[Speed Gibson,
Sunday October 17, 2004 at 1:19pm]
Surprise! Star Tribune Endorses Kerry
We all knew it was coming. Senator Kerry is the Democratic candidate. Our largest paper always endorses the Democratic candidates for major office. After all, they even endorsed Democrat Dee Long even after she lied about attending a conference and tried to cover up the phone card scandal.
Yes, the Minneapolis Star Tribune today endorsed John Kerry for President, again, to no one's surprise. But the choice of words suggests that these unsigned contributors know they are playing a weak hand.
Where's the "Kerry will fix this" platitude? All we get is a course change? To where?
Steeped" is passive, merely meaning knowledgeable. The ability to act wisely is what counts.
"Pervert" as as noun refers to sexual deviates, clearly not the context here. As a verb, it means change, but connotation of "perversion" has made good writers prefer other, less loaded terms. The StarTribune apparently couldn't pass on the chance to call the President a pervert while hiding behind the dictionary.
Spending is what's causing the deficit to grow, admittedly much of it by Bush. Kerry has presented no meaningful specifics beyond "I have a plan" for health care, including how to pay for it. "Devious" is another cute term, meaning "indirect" but with that delightful air of the rogue about it.
While they later charge that Bush lacks these qualities, notice that they do not say that Kerry does. And how could they? Senator Kerry has yet to show any executive ability of any kind, not now, not in the Senate, not even in Vietnam as the Swift Vets have conclusively shown. He, like candidate Gore in 2000, cannot even manage his campaign office, which has undergone several shakeups. No, they leave it to you to infer that Kerry has these qualities.
The passive voice is used again, that Bush has proved to be divisive, not that Bush did the dividing. This avoids having to consider the more credible explanation that the Democrats are in fact the ones doing the dividing.
A "nuance" by dictionary definition is a very slight difference, something you can worry about once the big decisions are made. But "nuance" is also a liberal code word used to suggest your opponent is not a deep thinker or well-read, for those who lack the courage to say so directly.
Here again, the passive voice and an obscure word are used to call the President a liar. (Mendacity is the act of not telling the truth.) They can't call him a liar to his face of course, because then they'd have to get into specifics, which in turn would expose many of the false statements in this editorial.
This is clever scope limitation. First Kerry's reputation as a flip-flopper did not begin with President Bush. His Democratic rivals in the Primaries noticed this a year ago. Second, he has flip-flopped on many issues, not just Iraq. All of this is well-documented.
There's that word nuance again! But why the word "approach" here? How about his "record" instead, which is replete with churlish rhetoric, contradictions, a very poor choice for Vice President, and thoughtless gaffes like mentioning Mary Cheney in the last debate?
Earlier, the editorial states "The decision for war came first; the way to justify it came second..." So it is with this editorial. The decision is made first (based on party affliation), then find some other reasons to support it. Shore up the weak points with false information, embellish with the Star Tribune's "mature, nuanced, thoughtful" style, and go to press.
Yes, the Minneapolis Star Tribune today endorsed John Kerry for President, again, to no one's surprise. But the choice of words suggests that these unsigned contributors know they are playing a weak hand.
Political passions are burning white hot as Nov. 2 nears. Americans realize what is at stake: the United States' ability to lead in the world, protect its citizens at home, preserve its treasured liberties, and leave a legacy of hope and opportunity. George W. Bush's presidency has put all that at risk. Sen. John Kerry proposes a sharp course change.
Where's the "Kerry will fix this" platitude? All we get is a course change? To where?
Long steeped in U.S. foreign policy, Kerry understands ...
Steeped" is passive, merely meaning knowledgeable. The ability to act wisely is what counts.
Kerry recognizes that to prevail in the struggle against terrorism, America must return to the moral high ground rather than unilaterally pursue a perverted, narrow vision of its national interest.
"Pervert" as as noun refers to sexual deviates, clearly not the context here. As a verb, it means change, but connotation of "perversion" has made good writers prefer other, less loaded terms. The StarTribune apparently couldn't pass on the chance to call the President a pervert while hiding behind the dictionary.
At home Kerry would roll back Bush's tax cuts to the nation's wealthiest taxpayers, now the chief cause of massive federal deficits [FALSE!], and work to shore up the middle class. He has presented a sound plan for affordable health care [FALSE!], while shunning GOP efforts to privatize pieces of Medicare and Social Security. He would reverse Bush's devious dismantling of environmental protections, and he would preserve the safety net that protects America's most vulnerable citizens.
Spending is what's causing the deficit to grow, admittedly much of it by Bush. Kerry has presented no meaningful specifics beyond "I have a plan" for health care, including how to pay for it. "Devious" is another cute term, meaning "indirect" but with that delightful air of the rogue about it.
Great presidential leadership harnesses keen policy insight, brilliant use of executive skills and the ability to inspire American citizens -- appealing to their highest aspirations and uniting them in pursuit of the nation's noblest values.
While they later charge that Bush lacks these qualities, notice that they do not say that Kerry does. And how could they? Senator Kerry has yet to show any executive ability of any kind, not now, not in the Senate, not even in Vietnam as the Swift Vets have conclusively shown. He, like candidate Gore in 2000, cannot even manage his campaign office, which has undergone several shakeups. No, they leave it to you to infer that Kerry has these qualities.
While seeking office in 2000, Bush defined himself as "a uniter, not a divider." He has proved to be the most divisive, insular and partisan president since Richard Nixon.
The passive voice is used again, that Bush has proved to be divisive, not that Bush did the dividing. This avoids having to consider the more credible explanation that the Democrats are in fact the ones doing the dividing.
Nothing in President Bush's performance has been more damaging to U.S. strength and security than his wholesale redefinition of America's relationship with other nations. [It's apparently 9/10/2001 at the Star Tribune] Disdainful of policy nuances, Bush relied on a small group of advisers to craft a dangerous departure from consultative foreign policy.
A "nuance" by dictionary definition is a very slight difference, something you can worry about once the big decisions are made. But "nuance" is also a liberal code word used to suggest your opponent is not a deep thinker or well-read, for those who lack the courage to say so directly.
Bush has governed with mendacity and secrecy at home as well, undermining the democratic imperatives of accountability, transparency and openness.
Here again, the passive voice and an obscure word are used to call the President a liar. (Mendacity is the act of not telling the truth.) They can't call him a liar to his face of course, because then they'd have to get into specifics, which in turn would expose many of the false statements in this editorial.
Contrary to Bush's portrait of him as a "flip-flopper" on Iraq,
This is clever scope limitation. First Kerry's reputation as a flip-flopper did not begin with President Bush. His Democratic rivals in the Primaries noticed this a year ago. Second, he has flip-flopped on many issues, not just Iraq. All of this is well-documented.
Kerry's approach demonstrates maturity, nuance and thoughtfulness. Those qualities don't always play well in campaign sound bites. But they will serve America exceedingly well in the Oval Office.
There's that word nuance again! But why the word "approach" here? How about his "record" instead, which is replete with churlish rhetoric, contradictions, a very poor choice for Vice President, and thoughtless gaffes like mentioning Mary Cheney in the last debate?
Earlier, the editorial states "The decision for war came first; the way to justify it came second..." So it is with this editorial. The decision is made first (based on party affliation), then find some other reasons to support it. Shore up the weak points with false information, embellish with the Star Tribune's "mature, nuanced, thoughtful" style, and go to press.