John Kerry's old Truck for sale [Archive]

zebeck

08-31-2004, 02:01 PM

That's cute but maybe its really Bush's truck: ; )

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=1&u=/ap/20040831/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_bush_31

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - President Bush (news - web sites) said Tuesday "we will win" the war on terror, seeking to quell controversy and Democratic criticism over his earlier remark that victory may not be possible.

In a speech to the national convention of the American Legion, Bush said, "We meet today in a time of war for our country, a war we did not start yet one that we will win.

That statement differed from Bush's earlier comment, aired Monday in a pre-taped television interview, that "I don't think you can win" the war on terror. That had Democrats running for the cameras to criticize Bush for being defeatist and flip-flopping from previous predictions of victory.

"What if President Reagan had said that it may be difficult to win the war against communism? What if other presidents had said it'd be difficult to win the war — the Cold War?" Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards (news - web sites) said on ABC's "Nightline" program. "The war on terrorism is absolutely winnable."

Bush's comment — and the ensuing criticism — took attention away from the carefully crafted image of Bush being broadcast from the Republican National Convention in New York, as a decisive wartime commander in chief who is securing America's safety and sure of the course on which he has set the nation.

As Bush continued a pre-convention journey through one closely contested state after another, aides scrambled to clarify the president's remark and contain the story. And in Tuesday's speech before the American Legion, with popular Republican Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona by his side, Bush himself hit back.

In this different kind of war, we may never sit down at a peace table. But make no mistake about it, we are winning and we will win," Bush said, pausing to grin slightly. "We will win by staying on the offensive, we will win by spreading liberty."

The campaign of Democratic presidential challenger John Kerry (news - web sites) merely pounced again.

"This president has gone from mission accomplished to mission miscalculated to mission impossible on the war on terror," Kerry spokesman Phil Singer said.

The president also appealed to a constituency so important in this election that Kerry is breaking with a tradition that the other side remains quiet during their opponent's convention and will speak to the American Legion meeting on Wednesday.

Bush cited increased funding for veterans programs that is bringing more health care to more people more quickly, focusing resources on the veterans who most need help, allowing veterans to receive both military retired pay and disability compensation, and providing additional housing.

"Our nation's veterans have made serving America the highest priority of your lives and that is why I have made serving our nation's vets one of the highest priorities of my administration," the president said.

The Kerry campaign disputed that, saying Bush's budgets have fallen far short of what veterans need and promising that Kerry would reverse that.

Bush launched a fresh attack on Kerry, this one specailly tailored for the veterans audience. Bush derided his opponent for opposing his plan for a major troop realignment that would eventually bring about 70,000 American soldiers back to the United States.

"That's his right to do so. It's a campaign, he's allowed to say what he believes," the president said. "The only problem is that he endorsed the idea just 17 days earlier."

The Kerry campaign said Bush was mischaracterizing the Democrat's position. Kerry argued that Bush's policy would dangerously reduce forces at a time when the nation is fighting the al-Qaida terrorist network in 60 countries across the globe and when the North Korea (news - web sites)-South Korea (news - web sites) border remains volatile. Kerry said he would only withdraw troops after help from other nations had been secured.

Bush's campaign swing will land him in New York on Wednesday, a day before his convention speech accepting the GOP nomination for a second term. From Nashville, Bush travels to Alleman, Iowa, to attend a farm show and ends the long day of campaigning in another crucial state, Pennsylvania, where he makes a late-evening appearance at a picnic.

Also Tuesday, Bush said on NBC's "Today" show that he will continue pursuing diplomatic rather than military options to try to get Iran to halt its nuclear program. Earlier this month, Iran confirmed it had resumed building nuclear centrifuges, which can be used to enrich uranium to weapons grade, and declared it should have the right to advanced nuclear technology.

While he's "deeply concerned" by Iran's actions, Bush said diplomatic efforts are just beginning there and he's hopeful they will be successful.