Kerry: Candidate for Commander in Chief

[DrFunkenstein]

Sen. John Kerry, a Democrat running for president, observed that one of the lessons of Vietnam is that veterans "have learned to tell the truth" when it mattered most. And he went on to tell a number of tough truths in which he was clearly sticking up for America's fighting men and women in uniform - often voicing some tough criticisms of the nation's present commander-in-chief.

"In Iraq," he warned, "we have over-extended our troops." He said "a lack of candor with the American people" has placed U.S. troops increasingly in harm's way. Still, Kerry was not one of the pack of liberal Democrats now demanding a quick exit strategy in Iraq. "The only exit strategy is called victory - mission accomplishment."

Throughout his speech, Kerry was clearly sticking up for America's war veterans, whom he said repeatedly are not getting the medical treatment, service or benefits that they are due. He spoke of the need to pursue an all-out effort "to defeat radical terrorism."

At the VFW, Kerry sounded like a leader who has fortified his stump speech by adding a cohesive framework. He also sounded a bit like a Democratic John McCain. All of that might be good news for Democrats. It certainly is not good news for President Bush, yet another of our commanders-in-chief who never saw combat, and his strategist-in-chief, Karl Rove.

In closing, Kerry told the VFW audience that if he is chosen to serve as America's commander-in-chief, "I won't just bring to that profound responsibility the perspective of sitting in the situation room - I'll also bring the perspective of someone who's fought on the front lines."

On the stage of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, it began to seem that at last the Democrats have a candidate for president who can, for millions of voters, be their candidate for commander-in-chief.

http://www.modbee.com/24hour/opinions/story/980178p-6877740c.html

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[ProfessorPlum]

1. Which one is Kerry?

just kidding.

What do you think Kerry's definition of "Mission Accomplishment" is? At this point, I would think the least bad outcome is to get the UN in there and get the hell out as much as we can.

[DrFunkenstein]

2. No More False Pride

July 28, 2003 Reuters

Democratic presidential contender John Kerry urged the Bush administration on Monday to seek U.N. support in stabilizing Iraq and questioned if "false pride" was delaying the move.

He said "my blood boiled over" when he read in the New York Times on Saturday that some in the Bush administration might consider it humiliating to go to the United Nations for help after bypassing the world body before going to war in Iraq.

Kerry, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, said half of the names of the dead enshrined on the Vietnam war memorial in Washington stem "from the time that that kind of pride began to cloud the decisions in Vietnam."

The Bush administration has reacted coolly to suggestions that a new U.N. resolution could make it easier for nations to help Washington stabilize Iraq through troops or other means.

Kerry said international help was crucial with American deaths continuing and the costs of policing the country mounting.

"Lives are at stake," he said. "We need to internationalize this and we need to do it now, we need to do it openly and we need to do it in order to defuse the sense of occupation and protect the troops."

http://www.johnkerry.com/news/clips/news_2003_0728d.html

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Which one is John Kerry?

[ProfessorPlum]

3. Wait, I recognize the front row -

Tiny, Brooklyn, Deuces, Velvet Hat, and Crabcakes

:)

[DrFunkenstein]

4. They Got Crabcakes!!!

And then the unthinkable happened...

Nooooooooooooooo!!!!

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God bless the Pine Barrens.

[valniel]

5. None better suited!

With the "War on Terror" and the occupation of Iraq likely to be a big issue in Nov. 2004, John Kerry is the best democrat to run against Bush. Hopefully domestic issues will sink Bush.