October 01, 2004

More MSM Spin

This from Craig Gilbert of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

After spending much of the last two months on the political defensive, Democrat John Kerry went on the offense Thursday night, attacking President Bush's record and leadership so persistently that Bush asked moderator Jim Lehrer four or five times for another chance to respond.

In their first critical debate, Bush and Kerry offered very different messages about how to make America safe and secure in a post-9-11 world.

Bush said the best way to defeat the enemy is "never waver, to constantly stay on the offensive, and at the same time spread liberty."

Kerry said he would work far more closely with other countries, not "push them away," offer a "fresh start" and "fresh credibility."

But Kerry also argued repeatedly that Bush's policies - from invading Iraq to failing to prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons - have made the nation less safe, not more so.

"The world is more dangerous," Kerry said, calling the Iraq war a "colossal error of judgment" that diverted the U.S. from the real enemy, Osama bin Laden.

Bush appeared visibly annoyed at times by Kerry's criticisms, at one point referring to an assertion by Kerry as "totally absurd."