Kennedy says Iraq is 'Bush's Vietnam' - Boston Globe

[rndmprsn]

http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2005/01/17/kennedy_says_iraq_is_bushs_vietnam/

WASHINGTON -- Senator Edward M. Kennedy said yesterday that President Bush's Iraq policy is ''ridiculous" and disputed Bush's statement that the 2004 reelection validated the war. Iraq is ''Bush's Vietnam," Kennedy said.

Bush, in an interview with The Washington Post published yesterday, said, ''The American people listened to different assessments made about what was taking place in Iraq, and they looked at the two candidates, and chose me."

Kennedy, asked about Bush's comment on CBS's ''Face The Nation," noted that then-President Lyndon Johnson was easily reelected during the Vietnam War but did not seek reelection in 1968. ''Look what happened," Kennedy said. ''Lyndon Johnson had to basically abdicate the presidency because of Vietnam. . . . This is clearly George Bush's Vietnam."

Bush, in the interview with the Post, said he wanted to withdraw troops ''as quickly as possible," but he did not express agreement with a statement by departing Secretary of State Colin L. Powell that troops could begin coming home later this year....

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[proudbluestater]

1. Thank God for a voice of opposition being raised!

I worry about the future of the party when many of the folks with balls are older. Byrd, Conyers, Kennedy. Then I remember Barbara Boxer and hope she'll bring some of the younger crowd along!

[robbedvoter]

3. Since you brought up Boxer, didn't Teddy vote FOR Ohio certification?

Pulled a Kerry on us, didn't he?

[Stirk]

2. Pardon my tangent here, but I have to ask-

did Kennedy say a few days ago that SS is not in any crisis, and that it's relatively minor fiscal problems could be solved by a small raise to payroll taxes? I heard a guy on the radio saying that, but I don't trust guys on the radio. And I can't believe that anybody (except for Republicans, of course) would advocate a raise to payroll taxes while Bush tax cuts for the wealthy are still in place.

[robbedvoter]

4. Are you afraid Social Security won't be dismantled? Don't be.

It will be. And you'll live to regret it (unless you go to REALLY support the troops). Trust me.

[Stirk]

5. Excuse me?

I'm not saying SS should be dismantled, or even "reformed". I'm asking if Kennedy suggested a hike to payroll taxes instead of a repeal of Bush's tax cuts to the wealthy. There is no "SS crisis" to begin with.