New Slogan - Bush running for Pres of Iraq?

[rndmprsn]

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.kerry22sep22,1,7534614.story?coll=bal-oped-headlines

A winning slogan?

Baltimore Sun

Going negative in the final weeks may excite base Democrats, but it is no substitute for a coherent, emotionally resonant message. Moreover, attacking Mr. Bush relentlessly will not deliver the swing votes Mr. Kerry needs to win in November. While it is absolutely necessary to focus attention squarely on Mr. Bush's record, Mr. Kerry must do so in a way that brings voters in rather than alienates them.

To do this, Mr. Kerry simply needs to make it clear to voters that Mr. Bush's priorities, admirable or not, are targeted at improving the lives of citizens who live thousands of miles away in Iraq. He needs to remind voters that Mr. Bush has spent billions of their tax dollars to rebuild infrastructure, repair roads and bridges and set up schools and hospitals in Iraq while their American counterparts crumble.

Mr. Bush has spent time and money securing borders, performing security patrols and protecting the homeland of Iraq while, according to his own administration's warnings, we remain vulnerable here at home. In essence, Mr. Kerry should attempt to convince voters that he and Mr. Bush are effectively running for two different offices: Mr. Kerry for president of the United States, Mr. Bush for president of Iraq.

On the campaign trail, Mr. Kerry occasionally will point out that Mr. Bush's unwavering focus on Iraq has let other threats fall off the radar, such as North Korea. But Mr. Kerry needs to think bigger.

The real message is that Mr. Bush's obsession with Iraq has left America off the radar in terms of our security, economy, health care and the rest. If Mr. Kerry can drill this point home, even if things improve in Iraq - and there is no indication that they will - things will get worse for Mr. Bush as voters react not with gratitude but with a wholly reasonable - and selfish - question: "What about us?"

[Old and In the Way]

1. I like it.

Your observation is pretty much to the point. Bush is consumed with Iraq, to the detriment of this country. I'm beginning to think he's denying reality and asking for more of the same (he's now suggesting that Afghanistan and Iraq are "working models" for a blueprint to American foreign policy success).

[July]

2. I like it!

Fits with my view, repeated every time the "we got Saddam" line comes up, that getting rid of Saddam might be good for Iraq, but it wasn't good for us.

[rndmprsn]

3. message that could resonate with conservatives and rural voters...

in some of the closer southern states.

VA NC MO TN, etc...

and as a throwback to the saddam question...ive been using the 23 diff excuses for the iraq war as a throwback to repugs @ work with the 9 diff kerry iraq positions.

edit