The Kerry Campaign

Although the Kerry campaign has not been quite as lame as Bob Dole's in 1996 it has certainly left much to be desired. The wise souls over at The Left Coaster have had several posts this weekend on what Kerry should be doing and is not:

• pessimist; Time to Start Talking about the Real Issues


• Steve Soto; Senator Kerry, Go Directly At Bush's Record


• larre; That Dares Not Speak Its Name

I don't disagree with anything they say but the majority already gives Bush a low overall approval rating, they don't approve of his handling of the economy and they don't like the Iraq war. So where does Bush make his points? A majority still gives him higher marks on protecting them from terror. This of course is a ridiculous mis-conception. It is this mis-conception that the Kerry campaign should target.

There is plenty of solid information to show that the Bush administration's handling of the war on terror since 911 has made us less safe. By not giving 100% to the war in Afghanistan al-Queda was allowed to re-invent itself, that is decentralize and become a franchise operation and as such much more dangerous. The war in Iraq become a class A recruiting aid for al-Queda. Terrorist violence worldwide has increased. The Foreign Policy In Focus special report, A Secure America in a Secure World, gives some details. Summary here.

Although all of Bush's failings and incompetence should be emphasized his one strength should be undermined, his handling of the War on Terror, because we all know he has mis-handled it.