Posted on 08/08/2004 6:48:35 PM PDT by technomage
TRINIDAD, Colo. (AP) - Americans should do more to protect themselves against terrorism by setting up neighborhood watch groups, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says.
"If we do that to protect ourselves against vandals or a burglary, why would we not do it to protect ourselves against a terrorist?" Kerry asked during a Saturday interview with reporters aboard his campaign train.
Kerry, who was joined on the train by his running mate John Edwards, said that the current system of nationwide, color-coded alerts is confusing.
"We need a neighborhood watch kind of system so that we have a way to notify people, they know what they're supposed to do," Edwards said. "We shouldn't have millions of Americans, or hundreds of thousands, trying to figure out at 3 o'clock in the morning what they are supposed to do. They ought to know what they're supposed to do."
Kerry, who was resuming his campaign swing Sunday evening in New Mexico, also said in the Saturday interview that he would continue research on a program to develop weapons to shoot down incoming missiles if he is elected.
"I believe in pursuing and researching and developing missile defense. I've supported missile defense research," Kerry said. But "I don't believe in rapid deployment of a system that hasn't been adequately tested. I will continue missile defense research, I will continue missile defense work, because it's important for the country."
The two Democrats also criticized the Bush environmental record.
"I think they have done a number of things that are troublesome. They have rolled back protections for the quality of our air. They have lowered the standards and the regulatory requirements that have been in place for over 25 years. It's damaging not only to the environment, it's damaging to the health of our kids who have asthma, to seniors who have respiratory problems. I think it's an enormous issue," Edwards said.
Kerry said he would consider putting a Republican in charge if the person was a "thoughtful, balanced person."
"It might be a Republican, it might be a Democrat, I don't know. I'm not looking for an ideology," Kerry said.
"I think that we have a false choice put before voters, that voters are made to believe it's a choice of either the environment or jobs. That's wrong. Protecting the environment is jobs."
Thank you. I have not laughed that hard in months!
"Kerry Urges Terror Fight On Local Level"
Sure looks like he's advocating racial profiling.
Works for me.
Redneck rapid response team.
Yes, I think they are Arab Muslims.
What? What do you mean you have to report this to CAIR and the ACLU for civil rights violations?
Excellent!
The Guy is a total idiot!!
Do we have to group up to "be alert"?
Why don't us "neighbors" take turns keeping watch at the local Mosques. Or even better, join them and infiltrate them.
We're the working people. We make things "roll". We're smart and we're watching out for each other and our families.
When President Bush suggested "watchers" such as truckers, the Dems went crazy!!
Wait there you terrorist. My 89-year-old grandmother is calling 9ll now...
Exactly.
Try reporting a middle-eastern man with taking a video of a nuclear power plant or a refinery and the left will shout:profiling.
Dang! In my neighborhood those arab terrorists are on the endagered species list, if not altogether extinct in these parts, any good hunting in your parts?
Gee, if the democrats are in favor of neighborhood watch programs so we can fend off terrorists, maybe they're trying to say that pro-Palestinian liberals are fit for the gulag.
Naw, we're pretty clear out here. Might have to travel to Detroit, Seattle or Portland. I'd have to check the local bag limits, tags and licence fees.
Are we to disband intelligence agencies?
Open up the borders?
Welcome the war here on our shore?
Mr. sKerry, go to hell.
Kerry is thinking good but he is nucking futs. He advocates vigilantiasm, which if proposed by the republicnas would have been called moronic, goons, idiotic ... oops, forgot, Kerry thinks he has a brain.
But fdon't get me wrong, as long as they didn't stop me from blowing up the neighborhood mosque, I would have no problem with the proposal... then he might change his mind after he did allow it, which may or may not have been before he thought of it.
When George Bush suggested that people be vigilant in their own neighborhoods, Liberals mocked it because it meant ratting on your neighbor. You just can't win!
Kerry to America: "You're on your own."
Kerry is a mindless fool, "The Organized Militias" are ready and willing to take on the terrorist, if necessary. Kerry's vision is a group of senior citizens riding around a neighborhood on bicycles with flashlights, handsets and remember no gun's. As Kerry would say, our policy is to develop a dialogue with these poor oppressed activists. Seeking a solution on a higher level of intelligence and gracing them with palm leaves as a token of our peaceful intent. (Fight terrorism!Shoot First!)Bush/Cheney 2004
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