Despite Rhetoric, Bush, Kerry Agree on Many Issues

[DaveSZ]

LOL welcome to the one-party state!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A11158-2004May8.html


Despite Rhetoric, Bush, Kerry Agree on Many Issues

By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 9, 2004; Page A01


While both candidates characterize the 2004 election as a historic struggle between two clear and unique visions, President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry are often advocating similar solutions to some of the nation's biggest problems, sometimes using similar language.

Released MAY 5, 2004


In speeches and ads, Bush and Kerry hammer each other relentlessly, leaving many voters with the impression that they agree on nothing. But stripping away the rhetoric often reveals a convergence of views on major issues.

Bush wants to preserve tax breaks for the middle class, slash the deficit in half by 2009 and limit government spending. So does Kerry. The Massachusetts senator supports a continued American leadership role in securing Iraq, enhanced authority for the United Nations and sending in more U.S. troops to complete the job if needed. So does Bush.

-more-

[still_one]

1. You are twisting the facts

most of the tax breaks bush wants go to the upper 2% of the population. What he says about the middle class is bullshit!

Kerry wants to internationalize Iraq, bush says he does, but his actions are exactly the opposite.

bush is against choice, Kerry is for choice

we know the people that bush will appoint to the supreme court, and they are not the same as Kerry

bush is removing safeguards for the environment, and wants drill in Alaska, Kerry does NOT

Your assesment is not correct, the only thing Kerry is doing now is to try to appeal to the middle. If he doesn't, he won't get elected. That is reality.

[dsc]

2. that is such a crock

I could say I want to win the Boston Marathon next year that doesn't mean I will. Bush can't possibly cut the deficit in half with the stuff he is currently doing.

[NMDemDist2]

3. a "crock" is putting it mildly

this is total crap!

[still_one]

4. What I don't understand

is there still some individuals who believe that crap that there is no difference between bush and Kerry. It almost sounds like Nader

[Nederland]

23. Neither can Kerry

...cutting the deficit in half by 2009 would require Kerry to compromise with a Republican Congress in ways I wouldn't like.

[dsc]

28. simply by eliminating the tax cut for the wealthy

and with a decent economy he should be able to do that.

[sandnsea]

5. MY LTTE

Lying sacks of shit. I'm so sick of this crap and I'm sick of so-called good Democrats helping them spread it.


Letter:

Bush wants to preserve the tax cut to the wealthy, 64% of which went to the top 5%. He doesn't care about the tax cuts for the middle class because they aren't his to begin with. Democrats and Republicans like Olympia Snowe fought for those tax cuts and those are the ones John Kerry wants to preserve. TELL THE TRUTH. Slash the deficit in half? With no repeal of any the tax cuts to his buddies? That's going to mean a massive slashing of all social programs and education. TELL THE TRUTH. Kerry supports a real authority, sanctioned by the UN in Iraq, not just window dressing. Kerry supports honest and respectful relations with countries around the world that would actually bring them in to help us. Bush, geez, how can you even pretend he's been anything but a pompous ass and totally screwed up Iraq. TELL THE TRUTH. Kerry has consistently fought for environmental amendments to trade agreements, and labor and human rights, as well. Actually wrote legislation and introduced it. George Bush has done that? Where, when? He won't enforce anything that we have available to us now that would give our workers and businesses a fair playing field. TELL THE TRUTH. George Bush has passed his NCLB and not funded it and not implemented it in a way that will help teachers and improve schools. Kerry is being labeled a big spending liberal, but you dare say his approach to schools would be the same!!! TELL THE TRUTH.

You people who are doing this are the horror of the world. I cannot for the life of me understand why you're choosing to blur the line between two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT people. It would be nice if one of you would just explain WHY. WHY do all of you people in the media keep doing this? We're not stupid out here. CBS, tonight, reporting from "swingville". ALLENTOWN!!! Swingville??? I live on the Oregon coast and I know Allentown is no "swingville". Then they quote three people rationalizing torture, three people who could step in for Rush Limbaugh any day of the week. WHY??? WHY are all of you in the media doing this? Are you just hellbent for total Middle East war??? Why can't you TELL THE TRUTH???

Just an answer, I'd just like one time to get an honest answer. I think those of us, who may well have to live with the consequences of the destruction you're helping George Bush bring on this nation and the world, deserve an answer.

[flpoljunkie]

16. Bravo, sandnsea!

Give 'em the hell they so richly deserve--these sorry excuses for journalists--who not only do not do their jobs, they effectively pimp for this inept, corrupt and failed Bush administration.

[zulchzulu]

6. Chimpy will say one thing and do the opposite

Yeah, the Chimp will say he's for slashing the deficit now that he's rung up $7.9 Trillion in debt.

Yeah, he'll fix that damn war that that guy, I mean, he started...

The Chimp will lie and lie and lie.

Trust him as much as you would any common conman with a story about how they need money to visit their poor mother at the bus station.

[Monte Carlo]

7. Isn't that just the rhetoric and not the actions?

Doesn't the Washington Post have something to do other than overemphasize the importance of campaign rhetoric to their potential action in office? Have the ever heard of the march towards the center?

Bush says he wants to slash the defecit and limit gov't spending NOW. He just says that.

Very, very superficial.

[Monte Carlo]

20. And what do you want them to say? I promise to double the defecit?

I want gov't spending and scope to explode? Good luck with that campaign platform.

[corporatewhore]

8. Great Time to be a Likudnik or a CEOof Haliburton or chavez's opposition!!

win win situation

[madfloridian]

9. The media is going to do this to him. Twist positions, etc.

We used to get so furious when they did it to Dean, and they are just doing to bigtime to Kerry.

And they have 6 months to do it. I see the same patterns of misrepresention they used against Dean.

They did it to him again this week, after we went off guard a little. They made it sound like DeLay's opponent was not willing to have Dean there.

Morrison jumped right on it because a lot of his staff are Dean folks.

I got an email from Morrison's PR person who was kicking himself all over the place. He is very nice guy. He explained to me how the reporter manipulated him and twisted what he said. He even offered to resign. Morrison did not accept it. I wrote him back and said we understood.....that we were all in it together. We said we were behind him and would send other donors his way from our area. Then we sent another donation to send the roach man scurrying.

Yes, they will twist it to divide the party.

[genius]

10. He needs a liberal on the ticket to dispell this.

I don't want a replay of four years ago and this time California may be in play.

[Hippo_Tron]

12. California IS NOT in play...

Unless Kerry REALLY does something major to fuck himself over. We will have to spend more money there than usual because of governator but the state will remain democratic.

[Mattforclark]

13. Polls generally use a 95% confidence interval.

That means that all practical polling difficulties aside (which are very significant), 5% of polls will automatically be outside the margin of error, sometimes far outside the margin of error. So don't focus on a single poll like that, because it is liable to be waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off.

[Hippo_Tron]

11. HEALTH CARE and COLLEGE!!!

Those are huge for people who cannot afford them. We are far from one party rule.

[OKNancy]

14. Let's see...what is this author's track record

When I see bullshit articles like this, I always look for other pieces they have written or search The Daily Howler.

Bob Somersby calls this guy the new Cici Connolly (the chief liar about Gore)

Read here: http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh022604.shtml

[retread]

15. What a load of crap!!!! They are both rich, white men in their

50's. After that it's a real stretch to find common ground. What possible motive could someone have for this? Could it be to peel off votes for Kerry? 99% of the repigs understood the "compassionate conservative" crap for what it was. How come we don't understand Kerry's move to the middle? Do you really think running from the left will win this election?

http://www.globalstewards.org/democrats.htm#env

[union_maid]

17. This is the second time in as many days..

that somenone has posted an article in a major publication that totally mischaracterizes Kerry. Yesterday's was in the NYT. This is enough to make a person go looking for a nice spring/summer line of tinfoil hats. Our press really does suck. They should be ashamed. This stuff would be expected coming from Fox or The Moonie Times, but this it's scary when it comes from the papers that one gave us the Pentagon Papers and told us about Watergate.

[ACK]

18. Why is Kerry not Bush-Lite? Read here.

Kerry is not as liberal as Kuicinch or Nader that I will give you.

However, Kerry is more liberal than Clinton, Lieberbush, or the way the DLC ran Gore the last time.

After all, the idea of changing NAFTA has entered from the fringe of political discussion into the national debate. He has said he will not back the FTAA.

The idea of National Healthcare has entered back into the National debate in a way Gore would not approach last time.

We are now talking about a program of National Service where kids can get money for college WITHOUT having to carry a gun.

Kerry will not take a unilateral piss on our allies in his approach to foreign relations.

He will protect a woman's right to choose.

He has pledged to lift the gag order Bush enacted on family clinics.

He will fight for real environmental legislation instead of Orwellian giveaways to the corporate powers that be.

He has pledged to let the Patriot Act lapse.

He will take away the tax benefits for corporations that ship jobs overseas.

He has pledged to close corporate tax loopholes.

He wants to get rid of the tax cuts for the wealthy and stop the deficit leak.

He wants to fight for strong enforcement of Civil Rights Laws listing the ADA and reversing Buckhannon which makes enforcement of all Civil Rights laws difficult.

He will fully fund Head Start. (really important never been funded right)

He wants a College Opportunity Tax Credit to help people to be able to afford college.

He is the first national candidate to not only talk about cleaner fuels and reducing our dependence on foreign oil but to actually talk about loosing ourselves from the "demon oil."

He has a 90% lifetime record of voting with the AFL/CIO and stands beside the base of organized labor. He does not demonize workers and their unions.

This is a man who can change his mind and makes an informed decision.

Does this really sound Bush-lite to you?

[JHBowden]

19. Kerry's tax plan is progressive.

Bush's plan is not. Let's be factual, okay?

[blm]

21. This is HORSESHIT meant to divide the left and make Bush seem moderate.

The press tried to make Bush appear moderate than he was in 2000, too.

[Pastiche423]

22. Divide the left?

Kerry is doing that quite nicely. And that is something you can not deny.

[blm]

25. Yes, I can. Kerry's actual record is that of a liberal.

His appointees to the DNC to represent his interests there are both liberals.

Whatever moderate campaign rhetoric he uses to appeal to the moderate center may annoy you, but, it will work in November.

[Pastiche423]

26. It will work in November?

Hell, it isn't working now and w/each passing day and w/each rightward remark coming from his lips, he's losing more voters from the left.

I am eagerly awaiting my state's primary returns...

[blm]

27. Only those on the left who are immensely stupid, vain or disingenuous.

Some of those same faux lefties who say Kerry isn't far enough to the left to vote for in Nov. happened to devotedly support Dean who governed his entire career as a centrist. So many compromised their leftyism for Dean's STYLE of primary rhetoric. Not very consistent, imo.

[Pastiche423]

29. Using the excuse

of Kerry's long ago liberal voting record, is incongruous w/the person he is right now, today. Or IOW, it don't play w/many on the left.

He's a finger in the wind politician. Nothing more, nothing less.

Btw, Dean's STYLE is that of a straight shooting, charismic man that decided to run for the presidency because he saw that our country was going down the wrong path and had the solutions on how to right that path.

He has energy! He has solutions! He has the juice!

Kerry has TPTB behind him because he will continue the status quo, so as not to upset their tidy, fucking rich lives.

Lefty schmefty, he ain't shit.

[George_Bonanza]

30. You know, all this demand for straight-shooting

Makes you sound like the leftish equivalent of those people who praise Bush for being easy (aka simple) to understand. Dean was no more left than Kerry, and a stronger case can be made that Kerry is to the left of Dean. Your love for Dean just reveals how you are not as progressive as you pretend to be.

[Pastiche423]

31. Kerry has not been a "lefty"

in years. He proves it almost every day now.

My attraction to Dean has nothing to do w/how left he is, btw. It has everything to do w/what kind of person he is, his enthusiasm and his goals.

But above all, he gave me and hundreds of thousands of other people HOPE.

The only hope Kerry gives me, is the hope of a brokered convention. The man just doesn't have it in him to inspire hope.

[blm]

32. So YOUR idea of hope is based on style and rhetoric?

Well, thankfully there are MORE of us whose hope is based on the ENTIRETY of Kerry's record in public life.

[Pastiche423]

33. Take off your blinders, BLM

Or don't. We will find out how much MORE of you there are in November.

I predict the turnout will be pathetic. In my travels up and down my state, as well as my internet travels, I find many, many people disgusted that there is no one to vote for.

[blm]

34. You've been proved wrong before. Maybe you should try researching FACTS

and history instead of complaining and moaning with other aggrieved supporters upset that their centrist candidate was rejected.


I trust my knowledge of ACTUAL history and the facts about Kerry's record and policy positions. I have a track record that is almost always proven solid.

[sangh0]

35. FACTS like Kerry is tied with Bush*

In one of your posts in this thread, pastiche said that Kerry is doing badly against BUsh*. It's just one of many mistakes Pastiche has made in this one thread

[Pastiche423]

36. I do not need to research anything

Kerry is showing the world what he is like NOW.

Maybe you like his proven solid track record that agrees w/the PNAC whistle ass admin. I do not and I am not alone.

I want a LEADER, not a follower. I want someone that will stand tall for his beliefs and is unafraid of the blowing political winds.

Laying low, waiting for whistle ass to implode, is not a sign of a leader. That simply is not the way to work or fight for the people. Becoming the president by default is not something to be proud of.

This is about Kerry, no other candidate! Stay on the defense, do not listen to the concerns of others in the party, belittle and push out many on the left, then see what happens in November.

[sangh0]

We noticed!!!

"I do not need to research anything"

[blm]

38. But it's OK for YOU and others to push dirt at Kerry and his supporters?

Just LOVE your double standards.

YOU are the one who refuses to open your eyes to anything positive about Kerry.

YOU rely on only campaign rhetoric to make your assessments, not records?

You can't figure out using your own comprehension skills that Kerry has the most liberal record and policy positions of any Dem nominee of the last 30 years?

[cindyw]

24. Actually the truth is actually the opposite. Despite the similarities that

Bush strives for in his rhetoric (think of his calls for saving the environment) to be similar. The truth is that their positions on issues are idealogical opposites. This author (surprise, surprise) is falling into the trap of thinking that Bush means what he says. Think I'm wrong? Try reading the Healthy Forest initiative. Means what he says my ass.

[DU GrovelBot]

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