The American Spectator

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While there are many who are criticizing the President for what he didn’t say in the debate, he is the clear winner because he is not being criticized for what he did say.

On the other hand, Kerry lost the debate precisely because of what he said, and said, and said. He said that he would invoke a global test before using preemptive force to protect America. Such a policy will make our national defense and the protection of our people subject to the political whims of others, most notably the U.N. He said he would provide nuclear capability to Iran, presumably for peaceful purposes rather than military uses. However, this approach did not work for the Clinton administration with North Korea, and will not work with Iran, a country that supports terrorism, harbors terrorists, and seeks to destabilize the democratic efforts underway in post-Saddam Iraq. He said he would unilaterally disarm by stopping the development of a tactical nuclear weapon intended to destroy terrorist bunkers, thereby lessening our ability to more effectively fight the war against terrorism and to eliminate future Osama Bin Ladens.

p>Kerry clearly said all these things. Clearly, none of them would aid in the war on terror. Clearly, all them would make that war more difficult to fight, and, equally as important, would make the defense of our homeland more difficult to protect from terrorist attacks. Clearly, Kerry lost the debate. br> — Don Kornreich br> Frederick, Maryland /p>

Mr. Hogberg writes: “But soon the John Kerry emerged that we have all come to know and dislike. He started mentioning his time in Vietnam — did you know he was in Vietnam by the way?”

p>Do I ever! Don’t you wish that a merciful God could wipe away Kerry’s memories of that service — so that he wouldn’t be reminding us every 5 minutes? br> — Dan Martin br> Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania /p>

One major difference: Although Iraq was a major topic of conversation during the presidential debate there was little difference between the candidates on the subject. They both had the same opinions regarding Hussein before the war and they both have the same remedies after the war. Train troops, secure borders, have elections and be committed to doing the right thing in terms of bringing democracy to Iraq.