The Orange-Alert Campaign

[RedEarth]

The Orange-Alert Campaign


By Howard Kurtz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 3, 2004; 8:40 AM


Maybe, in the end, there will be no other issue.

In the last 48 hours, terrorism has turned the campaign upside down.

Since Tom Ridge boosted the threat level after learning of al Qaeda plans against financial buildings in New York and Washington, all the convention talk about Kerry's health care plan and Edwards's Two Americas has been wiped out.

Yesterday, I watched with amazement as Kerry accused the Bush administration of "encouraging the recruitment of terrorists" in the process of saying he would keep America safer. (Aides explained that this had to do with not forging adequate ties with moderate Arab leaders.)

Then the White House fired back with a full panoply of appearances.

There was the presidential announcement ("We're a nation in danger"), with Bush accompanied by Ridge, followed by the Andy Card/Condi Rice briefing, followed by various administration types fanning out for TV interviews (Dan Bartlett on CNN, Rice on Fox, others I must have missed). And, of course, Pataki and Bloomberg were press-conferencing as well.

more....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A36221-2004Aug3?language=printer

[saigon68]

1. THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING

THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
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THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
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THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
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THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
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THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING
THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING THE WOLF IS COMING

[mstrsplinter326]

4. good point. lol. n/t

[Beetwasher]

2. I'm Pleased W/ This Article

Thank you Howie, you've done a good job here...

[mstrsplinter326]

3. So let me get this straight

Kerry makes a political point, showing bush's weakness and they respond with FEAR?

This sh*t is so obvious.

[apnu]

5. but the rub is...

... does the American voter get that point? This needs to be hammered out. But Opt/Ed bits in the "liberal" papers will not punctuate that point. Somehow, the Kerry camp has to figure out how to get people on CNN, MSNBC, and the Big 3 to point that out. Over and over.

Dean was right on and caused a stir on Sunday. Kerry's little comment was also good (but maddeningly neutral) and that too got W's panties in a bunch as he had to send out the tainted troops to attempt to swing the polls. I don't think it worked, IMO. The Dems have to take a stand on this and they have to be more bold. I think the blend of a "we can do better" and a show of strength is a good combo, but I think they need to show more strength and conviction.

[mstrsplinter326]

6. Don't tell the hacks around here that.

Some of the memebers of the DU don't tolerate dissent toward the Democratic Party.

[phasev]

7. Americans love negativity n/m

[nolabels]

8. What was the question again?

Growing Wealth Gap Rates an 'Orange Alert'
'Inequality Matters' Conference Puts Nations on Alert
by Thomas Kostigen


Thursday is when the Inequality Matters conference begins in New York City to discuss the biggest wealth and income gap -- and its consequences on society -- since the Hoover Administration. The Congressional Budget Office says the income gap in the United States is now the widest in 75 years.

While the richest one percent of the U.S. population saw its financial wealth grow 109 percent from 1983 to 2001, the bottom two-fifths watched as its wealth fell 46 percent.

Alarming? You bet. And here's why: The number of Americans without health insurance climbed 33 percent during the 1990's, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The biggest indicator of a healthy society -- average life expectancy -- has dropped. People in the U.S. now don't live even as long as people in Costa Rica. Meanwhile the U.S. infant mortality rate has risen, so much so Cuba has a better success rate of bringing healthy children into the world.

Citing those facts and figures, James Lardner, who heads Inequality.org, says "there is no way you can deny the power of money." He, along with Bill Moyers, Barbara Ehrenreich and numerous other leaders, activists and institutions hope to bring some of these startling facts "to the front burner of politics."

In an election year, you'd think these issues would be on the "front burner" already. But these overarching social trends reflect poorly on politicians and the government -- those supposedly elected to protect those members of society who can't protect themselves.
(snip)
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0601-07.htm

[RedEarth]

9. Outstanding article.....thanks for the post.

[saigon68]

10. THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING

THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING
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THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING
THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. Addressing this issue in a meaningful way will determine if the

Democratic Party survives in it's present form. Perhaps only universal health care rivals it in importance. But addressing the "wealth gap" would go a long way towards solving that problem and others such as equivalent education and media access.

Do I want a massive redistribution of wealth? Damn right I do. The wealthy have been redistributing wealth in this country for 2 hundred years, suffering a minor setback in the 30's. The last time the wealthy controlled this great a percentage of wealth...we had a depression.