Free Republic

Cheney Blasts Kerry for Allawi Comments By MARGARET STAFFORD ASSOCIATED PRESS ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) - Vice President Dick Cheney chastised Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry on Thursday, saying his criticism of Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi showed an appalling "lack of respect." Allawi, who was in Washington on Thursday to address a joint meeting of Congress and meet with President Bush, gave a rosy portrayal of progress toward peace in his country. Shortly after he spoke, Kerry said the prime minister's assessment contradicted his own previous statements as well as the reality on the ground. Cheney said Kerry was...

Kerry Misfires In Economic Blame Game By Steven Pearlstein Wednesday, June 16, 2004; Page E01 The critical issue of the presidential campaign is not jobs, or the deficit, or even the war in Iraq. The issue is credibility: which candidate can lead the country by telling the truth about where we are and where we need to go. And in that context, the efforts of John Kerry's team to portray the economy as being in terrible shape, and President Bush as being the Herbert Hoover of his era, are badly misguided.

Let's see if I can kick this off. During the promo at the beginning of the show, where he was standing by live in West Virginia, and throughout the interview itself, Kerry tried hard to keep this huge "what me worry?" smile plastered on his face. He coupled it with numerous condescending head shakes that seemed to imply "these poor benighted fools who so miserably misunderstand the greatness that is John Kerry."