Morton Kondracke: Dems lead in '04 smear campaign

Naple Daily News ^ | 03/04/2004 | Morton Kondracke

[ZULU]

So this is news, Konodracke????

The Dems are ALWAYS WAY AHEAD in smear tactics - which is why they win.

Smears are generally brief - they thus appeal to the mass of the American electorate which prefers not to be drawn away from their mindless sitcomes, ballgames, and other mundane events to read intelligent and detailed explanations and arguments.

The Repubs should take a leaf from their book - short, brief and biting.

[gov_bean_ counter]

A couple of days ago Crystal was complaining about the lack of campaign ads from the Bush camp. I believe it was Mort who told him to chill and there was plenty of time for the American public to find out "what's wrong with Kerry".

[twigs]

Abortion and stem cell research do prohibit Mort and others from seeing the big picture

I think that's more difficult with someone like Kondracke who has a wife who might have benefited from it. I know that it would be a lot more difficult for me. I think he's getting there, though. Fred Barnes seems to have taken him on as his personal project!

[twigs]

He has some problems on social and tax issues, but overall, I think he has a pretty clear picture of what is happening. He's got a good BS barometer. Honest Dems like Kondracke are probably Dems worst media headaches.

[onyx]

I agree with you about his wife, but I think Mort sees the danger in a Kerry presidency.

[Monti Cello]

SYNOPSIS: A BILL To reduce the deficit. DATE OF INTRODUCTION: SEPTEMBER 29, 1995 FULL TEXT OF BILLS 104TH CONGRESS; 1ST SESSION IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AS INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE
S. 1290
1995 S. 1290; 104 S. 1290
DATE OF VERSION: OCTOBER 3, 1995 -- VERSION: 1

SPONSOR(S): Mr. KERRY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Budget

excerpt (bold added):

(b) DEFENSE DISCRETIONARY.-The assumptions included in the conference report on House Concurrent Resolution 67 with respect to reductions in defense discretionary spending shall be assumed to include the following:

(1) Limit defense spending in fiscal year 1996 to $244,000,000,000, in fiscal year 1997 to $241,000,000,000, in fiscal year 1998 to $248,000,000,000, in fiscal year 1999 to $254,000,000,000, and in fiscal year 2000 to $261,000,000,000.

(2) Terminate production of Trident D5 submarine launched ballistic missiles after 1996.

(3) Phase out over five years the equivalent of two Army light divisions.

(4) Deny unemployment compensation to service members who voluntarily leave the service.

(5) Close the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, with the last class admitted in 1995 and all activities halted on that class' graduation in 1999.

(6) Rather than replacing or revitalizing existing Department of Defense Housing Stock, increase reliance on private-sector housing for military families by making service personnel eligible for a cash housing allowance regardless of whether they live in Department of Defense or private-sector units and charging market-driven rent for Department of Defense housing.

(7) Reduce the Intelligence budget by $300 million in each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000.

(8) Encourage private ownership of industrial assets used in defense production by granting the General Services Administration clear authority to negotiate sale of equipment to the holding contractor in situations in which continued Department of Defense ownership is not necessary, and by requiring contractors in the future to rent or lease such equipment from the Department of Defense if they demonstrate it is in the Department of Defense's interest to provide the equipment.

(9) Increase burdensharing by the Republic of Korea by requiring it to increase its contribution to include all payments of Korean won-based labor costs of local employees working for the United States military and support services contracts.

(10) Procure the most cost-effective mix of C-17's and commercial airlifters.

(11) Cancel the Army's Tank Upgrade Program and lay-away production facilities, deactivating but preserving the Government-owned tank manufacturing facilities.

(12) While retaining the number of nuclear warheads permitted by the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty II (START II), reduce the strategic delivery system structure to 300 Minuteman III ICBM's, 10 Trident submarines each carrying 24 missiles with 7 warheads; 66 B-52H bombers, each carrying 16 warheads; and 20 B-2 bombers, each carrying 16 warheads.

(13) Repeal the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

(14) Terminate all funding for the Selective Service System except to terminate the program.

(15) Limit the mission of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization to Theater Missile Defense and Terminate its other projects.

(16) Terminate the National Aerospace Plane Program.

(17) Scale back weapons production and maintenance activities at the Department of Energy to support an arsenal of 4,000 warheads.

[anniegetyourgun]

Yes, I've watched his increasing ability to call it like it is. However, when push comes to shove, he'll hold his nose and vote for Kerry. We can't pick off votes from the dyed-in-the-wool Dems like Mort, who only claims to be a "moderate." Truth is, I am thankful for REAL moderates - those are the only votes that can be swayed.

[onyx]

We'll have to disagree. I am almost certain Mort wil vote for Bush.

[YaYa123]

Anytime a demo talking head says Bush is engaging in gutter politics and has "divided not united", the anchor or the republican talking head should demand an example.

But....I won't hold my breath waiting.

[anniegetyourgun]

If he does, he won't be able to admit it publicly lest he be ostracized by his media friends.

[onyx]

Unless he writes a book and wants to sell it to us ala Chris Matthews who "claimed" he voted for GWB in 2000. I happened to catch that Washington Journal appearance by Matthews and I nearly threw-up when he told the caller he had voted for Bush and not algore. Laughed my *** off over that one. I guess pandering runs in the veins of democrats.

[ghost of nixon]

I'm tired of hearing how bush is vulnerable on the jobs issue. As Jack Kemp said last night YOU CAN NOT CLAIM TO WANT TO BRING BACK JOBS, BUT BE AGAINST THE BUSINESSES THAT CREATE THEM

actually, you are wrong here - because the ultimate goal of liberals/socialists is for everyone to have a "job" working for the government or government owned "businesses".

[twigs]

I agree totally!

[ought-six]

There is nothing more intolerant, more hateful, more self-centered, more irrational, than a liberal Democrat. I am in my 50s, so I've been around for a little while. I'm a Vietnam vet, I've lived or spent time all over this country, and I've witnessed the transition of the "loony left" of the 1960s from an interesting, if unenlightened, fringe element, who were seen as an annoyance, but never taken seriously -- to the "progressives" of the modern Democratic party. Folks, even the liberals seek to hide behind their own idiocy, and now claim they are "progressives;" but no matter what they call themselves, they are leftist extremists to the core, and they now dominate the modern Democratic party. Never before in American history has a major political party been so consumed by, and enamored with, hate. The modern Democratic party is the soul mate of the radical Bolsheviks of the early 1900s; it is the twin of the Marxist-Leninists who morphed into the Stalinists of the 20th century; it is the Khmer Rouge painted with pastels; and its desired destination is the gulag of the soul. We are on the brink of a major political confontation, folks, and I'm not talking about an election. I'm talking about an all-out, bare-knuckled, violent, and bloody fight for the heart and soul of America, and it's just a matter of time before we hear the opening salvos.

[Ann Archy]

End Times for sure when even Mort Kondrake can see how awful the Dems are......End Times.

[Ann Archy]

Alan Colmes wife is Monica Crowley's sister....wonder if she is semi-conservative.

[MrConfettiMan]

A good article that can be summed up as follows: "Accuse your opponent of the very thing you are doing or are about to do." It's to the point now where any time President Bush highlights a difference with Kerry it's considered to be an attack. Nonsense.

[Bob]

Alan Colmes wife is Monica Crowley's sister....wonder if she is semi-conservative.

Now, that should make for some interesting family gatherings. :=)

[PISANO]

...epithets thrown at President Bush outweigh those thrown at Democrats by tons

You would never know it by listening to the news media or reading newspapers. To them it is just the opposite.

[Mike Darancette]

Kerry's in for an eye-opening.

MR. Kerry

Oooooo Noooo, W's Gonna Be Mean to ME