Kerry Turns Up the Volume With Litany of Critiques for Bush -NYT

[NewYorkerfromMass]

All too aware that his inner circle has pressed for a more aggressive campaign style, Senator John Kerry today heavily criticized George W. Bush for what he called the president's failures in handling the Iraq war and the wider war on terror, saying "I would have done almost everything differently." .....

...Mr. Kerry's litany of Bush miscalculations included charges that the administration ignored advice on the number of troops needed for the job, failed to adequately train and equip the Iraqi police and put an American rather than an international face on the occupation.

"President Bush now admits he miscalculated in Iraq," Mr. Kerry said in a speech lasting 35 minutes. "In truth, his miscalculation was ignoring the advice that was given to him, including the best advice of America's own military.

"So when the president says we have the same position on Iraq, I have to respectfully disagree.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/01/politics/campaign/01CND-KERR.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[sniffa]

1. why won't kerry attack!?

i'm sick of kerry just sitting on his hands. why won't he Listen to me and go on the offensive.

why!!!!!

[John_H]

16. Yup. The times they are 'a changin

[movonne]

2. Nothing said about how he was received....I wonder why!!!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. he was received well

and even got a standing ovation at the end.

[Larkspur]

5. Maybe that was because he finished speaking?

:shrug:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. That's how some Freepers characterized it

said they wanted to "stretch their legs".
I believe the standing O is a true assessment from other sources.

[Larkspur]

8. Why are you reading freeper posts?

:spank:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

17. It can be educational

for example, some of them were LIVID that the AL vets didn't stand up en masse and either turn their backs on Kerry and/or walk out.
I suppose it can be bad for the brain too, so I do appreciate your concern. :)

[movonne]

9. Thank you ...I guess that is why it was not in the article.

[mitchtv]

10. I disagree, he was received politely

applause was anemic at best.

[Catfight]

4. That's a litany? YAWN

[A_Possum]

6. Kerry hit precisely the right note in this speech

He was talking to a basically hostile crowd at the American Legion, but he turned them around by speaking about WHY, in terms of the soldiers, he would have done it differently. He didn't just indulge in a lot of hot air, he told them WHAT Bush had done to undermine the soldiers and Iraq and WHAT he would have done differently.

Anybody who thinks he should have stood up there in front of this crowd and rabidly attacked and called * a deserter and promised to have the troops home by the end of January is incredibly tone-deaf.

He got a fine reception, and I have no doubt at all that plenty of those guys went home with some interesting things to consider.

[The Stranger]

11. Kerry is best with his back to the wall.

Remember Iowa and his relentless rise there. Last 60 days -- he needs to do it again.

[pinto]

12. I caught just the portion of Kerry's speech mentioned in the snip and it

was a clear and direct rebuttal to this administration's abandonment of the operation to capture bin Laden and proceed with a preconceived, poorly planned and implemented seizure and occupation of Iraq.

Kudos to Kerry.

[ima_sinnic]

13. he was speaking to vets and didn't point out the many ways

that "Wuss" has shafted vets, from cutting benefits to dissing and mocking their service and their wounds, supporting the SBV liars and Purple Heart bandaids?

golden opportunity down the tubes.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

14. Goddamn it...this wouldn't EVEN be an issue if Dean was our candidate.

I'm trying to be optimistic about Kerry's chances, but Jesus...how well do we expect to do against the lockstep and well-organized Repukes when Kerry acts like a poll-watching rubber band.

MESSAGE TO DU KERRY OPS = STOP WORRYING ABOUT ALIENATING THE FEW INDEPENDENTS OUT THERE AND TELL YOUR BOY TO GET A SPINE...PUT BUSH ON THE DEFENSIVE FOR GODSAKES.

JB

[Stuckinthebush]

15. No...something else would

Come on...we knew they were dirty and would sling as much mud as possible. No one should be surprised.

[AngryWhiteLiberal]

19. True...which makes Kerry's poor response speed inexcusable

Kerry's campaign crew should have known this was going to happen...

In a war of dirty politics, indecision and delay will cost a candidate dearly. The best remedy to Repuke bully and smear tactics is a political "punch in the nose".

It's time for Kerry to cut the "gentleman" bullshit; pull the gloves off; and call these traitorous chicken-hawks out on the carpet. They won't know what hit them.

JB

[ima_sinnic]

18. couldn't agree more

I was imagining today the many ways that Dean would have been in their faces on all the issues--and how (presumably) voters would really have responded well to it.

However, it is true that reTHUGliCONs would have come up with some other s**t to attempt to smear him with. The trick is to have your own s**t attacks faster and more furious than theirs, to put THEM on the defensive instead of yourself and Dean would have excelled at that, being as how he showed no signs of pulling any punches.

[Upfront]

20. Yes!

You said it all, get a spine, fight damit!