BushCheney: All Talk

I watched part of Cheney's speech this morning. I have to say that, on content alone, it was a good speech. Indeed, the Bushies are usually pretty good at giving speeches that "sound right." But there are a few problems

1. It helps when the speaker has credibility. Bush and Cheney, have no credibility left, so the words they speak automatically trigger the "what aren't they telling me?" skepticism.

2. The actions on the ground often don't match the grandness of the rhetoric. Bush, Cheney and the others talk a good game about bringing freedom. But they rarely turn their rhetoric into reality. They are of the school that tyinks that reality will follow the rhetoric. But reality is a restless beast that rarely tolerates someone tugging on its leash.

3. They spend an inordinate amount of time spreading fear about what might happen if we don't do what they say, but they repeatedly gloss over what is happening in response to what they are doing. Cheney talked about how doing anything other than what we are doing will lead to a "victory for the terrorists". But he didn't explain how doing what we are doing will lead to a victory for us.

More and more people are starting to notice that rather key omission.

John Kerry Blasts Murtha Critics

Sen. John Kerry responds to the 'swift boating' of Jack Murtha:

I won't stand for the `swift boating' of Jack Murtha. It disgusts me that a bunch of guys who have never put on the uniform of their country venomously turn their guns on a Marine who came home from Vietnam with a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. No matter what J.D. Hayworth says, there is no sterner stuff than the backbone and courage that defines Jack Murtha's character and conscience.

You know why the Republicans are engaged in the lowest form of smear and fear politics? Because they're afraid of actually debating a senior congressman who has advised presidents of both parties on military matters. They're afraid to debate a decorated veteran who lives and breathes the concerns of our troops, not the empty slogans of an Administration that sent our brave troops to war without body armor. They're terrified of actually leveling with the American people about the way they misled America into war, and admitting they have no clear plan to finish the job and get our troops home. Whether you agree with Jack Murtha's policy or not is irrelevant. The truth is there is a better course for our troops and for America in Iraq, and I am going to keep fighting until we take that course for the good of our country.

Instead of letting his cronies run their mouths, the President for once should stop his allies from doing to Jack Murtha what he set them loose to do to John McCain in South Carolina and Max Cleland in Georgia. The President should finally find the courage to debate the real issue instead of destroying anyone who speaks truth to power as they see it. It's time for Americans to stand up, fight back, and make it clear it's unacceptable to do this to any leader of any party anywhere in our country.

Bravo John! That's the kind of fighting Dem spirit I like to see.

(You know, I could make a snarky comment like "Why didn't we see this John Kerry last year". But what would be the point? It's long past time to stop beating up on Kerry for his failings. He's one of the good guys, even with his flaws.)

Don't let the GOP win this battle!

The Woodward revelations are being used by the GOP to blow a hole in Plamegate. Now some may say that it doesn't matter because this case is not being tried in the court of public opinion.

Wrong.

This offensive won't make any difference to Fitzgerald's case against Libby. But that isn't the GOP's concern right now. What is their concern is the falling approval ratings of both Bush and the party. That is where a "trial in the court of public opinion" matters and that is where this offensive is directed.

If the GOP can manage to spin Woodward's revelation as proof that that Fitzgerald's case is bunk then they can stop being on the defensive and go after those who are attacking them.

How do we counter this?

1) Knock down the offensive wherever it shows up and do so with ferocity. Do not allow them to distort the case in the slightest. Call them on the lies firmly and repeatedly.

2) Renew the attack by saying that this latest lie is just another in a repeated line of lies going back to the original justification for the invasion of Iraq. It is a "pattern of lies" that demonstrates that the Republican party has lost all claim to responsible leadership.

This is their battle of the Bulge.

What is it about Dems named Joe

Joe Lieberman and Joe Biden are of a similar stripe: they get ahead by complaining about their fellow Democrats as much if not more so than about the opposition party.

And now Joe Biden is running for the 2008 nomination?

Joementum Mark II?