Planting a Flag on Bush's Turf

[papau]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-assess30jul30.story
NEWS ANALYSIS
Planting a Flag on Bush's Turf
By Ronald Brownstein
Times Staff Writer

July 30, 2004

BOSTON — Sen. John F. Kerry capped a Democratic convention centered on his Vietnam experiences with an acceptance speech that seemed the political equivalent of a surprise attack on an enemy's strongest point.

In a confident and combative address, Kerry signaled his determination to fight the fall campaign on terrain that the White House has long assumed would belong to President Bush: strength, integrity, values and the prosecution of the war on terror.

Kerry directly appropriated Vice President Dick Cheney's convention chant from 2000 that "help is on the way." Flipping Bush's signature pledge from 2000 to "restore honor and dignity to the Oval Office," Kerry pledged to "restore trust and credibility to the White House."

Challenging Bush's claim to better represent mainstream social values, Kerry said, "It is time for those who talk about family values to start valuing families." Most pointedly, Kerry insisted he would be more effective than Bush in directing the struggle against terrorism. "As president, I will fight a smarter, more effective war on terror," he said flatly.<snip>

[wtmusic]

1. A surprise attack?

Unless it comes as a surprise that Kerry is a shrewd politician...

[mom cat]

2. We are just taking back the turf that belongs to all of the people!!

:dem: