Kerry Says Credibility Gap Has Opened Between Bush Rhetoric, Actions

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA8UBU97ID.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says President Bush hasn't matched tough rhetoric with strong actions and is suffering from a credibility gap on national security.

"The gap between America's national security and this administration's deeds is widening every day," Kerry said in remarks prepared for delivery at a veterans' memorial hall in New York City Wednesday.

"Americans have a right to ask: Are we safer today than we were on Sept. 11?" Kerry asked. "Are our nation's firefighters and police officers better prepared to wage the war on terror?"

The Massachusetts senator said the Bush administration has shortchanged police and firefighters by denying them "the equipment and support to defend America from danger."

"We cannot afford to leave the front lines of home security without the resources they need any more than we can afford to leave our soldiers vulnerable to attack in Iraq," he said.

more

[CWebster]

1. Kerry is not especially in the ideal position

to be discussing credibility gaps.

[GalleryGod]

5. And?

The point of that declarative sentence was?:puffpiece:

[sangh0]

22. Ignore him

Webbie's Deanophilia requires that s/he posts negative comments about all the candidates except Dean, but webbie will never explain why Dean gives Bush* the "benefit of the doubt"

[schultzee]

42. We should applaud any Democrat candidates that slam bu$h

because bu$h deserves so much slamming.

[w4rma]

50. Dean: only other possibility...is that the president...knew himself

...
"We do not know who these senior officials are, but the president should have been given that information," Dean told a group of reporters outside a hospital in Derry, N.H. "The individuals who misled the president know who they were and they should resign immediately."

The former Vermont governor, who opposed the war, added: "The only other possibility, which is unthinkable, is that the president of the United States knew himself that this was a false fact and he put it in the State of the Union anyhow. I hope for the sake of this country that did not happen."

Asked whether he thought Vice President Dick Cheney should resign if he knew, Dean said, "Anybody who misled Bush should leave office, whoever that may be."

Pressed on whether Bush should resign, Dean said, "I think before we cross to that we better find out what the facts are."

But in an echo of Watergate and a Republican president who did resign, Richard M. Nixon, Dean said, "The time for stonewalling is over."
...
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/politics/2324514/detail.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=20383&mesg_id=20383&page=

Uranium and Niger: Pattern of Deceit (Timeline w/ sources)
http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/PageServer?pagename=niger_timeline

[sangha]

59. Dean says it's "unthinkable" that Bush* lied?

Isn't that what Daschle was criticized for saying?

[Parche]

26. Kerry

Why do people who like other candidates feel the need to
blast someone else's chosen candidate, when the one we need to blast
is bush.
I like Kerry and he is my candidate, I for one will never blast
or bring up some dirt, or other degrading remarks on another
democratic candidate, and never will, I will support Kerry until
the elections, I will vote for whoever the democratic nomination is.
And I hope other democrats would do the same, we need to remove
bush from the whitehouse that is our main goal. We dont need
any sour remarks on any of our democratic candidates no matter who
they are.

[study_war_no_more]

64. because he is a traitor to his office

responsibility demands that he oppose someone as crooked as bush and this administration at least for as long as I have.

[schultzee]

41. He is in a position to discuss it on this issue, bu$h has not funded

or underfunded any of his grand mandates, and we do not have enough emergency employees.

[imhotep]

2. I guess

Kerry doesn't see the irony in his words.

[phillybri]

3. Good stuff....

I love to see him calling the Shrub out on the stuff that the sheeple think he actually excels at...

[hackwriter]

4. Then why did he vote for everything Bush wanted?

eom

[schultzee]

44. Most of them except for Dennis Kuccinich votes for the monkey because

he scared the dickens out of everyone after 9/11 and he pulled the now infamous "last minute hurry vote" on them. They were dumb to buy what bu$h sold.

[study_war_no_more]

65. they are not dumb they are corrupt beyond imagination

sheesh the homeless guy on the street knows the score.

[AbbieLives]

6. cnn interview

He gave an excellent interview this morning on CNN, especially compared to Saxby Chambliss (R - Cowardly Asshat) who was on before him.

[JoFerret]

10. Saxby

- the same lying cowardly toadie who stole the election from Max Cleland.

[Octafish]

7. Kerry worked to prevent another 9-11

That's part of John Kerry’s life-long commitment to upholding and defending the Constitution. In Vietnam, he did his duty as an officer of the United States Navy. When he returned home, he did his duty as a citizen and worked to end that war. As a prosecutor, Kerry busted the Mafia chief in Massachusetts, not necessarily the politically smart thing to do. As a Senator, he went after the Bush Organized Crime Family. As a candidate for President, he's calling out Bush.

That’s a pretty impressive record. No wonder so many people running for the Democratic nomination are jealous of Kerry.

Here's more from Kerry's address:

EXCERPT...

Kerry criticized Bush on several fronts, accusing the administration of:

• Going to war with Iraq without a "plan to win the peace."
• Stalling investigations of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
• Failing to invest enough in the police, fire and emergency workers responsible for the safety of the homeland.

SNIP...

Americans should trust the intelligence that guides them into war, he said.

Calling the Bush administration "big on bluster and short on action," Kerry said combative rhetoric not matched by stronger homeland security is dangerous. And he called for more international help in policing Iraq.

"It is a long way from 'speak softly and carry a big stick' to a president who says 'bring 'em on' and 'dead or alive' - then leaves front-line defenders without the numbers and equipment they need to wage the war on terror," he said.

CONTINUED...

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA8UBU97ID.html

Regarding the Iraq Invasion: Kerry voted to give Bush authority to defend the United States from Iraq. What is wrong with protecting the people of the United States? People need to remember the CIA and the Bush administration were feeding intel to Congress. If we find Bush and his people lied to Congress, then Bush should be impeached.

[CTLawGuy]

8. No...

Kerry voted simply to allow the Bush Cabal to illegally invade Iraq. It had nothing to do with protecting the US. Even I knew Iraq wasn't a threat to the US. I knew the Iraq/Niger thing was BS long ago. It was an obvious forgery.

I hate how Kerry supporters have to spin his war vote constantly. He voted for it to avoid being called an unpatriotic pacifist.

[Octafish]

9. Talk is cheap. Kerry backs up what he says with action.

Kerry had to DO SOMETHING to protect the country. His vote demonstrates that.

What did ex-governor, ex-doctor, ex-stockbroker Dean do? He talked about peace. Now he talks about sending more troops.

It's the same thing throughout his career. Talk talk talk. When it comes to work, it's on to something else to talk about.

You hate my spin? That's no spin. That's the truth.

[crissy71]

11. I protested the war in nyc

And I've been loving what Dean's saying - however, I want more than anything to get this pResident out out out.

As we're learning now, congress was lied to, Kerry was lied to, we all were lied to. And while the sand is shifting, the reality is that most people have been brainwashed into supporting the Iraq war, or at least the IDEA of it.

It would be amazing if an anti-war candidate were not handicapped - as of now, though, Kerry is the best guy we have. He charismatic, he knows how to fight back, his speeches have just enough teeth in them, he's a decorated veteran, I could go on - if Libs don't cut him some slack we could have another four disastrous Neo Con years that we may not be able to recover from.

[RegenerationMan]

54. Another Peace Rally in NYC: Lennon introduced Kerry

Kerry was introduced at a 1971 Peace Rally by John Lennon himself. Kerry has always been a leader!

IMAGINE PRESIDENT KERRY!!

[study_war_no_more]

68. Then triple shame on him for voting to go to war

Seven thousand civilians lost their lives. Bush can lie all day these assholes betrayed us by voting yes. Ollie North is a vet too.

[RegenerationMan]

55. Another Peace Rally in NYC: Lennon introduced Kerry

Kerry was introduced at a 1971 Peace Rally by John Lennon himself. Kerry has always been a leader!

IMAGINE PRESIDENT KERRY!!

[JoFerret]

12. Whatever

If he gets the nomination then I am out working for him every step of the way. Politics makes strange bedfellows and there are legitimate (i.e. non-Bush cabal) ways of disagreeing over issues. I think Kerry was wrong with his vote. Whtehr is was expediency or conviction I cannot judge. But clearly he is disgusted with the deceptions, crookery and incompetence of the badministration.

[CTLawGuy]

14. Do you and I live on the same planet????

Tell me how Kerry voting for the War in Iraq "protected our country" at all??? I need a good laugh today.


As for Dean, he's had to work for 12 years to protect the state of Vermont, which he was governor of, from terrorism, no thanks to Bush, who hasnt funded first responders, or border security....

He's talking about more troops, NOT more AMERICAN troops. He is talking about this because it is a FACT that we are in Iraq. We cannot undo that so we must act to keep the peace. We can't do that without more troops, preferably UN troops. Dean wants to give Iraq over to the UN because they will do the best job in setting up a proper government and relieve the burden on America. Kerry is part of the reason we are in there.

[leftwingnut]

16. I agree!!

to be honest...Kerry is a waffling chicken shit and does not deserve my vote!!

[leftwingnut]

17. I agree!!

to be honest...Kerry is a waffling chicken shit and does not deserve my vote!!

[leftwingnut]

18. whoops...

[Octafish]

19. There's nothing funny about war.

That is something that everybody should know, not through experience but through the truth. Spreading lies about Kerry doesn't do any good for you, me or the country.

Here's something that is funny. You remind me of the type of person the fictional Marine commander Jack Nicholson portrayed referred to:

"You can't handle the truth."

The truth is Kerry is a combat veteran. He would not send America's finest to fight an unnecessary war or battle. He also is a Liberal. That means he values all human life.

Dean supporters don't like that because Dean is neither. I find that sad.

[CTLawGuy]

21. two things..

1. How did I lie about Kerry?

2. Answer my question... How did Kerry's support of the Iraq war protect America?

[Octafish]

29. Here.

1. You wrote: "Kerry voted simply to allow the Bush Cabal to illegally invade Iraq." Not so. Kerry authorized the president to do what was needed to protect the country, including war on Iraq. At the time, the Congress was hearing from the administration that the next terrorist act might result in a "mushroom cloud."

2. Kerry voted to do what was best for America's national security. If he had erred, the death toll could be millions.

BTW: I don't like war any more than anybody. Same goes for Kerry. Difference between Kerry and most people: He's had to fight one. More than anybody, he knows war is a waste of humanity.

[Mechatanketra]

34. He DID err.

Everyone and their mother and their mother's dog knew Bush was going to use that resolution as a pass to invade Iraq. If Kerry didn't, he's too stupid to represent us.

The fact that the "mushroom cloud" imagery didn't hold water was readily available information to anyone who cared to look. If Kerry didn't know Bush can't be trusted, he's too stupid to represent us.

This point can't be stressed enough: since the case for war essentially boiled down to "But George says they're a threat!", Democrats who still voted for the war had to be either gullible, gutless, or just plain rotten. Maybe Kerry did sincerely believe he was doing the best for America's security. But he was wrong, and a death toll which would (and should) have been zero is now rising every day. The only Americans Iraq was (and is) capable of threatening are the ones we send there to be shot at.

There's no point to continually cite that "Kerry knows more than anyone how horrible war is", when Kerry did far less than most people you're arguing with to stop this war, and had more power to check it than anyone here. Because the thing is, Iraq is an unnecessary war. Period. Bush was lying, they're not a threat to us, there's no "mushroom cloud" on the horizon (unless it comes from Korea). So all the postulate "Kerry knows just how bad war is" can be used to prove is that he doesn't care.

[Octafish]

35. Tag Team Kerry Bashing.

Going by your team's opinion, Kerry should have known then what we know now. That would put him in the realm of the Deity or those angelic beings who can see the future.

You must have superpowers, though. You say Kerry did far LESS than most people to stop the war than people I'm arguing with. Bullshit! How do you know what people here did? Do you monitor what they do or, more likely, say? That's a good one.

To save you some time. Don't imply that I am or was in favor of the illegal invasion of Iraq. I argued here and in public against it.

You also seem to have forgotten that Clinton and Tenet in 1998 made the case for going to war with Iraq. The story then, as in 2002, was that Saddam — armed and trained and funded by Poppy Bush and Pruneface Reagan throughout the 1980s — was a real threat to the stability of the region. After 9-11, Kerry wasn't willing to risk the safety of the United States. Period.

BTW: Why the constant Kerry bashing? Do you really want four more years of Bush?

[Mechatanketra]

51. You have a problem with English?

I'm saying that Kerry should have known then what I knew then -- what was being discussed on a daily basis by the DU community, reported in forums like Common Dreams and The Nation, et al. Pretending any of these scandals in our headlines now only just happened now is a crock.

It doesn't take superpowers to know what various DUdes have done (organizing protests, letter-writing campaigns, media appearances, etc.). William Pitt's book alone counts for more than Kerry's anti-war efforts.

As far as Clinton/Tenet goes, to lift a phrase from Justice Kennedy's sodomy decision, it was wrong then and it's wrong today. That goes to the question of how effective a gullible Democrat (Clinton went to war largely on the word of PNAC advisors) is at opposing Republican goals: slim to none.

As for my "Kerry bashing", I've offered my motive in practically every criticism of the man I've posted: I don't believe the man is fit to be President. Is that hard to understand? He's either too gullible to recognize threats from Republicans, too cowardly to oppose those threats, or too much like the Republicans to think they are a threat. In short, I don't want four more years of Bush, either literally or in spirit -- which is what's going to happen if we don't get someone in the White House who comprehends these GOP SOBs are not on our side.

[gottaB]

52. What if?

What if Kerry perceives the neocons as a threat, and has for quite some time, but made a strategic decision that the best thing he can do would be to knock them out in November 2004?

His weakness would then not be in his character, but in his situation. A Senator from the minority party in a Congress totally dominated by Republicans with a Republican White House, a right-leaning media, and a public that largely wanted war and approved of and trusted in Bush. You say the courageous and wise course of action would have been to oppose Bush's war loudly and totally, but you make no calculation of the risks involved and potential consequences.

And you don't allow for the calculation that the war was going to happen with or without Kerry's vote, that other wars were and are in the works, that encouraging Bush to go through the UN and demonstrate an immanent threat from Iraqi wmds was a worthy concession and for the good of the nation--and if it was also good for his campaign, that doesn't mean it was totally self-serving.

DU, Common Dreams, The Nation? Yes, what we know, what I'd wager Kerry knows as well. But you just don't seem to appreciate how little credence the rest of the country puts in these discourses. It's really easy for people on the peripheries of public debate to offer criticisms. And it's great when a fellow like Gov. Dean seems to be listening. But you have to know that dialogue between periphery and center involves taking certain stances, and these are not directly reflective of inherent personal values or views. At best they are but partial reflections of one's mettle. Before you attack Kerry's character, take a moment to examine his ambitions and decisions in the context provided by his position within the field of American politics.

Do you really suppose Kerry is campaigning now for his own ego? There is a lot at stake in this election. According to my what if, Kerry's tragic flaw, if his campaign ends in tragedy, would be his arrogance, the belief that he truly represents the best hope for beating the Bushistas and setting the country on the path to sanity, prosperity and peace. Yet when I look at his overall record in the Senate, and the policy postions he has laid out, he strikes me as being both the best hope of beating Bush, and a damned fine candidate. His arrogance, such as it is, is not impairing his judgement.

You'd really have to believe the worst about the man to believe the things you've said. Bush in spirit? Please, that's out of all proportion.

[gottaB]

53. What if?

What if Kerry perceives the neocons as a threat, and has for quite some time, but made a strategic decision that the best thing he could do would be to knock them out in November 2004?

His weakness would then not be in his character, but in his situation. A Senator from the minority party in a Congress totally dominated by Republicans with a Republican White House, a right-leaning media, and a public that largely wanted war and approved of and trusted in Bush. You say the courageous and wise course of action would have been to oppose Bush's war loudly and totally, but you make no calculation of the risks involved and potential consequences.

And you don't allow for the calculation that the war was going to happen with or without Kerry's vote, that other wars were and are in the works, that encouraging Bush to go through the UN and demonstrate an immanent threat from Iraqi wmds was a worthy concession and for the good of the nation--and if it was also good for his campaign, that doesn't mean it was totally self-serving.

DU, Common Dreams, The Nation? Yes, what we know, what I'd wager Kerry knows as well. But you just don't seem to appreciate how little credence the rest of the country puts in these discourses. It's really easy for people on the peripheries of public debate to offer criticisms. And it's great when a fellow like Gov. Dean seems to be listening. But you have to know that dialogue between periphery and center involves taking certain stances, and these are not directly reflective of inherent personal values or views. At best they are but partial reflections of one's mettle. Before you attack Kerry's character, take a moment to examine his ambitions and decisions in the context provided by his position within the field of American politics.

Do you really suppose Kerry is campaigning now for his own ego? There is a lot at stake in this election. According to my what if, Kerry's tragic flaw, if his campaign ends in tragedy, would be his arrogance, the belief that he truly represents the best hope for beating the Bushistas and setting the country on the path to sanity, prosperity and peace. Yet when I look at his overall record in the Senate, and the policy postions he has laid out, he strikes me as being both the best hope of beating Bush, and a damned fine candidate. His arrogance, such as it is, is not impairing his judgement.

You'd really have to believe the worst about the man to believe the things you've said. Bush in spirit? Please, that's out of all proportion.

[Octafish]

62. You have a problem with the Truth? Kerry is a good man.

John Kerry is a brave man. And Kerry is a smart man.

So, why should Kerry think like you do? You sound like a condescending Republican nag.

You also are wrong about Kerry's political motives. Here's a word of truth from a couple of English-speaking writers who should know what Kerry did on behalf of his country as a US Senator. The authors wrote a book about BCCI:

“Senator John Kerry — The Massachusetts Democrat and Vietnam War hero was a freshman senator when he first started investigating BCCI. He refused to let go, despite pressure from colleagues and assurances from (Clark) Clifford and others that there was nothing seriously wrong with the bank.”

SOURCE: From “Some of the Major Players” section in the preface, p. X. "A Full Service Bank: How BCCI Stole Billions Around the World." By James Ring Adams and Douglas Frantz. 1992. Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster Inc.

BTW: The authors mentioned Jack Blum and Robert Morgenthau in their acknowledgments. Blum was Kerry's lead BCCI investigator. They got ZERO cooperation from the Bush White House or Congress. So, Blum took the case to Morgenthau, an ex-US Attorney known for his integrity, who was then the New York State Attorney for Manhattan. They ended up doing the Fed's work by bringing down an international conspiracy that looted billions from depositors, while funding arms merchants, drug runners, money launderers, the KGB, Abu Nidal, Ollie North, the CIA and many assorted bribed officials, foreign and domestic.

PS: Mechatanketra, I don't know who you support and I don't care. What I don't like is Kerry being slimed — by you or anybody else. Keep up the sliming and the Bush gang may get what you seem to want — four more years.

[oasis]

63. Thanks Octafish, hopefully Kerry bashers will learn something

from that post.

[sendero]

the fact that he served...

... does not give him a free pass to make a disastrous vote for political reasons. No matter how much you try to spin it.

[Octafish]

39. So YOU say.

It's not spin when it's the truth.

¿Entiendes?

[sendero]

37. the fact that he served...

... does not give him a free pass to make a disastrous vote for political reasons. No matter how much you try to spin it.

[sendero]

38. oops

double post ameliorated

[study_war_no_more]

70. there were millions of us out in the streets

not to mention the rest of the world. Alternative views and PROOF!! were very available he went with the lie and people died.

[Mechatanketra]

28. Boy, feel the denial.

The cold hard fact is, Kerry did send Americans to fight an unnecessary war: Iraq.

Certainly, it's possible he thought it was necessary -- that would remain consistent with the expectation that a combat veteran and liberal would avoid this decision. But believing that would have required taking the word of George W. Bush on faith.

Kerry may not be a bad person, but if he really believed the Bush administration, he is a great fool. He should have known better.

[study_war_no_more]

69. and dennis

would have kept us out in the first place.

[study_war_no_more]

67. So your backing Dennis or Bush?

Dennis has the plan and Dennis is the man.

[NewsTalk]

13. I'm with darboy here

Kerry jumped on the rah-rah war bandwagon and gave * a blank check to create mayhem wherever he wanted, without the impediment of having to actually prove that there was a reason for going to war. He is spattered with the blood that is all over *'s hands.

Kerry and those who voted like him last fall abdicated their Congressional responsibility for the declaration of war. It is a singularly empty gesture to now be complaining that they were badly used. They had it in their power to prevent what happened, but instead they gave a stumbling drunk the keys to the car.

[schultzee]

45. As President Kerry would not have done what monkey did and

as a veteran he understands what war really really means. He went along with most of congress. My Senators voted for monkey too, much to my suprise.

[robbedvoter]

20. Jealous of Kerry? Nah, just crying in my teacup for my vote

Which is why I was so happy today to see that he was removed from the Democrats.com fantasy poll! Must've those teacups that done it! Contempt - not a good campaign theme!

[crissy71]

46. eyes on the prize, eyes on the prize

and it's Chimpy, not Kerry

[CWebster]

30. And when it is all said and done

he signed his name on the dotted line.

He can't be trusted to make wise decisions as president. We have had enough.

[study_war_no_more]

66. lets get this straight

War is okay but the aftermath plan was lame?
Protect us from Saddam? Were we in danger? Stalling investigations? Did you think Bush wants to go near LIHOP or MIHOP? Hey soft criticism of Bush ain't gonna cut the mustard. He is laughing at the fear he has invoked.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

15. Are we less corrupt than we were yesterday?

No, thanks to Kerry's cowardice, a precident has been set:

President's are now allowed to completely fabricate causes to go to war and expect Congress to support the lies.

Thanks John Kerry - for screwing America.

[revcarol]

23. Well, DUH!!

This has been the HALLMARK of this administration!! Where have he and his staff been hiding to NOT KNOW THIS...

Nice try, Kerry, but this either doesn't pass the smell test or you live in an alternate universe.

[revcarol]

24. Well, DUH!!

This has been the HALLMARK of this administration!! Where have he and his staff been hiding to NOT KNOW THIS...

Nice try, Kerry, but this either doesn't pass the smell test or you live in an alternate universe.

[CBHagman]

25. McClellan at the White House is trying...

...to hammer Kerry as much as possible on this issue. It's clear they view him as a threat, no matter what they say.

[crissy71]

27. Notice the WH loves Dean

and goes after Kerry every chance they get - b/c Kerry is THEIR BIGGEST THREAT - All Dems should rally behind Kerry on this alone - to do less would be stooopid

[CWebster]

31. oh please

getting Kerry to climb onboard was a piece of cake---why would they be threatened by him?

Kerry has to hark back 30 years to Viet Nam, when some of his buddies were black, and he protested against wars and posed for photos with John Lennon to prove himself.

[crissy71]

32. then how come

they treat his every utterance like it was Clinton himself -

they're threatened b/c they know he's a strong candidate and that Kerry/Clark would more or less guarantee and Dem victory in 2004

[sangh0]

33. The WH loves Dean

because the Weenie wants to give Bush* the "benefit of the doubt" an won't call Bush* a liar.

[study_war_no_more]

71. Ollie North was a vet too

John Lennon would never have voted for war in Iraq.

[tomp]

36. yawn.

too little, too late. i'm decidedly under-inpressed by these comments.

translations:

"once i thought that invading iraq might actually enhance our national security. i have no good reason to have thought that, but now that the plan i enabled has created one of the greatest threats to our nation in its entire history (so much for my military credentials) i have to say something that attempts to jump on the bush-bashing bandwagon without making me look like to much of an idiot."

"even though i had no idea who or what was responsible for 9/11 i voted for the patriot act and the invasion of afghanistan and failed to enable a timely investigation of the facts that the junta put forward as the official explanation. however, you should all be relieved that i would have handled afghanistan differently (sort of. we still need that pipeline and their opium (so the kids in south boston don't get too uppity) and since we don't even know what a war on terror means (since we don't know shit about 9/11), we have no real idea what is needed for a "war" on "terror", but i'm going to talk about it anyway."

"you should also be relieved that i would have handled iraq differently as well (sort of, like, we still need their oil, don't we?), but we're definitely in this thing for the long haul so, 'more troops! victory in iraq!'"

[TeeYiYi]

40. When Kerry was voting for war with Iraq, . . .

. . . I was out in the streets with the rest of the universe, including Democrats and DUers, protesting that very same war. If that puts me in the realm of the Deity or those angelic beings who can see the future, so be it.

TYY

[crissy71]

43. I was there too

And I want Bush out of office, ASAP. If Dean's the candidate fine, if Kerry, fine - vote for who you want in the primary but stop bad mouthing a candidate who, depending on where the political winds are blowing, could be the Dems best shot

Maybe this is all a non issue and Chimpy will be so weak by Nov 2004 that ANY candidate can beat him (Lord that would be a truly beautiful thing)

In the meantime it would be a good if the sliming of Kerry, Edwards or Clark if he runs (but not Lieberman) ended - pronto

[Feanorcurufinwe]

47. and my Dem senator was also voting for it

and my Dem senator was also voting for it. So when the election comes what do you Kerry-bashers suggest I do? Vote for the Republican?

[joeunderdog]

49. It's not "technically true" that he voted for war...

He only voted to authorize the pRes to do it. Weak.

I'm from MA and Kerry has disappointed me for his fence-riding. On the one hand, I understand some of it, seeing how the Patriotic Repukes successfully buried anyone who spoke out. On the other hand, speaking up would've shown some true leadership.

Overall, while I am a big DK fan, I believe Kerry is our best chance to beat W. He presents as the most "presidential" of all candidates. I just wish he would lead rather than waste our time testing the waters on issues.

Time for him to step up and show some stones.

[skip fox]

48. I wish everyone would cut W. some slack!

We have it on GOOD authority (DU's CAPTIONers) that he's trying to do better:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=25323&mesg_id=25323&page=2

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=25410&mesg_id=25410&page=

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=25287&mesg_id=25287&page=2

[rocktivity]

56. Rocknation Says Credibility Gap Has Opened Between Bush's..

lower and upper lips.

rocknation

[rocktivity]

57. Rocknation Says Credibility Gap Has Opened Between Bush's..

brain and mouth.

rocknation

[rocktivity]

58. Rocknation Says Credibility Gap Has Opened Between Bush's

...brain and mouth.

rocknation

[MostlyBlackCat2]

60. Credibility Gap Has Opened Between KERRY Rhetoric, Actions

Hell, He can't even be bothered to show up to VOTE for the investigation! What a freakin' hypocrite. Yeah, John, I'm all about voting for you. NOT.

Gimme Dean!

[Andy_Stephenson]

61. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black

Kerry has 0 credibility with me.