Posted on 09/23/2004 10:21:58 AM PDT by Area Freeper
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. - President Bush mocked John Kerry's fitness to be commander in chief Wednesday, saying the way to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq "is not to wilt or waver." Kerry suggested to a campaign crowd that Bush might bring back the military draft and said in an Associated Press interview that the president was "living in a make-believe world."
Answering a question about possible revival of the draft at a forum with voters in West Palm Beach, Fla., Kerry said, "If George Bush were to be re-elected, given the way he has gone about this war and given his avoidance of responsibility in North Korea and Iran and other places, it is possible. I can't tell you."
Bush, trying to show a leadership contrast with his Democratic opponent, said on a campaign trip to battleground Pennsylvania: "I'm driven by my desire to protect the American people. I'll be steadfast in my resolve to do everything I can to make you secure."
Less than six weeks before the election, Iraq was increasing in prominence as a campaign issue, thrust to center stage by spreading violence, kidnappings, beheadings and the deaths of more than 1,000 U.S. troops. With Americans divided about the war, Bush is trying to keep voters focused on what he says are Kerry's conflicting statements rather than the daily bombings and bloodshed.
"George Bush is trying to fight a phantom here because he won't tell the American people the truth, so he sets up something that's not a real issue and attacks it," Kerry said in the AP interview after his West Palm Beach event. He said Bush was "living in a make-believe world," unwilling to tell the truth or to understand the situation in Iraq.
"Even today, he blundered again saying there are only a handful of terrorists in Iraq," Kerry said. "George Bush retreated from Fallujah and other communities in Iraq which are now overrun with terrorists and threaten our troops."
Bush, in Pennsylvania, had said, "It's hard to help a country go from tyranny to elections to peace when there are a handful of people who are willing to kill in order to stop the process. And that's what you're seeing on the TV screens. You know, these people cannot beat us militarily."
Bush said the insurgents "use the only tool at their disposal, which is beheadings and death, to try to shake our will. They understand the nature of America. ... We weep when we think about the families affected by those who have been brutalized by these terrorists."
Back in Washington, Vice President Dick Cheney went before TV cameras on Capitol Hill to say Kerry's statements on Iraq and the war on terror showed "someone who lacks the resolve, the determination and the conviction to prevail in this conflict."
In that same vein, the Bush campaign put out a new television advertisement ridiculing Kerry on Iraq and other issues. It shows Kerry windsurfing left and right and says his positions shift "whichever way the wind blows."
The Democrats struck back with their own ad that says: "In the face of the Iraq quagmire, George Bush's answer is to run a juvenile and tasteless attack ad."
Kerry accuses Bush of creating a major crisis in Iraq with no prospect of an end. A number of U.S. troops have had their assignments extended because of the war, but Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and other Pentagon (news - web sites) officials have said repeatedly that reviving the draft would be neither necessary nor desirable. The Bush campaign called Kerry's comment on the draft irresponsible.
Bush campaigned Wednesday in the suburbs of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. It was his 37th visit to Pennsylvania, his top target in the presidential sweepstakes with 21 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win. Four years ago Bush lost Pennsylvania to Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites) but polls show the race this year is close.
In between speeches, Bush took an aerial tour of Allegheny County, where the remnants of Hurricane Ivan caused flooding that damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and businesses.
On Iraq, Bush will meet at the White House on Thursday with Ayad Allawi, the prime minister of Iraq's interim government who has said the terrorists are being defeated. Bush cited Allawi as a witness to the wisdom of U.S. policy.
"These are critical times and I'm glad the prime minister is here to reinforce the strategy we have in place," Bush said. He said more Iraqis have electricity now than under Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and that more children are going to school and getting immunizations.
Criticizing Kerry, Bush said that "the way to prevail, the way toward successful conclusion that we all want, the way to secure Iraq and bring our troops home as quickly as possible is not to wilt or waver or send mixed signals to the enemy."
"My opponent is sending mixed signals," the president said. "He has had many different positions on Iraq."
Bush has linked Iraq to the more politically popular war against terror, and he suggested that Kerry was too wobbly to keep Americans safe.
"You cannot lead the war against terror if you wilt or waver when things get tough," the president said.
Kerry, his voice scratchy from a cold, said in Florida that Bush was divorced from realities in Iraq and ignoring the manhunt for terrorists in Afghanistan (news - web sites). "Osama bin Forgotten," Kerry said, referring to the al-Qaida leader, still missing three years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
Besides Iraq, Kerry focused on Social Security (news - web sites) while campaigning in Florida. He said the president's proposal to give workers partly private Social Security accounts would end up hurting senior citizens.
"He's driving seniors right out of the middle class," Kerry said in a battleground state rich with voters keenly watching the candidates talk about two pillars of retirement, Social Security and Medicare.
___
corroborates or reiterates?
KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa? :>
AGAIN with the draft thing.
Ya know, Kerry, the only ones talking about the draft are actually Dems! I'd shut up about it if I were you.
MGY
Kerry's the one who's been demanding more troops for Iraq. I don't know how he's gonna get them unless he's going to resurrect the draft.
The fact that he claims Bush will resurrect the draft makes me all the more suspicious. Democrats always accuse Republicans of doing something that they have or will do.
Either way. The subheading is mine, but you just gotta love those non-partisan AP headlines!
You can assume that the subject of the draft will come up in the debate. I hope Bush is prepared for it.
There. Now the above is fake but accurate.
The initial idea for reinstituting the draft came from Chuckie Rangel.
Uh hum, if Kerry weren't acting like a juvenile, windsurfing instead of attending national security meetings, then the shoe fits Kerry, not Bush.
Sheesh, my thought too. One word means he proved his assertion, the other means he's just repeating his lie.
Bush can't rule out the draft. That would be announcing in advance that you will fight with your hands tied. It just invites attacks. Basically, he should say it won't be necessary. We've gone this far without it. All we need is leadership that our soldiers respect, and we can count on volunteers filling the ranks.
> ... revival of the draft ... Kerry said
> "... it is possible. I can't tell you."
_____________________
Joseph Goebbels would be proud. We have here a case of the
"Reverse Big Lie"
Not only is the "secret Bush draft" a lie,
the truth is a secret Kerry-Edwards draft.
The Kerry camp coordinators have fired up a series of scare
ads on the draft. As is usual for "progressives", accusing
their opponents of what they themselves are doing.
Before getting to the details, it's important to note that
this issue is not primarily about a military draft. It's
about Universal National Service. Stealing two years from
every life, then 3, and heck, why stop there ...
And National Service is less about service than about
indoctrinating the slaves by controlling the agenda of
the approved forms of service.
But make no mistake about it, if Kerry is elected, they'll
also need a draft to meet military manpower requirements,
because voluntary enlistments and re-enlistments will drop
to near zero.
The Bush Administration has done zero to move toward a
draft and does not support it.
The only bills submitted are by Democrats. One of them,
HR 163, bears the title:
"Universal National Service Act of 2003"
it includes the provision:
"...or a period of civilian service in furtherance of the
national defense and homeland security, and for other purposes."
... and for other purposes ...
Involuntary servitude, i.e. slavery, doing whatever bidding
the ruling class prescribes.
Although Kerry and Edwards are on the campaign trail
promising to oppose a draft, they in fact support
UNS, but are hiding that. And even if they were to
oppose UNS, you already know what a Kerry promise
or position is worth.
Where have they been on this issue?
Kerry has removed a page, formerly at:
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/natservice
and still referenced by dissidents at:
http://www.comdsd.org/article_archive/JustasUrgent.htm
"(II) A MANDATORY HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE REQUIREMENT.
As President, John Kerry will ensure that every
high school student in America does community
service as a requirement for graduation. . . ."
The current K+E National Service is more watered down:
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/national_service/
Apparently, the older position was too honest.
Don't you fell sorry for all the illinformed teenagers voting for Dems so they will not get drafted, when the Dems are the ones who WANT THE DRAFT!!!
These teenagers are being DUPED and USED by the left.
Is it true that "large areas" of Iraq are under the control of the insurgents?
Kerry sure has those A.N.S.W.E.R. talking points down.
He's obviously been studying at the feet of the pros.
The draft issue is one of their favorites lies. Now it's become Kerry's.
What else has Johnny-Boy picked up from A.N.S.W.E.R.? Inquiring minds would like to know.
If he is, make sure they have shovels.
Would really be nice if the mainstream media knew how to do research and called Kerry on his lies.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:HR00163:@@@P
the sponsor and co-sponsors are all democrats
At the rate Kerry's going, by election day people won't believe a damn thing he says. His story changes constantly even while on the stump.
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