Kerry Needs To Channel A Little Harry Truman In The Next Debate

[Harlan James]

...as a way of pointing out Bush's inability to take responsibility and admit to his mistakes.

The American people truly believe the buck stops at the desk of the president. And if a president leads this country to war, and if the reasons for going to this war turn out to be so much crap, he needs to be held responsible. No excuses. It doesn't matter what other people said or did. George W. Bush is the president, he made the call, and that makes the failure his and his alone.

Iraq is error that has cost the lives of over 1,000 GIs, plus 10s of billions of dollars in foreign capital borowed against the our future, therefore no small matter. The Bush campaign's reliance upon finger-pointing, blame assigning, and flat-out obfuscation of obvious facts, will only exacerbate the Little President's problems if they are exposed for what they really are, attempts at responsibility avoidance for one of the worst blunders in modern military history.



Our Little President. He's Mad

[Nashyra]

1. Needs to hammer home all of *'s failures in business

and make the connection that he has never been a success at anything he has ever come near.

[Bush was AWOL]

2. That sounds like a good idea (only one problem)

that sounds like a good idea, but the reason Kerry is hammering away on the handling of the war instead of demanding the president hold himself accountable is because Kerry has yet to admit his vote to authorize use of force was a mistake, and it does not seem likely that will change (he cleary does not want to be labeled as an anti-war candidate, which would be the case if he did such a thing).

I know and understand Kerry's position, and DEFINITELY think Bush should be held accountable for his actions, but at the same time, Kerry would look somewhat hypocritical if he takes this stance.

But, you are right, Bush needs to be held accountable.

Where DOES the Buck stop with this administration?

[Gloria]

3. With the barrage of negative ads and now dismissing Osama as a

top target (unless they pull him out of a hat), I think Kerry has to find a way to completely reveal Bush's cynical and ugly heart. This is a f*cking liar of the highest order, who doesn't give a damn who dies, as long as he has power.

The evilness of this whole bunch has to be driven home somehow. No more mincing words...lying, incompetent are a good start...but manipulation of the soul of America is what is going on here...

[cal04]

4. here's a thought for Kerry's next debate, from Paul Craig Roberts

When Bush chides Kerry that "you saw the same intelligence that I did," why doesn't Kerry reply:

"Yes, Mr. President, the same people who misled you, misled me, the House and the Senate and sent Colin Powell to New York to mislead the UN. So, Mr. President, why haven't you fired them? Is there no accountability in your administration? How can you lead when you don't hold people responsible for grievous errors that have led to the death and maiming of thousands of our troops and tens of thousands of Iraqis, shattered our alliances, and recruited thousands to the banners of terrorism?"

Bush would have no answer.

[w4rma]

6. That's right. Bush has not fired a single person over those failures.

That should lead any reasonable person to believe that those folks did (and are still doing) what Bush wanted them to do which was to make up a bunch of propaganda for his rubes to swallow.

[Radio-Active]

9. can't discuss Iraq`

this debate is on domestic issues..

I wish there were more debates.. maybe Kerry could propose them on wednesday

[StevenD]

5. Tie it into Bush's inability to admit mistakes NT

[Dcitizen]

7. Iraq

Iraq war is a hidden mess now... Like to see JK hit harder on domestic and economic issues

[newyawker99]

8. Hi truevoice!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Guaranteed]

10. Kerry's got to call Bush a corporate whore, or the polite

equivalent.

Every American has to come away from that debate knowing that Bush is on the side of the corporations, not theirs. And Kerry should do some name-calling and label-sticking.