Andrew Sullivan on John Kerry's speech last night:
It struck me as a strong one on domestic issues. On energy independence, and protecting the Constitution, it was a winner. He looks like a potential president. But it was deeply worrying in one respect. The war on terror was barely mentioned. This on a day of appalling carnage in Iraq. I fear this man simply doesn't get it. No one should support him for the highest office in the land until he proves he understands our enemy; and demonstrates that he will get up every day in the Oval Office to see how he can take the fight to the Islamists. I don't see that fire right now. In fact, I don't even see a flicker. It's a deal-breaker for me. (Just as attacking civil rights and playing politics with the Constitution is a deal-breaker as far as Bush is concerned.) Kerry has several months to prove otherwise. But it wasn't an auspicious start.
The lack of debate by the Democrats on the
single most important issue in this election concerned me throughout the entire primary campaign. Foreign policy and the war on terrorism should have been front and center. I was expecting much more substance from the candidates and got very little. In fact, it was the lack of any solid ideas on the war that led me to
cast a write-in vote for New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman in yesterday's California Primary. Friedman gets it and John Kerry would do well to bring him into the campaign and, should he win in November, into his cabinet. (Hell, how about a Kerry/Friedman ticket!)
Granted, the goal in a Democratic primary is to play to your base; and that means campaigning hard on domestic issues. But now that John Kerry has effectively captured his party's nomination, it's time for him to get focused. Eight months and $150 million of Republican money lay ahead, and John Kerry needs to keep his eye on the ball every step of the way. Jobs, the deficit, health care...all issues for which Kerry has the upper hand against the incumbent. But this new "JFK" needs to campaign like the old one - by proving to American voters that he will make the war on terrorism the number one priority of his administration.
Cross posted at Points West.
