Kerry Weakness: Foreign Policy & National Security/New Poll

New CNN/USA/Gallup Poll as reported on Inside Politics:

Kerry leads Bush overall

Kerry leads on Domestic Issues

Bush leads on Foreign Policy/National Security

Remember these stats when selecting VP candidate.Kerry needs no help domestically, however he is vulnerable on protecting the country.

All recent polls show these same results, which I have posted ad nauseum.

If anyone has access to this particular link, please post. Thanks!

What kind of nonsense is that? Is chimp supposed to be so tough and clever? He doesnt even know where the countries he is attacking are located (unless poppa tells him)

I'm just posting results.

Don't shoot the messenger!

Better solution: Be Prepared!

Perception is very often different from reality, but it is what determines election outcomes.

You and I know that Kerry is excellent and Bush is crap on foreign policy and national security. Unfortunately, the majority of the voting public have a different perception.

That reality is something that must be confronted and addressed if we are to have a shot at defeating Bush.

Please..please...

Bush leads Kerry on national security? lets see, 911 happened under Bush's watch and he sat in a classroom reading to kids while our country was under attack, he outed a CIA Agent who's job it was to prevent the spread of WMD around the world, The Army War College says that the war in Iraq was a major distraction in the war on terrorism, and the CIA Director last week said we are no safer today than we were on 9/10/01.

So Bush out polls Kerry on national security issues? Well, I know why this is. The media is telling everyone how Bush is tough and is keeping us safe. The media says this over and over and of course most people will believe what they see and hear on TV.

:-(

:shrug:

Bush struts around as Commander-in-Chief; Dems need to show this is

false! For 3 years we have been told how brave Bush is; this perception needs to change.

National Security/Defense all the back to '68 or '72. Nothing new. Americans don't want to hear complex foreign policy discussions, they are easily persuaded by who wants to spend more, develop BS space weapons, and invade countries first ask questions later in the name of National Security.

around him, because I'm pretty sure people are clear there is nothing but air in Bush's head.

You know I have posted to you seberal times on this issue.

Today's poll confirms my earlier findings.

Sen Kerry needs to address this issue soon. I'm sure he can do it through commercials, surrogates speaking out on talk shows, and Kerry himself in speeches.

I also believe this is strong proof that Gen Clark would add most to ticket, because Kerry is solid domestically.

unfortunately. It's just unbelievable that Bush would score above stupid in anything.

Long ago, the people of the country became convinced Republicans were better suited to fighting than Democrats, and the old allegiance prevails, without too much thought involved. My hand still reaches for a tin of Campbell's Soup in the store on a similar principle.

It is possible Sen. Kerry, because of his background and personal qualities, could make some headway against this predisposition of the people over time in the campaign. It is also possible, and can perhaps be contrived by some effort, that the people do not view questions of security as paramount just now. Few people really believe the country is in serious danger, for it has been a very long time since there has been any attack against us, and the "danger" of Iraq turned out to be entirly a fabric of lies.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

I've missed seeing you around lately. :hi:

13 issues were polled on.

3 were foreign affairs related (Foreign affairs, Iraq, Terrorism) Bush led in all 3, by 8, 15, and 27 points respectively. That 27 point deficit on terrorism is the only number that is worrisome.

10 were domestic issues, Kerry led on 8, Bush on 1, and one was a tie. The tie was on taxes, which is a good sign for us. The lone Bush win was on gay marriage, but it was a meager 5 points. Kerry led in the other 8 issues by an average of 12 points.

Kerry is 27 points behind Bush on terrorism! And he is behind in foreign affairs, & Iraq.

We need to change this perception! It can be done!

This is my strongest case for General Wes Clark as Veep! Have Clark all over TV discussing only foreign policy, security, terrorism.

People, the guy won a war, without 1 American casualty.

Send Clark to Iraq as part of Kerry's fact finding mission.

I think what a lot of people ignore when discussing how to win the foreign affairs issue, and specifically terrorism, is why voters favor Bush. I do believe we can eventually neutralize the Iraq issue, and probably even have a slight lead in general foreign affairs, but terrorism is viewed differently. A lot of Americans favor Bush on this issue not because they believe he is effective, but because of the style of his approach. Basically they want a war monger when it comes to terrorism. No one on our side matches that, and we would not even want to. I'd much rather try to dial down the fear the fuels American's views on terrorism and have them focus on domestic issues. I'm not sure who I would pick, but what I want to see is the candidate best able to attack Bush on his neglect of domestic issues and his use of fear to try and distract the public from those issues.

There is nobody else out there who can come close to Clark on effectively laying out the case for Bush's poor performance in these specific areas. Indeed, he rips the Bush administration to shreds on its foreign policy, in a way that nobody else has come close to.

There is nobody else who is so able to lay out a compelling vision for a completely different approach to foreign policy and the war on terrorism.

There is nobody else with the type of credentials and the overall credibility to do it.

Clark articulates Kerry's foreign policy positions far more effectively than I have seen Kerry himself do it. As running mate, he would automatically have a platform from which to discuss these matters, and tell the American people exactly how bad Bush really is on foriegn policy and national security. Without that platform, he can talk till he's blue in the face, but few people will listen.

I hope that Kerry and the party will not be so blinded by conventional political considerations that they will miss what Clark has to add to the ticket.

By the time he is threw making his case on how Bush fucked up Iraq and the W.O.T. etc... he will have Bush beat in every category coming and going.

What's significant about this is how low the number is for Bush... It ain't Foriegn affairs or security..It's the fucking economy...Period!

We already know that Bush is going to run on Nat. Security issues. They know it is his only strength right now. However, Americans are very concerned about the economy and domestic issues. Iraq, as long as it just drags on and doesn't implode into civil war or whatever, isn't foremost on their minds. 9/11 seems more distant all the time.

This is actually what worries me. They need an international or terrorist crisis right now, to play to Bush's numbers. I know they are getting ready to perp walk Osama, but they didn't get much mileage out of Saddam, and even they must know that it will not be enough.

Paranoia aside, these numbers certainly make the case for those stumping for a Kerry/Clark ticket, which has been a hard sell to this former Clark supporter. But it's starting to make more sense. Geography and personality considerations aside, no one is better suited to strengthen Kerry in this area than Clark, by means of a running mate. Although I'm not sure how much of an effect a VP will have, looking at recent polls with Kerry and various potential VP's, it could be just enough to get him over any potential problems in that area, should Bush get traction on this issue for whatever reasons.

 
 

that if you have Wes Clark out there, as VP candidate, speaking on terrorism, national security, & foreign policy, which he does so well, it neutralizes Bush's attacks on Kerry.

Right now the economy is the major issue. But the election is still pretty far off, & who knows what this Bush gang will pull?

In addition, I can't see why the Dems should give the Repugs a single issue. We don't have to be war mongers to be strong on security.

BUT, it does make an excellent case for the General as VP! :D

I'm so tired of the Repubs owning this issue!

Kerry is a decorated war hero. It's practically impossible that anybody comparing AWOL with Kerry wouldn't get the irony of *'s stupid accusation.

Bush will try to soften some of Kerry's appeal with veterans. Bush will go at Kerry by spinning innuendos stemming from Kerry opposing the use of America's military AFTER Kerry returned from Viet Nam, when he was out on the streets protesting etc. Bush won't talk about that himself. Bush's operatives, through mailings and sympathetic Vet hawks, will try to taint Kerry as being squeamish about using America's military, because ever since Viet Nam he hasn't trusted it. Bush will dredge up whatever Senate votes he can find whereby Kerry opposed Defense Department spending, or use of our Armed Forces. Bush will talk directly about that stuff, his henchmen will do the Viet Nam war protester red baiting part.

Kerry will be strong in response. He is a fighter. I don't doubt that, and he has credentials. But don't think that Bush can't score some points with some swing voters. I really do like a Clark VP pick for that reason. Clark can take the hatchet to Bush on National Security and terrorism, non stop if need be. It is always the Democrats perceived weakness. This is one election where people are worried about our security. Something truly horrible may happen anytime between now and November. Clark would be worth his weight in Gold to us as VP if that happened.

and its funding - Kerry WROTE the book about it in 1997, The New War.

They'll find out along the way and those numbers for Kerry will go even higher.

It's the perception, however.

I hope Kerry will fight hard on this issue, because he has forgotten more about the subject than Bush ever knew.

I want to see the Dems fight on every issue, & become a majority again. Repubs defense policy is to fund their special interests cronies, for example Halliburton. And I don't think most Americans understand this.

in the upcoming months that if Kerry's proposals after BCCI had been implemented and the banking legislation he wrote that tracked terror funds had been enforced by the Bush administration, a tragedy like 9-11 would have been prevented altogether.

That's all I'm going to say. :bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

Wes Clark.

He would be quite a good VP pick.