Posted on 08/30/2004 7:39:22 AM PDT by Pikamax
Is 'Not George Bush' Enough?
By William Raspberry
Monday, August 30, 2004; Page A23
John Kerry is not George W. Bush -- and for a lot of us, that's reason enough to vote for Kerry come November. But reason enough for a majority of voters? I doubt it.
The problems with Bush are (for those who would vote for virtually anyone else) obvious and important. He has tilted the economy toward the rich and away from the middle class. He is heavily influenced by "neocons" whose foreign-policy ideas are well outside the American mainstream -- and, because he came to office innocent of foreign-policy experience or interest, he has no personal core to which to return.
Most of all, though, is the fact that he led America into a quite unnecessary war in Iraq -- and into the resultant bloody mess there now. In the name of fighting terrorism, he has greatly increased its appeal in the Arab world. He seems, moreover, likely -- through misstep and inadvertence -- to play into the Holy War hopes of certain Islamic fanatics, including Osama bin Laden.
But if Bush is frightening -- in part because he so dogmatically believes what he believes -- Kerry is frustrating and infuriating because he seems not to believe much of anything worth risking offense.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
William Raspberry is lucky to have a job. I often wonder what is the color of the sky on his planet. What a banana!
Plantation-Speak.
Are the 'Rats deserting Kerry? Does Raspberry sense a sinking ship?
Nothing but a pre-election, Bush win, "sour Raspberry" !!
Kerry will lose because he cannot give anyone a reason to vote FOR him. He had the HateBush crowd locked up from the beginning and the hate displayed by the negative campaigning will turn away more people in the undecided column than it will draw.
I used to read his column in the Post. However, if he were white, he would be called a racist.
(snip)
Bush is frightening -- in part because he so dogmatically believes what he believes
Make up your mind. Do you hate him because he has no core beliefs or because his core beliefs are so strong?
I hate the Left spouting about Bush's tax cut to the wealthy. How come no Economists are out there saying how those tax cuts created jobs and if those tax cuts get pulled back by Kerry... Those created jobs will go away. The small businesses making more then 200k per year will not be able to keep their employees on either.. its either that or inflation will go rampant as tax hike costs are passed on to consumers... I mean this is economics 101.. The Rich are a lot of things but they aren't dumb.
But, apparently, for a whole lot of people, "Not George Bush" is enough. I was listening to Hannity's Man on the Street Thursday last week - it was revealing. Granted, these were very young people the Flipper was interviewing, but the ignorance they displayed was breathtaking. They knew NOTHING about Kerry (or Kerney) and his vice-presidential candidate, Mr. Stu Pedd, but by golly they were going to vote for them anyway, because, well, because Bush is doing such a lousy job! Geeeeeze. They couldn't explain any policy position that Kerry (or Kerney) had, or what Kerry had accomplished in his life. But he's Not George Bush! What else do you need to know?
The important thing about this column is it shows a major lib attacking Kerry for being an empty suit and beginning to desert him. All along Rush has been saying much the same thing this column is saying--Kerry can't get a majority by just being against Bush--he has to advance his own positive agenda, which he hasn't.
"But nearly everything else he says or does seems calculated to avoid clear-cut disagreement with people on either side of any issue. Thus he "voted for [the $87 billion supplemental military budget] before I voted against it." Thus he differs with the president on what he would do to extricate us from Iraq, but has offered no discernible policy. Thus he parses every statement to the point where even he must wonder what he said. Thus he (to return to his Vietnam War protest days) didn't return his "medals," but only the "ribbons" that represent them."
The scary thing is that it has a chance of winning.
The Swiftboat story had legs the first day it showed, and it isn't over. Americans hate a tattletale teller, and one who lies is even worse. Kerry can't take the heat and along with the rest of the DNC is sweating tacks. THis writer, Rasberry, talks about the phrase the DNC has used throughout this campaign so far, "anybody but Bush" What a farce that statement happens to be. The greatest nation in the world needs a leader who understands what is at stake. THe DNC statement says it all...the DNC is a national party no more. W has the understanding and respect the job requires. We don't know what John Kerry will do. THe only thing he has told us is he went to Vietnam.
How? By giving the middle class' EMPLOYERS a tax break?
Perhaps by making it more lucrative to INVEST? Investment always harms the middle class, doesn't it? None of them get raises, no one finds themselves ENTERING middle class from below because of INVESTMENT, perhaps the harm to the middle classes the author refers to comes from people MOVING UP in income by virtue of Bush's policies, and OUT of the middle class.
I think the thing that has alarmed me the most about this election is hearing people say they're voting for Kerry, not because he'd make a good president, but because they hate Bush. That's scary that our electorate is that narrow minded. Basically this election for me is one thing...which one of the candidates is most likely to defend this country? (HINT: It ain't Kerry)
You can't beat something with nothing. And John Kerry is a great big nothing. In their hearts, the Left knows this is true.
Keep your powder dry. This unfettered hate, like the dims are exhibiting, is what causes civil wars.
No one at the Washington Post is allowed to criticize trickle down tax increases for the powerful and privileged Washington D.C. elites like William Raspberry.
That the powerful and priviliged Washington D.C. elites like William Raspberry are obsessed with stealing the fruits of average American's hard work, good decisions, and responsible acts just so they and their powerful and privileged friends can become fabulously wealthy tells me all I need to know about William Raspberry.
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