05-28-2004 

QUOTABLES:

"America must always be the world's paramount military power. But we can magnify our power through alliances," he said. "We simply can't go it alone — or rely on a coalition of the few. The threat of terrorism demands alliances on a global scale — to find the extremist groups, to guard ports and stadiums, to share intelligence, and to get the terrorists before they get us," said John Kerry.

Sen. Jon Kyl, Arizona Republican, said Mr. Kerry's speech "seemed to me pretty long on politics and rhetoric but offering really nothing new — in fact no new initiatives separate from what President Bush is already doing."

"Everyone outside the administration seems to understand that we are in deep trouble in Iraq. Failure there would be a terrible setback," John Kerry said. "It would be a boon to our enemies, and jeopardize the long-term prospects for a peaceful, democratic Middle East — leaving us at war not just with a small, radical minority, but with increasingly large portions of the entire Muslim world."

"Kerry challenges the president's Iraq policy, but offers no alternatives beyond steps the president is already taking," said House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, California Republican. "Kerry says we should work with the U.N. — and we already are. Kerry says we should involve NATO — and we already have. Kerry says we should train Iraqi security forces — and we're doing that, too."

"If we acted like this 200 years ago when British soldiers burned the White House, we would now talk funny and play more soccer." -- Kentucky Republican congressional nominee Tom Buford responding to Al Gore.

"He's the candidate for president, he's not somebody that's supposed to give day-by-day commentary on events," Bill Clinton said. "He's made quite clear what he believes about the major issues in the news today, and I think he's shown a certain reticence."

"To put it simply, we will not do business as usual with Saudi Arabia," John Kerry said. "They must take concrete steps to stop their clerics from fueling the fires of Islamic extremism."

BUSH BEAT

White House: Memorial Minute

Along with other Americans, you are asked to observe the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2004 at 3:00 p.m. local time (duration: one minute). The time 3:00 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when many Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The Moment does not replace the traditional Memorial Day observances. It is intended to a be a unifying act of remembrance for Americans of all ages. As you participate in the Moment you are helping reclaim Memorial Day for the noble and sacred reason for which it was intended—to honor those who died in service to our Nation. [LINK]

Just POlitics

Where’s Harry Truman & Scoop Jackson?

Memorial Day will never mean the same thing if Al Gore, Democrat National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe and John Kerry have their way. The Democrat Party has gone a long way from the Democrat "Hawks" of Harry Truman and Scoop Jackson who recognized there were evil people in the world who wanted to hurt America. This despite the fact that Kerry will deliver a speech at the Truman Library soon.

McAuliffe has launched an attack on President Bush that is unparalleled in national politics. If you thought Al Gore’s speech was the equivalent of a psychotic episode, then McAuliffe’s petition drive is as close to treason as you would ever want to get.

For McAuliffe to suggest there was no reason for invading Iraq and that troops are not receiving the best equipment, is to forget the Democrats in Congress who voted for the war and Kerry’s votes to gut defense and the intelligence community. Of course, we can always let France and Germany take control of our foreign policy and reduce our economy to their pathetic socialist level. This seems to continue to be the message coming out of the 11-day foreign policy campaign by Monsieur Kerry.

Here is the message of support for our troops as they serve in the War on Terrorism that McAuliffe wants to deliver:

This Memorial Day, all Americans will have our troops and veterans and their families in mind. Whether they served in the past or are serving now, whether in peacetime or in a time of war, all those who have chosen to serve their country in uniform deserve our heartfelt support and appreciation.

But we must also remember the responsibilities that the commander-in-chief owes to these same troops and their families. When a president sends our military into battle:

·         He owes it to them to be honest about what they are fighting for.

·         He must provide them with the best equipment to ensure their safety.

·         He must give them clear goals.

·         He must have an exit strategy so we can win the war and win the peace.

But George W. Bush has failed our troops and their families each of these counts:

·         He lied to them, to America, and to the whole world about the reasons he sent them into war.

·         He has failed to provide our troops with the necessary equipment to protect them.

·         He promised they would be greeted as liberators and underestimated the insurgency.

·         He failed to adequately plan for a post war Iraq. There is still no clear exit strategy, forcing our troops and their families to live in constant uncertainty.

Take Action... Our troops deserve better. Join us in honoring their service this Memorial Day by signing our petition demanding that President Bush present the American people, our troops and their families with a clear plan to win the peace in Iraq.

Kerry spending $17 million

Democrat John Kerry will make a push into Republican-leaning Virginia when he launches new television commercials next week, the start of a $17 million month-long ad campaign that also targets black and Hispanic audiences. Kerry will be up with ads in 20 states.

By the end of June, Kerry will have spent at least $60 million on TV ads since early March.

Bush's latest buys -- $7 million through mid-June to run a new ad assailing Kerry in 18 states and $2.5 million to advertise on national cable networks in June -- means the president will have spent roughly $80 million during the same period.

Poll watching 5/28/2004

Kerry-McCain has a 14-point advantage over Bush-Cheney among registered voters, 53 percent to 39 percent, in the latest CBS News poll. Sen. John McCain continues to state that he will not be Sen. John Kerry’s V.P.

clinton comedies

Clinton serial rights $500,000

Bidding the serial rights to Bill Clinton's memoir, "My Life" has reached a bid of $500,000 from the company owning Rolling Stone Magazine.

Knopf, the publisher, says it may not sell the serial rights at all. As one source put it, “This is a presidential memoir – you’re going to want it to debut in Time or Newsweek.” Hillary’s book, “Living History,” ended up with Time and People