What is the real story on Kerry's record?

You hear alot now from the repubs and state run TV that Kerry has a weak record on defense and national security matters. What is the real story here? Is that true?

By the way, the same people attacking Kerry for being weak on national security and defense forget that 911 happened under Bush's watch and there is a ton of evidence that shows that Bush from day one ignored the threats from al Qaeda, that he ignored the reccommendation of the Rudman/Hart report when he first got in the WH, and that Bush cut the counterterrorism budget when he first got in the WH, and that even the Army War College has said that the war in Iraq has hurt our efforts in fighting terroism! And don't forget bu the federal government is suing itself because Ashcroft is a fony and not fighting the war on terror.

So who exactly is being called weak on national security and defense by the media whores and repubs?

and outrageous.

Talk about chutzpah!

to defund giant, WWII type tanks and other outdated weapons which we no longer need, but which mean $$$$$$ for repuke contractors.

The media is either too stupid or just plain refusing to point out that Kerry's votes against funding these albatross military spending bills and attachments/amendments all took place during our peace dividend/ technology-driven years.

If no one speaks up, Bush* wins the debate.

...because they are owned by the same corporations that make the outdated weapons...

... and make him spend his time defending himself and his record against accusations instead of spending time publicizing Bush's record and his f-ups. The truth of the matter is pretty much irrelevant to the GOP - it is intended for a desired effect, and hopefully Kerry can counter it without wasting too much time or being driven off track.

and that is a problem for the repugs.

However, Kerry is good at blasting back at their rhetoric

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040223/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_4

he has voted against every appropriation for military and defense spending, and voted to limit the ability to collect intelligence.
It's all in the record, and it is going to hurt us.

he has not voted against every appropriation for military and defense spending....that simply is not the truth if you look at his record. Plus, why would any senator vote to spend money on outdated weapons in peacetime?