Kerry's Speech Disappoints Liberal Newspapers

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 7/30/04 | Susan Jones

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - Sen. John F. Kerry's speech to the Democratic National Convention Thursday night was a "missed opportunity" and a "disappointment," the Washington Post said in a Friday editorial.

USA Today and The New York Times were kinder to the candidate, but those newspapers also faulted Kerry's speech for failing to clarify how he would lead the nation.

Kerry "sought above all to make the case that he could be trusted to lead a nation at war, and rightly so," the Washington Post editorial said. "But on that basis, though Mr. Kerry spoke confidently and eloquently, his speech was in many respects a disappointment."

According to the Washington Post, Kerry did not say anything about freeing the Afghan or Iraqi people, or helping either nation toward democracy; he didn't define "the job" still to be done in Iraq; and he didn't say that troops will be needed in Iraq for a long time.

"Instead, he chose words that seemed designed to give the impression that he could engineer a quick and painless exit," the Washington Post editorial said.

The newspaper also says Kerry missed an opportunity for "straight talk" on economics as well as national security. "His promises to stop the outsourcing of jobs and end dependence on Middle East oil are not grounded in reality," the Washington Post said.

'No clear vision'

Kerry's "best moments came on the attack," the New York Times said in its Friday editorial, which was entitled simply, "John Kerry Speaks."

According to the New York Times, America --by Thursday night --"was already pretty well aware that it is not going to fall in love with him."

The New York Times suggested that Kerry may be overplaying his "few months in service overseas" at the expense of ignoring other elements of his resume.

The newspaper said Kerry "did a good job of explaining how he'd fight the war on terror," but, the editorial added, "He did not provide a clear vision on Iraq."

The New York Times wants Kerry to tell voters, "that he understands, in retrospect, that his vote to give President Bush Congressional support to invade was a mistake."

The New York Times editorial called Kerry's promise to cut middle-class taxes "pure pandering, given his new spending proposals and commitment to balanced budgets."

USA Today opined that Sen. Kerry is leaving Boston "still not having formed in voters' minds an image of where he'd take the nation on its most urgent issues: the war on terrorism and resolving the mess that is the U.S. situation in Iraq."

His policies sound a lot like those of President Bush, the newspaper said.

According to USA Today, "the real question is what creative options Kerry sees both for stabilizing Iraq and for pursuing the broader confrontation with Islamic nationalism and its terrorist advocates."

The USA Today editorial concluded: "The nation is clearly open to new ideas. Kerry must show not only that he is a leader for a time of crisis, but tell us more about where he proposes to lead.""

 

[anniegetyourgun]

I'll bet we see it on the Sunday talk shows!

[varon]

The New York Times suggested that Kerry may be overplaying his "few months in service overseas" at the expense of ignoring other elements of his resume.

Right on. To hear Kerry talk and listen to the accolades by others, one would get the impression that Kerry singlehandedly won the defeat during his 4 months in Nam.

[NittanyLion]

Kerry delivered his speech better than expected, so the media is gaga over how the speech was delivered, not what was said. Par for the course....it's always style points over substance.

He stepped on every applause line, and it sounded to me as though he adopted an "oratory" manner of speaking just for the occasion. I half expected him to echo himself at some point..."Today...day...day...day...I consider myslef...self...self..."

Maybe I didn't set my expectations low enough, but I suspect most folks turned him off after about 10 minutes. His delivery was painful to watch.

[no dems]

His policies sound a lot like those of President Bush, the newspaper said. This is good news for our side. The Deaniacs, The Green Party and the Independent Ralph Nader supporters now have no reason to vote for Kerry. He has lost the rabid anti-war vote.

[no dems]

The media will only give Lurch lip service during this campaign. But, whatcha wanna bet these same newspapers will endorse him?

[Lakeside]

I caught that exchange on the radio yesterday and got the opposite reaction from yours.

The guy was a rude jacka$$ toward a gov. official. He talked over & interrupted Asa ad nauseum, not letting him explain or even comment on said jacka$$'s questions. I think radio man was the one who sounded like a witless fool.

Even though there needs to be better border controls, we do not know what is going on behind the scenes concerning them. That is what I think Asa was trying to convey but could not disclose on the air.

And I have heard no viable plans from those who want closed borders. It would be a colossal undertaking to say the least. Manpower, lots of money and time that we just don't have. If the people who want to harm us are not already here they would surely find a way in regardless.

[demkicker]

"His promises to stop the outsourcing of jobs and end dependence on Middle East oil are not grounded in reality," the Washington Post said

I can't wait for this promise to come back and bite him since his dear Teraaaza's companies outsource thousands of jobs!

[CarolTX]

Liberal newspapers disappointed by Kerry?

A wonderful way to start a Happy Friday! :-D

[finnigan2]

"I am surprised to see these comments, all correct"

- I'm surprised also, but only because I thought that the Clinton's friend's in the media would be restrained by them for a decent interval before being asked to slip the knife in. I guess they had to act quickly to mute the post convention bounce and keep things close. Karl Rove will do his best, but the Clinton's are his very own secret weapon and they will do more damage to Kerry than all the Republican fund raisers combined. As I see it, by the Republican convention, Kerry will be again tied with Bush, afterwords it will be Bush by 5 - 10% and steadily pulling away to the election where the spread will be 10 to 15%.

[Mudboy Slim]

I tried to watch Kerry last night, but he literally put me to sleep...LOL!! Woke up on the couch around 2 AM watching replays of the FNC folks analyzing the speech...Kerry's a sweaty ol' fart, ain't he?!!

In short, my impression from the whole damned DemonRAT production was simply, Kerry SUX...MUD

[Mudboy Slim]

"As I see it, by the Republican convention, Kerry will be again tied with Bush, afterwords it will be Bush by 5 - 10% and steadily pulling away to the election where the spread will be 10 to 15%."

Yer a prescient FReeper, I agree with yer forecast...MUD

[counterpunch]

 
 
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[Liz]

I appreciate reading all your comments. Unfortunately, I couldn't watch Kerry's speech........something real important came up............
I had to watch paint dry.

[Mike Bates]

[HamiltonJay]

Kerry's speach was not good.. at best average and offered nothing but two things one BUSH IS BAD, BUSH LIED, HIS SECRETARIES LIED... etc etc etc. The other was vague plattitudes.

This guy's got nothing... Only folks he's got are the bush haters, and he only has them because he's lying to them. Claiming he has a different strategy in Iraq.. which of course he doesn't... but don't confuse his deligates with facts.

[Mudboy Slim]

"The rest of the laws [Kerry] saw passed were ceremonial..."

Hanoi John really isn't a very serious Leader...Kerry's a go along to get along sorta dude when America needs strong-willed Commander-in-Chief!!

Kerry SUX...MUD

[1Old Pro]

Kerry got his speeches mixed up. He's a radical liberal and he used all the GOP buzzwords.

[reformedliberal]

I manage to catch about 1/10 of the sound on FNC, these days, as I keep it muted unless it looks like actual news.

I did catch a second or two of SE making a big deal out of the words. I do not think she is a natural grouch. I think she is a professional at smiling thru the sh!tstorm. Operatives get to the point where they smile and lie no matter what. I think Susan was trying to erase the perception she is just another flak catcher so that her lies about Kedwards and their chances would have resonance.

I do not get ED these days at all. She sounds like a Donk cheerleader and then she sandbags someone like Estrich.

[beyond the sea]

we do not know what is going on behind the scenes concerning them.

Little or nothing.

[AFPhys]

Remember how the Democrats were saying that they lost in 2002 because they weren't their true liberal selves..? Apparently they've now decided that the problem was they were too much themselves!

What really just amazes me about the Democrats is that they have spent the last 3 and a half years dividing America, they are the ones who have refused to unite, even in the face of war and terrorism, and then they say Bush isn't a uniter!

While we may be pissed that Democrats are running as Republicans, at least we can take comfort in the fact that liberalism is losing.

Great lines - worth remembering!