Posted on 10/15/2004 8:26:46 PM PDT by Kaslin
I think the presidential election will ultimately turn on which of the candidates the public trusts more, particularly because we are at war. For any number of reasons, that does not bode well for Sen. Kerry.
It's not just that President Bush is more of a people person and down to earth, or that John Kerry is an out-of-touch elitist. President Bush is also far more comfortable in his own skin than Kerry, which was most obvious in their respective answers to the spiritual question in the third debate.
President Bush fully embraced the loaded question "What part does your faith play on your policy decisions?" (The mainstream media, indeed the entire secular culture, has been on Bush's case over his faith since before he was elected.) The question was designed to make him squirm for having made his guiding faith a matter of public record. Instead, he admitted that "faith plays a big part in [his] life," that he "prays a lot" for strength, wisdom, comfort and calm, and that he loves that others pray for him and his family. But he said he never wants to impose his religion on anyone else.
This is hardly the testimony of an arrogant man, but a God-fearing, humble servant. I guarantee you that many people can relate to his touching answer and will appreciate his candor. They'll find reassurance in his reliance on God for strength in these difficult times.
But non-Christians should not feel threatened. Not once did he say or imply that he has a mainline to God or that God put him where he is. He pledged to protect the right of people of all faiths to worship as they please. And as a Christian, he means every word of that.
John Kerry, on the other hand, flinched nervously at the question and then offered an answer that seemed more calculated than heartfelt. After a forced, token response, he shifted into a John Edwardsesque two-Americas rant.
But it's not just the faith issue that unveils Kerry's counterfeit character. His whole persona reeks of stiffness and a choreographed artificiality. And his positions on most other issues reveal him as a bundle of contradictions, a walking paradox, a human oxymoron, a square peg trying to fit into a round hole.
Whereas George Bush is steady and consistent on almost every issue, consider the agony John Kerry must experience trying to reconcile his positions.
He claims to be a fiscal hawk, but he lacks the courage to tackle entitlements, and his spending proposals on health care and education alone would send the deficit into the stratosphere. He says life begins at conception but opposes restrictions on abortion. He pretends to be a friend to gays, but opposes gay marriage - sort of - and rudely invokes Mary Cheney's homosexuality.
Kerry decries dirty campaigning while fraudulently calling President Bush a liar daily. He says he would cut taxes, but his record shows he's a consistent tax raiser. He says he favors tort reform, while his running mate and many of his biggest supporters are trial lawyers. He says he'll be tough on terror when he's been anti-war all his life. He swears he'll be tough in Iraq, while insisting it's the wrong war. He complains that Iraq is an unworthy cause and slanders our existing coalition partners, yet wants us to believe - mystifyingly - that he can build a bigger coalition.
He's a proud liberal, but acts ashamed of it, even denies it. He panders to gun owners while championing gun control. He extols multilateralism but rejects it for North Korea. He boasts sophistication but has a myopically simplistic perspective on the War on Terror, thinking it's about Osama only.
He holds himself out as a strong leader, but his Senate record exposes him as a cipher. He's a champion of the poor, but as rich as Croesus. All of a sudden he denounces judicial activism, though he's been applying a disqualifying litmus test to all constitutionalist judicial nominees. He promises a brighter future, while painting a picture of irreparable doom and gloom. He says he cares about race relations, yet manufactures vicious, despicable stories that Republicans plan to suppress black votes. He is a proud military hero, but won't release his records.
Unlike President Bush, John Kerry is conflicted about who he is and on the scores of issues on which he is campaigning. The public, I trust, will finally pick up on this (because "he can run, but he can't hide") and send him back to Massachusetts.
Hop on! Makes us both taller,,!
GAWD, I'm tired.
John Kerry says he will create good jobs....but no nation
has ever prospered when taxes are increased. US economy has
a track record of growing when taxcuts were instituted by
Pres Kennedy, Pres Reagan and Pres GW Bush. Kerry has no
clue how to create prosperity except finding a rich widow.
The ol' "eastern" elitism again. Do you people have any indication that the rest of the U.S. do not think you are as smart, as wonderful, as "elite" as you yourselves think all easterners are.
Remember - the ones from states west of the eastern elites were the ones with the pioneers who had the courage to go develop new lands while others stayed in their comfortable lives. That pioneer spirit grew men of strong character who left their imprint on following generations.
The article is spot-on.
Does the phrase wishy-washy (a phrase made popular by the Peanuts comic strip back in the late 1950's) apply to Senator Kerry? If you look up the Dictionary.com definition-- Lacking in strength of character or purpose; ineffective--it sure applies to Kerry in spades. 
Dear VD, Not sure how long you've been around FR, but talk and attitude like yours is not usually welcome. Mass is a liberal bastion and it's politicians are a reflection of just that. If you happen to live there(and like it), guess you better either grow some thicker skin or find yourself a new site.
PS, You forgot to list Kerry, Kennedy, Dukakis.
Pray for W and Our Troops
**Conflicted Kerry Can't Carry Electorate**
Such is the fate of a flip-flopper.
The reason you hear slurs about your home state is due to the fact that your home state deserves it. Instead of getting upset with those of us in the more refined South, take it out on your Senators who are working overtime to take us all down.
And that is why Kerry told that contrived story about his mom saying "integrity."
Subliminal message from Mom "You don't have any son"
I have to admit, as a voter from Massachusetts, I'm getting a little weary of hearing repeated slurs against my home state. Massachusetts has significant numbers of fiscal and political conservatives, so can it.
Massachusetts is also the home of Franklin, Adams, Adams, Adams and Adams, Holmes. Betsy Ross, John Hancock and a gaggle of patriots longer and more honorable than any other state in the union. Massachusetts is where the American Revolution started, and without Massachusetts' allegedly liberal history none of you would even have one.
I notice many southerners like to point an accusing finger at my home state, but they had best be very careful with this bad behavior around me. I collect heads.
the Viking
Mr. Viking, yes your state did a wonderful job during the Revolution, however your state has gone downhill since John Kennedy was elected, because after his death, Teddy took over and devistated your state with his liberal idiocy! You idiots kept electing him, along with john kerry and duck-asses. When you get your wits back and get rid of the kennedeys and other wanna-be-kennedeys such as john kerry your state will be once again regain respect, until that happens you will remain a state in disgrase, with no respect! By the way, do you collect heads like al Zarqari in IraQ?
I'm not sure the people of MA want him back.
I'll be glad when Lurch is gone. I hope the arrogant so-and-so cracks up and has to be hauled off.
Yep, he is conflicted. But, he is more than conflicted.
He is darned confusing.
He is like a coin. Heads and tails. Whichever he is tossed he lands until the next toss.
Mathematical odds are that he will change his mind, view, opinion, plan, policy, idea , stance, hairdo, menu, at least 50% of the time.
We don't need a President that looks to focus groups to decide what to do, we went though that during the klintoon years, and got no where! $uck that @hit.
Oh yeah? What have you done for us lately < / liberal mode >
Lighten up, Francis.
Massachusetts is where the American Revolution started, and without Massachusetts' allegedly liberal history none of you would even have one.
And if we elect John Kerry the country will be history!
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