Kerry's "Nuisance" Comment

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 4:40am

"We have to get back to the place we were, where terrorists are not the focus of our lives, but they're a nuisance," Kerry told The New York Times Magazine, when asked what it would take to make Americans feel safe.

I understand what he meant, but you got to admit it was kind of stupid. He needs to be a little more careful with the way he words things, especially this close to the election. You just know the Republicans are going to be all over this like white on rice, and that it's sure to come up during Wednesday night's debate.

Updated On: 10/12/04 at 04:40 AM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 8:03am

Another stupid thing that he said:

During the second debate he insulted the audience by saying something to the effect of "The only people that make over $200,000 in this audience are me, the President and Charles Gibson".

While his assumption was probably correct, it was still a thoughless thing to say. How does he know what people in the audience make?

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 9:15am

How many much stupider things has the nuisance in the White House said?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 9:17am

Everyone will pounce, but I actually think it was a very realistic, pragmatic thing to say. Remember, we aren't fighting the country of Terror, whose citizens are Terrorists. The simplistic, jingo-istic approach of the Bush administration suggests "The War on Terror" is a frontal assault on a FINITE number of terrorists, the elimination of which will suddenly turn the world into a freedom-loving place. If only they were finite! Every day we see evidence to the contrary, how the death of one terrorist inspires the creation of who knows how many others--in who knows how many places. Whether we like it or not, terrorism is now a major media event. It must be fought far more creatively than merely throwing money and military half-solutions on countries that breed it. This is a long run, big, big picture issue -- and even Bush, in a rare moment of candor and pragmatism, recently told Matt Lauer we "can't win it" (look at the footage!)

The other aspect of the administration's simple approach that gnaws at me: the idea that "getting 'em over there means we don't have to fight 'em here." Once again, if only. The idea that Iraq is a kind of terrorist FLY PAPER -- where we can go, and count on terrorist to show up, before heading here -- is ludicrous. Some of them want to get us there -- where borders are porous -- and some of them, to be sure, want to get us here. Or we wouldn't be throwing police around buildings in Newark because Ashcroft's worried. They can't have it both ways.

I think Kerry's words were the wrong one at the wrong time, because people want easy answers to a problem that has no easy answer. That's his mistake -- one of political strategy, not thinking.

Updated On: 10/12/04 at 09:17 AM

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 9:30am

auggie, are you saying that they were the wrong words at the wrong place at the wrong time?

i have to agree with rudy's take on the comment. not so much taking it to task for the word nuisance but for the mindset that the comment reveals.

http://www.nationalreview.com/kerry/kerry200410111907.asp

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 9:44am

Yep, Papa, that's absolutely what I'm saying. Wrong interview in the wrong publication the wrong season, the wrong surprise in the wrong October. Whatever. Because I still want Kerry, warts an all, to win this damned thing. But also, I believe I was saying a lot more.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 10:18am

I'm gonna stay out of this one. I just want to show off my new avatar.

[CurtainUp2]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 10:22am

"I think Kerry's words were the wrong one at the wrong time, because people want easy answers to a problem that has no easy answer. That's his mistake -- one of political strategy, not thinking."

Auggie... I coudln't agree more. That's exactly what I was saying. Although you said it more prolifically than myself. I actually agree with Kerry's comment. I just think that in this age of the "sound bite" he needs to be more careful articulating his thoughts. With the poll results so close and the country so evenly divided, one false move could lose him the election.

Updated On: 10/12/04 at 10:22 AM

[ckeaton]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 10:22am

Always appreciated.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 10:28am

The Republicans are going to jump all over this (indeed, already have) as if THEY'RE the ones who have the right attitude about this 'war on terror' - to them, they'll say, it's not a 'nuisance' but should rather be the focus - we CAN'T be safe until this is eradicated. And YET, I don't see anyone 'focusing' on this except for the fear mongers and people who's lives are directly affected (like military families). Other than them, everyone else - including all these Republicans - are going about their business as usual. At least that's what happening in our neck of the woods.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 10:33am

I just can't belive that Kerry basically said "Read my lips... No...New...Taxes"