Despite the Pitfalls for Bush and Kerry, Candidates Stay on Topic

Sunday, September 19, 2004; Page A01

Democratic challenger John F. Kerry plans an aggressive attack on President Bush and his policies in Iraq, seeking to put the president on the defensive over an issue that has plagued Kerry's candidacy for months.

Bush has tried to emphasize Iraq's progress toward democracy, but events there have undermined that message in a week that has included car bombs, kidnappings and more U.S. casualties. Kerry advisers said they have concluded that they must engage directly on the issue of Iraq, despite their hopes of shifting attention to the economy, health care and other domestic issues, and say that renewed concerns among the American public about the situation in Iraq provide a fresh opening to challenge Bush more directly.

(snip)

With some Kerry advisers convinced he cannot win a debate over whether the United States should have gone to war, given Bush's relentless attacks on Kerry for shifting his positions on the war, the Massachusetts senator has settled on two-phase plan to refocus the debate. Aides say he will first challenge the president's optimistic assessment of conditions in Iraq and then draw a sharp contrast with Bush over getting the United States out of the country within four years.

(snip)

White House communications director Dan Bartlett said that when the public compares Bush and Kerry on Iraq, they consistently put their faith in the president. As such, Bartlett said, the White House welcomes any attacks Kerry plans to launch. "We believe each day that we're debating the war and debating Iraq, it's an advantage to us," he said.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31726-2004Sep18.html

You'd better block any attempt by Bush to undercut you on Iraq by claiming to be planning to pull out. They're just that evil.

advantage...they are very wrong (not that their being wrong is a bad thing). I talk with people with various political views, and people know that we are in a quagmire there, and they want us out.

As to those stubbornly backing Bush...they seem to be under a mistaken impression that he is a Man of God, and no one else has attained his Stature.

Bush team???????????????? I mean, it maybe an obvious plan, but why just hand it to them??

I think these people are stupid....this is a war...you don't give the enemy a heads up....


As far as a pullout....it's been discussed on TV over the past months as a possibilty post-election....heard a serious discussion with some Clinton era people who said both Kerry and Bush would look for a quick get-out....But with Rove around....I can see Bush "declaring victory" and making a promise of removal in January or whenever the phony elections will be held....

one of the reasons Gore lost is that the press personally hated him. It's sad it works that way, but it does.

Americans look for instant gratification, and four years is just too long a time frame to have any significant impact . . . Kerry needs to find a way to get us out of there within a year or so, or the issue will remain Bush's . . .

"White House communications director Dan Bartlett said that when the public compares Bush and Kerry on Iraq, they consistently put their faith in the president."

My 48 yr old boss who just got called up is putting his faith on his vote for Kerry!!! Fuck you Mr. Bartlett.

"If we are looking for entertaining issues, why not this one: Which candidate has done more to further the aims of al Qaeda around the world? Which candidate has killed more enemies of al Qaeda as well as directly destroyed more American troops and military capability? Which candidate has done more to recruit followers and sympathizers of bin Ladin and his message of political and violently anti-American Islam?"

September 15, 2004

Karen Kwiatkowski send her mail is a retired USAF lieutenant colonel, who spent her final four and a half years in uniform working at the Pentagon. She now lives with her freedom-loving family in the Shenandoah Valley, and writes a bi-weekly column on defense issues with a libertarian perspective for militaryweek.com.

OSAMA is a BUSH

more...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x74223


peace