Kerry Can : Lead editorial in Newsday

[jbfam4]

Monday, March 1, 2004

  LEAD EDITORIAL http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vpcurrents0229,0,1098098.story?coll=ny-opinion-headlines
Kerry can


This time it's serious. The nation is in a state of war or, at the very least, on constant alert for another terrorist attack. Our troops are being shot at every day in Iraq and Americans have no sense that an exit strategy exists. The budget deficit is mushrooming and now baby boomers have been told that it imperils their Social Security benefits. The number of people without health insurance is increasing even while health care costs soar. And that's just the short list.

In 1992 it might have been OK to take a chance on the governor of a small, Southern state who had no experience in world affairs and watch him learn on the job. Even in 2000, the world seemed to be a calmer, more predictable, more benign place than it is now. The question then was: Who would you rather have as your next door neighbor?

But this year is different. That's why we believe that Sen. John F. Kerry of Massachusetts should be the choice of New York Democrats in Tuesday's presidential primary. He may not be the best campaigner, or a particularly charismatic figure, but over a long period in public life he has proven himself to be a serious, well grounded and intelligent public official who would have the background and the gravitas to lead the nation in a time of peril.

His remaining real opponent, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, is a naturally gifted campaigner and communicator. The skill that made him such an effective litigator -- his ability to connect with jurors -- clearly carries over to the political arena.



An endorsement in a primary, of course, should not be taken as an endorsement in the general election. For all the positive attributes we see in Kerry's experience and background, there is a troubling tendency to position himself on multiple sides of an issue. The United States is going to need decisive leadership in the years ahead and Kerry's finely nuanced, sometimes ambiguous posturing gives us pause. Say what you will about Republican President George W. Bush -- and we've said a lot negative -- he's decisive.

[aquart]

1. George is not decisive.

He's stubborn as a mule that's been kicked in the head by his own feet and keeps repeating the gesture.

[JasonDeter]

2. Even on his most ambiguous day, John Kerry is a better man

and would make a better President than simpleton george w bush*, the one term blunder.

[coloradodem2005]

3. Let's hope Bush is only a one term blunder.

[RBitt]

4. decisive?

No airport screener, to airport screens
No Dept. of Homeland security to Homeland Security
No 9/11 commission to 9/11 commission
no extension on time 9/11 commission to extension on time 9/11 commission
and these off the top of my head, pre coffee 6:00 am, got any more good ones.