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| The Democrat that Bush fears the most |
| 2003-12-18 |
| When US President George W. Bush visited Canberra in October, he told his friend John Howard that the Democratic candidate who, if he won the primaries, would be his most formidable opponent in the 2004 presidential election was Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman. If Joe wins the Presidency, I could live with it as THE most important issue is our nation’s security now and for the future. What a fantastic irony it would be if the capture of Saddam Hussein this week led to the derailing of former Vermont governor Howard Dean’s anti-war candidacy and Bush had to face the formidable Lieberman in November. One thing you can say about Bush is that he is expert at winning elections and his assessment of Lieberman – Al Gore’s running mate in 2000 and the most hawkish of the Democrats – is a fascinating insight into the role he thinks national security will play in November’s election. Hill finishes the year delighted that there were no Australian defence fatalities and that the ADF is held in such high esteem in the community: "When I first went to Iraq in April one or two soldiers said to me they were worried about what their reception would be back home. I said don’t worry, you’ll be treated like heroes. It’s one thing to debate the politics but nowadays when a government commits the troops the people rally round them." Bush knows this. So do Lieberman, Howard and Latham. |
| Posted by:ColoradoConservative |
| #15 So....where is this "fear" crap coming from? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-12-18 10:08:24 PM |
| #14 The numbers cited above add up to 62%. The leading category was "Don't Know" at 28%. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2003-12-18 9:41:41 PM |
| #13 BH - OMG! Kerry served in Vietnam! Vietnam! Well that automatically makes him a foreign policy Expert and war *H*E*R*O* ! ! |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2003-12-18 7:37:10 PM |
| #12 John Adams had recently turned aside invites to various festivities, citing poor health. His last words were, "Thomas Jefferson lives," not knowing Jefferson expired a few hours earlier, July 4, 1826. The country turned 50 that day. |
| Posted by: Glenn (not Reynolds) 2003-12-18 6:40:01 PM |
| #11 The guy Bush really ought to fear is John Kerry. I don't know if you guys have heard, but he served in Vietnam! Vietnam, folks! |
| Posted by: BH 2003-12-18 6:16:12 PM |
| #10 MW - that other 38% are probably the Dems who plan to vote for Bush. We've heard a LOT about them, from Zell Miller down to local Rantburgers. As the man said, the big question is whether the Democratic Party will remain a viable political apparatus after November, 2004. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-12-18 1:57:29 PM |
| #9 The numbers cited above add up to 62%. There is still a huge number of undecided Dem. voters out there. I think that once Dean begins to implode (which will happen once primaries start in more conservative states like South Carolina and a different sort of voter begins to examine his statements carefully), we'll see some interesting shifts in the standings. |
| Posted by: MW 2003-12-18 1:44:50 PM |
| #8 I doubt Bush "fears" any of the Democrats at this point; the Democratic Party looks less fearsome than it has at any time in the last half-century. The most interesting question is whether the party itself will even survive next year's election, not whether they'll win the presidency. |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2003-12-18 1:30:10 PM |
| #7 I don't think Bush fears anybody right now. The opposition is really weak. |
| Posted by: B 2003-12-18 1:25:20 PM |
| #6 frankly, if I were Bush I would fear Edwards who is more photogenic and who has a better voice and also a better grasp of the domestic issues than Edwards also, if the dems nominate Lieberman, there would be a massive defection of the ultra leftist to Nader - somewhat less so in the case of Edwards |
| Posted by: mhw 2003-12-18 1:16:48 PM |
| #5 Latest NYT/CBS poll of Democratic primary voters. Howard Dean: 23% Sen. Joseph Lieberman: 10% Gen. Wesley Clark: 10% Rep. Dick Gephardt: 6% Rev. Al Sharpton: 5% Sen. John Kerry: 4% Sen. John Edwards: 2% Rep. Dennis Kucinich: 1% Sen. Carol Moseley Braun: 1% Sharton leads Kerry, Bwahahaha! |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-12-18 12:52:08 PM |
| #4 That would be Jefferson and Adams. Both died on July 4. |
| Posted by: Tassled Loafered Leech 2003-12-18 12:45:34 PM |
| #3 Ptah: You're thinking of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson -- and they both died on July 4. |
| Posted by: Matt 2003-12-18 12:25:19 PM |
| #2 I cannot recall the names, but there were two American Patriots, active in the Revolution and the politics of the young nation. They vigorously opposed each other on many issues, but when they died, ironically on the SAME day, each expressed relief and thankfulness that the other was still alive to watch over the Republic. Bush doesn't intend to lose, but he, and all of us, would rather that he lose to Liberman than anyone else. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2003-12-18 12:16:29 PM |
| #1 given the choice between capturing saddam and facing a more formidable election opponent or taking the easy road to re-election, I have no doubt Bush would put Sammy in the jug - that's what makes him a better choice than the Dems |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-12-18 12:15:27 PM |