Josh Marshall hits it on the head re; Kerry, Bush and Iraq

[xray s]

This is Bush's war. He screwed it up. The pressure should be on him to explain himself. People around here should back off Kerry. Stop falling for Bush's strategy, which is avoid responsibility and focus on Kerry.

here's Josh Marshall's take...and I think he's right on target.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/

Politically, Kerry needs to ignore the commentators who will press him to come up with a twenty point plan that will immediately rectify the situation in Iraq. Yes, he needs to give an idea of what he'll do if and when he takes over. But the emphasis should be on the undeniable fact that though the way forward may be murky, the last person you want to lead the country down that foggy path is the guy who screwed everything up so badly in the first place.

As my friend John Judis noted recently, the key to winning an election is often simply a matter of bringing to the surface of the public consciousness what voters already really know. They know Iraq is a disaster. They know it's President Bush's fault

[Teaser]

1. Just posted this over at Dkos.

I especially like the part where JMM notes that Bush has made his failure in Iraq an asset. He has fucked it up so bad that it's *impossible* for Kerry to present a 10 point plan or solution.

[xray s]

2. our message is simple

Bush fucked up. We can't trust him another day with American lives. Period.

[dennis4868]

18. same with 911....

bush has made his failure of 911 an asset...go figure.

[rumguy]

3. Personally I think he should be saying - "We can't afford any more

mistakes in Iraq."

The debate should be framed with Bush's failures.

[lunarboy13]

4. And I hate it when they say: don't switch horses

in the middle of a ride. Well, when life and liberty are at stake and the horse you're on is going in the wrong direction and won't alter its course, you're damned right we should change horses!!!

[LittleClarkie]

7. My answers to that

Think of Bush as the Titanic and of Kerry as the lifeboat. You'd get in the lifeboat if the ship of state was sinking wouldn't you?

Second one is a question I've got to get answered first. Is Iraq itself a declared war? I was told by someone that Bush did the "Mission Accomplished" routine at approx 70 days so that he would beat the 90 day deadline, after which he'd have to go back to Congress. Which is why we're trying to "win the peace" instead of "win the war."

If it's not a declared war, and is only a war because Bush says it is, then any president at any time can just declare war on something (terror, drugs, my left shoe) and then declare himself a "wartime president." How bogus would that be.

[blm]

5. About time. Even people here at DU let Bush off the hook just to take

their potshots at Kerry. As if knocking Kerry is a priority over unseating Bush.

Short-sighted imbeciles. Every one of them.

[xray s]

6. you got that right

and I for one am damn tired of reading it.

If anyone here doesn't think the world would be better off if John Kerry was calling the shots after 9/11, they can piss off.

[LittleClarkie]

10. Alleluia!

Amen, sing it.

The problem is that the Dems are a coalition of several candidates' supporters. I think the Deaniacs are having the most trouble getting excited. I think the Clarkies and Edwardians are having the least trouble. I will admit it took me a while, but now I'm a true believer.

Just get him in there, and he will be magnificent.

[Vincardog]

12. Right again F#ck the Shrub and his steady leadership

* is the lead lemming rushing into WW LAST. We do not want or need to follow GW CUSTER any further. Not None Step More.

[Lex]

8. Yep, I saw those threads too.

I don't feel the need to explain to other voters in detail how Kerry would fix Iraq--I would just turn the question around and say:

"Listen, all I know for sure is that Kerry would be immensely better at solving the problem of Iraq than the Idiot who got us in this mess in the first plae. Bush has put forward NO PLAN and virtually NONE OF OUR ALLIES are interesting in helping us out right now because of him.

It makes no sense to keep following a leader who keeps leading us off a cliff, time and time again!"

[JI7]

11. isn't that the truth

[peacetalksforall]

9. He needs to create a miracle message that hits you in the heart and mind

the way it is hit when you see F9-11, Uncovered, or Outfoxed or read one of the expose books. Even though you lived through it all, there is a punch to watching the condensed version that can knock a person off their feet. There is nothing comparable to watching a structured recap of the horror plopped down on us by the Bush cabal.

[xray s]

14. see post #2

though I realize he'll have to clean it up a bit :)

[RevCheesehead]

19. like: "Saddam Captured, War Rages On."

[LSK]

13. why isnt if OBVIOUS that the UN will help Kerry in Iraq????

The UN knows this is Bush'es mess so they are not helping. If Bush is out of office, the UN will IMMEDIATELY help us out. Why cant the IDIOTS out there figure this out? Isnt it obvious????

[Vincardog]

16. It is obvious the Sheepel don't want to

admit The only Super power needs the world to help it. It seems so Girly to them

[EndElectoral]

15. Well said...There is more focus on Kerry's votes than Bush's decisions

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. Bush leads like a blind sea captain

who's heading straight into the storm, screaming at his crew to stay the course. Meanwhile, the crew is making plans to mutiny.