Bush v. Kerry Through The Ages
Though it is hard to imagine a young John Kerry, returned from a war that should never have been waged, there are many who remember him and his positions with great respect. Yet, there are many on the right who want to paint him as a crazy lefty. After all, this is a man who opposed the Star Wars weapons system and massive new military programs in 1991. What is interesting is the way the Bush campaign has been so eager to pick through this man's record of service to his country. It is without a doubt that he has taken liberal positions on many issues but it is important to remember that in retrospect many of those positions were correct. Star Wars continues to be a joke and the military spending of the 80's and early 90's has proven useless in the post-Cold War world.
But while our Mr. Kerry was taking these liberal positions, their Mr. Bush was a drunken failed oil man / baseball team owner. Do I exaggerate? Oh no. One of The New Republic's blogs does a great job of summarizing the storied careers of these two men who will likely vie for the Presidency this November.Kerry in 1970: In His First Campaign For Congress, Kerry Wanted To Defund CIA. In 1970, Kerry told The Harvard Crimson he wanted "to almost eliminate CIA activity." (Samuel Z. Goldhaber, "John Kerry: A Navy Dove Runs For Congress," The Harvard Crimson, 2/18/70)Bush in 1972: After Smashing Into Trash Cans, Bush Wanted To Fight Future Head of CIA. "In a now famous incident, [Bush] took his then-16-year-old brother, Marvin, out drinking and ran over a neighbor's garbage cans on the way home; and when confronted by his father, he challenged him to go 'mano a mano'outside." (Lois Romano and Mike Allen, "Guard Records on President are Released," The Washington Post, 2/11/04)
Kerry in 1984: As Lieutenant Governor Kerry Used His Position To Oppose Reagan Defense Increases. "As Lieutenant Governor, John Kerry has spoken out against the Reagan defense increases, and, in his capacity as head of the state's Office of Federal/State relations, has criticized the Reagan administration for spending federal resources on dangerous and wasteful weapons systems..." ("Senate Candidate Questionnaire," Massachusetts Freeze Voter '84, 5/25/84)
Bush in 1986: As Struggling Oilman, Bush Drank a Lot. "On July 28, 1986, George W. Bush woke up with a hangover. It had been a loud, liquid night at the venerable Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs as he and friends from Texas celebrated their collective 40th birthdays. Now, as he embarked on his ritual morning run through a spectacular Rockies landscape, Bush felt lousy.... A charismatic partier since his school days, Bush liked to drink what he called the four Bs--beer, bourbon and BandB." (Lois Romano, "1986: A Life-Changing Year; Epiphany Fueled Candidate's Climb," The Washington Post, 7/25/99)
Kerry in 1991: In 1991 Sen. Kerry Was One Of Only 16 To Vote Against A Defense Budget Including: B-1 Bomber, B-2 Stealth Bomber, F-14, F-15, F-16, Patriot Missiles, Aegis Air Defense Cruiser, Trident Missile System For U.S. Submarines, M-1 Abrams Tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Tomahawk Cruise Missile. (S. 3189, CQ Vote #273: Passed 79-16: R 37-5; D 42-11, 10/15/90, Kerry Voted Nay)
Bush in 1991: In 1991, Bush Was One Of A Thousand People to Form Human Chain Around Stadium. "While President Bush was urging support in Congress for his Middle East policy, son George W. Bush and his twin daughters joined a human chain to show support for a new facility for his Texas Rangers." ("President's Son, Others Encircle Stadium To Support Tax," U.P.I., 1/13/91)
Perhaps the Bush/Cheney '04 campaign ought to rethink this strategy. Even better, we now hear that the Kerry campaign is playing the Dick Cheney card in the fight for who is more supportive of the military. According to Washington Whispers, "Kerry plans to boast that Vice President Dick Cheney as Pentagon boss made the same kinds of spending cuts and reforms Kerry voted for but that are now being called unpatriotic. "Kerry shares most of those votes with Sen. John McCain and Dick Cheney, all crusaders against Pentagon waste," says a Kerry pal." This is just what the doctor ordered, a Democratic party that plays hardball!
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Who is this guy?
Yes, but what about policy?