Democrats assail Bush's N. Korea policy [John Kerry - "shocking failure," .............]

Yahoo ^

[Sub-Driver]

Democrats assail Bush's N. Korea policy

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer 13 minutes ago

Democrats seized on North Korea's brazen act to criticize President Bush's record in confronting the communist regime, contending the administration's focus on Iraq ignored legitimate threats.

Democratic Sen. John Kerry, the president's rival in 2004 and a potential 2008 candidate, assailed Bush's policy as a "shocking failure," and said, "While we've been bogged down in Iraq where there were no weapons of mass destruction, a madman has apparently tested the ultimate weapon of mass destruction."

One month before midterm elections, North Korea's reported nuclear test provided Republicans an opportunity to shift the focus from their embarrassing — and politically explosive — congressional page scandal to national security, an issue the GOP considers its strength.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record) of Kentucky, the Senate's second-ranking Republican, accused Democrats of playing partisan politics with a nuclear weapons threat. "Listening to some Democrats, you'd think the enemy was George Bush, not Kim Jong Il," he said.

Seizing on North Korea's actions to argue Republicans are stronger on security than Democrats is riddled with pitfalls and leaves the GOP's standard-bearer — Bush — as well as his rank-and-file vulnerable to criticism.

The president long has faced complaints that he has failed to sufficiently address North Korea and the threat has festered on his watch.

In the nearly five years since Bush labeled North Korea part of an "axis of evil" with Iran and Iraq, Kim Jong Il's government has withdrawn from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, announced it has nuclear weapons, refused to return to six-nation talks and launched seven missiles into the Sea of Japan, including a long-range Taepodong-2.

[Chode]

booo...



Yooo Hooo, my fagass is over HERE... Pay attention to ME ME ME ME ME!!!

[onedoug]

Just what one would expect from fop like kerry.

[xtinct]

Let's not forget that it was Clinton, Albright, and Jimmy Carter who gave N. Korea nuclear technology plus that $4 billion to get them started. Clearly, Clinton's fault like 9/11.

[palmer]

I personally feel that Iraq has been such a disaster that it has rendered the Bush administration pretty much impotent when it comes to NK and Iran.

Iraq simply shows that we stick to our word about regime change. Kim responds with his nuke and missile threats, but that's not going to deter us from changing his regime as well.

[FlyVet]

Let's not forget that it was Clinton, Albright, and Jimmy Carter who gave N. Korea nuclear technology plus that $4 billion to get them started. Clearly, Clinton's fault like 9/11.

And Kerry planned to do exactly the same thing for Iran, if elected.

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=11966

He's a liar and a fraud, but you knew that.

[calex59]

I will vote straight Republican this year if they run a dead skunk.

Even a dead skunk would be brighter than Kerry!

[baiamonte]

John Kerry is an idoit. He is the sorriest of all politicians. Human debris.

[sgtbono2002]

It would smell better too.

[ripley]

"it's amazing these people take themselves seriously."

it's also amazing that just about 50% of the electorate also does.

[Christian4Bush]

Let's not forget that it was Clinton, Albright, and Jimmy Carter who gave N. Korea nuclear technology plus that $4 billion to get them started. Clearly, Clinton's fault like 9/11.

Not if you ask the Cryptkeeper, Alan Colmes, on H&C, talking to Oliver North. Damn, I can't stand Leftists...

[fhayek]

I thought the Democrats had reached the bottom of the barrel with Jimmy Carter...
Then they trotted out Bill Clinton, whom I thought was the depth of incompetence and vapidity...
Then they nominated Al Gore, whom I thought had to be the absolute nadir of inanity. The very epitome of boring nonsense, when....
they produced John Kerry.

[lowbridge]

Democratic Sen. John Kerry, the president's rival in 2004 and a potential 2008 candidate, assailed Bush's policy as a "shocking failure," and said, "While we've been bogged down in Iraq where there were no weapons of mass destruction,

You mean you lied to us, Mr. Kerry?

Kerry Demanded President Clinton Attack Saddam Over WMD

a madman has apparently tested the ultimate weapon of mass destruction."

So what are you saying here, Kerry? You would have supported a pre-emptive strike on North Korea?

[lowbridge]

He's a liar and a fraud, but you knew that.

Of course I know that.

Did you know that Kerry served in Vietnam? :-)

[montag813]

Do "Republican leaders" even exist anymore? Not a single word on the failed Clinton-Carter-Albright polices that led us here?

[edsheppa]

What is frustrating is they are right. Bush has been all talk on NK nukes. Now they've tested one and our response is more talk. Bush has simply lost the will to do what must be done against these rogue states.

I'm also very taken aback by all the "what about Clinton - he didn't do anything either" posts here. When did conservatives stop focusing on what matters, on getting thimgs done? And what matters now is not what Clinton didn't do, but what Bush *must* do to eliminate the threat of a nuclear North Korea.

[fhayek]

This is what happens from all the PC, liberal, anti-Bush, obstructionism-for-the-sake-of-regaining-power crap. Bush has been hamstrung into doing nothing. The victory of traitor-liberalism.

[edsheppa]

There's something to what you say but I'd put it "Bush has let himself be hamstrung into doing nothing."

The American people will respond to good leadership. We know in our hearts, most of us anyway, that a nuclear North Korea is very bad for us and for the civilized world. If Bush would propose a program of action, he would be find support no matter what the traitorous left says.

[MaineVoter2002]

Typical Democrats. Bash the President instead of the country that's a threat

I agree. The dems are the downfall of this nation. It was under Clinton that North Korea benifitted. I know that. We know that. BUT, it's not 2001 anymore. It's not 2002. Unfortunately 6 years have passed and the more time that goes by the less effective it will be to point fingers at the Clinton administration when we try to explain what is now "history" to the American voter who doesn't spend the time we do in FR or even read beyond the headlines in their local newspaper. It's going to take some serious outreach on our part and lots of ads by the GOP between now and election day with quotes and photos of Albright saying North Korea is peaceful, then saying we were "duped" and showing the American people how the Clinton administration played a major part in helping to arm North Korea with the nukes they now have.

When it comes to national security the republicans have so much to stand on and the democrats have nothing. Too bad somebody wouldnt tell the average american voter that.

I'm losing faith that the GOP knows how to fight a political war these days. I hope to see those ads soon. Im NOT holding my breath.

[freeperfromnj]

For once, the world (with the exception of the DemocRATS) is unified on this. As usual, all they have to offer is more Bush bashing.

[harpo11]

Let me get this right, John Kerry. The reckless negligent philandeering lying little boy president Clinton gave his old commie pal, the North Korean dictator reprobate thug, lots of shiny toys which included all he needed to make nukes.

But, it is the big boy, President George W. Bush's fault.

Give me a flippin' break, John Kerry. President Bush has had to spend most of his presidency cleaning up the little brat boy's stinkin' messes.