I have written a campaign ad that attacks on national security issues

[Nancy Waterman]

I tried to post on the Kerry blog but got caught in a circular insanity of rewiritng my address 50 times so I gave up. I think we need to attack Bush squarely on this bogus claim that he has made us safer. I also posted it on Moveon.org's site, but it is at the end of a list of a few thousand ideas from others, so I don't know where that will go or if it will ever be heard.

Anti-Bush Ad

George Bush claims we are safer under his leadership.

According to a Pew Research poll done in December 2002 and a follow-up released on June 3, 2003, dangerously negative feelings and intense anger toward the US has sharply risen in all parts of the world, especially in Arab countries, during the administration of George Bush.

Does this make us safer?

Following the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, large stockpiles of nuclear material were left unguarded for several weeks and were vandalized.

Does this make us safer?

A vast network of nuclear stockpiles in the nations of the former Soviet Union remains largely unguarded. These aging, underprotected facilities are in danger of attack or sabotage, and the possibility of theft or sale of radioactive material is enormous. A great deal of this dangerous material is already unaccounted for. The Bush administration has done little to rectify this situation.

Does this make us safer?

President George W. Bush withdrew the United States from the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, the cornerstone of international arm control since 1972, in order to pursue a missile defense system that has yet been shown to actually work.

Does this make us safer?

Since the advent of the Iraq War, according to many authorities, the number of angry, jihadist terrorist recruits has greatly increased, and the number of terrorist incidents and casualties worldwide has multiplied dramatically.

Does this make us safer?

America’s military forces are stretched extremely thin and recruitment levels are way down, leaving us vulnerable in case of any emergency situation demanding a strong military response.

Does this make us safer?

George Bush has taken a XXX billion dollar surplus and turned it into a XXX billion dollar deficit, in great part due to his massive tax cuts during a time of war. To finance this growing debt, the government needs to borrow money, and to attract that money, inevitably interest rates will have to go up, leading to inflation and a weakening economy.

Does this make us safer?

Can we afford four more years?

John Kerry will bring us back to sane and responsible foreign and economic policies and rekindle the world’s trust in and respect for America. THIS is what will make us safer.

[kstewart33]

1. Great ad Nancy.

A great friend of mine served as a Captain during the Vietnam War. He is now a firebrand accounting executive.

He emailed me his idea for an ad:

Scene opens with photographs of men and women who died after Bush proclaimed “Mission Accomplished”. The narrative is “These men and women died because of the Bush administration’s refusal to send enough troops to Iraq to do the job properly. The Bush administration made the mistakes, these men and women paid the price.”

[roseBudd]

2. I agee great ad but there are other ways to get the message out

Please print and distribute the image above. Put them on car windows. Hand them out on street corners. We don't need TV buys to get some attention on this issue. We have to undermine Bushs perceived strength. We all are potential disseminators of printed media. We do not need newspapers permission or lots of money for commercials. We need viral grass roots marketing. We need to create a buzz. If we create a buzz with massive distribution of printed ads we will get media coverage.

INCOMPETENCE is key

[Nancy Waterman]

3. How do I get this ad to the Kerry staff?

xx

[newyawker99]

4. kick

Can anyone help Nancy! :kick:

[WiseMen]

5. This is GREAT! The more creative input at this point the better.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. PM it to Pete NYC

[cheshire]

7. To bad pubs are content with the illusion of security.

[Merlin]

8. This is very good, Nancy. A few comments.

As one who earns part of a livelihood writing spots, may I say you are about 90% of the way there.

If this were for a print ad in a publication read by people on the upper end of the intelligence scale, it would be perfect already. But, since nearly all those folks are on our side already, I presume you are aiming this for something like TV.

In that case, may I suggest that each point needs to be tightened and given more punch. The punch can come from being more accusatory. For example, you say:

A vast network of nuclear stockpiles in the nations of the former Soviet Union remains largely unguarded. These aging, underprotected facilities are in danger of attack or sabotage, and the possibility of theft or sale of radioactive material is enormous. A great deal of this dangerous material is already unaccounted for. The Bush administration has done little to rectify this situation.

This might be a more effective approach:

George Bush cancelled the Clinton program of guarding dangerous nuclear stockpiles in the former Soviet Union. What was he thinking?
Does that make us safer?

Similarly

George Bush renegged on the ABM missile treaty that all Presidents have honored since 1972.
Does that make us safer?

Shorter, more concise, more attacking is better.

Next step: get some ambitious DUer to make an internet video of it. Wish I had more time. It's not all that difficult. It could just start out with a check list for each point, and as the key question is asked, the check mark for that item could be erased. It could be a damn effective spot.

Would be even better if the list were on a clipboard with some unseen person erasing each check mark, and with some kids playing in the background, but that's more elaborate (unless you just film it with a digital video recorder, then upload it, but time your film to match a 60-second spot, and time each erasure to match the timing of a voice-over.

I would think lots and lots of sites would link to such a spot, and maybe it would inspire MoveOn or one of the others to use it or copy it.

[Guaranteed]

9. KICK!!!!!!!!!! nt

[quinnox]

10. Good idea

Send it to the campaign as soon as possible. I think it could be tweaked a bit, but the basic theme is a good one!

[calimary]

11. Kick!

[BillZBubb]

12. Good job Nancy!

That's the kind of stuff Kerry should be showing.

[Nancy Waterman]

13. I have no problem with it being tweaked

or tightened so that it has more punch. I just htink the idea of punching him on national security, which is why most peopole support him, is crucial.

Thanks for the comments, everyone!.

[Nancy Waterman]

14. kick

xx