The $87B vote by Kerry & Edwards will hurt, but is not a deciding factor.

[AlinPA]

I watched Bush*'s speech in Springfield MO on TV and they (Rove) have that issue. Bush* said roughly that "troops in the field need support, body armor, training, etc and that's why he submitted the 87B request and that a few senators (12) out of the mainstream voted against it - two of them were my opponents". Then he said Kerry tried to say things were complex (re:last night's speech) then said "there is nothing complicated about protecting our troops". Typical simplification approach. Tough, and it hurts but we have a bunch of things to counter it across the board from environment to lying about the need to go to war. In the speech, Bush* spent time defending the reason for going to Iraq ("would not trust a madmen, I'll choose protecting America every time", etc), so he is definitely under pressure on it.

[flpoljunkie]

1. Bush won't tell us he threatened to veto the $87B bill if any was loan...

His own Republicans were trying to make half of the $18 billion dollars for Iraqi reconstruction, in the form of a loan to the Iraq people--this had wide support across both parties.

Legislation is indeed, sausage making, and Bush's criticism of Kerry does not pass the smell test. Bush is the one who sent the troops to war in Iraq without the proper body armor or no body armor at all. Remember all the parents scrambling to purchase body armor and send it to their loved ones fighting and dying in Iraq.

Bush won't tell you this. Evidently the press will not either--after all, they cheerled the nation in the rush to war in Iraq and are, in a word, complicit.

[AlinPA]

3. True, but American voters usually fall for that brand of simplicity.

[emulatorloo]

2. So easy to explain _ I Voted for Fiscal Responsibility

I Voted Against tacking the Money onto the Deficit.

Eventually this point will get across. . .I saw a pundit or two finally getting the concept yesterday. . . .

Maybe MOVEON will do a big ad.

[DrFunkenstein]

4. Bush Only Deals In A and B Options (They Need To Nail Him On This)

This is a logical fallacy called a "false dilemma."

Examples:

You are with us or with the terrorists.

You voted for my version of a bill or you hate our troops.

The Dems need to point out this device to make the viewers more critical of Bush statements (and conservatives in general).