Burst RW trial balloon attacks fast (collect RW debate attacks here)

[troublemaker]

We know the Bush campaign feeds Free Republic direct (SBVFT) and this is what they're flogging tonight, so this will be the first concentrated post-debate attack point. Note that Cheney himself got the ball of dirt rolling.

VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: ...George Bush a man who has done it, who has been there, done it four different -- for four different years now, and done a superb job, made the right decisions for America; is absolutely committed to taking offensive action whenever it's necessary in order to defend the United States of America, and the wanna-be Senator who says -- (laughter) -- says that in response to the question on preemptive action, he would support it as long as it passed some kind of global test.

In saying 'global test' I think Kerry might have committed the heinous political crime of being educated and having a good vocabulary. At the time my thought was, "did he mean global like the Earth or global like pan-disciplinary, all-encompassing... like a global database search?" My impression is that he meant the later, particularly because of his hand gesture while saying it. (He was not holding a softball sized world in his hands, he was shaping a coalescence; it was a 'bringing it together' gesture.)

The counter talking point is "Global means comprehensive" Just set that aside in a mental corner for later use. It will be useful.

glob·al
adj.
-Having the shape of a globe; spherical.
-Of, relating to, or involving the entire earth; worldwide: global war; global monetary policies.
-Comprehensive; total: “a... global, generalized sense of loss” (Maggie Scarf).
-Computer Science. Of or relating to an entire program, document, or file.

________
BTW: This is as good a place as any to say I was WRONG. I really thought going into the debate that Kerry would need to be harsh and pointed, but he got it done masterfully without ever really calling Bush out. Brilliant.)

[Julien Sorel]

1. I think it was pretty clear

he meant a "global test" in the sense that other countries would be willing to come on board, that it wouldn't be us against the world.

[troublemaker]

3. The right political answer is global=comprehensive

Leaving aside one's interpretation, in that debate exchange global=comprehensive is the right answer politically, and the right answer for addressing the numerous RW talking points we will be hearing on the topic.

Limbaugh and Hannity and the usual pigs will lead with it and there will be an ad using it unless it is smacked down right away. If media people know that it means comprehensive that will decrease it's usefullness as a spinning point.

[The Doctor.]

2. Dick Cheney... The Walking Sneer

What's sad is how many will fall for this 'Limbaughnian' tactic of making a thoughtful and intelligent remark seem ridiculous.

[troublemaker]

4. They are indeed savages.

[Triana]

5. I believe the Repukes will....

...take that phrase: "global test", out of context and try to use it against Kerry. That was my first thought when he said it. I took it to mean Diplomacy & cooperation (stuff W knows nothing about which is why W immediately said: "duh, I don't know whatchoo mean by some kinda 'global test'...)

[troublemaker]

6. Agreed. That's how they think

So bat them down quick before it festers.

Global = Comprehensive

[sofa king]

7. Yeah, the President doesn't do tests too well.

Actually, I believe the Freepers have totally conceded the debate and are now pushing the "substance over style" angle.

Of course, John Kerry pretty much crushed that minimal way to save face when he repeated, "the President doesn't have a plan; I do."

[troublemaker]

9. The Freeps are sad and blue, but their talking points come from above

and Rove is like a shark. If he stops lying he dies.

[RamboLiberal]

8. A couple more they're going after from Sludge

FLASH: Kerry stated: 'That's why they had to close down the subway in New York when the Republican Convention was there.' (Driving home point that Bush as not done enough to protect the country.)

The NYC subway did not close at all during the convention, according to a report on cable outlet NY1..

LOCKHART: DEBATE CONSENSUS A 'DRAW'

Unbeknownst to Kerry adviser Mike McCurry, a C-SPAN camera quietly followed McCurry as he found Kerry adviser Joe Lockhart on Spin Alley floor and asked him his impression of the debate. Lockhart candidly said to McCurry , “The consensus is it was a draw.”

http://www.drudgereport.com/

[troublemaker]

11. interesting. The Lockhart thing is annoying but trivial

Was Lockhart giving McCurry the RW spinners consensus? I ask because that IS the RW concensus... that's the best they can credibly spin right now that I've heard.

The subway thing seems easy enough the check. I know that I personally heard RNC subway closures discussed on TV, but I wasn't in NY so I don't know what was done.

[Must_B_Free]

13. LOL -"Draw" is they biggest lie they dare attempt to spin.

They are to afraid to try to tell the lie that Chimp won.

[dolstein]

10. I called this one

I think this was a big blunder on Kerry's point, and I posted this immediately. This plays right into the hands of Republicans, who claim that Kerry won't defend this country unless the Germans and the French say its ok.

Sure, Kerry said at another point in the debate that he would never give the UN a veto over our national security policy. But words matter, and Kerry made a very poor choice. This clip will certainly get played over and over again.

[troublemaker]

14. It will not get played again and again if it is batted down early

Anyone hearing it should laugh and say, "Oh please... global doesn't only mean like a kid's globe. It means all-encompassing. Considering all factors. Comprehensive. GLOBAL. He didn't say 'a UN test' or 'a multi-lateral test,' he said that when launching pre-emptive action you must consider all relevant factors. Is that the bet you've got?"

[dolstein]

16. Sorry, but the Kerry campaign doesn't have a good record on this

After all, he STILL hasn't lived down the "I voted for the $87 Billion before I voted against it."

And you're wrong, he was CLEARLY referring to the issue of how well the preemptive decision would play in world opinion.

[troublemaker]

23. Geez. It hardly matters whether I'm "wrong"

In this context I would be saying the same thing no matter what I thought he meant. I am offering a frigging talking point to people who may find it useful in coming days.

[mac56]

19. Thank you, Karl.

nm

[dolstein]

21. You're welcome

And while Karl is satan incarnate, he knows how to win a campaign. Bob Shrum is a seven time loser.

[karlrschneider]

12. Actually, there is nothing wrong about the 'global' context of the "earth"

The world really is one world. Whatever boundaries as existed in the past have mostly evaporated in almost every sense -except- the increasingly nebulous political ones. Homogeneity has pretty much erased the ethnic and economic lines that separated nations up until the last few decades. No country is self sufficient in any meaningful way, not that it's really ever been so, but much less now. It's said that "oil and water don't mix"...but anyone who's ever made mayonnaise knows it's possible to make a colloid that incorporates both into a cohesive mix. I think that's what we'll have to do...or fail completely as a planet. We can live together or we can die separately. (And it might be that either or both of those choices are possible.)

[troublemaker]

15. In terms of the test of pre-emptive action, multi-lateral is nice but

uni-lateral is sufficient. In international law pre-emptive action is permitted unilaterally as an expression of a nation's right to unilteral self-defense. (As distinct from 'preventive action' which was the situation in Iraq and is internationally condemned.)

[troublemaker]

17. IT'S OFFICIAL: Howard Fineman - "Global Test ad coming"

Straight from talking to Repug strategists Fineman says "global test" "global test" "global test" "global test"

[troublemaker]

18. glob·al

adj.
-Having the shape of a globe; spherical.
-Of, relating to, or involving the entire earth; worldwide: global war; global monetary policies.
-Comprehensive; total: “a... global, generalized sense of loss” (Maggie Scarf).
-Computer Science. Of or relating to an entire program, document, or file.

[dolstein]

20. I told you guys. Good to know at least one of us has a clue.

The Kerry people had better move quickly to fix this problem, because it's serious. I guess the rest of the DU community would prefer to keep kidding themselves.

[Touchdown]

22. American Forum has drank the Kool-Aid...

...to the tune of an entire forum devoted to the debate...Browse around, more fantastical than Narnia

http://www.americanforum.net/forums/viewforum.php?f=47

[Teaser]

24. Drudge: No Subway shutdown, Lockhart says its a draw.

Check his site, if you feel like it.
Spin is coming.