Why Not Kerry? Why Bush?
In "In But Not Of," Hugh urged us to start a blog, but it took his Bush vs. Kerry Vox Blogoli to take me to my tipping point. Thanks for the new addiction, Hugh!
Why not Kerry? Why Bush? The reasons flood my mind so clarity is almost impossible. Here's what bubbles to the top today.
He bleeds pale blue. My terrific step-dad Bill is a retired career diplomat who's already cast his absentee ballot for Kerry. He sends me long foreign policy journal articles that belittle the Bush doctrine and promote internationalism -- but to me, they all seem hopelessly pre-9/11, just as Kerry does. As with everything, internationalism has its place, and as with every issue, Kerry is out of place. Yesterday's Washington Post piece on Kerry's position on the use of force says it all. It's OK to die for the U.N.'s pale blue, but not the red, white and blue:
In 1994, discussing the possibility of U.S. troops being killed in Bosnia, [Kerry] said, "If you mean dying in the course of the United Nations effort, yes, it is worth that. If you mean dying American troops unilaterally going in with some false presumption that we can affect the outcome, the answer is unequivocally no."
"Some false presumption that we can affect the outcome?" It's as if he hasn't changed a single synapse since Vietnam. Remember Bush in the classroom on the morning of 9/11 -- you see the realization hit him instantly, as his eyes betray the thought: "This changes everything."
Gracelessness under pressure. Kerry's behavior and judgment worsen as the polling gap holds and the finish line nears. You have to wonder: If he can't handle the pressure of a close presidential race with any more character than this, what can we expect if he should get to lead the country?
Just one example of Kerry flailing is the claim that Bush imposed a 17% Medicare premium increase. The increase was not imposed by the president, but was mandated by the balanced budget agreement signed by Clinton, when Kerry -- not Bush -- was in office. On this, and on Mary Cheney, Christopher Reeve, Social Security, minority access to the polls, flu shots and the draft, the Kedwards team is showing their true colors: do anything to win. That's what devils and despots do, not leaders.
Bush's mom didn't have to say "integrity" to him three times.
Let's never forget the Secret Service guy. How one treats someone who serves, be it a waitress or a special agent, is a true window into the soul. When the presumptive nominee (I always thought "the presumptuous nominee" was closer to the point) berated his Secret Service escort for allegedly tripping him on the ski slopes, decent people crossed Kerry off their list.
George Bush is the kind of guy firefighters give a bear hug to. Can you imagine him slamming the little guy?
So here's the box score on policy, integrity and character: Bush 3, Kerry 0. And I haven't even gotten to Theresa and Little John yet.
Why not Kerry? Why Bush? The reasons flood my mind so clarity is almost impossible. Here's what bubbles to the top today.
He bleeds pale blue. My terrific step-dad Bill is a retired career diplomat who's already cast his absentee ballot for Kerry. He sends me long foreign policy journal articles that belittle the Bush doctrine and promote internationalism -- but to me, they all seem hopelessly pre-9/11, just as Kerry does. As with everything, internationalism has its place, and as with every issue, Kerry is out of place. Yesterday's Washington Post piece on Kerry's position on the use of force says it all. It's OK to die for the U.N.'s pale blue, but not the red, white and blue:
In 1994, discussing the possibility of U.S. troops being killed in Bosnia, [Kerry] said, "If you mean dying in the course of the United Nations effort, yes, it is worth that. If you mean dying American troops unilaterally going in with some false presumption that we can affect the outcome, the answer is unequivocally no."
"Some false presumption that we can affect the outcome?" It's as if he hasn't changed a single synapse since Vietnam. Remember Bush in the classroom on the morning of 9/11 -- you see the realization hit him instantly, as his eyes betray the thought: "This changes everything."
Gracelessness under pressure. Kerry's behavior and judgment worsen as the polling gap holds and the finish line nears. You have to wonder: If he can't handle the pressure of a close presidential race with any more character than this, what can we expect if he should get to lead the country?
Just one example of Kerry flailing is the claim that Bush imposed a 17% Medicare premium increase. The increase was not imposed by the president, but was mandated by the balanced budget agreement signed by Clinton, when Kerry -- not Bush -- was in office. On this, and on Mary Cheney, Christopher Reeve, Social Security, minority access to the polls, flu shots and the draft, the Kedwards team is showing their true colors: do anything to win. That's what devils and despots do, not leaders.
Bush's mom didn't have to say "integrity" to him three times.
Let's never forget the Secret Service guy. How one treats someone who serves, be it a waitress or a special agent, is a true window into the soul. When the presumptive nominee (I always thought "the presumptuous nominee" was closer to the point) berated his Secret Service escort for allegedly tripping him on the ski slopes, decent people crossed Kerry off their list.
George Bush is the kind of guy firefighters give a bear hug to. Can you imagine him slamming the little guy?
So here's the box score on policy, integrity and character: Bush 3, Kerry 0. And I haven't even gotten to Theresa and Little John yet.
posted by Laer at 2:26 PM
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