Three cheers for the questioners! Three haymakers (+wished-for KO)

[fiorello]

These questions were brilliant!

(1) I've been in Europe, Mr. P. Why is there so much irritation with the U.S. Huh?

->I wish Kerry had nailed down the answer! Something like:

The answer is simple. Bush has repeatedly shown contempt for our allies. He tried to make France a term of ridicule - he even wanted to re-name 'French Fries' "freedom fries". He said the United Nations is irrelevant. Most important, his claims on Iraq convinced many of or allies that they cannot trust the President of the United States.

How to solve the problem? That's simple too. Treat them with respect, and they will respect us. Treat them honestly and they will trust us. Treat them with contempt, as this President has, and they will show contempt for us.

(2) Why are you taking away our civil liberties?

(Yeah!!! Only wish the questioner had spoken up more clearly. Kerry answered great, but I wished for one-sentence clarity: Protecting America from terrorism does NOT require trampling on civil liberties.)

(3) The three mistakes. (Checkmate!)

[BayouBengal07]

1. The "Freedom Fries" thing was from Congressional Republicans.

But I wish Kerry would have brought up Rumsfeld's "Old Europe" quip.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. Wasn't there some crap about the "chocolate making countries"

of Europe from Rummy or Cheney, also?