The Kennedy/Kerry model explained by

[ProSense]

(Looney) Lindsey Graham. From Sept. 04.

Senator Graham Press Release
Contact: Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
Date: 09/27/2004
Graham Responds to Sen. Edward Kennedy

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made the following statement on Senator Edward Kennedy’s (D-Massachusetts) remarks at George Washington University where he attacked President Bush’s handling of the Iraq war and even said he thanked God that President Bush was not President during the Cuban missile crisis.

In his prepared remarks Kennedy said, “The President's handling of the war has been a toxic mix of ignorance, arrogance, and stubborn ideology.”

He also said, “Iraq has been a constant perilous distraction from the real war on terrorism.”

Graham responded:

“Senator Kennedy’s evaluation and criticism of the war effort is over the top and represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the conflict we are in and the nature of our enemy.

“Unfortunately, the consequences of the verbal attacks from Senators Kennedy and John Kerry will only deflate our allies who are fighting and dying for freedom in Iraq.

“The Kennedy/Kerry model of promising withdrawal beginning next year sends the wrong signal to the terrorists. Their comments embolden those trying to deny democracy to the Iraqi people. That’s not the kind of encouragement pro-democracy forces, who are risking their lives, need at this time.

“Thank God President Bush understands our current crisis is not the Cuban Missile Crisis but involves a ruthless enemy our nation cannot negotiate with.

“Thank God President Bush understands that ruthless, brutal regimes like Saddam Hussein must be dealt with aggressively. We can see from Libya’s efforts to dismantle their weapons program that strong responses do work in the Middle East.

“Finally, thank God President Bush understands the limitations of the United Nations. The Kennedy/Kerry model of turning over control to the U.N. ignores the fact the U.N. has had a pathetic record when it comes to controlling ruthless dictators.

“The Kennedy/Kerry model of withdrawal, defeatism, and over-reliance on the U.N. is a formula for disaster. Their plan would certainly destroy any possibility of creating a democratic Iraq which would be a transforming event for the Middle East. Future stability in Iraq will lead to greater stability in the Middle East.

“There’s no doubt in my mind the Kennedy/Kerry plan is the wrong plan for America and winning the war on terrorism.”

http://www.senate.gov/~lgraham/index.cfm?mode=presspage&id=227041

[karynnj]

1. So after 3 years o the situation in Iraq worsening,

he has the chutzpah to claim that Bush's plan is better than the Kennedy/Kerry alternative.

[TayTay]

2. Graham's rhetoric has escalated as the situation has gotten worse

Remember his appearance at the Judiciary Committee's Censure hearing. He was so angry that he was almost incoherent. He knows that the jig is up for this President and that the opposition has a real and substantial case that the President and the entire Rethug Party has overstepped it's authority and has substantially weakened the nation.

What happens when you corner a wild animal?

[karynnj]

3. Cornered wild animal - good analogy

I guess that explains why he's sprouting this over the top rhetoric. It's weird that it has so many echoes of the anti-Vietnam rhetoric.

[TayTay]

5. There is a fairly rigid Rethug script for how to take down Dems

1. Question their patriotism
2. No action but the current Pres' will do any good. It is nearly a mental disorder to disagree with Bush
3. Opposing Bush means not supporting 'our troops'
4. Dems are out-of-touch with the country and should be heeding the call of 'real americans' to support the Pres. (Sigh! With approval numbers like the ones Bush has, you would think this would go away, but they still use it.)
5. Kennedy/Kerry are from the loony bin state of Massachusetts and we all know what those people are like.

[ProSense]

6. What's interesting is that while

the WH is currently trying to spin individual Democrat's past position, back then the GOP were trying to attack Kerry's and Kennedy's call for withdrawal. Kerry didn't set a timetable then, but as the GOP rhetoric and Kerry's comments during the debate indicate, he was clearly focused on bringing the troops home.

[karynnj]

7. I hadn't noticed the date!

This was back in the election. The RW really is pretty sophisticated - if they were putting this out to their base, while on the MSM clkaiming that Kerry was not coming up with his own plans, but endorsing Bush's. The former demonizing Kerry, the latter likely attempting to hurt Kerry with his natural base.

[ginnyinWI]

4. and here I thought he was one of the saner ones

It's Reality v.s. Bubbletime. All they can do at this time is wave flags of loyalty--it's all they've got. They should be loyal to America, though, not the current bad leaders.