Bob Kerry: Hold the Applause! (Suprisingly Insightful)

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Thursday, September 4, 2003 | BOB KERREY

[presidio9]

In less than 15 months Americans will go to the polls to decide whether to give President Bush four more years or to select instead one of the nine Democratic candidates who are now vying for the nomination of their party. As a Democrat and a former candidate myself, I have been watching with great interest, respect and sympathy for those who suffer the various ordeals of a grueling campaign schedule.

[Constitution Day]

BTTT.

[PeterPrinciple]

"Take the issues of tax cuts as an example. In order to please a relatively small number of Americans who believe that tax cuts are good no matter what the consequences, President Bush has undone a decade of Republican-inspired fiscal stewardship that placed the highest value on endowing posterity with savings, investment, and less debt. "

I will say it again: Cashflow affects managment more than managment affects cashflow. First you cut the cashflow then you shrink the goverment.

[presidio9]

For a Democrat, that difference frequently means explaining there is a limit to how much we can tax Americans either through the revenue code, the regulatory book, or the lawsuit. Or it means explaining that sometimes force at home or abroad is the only way to achieve safety on the streets or security in the world.

I understand that right there Kerry is doing exactly what he tells the candidates NOT to do: Tell your audience exactly what you know they want to hear. But Kerry, and to a lesser extent Lieberman do get it. Few non liberals will ever vote for Howard Dean. Kerry's political philosophy would make sense to a lot of moderates.

[Zeppo]

Among the characteristics I look for is the courage and independence to stand up and tell us something we don't want to hear.

. . .

So, show me the person, like Mr. Lieberman, who has angered a partisan Democratic audience with an unpopular idea and you have someone with what it takes to be our next president.

Mr. Kerrey, it's right in front of your face and yet you refuse to see it. Iraq posed a serious threat to the security of the US. Democrats were all ducking and covering, and not a single one of them had the vision and courage to stand up for what needed to be done. It took a real leader, like President Bush, not a phony like Lieberman, to take decisive action instead of merely biting his lower lip or wringing his hands and doing nothing...

[facedown]

So, show me the person, like Mr. Lieberman, who has angered a partisan Democratic audience with an unpopular idea and you have someone with what it takes to be our next president.

This qualification would apply to about 40% of the population.

[Husker8877]

You are on the button.