Need some good Kerry talking points

[demnan]

I need some good talking points as I'm going canvassing this weekend. The area where I'll be canvassing is a Northern Virginia suburb that tends conservative, but there is a lot of diversity and a lot of government workers as well as military.

Any good talking points would be appreciated.

[wtmusic]

1. Go to Kerry's website

but instead of his position papers read his "book":

http://www.johnkerry.com/plan/

nicely bullet-pointed and more concrete than the papers.

[demnan]

2. Thanks

That's a good suggestion. I was also hoping someone had personally had success with a particular talking point they could share here.

[bigtree]

3. usnewswire

daily, detailed releases from the Kerry camp

http://releases.usnewswire.com/

Do a keyword search and enter Kerry for archived releases

[A_Possum]

4. Kerry shut down Bin Laden's bankers

"Bush did business with Bin Laden's bankers while Kerry was fighting to shut it down to terrorist and drug connections."

"Long before September 11, 2001, George W. Bush got a 25 million dollar loan from the same bankers that dealt with bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, while John Kerry was fighting to stop this bank's global laundering of money for drug lords and terrorists. John Kerry shut it down. He's been fighting terrorism at its roots since before George Bush ran for office."

[volosong]

5. Tell The Voters To Ask the President The Following:

1. Why is it that you claim to be a friend of veterans and yet have proposed so many cuts to programs benefiting veterans including the closure of some VA hospitals?
2. If you believe Sen. Kerry's military service was "honorable" and something "about which he should be proud," then why do you refuse to specifically condemn the Swift Boat Veterans? Aren't values more than something to which one gives lip service?
3. Former Sen. Max Cleland left half of his body in Vietnam. Yet when he came to your ranch with a letter signed by 9 other Congressional war heroes, neither you nor any of your immediate aides had the decency and courage to accept the letter. Why were you afraid of a triple amputee in a wheelchair?
4. The almost 3,000 victims of the WTC attacks did not die for politicians or political parties. How do you justify hijacking emotions related to that tragedy for your own personal political gain?
5. You are quoted as having said, "One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures." Is that why you continued to read "My Pet Goat" for almost 17 minutes after Andrew Card informed you that the US was under attack? Why wasn't the security of America more important than reading a kiddie book?
6. What possessed you to use the 9/11 national tragedy as a punch line in your 'Trifecta' joke? And to follow up, why did your partisan republican audiences laugh with you?
7. Why haven't you let the public see the 800-page 9-11 investigation report?
8. Why did your administration lobby Daschle to drop investigation of the Sept. 11th tragedies?
9. How many federal employees were fired following the catastrophic intelligence failures on 9/11?
10. Can you explain why did NORAD deviated from Standard Operating Procedure on the morning of 9-11, failing to scramble jets? If not, can you tell us the status of that investigation?
11.Can you explain why $50 million allocated to investigate the Columbia Shuttle disaster, yet only $3 million was allocated to investigate 9-11?
12. How did you get an Honorable Discharge when you failed to complete your service?
13. Your tax cuts can be described as WealthCare. Why did the top 1% income receive the overwhelming majority of tax breaks?
14. Why did you attempt through the Secretary of Commerce to relax the definition of "dolphin safe" so commercial fisheries could catch more tuna known to be contaminated with mercury?
15. Why are two Beligum owned and operated equine slaughterhouses in your home state of Texas continuing to butcher American horses, many stolen family pets, for export to Europe and Japan as a "delicacy"? Isn't this economic rape of America?
16. How do you justify the budget cuts for veterans benefits at precisely the time you are ramping up the military for permanent war?
17. What does “Separation of Church and State” mean to you?
18. It has been reported that you said, "who cares what you think?" to a man that questioned your policies. Is this 'compassionate conservatism' or simple contempt?
19. Where are the WMD?
20. Would you still go to war knowing that there were no WMD?
21. What exactly does "catastrophic success” mean?
22. Forty (40) per cent of homeless men are VETERANS. What are you doing about that situation? Isn't this inconsistent with your statement that, "Home is important. It's important to have a home."—Crawford, Texas, Feb. 18, 2001.
23. 45 million people lack health coverage. Do you think basic health care is an American right? Why haven't you made health care more affordable?
24. Your official discharge records do not include any service after May 15 of 1972. Why is that?
25. Isn't it true that you weren't flying in Alabama because you had been suspended in August of 1972 for failure to “accomplish” a required medical exam? If that is untrue, will you release a copy of that medical exam?
26. "As you know, these are open forums, you're able to come and listen to what I have to say." —George W. Bush, Oct. 28, 2003. When will the press and American people be able to ask you questions?
27. "I'm a follower of American politics." —George W. Bush, Crawford, Texas, Aug. 8, 2003. Don't you think the President should be a leader?
28. "I'm also not very analytical. You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things." —George W. Bush, aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003. Recently, you admitted to making mistakes in Iraq. Don't you think being more analytical and erudite might help?
29. You are quoted as saying, "When I take action, I'm not going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It's going to be decisive." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C. Sept. 19, 2001. Then why are Americans still dying in Iraq almost one year after you declared "Mission Accomplished?"
30. Would you advise your daughters and nephews to enlist for service in Iraq?
31. What exactly are the limits and parameters of the US commitment in Iraq?
32. Your father has had several skin lesions removed from his face. Why do you oppose environmental legislation that would reduce skin cancer rates?
33. Regarding the patient's bill of rights, you are quoted as having said on June 13, 2001: "I haven't had a chance to talk, but I'm confident we'll get a bill that I can live with if we don't." What did you exactly mean by that?
34. At the DNC Sen. Kerry challenged you to run a positive campaign on current issues. In 2001 you said, "It is time to set aside the old partisan bickering and finger-pointing and name-calling." Do you think your current campaign is consistent with those statements?
35. If universal healthcare is important for Iraq, why not here?
36. On Jan. 14, 2001 you said, "The California crunch really is the result of not enough power-generating plants and then not enough power to power the power of generating plants." What does your Administration intend to do to make the US energy independent with renewable fuels that protect our ecosystem?
37. "I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." —George W. Bush, Saginaw, Mich., Sept. 29, 2000. Then why are millions of fish now dying in our lakes and streams? Why are there warnings in many states advising people not to ingest fish because of the dangers of heavy metal poisioning from industrial pollution?
38. Desite your tax cut program, the American economy is still ailing badly. You said, "A tax cut is really one of the anecdotes to coming out of an economic illness." —George W. Bush, The Edge With Paula Zahn, Sept. 18, 2000. Then why are were still in an "economic illness?"
39. Why did the lucrative school testing contracts, which are the main part funded from the "No Child Left Behind" bill, get passed along to your cronies?
40. Can you bring us up to date on the Halliburton investigation?
41. Recently, a Fox News reporter was fired for refusing to report a lie. She sued for wrongful termination, but on appeal, the courts held that the United States has no law that requires news to be true. Do you support this opinion?
42. When was the last time that you spoke before a crowd of exclusively "invited guests?" ("This is what I'm good at. I like meeting people, my fellow citizens, I like interfacing with them." —George W. Bush, outside Pittsburgh, Sept. 8, 2000.)
43. How do you explain the worldwide animosity America now faces? Would you agree that the sentiment is more anti-Bush than anti-America?
44. How do you plan to balance the social services spending in Iraq vs. in the United States?
45. Where is Osama bin Laden?
46. Why did you renege on your campaign promise to support the Kyoto Treaty on global warming?
47. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004. Do you really believe that national policy is beneficial to the United States?
48. Why did you tell the FBI to back off the bin Laden family?
49. Do you believe that dissent is unpatriotic?
50. Why are people who would protest your appearances rounded up and arrested before the events, held without charges, and then released?
51. With Homeland Security initiatives like First Responders being under-funded, how do you reason that creating more foreign enemies is making us any safer?
52. "The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorize himself." - Grand Rapids, Mich., Jan. 29, 2003. If that were true, why did we have to go after Hussein in the first place?
53. On Aug 22, 2002 you proposed deforestation as a means to delimit forest fires. ("We need to understand if you let kindling build up and there's a lightning strike, you're going get yourself a big fire.") Isn't your support for deforestation actually just pandering to logging and timber financial interests? If not, do you think that we should test your theory by setting experimental fires in certain areas of Texas?
54. Why did you and Secretary of State Colin Powell cite a forged document as evidence of Iraq's alleged nuclear program?
55. Why has your Justice Department consistently refused to supply information to Congress on how the USA PATRIOT Act is being implemented, especially in light of the fact that passage of the act was conditional upon adequate oversight by Congress?
56. Why did you fail to fund your "Leave No Child Behind" initiative?
57. Why did you cut funding for Mine Safety Enforcement by $15 Million?
58. If you are so concerned about unemployment, why are there no unemployment extensions?
59. You know that your National Security Advisor lied about the possibility of commercial aircraft being used as weapons. What disciplinary action did you take against her?
60. How can you expect people to be excited about your “Ownership Society” when they cannot pay their bills and put food on the table?
61. What are your real plans for Social Security?
62. On June 15, 2001 when advised of the extent of the US nuclear arsenal you said, ''I had no idea we had so many weapons, ...what do we need them for?'' Please tell us what you have done to reduce our nuclear arsenal.
63. Now that you have liberated Iraq, will you support their desire for a Fundamentalist government?
64. Why did your spokesperson deny that you were drafting a second Domestic Security Enhancement bill (Patriot Act II)?
65. How can you expand reforms to higher grades and junior colleges, stressing basic skills for the workforce of the future, when NCLB has not been successful?
66. "There's no cave deep enough for America, or dark enough to hide."—Oklahoma City, Aug. 29, 2002. Is that really how you envision America?
67. "This foreign policy stuff is a little frustrating."—as quoted by the New York Daily News, April 23, 2002. Is that why you decided to invade Iraq?
68. How do you propose to form international alliances and coalitions to prevent future wars like Iraq and to protect American security?
69. "Our nation must come together to unite."—Tampa, Fla., June 4, 2001. Is that the objective of your present political campaign?
70. "My plan plays down an unprecedented amount of our national debt."—Budget address to Congress, Feb. 27, 2001. This year we have an unprededented $478 billion dollar deficit. Do you think that your "plan" has been successful?
71. "We're concerned about AIDS inside our White House—make no mistake about it."—Washington, D.C., Feb. 7, 2001. How many cases of AIDS did you find in the White House? What are you doing for AIDS research?
72. "Natural gas is hemispheric. I like to call it hemispheric in nature because it is a product that we can find in our neighborhoods."—Austin, Texas, Dec. 20, 2000. Natural gas is not found naturally in many neighborhoods. Does that make them non-hemispheric,and what are your proposals to solve the current energy crisis?
73. How does your statement on "60 Minutes" relate to Administration policy on unemployment? ( "Dick Cheney and I do not want this nation to be in a recession. We want anybody who can find work to be able to find work." Dec 5, 2000)
74. Is it true that your Administration was in fact planning an attack on Iraq prior to 9-11?
75. What is your opinion of PNAC, and do you feel that their views influence your administration?

[Hoping4Change]

6. May I suggest that instead of having talking points simply

approach each person with the question of whether they have heard of John Kerry and what do they think. Then ask about certain specific issues like Healthcare and whether increases in the cost of Healthcare has impacted them and whether No Child Left Behind has made a positive difference in their children's education etc.


Give each person the opportunity to reflect on how Bush's policies have impacted in their lives. Before you plant the seeds of Kerry's ideas the soil needs to be tilled otherwise whatever talking points you throw at them won't take root. You till the soil by asking questions and getting people to think for themselves.

[Monte Carlo]

7. Kerry's been as green as they come on the environment...

... he's always been trustworthy to protect it. He's been very vocal in the past about higher CAFE (fuel mileage) standards and about getting America off of its dependence on foreign oil. Kerry has said that he'd start a "Manhattan Project" for a new fuel source if elected.