Here's a quick look at where Sen. John Kerry and President Bush stand on the central issues expected to dominate the 2004 race for the White House.

Economy

Bush: The president has repeatedly called on Congress to make his tax cuts permanent, saying failure to do so would amount to a tax hike and threaten prospects for a robust economic recovery capable of generating new jobs. Congressional analysts say that making the tax cuts permanent would cost about $1.3 trillion over the next 10 years.

Kerry: Kerry has called for repeal of the Bush tax cuts for Americans earning more than $200,000 a year, in order to pay for broad health care reform. However, he would retain the tax cuts for the middle class. He says he can halve the record half-trillion dollar budget by the end of one four-year term, even while spending $72 billion a year to extend health care to 27 million of the 40-plus million uninsured. His campaign has provided no details.

Energy and environment

Bush: Bush, who pulled the United States out of the Kyoto protocol on greenhouse gas emissions, believes the threat of global warming should be addressed through new economic growth and efficiency. He also favors oil exploration in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and backs legislation that would seek to reduce air pollution and acid rain by offering major polluters access to market-based incentives to reduce harmful emissions.

Kerry: Kerry favors U.S. participation in an international climate change program to curb global warming and would cut mercury emissions by American utilities and plants. To encourage more renewable energy sources, Kerry wants to create a renewable energy trust fund to reduce oil consumption by 2 million barrels per day, which is roughly the amount imported from the Middle East. Kerry also backed Senate legislation to impose stricter mileage standards on gas-guzzling sport utility vehicles and automobiles.

Foreign policy

Bush: After straining relations with major European allies and the United Nations over war in Iraq, Bush has shifted his foreign policy focus to the spread of democracy by pushing a Greater Middle East Initiative that would aim to resolve the region’s political, economic and social problems through democratic reform. The president, criticized for the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, is also pursuing a policy that seeks to unravel the black market in nuclear components and block programs in North Korea and Iran, countries he has labeled an “axis of evil” along with prewar Iraq.

Kerry: While insisting he would never cede U.S. security to any other nation and would use force when required, Kerry envisions “a new era of alliances” to replace what he sees as the White House’s go-it-alone approach to foreign policy. He has pledged to restore diplomacy as a tool of U.S. foreign policy, treat the United Nations as a “full partner” and pursue collective security arrangements. His inner circle of foreign policy advisers features prominent Democratic veterans, including some figures from the Clinton days.

Post-war Iraq

Bush: After seeing his plan to bring democracy to Iraq through regional caucuses scuttled by a leading Shi’ite cleric, Bush has succeeded in brokering an interim constitution for the oil-rich Arab nation and pledged to work with Iraqi leaders and the United Nations to prepare for full Iraqi sovereignty by June 30. The administration expects U.S. troops to remain in Iraq indefinitely as a security measure against insurgents and sectarian violence.

Kerry: He voted in 2002 in favor of the war against Iraq, but has since attacked the administration for misrepresenting the military threat posed by Baghdad and for mismanaging the post-war occupation. He later voted against the appropriation of $87 billion for the U.S.-led effort, a move that has led some critics, including some in his own party, to accuse him of hypocrisy.

Trade

Bush: Bush, an avowed free trader, has embarked on a series of trade agreements with countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. But his administration has also faced charges of protectionism over steel tariffs that the World Trade Organization ruled illegal, and its reluctance to trim import barriers that protect U.S. sugar, dairy and beef industries.

Kerry: Kerry has promised a 120-day review of all existing U.S. trade agreements upon taking office, and favors using the World Trade Organization to challenge China’s currency practices. He also has pressed for stronger labor and environmental language than Bush has required in growing collection of bilateral free trade agreements with countries around the world.

Israel and the Palestinians

Bush: Bush, a staunch defender of Israel, backs the stalled “road map” to Middle East peace that calls for creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel by next year. The White House has also expressed concern about Israel’s construction of a security barrier through Palestinian territory, ostracized Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and cautiously embraced Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s proposal to dismantle Jewish settlements in Gaza.

Kerry: Kerry says he would breathe new life into the moribund Middle East peace process and name a special presidential envoy to the Muslim world, who would seek to encourage moderate elements.

Source: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4448630/

A nice summary given our presentist focus, but much more could be said about each of these issues, like book-length treatments from both sides.

Rather that even trying to write those kinds of analisies, I'll just say the Lil' Georgie can't be trusted to keep his word.  The man wouldn'y know the truth if he fell over it, and makes it up as he goes along.  In this regard, Kerry is untested, but by all accounts he can (and does) read, and while he may make mistakes, and may change his views, he seems to have the courage to admit to mistakes and embrace change.

This site has so much left-wing bias!  WAAAAHHHH!

;)

Rather that even trying to write those kinds of analisies, I'll just say the Lil' Georgie can't be trusted to keep his word.  The man wouldn'y know the truth if he fell over it, and makes it up as he goes along.  In this regard, Kerry is untested, but by all accounts he can (and does) read, and while he may make mistakes, and may change his views, he seems to have the courage to admit to mistakes and embrace change.


Wow a rare breed.  Read this from the Boston Herald (or some Boston paper.)

NO ONE DESCRIBES KERRY AS HONEST, WORD MOST USED FOR PRESIDENT BUSH



WASHINGTON -- After three months and millions of dollars in negative ads, Americans describing Democrat John Kerry in one word for poll takers no longer choose the word honest, but that word remains the one most often cited for President Bush, even as incompetent has gained ground.
 
A national survey released yesterday by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press shows a wide range of word choices by those who were asked ''what one word best describes your impression" of Bush or Kerry.

In the earlier survey, 18 percent chose honest to describe Kerry, but no one used that word in the June survey. The words good, hopeful, and OK accounted for nearly 21 percent of responses for Kerry in the new poll.

For Bush, honest was the choice of 11 percent in the earlier poll and 9 percent in the latest survey. The president, described by 4 percent as incompetent in February, was tagged with that word by 5 percent in June. He was judged honest, good, or leader by 26 percent in the new poll.

On the negative side, according to the new poll, Kerry was referred to as liar, dishonest, or idiot by 12 percent. Only 10 percent used either idiot, stupid, or liar to describe Bush.

The differences in word choices show that many people have a less favorable view of both candidates, said Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center.

''They're using fewer positive words to describe Kerry," Kohut said. ''The criticisms of Bush are less often about being dishonest.''


-Well DC, maybe Pew needs to find you so Kerry can have at least 0.5% saying he is honest.

Consider the source

Consider the source


You talking to me?  This story was everywhere (and besides there is no such thing as a conservative Boston newspaper.)  It was on Pew (who did the poll), the AJC, Newsmax, the drudge report, L.A. times, and on Fox News.  And those are just the ones I know about.

No, I think she was referring to the fact that the source you listed (as well as most {all?} of those above) are KNOWN right-wing mouthpieces ::)

But he probably thinks that *is* everywhere - after all, if the only place you look is in the right-wing media, you'll probably think their flavour of the day is ubiquitous.

Yes, I was referring to the polster, not you GW.  You seem to be getting a bit punchy.  Take a
deep breath,  unjerk thee knee, and then we can talk.

ummm...where's the rest?  If you add up ALL of the % listed for both candidates(which are old & new 'polls') it doesn't even add up to 100% ???  I'd be interested to see ALL of the figures.  Funny how only the ones that make Bush look better are listed ::)


They didn't name it but I saw them, there a good 20 different words for both Bush and Kerry many with less then 3% of the people.  Words like ''president'' and ''tall'' were used.  And Pew is no way in hell biased, they are in my opinion probably the most trustworthy polls along with Zogby and Gallup.

Sometimes the polls go for Bush, sometimes for Kerry.  They change almost over night.  And so what?  Its the issues that we should be concerned with.  The only poll that counts (unless the Bushes steal another one) is in November.

You talking to me?  This story was everywhere (and besides there is no such thing as a conservative Boston newspaper.)  It was on Pew (who did the poll), the AJC, Newsmax, the drudge report, L.A. times, and on Fox News.  And those are just the ones I know about.

Sigh!
The Boston Herald is the a raisin-brained right-wing tabloid like the New York Post.  Come up some time, and I'll buy you a copy, and a clam chowder -- to go.

What media outlets will do with a Pew poll is only report part of the information, the part that supports their biases. 

If "honest" is the word most often used to describe Dubya, then it's time to start testing the drinking water for...for whatever would make people gullible enough to describe Dubya as "honest"!  Sheesh!

Oh, maybe it's honest, as in "Honest Al's Used Cars"!
;D ;D ;D

Okay here is another story about Bush and Kerry and the Pew research poll with the word ''honest:''

JUNE--Not a single American polled by the Pew Research Center for the People in the Press chose the word "honest" to describe John F. Kerry in one word. (Graphic) Kerry had to be disappointed that only 18% chose "honest" to describe him in February, but now he's down to 0%!

"Honest," by the way, is the one word those polled choose most often to describe President George W. Bush more than any other – "even as incompetent has gained ground." (Graphic) Knowing this, consider Kerry's trip to Orlando on Wednesday when he called the war in Iraq "a failure" and claimed "a shakeup is needed to end the Bush administration's mistakes and incompetence." Kerry droned, "Responsibility for the abuse of prisoners in Iraq extends all the way to the oval (orifice) and that Bush must accept responsibility for setting a tone that allowed the abuse to take place."


Kerry went on to say that "a few low ranking soldiers shouldn't be made scapegoats for a broader policy that led to the abuse," leading to this response from Bush-Cheney '04 chairman Marc Racicot: "To blame the abuse on Bush and the armed forces is to blame all of America for the disgusting actions of a few. It's striking to see the ease with which John Kerry thrusts an important moment into the campaign's daily spin cycle compared to the president's steady leadership and focus on doing what he believes is right."

Boy, if that isn't aid and comfort for the enemy, I don't know what is. We have to get rid of George W. Bush? The president's responsible for this? The president "set the tone" for this? This from a guy, John F. Kerry, who committed far worse atrocities in Vietnam -- and admitted it -- than what we've seen in these pictures from Iraq so far, and because of that, we've got to throw Bush out of office and elect Kerry. Just stop and think of that.

Okay here is another story about Bush and Kerry and the Pew research poll with the word ''honest:''

JUNE--Not a single American polled by the Pew Research Center for the People in the Press chose the word "honest" to describe John F. Kerry in one word. (Graphic) Kerry had to be disappointed that only 18% chose "honest" to describe him in February, but now he's down to 0%!
If the question was to describe Kerry in only ONE word, the fact that nobody chose the word "honest" is meaningless. You didn't source your article, I could track down this Pew poll and read it myself, but I just don't care enough about polls to do that.

"Honest," by the way, is the one word those polled choose most often to describe President George W. Bush more than any other – "even as incompetent has gained ground." (Graphic) Knowing this, consider Kerry's trip to Orlando on Wednesday when he called the war in Iraq "a failure" and claimed "a shakeup is needed to end the Bush administration's mistakes and incompetence." Kerry droned, "Responsibility for the abuse of prisoners in Iraq extends all the way to the oval (orifice) and that Bush must accept responsibility for setting a tone that allowed the abuse to take place."
Pew Research Center has done polls indicating just what you say about the word "honest."  However, no matter how statistically inclusive a poll of 1,800 is, when it's 1,800 out of, say, 120 million potential voters, it's more a source of amusement than a reliable indication.  Even if you went by adults registered to vote Democrat or Republican, which might be 25 or 30 million, the ratio of 1,800 hundred is still too tiny.  I don't go by polls, whether they favor my preference or whether they don't.  I like to go by what I believe is right and wrong.


Kerry went on to say that "a few low ranking soldiers shouldn't be made scapegoats for a broader policy that led to the abuse," leading to this response from Bush-Cheney '04 chairman Marc Racicot: "To blame the abuse on Bush and the armed forces is to blame all of America for the disgusting actions of a few. It's striking to see the ease with which John Kerry thrusts an important moment into the campaign's daily spin cycle compared to the president's steady leadership and focus on doing what he believes is right."

Boy, if that isn't aid and comfort for the enemy, I don't know what is. We have to get rid of George W. Bush? The president's responsible for this? The president "set the tone" for this? This from a guy, John F. Kerry, who committed far worse atrocities in Vietnam -- and admitted it -- than what we've seen in these pictures from Iraq so far, and because of that, we've got to throw Bush out of office and elect Kerry. Just stop and think of that.


Now we have to grow up a little.  Atrocities were the order of the day in Vietnam, and the soldiers followed through.  We have hundreds of thousands of Vietnam veterans who are traumatized by procedures they were ordered to follow hunting for Charlie.  What I take away from Kerry's statements in the early '70s is that the war itself was criminal and morally bankrupt.

There is evidence that the orders for physical coercion and humiliation of prisoners came directly from Rumsfeld's office, and who does Rumsfeld answer to?  Well, he's supposed to answer to the President, but inthe case of Bush, it's probably the other way around.  Bush never had the opportunity to follow orders to personally prosecute atrocious acts in Vietnam.  Unlike rich boy Kerry, rich boy Bush didn't go !

Just to show I can laugh at my own side here is some political humor:

FOX LAUNCHES RIGHT-WING WEATHER CHANNEL

Takes Aim at Liberal Bias in Weather Coverage

Fox today launched the first right-wing weather channel, taking aim at what it perceives as a liberal bias permeating most television weather coverage.

In its first day on air, The Fox Weather Channel trumpeted its self-styled “fair and balanced” look at the weather and accused The Weather Channel of being “a safe haven for left-wing weather-liberals everywhere.”

Blasting what it called The Weather Channel’s view that “the weather can do no wrong,” Fox Weather Channel anchor Bill O’Reilly vowed that the new network would “take on and challenge the weather at every opportunity.”

Mr. O’Reilly then launched into an editorial blasting Mother Nature, sarcastically calling her “The Mother of all Natures.”

Speaking in front of a graphic reading “The War on Weather,” Mr. O’Reilly began his weather report: “Flash floods hit the East Coast today, causing many to ask: why is Greenpeace trying to save the oceans, when the oceans are trying to kill us?”

The acerbic anchor then moved to a weather map of the United States, announcing, “Phoenix reported record low temperatures yesterday – so much for ‘global warming,’ Al Gore.”

Mr. O’Reilly concluded his weathercast with a speech entitled ''Trees: The real cause of forest fires.''

The network then switched to live footage of conservative pundit Ann Coulter screaming at a tornado.

In other news, Sen. John Edwards continued to surge in the polls, with a majority of Americans agreeing that Mr. Edwards is more beautiful than actress Catherine Zeta- Jones.

Just to show I can laugh at my own side here is some political humor:

FOX LAUNCHES RIGHT-WING WEATHER CHANNEL

Takes Aim at Liberal Bias in Weather Coverage


;D ;D ;D