CNN.com - Senate approves Iraq war resolution - Oct. 11, 2002

I keep hearing from the Bush Camp about how Kerry voted "for the war in Iraq", then against "funding the war in Iraq". Actually, Kerry voted to give the President authority to go to war (H.J.Res. 114). Not for the war itself. Is a vote to give the authority to go to war the same as voting "for" the war? Maybe so. I can argue both sides. But, I mainly believe the President should have had the power to attack Iraq if Saddam didn't give up the WMDs. It actually isn't a war. I don't think there was ever an actual declaration of war. The President just had the authority to attack Iraq. And of course, we all believed as we were told and thought there were stockpiles of deadly WMD being readied to hand over to terrorists. Ironically, I think more Anthrax was mailed in the US than found in Iraq, and investigators believe it *came* from the US. So, this is the first part. Bush attacks Kerry on this.. his voting to give him (Bush) authority to attack Iraq.. followed up by something else, but precursed with "He voted for the war on Iraq". Should really be "He voted to give me, the Commander In Chief, the authority to attack Iraq."

The second part is Kerry not voting to fund the war (I forget the resolution number). He didn't want a) for the deficit to get even larger, and b) for us to end up picking up the whole bill for this. He wanted more allies on board to help pay for this. In the 1991 conflict, the world paid for about 95% of it. Now, the USA is paying for about 90% of this conflict. Suddenly, Kerry is a flip-flopper?! He voted to give the Pres authority, but didn't want us to pay for it. I don't see the flip-flop. I see someone giving the Pres power, and then being fiscally careful.

I really wish the Bushies would stop using these two things against Kerry. Or, stop spinning it. "Kerry voted to give me power to attack a country based on incorrect intelligence because I told him the intelligence was good, because I thought it was good... then he didn't want to pay for my war!!!" seems fair.

How about "Dude, sorry about the job deficit" or "Hey, really sorry the economy is so sluggish." How about "Sorry, still don't know where bin laden is. He's one slipperly guy." Notice bin laden hasn't been mentioned for a while? Notice how the phrase "turning the corner" went away real quick because soon after there were huge losses in jobs?

C'mon. If 9/11 didn't happen, we wouldn't vote Bush in for a second term. And we shouldn't vote him back in because it did happen.

Counter-rant at will.