Kerry Rips Bush For Lack Of Leadership

Aug. 31 — Two days before the formal launch of his presidential campaign, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry criticized the leadership and policies of the Bush administration and pledged to cut in half a federal deficit estimated to be slightly under $500 billion in 2004.

The senator, while praising Bush as “a very likable fellow ... a good man who wants to do good things,” pointedly took issue with much of the president’s work in office.

“I disagree with the president’s approach to almost everything he’s doing — almost everything. ... On the budget, he’s favoring the wealthy in America at the expense of the middle class. He has ignored the plight of job loss in America. He has gone backwards on the environment, backwards on cities ... look, we’ve given a tax cut to people while states are being forced to raise taxes and cut services. He’s gone backwards in the international community.”

“I am appalled by the lack of his agenda, by the lack of direction, by the lack of leadership, by the lack of willingness to show a vision that takes America to a better place, by his willingness to divide America, to use the politics of wedge, of driving between people, like the Michigan case, or calling things quotas that aren’t quotas, or beginning to — or appointing judges who are ideological, who want to take away the right of privacy, take away the right to choose, someone who wants to pack the court system of America, someone who doesn’t do the hard work of bringing Congress to the table, and helping to lead us to find the common ground.”

‘This is a time for tested leadership for America, and I believe that my foreign policy leadership through the years is what the country needs.’

Asked by moderator Russert to “compare and contrast” his policies with those of Howard Dean, the Vermont governor who is for now Kerry’s most formidable rival for the presidency, the senator pointed to his tenure on Capitol Hill. “For governors, Howard Dean has zero experience in international affairs. This is a moment to make America safer, stronger and more secure. And I have years of experience in helping to do that. ... This is a time for tested leadership for America, and I believe that my foreign policy leadership through the years is what the country needs.”

http://www.msnbc.com/news/959775.asp?0cv=CB20

Then after "ripping" into him...He called him "likeable" :puke: and praised him for the "good things" he is doing :puke:

Oops, looks like somebody beat him to it.:eyes:

I wouldn't be surprised if the person who said that is unused to national-level politics, because those kinds of statement will bite that person in ass sooner or later. Not all Americans prefer that type of wedge politics.

------

Racicot's e-mail attributes quotes to several Democratic presidential hopefuls criticizing Bush.

Among them, Racicot says former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean stated that Bush might suspend the 2004 election, called Bush "reckless" and "despicable," compared him to the Taliban and said Bush was trying to destroy Social Security, Medicare, public schools and public services.

Asked if the comments attributed to Dean were accurate, Dean spokeswoman Tricia Enright was incredulous.

"Compared him to the Taliban? Absolutely not. Suspend the 2004 election? What is that about?" Enright asked. "He said his (Bush's) tax policies were reckless. Obviously all this was taken out of context."

Bush campaign spokesman Scott Stanzel said Dean made the remarks listed in the e-mail; he cited a Jan. 24 Newsweek article that quoted Dean as saying that "comparing the administration to the Taliban was going a little over the line." Dean was referring to previous remarks in which he said the Bush administration was attacking abortion and joked that soon it would try to keep girls out of school.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/6648421.htm

Bush is the friggin taliban!

Just ask those people in guantanamo bay.

Or maybe all the people jailed without lawyers after 9/11 or how bout all the people in death row in texas during bushes reign there. Or....

Bah why continue? If you dont know by now bush is the taliban even Kerry saying it wouldnt convince you.

I agree, it would be a travesty for a candidate to be in touch with majority of the electorate. Much better for us to pick a candidate who appeals to the small percentage who already hate Bush. It's not like it really matters who wins, right?

since he's a "a good man who wants to do good things".

You just like Kerry a little more.

. Besides, you've changed this from a post about politics to some type of judgement of my likes and dislikes. It's not about me. It's about electing a President. Do we want to elect a Democrat as President? Which candidate should we nominate? In case you forgot, those are the issues here, not your imaginary musings about the likes and dislikes of other DU members.


But the point of my post, which you so clumsily avoided, is that it is not a bad thing for a candidate to be in touch with the views of the majority of voters. Enerigizing the small percentage of extreme Bush haters like people here at DU is of dubious value.

and Kerry thinks that Bush is "a good man who wants to do good things", you think that Kerry should praise Bush so that he can be "in touch with the views of the majority of posters"

Making up positions for other people is a pretty juvenile debate tactic. It gets boring to reply to. I have to constantly repeat the same points because you pretend I'm saying something else.

the same thing i think you said.....


Clearly someone is not saying what they think they said

in spite of your attempt to obscure that fact.


Again the point of my post, is that it is not a bad thing for a candidate to be in touch with the views of the majority of voters. Enerigizing the small percentage of extreme Bush haters like people here at DU is of dubious value.

Are you capable of addressing that point? Or is another "innuendo attack" the best you can do?

Bush didnt have the majority of voters last time what makes you think he does this time?

Fuck Bush.

why cant kerry say it?

When the nice guy wins in the end

Then you're a dumbass. Instead of name-calling, John uses reason and eloquence to attack Bush on his policies. He refrains from personal name-calling.

I take you prefer it when he says bush is peachy!

Kerry was blowing a whistle.

it about Kerry's admiration and trust for Bush that you don't understand? Admittedly it's upside down, fuzzy, convuluted, mumbo jumbo but that's just 'Kerry-speak'.

Dean '04

I do agree that your characterization is upside down, fuzzy, convuluted, mumbo jumbo.

is not leadership.

I guess that makes sense though.

I'm sure my points escape you again lol.

Kerry's praise of Bush is exactly why I am so sick of Washington Democrats.

You just don't seem to be capable of addressing the actual words of either Kerry or your debate opponents. Everything is your rephrasing or your insights into unspoken 'thoughts'. Or just a blatant mischaracterization like saying Kerry was 'praising' Bush on MTP.

and BTW, in case English is not your first language or something, saying someone is 'likable' is not the same as saying you 'like' them.

I was giving my opinion on Kerry's statement that Bush is "a good man who wants to do good things"

That my friend is praise.


BTW, I never mentioned the words like or likeable in any of my posts, "in case English is not your first language or something"
so your snide "explanation" was not not neccessary.

and picking out one phrase with which to attack him. Any honest reading of what Kerry said as a whole does not translate to 'praise'.

because I'm tired of Washington Democrats saying things like that....... "honestly" tired.....


It was the same dumb strategy that led to the 2002 congressional losses.

to what Kerry was saying.

I'm just tired of Democrats prefacing their attacks with praise of Bush.

Language is funny that way. When you take what someone says, and replace some words with different ones, the meaning changes. Who would have guessed?

it's like being back in grammar school. Those schoolyard taunts! It really does remind be of those days.

Can't you engage ideas and issues? Really, you should try it. It's alot more fun than 'you should know'.

your madness wears me out.

'likable' is not the same as saying you 'like' them. "

No it is not. But it goes a long way to reinforcing the image in the publics mind...wouldn't you say? I want Kerry calling Bush* on every mis-step. Not pandering to him. But then they are skull and bones blood brothers so naturally Kerry will not embarras him.


Kerry :puke: lite if ever there was one.

Virtual, that's the stupidest thing I've heard in awhile. In case you didn't know, America has about 300 million people. You need to "suck up" to them to win elections. Let me hear what you have to say the next time Dean doesn't condemn Bush as Satan, which I agree he is not. A bad president? Yes. A reincarnation of the anti-Christ? No.

I'm sorry that you think my point of view is stupid, but I think that you can't win by praising your opponent. And in this case, the praise for Bush is unjustified, which makes it even worse.

of Bush.

is criticism...OK, I stand corrected.

And acknowledging that your target (Bush) isn't an apocalyptic pure evil.

Kerry does not have to attack Bush's character, but he should not be building it up.

If Bush is "a good man who wants to do good things", why is he doing all of these bad things in terms of civil liberties, the environment,etc.

Gore tried the nice guy routine in 2000 and he barely won.

I want someone ready to really challenge Bush. I'm looking for a landslide.

I think the real villains in the Bush administration is not Bush himself, but guys like Ashcroft and Wolfowitz. Those are the guys who need to be voted out the most. Kerry is presenting himself as a full-fledged candidate. Too often, the Democratic candidates get scoffed at for only having the anti-Bush card as their platform. Not only does Kerry have the strongest platform, but he also doesn't rely solely on bashing Bush. That's what makes him a fuller candidate.

and I guess we just disagree on candidate and strategy.

very blurred for him. To call George Bush, on national tv, a 'good man trying to do good things' is just plain crazy!!!

Dean '04

I think there are posters here who demand perfect adherence to their own perfect ideals. Anything short of this, "throw the bum out"!

Much better to lose, then sacrifice any of our perfect positions.

A majority of the americans thought sadam was responsible for 9-11 under your reasoning we should have been nicer to osama!

Sorry, but I'll speak for myself. If you want to debate me, you'll have to counter the points I make, not the ones you make up for me.

Care to explain what your reasoning really is or you just going to try to insult me?

that it is not a bad thing for a candidate to be in touch with the views of the majority of voters. Enerigizing the small percentage of extreme Bush haters like people here at DU is of dubious value.

Bush didnt have a majority last time nor does he at the present moment.

Your statement is false.

Because your political acumen is a bit lacking.

That Deans campaign is changing the old political model. Its no longer politics as usual Deans campaign is showing thowsands of people across america that thier voice does count that they can be involved and be heard. Both parties are watching it with fear. No longer are the corporations or fatcats in control of who has the money to spend.

You still dont get it Dean is gaining more and more suport because he doesnt tip toe arround the issues worying about who he will piss off. Thats a large part of what draws people to him like moths to a flame. People in this country are sick of politics as usual. They want someone who listens to them and speaks out! not someone trying to position themselves for the next election and is exactly what will take Dean to the white house.

Everything's different now? Well, if I believed that, I be supporting Dean, I guess. But I just don't trust him. Just like I didn't trust Clinton. I'm glad Clinton beat Bush and Dole and he was a thousand times better President than any Repub would have been but I still think he was basically a very effective, slick corporate politician, and the more I learn about Dean's record in Vermont the more I get the same impression about him.

the other person just ain't gonna agree.

I know what you're saying, and I agree. The majority of Americans believe Bush is a "nice guy".

Remember that Americans are the people that made Full House a top-rated show. They don't appreciate much Dean's Northeastern sarcasm.

Kerry is absolutely right to say that he opposes Bush for his policies, not for who he is. That may not play well for the far Left (of which I'm a part), but that is American politics. People like Bush in general, but when asked about specifics like the economy and Iraq they have real misgivings.

The reactions of the Dean crowd show how out of touch they are. This is why all the articles say Dean is surging but everyone worries that he'll blow the general election.

and Dean keeps rising.

When Dean starts dropping, we'll talk.

He said the poor man was obviously trying to do good (paraphrase) and was a likeable guy. That is his appeal to the majority of Americans, whether we agree or not. It has to be acknowledged in order to get them to hear that his policies are shit, even if he is a "nice guy".

What a devastating attack on Bush.

quick...a low blow IMHO (sarcasm on)

or do I sense the hand of Shrum.

High praise to Kerry for his sickening display.

But I can barely believe some of the things he says.

the war vote was wrong...My friends son is missing a leg over this illegal war. Every member of the house and Senate that voted for it should be tried for war crimes right along with the junta.

If Kerry was really the leader that we need now, he would have stood up to Bush. Your friend's son lost a leg so that some Dem's could be "properly positioned" for the next election.

Support our troops...Bring them home now before more are killed.

"How'd that work out for ya?"

Clinton didn't have any foreign policy experience, and he did just fine. On the other hand, Bush had the chance to travel with his daddy on his foreign policy missions and didn't learn a goddamned thing. Kerry needs to do better than this if he's trying to become the leading contender.

I'm sorry, but they're not in the same league. I'm really not surprised the Dean people didn't like what Kerry had to say, but obviously he wasn't aiming for the internet activist crowd.

Like it or not, the fact that Dean comes from the middle of nowhere AND the Northeast is going to start coming up. Clinton got by on his personality, but Dean just isn't that personable. He does angry pretty well, but I've yet to see him do charming.

Secondly, 1992 isn't 2004. Americans are still shaken up by 9/11 and are going to be looking for someone with answers. Americans aren't looking for someone to take America back, they want someone to take America forward.

Clinton did some decent things in office but he also pulled a lot of crap.

When kerry used his if you liked what you had with clinton you will like me line today i thought i was going to :puke:

and Kerry is plummeting.

Sharpton and Kerry are tied at 5% in the latest CBS poll.
Does that make them co-frontrunners?

Way to surge into the marginal frontrunner spot when no one cares. Presidential races are not like football. There's no points for yardage. It's easy to tell who wins - it's the guy standing at the end.

INDIANAPOLIS - They've been running for months. But the candidates for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination are just now getting to the starting line of what could be a long race to the White House or nowhere.

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean has emerged as a nominal front-runner in a field of nine. But he's built his small lead among the slim sliver of Americans who've tuned in early. Any of several candidates still could win the nomination.

"This thing is just getting started," said Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Democrat. "This campaign will really begin to heat up after Labor Day."

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/6657684.htm

and Dean is rising in Both places.

Was that part of Kerry's master plan?

In those states people do care.

But to deal with your argument.

I'll take Dean's surge over a plummeting Kerry any day, whether the entire country is watching or not.

But he's built his small lead among the slim sliver of Americans who've tuned in early.

So your trying to say when the rest start paying atention they are going to flock to kerry?

Because the people who are paying attention allready clearly didnt.

Dean '04...

'likable'. Everything that came after that one sentence from Kerry was rendered moot. I don't give a shit if Bush 'means' to do good. The fact is, he is doing the worst possible job and ruining the over 200 years of slow, painful gains this country has made. Try being a middle-class American, Kerry. Bush won't seem so 'likable'.

"TT: Do you think Bush can be beaten?

Dean: Beating George Bush is not going to be an easy task. He’s a likable guy and I think a lot of my colleagues in this race underestimate him. I think we’ve got to be respectful of the President. But I think the President’s wrong on a lot of issues and I think the American people think he’s wrong, too. They like him, but I don’t think they agree with his politics.

For someone to beat him, two things have got to happen. He’s got to be in trouble on the economy, and there has to be an alternative that’s credible. It’s a very winnable race.
http://www.txtriangle.com/archive/1049/coverstory.htm

Big deal.

Thanks man for that.

I got thanks from one of your people liberty chick. That said I dont have a problem defending Kerry especially because I like him and when hes insulted for frivlous reasons.

man trying to do good things.

Bit of a stretch comparing the two quotes. It appears that Kerry commiserates with Chimpy as if he (Kerry) is also a good man trying to do good things but, alas, is greatly misunderstood. Voting to bomb Iraq as a 'tough love' strategy maybe???

Dean '04

Kerry is really starting to sound like Lieberman.

"I heard Sen. Kerry did a good job giving my speech."

"We not only don't need Bush-lite, we don't need Dean-lite."

''A bunch of the people who voted for this war are now saying, `Well, we were misled,''' said Dean. ''The fact is you can't afford to be misled if you are running for president of the United States.''

"Oh, well, I tend to believe the president."

Dean could claim Kerry is "weak on defense" and "wants to raise everyone's taxes," but that is extremely counterproductive.

Is that a new brand of beer?

Dean is so lite on substance already that if a candidate were truly Dean-lite they would simply float up into space.

Governor Dean was my Governor. I'm really tired of the attacks on him. He's not some amateur lightweight. He's a very bright, focused guy and yes a virtuoso politician. Vermont is small but it's not some backwater. In fact, all democrats owe a debt of gratitude to our small state. Remember Jim Jeffords? How about Pat Leahy and Bernie Sanders? Civil Unions? That's just the beginning. Vermont was the first state to outlaw slavery.

Look, I like Senator Kerry despite his vote for the IWR. I'd never denigrate him in the manner that you've been employing all over this board to demean Governor Dean. Nor will I be foolish enough to let your distateful attacks influence my vote. That said, your behavior is repellant. Try a more positive approach.

Why do you think Rove wants Dean so bad? You can almost see the words "soft on defense liberal" forming on his sweaty lips.

They fear Dean, and they should. He is going to run Bush out of the peoples house! The gravy train is about to come to an end for Liberman, Kerry, and the rest of the fat cat, Corp. loving, phonys. I will go take my prozac now.

And the dean campaign is showing just the model to do it !

Power to the people!!!

Yay for the internet!

I want our democracy back!!!!!!

isn't it against the s&b rules to badmouth another bonesman?

at the end of the interview, russert brought up the fact that kerry & bush were bonesmen at yale. russert said something like, "what do you guys got? a secret decoder ring or something?"
kerry looked extemely distressed and replied (paraphrasing), "yeah, it's a big big secret."

Or just nervous?

I think their cult of personality roots are showing. Once again, they seem afraid to compare Dean's policies with Kerry's. Better to stick to the "likeable" quote. Anybody in the mood for cheesesteak?

I want the exact quotes surrounding that iraq debacle before going overly balistic on it.

Um Dean is surging in the polls, while Kerry is dropping. You truely think it's Dean supporters that are nervous?

Honestly, with September being the month to end the quarter, if Kerry doesn't gain some momentum by early October and show that he has raised money close to what Dean raises, he's toast. If Dean does raise his projected $10 million (and I tend to think they have already raised close to that much and will make headline news when the numbers come out) and Kerry doesn't have a lot to tout about, he will not be able to recover. Nervous yet?

policy any day.

I hate to break it to you, but Americans want the candidates to talk about the future. You can only bring up the IWR so many times before people start asking what you actual plans are. The IWR begins to look like a crutch after awhile if there is not much to back it up.

Dean has criticisms and sentiments, Kerry has answers. Guess which one the American people are interested in.

<>

judging by the flow of grass roots cash, DEAN again.

But only time will tell if Kerry's or Dean's strategy will ultimately be the winning one.

Time will tell.

Kerry accuses Bush of being wrong on almost everything, of favouring the wealthy over the rest, of causing job losses, going backwards in the environment.. He accuses of Bush of being a terrible leader, planner, and basically a crappy president.

Yet because he acknowledges he doesn't think Bush is the devil, he's a Republican in disguise? Y'know, Kerry has always been on Bush's case. Ever since 2000, when he was a Gore delegate. Kerry attacked him on the environment. He was the only presidential candidate to critically attack Bush on using Afghan troops in the final days at Tora Bora. He has consistently attacked Bush ever since March, probably the most out of any candidate. Remember, even Dean said, "I tend to trust the president." Don't bring your double standards here.

Therefore, he does not need to go around calling Bush names a 100% of the time. He acknowledges that Bush is a real person who probably has redeeming qualities, but his terrible policies are the ones that make his downfall, and that's the stuff that needs to be attacked, not Bush himself. Leave Bush the man out of this.

Instead of actually debating policy differences, a handful of Dean supporters have opted for mewing like babies about the "likable" quote. This is boring in the extreme. I won't hold it against Dean supporters in general.

I thought it was more like a 3/4 rip....I would prefer that Kerry flatten Bush.

Which plicy were you speaking of again when you started this crap thread?

This just seems like sucking up, that he's a likeable fellow, a good man, etc. He's not a good man, and he hasn't done good things for us or the world in general.

If you can't say something you mean, don't say something nice.

Besides, I'm not sure Kerry would be a good candidate for office. He just had cancer - prostate cancer. Is he even OK?

No offense to Dean supporters but your guy said the same thing and no I dont have a link.

He has graciously provided a link where Dean basically said the exact same thing Kerry said, about Bush being a likeable person. It's amazing how a small handful of Dean supporters absolutely pounced on Kerry for simply saying that Bush was a likeable guy (despite his lengthy anti-Bush rant that preceded and followed it) without even knowing their own candidate said the exact same thing.

BTW, the I saw the MTP performance, most of it anyway, and I was enthralled. Kerry provided many memorable quotes for me, like about Bush rushing into something he could've done later with more planning and support. Classic. And I liked that little laugh about Skull and Bones at the end. Kerry came off as very solid and informed, and I was blown away.

"a good man who wants to do good things".

I am so tired of Democrats prefacing their attacks by praising Bush's character.

I never had any problems with "likeable".

So you think Bush is an evil rapist who would kill his children and murder others? Politics tends to turn people's characters' shady. For example, Maximilien Robespierre was a good man, who loved his family and defended justice as a lawyer, before ultra-ideological politics turned him into a paranoid murderer.

BTW, I can't see how you can be "likeable" and not be a "good man." It's the same thing, articulated in different words. It makes sense to differentiate attacking one's political character and one's true character. Bush, at home, is probably a good man who loves his wife and family. Kerry is willing to acknowledge that, and then follows that up by relentlessly seeking to destroy Bush's political career. Makes perfectly sense to me. Unless you'd prefer for a Democratic candidate to brand Bush "an inherently and irredeemably evil man." Ooh, that's going to be popular with the independents.

but Kerry and foreign policy leadership? He was against the first Gulf War, wanted Clinton to go to war with Iraq in '98 and feels that we were right to go into Iraq in this instance. Surely he has better credentials in another policy area that he could tout, cause his foreign policy decisions have usually been wrong.