Iraq and a hard place
CNN's lede:
Most Americans want troops home but in a gradual redeployment. The debate has been framed -- by Murtha, Dean, Pelosi, Bush, Kerry, Rumsfeld and Cheney (et al) -- as exit now or finish the job. That is not a good construct for the Democrats to gain support.
The few who have not framed it in this manner are Wesley Clark, Jack Reed and Hillary Clinton. Clark and Reed are pragmatic and thoughtful. Hillary is more of a non-entity.
As with any poll, what matters is the tone of the question. Add to that the tone of the debate around the issue.
(CNN) -- As President Bush prepares to make his final speech on the strategy for winning the war in Iraq, a recent poll indicates that fewer people are opposed to the U.S. presence there, but they don't think the U.S. is winning the effort.I think there are two reasons for this. First, the president has done relatively well in his speeches; he can give a good speech -- and a good q&a it seems -- when it really matters. However, this poll may have moved because of the recent framing of the debate: should we stay or should we go?
Most Americans want troops home but in a gradual redeployment. The debate has been framed -- by Murtha, Dean, Pelosi, Bush, Kerry, Rumsfeld and Cheney (et al) -- as exit now or finish the job. That is not a good construct for the Democrats to gain support.
The few who have not framed it in this manner are Wesley Clark, Jack Reed and Hillary Clinton. Clark and Reed are pragmatic and thoughtful. Hillary is more of a non-entity.
As with any poll, what matters is the tone of the question. Add to that the tone of the debate around the issue.
posted by Bravo 2-1 at 9:45 AM
4 Comments:
How about a dirty political trickster with a security clearance?
The best tone from the Dems has been Reed and Clark. Unfortunately, the powers that be in my party are not looking to those two enough.
Did you see Joe Klein's piece in this week's Time Online? It's worth the read.
It is clear that placing Howard Dean in his present role was incredibly shortsighted.
I've always like Clark, he was my pick in the primaries. He has real experience and real leadership qualities combined. These are precisely what is lacking from every side of the debate. And unfortunately what keeps him from grabbing any real power in the party is also what makes him so appealing...he's not a politician.
Clark has a real tin ear for politics. I find it hilarious, but when you lecture a kindergarten kid on using the marker table efficiently, eh....
That Klein article summed John Kerry up quite well.
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