Should Kerry tell the truth about the latest TERROR ALERT?

[Armstead]

The latest installment in the Terrorama series puts Kerry in a spot. If he challenges it, he risks looking "soft on terror" and getting the Howard Dean treatment.

But if he just swallows it and goes along with the mantra, he looks to many like he is eitehr gullible or a phony.

Personally, I think he should challenge the hype, while acknowledging the danger and offering an alternative. The more that comes out about the latest alert, the phonier it looks.

Here is what I'd say if I were Kerry: "The latest information proves that Al Quadeh remains a threat, and our need for continued vigilance and action against them. However, the administration is presenting this information in a way that is misleading, by creating the perception among the public of a new threat and a sudden increase in danger. This is creating a climnate of fear and anxiety that thrteatens the nations morale and wears down our national resolve."

"The media is also acting irresponsibly, by presenting this infortmation in an emotional way that intensifies national confusion and anxiety."

"When I become prersident, we will keep the public informed, especially of potential threats. However we will do it on a regular basis that actually provides useful information, rather than as a series of alerts in a manner that is frightening and confusing to the American people."

How would YOU handle this one?

[Walt Starr]

1. Only if there is absolute proof it is political

Memoes would be nice.

Real evidence, not supposition, unless it becomes a given that this was a political move.

I believe within a week or so, it will be considered common knowledge this "terra lert" was a bogus political ploy, then they can go on the attack.

[soothsayer]

2. Let Dean do it

He's doing fine.

[pocket]

3. Kerry went on record saying that

he doesn't care what Dean says about this. Not good. This just makes Dean look like a crank.

[apnu]

14. I think it supports Dean

Kerry did not distance himself from Dean. Now if Kerry had said "I don't care what he says, and he's a loon" then I'd be worried.

Dean is doing a good thing for us. He's out asking the tough questions and taking the heat allowing Kerry more freedom to not piss off a lot of people because tensions are high. I believe Kerry knows this and will continue to let Dean do anything and everything he wants to do.

Dean's heart is in the right place and Kerry knows that as well. I think he trusts Dean to do the right thing and keep slamming * at every opportunity.

[Armstead]

He's doing fine but the Democrats are marginalizing him

I think it's important that Kerry attack this ridiculous Terror Alert system, and the media's lemming like behavior.

Dean is great, but he just gets laughed off with a "There he goes again, crazy old Howard..." This needs to be validated by Kerry.

He doesn't have to overtly attack it as political. But he ought to at least point out the ineffectiveness and phoniness of the way the administration and media handles these things.

[sandnsea]

4. It's the President's call

Let the people decide whether they like the way the President handled this "new intelligence". That's pretty much what he said yesterday, it's Bush's call. He also said that it shows that not enough has been done here at home. He's challenging the leadership. This way people can decide whether it's a political stunt based on the news and Howard Dean; and also recognize that Bush isn't doing anything on security. A twofer.

[RobertSeattle]

5. Pat Oliphant sums it up

[Killarney]

6. Kerry can NOT go there.

Yes, this data is three years old, but the administration is claiming they just got this 3 year old data 72 hours ago. If there is solid proof, not conjecture, that it's political, Kerry should send a good attack dog out (Biden, Dean, whoever) to slam the administration. Otherwise, don't go there.

There's a chance that they really did just get this data 72 hours ago. Whether it's 3 year old data or not, I think they should share it with us when they receive it.

If, however, they received it some time ago and have held it until now and we have PROOF of this... then impeachment would be an option.

[Armstead]

7. Regardless of whether it is new, it should be an issue

The way these thiungs are handled -- somber press conferences on a Sunday, the whole Terror Color Meter, the media hype -- should be an issue.

It's the "how you do it" issue of competance. It is possible to keep the public inmformed without jacking our emotions around.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

8. Attack dog Dean, yes. Roll-over poodle Biden, no.

[jpgray]

9. Biden dropped the ball on MTP bigtime

His answers were self serving and, worse, contradictory. That Russert was a pussycat with Zell Miller on his own myriad contradictions and played the ol' bulldog with Biden goes without saying.

[Mighty Undecided]

10. Nah. NY, DC are in the bag, who cares what they go through?

Now if this had affected Ohio, Mi, Pa - of course!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Kerry could "safely" ask for an inquiry.

Thus, not sticking his head out while encouraging the question of the timing.

[fob]

12. (FOB as Kerry) "The only thing we have to fear is...

fear itself!" Only in this case the fear was generated by our own government who has mismanaged our might and intelligence so badly they are doing the terrorists work for them.

[Jacobin]

13. It's already painfully obvious

You can tell because Holy Joe denies it and all the media makes fun of anyone who says it and all the media in other countries is making fun of the alert.

[Bush was AWOL]

15. Kerry is playing it up as much as he can

If he says this is strictly political and an attack happens, he will look like as big of an asshole as Dean will. That is why it is sick of Bush to use this for political gain if that is what he is doing because you can't really say anything.

[tom_paine]

16. The problem is that we WILL be attacked because when something

needs to happen which will bail a Bush out of trouble, you can bet that "lucky happenstance" is going to occur.

The Busheviks need an attack to cow us into accepting 4 more years of Imperial Tyranny.

It would be foolish not to assume that this "lucky happenstance" won't occur, as always, right on cue.