Election Recycling: Even C-SPAN Junkies Edition
• CheneyattacksKerry: "Whatever the explanation, whatever nuances he might fault us for neglecting, it is not an impressive record for someone who aspires to become commander in chief in this time of testing for our country."KerrysaysBush'sfailures "have left the real interests of our country and of the world in tatters across this planet" and made U.S. forces "more extended than at any time in a generation." [ WP and NYT ]
•2004 race is about masculinity, maleness, and macho: "It's a particularly American definition of masculinity that, somehow, if you are intellectual and have a lot of book learning and talk in ways that make that clear, then you are feminized. You are seen as someone who could waffle when it comes time to make a big decision. All of that is code for not being masculine enough," said a sociologist. Credibility is also key, according to strategists. [ LAT and USAT ]
• Bushcalls the shots of his campaign.Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.): "He said since they were blasting him for two months, they had to use 'comparative ads.' And he smiled when he said that. He said that would get the debate started." [ NYT ]
•Most Americans - even C-SPAN junkies - feel disconnected from their government and the political process according to new poll. [ WP ]
• Kerrystumbles in light ofBushoffensive. "You're going to see us continue to be more aggressive. I mean, everywhereKerrygoes, he's not only rebutted, but 'pre-butted,'" saidBushofficial. (Insert gay marriage joke here.) [ WT ]
• Bush'sstance on marriage energizes gay community: "Will it translate into ground troops? It's a little too early to tell. But there is a kind of focused sense within the gay community on the election," said the political director of the Human Rights Campaign. [ LAT ]
•House GOP denounce Spanish election results, supportBush: "If we follow the example of the new Spanish government, and we accept failure in Iraq and permit victory of the terrorists there, there will be no counting the number of people around the world who will suffer the consequences,"House Majority Leader Tom Deay (R-Tex.)said. [ WP ]
• Kerrydoes not agree withDean'sstatement that the Iraqi war caused the Madrid bombings. [ LAT ]
•Fresh ads from MoveOn.org and the Media Fund attackBushon jobs and Iraq. [ BG and ]
• Dean,introduces new organization, Democracy for America: "We will show solidarity in our continued campaign to take back the core of power in American politics from back rooms and special interests to a political ethos based in, and built from, community." [ BG ]
•New Democratic group called Committee to Redefeat the President. "What we want to do is harness activities in regions that are highly competitive and decided by a small margin," said the director. [ WT ]
[Living history. Photo: AP Photo/Reed Saxon ]