LAT: Democrats Go on Offense in Latest Terror Case: Respond fast, sharply

[DeepModem Mom]

Democrats Go on Offense in Latest Terror Case
Looking to the past for lessons, they respond fast and sharply, saying Bush 'mismanagement' fed the threat and the GOP is playing politics.
By Peter Wallsten, Times Staff Writer
August 12, 2006

CRAWFORD, Texas — Two years after President Bush won reelection having painted his opponent as soft on terrorists and weak on national security, Democrats have seized on the latest alleged terrorism plot in hopes of turning the political tables on the White House.

Their aggressive stance was evident hours after British authorities announced they had disrupted a plot to blow up airplanes: Leading Democrats blamed the terrorism threat on "mismanagement" by the Bush administration and charged that the Iraq war had become a "rallying cry" for the enemy.

On Friday, Democrats continued with a series of sharp statements accusing the White House of exploiting the case for political gain.

Party strategists said they had steered clear of such loaded language in similarly sensitive cases out of fear of stirring up voters on an issue that, since 2001, has largely helped Republicans. But Democrats said they were determined now to maintain their criticism through the November elections, citing public anxiety over the Iraq war and other foreign policy challenges that might, for the first time in three election cycles, lessen the GOP advantage.

The new strategy, spearheaded largely by the Senate Democratic leadership, is a direct response to surveys showing that Republicans hold only a marginal lead over Democrats when voters are asked whom they trust to keep the country safer....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-terrorpol12aug12,0,2133164.story?coll=la-home-nation

[cyclezealot]

1. Why did they not do it years ago.

Bush has been the one who terrorized the whole of the world by stirring world tensions with his neocon stew. Never has the US been so hated about the world. Polls show, much of the world, even take their distrust of US policy out on individual Americans since we are complicit with the US government by electing these *as***ds. Not fair, but thats how many nationals in third world countries under stress feel.
TO be so hated about the world and we think we are more secure. If so way to many Americans have their heads where there is no sunshine.

[Oversea Visitor]

4. It is the people fault

They when chose Lamont.
And now Democrats Representaive all growing ovaries.

[WhiteTara]

19. Jai True!

:pals:

[CJCRANE]

6. Sadly

I think B*sh's '04 election victory pushed the last remaining doubters over the edge into anti-Americanism.

(The majority of world opinion unfortunately doesn't know that the election was most likely rigged).

[cyclezealot]

16. Thats our best defense as Americans.

In fact you travel the world where the news is more comprehensive, they fully know about Ohio and Florida.

[Roy]

9. Actually they state the reason in OPs' snip

They were scared and spinless!!!
:scared:

"Party strategists said they had steered clear of such loaded language in similarly sensitive cases out of fear of stirring up voters on an issue that, since 2001, has largely helped Republicans."

[gully]

18. Dean just took over the DNC and Reid is our Majority leader.

I suspect that's why? Better late than never I guess? Also, the media's characterization is positive in this regard. That's new and exciting.

[wisteria]

20. I think Senator Kerry had a part in this also. Dean I go along with. but

Reid most likely had to be pushed a bit. In any event, it may be late, but it is better than never.

[The Wielding Truth]

22. There was a .00001% chance he was honest. Now they know he's not.

[133724]

23. cultural changes take years to complete.

I used to work for a very large fortune 500 company; and believe me it does take years to change the thought processes of a large company. It took almost 6 years to change the mindset within that company of almost 250,000 employees. Think of how long it could take to change the mindset of 250 Million people.

I am very suprised (and gratified) that the democrats have come so far in so short a time. In the case of Viet Nam it took almost 10 years to change the mindset of this country ( Nov. 22, 1962 - 1972 or so).

[DLnyc]

2. Good news!

This is what I've been waiting to hear from Dem leaders: pointing out, loudly and clearly, that the rethug war cult has been making us much LESS safe, not more safe.

(snip)
In some ways, the aggressive response this week reflected Democrats' concern that Lamont's win in Connecticut over Sen. Joe Lieberman, an Iraq war supporter, was giving the White House an easy way to paint Democrats as weak on national defense. That comes as Democrats have been unable to craft a unified message on Iraq, with some calling for a fast drawdown of troops and others taking a more cautious approach.
(snip)

---
I don't know, I kinda thing the 'aggressive response' is due to Dem leaders seeing that standing up to this "terra, terra" crap can win elections--that people are really starting to see through the con job and are ready to rally to those speaking up clearly and forcefully.

[Vidar]

3. It's good news after so many repeats of the sacrificial Feingold gambit.

And no, I'm not deriding Feingold, only those who wouldn't follow him.

[truthisfreedom]

5. all systems go.

period.

[CJCRANE]

7. Good! (nt)

[creeksneakers2]

8. The Dems are catching on

Its best to respond right away and forcefully.

[Beetwasher]

10. Damn Straight!

'bout time, but better late than never.

[halobeam]

11. Thats what they had better run on for 2006 and 2008....

It's actually the Dems strong point now. Sounds very promising.

[AX10]

12. National Security has historically been the Democrats strong point.

Vietnam cost them that and now they have a chance to reclaim that mantle.

[jazzjunkysue]

13. They've always been afraid of the GOP slander machine. Chickens.

I'd like to see all the Dems yell and scream and watch the GOP try to attack them all. It will disgust the Red voters and keep them home.

Bring it on.

[ruggerson]

14. kick n/t

[Tiggeroshii]

15. The title leaves out "responds fast and sharp" on the home page

Seems a little misleading, as if to say the Democrats threw the first stones.

[truthisfreedom]

17. my god, how long i've been waiting for this to happen. GROW A DAMNED

SPINE, DEMS! sheesh. finally!!!

[jsamuel]

21. great, 'bout time

[BenDavid]

24. Just once I would like

to see a democrat appear on the hannity and colmes program and when hannity goes into that tirade about democrats being soft on national defense, I would hope one democrat would have the balls to answer with something like this: Mr hannity what you are saying is i would not do anything to protect this great country that i love and am a citizen of. You are saying that i would protect the rights of the terrorists and forget about the safety of our citizens. This is what you are saying and I personally would bitch slap you if you were standing in front of me for saying such things.
If the democrats are going to get any place in November they have got to come across as tough on defense and not let the republicans decribe them. If you going to be a bear in this years election, the democrats better be a DAMN GRIZZLEY....