Live Thread: RNC Convention Day Three.

121 posted on 09/01/2004 9:47:58 AM PDT by Cheapskate ("We got the Steeley Dan t shirts!")

They were probably half asleep!
Up all night.That's how young folks are!

My husband and I ministered with our high school choir for 12 years. We traveled all over the country, and spent nights in Churches and hotels and homes.

They didn't sleep, until we got back on the bus.
Otherwise, they performed by rote!

These kids probably haven't slept since they got to New York! And won't sleep "well" until they get home!

I love this girl Princella Smith!
She's great!

122 posted on 09/01/2004 9:52:38 AM PDT by LadyPilgrim (Sealed my pardon with His blood, Hallelujah!!! What a Savior!!!)

To: CholeraJoe; cyncooper

Protesters disrupt the Youth Convention at the Republican National Convention in New York, September 1, 2004. The protesters were removed by security officials after they interrupted a speech by White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card. REUTERS/Brian Snyder US ELECTION

A protester at the Republican Youth Convention is restrained and escorted from the floor at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

A protester attending the Republican Youth Convention is carried from the floor of Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak )

Protesters line up on lower Broadway from Wall Street to City Hall to voice their opposition against what they say are the failed economic policies of the Bush administration September 1, 2004 in New York. The peaceful protest came on the third day of the Republican National Convention. Photo by Henny Ray Abrams/Reuters

Group Holds Unemployment Protest in N.Y.

123 posted on 09/01/2004 9:52:53 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

You're probably right. I've been up all night myself lately!

124 posted on 09/01/2004 9:57:58 AM PDT by LisaFab

Ari was great.

Swifty ad running here in the NY tri-state area right now.

125 posted on 09/01/2004 9:58:47 AM PDT by LisaFab

Karl Rove,the White House political director, answers questions during an interview with the Associated Press on Wednesday morning, Sept. 1, 2004, before the third day of the Republican National Convention in New York. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Rove: Kerry Tarnished Vietnam Veterans

By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer

NEW YORK - President Bush's chief strategist said Wednesday that Democratic Sen. John Kerry tarnished "the records and service" of fellow Vietnam veterans with his anti-war protests, and compared the U.S. war on terrorism to the decades-old conflict in Northern Ireland.

"This is going to be more like the conflict in Northern Ireland, where the Brits fought terrorism, and there's no sort of peace accord with al-Qaida saying, 'We surrender,'" White House senior adviser Karl Rove said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Bush created a campaign stir this week by saying the war on terror cannot be won. Under pressure from Democrats, the president backed off the statement Tuesday by drawing a distinction between a conventional war and the shadowy terror fight.

The conflict over Northern Ireland claimed more than 3,000 lives from 1969 to 1994, with the IRA causing about 1,800 deaths, anti-Catholic outlaws about 900, and British troops and police about 350. About 185 people have died in politically motivated violence since, chiefly committed by anti-Catholic extremists and IRA dissidents.

On a wartime controversy dogging Kerry, Rove said Bush's rival "served with valor" in Vietnam, and he denied any connection with a GOP-leaning special interest group that has made unsubstantiated claims that Kerry exaggerated his combat record. But Rove took strong issue with Kerry for condemning the actions of some U.S. soldiers upon his return from the Vietnam War.

"It was a period of intense feeling on both sides for and against the war, but I think that was painting with far too broad a brush to tarnish the records and service of people who were defending our country and fighting communism and doing what they thought was right," Rove said during the 30-minute session with AP reporters and editors.

Testifying more than 30 years ago to Congress on behalf of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, Kerry detailed atrocities he said were committed by U.S. troops in Vietnam, including rapes, beheadings and random killings of civilians. Kerry has said he was referring to incidents witnessed by others.

Pointing to his anti-war testimony is one of many ways the White House hopes to undercut Kerry's credibility as commander in chief. The Democrat made his combat record the centerpiece of his nominating convention in Boston, to the virtual exclusion of his economic agenda or a detailed plan to end the war in Iraq — two issues troubling Bush's candidacy.

The same group attacking Kerry's war record, "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth," is airing a commercial critical of Kerry's 1971 testimony.

Rove said the organization and special interest groups working for Democrats should cease airing ads funded with unregulated contributions, or "soft money." Later, the campaign asked a court to force the Federal Election Commission to act on its complaints against anti-Bush groups that have spent more than $60 million in ads against the president. Outside Republican groups have spent far less, but they've vowed a late-campaign drive to close the gap.

"Can somebody explain to me why we have one set of rules in America for billionaires who hate this president and another set of rules for everybody else?" Rove asked.

He lashed out at liberal filmmaker Michael Moore for predicting a Bush defeat. "Michael Moore is known for wild flights of fantasy and delusion, and that's another one," Rove said. "I have no interest in meeting, seeing, hearing, talking, reading, or being in the presence of the man."

126 posted on 09/01/2004 9:59:38 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

Was watching a bit of Princella then Ed Gillespie...I was pleased when Gillespie said:

"The democrats have become the party of protest and pessism, we are the party of leadership and optimism."

The protesters are entwined with the Kerry Kamp and I was glad Ed made the connection.

CSPAN airing WABC news coverage in New York.

127 posted on 09/01/2004 10:01:13 AM PDT by cyncooper

President Bush's chief strategist said Wednesday that Democratic Sen. John Kerry tarnished "the records and service" of fellow Vietnam veterans with his anti-war protests, and compared the U.S. war on terrorism to the decades-old conflict in Northern Ireland.

Interesting. I've heard other Bush people say the anti-Vietnam War Kerry history is fair game.

128 posted on 09/01/2004 10:03:16 AM PDT by cyncooper

To: cyncooper; kristinn

129 posted on 09/01/2004 10:04:24 AM PDT by petercooper (Kerry passes up terror briefing: "They have offered to brief me. I just haven't had time.")

I surfed over to MSNBC briefly. Chip Reid reported on the Act Up protesters that got on the floor today and tried to unfurl a banner.

He said six people--members of the group--have been detained and nobody knows how they got floor passes.

130 posted on 09/01/2004 10:04:57 AM PDT by cyncooper

To: keysguy; All

100% correct. I don't know how they could have worked in the twins/First Lady/Arnold with a smooth seque. I think the only way they really could have would have been to have done family before Zell Miller, Thursday night but even then it would have been a distraction.

131 posted on 09/01/2004 10:06:09 AM PDT by olde north church (Vote Bush --- The un-Kerry)

Kerry Challenges Bush on Terror Policies

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - In a sharply worded challenge to President Bush, Democratic Sen. John Kerry said Wednesday "extremism has gained momentum" as a result of administration missteps in Iraq, but said the war on terror is a winnable one with the right policies.

"When it comes to Iraq, it's not that I would have done one thing differently, I would have done almost everything differently" than the president, the presidential candidate said in a speech to the national convention of the American Legion.

Kerry spoke dismissively of a statement Bush made Monday — then rescinded on Tuesday — that the war on terror might not be winnable.

"I absolutely disagree," he said. "With the right policies, this is a war we can win, this is a war we must win, and this is a war we will win." Kerry said. "... In the end, the terrorists will lose and we will win because the future does not belong to fear, it belongs to freedom."

Kerry, a veteran who won five medals for service in the Vietnam War, saluted his audience as he stepped to the same podium where Bush spoke on Tuesday. He saluted again as he wrapped up his speech.

He accused the administration of failing to keep faith with the nation's 36 million veterans by underfunding VA programs that leave thousands of former servicemen and women without adequate, timely health care and reduced retirement and disability payments.

"The job will be done when the government stops asking veterans for increased co-payments, enrollment fees and other charges to shift the burden of care to more veterans and drive more than a million veterans out of the system," he said.

But the heart of the speech was a strong attack on Bush's policies in Iraq, delivered at a time when Republicans were midway through a national convention designed largely to stress the president's credentials as an effective commander in chief in the war on terror.

Kerry catalogued what he said was a long list of administration shortcomings on Iraq — failing to heed the advice of senior generals on the number of troops needed for postwar operations, failing to secure the country's borders, failing to share responsibility with NATO or the United Nations, shortchanging the training and equipping of the Iraqi police and more.

As a result, he said, "today's terrorists have secured havens in Iraq that were not there before. And we have been forced to reach accommodation with those who have repeatedly attacked our troops.

"Violence has spread in Iraq. Iran has expanded its influence, and extremism has gained momentum," Kerry said.

As a Massachusetts senator, Kerry voted in 2002 to give Bush the authority to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, and said recently that he would still do so in hindsight, even knowing that no weapons of mass destruction have been found.

But Kerry said, "I would never have diverted resources so quickly from Afghanistan," where the Taliban has been forced from power but Osama bin Laden and other members of al-Qaida remain free.

"I wouldn't have ignored my senior military advisers. I would have made sure that every soldier put in harm's way had the equipment and body armor they needed. I would have built a strong, broad coalition of our allies around the world.

"And if there's one thing I learned from my service, I would never have gone to war without a plan to win the peace," he said.

Kerry's remarks marked his first extensive foray into the controversy that Bush triggered earlier this week. In a television interview aired Monday, the Republican said he wasn't certain the war on terror was winnable. The following day — before the same American Legion members whom Kerry addressed — Bush said it was.

Kerry spoke as the Democratic Party decided to air a new 30-second ad in battleground states, a commercial designed to stress the same points the Massachusetts senator covered. It accuses Bush of "a failure in leadership." "Mounting casualties, costing $200 billion and counting," the ad says. "Now they call it a 'catastrophic success.' They say they 'miscalculated.' And now they say the war on terror is unwinnable."

The visit to the American Legion gathering was Kerry's first public political campaigning since Saturday, and marked an unusual decision to actively campaign while the opposition party was in the midst of its convention.

Kerry aides announced on Tuesday that the campaign will begin buying $45 million worth of commercial time in 20 states through Election Day. Aides described the investment — which amounts to about half of Kerry's overall budget for the fall campaign — as a down payment on their advertising strategy.

132 posted on 09/01/2004 10:08:59 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

I tried to call her but it went to VM. I said, "Were you involved in the altercation with the protestors?" Haven't heard back.

133 posted on 09/01/2004 10:11:42 AM PDT by CholeraJoe ("I wanna find your Inner Child and kick it's little A$$. Get over it.")

"......have been detained and nobody knows how they got floor passes......"

Somehow we have got to be more aware of our surroundings! Especially there!

Is the Secret Service in charge or is there another group in charge of security? Homeland Security, maybe?

134 posted on 09/01/2004 10:12:44 AM PDT by LadyPilgrim (Sealed my pardon with His blood, Hallelujah!!! What a Savior!!!)

Whew! It wasn't her in the melee.

135 posted on 09/01/2004 10:14:40 AM PDT by CholeraJoe ("I wanna find your Inner Child and kick it's little A$$. Get over it.")

Barbara (L) and Jenna Bush, daughters of U.S. President George Bush, address the Youth Convention at the Republican National Convention in New York September 1, 2004. REUTERS/Brian Snyder US ELECTION

136 posted on 09/01/2004 10:16:26 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

By golly, it's Kristinn. I wonder if he is wearing his "Fry Mumia" shirt begind that sign.

137 posted on 09/01/2004 10:17:14 AM PDT by Bahbah

If that photo was taken on Sunday, he was wearing it. Too bad when I wear mine here in CT, most people don't get it.

138 posted on 09/01/2004 10:20:57 AM PDT by LisaFab

And can anyone tell me if the National Security Adviser will be speaking at any point?

139 posted on 09/01/2004 10:22:58 AM PDT by condi2008 (Pro Libertate)

Protesters Disrupt Convention Gathering

By ANNE GEARAN, Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK - Anti-war demonstrators disrupted a Republican youth gathering on the floor of the party convention Wednesday, shortly after President Bush's twin daughters left the stage.

Jenna and Barbara Bush introduced White House chief of staff Andrew Card. As he began speaking, 10 protesters sitting in the crowd jumped up, blew whistles and began to chant, "Bush kills." They also removed sweat shirts to reveal T-shirts reading "Bush Drop Global Debt Now."

Card tried to continue speaking, but was drowned out and stopped as young participants in the morning event scuffled with the demonstrators. Police moved in to remove the protesters, including a young woman hoisted out by two officers — one at her shoulders and one at her knees.

At least one delegate was slightly injured. Suhr Daniel, 20, of Milwaukee, said he was punched in the head by a protester. He had a cut near his temple and the side of his face was reddened.

On Wednesday night, Vice President Dick Cheney was to tell Republicans that Democrat John Kerry suffers from "confusion of conviction."

Cheney's speech to the Republican National Convention sets the stage for Bush's own acceptance speech the following night. The president was to arrive in New York late Wednesday for a meeting with firefighters, making the connection to the Sept. 11 attacks and subsequent fight against terrorism that has defined his presidency.

Before Wednesday's incident, the Bush daughters drew warm applause as they returned to the podium they had occupied the night before, when they introduced their mother.

The 22-year-olds, dressed in tight jeans and heels, cracked a few jokes Wednesday, but did not repeat some of their cheekiest lines from Tuesday night's appearance.

"All joking aside, it really was a pleasure to introduce someone we love so much," Jenna Bush said.

The president's rambunctious daughters had their longest moment yet in the public spotlight Tuesday night. The Bush campaign earlier had said the young women would not follow Alexandra and Vanessa Kerry's lead by addressing the party convention.

"Jenna and I are really not very political, but we love our dad too much to stand back and watch from the sidelines," Barbara Bush said. "We realized that this would be his last campaign, and we wanted to be a part of it. Besides, since we've graduated from college, we're looking around for something to do for the next few years. Kind of like dad."

First lady Laura Bush followed her daughters at the podium, and gave delegates a personal glimpse of Bush's hard choices since Sept. 11 as well as his lighter side.

"I am enjoying this campaign. It has reminded me of our very first one, 26 years ago," when they were newlyweds and George W. Bush drove miles and miles in an Oldsmobile, campaigning for Congress, Mrs. Bush said.

"You learn a lot about your husband when you spend that much time in a car with him. By the end of the campaign, he had even convinced me to vote for him," she said. "This time I don't need any convincing."

The president himself was another surprise addition to the convention lineup. He thanked his daughters and introduced his wife by satellite from a campaign appearance in Pennsylvania.

"You make me so very proud," Bush said.

The girls, just graduated from Yale and the University of Texas, referred to high jinks that sometimes landed them in the newspaper headlines.

"We spent the last four years trying to stay out of the spotlight," Jenna Bush said to laughter from the delegates. "Sometimes we did a little better job than others."

She said they told their father they were "young and irresponsible," just the phrase he has applied to himself in a phase of youthful drinking.

140 posted on 09/01/2004 10:23:48 AM PDT by TexKat (Just because you did not see it or read it, that does not mean it did or did not happen.)

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794