those who enabled his incomprehensible blundering.

The war is lost."

Nah we WON the war......everything , EVERYTHING , ELSE....we lost

[stickdog]

57. Yes, awesomely safe. Awesomely strategized. Awesomely milquetoast.

Awesomely Kerry.

He beat Dean by stealing Dean's lines while Gephardt, Lieberman, Sharpton, the media and Dean himself sealed Dean's doom. He presented himself as the electable version of Dean.

Now he's planning on beating Bush by stealing Bush's lines while Bush implodes. He's presenting himself as the sane and governable version of Bush.

It's an intelligent "safety first" strategy.

Did anyone really expect anything different? If so, why?

[JNelson6563]

63. Amen my brother!

:toast:

[Stuckinthebush]

7. Harumph!

I'm not so sure this is a good strategy, but I'll withold judgement (any other judgement than the Harumph!, that is).

[Nlighten1]

8. It is a crap strategy.

Kerry should be screaming impeachment.

[shraby]

10. There are enough of us

screaming impeachment..Kerry doesn't need to dirty his hands on it.

[Nlighten1]

13. I want a leader who will say it.

And not just stand behind a bunch of other people while they say it.

[Pastiche423]

23. How about simply a

LEADER?

Give whistle ass space? :eyes:

Ah nah, Kerry, don't dare dirty your hands. You only do that to DEMOCRATS!

What a wimp!

[Nlighten1]

26. Exactly.

[turiya]

25. leaders "Dirty their hands"

they don't hide behind skirts of people with guts.

[Lou_C]

30. Bush has guts?

I don't think that Bush has ever gotten his hands dirty but he does have blood on them.

[Tellurian]

14. Kerry should NEVER scream... and I'll bet Dean told him what happened to

him one day on the way to the forum.

[Nlighten1]

19. I don't mean literally scream.

But he should sound like a broken record about it.

[POAC]

16. I totally agree

Totally. Now is the time to bring up the PNAC and expose how we got into this mess. A few well spoken specches and Bush's approval ratings would be unrecoverable

[yardwork]

22. I don't agree. Kerry needs the independent and moderate vote

to win this election. He won't win their votes by sounding too liberal or by attacking a war-time president, even if the president himself got us into a stupid and evil war. That same stupid president is making an obvious hash of the whole thing all by himself.

All Kerry has to do is look like a reasonable alternative in order to win. I know that this bugs a lot of liberals, but it is politics.

I think that Kerry is playing BushCo like a violin.

[Invalence1]

65. Total agreement

[Lorien]

18. Amen

the whole "call of the mild" approach isn't exactly inspiring. I'd love to hear Kerry come forth with some solid plans for America and an exit stategy for us in Iraq; show us he's the OPPOSITION, for God's sake!

[niceypoo]

53. Its not a strategy...

The talking points from Rush this week are
"Kerry is politicizing Iraq" so kerry takes the bait.....he just can't seem to wrest off the Bush Lite chains

[Nlighten1]

72. So true...

which means he is still playing their game not our game. We should all send pink tutus to Kerry's office in about a month if he doesn't start shaping up.

[molly]

74. No, that is NOT logical

THEY have control of both houses of Congress.....there are only 6 months left until the election.....let them hang themselves.

[Mz Pip]

9. All the "space" in

the world won't make Bush change his tune on Iraq. He'ss just keep digging himself deeper.

Kerry doesn't have to do a damn thing at this point. Let the idiot dig.

MzPip
:dem:

[Invalence1]

66. Are you sure...

(as some seem to be) that we shouldn't burst in on a person in the process of committing suicide, wrest the implement from his hand and blaze away at him with our own personal .44 magnum (the world's most powerful hand gun) Just for the personal gratification? ;-}

[dweller]

12. "He needs to be really bold" ???

now where have i heard that before?

:think:

oh yeah, in today's email...

http://www.moveon.org/pac/gobig/

your move John.
dp

[Doosh]

36. "be bold"

Isn't that the last thing the Liebersaurus said before going extinct?

[Aidoneus]

15. A worrying sign

As the failing occupation heads south (literally--didn't realize the soft pun when I wrote it..Sadr is plotting against me, I swear! I may stop supporting him if he keeps forcing my own words to zing over my own forehead), the "criticism" is getting weaker and more pathetic--indeed, verging on support. My kingdom for a spine made of diamond!

[Nlighten1]

21. I'm sick of the pink tutu dems...

playing footsie with these fascist assholes.

[Invalence1]

67. Me too.

"Full frontal stupidity". There's the ticket! Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!! etc.

[lucidmadman]

20. Saw/heard most of it on local TV...

...was down there earlier but it was too crowded and thunder storms were moving through downtown.
Art Artakis(sp?) of EVERCLEAR was on stage with JK and HD. Also Sean Astin. I guess he's in some popular children's film. Rep. Earl Blumenhour(Sp?) was there too.
I tend to think that JK's playing it smart regarding 'attacks' on GWB at this stage in the campaign.
Rassman the Special Forces officer that JK pulled from the river was up from Florence, OR.
JK talked for about 30 minutes. I wonder if GWB can listen for 30 minutes.
I think JK should let the train wreak continue. Then after the convention when people really start to pay attention he should unlease the major whoop-ass in the form of attack ads. The Bushista Bozos have given us so many favors in terms of film clips and sound bites.
I think GWB and Co. can be made into a joke. People are gonna be happy to dimiss the whole GWB thing as an embarassing interlude between real Presidents.

[Tellurian]

27. Kerry needs a team around him just like Bush. He needs a Kerry machine

that can think, act and write passionately in tandem and just set him off at the next stop and let Kerry give the words meaning and life.

Kerry needs to campaign with a well thought out strategic message scripted from a larger overall plan.. Just like Kennedy did.

[ibegurpard]

40. Careful, Kerry

Give him too much space and he'll slip right away and bite you in the ass.

[grasswire]

41. This is a BRILLIANT MIND F*CK!

George hates being "handled."

He HATES being parented.

This is just brilliant strategy. It's a put-down to George, and likely to make him mad. Making him mad means he gets careless and sloppy.

Go Team Kerry!

Razzle Dazzle 'em!

[abracadabra]

43. what a wimp--He should be tearing Bush's head off for IRAQ !!

I do not know if I can vote for a fool--
And with hi attitude he may well lose the support of those who oppose this isdiotic PNAC shit

Skull and Bones is where his loyalty lies--
He's not ashamed of it obviously...support your frat brother ?--
What a traitor to the Dems.

[Invalence1]

68. Then for goodness' sake never run

for public office. Or resolve yourself to always doing the gentlepersonely thing and graciously voting for your opponent on election day

[Kahuna]

79. He's got five months to do it. And he will. I think it's way to soon..

for Kerry to tip his hand and turn up the heat. The heat's already on. Kerry is doing the smart thing. He's compiling a long long long list of bushco fuck ups and will unleash them at the time of his choosing. He will unleash them when people are paying attention. Right now there's a lot of bad news for bushco. The bad news speaks for itself. There's nothing uglier than piling on. And it really isn't neccesary to pile on.

[Democat]

44. Coward! The Republicans never ever let up when the pressure is on!

Forget Bush needing to lead, Kerry needs to lead - the fight to end Bush's term!

By saying this, it could make the American people think Bush deserves another chance - come on Kerry, if you can't say something that helps us win in November, don't say anything at all!

Watch the Republicans use this against him the first time he does be critical of Bush too.

Americans don't want a wimp for a president at this time in history!

[Tellurian]

48. Kerry is leading.. he led you right over here to post when you should be

in bed sleeping, like I'm going to do right now..

g'nite, sleep tite!

domani~

[Democat]

54. I am happy Kerry is doing well, but no more niceness from Dem leaders

Right now, Americans want to see strength from their leaders. If Kerry doesn't want to kick Bush's ass right this second, then don't kick his ass, but don't hold out an Olive leaf to an asshole like Bush, it makes you look weak and he will just use it against you tomorrow.

[pfitz59]

47. Oh the not-so-subtle putdowns....

"I wish he would lead. He needs to lead. He needs to be bold." Painting Bush* for the side-liner he is. Bush* has always been a watcher, not a doer. Can a cheerleader do the quarterback's job? I think not! Kerry is spinning a web.......

[Pastiche423]

51. That's not spinning you see

That's a pirouette, along w/ a plié and a arabesque or deux.

[LizW]

75. snarf

(herbal tea, up nostrils, in reverse)

:D

[Rex]

55. Kerry cannot be this stupid.

Everyone knows that Bush is an idiot. IMO Kerry is just sitting back and waiting for the rope to get long enough. Still, I wish he would be a little meaner and put these repukes in their place.

[Guaranteed]

56. Fucking dumbshit.

Just looks like more cowardice.

[Malva Zebrina]

58. the point is that Kerry cannot criticize the war

or Bush's handling of it because he VOTED FOR IT--he GAVE Bush a blank check. This is not clever strategy in a game of chess against the Bush machine, it is a matter of painting oneself in the corner. That is the reality and is why the Iraq war is off Kerry's stage.

We do not have a choice if we want Bush out. That is the reality.

All the analyzing in the world might sound so clever. Truth is, it is either Bush or Kerry. Once again, many here are voting Kerry because ABB. They are not especially thrilled with Kerry either.


Average people are not that informed. The talk here is how much they hate Bush--that is emotional and it is widespread, I would say, based upon the talk around town.I have never heard so many people talk about a president like this.

These average, busy people who are not political junkies, do not look for "nuance" in a candidate. They may not even know more than one or two of the candidate's proposals, but they do know they want someone to stand up for them and their emotion, to kick the worst president ever out of office with a good swift kick. Not only that but many feel the Democrats have let them down also. A candidate that has no emotional energy is not to be admired as a balanced and strong leader either.

Kerry is waltzing because he cannot do anything else when it comes to Bush's war. He does not hold that card in his hand. That is unfortunate for those who oppose the war and everything about it.

[DaveSZ]

60. I know why he said this

http://www.pollingreport.com/iraq.htm


"Do you think John Kerry's recent criticisms of President Bush's handling of the situation in Iraq are appropriate, to let voters know what he would do differently as president, or that Kerry's recent criticisms of the commander-in-chief about Iraq are not appropriate at a time our troops are fighting there?"

5/13-14/04 .

Appropriate 33 %

Not
Appropriate 54 %

Don't
Know

13 %

[Invalence1]

69. And on that excellent note

I will follow tellurian's excellent lead. noi noi all.

[Walt Starr]

70. Smart move by Kerry

There are plenty of people to attack Bush on Iraq. By not attacking him, Kerry appears more presidential and is statesmanlike.

The brilliance is that this plays to the middle. Bush is trying to shore up his base.

This is a smart move by Kerry.

[union_maid]

71. He's absolutely right

He's the one person in the whole country who needs to be careful what he says right now. It's a long way until the election and a lot of deaths could and probably will happen before that time. He can't be contributing to the bodycount. Anything that he says can affect there. It's a very difficult position to be in and he's handling it very well.

[Cocoa]

82. I bet this is driving Rove nuts

their only political strategy is attacking, and Kerry is not providing them with a target.

[Barkley]

85. Kerry needs to be "really bold"!

My Letter to Sen. Kerry

***************

Sen. Kerry:

According to UC-Berkeley Professor and Nobel Laureate George Akerloff, George Bush is the worst president in the history of the United States.

I don't have the historical background to make such a categorical statement but in all of my 47 years of life I can confidently say that George Bush is the most incompetent U.S. President I've known.

Everything he touches he ruins. When he came to office, the budget was in surplus and there was talk of paying off the national debt. Today, there is red ink as far as the eye can see. And these deficits, which are putting pressure on long-term interest rates are the direct result of George Bush's irresponsible tax cuts.

Next 9-11: He and America had the goodwill of the world after the terrorist attacks; even North Korea sent us condolences.

Today, you can hardly find a head of state (especially among our allies in Europe) that would publicly say their country stands with US foreign policy. Again, this is the direct result of Bush's incompetence in foreign affairs, ostensibly displayed in the US occupation of Iraq.

Domestically, Bush's approval rating was 90% after 9-11; today its down to 44%. Again its largely his own fault: His unnecessary wars, patriot acts and loss of 3 million jobs are the reasons.

Given all of this, your campaign should have enough ammunition to blow Bush out of the water. But you're not even willing to fight back.

The prison sex scandal is a case in point. Democrats should be all over Bush. Calling for Rumsfeld's resignation is not enough.

Every single solitary photo should be released to the public. Don't let Bush give you that nonsense about the Geneva Conventions. They have no problem showing Mr. Berg's gruesome death or the dead bodies of Saddam Hussein's sons.

These people don't care about international laws. Remember when France challenged Bush on the legality of invading Iraq and Bush said in jest "Law? I better get my lawyer...".

What about the felon on the Whitehouse payroll that "outted" the CIA agent Valerie Palme?

These people don't care about about America.

Your silence on these matter makes it seem as if you don't either.

I am so disappointed in you and your colleague (my US Sen.) Dianne Feinstien.

You two are supposed to be progressives. Your colleague Sen. Robert Byrd (a southerner) is way more out spoken and progressive than you and Sen. Feinstein put together times ten.

Howard Dean may have not gone to Viet Nam and won combat medals like you did but he sure has the courage, integrity and intelligence to stand up to Bush.

I've decided to vote for you in November (I'll never vote for "DiFi" again) not because of your platform or campaign but because of what George Bush has done to America and what he will do to America and the world given another four years.

But many, many people are not of my disposition. They are rightfully fed up with the wishy-washy, mealy mouth, non-opposition Democratic party.

If you lose in November, we'll know why.





John Kerry needs to hear from us -- that we want him to offer a bold vision for our country's future and play to our hopes rather than our fears. You can join the "Go Big" petition by going to:

http://www.moveonpac.org/gobig/?id=2845-4061904-dvQEGkvISoqpWeN.LsCh9g

[CWebster]

87. Maybe Kerry is of the opinion

that Bush needs another 4 years to get things done. That should be enough "space" as if he needs more space.

How much lamer can Kerry be? What a disgrace.