Only way to pitch OBL tape: Osama is still at large!

[skip fox]

That's what it comes down to. Any other argument/take is TOO COMPLEX, esp this late in the day.

Kerry needs only say, "Whatever else you want to make of it, the tape shows us one thing clearly: Osama bin Laden is still at large. And he's still at lrage due to mistakes repeatedly made by this president . . ." Etc.

[skip fox]

1. Then Kerry turns to the camera and says,

"But when I'm elected president on Tuesday, 'Watch out, Osama, 'cause we'll be coming your way. No mistakes. No distractions. We're going to get the job done, and done right!'"

[MrBenchley]

2. You know, pResident Shrimp HAD an out...

If, after the "I know Osama attacked us" snit the unelected drunk threw during the debate, the handlers worked in some mention of Osama in his stump speech, he wouldn't be in such big trouble now.

But what can he do now? Ignore the tape, and he's a dangerous idiot. Mention it, he has to explain why all the troops are in Iraq guarding Halliburton contractors instead of in Afghanistan going after Osama...

[CityHall]

3. Some better spin for this...

OBL isn't afraid of Bush. This guy is supposed to be Bush's mortal enemy, someone he said we wanted "dead or alive." Yet three years later, he's comfortable enought to put out videotapes mocking the President. He's not even afraid enough of being caught to keep a low profile.

[skip fox]

4. Maybe. A good point. But how to say it without giving even

grudging admiration to Osama? Kerry can't make him sympathetic at all (a la Roadrunner to Bush's Coyote). Saying he's lounging poolside laughing (I'm exaggerating, of course) is too strange to lay on the American public now. Kerry would be put back on defensise, explaing what he means &c.

Now's the time for NO MISTAKES.


Is there a way to pitch the "You can certainly see he's not afraid of the current administration" without a lot of emotional entanglements and confusions of loyalities? It might be fine, but I see possible pitfalls.

[CityHall]

8. Not advice to Kerry, but to DUers in an argument with freepers

Bush won't be the one saying "OBL is reciting Dem talking points." That will be Buchanan and other right-wing surrogates. Our response, and Eleanor Clift's response, should be that Bush is so weak that his enemy is mocking him, comfortable in the knowledge that our resources are tied up elsewhere.

[chum]

5. Absolutely right

Bin Laden is free = Bush has failed. Keep it simple.

[ErskineBowlesVoter]

6. Wesley Clark had a good plan

Send a joint team of Saudi and American commandos into the hinterland of Pakistan to track OBL down.

[sofa king]

7. "Mission Accomplished"

Why are we fighting that war in Iraq, again?