QandO

July 30, 2004

Where have these guys been?
Posted by McQ

Under the headline "Kerry's Moment: Strong speech launches Democratic ticket" the Dallas Morning News opens with:

John Kerry's mission: Convince the more than 4,300 Democratic delegates gathered in the FleetCenter and millions watching on television that he is ready to be president. And, just as important, to be as appealing as possible so people want him to be president.

You've got to be kidding?!

His mission was to convince those 4,300 delegates? I defy the DMN to find one of them that wasn't planning on voting for Kerry before the convention.

Most important, he had to convince Americans that he has the stomach to keep the United States safe from the scourge of terrorism.

Ah, ok - "most important". That's a little better. But now we get into the part where we disagree. Well, disagree even more:

On the first score, Mr. Kerry was more passionate than he often has been and much more upbeat. "We can do better and we will," Mr. Kerry told the audience. "We're the optimists. For us, this is a country of the future."

Not with the litany of perceived ills and negatives Kerry's used throughout the campaign. True, many of the undecided haven't heard of him yet, and I would suggest even with last night, still haven't, the fact remains he hasn't been optimistic. He's spent the majority of his time telling potential voters how bad it all is. The fact is that he's decided to pretend to be optimitic in a convention which was more focused on image change than substance. Even more amazing is the Dallas Morning News bought it.

Mr. Kerry also tackled head-on the charge that he is a flip-flopper. He said it was a matter of detecting nuance. "Now I know there are those who criticize me for seeing complexities – and I do," he said. "Because some issues just aren't all that simple."

Well you know what, they're not as complex as he tries to pretend they are either. Believe it or not a "yes" or "no" answer requires only that, "yes" or "no."
Not some nuanced qualification which may be "yes" but then again may be "no" depending upon the direction of the political wind. Straight talk, straight answers, consistency and principle help one to be able to do that. To me the term "nuance" is simply the new cover for 'flip-flop". So while the DMN thinks he tackled it head-on, its a nuanced attack. But what's new?

On the question of national security, Mr. Kerry didn't equivocate. He launched his speech with his most effective line of the night: "I'm John Kerry and I'm reporting for duty" – a not-so-subtle jab at questions surrounding President Bush's National Guard service.

I'm sorry but I literally cringed when I saw it. It was so lame as to be freakin' embarrasing. Now if he had to do that, if he was just driven to use that line and salute, it would have at least been bearable at the end. But at the beginning of the speech it hit me as an incredibly and stunningly ill timed geture. If that was for the vets out there it wasn't well received, at least not by veterans like myself. But there's more to that story than just his salute.

"I defended this country as a young man and I will defend it as president. I will never hesitate to use force when it is required."

And he turned a key theme Mr. Bush used against the Democratic ticket four years ago against President Bush when he pledged to restore trust and credibility to the White House.

All in all, it was an impressive performance and one that should serve Mr. Kerry well in his quest for the White House.

And of course he skipped the part where then denigrated the rest of us who 'defended this country' as young men at that time as well. Apparently that doesn't "fit" the persona and image of the "new" and "improved" John Kerry. A John Kerry who then attacks the 'trust and credibility' of the White House?

Don't make me laugh. I just wish the real John Kerry would stand up, because it sure as hell wasn't the one who was up there saluting.

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