Robert Novak May 13th column

http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak13.html

Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas is an old-fashioned conservative and a loyal Republican who happens to be the current chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. That's why his Landon Lecture last week at his alma mater, Kansas State University, is a remarkable document. While benefitting from the most highly classified information, he is expressing the concerns of ordinary conservatives and Republicans.



The lecture paid sincere tribute to George W. Bush for the ''courage to act'' after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and in this election year Roberts is not sniping at the Republican president. Nevertheless, the former Marine officer from Dodge City, Kan., is blunt in addressing two overriding problems in the war on terror: lack of accountability in the intelligence community and a messianic desire to recast the world in the American image.

These are precisely the concerns I have heard all over the country from people who call themselves Republicans and are distraught about the U.S. adventure in Iraq. They ask questions. Who is responsible for the false forecast of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction that was the immediate cause for war? Are we really intent on planting democracy throughout the Arab world? These skeptics are not about to vote for John Kerry for president, but they are very unhappy.

"...These skeptics are not about to vote for John Kerry for president, but they are very unhappy..."

They're not "about" to vote for Kerry, but in November, they will. Everyone I talk to whether they're political or not, liberal or not, everyone thinks Bush is off his nut--and his cabinet, too. Novak is pathetic

Bwaaahahahahahahahahahaha!

... some of those sceptics ARE about to vote for John Kerry.

I got two hooked on another board I'm on and I'm reeling 'em in. One's now a Kerry voter and the other's voting for Nader so far, but I think I can get him all the way over to Kerry eventually.

Those sceptics are not BRAIN DEAD, Mr. Novak, sir, and they understand our Republic--you vote for the incumbent, you get what you got.

At least I hope so.

Out any WMD spies lately Robbie?

the don't plan to vote for *.

So, I'll have to accept that.

You got five months to work 'em over.

Be insidious. Tell them it's to the BENEFIT of the GOP in the long run if this bungling ideologue's grave error is purged from the party.

Be nice. Buy 'em coffee and chat about the future of the Republic.

Be nasty. Point out the demoralizing but absolutely fundamental power of the "lesser of two evils."

Be smart. Kerry is at the very least a deficit hawk for his whole career in the Senate, and there's no way ads by Bush can change that. Republicans LAP IT UP when I point out his actual record.

thousands more must the conservative view of courage, wanton killing must be a conservative core value. And while the fine Senator doesn't snipe at the President, just whose policies are the causes for his concerns? Where the hell does the buck stop? Who the hell is responsible?

I can live with Bush votes going to Nader. Enough of that and Kerry will pick up some traditional pub states such as North Carolina and Colorado.