Election Recycling: Sick of It All Edition
• Bushsays transfer of power in Iraq "remains firm," blames Shiite rebellion on clericMoqtada Sadr: "This is one person, this is a person, and followers, who are trying to say, 'We don't want democracy.'" [WP and WT ]
• Kennedycompares Iraq to Veitnam, saysBush"created the largest credibility gap sinceRichard Nixon"and that the war has "diverted attention from the administration's deceptions here at home -- especially on the economy, health care and education." [WP ]
• Kerrydefends his downtime: "I'll put out a positive message, define myself to people there's plenty of time here." [ NYT ]
•No mention of Al Qaeda inClinton'sfinal report on national security. [ WT ]
• Bush: "The march to war was a difficult period for our economy. We're now marching to peace. But think what our economy has been through: a recession, an attack, corporate scandals and a march to war. And we've overcome them all."Kerry: "I hope we create jobs. Nothing would be better for our country or for me, because the better the country does, the more people will be open to a broader set of choices that we have in the nation about our future. And on every issue, this administration is moving in the wrong direction." [NYT and WT ]
• Cheneyin 1986: "Let us rid ourselves of the fiction that low oil prices are somehow good for the United States." [ NYT ]
• Blairto visitBushnext week to discuss Iraq. [ NYT ]
•Ads swamp swing states. "It's too soon. We're going to be so sick of all of it. We've got to go through spring and summer and fall. November will never get here. But I guess that's the way the politicians want it," says one voter. [ LAT ]
•Both parties go door-to-door for votes. "It's funny; it's in vogue. Some of us have labored in the trenches of grass-roots politics for a lifetime and fought with the party leadership for more resources. Now it's the thing to do," says one Democratic organizer. [ NYT ]
• Clintonand former aides deeply involved in oustingBush.[ WT ]
• Nadersuffers setback; 259 votes shy of qualification for Oregon ballot. [ LAT ]
• Clinton'sboyhood home gutted by fire. [ WP ]
[The right-hand pitch REUTERS/Jason Reed ]