Walter Cronkite: GOP criticism of Edwards' 'inexperience' could backfire

[question everything]

(snip)


But they already are learning that Edwards can be a two-edged sword -- without a hilt. However they pick it up, they are bound to cut themselves. When asked how the North Carolina senator would compare with Vice President Dick Cheney, President Bush snapped, "Dick Cheney can be president," to which a caller to CNN quipped, "That ought to be on every Democratic poster." It probably soon will be, on many at least. The Republicans pretend to be gleeful about the prospects of a Cheney-Edwards debate. But are they, really?

Actually, Edwards currently is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and was pushing to tighten U.S. security against terrorism even before 9-11 -- efforts that got nowhere in a Republican-dominated Congress. Should tragedy suddenly put him in the Oval Office, he would begin with at least as much national-security experience as four of the past five presidents and arguably more experience than former Texas Gov. George W. Bush possessed when he was inaugurated. That's one sharp edge the GOP would do well to keep in mind.

(snip)

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has had lots of experience, having previously been defense secretary as well as White House chief of staff and ambassador to NATO. Secretary of State Colin Powell, of course, had been chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Indeed, the president's entire war Cabinet is quite deep in experience.

You would have thought that people so experienced in military matters would have ensured that their Iraq war plans included the wherewithal to secure their objective once they had taken it -- a precaution the greenest second lieutenant would know to take. You might have assumed that such experienced people would have thoroughly planned for the occupation, studying Iraqi history and society and anticipating likely postwar problems.

(snip)

Walter Cronkite's column appears every Friday on the Insight page. His e-mail address is [e-mail].

Publish Date: July 16, 2004

http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/opinion/3126780.html

[NMDemDist2]

1. kick n/t

:kick:

[charlyvi]

2. Bravo Walter

Still nailing it, after all these years. It's as though they are saying, "Edwards has no experience. We have tons of experience and look how badly we fucked up. Do you want him to fuck up worse". And they're too stupid to realize THIS IS NOT AN ELECTION WINNING POINT.

[Melodybe]

3. I agree it is going to backfire, but then again all neo-con plans do.

[charlyvi]

4. No they don't

How can you say that? Neocon plans are perfect--look how smoothly Iraq is running. Not that we would know first hand because we aren't in control anymore, they are. Yes, a sovereign nation is what they are, righto! Let Freedom Reign!


Okay, sarcasm is off now. Sorry

[murielm99]

5. Shrub had a scant five years of experience as governor

of Texas when he stole the presidency.

Remember some of those interview with him, where he did not even know the names of foreign leaders? And he had never been out of the country?

Why is it okay for shrub, and not for Edwards?

[colonel odis]

7. why is it okay? because republicans always feel

that different rules apply to them.

in their beady little eyes, they aren't to be judged the same way others are.

[Manix]

6. Walter rocks!!

[Dirty Hippie]

8. If he had tons of "Experience"

they would call him a Washington insider.