First right thing John Forbes Kerry has said in a long time...

Kerry Says Dean Has No Chance Vs. Bush
   
Sat Dec 27, 6:09 PM ET  

By STEPHEN FROTHINGHAM, Associated Press Writer

MANCHESTER, N.H. - With a month to go before the New Hampshire primary, John Kerry (news - web sites) made some of his strongest attacks yet against Democratic front-runner Howard Dean (news - web sites), portraying Dean as inexperienced in foreign policy, wrong-headed on the economy and a muddled thinker.


AP Photo

 

"People are left wondering: What will he say next?" said Kerry, addressing about 180 supporters in a city library auditorium.


"We need more than simple answers and the latest slip of the tongue," he said. "This election is too vital for us to lose it if voters refuse to take a gamble on national security and the steadiness of our leadership."


He pointed to Dean's statements on Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s capture and Dean's answer to a hypothetical question about where Osama bin Laden (news - web sites) should be tried, if captured.


"What kind of muddled thinking is it if you can't instantly say that in your heart you know that bin Laden is guilty?" Kerry asked. "After every episode comes a statement trying to explain it away. Will Americans really vote for a foreign policy by clarifying press release?"


The Massachusetts senator and Vietnam war veteran said "this is a perilous moment in history and we cannot master that moment with a stubborn unilateralism or a soft and vacillating isolationism."


Kerry, the early Democratic front-runner, now trails Dean by double digits in polls in New Hampshire — a state where Kerry has said he needs to finish No. 1 or No. 2 for his candidacy to have momentum..


Aides to Kerry note that Dean, the former Vermont governor, fares poorly against Bush in head-to-head matchups.


Kerry said "we can't beat George Bush by being Bush-lite," referring to Dean's criticism of more centrist Democratic candidates.


"But we also won't beat George Bush by being light on national security, light on fairness for middle-class Americans or light on the values that make us Democrats."


A spokesman for Sen. Joe Lieberman (news - web sites), who does not campaign on Saturday because of his Jewish religion, welcomed what he called "this latest iteration" of Kerry and said he "has stopped trying to pretend he is Howard Dean and is not trying to definite himself as an alternative." But spokesman Jano Cabrera said Kerry "is simply echoing many of the choices Lieberman laid out more than a week ago in New Hampshire."


Kerry also defended fellow Democratic hopefuls from some of Dean's campaign charges and claims.


"Howard Dean says he's the only candidate who talks about race in front of white audiences, but many of the candidates in this field have dedicated themselves to this cause," he said. He called Dean's claim an insult to the two blacks in the race, Al Sharpton and Carol Moseley Braun.


Talking to reporters after his speech, Kerry stopped short of saying Dean was unelectable.


"All I'm trying to do is point out clear, real differences that matter to people who vote," he said.

Dean won't get the nomination. Nor will Kerry.

Clark will get the nod. Scary for 2 reasons AFAIC:

1]I see Clark as having the best chance of that bunch to defeat Bush.

2]Clark could give a shit less about the 2nd amendment.

Finally, WTF is up with Lieberman? Guy is sounding like a republican lately.

Clark was a flash in the pan.

Stick a fork in him, he's done.

Dean will get it easy if he doesn't say too many stupid things.

The looney left nominates democrats and they will  pick Dean.  They will not pick Clark, they don't trust him and still think he is a Republican.

Very early in the primaries and alot can happen.

Bush ownage!

Clark blew his momentum.  Dean has the momentum.  Dean is going to have to start going down hill fast if someone else is going to have a shot at the nomination.