Speed Gibson

If I've learned anything from the debates, it's that Senators Kerry and Edwards have a plan. For everything. The people airing all those infomercials will have to find honest work, because John Kerry has an equivalent plan and it's free. They said the details are on their web site, so I decided it's time to take a look.

Let's start with National Security, where according to www.johnkerry.com we read:

Today, we face three great challenges above all others - First, to win the global war against terror; Second, to stop the spread of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons; Third, to promote democracy, freedom, and opportunity around the world, starting by winning the peace in Iraq. [Sounds like the Bush Plan to me!] To meet these challenges, John Kerry's national security policy will be guided by four imperatives:

Launch And Lead A New Era Of Alliances

The threat of terrorism demands alliances on a global scale - to utilize every available resource to get the terrorists before they can strike at us. As president, John Kerry will lead a coalition of the able - because no force on earth is more able than the United States and its allies. [What 'available resources' have we not already availed ourselves of? France and Germany have already refused whoever wins the election.]

Modernize The World's Most Powerful Military To Meet New Threats

John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to transform the world's most powerful military to better address the modern threats of terrorism and proliferation, while ensuring that we have enough properly trained and equipped troops to meet our enduring strategic and regional missions. [With a long history of opposing weapons and intelligence spending, including just recently the nuclear bunker-busters, this just isn't credible. Also, when Secretary Rumsfeld announced plans to draw down our "cold war" forces for the same reason, Kerry went ballistic.]

Deploy All That Is In America's Arsenal

The war on terror cannot be won by military might alone. As president, John Kerry will deploy all the forces in America's arsenal - our diplomacy, our intelligence system, our economic power, and the appeal of our values and ideas - to make America more secure and prevent a new generation of terrorists from emerging. [Which of these is President Bush not using today? Again, this sure sounds like the Bush Plan!]

Free America From Its Dangerous Dependence On Mideast Oil

To secure our full independence and freedom, we must free America from its dangerous dependence on Mideast oil. By tapping American ingenuity, we can achieve that goal while growing our economy and protecting our environment. [How about tapping our American oil reserves, in Alaska and elsewhere? We have the technology to do this with minimal risk to the environment. How about resuming nuclear power generation, like Europe? And we've been down this "alternative fuels" road before, under Jimmy Carter.]

And that's it. No specifics. Not one. In fact, to a Ralph Nader supporter, this could pass for a Republican press release.

Let's continue with the Kerry-Edwards plan for Energy Independence:

Explore And Develop New Energy Sources

Tomorrow's energy economy will be fueled by new energy sources. The Kerry-Edwards plan will invest in the research and exploration needed to turn ideas into fuel and develop renewable energy sources.

Develop Tomorrow's Technology Today

Under the Kerry-Edwards plan, America will take the lead in developing the new technology and production methods needed to ensure that resources such as coal and natural gas are used more efficiently and cleanly, and fully integrated into the New Energy Economy.

Make America Energy Independent Of Middle East Oil
Our security in the war on terror demands an end to our dependence on Middle East oil. Under the Kerry-Edwards plan, we will strengthen our national security while growing our economy and protecting our environment.

Pure rhetoric, usable by any political party in America. No specifics of any kind.

One more? Here's Homeland Security:

Track And Stop Terrorists

Many of the intelligence problems that allowed terrorists to slip into our country before 9/11 have not been addressed. John Kerry and John Edwards will improve our ability to gather, analyze, and share information so we can track down and stop terrorists before they cause harm. [Which problems? How will you address them? At what cost? How soon? By whom?]

Protect our Borders And Shores

Today, our borders, our ports, and our airports are not as secure as they must be. [which is?] John Kerry and John Edwards will make our airports, seaports, and borders more secure without intruding upon personal liberties. [Specifics?]

Harden Vulnerable Targets

Chemical industry lobbying has kept the Bush administration from strengthening security at chemical plants, where an attack could edanger 1 million Americans. [Common sense says that these owners would not oppose reasonable precautions, many of which they likely initiated themselves to protect these expensive assets. So what's left undone?] John Kerry and John Edwards will always put Americans' safety ahead of big business interests and take strong measures to harden likely targets-including nuclear plants, trains, and subways-against possible attack. [Again, it is assumed that business and personal safety are natural enemies, which they are not. Anyway, what strong measures?]

Improve Domestic Readiness

Our first defenders will respond to any attack with courage and hroism-but they also need the equipment and manpower to do the job. John Kerry and John Edwards will back up their words with resources and ensure that America's first responders have everything they need to protect their communities. [This is not a Federal responsibility. More likely, this is more Federal aid to over-spending cities, like the Clinton Crime Bill.]

Guard Liberty.

We must always remember that terrorists do not just target our lives - they target our way of life. John Kerry and John Edwards believe in an America that is safe and free, and they will protect our personal liberties as well as our personal security. [Name one candidate of any party that disagrees with this!]

I could go on, but trust me, the rest of the Kerry-Edwards "Plans for America" are just as vague. Other than raising taxes and nationalizing health care, almost any candidate could run on these platitudes.