Shove Iraq and The Economy Down Bush's Throat

[cal04]

Bush is no debating slacker when properly primed, and you can bet that he'll be loaded with attack phrases and snappy talking points. Unless Kerry is likewise prepared, it could be a wash. Kerry needs a smashing success, not an ordinary performance, to "win" the debates. (Also, the debates will turn on which journalists are chosen and how friendly they are to Bush, sending him puffball questions, while flinging tough dart-like queries at Kerry.)While we're waiting for the debates to start, Kerry, it seems to me, needs to remember where Bush is most vulnerable and go for the jugular in those areas. I'll just mention two here; there are plenty of others. (You'll notice that I'm not even listing Bush's AWOL problem; I think Kerry should slip that zinger in at the right moment and move on to issues that seem to resonate more with voters today.)


IRAQ WAR NOT BENEATH THE RADAR
Kerry needs to bring the issue of Iraq -- the way Bush got the U.S. into that war, and his incompetent handling ever since -- front and center and keep pounding on it, the absolute waste of American lives sent into harm's way for no good reason. Kerry also has an opening for attacking Bush and Cheney for the shameless way they are continuing -- in the face of overwhelming evidence and Bush's own admission that it's not true -- to attempt to link Saddam Hussein and 9/11. This lie is all the Administration has left as a reason for war -- all the other supposed reasons have not panned out (WMD, imminent threat, "mushroom clouds," etc.) -- but it doesn't pass the smell test in the slightest.

In sum, if Bush wants to run proudly as the "war president," make sure the American electorate realizes that if they vote for Bush, they're going to get four more years of unnecessary wars, heavy casualties, incompetent tactics and strategies, and more terrorist attacks aimed at us. Since polls for the past several months have shown nearly more than half of the population (and growing) think it was a mistake to go into Iraq, Kerry definitely has a wedge opening and a good question to ask American citizens: How much FUBAR are they willing to put up with? Better to get a new commander-in-chief in there and start fresh.

THE FAILING ECONOMY & JOBS SITUATION
Bush is keeping fairly quiet about our slumping/stagnant economy, in hopes nobody will notice how bad things really are. Kerry occasionally makes noises about Bush's faulty stewardship of the economy, but not in a passionate, concerted way that will resonate with lots of voters. He needs to kick it up a notch -- and, more importantly, continue to hammer away at the direct connection between the $200+ billion (with a B, John!) being spent in the disastrous Iraq adventure and the weak economy at home.


http://www.crisispapers.org/features/bw-blogs.htm

[ixion]

1. good advice... Kerry has not done this...

that's a valid vulnerable spot, and he should go for it.