John Kerry, International Man of Mystery?

[kskiska]

At my local Imbiss, for doner kabob, in Berlin, the owner, no fan of Bush, worries that America might elect Sen. John Kerry and flee Iraq. "If he leaves it is chaos." Relax, I said. Kerry's more likely than Bush is to stay.

First, because the Democrats have to prove themselves: being tough, Rambo-like, is now a Democrat obsession. It's Bush who has more running room to get out of Iraq. But a bigger reason is: Relieved Bush is gone, the Europeans might pay for Kerry to stay on. So why close a losing show, when at last it starts to pay? Indeed, to roll back Bush's tax cuts, Kerry may need a real commitment to Iraq.

Consider this nightmare: In 2005, a President Kerry goes to the Republican Congress and tries to get a tax hike. Meanwhile, the Fed is raising interest rates, with Americans deep in debt. And he wants to raise taxes. Could anything be worse? (Yes, housing prices could be falling, as well!)

Better for Kerry to hang on in Iraq, and go to Congress, not for a permanent but a temporary tax: a "surcharge," a war tax. Call upon the country's patriotism. Doesn't the right wing pride itself on that? And if Congress gives him such a war tax, take it -- and let the Europeans pay.

This may sound like a bait and switch. But who would object?…

more…
http://salon.com/opinion/feature/2004/03/26/europe/index.html

[LynzM]

1. Man

You've totally got me hungry for a kebab now! Ironically, one of the foods I miss most about Germany... I spent 9 months living and studying in Stuttgart, and we are trying to move back over there if my husband gets a job!

I've been reading news in Der Spiegel, and find it nice in how much more balanced it seems to be. Awful, to have to get intelligent, in-depth news about your own country from outside sources. Isn't that what the Russians had to do for a while? Anyway, I digress...

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. I will support a "bait and switch" if it gets us what we need.