Election Recycling: Very Emotional Edition
•History saysBushshould focus on himself, not opponent. "If you look at theBushcampaign strategy, it looks as though they are trying harder to undermineKerrythan sell people aboutBush.But if people aren't feeling good about the incumbent, it is very hard for him to sell voters on the idea that voting for the challenger would make the situation even worse," says an expert in presidential elections. [ LAT ]
• Kerry and Bushpoint fingers as gas prices hit record highs. [ NYT ]
• Bushdefends Israel's assassination of Hamas leader as Israel's "right to defend herself from terror." He adds, the Middle East is "a troubled region and the attacks were troubling. There needs to be a focused, concerted effort by all parties to fight terror." [ WP ]
•Democrats accuse the GOP of making gay marriage a divisive election issue by pushing the bill closer to the election.Daschle: "I think that there are those who are advocating this legislation, this constitutional amendment, in an effort to polarize and to divide the country in ways that can be very emotional." [WP ]
• Kerryuses report that Medicare will be broke by 2019 as ammunition againstBush: "Today, the Medicare trustees have reported that because ofGeorge Bush'sirresponsible tax breaks for the wealthy and his giveaway to the prescription drug companies, Medicare might not even be there for our generation." The report partly blamesBush'spolicies. [ WP and WT ]
• Bush: "The facts are these: George Tenetbriefed me on a regular basis about the terrorist threats to the United States of America. And had my administration had any information that terrorists were going to attack New York City on September 11, we would have acted." [ WT ]
• ClintonandBushadministrations faulted by 9/11 panel;Ricepressed to testify;Clarketestifies today. [ WP and WP ]
• Kerrywaits for copy ofClarkebook before issuing comment. Says Ketchum bookseller: "Nobody around here is worried about it, probably includingJohn Kerry.Around here, we have a saying about Ketchum time. You don't see a watch here, do you?" [ LAT ]
• Kerryoften advocated for Massachusetts firms and his donors, though "even his corporate donors describe his regulatory stances as unpredictable." [ NYT ]
•Liberal groups aim to keepKerrycompetitive in ad spending. "It's increasingly clear that Democrats will have enough money to stay competitive and be heard throughout the spring and summer. We're not spending as much [asBush]but we don't have to. We just have to spend it in the right place," saidJim Jordon,an advisor. [ WP ]
•Group of black pastors join to protest gay marriage: "To equate a lifestyle choice to racism demeans the work of the entire civil rights movement. People are free in our nation to pursue relationships as they choose. To redefine marriage, however, to suit the preference of those choosing alternative lifestyles is wrong." [ WT ]
[Doesn't he know he's going to catch her gay? AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais ]