Next week is Kerry's last chance to deliver the knockout punch that will seal Bush's defeat. We'll be back to podiums and the focus will be on domestic issues.
I believe it is imperative that Kerry find a way to tie Bush's failures in domestic policy to his failures in foreign policy. Here is where 9/11 really did change everything. If all politics is local, the threat of terrorism makes all foreign policy of local concern.
The case must be made that Bush's foreign misadventures have had an enormous negative impact on every domestic concern.
- Bush's war of choice has ballooned the deficit out of control, with no end in sight. We were assured that Iraqi oil would pay the way, but it's the American taxpayer who's footing the bill.
- The drain on our treasury has funded sweetheart deals for a few corporations such as Halliburton in Iraq and left us short of cash to fund real measures to increase security, including cargo screening, border patrols, first responders.
- The callup and diversion of National Guard to Iraq has left our own territory dangerously short of manpower for any domestic emergency.
- Bush's "back door" draft and "stop-loss" orders have put a real strain on thousands of American families and businesses.
Bush told us, shortly after 9/11, that the war on terror would be unlike every other war we've fought, that it would be unconventional and fought largely in secret. We'd be going after the sources of terror funding. We'd be working with allies to capture the secret cells that operate around the world.
Instead, we find ourselves in Vietnam Redux, with an inadequate American conventional force trying to find elusive guerrilla enemies in a country that's largely hostile to our very presence. It's draining us of blood and treasure and robbing us of the means to do what we need to do here at home.
"We've been robbed," is the meme.
- We've been robbed of the chance to shut down al Qaeda. Now we must play catchup.
- We've been robbed of the money to harden soft targets here at home.
- We've been robbed of the sympathy and good will of the rest of the world, which we vitally need. We'll need to spend time just repairing the damage wrought by the administration's arrogant treatment of our long-time allies.
- We've been robbed of the money to properly fund No Child Left Behind, real healthcare reform, real prescription drug benefits.
We've been told by Bush that he hasn't made any mistakes. Both he and Cheney tell us loudly that, if given to do it all over again, they wouldn't change anything. Not one decision, not one judgment.
Hasn't Bush heard that when you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you do is stop digging?
Bush is digging the hole we're in deeper and deeper. In fact, he's preparing to dig some more holes for us in Iran and elsewhere. He's preparing to dig our fiscal hole so deep we'll never be able to climb out, by giving more tax cuts to the wealthiest few among us. Their lives will be enriched while your families will be struggling with higher local taxes, poorer schools, unaffordable insurance, even fewer job opportunities, and the threat and fear of endless war.
The time has come to stop digging those holes and to start building America again. A strong America with a strong economy that can support the global struggle we're engaged in against the forces of terrorism. It means showing justice to our citizens here at home to better show the world that America is a just and noble society.
Any more ideas on how Kerry could frame his points in the next debate?