Iraq.
That is the central issue in this year’s election. Or at least it should be. If not for Iraq, Bush would most likely be walking away with another presidential term, weak economy or no. The Democrats know this, but their candidate has such a contorted position on the war that the only viable option left is to say nothing on the matter. And that’s exactly what the Dems have done for the past month. Kerry’s vote to authorize the war always gave me pause, but his more recent verbal gymnastics and misstatements have me reaching for the bottle. The Dems should be absolutely vilifying Bush over his blunders in Iraq. Instead, they’re doing the equivalent of shuffling their feet and shrugging their shoulders like a bunch of befuddled schoolkids. I want Howard Dean to pull Kerry aside and tell him to knock off the senatorial dissembling and start going on the attack. Kerry doesn’t have to list bullet points explaining his new Iraqi strategy. All he has to do is lay out the myriad ways that Bush fucked things up and ask the voters one simple question: “Do you trust the same guy who got you into this mess to get you out?”
There is still time for Kerry to re-focus the debate on Iraq, but he needs to do it soon.
I think this is a direct consequence of the Democratic tendency to politely let Republicans frame the debate. They’ve managed to co-opt the very language and turn “liberal” into a dirty word. Let’s start by reclaiming “liberal”, and then proudly distinguish ourselves from the Republican Party by unabashedly embracing progressive policies and reforms.
Say it loud, I’m liberal and proud!
I agree. It is time that the democrats take a position on Iraq. Kerry needs to distinquish himself from Bush with haste, on the issue of Iraq. Otherwise, I think Bush will easily win in November. Bush and his cronies have screwed things up so bad that this should be a “cakewalk” for the Democrats. For some reason, they just don’t get it.