May 3, 2004

Kerry is planning a multimillion dollar advertising campaign emphasizing his Vietnam War experience and political career in general. This will be good to counter some of the negative Bush ads and may also help define his character. But that is all.

Americans don’t care about the past. Bush’s military past and lack of experience caused some headlines earlier this year but had little negative effect on his overall campaign.  Vietnam is a chapter in a history book and it seems most Americans want it that way.

Basically, the voter is selfish and wants to know what you can do for them now or next year. Can you blame them?

Kerry must answer questions such as:

What will be done in Iraq? Do we have enough troops, if not then how are you going to send more?  What about armor for people and vehicles? What about the draft? How about an exit strategy?

What about Afghanistan?  Where are we militarily?  It seems it is a forgotten war though it was our first military response to 911. Have we succeeded in our goals? What are our goals?

How are you going to balance the budget? Really! Tax cuts for rich could be removed but how will you do this? Do you have specific language for a new law? Have you estimated the financial results?

How are you going to improve job opportunities? Have you identified groups of workers needing retraining? If yes, then how are they to be retrained? Where will the money come from, what types of programs, how are they to be implemented?

How will you improve National Security?  If laws need changing then which ones and why? How can the “system” be improved? What would you change? Why aren’t the FBI and CIA still not cooperating with each other?

The new Medicare prescription drug plan is going to cost hundreds of billions and Bush significantly underestimated the amount. Where will the money come from? What about drugs from outside the U.S.?

The “Leave No Child Behind Program” has not worked for most school districts even in Texas where Bush touted it as an answer to a mediocre educational system.  What changes would you make? Get specific.

Bush has been criticized for rolling back many good environmental laws and relaxing others.  What would you do differently?  What would you do immediately?

Gas prices are high right now and are a symptom of our dependence on oil. What will you do to make America more independent?  Bush used an Alaskan oil deposit as an example of what American needed to do to become independent. Though that oil reserve is insignificant in relation to what we consume it made a great political statement for him and his allies. What specific steps would you take to find more oil and gas? What about solar and hydrogen? Where can they be developed and made economically feasible?  If you want better gas mileage for all vehicles then describe the steps to do this.

Bush talks about strengthening Social Security like it will be there when people need it.  Most people don’t think it will be and they are probably right. The funds on the system are always under attack and used, as needed by Congress. How would you stop that? How you would permanently protect the system and make it adaptable for the long term?

What Americans want are specific plans in key areas. Don’t give us generalities and the same old political trash.