Why on earth is Bush ceded the "strong on national security" mantle?

[flpoljunkie]

When he and his administration have been directly responsible for the most corrupt and inept foreign policy in our nation's history?

I'll tell you why--because the corrupted, feckless media keeps unquestionly repeating this patently riduculous mantra--despite all evidence to the contrary.

John Kerry needs to continue to hit hard on Bush's erroneously perceived strength on foreign policy. Perhaps then the media will be forced to recognize that the emperor is indeed without clothes; they obviously lack the guts to say it themselves.

[NNadir]

1. No idea. One of those mystical doublespeak mysteries of the universe.

[NC_Nurse]

2. I think a lot of Murikans

think "strong on Defense" means kicking someone's ass, period. Whether it makes sense or not. Whether it makes us safer or not.

It's all a big WWF show to them.

[billbuckhead]

3. We Need to run an ad "LongestPOTUS vacation in history" and then 911

An attack on mainland American soil, the first since the war of 1812. George Bush was asleep at the switch. But then what does one expect from someone with the nickname AWOL.

[flpoljunkie]

5. Excellent point, "asleep at the switch", but will the 9/11 Commission give

him a pass? I think they have already indicated blame would be not be placed at the top--where it belongs.

[nodictators]

12. Bush and his minions were asleep on 3-11, the attacks in Spain, too

Where was the stupid color code on 3-11? With about 200 dead in Spain and seeming connections to "al-Qaeda" one might have thought they'd have warned us.

The claim that he's "protecting us" is just another of his lies!

[flaminbats]

15. even worse...bunnyfoot attacked the wrong countries

Ohhh well, it's a stupid job but somebody needs to command :wow:

A Vietnam Vet, a senior member of the Foreign Relations Committee, the ranking member of the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Sub-Committee, an individual who knows from experience the necessity for meeting the basic costs of national security, and the one who has faced the brutal dangers of war. All patriots know there is only one obvious choice!

[flpoljunkie]

4. Your observation is well taken. This is exacerbated when media fails to

do their job as journalists--which is to monitor the sources of power--a rare occurrence in this corrupted media era.

[tinanator]

7. thats not their job anymore

and that is the problem. Fix that one hole and everything else will come around.

[flpoljunkie]

14. Yes, instead of media being "watch dogs" to power, they are "lapdogs"

This is the crux of the problem; the feckless media continues to perpetuate the absurdity that Bush is "strong" on national security-- "strong" in Bush's case being a synonym for reckless and irresponsible.

[tinanator]

16. and attack dogs

particularly the (intentionally) less constrained cable noise networks. CNN and MSNBC are truly the most despicable of the lot.
Quit watching this shit. Get out and make your own noise. It's the only way.

[NicRic]

6. I agree

I dont believe that this phony pResident has done even an half ass OK job in any aspect of being President ! If this attack would have happen under a Clinton or a Gore Presidency, we would still be hearing the repugs going on and on about the Dem President being a failure at protecting our country. Why this President gets a pass on this and every failure, which there are plenty off, shows an obvious media bias. It appears that finally,by popular demand some of the major media outlets are jumping off this sinking ship, however its still to little to late. Thru the power of the internet we must continue to get the truthout on this most corrupt of Presidents !

[BootinUp]

8. Its mostly a result of the past success

of Republican attacks on the Democratic party as being weak on defense. Nixon v McGovern, Reagan v Carter.

And its always easier to say "see we bombed the f out them! we're tough on the bad guys" or "see we increased the defense budget" Its harder to analyze and understand the effects of foreign policy over the years, or analyze the real cost/benefits of defense spending projects.

[Old and In the Way]

10. The irony of it all.

Nixon (no combat experience) vs. McGovern (decorated WW2 bomber pilot) and Kennedy (decorated WW2 PT boat Lt.).
Reagan (fought WW2 in Burbank, CA) vs. Carter (Annapolis grad in nuclear engineering).
Kerry vs. Bush same deal.

It bugs me to no end that it is the Republican war profiteering party that seems to have the greatest number of chickenhawks who avoided their service, but have no problems sending other Americans to fight their corrupt wars.

The Bush administration has made this country immeasurable weaker on national security and this war in Iraq has done the same to our military. The US image has taken direct hits by our unilateral actions to invade a country to secure their oil. This will have longterm negative consequences for us in the years to come.

[rasputin1952]

9. bush is a coward, always has been, always will be...

he is hiding behind the strengths our nation has. No place, has he shown any personal courage; not just as president, but throughout his entire life.

9-11, where did bush go? He came here to NE and hid in a bunker! Now, I'm not saying he should have made himself a target, but as events unfolded, and the attacks had clearly ceased, bush was still in the bunker. I'm no fan of Guilliani, but guess who looked like a hero?

If I were in bush's shoes, I would have been either in DC or NYC as quickly as I could have gotten there. The MO for bush, wait till the event has passed, and all is clear before even considering putting a foot down on possibly dangerous ground.

Could you imagine if FDR or Churchill had not shown courage? FDR took numerous trips overseas during the conflict, and I guarantee, a cruiser CAN be sunk; FDR took chances.

Churchill walking through the ruins of London during the Blitz! At any time, there could have been another attack, he showed courage.

Eisenhower, going to Korea while a war raged, courage.

bush: a plastic turkey in a mess tent, then a quick run back to DC after the photo-op. I read where soldiers were stopped at the tent flap and told to return to their own tents to eat MRE's, because they might blow the bush visit....nice Thanksgiving for our brave men and women who are fighting HIS war.

I am disgusted w/this quivering, spineless clown. I will be glad when he is back in Crawford, trying to figure out where the starter rope on a shovel is!


edited: typo/clarity

[rock]

11. Shows picture of right hand

Beats me.

[patricia92243]

13. The Pubs say it - so that makes it true - to about 99% of people

[DemPoliticalJunkie]

17. This baffles me. i think it's a long standing Republican standing

with the public that they are better with national security. I think Kerry got game and he can turn this around or at least be seen as an equal in the next few months or before the election.

[sandnsea]

18. Cuz killin' = security

Everything in this society says killing is the way to be secure. From the 2nd Amendment gun owners to the death penalty to the general attitude that you kill anybody who crosses you. It all equals the American right to self-protection through killing and only killing. So it's only natural the President who advocates killing is the one who is going to be seen as strong on national security. Totally insane, but that's what it seems like we're dealing with.

[CoupdEtat2000]

19. Beats the hell out of me because he has breeded a new generation of

terrorists that will befall us at some point after he leaves office.

Asshole. Damn bastard.

[dansolo]

20. Lieberman deserves some of the blame

During the campaign, when he wanted to attack Dean, he basically said that Bush was a strong leader on defense. It doesn't help when we have members of our own party making the case for Bush. Heck, I think that even Kerry implied as much.