The new GOP talking point on the Iraq Debacle is Dems are pessimists and the GOP and Bush are optimists. You'll hear this line tonight I'm sure "If we'd been pessimist in WWII . . ."
If Bush uses this line in the Debate, it seems to me that Kerry can respond with that line, along the lines of - "Mr. President, you have not levelled with the American people. When I am President, I will tell the American people the truth, that you have created a terrible dangerous situation in Iraq and in the WoT -- but I will turn it around, and succeed in Iraq and the WoT."
Sure, he is sort of saying that now, but he needs a short snappy response. Now maybe my formulation isn't what's needed, but something like that.
Related - when the discussion is on plans, Bush has been saying that the Kerry plan is the "same" as his. To me that's a cue to provide the zigzag that Bush has done on Iraq - starting with the drawdown to 30,000 troops in Iraq this year, paying with Iraqi oil, etc. Which plan Mr. President?