Election Recycling: We Must Have Malaise! Edition
• Kerry: "I think the approach of this administration has been consistent and stubborn in the way that it persists in this American occupation and in proceeding down its own road. It has made that mistake from Day One, and it is costing us money and I think it is costing us lives."Racicotsays comments undermine the U.S. effort. [ WP and NYT ]
• Bushshifts policy and backs Israel's claim to occupied areas of the West Bank: "The realities on the ground and in the region have changed greatly over the last several decades, and any final settlement must take into account those realities and be agreeable to the parties." [ WP and NYT ]
• KerryonBush'sMiddle East annoucement: "I think that could be a positive step. What's important obviously is the security of the state of Israel, and that's what the prime minister and the president, I think, are trying to address." Move could increaseBushsupport among Jews; Palestinians denounce the policy: "We reject this, we will not accept it." [ WP and WP ]
•CIA blamed by 9/11 panel;Tenetadmits mistakes. Report thatTenetnever talked toBushin August 2001 later deemed inaccurate. [ WP and WP and NYT ]
• Bushaides laugh at insistence he apologize; lack of remorse was well-coordinated: "We must return to the days ofJimmy Carter!"We must have malaise! We must have a weak president! We must have a moroseKerrylikeapology!"Lockhart: "The president is always given the benefit of the doubt on issues of war and peace. The more he takes the position of, `Everything I've done is right and nothing is my fault,' the less credibility he has in making the case." [NYT and WSJ ]
• Kerry'sattacks onBush'scredibility could bring scrutiny ofKerry'sinconsistency.Rothenberg: "It doesn't merely take on the president on one issue, or one subject or one decision. If successful, it undercuts him across the board."Matthew Dowd: "They're swimming way upstream on this one." [LAT ]
• BC04decreases ad spending: "We always said there was a window of opportunity for framing the race. We feel that window is closing, and we don't want to waste our resources." [ WP ]
•Undecided voters still undecided;Bushconsidered a likeable, strong leader, who is reckless and arrogant;Kerryis called smart but inconsistent. [ WSJ and WT ]
•SomeBushsupporters raise concerns about Iraq. [ BG ]
•FEC ruling on 527s is unlikely to affect 2004 race. [ LAT ]
• Cheneywarns China about pressuring Hong Kong, talks of North Korea's nuclear program. [ WP and NYT ]
• HillarytellsKerryhow to read to children: "John, make sure he can see that. . . John, turn it around one more time." [ NYT and LAT ]
• Bushkeeps promise to jog around the South Lawn with wounded soldier. [ WT ]
• Kerry'slead grows in New York; Bush's approval rating down to 40%. [ USAT ]
[If we couldn't see both of Kerry's hands, I'd think something was up. . . AP Photo/Steven Senne ]