War leaves an opening for Kerry

[RedEarth]

WASHINGTON - There are two presidential races going on: One here, one in Iraq. George Bush has to convince voters he isn't losing the second to be sure of winning the first.

Putting all the polls together, it's clear that the president has forged a real, if not rock-solid, lead against Sen. John Kerry. But in an odd way the race right now isn't between Kerry and Bush but between Bush and the murderous insurgents in Iraq.

Bush's lead in the polls is built in good measure on questions relating to the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq. On both topics — unlike, say, the economy or health care — the president has a fat lead. As commander-in-chief, he's seen as a far steadier, tougher and more successful leader than Kerry would be.

Don't count Kerry out
But Kerry can't be counted out because, despite his many flip-flops and nuances — actually, because of them — he's maneuvered himself into position for a potent attack in the final weeks: that Bush is a delusional gambler who lured us into a deadly quagmire that makes America less safe, not more so. Every recent headline tends to support that dark view, from the new CIA assessment to the daily video uplinked from Baghdad to the growing unease on Capitol Hill.

The second, not always spoken part of the Kerry pitch: If you like Iraq, wait'll you see what Bush in store for a second term, in say, Iran or Syria. Does the word Armageddon ring a bell?

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6028610/

[Bleacher Creature]

1. Fineman's still using GOP talking points.

"despite his many flip-flops and nuances"

What the hell is that! Is he prepared to use the term "excuses President" in a story about Shrub? And what kind of hell would he catch if he did?

[Beetwasher]

2. These People (Reporters) Are Fucking Sick

"But Kerry can't be counted out because, despite his many flip-flops and nuances..."

It's just assumed now is it? Not even debatable. They just ingest and regurgitate GOP propoganda as if it's breathing.

[ixion]

3. it's reporting like this that has brought us to our new low

Nothing more than GOP propaganda in the guise of 'news' :puke:

[Melodybe]

4. If we get a fair election we win.

I liked this article even though I think they down play Kerry a bit.

[Bleacher Creature]

6. Talking Points

"They're true because they're said a lot."

It's so amazing that the only network that notices this crap is Comedy Central.

[speedoo]

5. Fineman won't have my respect until he points out the coWard's...

"many flip-flops and nuances".

Actually lies, but Howard does not have to say that.

[Dems Will Win]

7. KERRY'S HOLBROOKE PLAN FOR IRAQ

Kerry has to explain how his future Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke will broker a peace accord like he did in Kosovo and then bring in NATO and real reconstruction with no corruption like Halliburton.



PRINT THE PDF: http://somnamblst.tripod.com/draftalert.pdf

In May, the Seattle Post Intelligencer published an article about a document they received through the Freedom of Information Act. It was revealed that the SSS is currently “designing procedures” for the implementation of a “Skills Draft” after holding a top-level meeting on it with Deputy Undersecretaries at the Defense Department. This draft would change the very mission of the Selective Service and require “virtually every young American”, male and female ages 18-34, to register for the Skills Draft and list all the occupations they are proficient in to fill labor shortages throughout nearly the entire government.

Here, for the first time, is the FOI document itself:

http://blatanttruth.org/selective_service091304.pdf

This document is real, having been acknowledged by the DoD and the SSS when they said no action is being taken on it at the present time, as reported:

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/171522_draft01.html

Although Congress would have to approve new legislation to create a Skills Draft or reinstate the combat draft, Family Circle reported in its July 13 issue that Karl Rove has polled GOP members of Congress in September 2002 to see if they would support the President if he requests reinstatement. The Republicans said they would vote for the draft.

In addition, the SSS itself has said that it is “designing procedures” (Seattle PI, May 1, 2004) to implement the skills draft, meaning designing the compliance cards and the data fields needed to keep track of “virtually every young American” and their skills. Acting Director of the SSS Brodsky has also said the Skills Draft is the “top priority” of the Selective Service for 2004. The Issue Paper options include:

- Allow a non-combat draft for shortages in critical skills, without calling a combat draft.

- Fill labor shortages of all kinds throughout not only DoD but the Dept. of Homeland Security and other agencies, especially high-paying professionals like computer networking specialist or linguist.

- Create a single-point, all-inclusive database, in which every young person would be forced to send in a “self-declaration” of all of their critical skills, chosen from a long list of occupations like the Armed Forces Specialty Code. The usual penalties of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine would apply to all non-registrants.

In the secret planning meeting document, the next steps strongly recommended by SSS Acting Director Brodsky were:

1. “Promptly” redefine the SSS Mission to draft men and women up to age 34 for skills, and deliver them within 90 days or sooner to the Department of Defense. Program a massive database to be ready to enter millions of names of those registering their critical skills.

2. Expand mission to deliver personnel in skills draft to the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies, including FEMA, NSC, Border Patrol, INS, Customs, Corporation for National Service, Public Health Service and other agencies.

3. Form interagency task force to provide Administration with recommendation on this skills draft for the entire government.

4. Obtain White House Statement of Administration Policy on the future of the SSS.

5. Be prepared to market the skills draft, raising the non-combat age to 34 and the drafting of women to the Armed Services and Appropriations Committee.

In contrast to this planning and preparation to create a targeted draft, Kerry plans to spend an additional $7 billion to strengthen the Volunteer Army in what is essentially a “No-Draft Plan”. Moreover, Kerry is strongly opposed to the neo-con plan revealed in Wes Clark’s book Winning Modern Wars, in which Clark was told by a senior Pentagon official that invasions of Syria, Lebanon, Iran, Sudan and Somalia were planned and still to come over the next three years.

DON'T FORGET TO USE THE .PDF NOT THE .GIF FILE.

BUSH '04 = DRAFT '05

KERRY '04 = PNAC OUT THE DOOR!

[RedEarth]

8. Holbrooke needs to be getting more air time......

He's extremely knowledgeable and he doesn't let the media badger him....