I read this today...
OP-ED COLUMNIST
Kerry Off the Leash
By DAVID BROOKS
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/19/opinion/19brooks.html?oref=login&hp
I am so tired of these GOP cogs complaining about Kerry while Dick Vader is out there telling Moms they will get nuked if he and The Shrubbery aren't re-elected... I decided I'd had enough and actually emailed him... very politely too, like the nice Midwestern Battleground stater I am...(below)
Dear Mr. Brooks,
Quote:
"So nobody could imagine how incompetent, crude and over-the-top Kerry has been in this final phase of the campaign. At this point, smart candidates are launching attacks that play up the doubts voters already have about their opponents. Incredibly, Kerry is launching attacks that play up doubts voters have about him. Over the past few days, he has underscored the feeling that he will say or do anything to further his career."
Excuse me? Do you remember this line from a past president...
"If you give the people a choice between a Republican and a Republican, they'll choose the Republican every time." - Harry Truman.
So Kerry is attacking now instead of weeks and months ago like Karl Rove and the rest of the GOP. I say `better late than never'. He didn't have the luxury or media exposure to bring this message to the fore front until after the debates. He has it now.
While GOP surrogates like yourself surely wish he voiced GOP friendly rhetoric, many of the rest of us are glad he is not. It may work for him or it might fail as these final days wind down but at least it is different. We have a choice.
By the way, have you heard Bush's speeches lately? No shortage of anti-Kerry rhetoric there. I assume you will be addressing that in your next column.
Sincerely,
dry fly,
hometown, battleground state, USA
I got the typical canned reply...
Dear friend,
Thanks very much for sending a response to my column, positive or negative. I'm afraid I can't respond to each message. My editors would wonder why I have no time to write for the paper.
But I do read every e-mail, and I frequently learn from them.
So, again, thanks, David Brooks
It would be a lot to ask for these stone heads to read anything but their own spin and even more to expect them to learn ANYTHING.
But you know. I had some time today... [:)]
For your pleasure... dabrooks@nytimes.com