The ghost following Kerry

[unfrigginreal]

By Joan Vennochi, Globe Columnist | September 23, 2004

"DEAN, DEAN, Dean, Dean," presidential candidate John Kerry once muttered in frustration during the Democratic primary season that now seems like ancient political history.

snip

In his Monday speech at New York University, Kerry called the war in Iraq "a profound diversion from that war (on terror) and the battle against our greatest enemy, Osama bin Laden and the terrorists." That was strong, clear Dean-like language. On David Letterman, Kerry answered "no" when asked, "If you had been elected president in 2000, in November of 2000, would we be in Iraq now?" The Letterman audience cheered the straightforward response.

snip

Last December, Dean was derided by the political establishment on both sides of the aisle when he said that the capture of Saddam Hussein "has not made America safer." At the time, Kerry said Dean's statement "is still more proof that all the advisers in the world can't give Howard Dean the military and foreign policy experience, leadership skills, or diplomatic temperament necessary to lead this country through dangerous times." On Monday at NYU, Kerry put himself firmly in Dean territory when he said of Hussein's removal from power and subsequent capture, "We have traded a dictator for a chaos that has left America less secure."

snip

It also holds appeal for women. The pollsters and pundits say women will vote for the candidate who makes them feel most secure. Some polls show that female support is shifting to Bush. Kerry needs to change that dynamic -- and quickly. By voting to authorize war, Kerry essentially turned the car keys over to a president who recklessly drove America to the wrong war in the wrong country at the wrong time. Taking back the car keys should make many women feel more, not less, secure. Putting Kerry in the driver's seat makes sense, as long as he stops driving around Iraq in circles.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/09/23/the_ghost_following_kerry/


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Sorry for the incontinuity of the post, there's a lot of opinion in the piece and you really need to read it in it's entirety. I agree with the writer that this new message from Kerry is the way to go, I disagree with her that Kerry should make a statement that he was wrong in the initial assessment of the run-up to the invasion of Iraq. She's right saying that he was wrong, she's wrong saying that he should announce it.

[Maeve]

1. Link

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/09/23/the_ghost_following_kerry/

[unfrigginreal]

2. Thanks

Sorry about that.

[Free2BMe]

3. Whereever did we get the idea that mind changing was wrong..

I fail to see where the momentum has caught on about Kerry changing his mind...Grief -find me a person who has not grown through an experience and reassessed an original opinion/assessment...that's a road to disaster not-life and maturity...How this flip/flop stuff has caught on causes a rather simple/stupid if you will...reflection on our brainpower. As far as Iraq...there ain't nobody who knows what to do now...we got into it without the necessary assessment and it's a mess.

[Kolesar]

4. It is called "managing change" in the corporate vernacular

It should be considered a positive personality trait.
Welcome to the underground!

[demnan]

5. Who are these stupid women who feel more secure with Bush?

Will they feel more secure getting abortions when they're illegal?