Kerry stepped on it...People will realize

[Pollwatch99]

Kerry showed his true colors.  He referred to passing the global test.  People will realize it soon

[MODU]

So are you saying he did well, or poorly?

[Lunar]

Kerry fumbled for a phrase to define the criteria that must be met for a preemtive strike to exist.  He defined it as a "global test" which I just took to mean "net benefits."

[Pollwatch99]

Kerrry was more articulate.  Bush was Bush.  On substance, Kerry has 2 major flaws.  His postion on North Korea was abandon multi-national talks and do bi-lateral ( strange ). The other was saying that the President had to pass a "global test".  Bad job.  
 

[ATFFL]

Global test will likely be the sound bit the Bush camp tries to use against Bush.  Could be effective if used right.

[Pollwatch99]

Kerry fumbled for a phrase to define the criteria that must be met for a preemtive strike to exist.  He defined it as a "global test" which I just took to mean "net benefits."

Not just a misstatement, Bush challenged it.  If it was a poor choiuce of workds, Kerry would have gone back to it.

[WalterMitty]

Kerrry was more articulate.  Bush was Bush.  On substance, Kerry has 2 major flaws.  His postion on North Korea was abandon multi-national talks and do bi-lateral ( strange ). The other was saying that the President had to pass a "global test".  Bad job.  
 

not strange.  i actually agree with kerry on that.  i do believe we should have bilateral talks with north korea.  however, we have to be tough with them.

[Pollwatch99]

Global test will likely be the sound bit the Bush camp tries to use against Bush.  Could be effective if used right.

It is the key to Kerry's thinking.  IRAQ was wrong becuase we didn't have the "right coalition".  Bush didn't pass the global test.

[mddem2004]

Kerrry was more articulate.  Bush was Bush.  On substance, Kerry has 2 major flaws.  His postion on North Korea was abandon multi-national talks and do bi-lateral ( strange ). The other was saying that the President had to pass a "global test".  Bad job.  
 

Obviously you didn't listen closely - Kerry TWICE said he did not favor abandoning the 6 nation talks - just that a bi-lateral line should be pursued as well......

[J-Mann]

Kerrry was more articulate.  Bush was Bush.  On substance, Kerry has 2 major flaws.  His postion on North Korea was abandon multi-national talks and do bi-lateral ( strange ). The other was saying that the President had to pass a "global test".  Bad job.  
 

Why?  That only puts Kim Jong Il toe-to-toe with the US.  That's what he wants.  The others who would be involved in multilateral talks like China, South Korea, and Japan have a strong regional interest in keeping North Korea under control.  Bilateral talks make us look desperate.  I think in this situation, it's time to start shifting some of the diplomatic responsibility to other nations, especially those others in the East Asian arena.

not strange.  i actually agree with kerry on that.  i do believe we should have bilateral talks with north korea.  however, we have to be tough with them.

[Pollwatch99]

Kerrry was more articulate.  Bush was Bush.  On substance, Kerry has 2 major flaws.  His postion on North Korea was abandon multi-national talks and do bi-lateral ( strange ). The other was saying that the President had to pass a "global test".  Bad job.  
 

Obviously you didn't listen closely - Kerry TWICE said he did not favor abandoning the 6 nation talks - just that a bi-lateral line should be pursued as well......

Again Kerry wants both sides of the postion.  Bi-lateral talks didn't work with North Korea under Clinton.  Bush is trying multi-lateral talks.  Kerry's answer is Bush policy is wrong.  Don't abandon it, keep it, but do bi-lateral.  

[Lunar]

Again Kerry wants both sides of the postion.  Bi-lateral talks didn't work with North Korea under Clinton.  Bush is trying multi-lateral talks.  Kerry's answer is Bush policy is wrong.  Don't abandon it, keep it, but do bi-lateral.  

You just flip flopped yourself.

His postion on North Korea was abandon multi-national talks
and then it was
Don't abandon it

Shrug.  No need to super-spin here my good sir.  

[Giant Saguaro]

The global test comment might correspond to Dean's "seek permission" comment. I don't think that will play well at all. The fact that Kerry is seemingly willing to give virtually any conceivable thing away at the negotiation table is going to come back to bite him a bit, I think. If Bush could have been more rhetorically sound and had a better command over his language this would have been a clear win for him.

[Sam Spade]

I agree, Saguaro, 100% on that one.

[shankbear]

The "global test" is tantamount to giving our sovereignty away.  It is his appeasement attitude and his never-ending need to please people.  He is globally co-dependent.

[classical liberal]

Once again Kerry is ing up, not because of his position, but because of his articulation.

By global-test he means "cost-benefit analysis test" but comes off as saying meaning "abdicate our sovreignty".  As a pragmatist, I think that analysing the cost(in monetary capital, political capital, goodwill, favors, etc) w.r.t. our national interests before acting is a damn fine idea; but Kerry (viewed by a pinko quasi-f****t by those who took his comment in an unintended manner) didn't come off as saying that he would be pragmatic, rather that he would be a pussy.