The Scum at the Top
Commentary on the Rats in Washington
General Is For "Anybody But Bush"
By Tom Webb
Washington Correspondent
Pioneer Press
© October 26, 2004
He faults president's foreign policy during campaign stop
with Edwards' wife
With Anoka County emerging as one of the front lines in
this battleground state, the Kerry-Edwards campaign on
Monday deployed a general.
Retired Gen. Merrill "Tony" McPeak, former chief of staff
of the U.S. Air Force, spoke at a Ham Lake VFW hall about
his deep unhappiness with the Bush administration's handling
of world affairs. McPeak supported George W. Bush four years
ago, but no more.
"We have many more enemies than we had four years ago, and
many fewer friends," McPeak told about 225 Democrats
gathered. He later added, "We need to get someone there
(in the White House) who can begin to repair the damage
that has been done."
National security was the day's primary theme at the Dan
Hansen VFW Hall. Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic
vice presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards, began the
town hall meeting by criticizing the Bush administration
for not securing 350 tons of high explosives that vanished
from Iraq. Earlier in the day, an administration spokesman
said that securing the material was Iraq's responsibility.
Elizabeth Edwards dismissed this as the latest in a series
of excuses and blame-shifting.
"I have to tell you, as a woman - and I know we're sitting
in a VFW hall - you guys gotta take responsibility sometimes,"
she said. She added, "We need to make certain we have an
administration that is keeping its eyes on the ball."
McPeak, who said he was Oregon chairman of Bob Dole's
1996 presidential campaign and in 2000 was Oregon chairman
of Veterans for Bush, gave an acid critique of the Bush
administration's foreign policy.
"Let me just be frank: I am an anybody-but-Bush guy. I
would (sooner) vote for Groucho Marx," he said.
"He's dead!" an audience member shouted out.
"I know he's dead," McPeak replied, as the crowd laughed.
"But the thing I like about John Kerry is, I think we've
landed on our feet here. - This is a guy who can be a great
president and an outstanding commander in chief. He's
smarter than hell, he's curious, he's a hard worker - in
just about every respect he's different from the guy we've
got now."
Also speaking was a 9/11 widow, Patty Casazza, who gave a
tearful recounting of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Her
husband worked on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center.
Initially, she and other 9/11 families joined the rest
of the country - united - in resolve and grief. But they
also had many questions, and she and other widows were
first puzzled, then angered, about "why President Bush's
administration actually opposed an investigation."
After the Republican National Convention in New York City
this summer, she decided to take an active political role
against the Bush administration, which, she said, "took one
of our nation's greatest failures and tragedies, and
exploited it for political gain."
Tom Webb can be reached at twebb@krwashington.com or 202-383-6049.
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Last Modified:
January 15, 2007