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Kristol: The Pretender-in-Chief
The Weekly Standard ^ | October 29, 2004 | William Kristol

Posted on 10/29/2004 4:44:45 PM PDT by RWR8189

If Kerry had been president, Saddam would not have been gone; if Kerry becomes president we won't fight to win in Iraq.

"It's absolutely impossible and irresponsible to suggest that if I were President, [Saddam] wouldn't necessarily be gone. He might be gone."
--John Kerry

 

SOME PEOPLE WORRY that John Kerry doesn't know what he will do once in power. But that's not the half of it. Kerry doesn't even know what he would have done had he already been in power.

Last night, Tom Brokaw gently pushed Kerry into yet another remarkable instance of utter incoherence. Brokaw, to his great credit, managed to make the key point about the "missing munitions" story that almost everyone else seems to have missed: If John Kerry had been president, no munitions would be missing in Iraq. They'd all be under the control of Saddam Hussein!

Kerry's handlers unfortunately had not prepared him for so basic a point, and the result is a new Kerryism that ranks up with there with his famous, "I actually voted for the $87 billion before I voted against it."

Here is a segment of Brokaw's interview with Kerry on NBC News last night:

 

TOM BROKAW: The fact is, Senator, we still don't know what happened to those explosives. How many for sure that were there. Who might have gotten away with them. Is it unfair to the president, just as you believe he's been unfair to you, to blame him for that?

 

JOHN KERRY: No. It's not unfair. Because what we do know, from the commanders on the ground, is that they went there, as they marched to Baghdad. We even read stories today that they

broke locks off of the doors, took photographs of materials in there. There were materials. And they left.

TOM BROKAW: The flip side of that is that if you had been President, Saddam Hussein would still be in power. Because you--

JOHN KERRY: Not necessarily at all.

TOM BROKAW: But you have said you wouldn't go to war against him?

JOHN KERRY: That's not true. Because under the inspection process, Saddam Hussein was required to destroy those kinds of materials and weapons.

TOM BROKAW: But he wasn't destroying them.

JOHN KERRY: And we would--but that's what you--have inspectors for. And that's why I voted for the threat of force. Because he only does things when you have a legitimate threat of force. It's absolutely impossible and irresponsible to suggest that if I were President, he wouldn't necessarily be gone. He might be gone. Because if he hadn't complied, we might have had to go to war. And we might have gone to war. But if we did, I'll tell you this, Tom. We'd have gone to war with allies in a way that the American people weren't carrying the burden and the entire world understood why we were doing it. [emphasis added]

 

The fact of the matter is that if John Kerry had been president Saddam Hussein would not have been gone, and would have been doing as he pleased not just with the 380 tons of explosives Kerry now seems to be so concerned about, but also with the 400,000 of tons of munitions U.S. forces have already destroyed in Iraq.

Furthermore, if Kerry becomes president one cannot have confidence that he will stay the course in Iraq. Yesterday, Kerry compared Iraq to the Bay of Pigs, and praised President Kennedy for acknowledging "the mistakes he made" in trying to remove Castro. So Kerry believes that the Iraq war is a "mistake." It's very hard to believe, then, that he would be willing to fight it through to victory.

William Kristol is editor of The Weekly Standard.

Previous Campaign Memos:

The Mother Of All Flip-Flops, Today John Kerry says that Iraq is a distraction from the war on terror. What did he think about Iraq in 2001? October 26, 2004
Kerry Will "Put More Pressure on Israel, Another difference between the president and his Democratic challenger. October 25, 2004
Kerry on Zarqawi: Wrong, The Democratic nominee is ignoring the evidence on Zarqawi's activities in Iraq. October 21, 2004
Dying for the United Nations, Why is John Kerry no Clinton-Lieberman Democrat? His obeisance to the U.N. October 20, 2004
John Kerry: Germany's Candidate, The German defense minister says that maybe there's a possibility that they might, someday, perhaps, depending on future "developments," send troops to Iraq. October 13, 2004
Not a Diversion, Was Iraq a diversion from the war on terror? Bush and McCain remind us that the answer is: No. October 6, 2004
The No-Nukes Party, The Mondale Democrats are alive and well in the U.S. Senate--does John Kerry still believe in their worldview? October 4, 2004
When Was He For It (Before He Was Against It)?, John Kerry gives a disingenuous defense of why he said he voted for the $87 billion before he voted against it. September 29, 2004
The Kerry-Kennedy Line, It's a good thing that John Kerry and Ted Kennedy lost the last time they took a stand on Saddam Hussein. September 28, 2004
Kerry's Phony Foreign Forces, Would President Kerry be able to get France and Germany to help share the burden in Iraq? Chirac says, "Non!" September 22, 2004
Nothing To Do With the Truth, John Kerry continues to insist that Saddam Hussein had "nothing to do with al Qaeda." And he continues to be wrong. September 22, 2004
Lugar's Other Comments, The media played up Richard Lugar's recent remarks about President Bush; will they do the same with his assessment of Senator Kerry? September 21, 2004
For Kerry, It's Always Vietnam, The subtext of John Kerry's Monday morning Iraq speech. September 20, 2004
Kerry's Flip-Flopping on Russia, The senator has two views on promoting democracy in Russia, too. September 16, 2004
Wrong Choices, A look at John Kerry's record. September 15, 2004
Another New Kerry Position on Iraq . . . and the same one on Vietnam. September 15, 2004
Kerry and the "Direct Link," The Kerry campaign is distorting Dick Cheney's words. September 13, 2004
Kerry's North Korea Non-policy, John Kerry calls the New York Times with complaints, but no plan. September 13, 2004
If John Kerry Were President, . . . Saddam would still be in power. September 8, 2004
Kerry vs. Kerry, What does "the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time" mean? September 7, 2004
The Kerry Record, What John Kerry about foreign policy and defense in 1984 and 1985. September 3, 2004
It Was This Big . . ., Does John Kerry still believe that the terror threat is an "exaggeration"? September 1, 2004
John Edwards: Disrespecting Our Allies, America isn't acting alone. September 1, 2004
No Bargain, The "grand bargain" John Kerry and John Edwards are prepared to offer Iran deserves serious scrutiny. September 1, 2004


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; kerry; kerryiraq; kristol; pretender; saddam; weeklystandard; williamkristol
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1 posted on 10/29/2004 4:44:48 PM PDT by RWR8189
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To: RWR8189

"SOME PEOPLE WORRY that John Kerry doesn't know what he will do once in power."

D'ya' think? Whatever he does, it will be of weenie proportions.


2 posted on 10/29/2004 4:47:58 PM PDT by Spok
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To: RWR8189

Heck, he *might* be gone. He *might* have died from a heart attack!


3 posted on 10/29/2004 4:48:46 PM PDT by SixStringSlinger
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To: Spok

ping


4 posted on 10/29/2004 4:50:08 PM PDT by wildcatf4f3 (out of the sun)
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To: Spok
Kerry wants us to DEPEND on UN INSPECTORS!

NOT ON OUR WATCH!

5 posted on 10/29/2004 4:50:23 PM PDT by agincourt1415 (Wolves are gathering)
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To: RWR8189

Normally, Bill Kristol just grates on my nerves He stll believes ole McCain got shafted by Bush. But I must commend him for writing this piece showing what a blithering, incoherent dolt Kerry is. (and thems his good qualities)...


6 posted on 10/29/2004 4:51:55 PM PDT by pissant
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To: SixStringSlinger
Yeah, I'm really impressed that Saddam MIGHT BE GONE.

Guess what under GWB and our Military, we got the WHOLE FAMILY!

DONE DEAL!

7 posted on 10/29/2004 4:53:48 PM PDT by agincourt1415 (Wolves are gathering)
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To: RWR8189
about the "missing munitions" story that almost everyone else seems to have missed: If John Kerry had been president, no munitions would be missing in Iraq. They'd all be under the control of Saddam Hussein!

That was the VERY first thing I thought when I heard this BS story
8 posted on 10/29/2004 4:54:36 PM PDT by uncbob
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To: RWR8189

Yeah, brokaw did a great job on that one. Understated simple questions, letting Kerry hang himself with his own answer...


9 posted on 10/29/2004 4:56:10 PM PDT by Mount Athos
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To: RWR8189
A little poetry from one of my favorite bands, Styx, regarding John F'n Kerry, Hitlery, The Bent One (Impeached 42) snd, well, the whole damn Democrat Party.


STYX lyrics - "High Crimes And Misdemeanors (Hip Hop-Cracy)"


(Dennis DeYoung)

They want you to believe
The unbelievable
They say you should accept
The unacceptable
Forget your common sense
It isn't sensible
Good times for fools and dreamers

Watch 'em all deny
The undeniable
See how they refute
The unrefutable
They're ready to defend
The indefensible
High times for lawyer schemers

They say we must forgive
The forgivable
They want us to respect
The unrespectable
The pious and the hip
So hypocritical
High crimes and misdemeanors

Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop

See how they explain
The inexplicable
Watch 'em debate
The undebatable
Apparently a lie
Is never liable
Prime time for talk show screamers

They say we constitute
The Constitutional
With justice here for all
So justifiable
I'm tryin' not to laugh
But man it's laughable
High crimes and misdemeanors

Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop

And so
Today we find
They've changed their minds
They've switched their points of view

Oh what tangled webs they weave
When their beliefs ain't really
What they believe

They're trying to divide
The indivisible
Because they think we're fools
So foolable
I'm tryin' not to laugh
But man it's laughable
Boom times for Wall Street dreamers
They want you to believe
The unbelievable
They say we should accept
The unacceptable
The pious and the hip
So hypocritical
High crimes and misdemeanors

High crimes and misdemeanors
High crimes and misdemeanors

Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop
Hip


10 posted on 10/29/2004 4:57:26 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat (I'm so glad to no longer be associated with the Party of Dependence on Government!)
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To: RWR8189

This man is a colossal idiot.The scarier thing is that he and many others somehow in the face of all that is logical actually believe this kind of crap.


11 posted on 10/29/2004 5:09:19 PM PDT by carlr
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To: RWR8189

Can you imagine how far ahead President Bush would be today if the MSM would treat all of kerry's comments and lies like brokaw did this one time? If brokaw has any kind of Character and Honor, he'll have a program Sunday evening showing how kerry can't tell the Truth about anything and changes his position with the breeze. He doesn't wait for the wind to shift, he'll jump if the breeze picks up.


12 posted on 10/29/2004 5:18:36 PM PDT by Trepz
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To: pissant
Bill Kristol is an @sshole.

I'd point out that Saddam Hussein would still be in power if Kristol were in charge -- in charge of going over there and digging him out of that hole in the ground.

I can't stand these morons who talk a great game but never get their uniforms dirty.

13 posted on 10/29/2004 6:00:14 PM PDT by Alberta's Child (I made enough money to buy Miami -- but I pissed it away on the Alternative Minimum Tax.)
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To: RWR8189

If John Kerry was listed on the ballot with George Bush and ABB (anybody but Bush), Kerry would get less than 10% of the popular vote.


14 posted on 10/29/2004 6:01:52 PM PDT by dancusa (Kerry is a phoney and a poseur)
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To: Alberta's Child

"I can't stand these morons who talk a great game but never get their uniforms dirty."

While I understand your sentiment, after watching a traitor with a dirty uniform make it this close to the White House I'd just as soon have Bill Kristol and his ilk shooting off his mouth from a safe distance with a clean uniform. It just seems more honorable. Maybe I've had a long day.....


15 posted on 10/29/2004 6:24:27 PM PDT by esoteric
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To: Recovering_Democrat
Great post and very relevant. Who knew Styx were so prophetic?
I would like to see the refrain changed to the following in Kerry's case:
From: Hip hop hip hop-cracy hip hop to Flip flop flip flop-crazy flip flop!

16 posted on 10/29/2004 6:27:01 PM PDT by bear11
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To: RWR8189

If the inspectors were supposed to destroy the munitions, why wouldn't they be called destroyers?

Oh that's right, they only INSPECT.

Kerry is such a doofus.


17 posted on 10/29/2004 6:30:04 PM PDT by Joe_October (Saddam supported Terrorists. Al Qaeda are Terrorists. I can't find the link.)
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To: Spok

"SOME PEOPLE WORRY that John Kerry doesn't know what he will do once in power."

Soros will tell him.


18 posted on 10/29/2004 7:56:42 PM PDT by SisBoombah (a)
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To: RWR8189; JulieRNR21; MeekOneGOP; potlatch; ntnychik; devolve; Happy2BMe; Boazo; OXENinFLA; ...







19 posted on 10/29/2004 8:10:06 PM PDT by Smartass (BUSH & CHENEY 2004 Si vis pacem, para bellum - Por el dedo de Dios se escribió)
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To: agincourt1415
Kerry wants us to DEPEND on UN INSPECTORS!

The UN Food for Oil scandal is the great untold story of this election ... and we all know why ...

20 posted on 10/29/2004 9:05:07 PM PDT by Mr. Buzzcut
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