Bush Says Kerry Wants 'Acceptable' Level of Terror

[Khephra]

DENVER (Reuters) - President Bush stepped up his attack on Democratic challenger John Kerry on Monday, saying the Massachusetts senator would prefer to reduce terror to an ``acceptable level'' rather than eradicate it.

Two days before their final debate in Arizona, Bush accused Kerry of failing to understand the U.S. war on terrorism and told a Republican rally in New Mexico that the Democrat could shift directions like a western wildfire.

``Now just this weekend, Senator Kerry talked of reducing terrorism to quote -- nuisance -- end-quote, and compared it to prostitution and illegal gambling. I couldn't disagree more,'' Bush said, in reference to a comment by Kerry in The New York Times Magazine.

``Our goal is not to reduce terror to some acceptable level of nuisance,'' Bush said. ``Our goal is to defeat terror by staying on the offensive, destroying terrorist networks and spreading freedom and liberty around the world.''

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-campaign-bush.html

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. Bush is a nuisance.

I see a connection.

[UCLA Dem]

2. Funny...Bush forgot to mention his own comment

that the war on terror can never really be won.

[arwalden]

38. BUSH: "The war on terror can never be won."

Thanks for mentioning that UCLA Dem... I hadn't forgotten it either. Apparently the press has. Apparently many voters have too.

-- Allen

[Arancaytar]

3. What does he call the sh*t he does himself? Not terrorism?

Oh, right, that's freedom and liberty, not death and destruction. This stuff begins to sicken me.

[uhhuh]

4. In Other Words

Kerry is willing to make a reasonable an honest statement about the prospects of fighting terrorism, and the chimp will make promises that he can't possibly keep.

How that 20+ year "war on drugs" going, chimpy?

[DieboldMustDie]

5. A few weeks ago Mr. Bush said that the war on terror can't be won.

Sounds like he's flip-flopped again. :shrug:

[expatriot]

6. "terrorism" is a tactic

Saying that we can end terrorism is like saying we can end murder.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

7. "Spreading freedom and liberty around the world"???

I'm sorry, I just can't believe that anyone buys this crap.

I had a neighbor tell me yesterday that Bush is the only one thinking about the lives lost on 9/11, and that he's waging a war on terrorism because "he loves us". And this is not a religious guy, just a Bush nut.

[Carolab]

27. Your neighbor...

would you describe him as a "loser"? Cuz it seems to me that Bush draws losers like flies. Bushie: (secretly, to self) "I'm a loser, but Bush is a loser too and just look--he's winning!--so there's hope for me." It's like they think Bush personally understands them and knows their inner turmoil and deficiencies and loves them anyway.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

40. No, he's not

He's not a "loser", except for his political views. He's a well-off, semi-retired and pretty happy guy. We have joked about politics a lot; our kids are friends and we see them a lot, I would consider him a friend. I like to flaunt my Kerry/Edwards bumpersticker, t-shirt, etc. around him.

But recently he just went off about Bush, telling me that Kerry has never accomplished anything (ok then!) and that Bush has marginalized Al Qaeda and is WINNING the war on terror.

He also told me that all Democrats are socialists, so that's where he's coming from. I hear a lot of Rush and Hannity coming out of his mouth, so I'm sure that's what he's listening to.

[Norquist Nemesis]

35. You might want to open your neighbor's eyes

and remind him that 'spreading freedom and liberty' is a...LIBERAL value.

The things they spout about Bush (education, healthcare, environment) are Liberal values and always have been. The problem is he spends like a millionaire taking his buddies to the government trough and gives a 5 cent tip to the single mom serving the meal.

[expatriot]

8. the DNC needs to use that quote of Bush's...

...about not being able to win the "War on Terror"

[sandnsea]

25. There's an ad

Funny, people on DU never seem to post that. Or respond to it when I post it. But Bush spin, they'll repeat it until they MAKE it a story. Aaargh.

Did we also forget Bush said he wasn't that worried about Osama bin laden. Maybe he thinks Osama is just a nuisance and that's why he isn't looking for him anymore.

[AP]

9. Bush did this in 2000: accuse opponent of what you're guilty of doing.

Does anyone believe that Kerry wants a certain level of terror. That's absurd. Why would he do that?

No Bush is the one who uses fear as tool. They need to scare people just enough so that they don't ask where the hell their personal wealth went, but not too much so that people want a different leader.

[henslee]

10. I'd like a little terror please - whoa, not that much, put some back. Yeah

that's good. Oh and its to go, with extra napkins.

[LynnTheDem]

16. OMG!!! *snort*

ROTFL!!!

You owe me a drink for the one I just snorted up my nose, lol!

[Amich]

11. my question is what does * deem as a terrorist?

We did a exercise in one of my classes and each of us had to define what a terrorist was and what terrorism is. We all had different answers. I was just wondering if someone asked* would he even have an answer. maybe something like it is any one but me type of thing? Maybe if he attempted to define it then he could explain how he can defeat terror when it has been around for years and will continue to be around. I dislike * very much.

[RoyGBiv]

12. Bush is an idiot ...

Next question.

[shraby]

13. I know one thing......if Kerry wins

I don't want to hear the words freedom or liberty for at least a year. At least until they start to mean something once again.

[truthisfreedom]

39. when Kerry wins.

America is united again. Kerry will win!

[yo-yo-ma]

14. although thinking people might (sort of) agree with Kerry

the quotable content of the interview is such an obvious RoveCo target. Kerry's been so cautious, even outflanking * at times to the right, you'd think he'd had been as self-censoring in that interview as well. It's obvious how the republican party can't run on anything but character assassination. Still my soul sinks a bit every time we throw them such a slow ball.

[LynnTheDem]

15. I agree with Kerry (with what Kerry ACTUALLY said, that is)

And bush is really the world's biggest fool if he thinks terrorism can be totally wiped out.

Oh wait...bush IS the world's biggest fool.

[frank frankly]

17. so fucking stupid

come on, you moran. just QUIT.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. Does he really think it's possible to win a war against 'terrorism'?

There have always been, and will always be fringe psychos who resort to terror. If a group forms into a unit that can be identified, it can be fought, whether it is Al Queda, the SLA, the Red Brigades or the Mau Mau. Terrorists cannot successfully join in armed conflict with nation states -- they are always defeated.

That said, there will always be another one to spring up from the legions of disaffected, disenfranchised, and despised. Changing the society on the ground from which they spring is the only real way to deal with them. Empowering the people, hearing their voices, giving them a reason to not turn to violence will isolate those who are too far gone to be reached.

Terrorism is not new to this country. In the years before the civil war, terrorism reigned in 'bloody Kansas'. Several times, assassins have attacked our political leaders, including four presidents. In the twenties an anarchist's car bomb (actually, a wagon bomb) went off on Wall Street. In '56, Puerto Rica nationalists shot up Congress.

But we didn't declare a war on terror then. We dealt with them like the criminals they were, and terrorism remained a nuisance.

Just because this last group of terrorists grew large enough, and powerful enough (with our considerable help) to unleash the most devastating attack in our nation's history, it doesn't change the fact that they are simply criminals. We could have used long proven methods to isolate and capture them, and brought them to justice. Instead, we exaggerated their strength and influence and morphed them into a power they had not been. If a man is measured by his enemies, we created a monster and were diminished in kind.

And by the way, Iraq had nothing to do with it, and the neo-imperialists who fomented this war well knew it.

[TrogL]

19. He doesn't have to - Repugs think in black and white

Dubya will claim that terrorism can be wiped off the face of the earth. (white)

Kerry will say that terrorism can be reduced to a "nuisance level". (grey)

Dubya then says that Kerry is isn't saying "white", therefore he's saying "black".

To his followers, this "logic" will be perfectly understandable.

[Gaffey Duck]

20. I doubt even Bush is that dumb...

Too bad he's leading people who are.

[WindRavenX]

21. Ah yes, more out of context smear

Did anyone in the Bush camp actually read the article? Now, I know it's 8,000 words and uses many multi-syllabic words that might be hard for their feeble minds to understand, but I seriously cannot get over on how such a clear, simple plan that Kerry laid out in the article (which was fabulous, btw) can be distorted to: "Kerry wants terrorism!"
Dumb fucks.

[antonialee839]

22. I thought we already had an acceptable level of terror

called Tom Ridge. He turns up like a bad penny to frighten Americans anytime there's a drop in the polls.

[WindRavenX]

23. Ridge isn't availible

He's out shopping for more duct tape. It's important, I hear.

[pinniped]

30. I found him this past weekend:

Tommy Boy has a neat new rv and a camera to play with.

[moondust]

24. It's not going to disappear.

As long as there are religious wackos, racist wackos, homophobes, hate groups, and/or millions of people without any hope there will likely be at least some undercurrent of terrorism: from suicide bombers to al Qaeda to the KKK to 3 guys in a pickup truck dragging somebody around by the neck.

Bush is naive and does not understand the human condition.

[Carolab]

26. Yeah he does

He knows that the people you just described will ALWAYS want someone to pick on, beat up and/or kill, rather than being picked on, beat up or killed themselves. These people are self-defined losers and they want to feel like someone is beneath them. Hard to find in America--so look elsewhere. Yeah, they hate me for my....my....my....uh....FREEDOM, yeah, that's it!

Bush scores big with the "loser/bully vote".

[pinniped]

28. What a stupid thing for a stupid idiot to say.

Anyone with at least two brain cells knows it's the squatter monkey in charge who wants an acceptable level of terror so the sheep will cower in their duct taped homes.

People who vote for this moran really, really need to seek help. Seriously, what the hell has this piece of shit done for anyone outside his $200,000/yr circle jerk?

9/11 was the best thing that could happen to these jerks so I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if there was evidence of a secret meeting between some wh jerk and some terror cell dudes. Seems like these squatter morans had everything mapped out from the start.

[truthisfreedom]

29. more preaching to the choir. they love to distort, and they love it when

bush distorts for them. he's not gaining any votes with this behavior.

[saracat]

31. Apparently The war is not a "big" issue

as Coors would not have voted for it but tha's okay with Bush as he knows he's vote with him on the "big "issues!

[deacon]

32. Bush said he couldn't win the war on terror just a few weeks ago

Furious George is a mixed up, confused dude.

K/E 2004

[Peanut Gallery]

33. Have we won the "War on Drugs" yet?

No that's right, the only wars we're actually winning now are the War on Women, the War on the Economy, the War on the Middle Class...

[Disturbed]

34. Neo Fascist's War on the Middle Class.

These assholes are winning that one.

Will the Middle Class fight back?

[IndianaGreen]

36. Actually, Kerry is trying to restore sanity to our approach to terrorism

and do away with the stupid fear mongering, and hopefully the idiotic color codes.

The most important thing to remember is that American foreign policy is at the root of terrorism. We must change foreign policy in the Middle East, and support Palestinian independence, and force a total Israeli withdrawal from all of the land it took in 1967.

[NJmaverick]

37. Why is bush always telling us what Kerry wants

Does he think we are as stupid as he is? Does he think we can not think for ourselves or listen to what the man has to say?

[nolabels]

42. For same reason he is trying hide behind a false caricature ..............

him and his buddies in the corporate media have been trying to give to John Kerry. He and them are both miserable failures. From the missing the boat on the torture scandal to them being clueless or silent on how the 2000 election was stolen.

These folks are shameless and corrupt without any compunction on why are they are that way. I would not look to them for any type of enlightenment for they have all well proved they cannot be any credible Friend.

[Supersedeas]

41. Bush soundbites rely on previous comments going down memory hole

[ismnotwasm]

43. Bush is a fool

This is the same man, who by all reports, put the threat of terrorism on the back burner of his agenda, despite clear warning. The result? 9/11. The same man, who, but invading Iraq, created a climate in Iraq which makes it prime requiting grounds for terrorists groups, old and new. A young man, with very few job opportunities, living in constant fear, is going to be angry. Where is that anger going to be directed? Saddam? Perhaps, but currently, Saddam is not dropping bombs and engaged in house to house fighting. Saddam is not mistaking wedding parties for insurgents. When I think about how easy is would be to create young terrorists in the Middle East now, and not just in Iraq, because of bushco's evil policies, I get physically ill. bush is a lying bastard. His only possible saving grace, marginally, is if he believes his own shit. I don't think he does, but I so want to believe that a man with that much power, with that much influence on American policy, isn't a demon. ( No, I'm not religious, I just don't have other words to describe him right now!!!)