June 1 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic candidate John Kerry said his opponent President George W. Bush did ``too little, often too late'' to stop al-Qaeda's efforts in obtaining weapons of mass destruction.

``We have to do everything we can to stop a nuclear weapon from ever reaching our shore - and that mission begins far away,'' Kerry said in remarks prepared for delivery at the port of West Palm Beach today. ``We have to secure nuclear weapons and materials around the world so that searching the containers here at the Port of Palm Beach isn't our only line of defense - it is our last line of defense.''

The speech is part of an 11-day push to emphasize Kerry's record as a Vietnam War hero and competence in foreign policy. Kerry is trying to pick up support in the eyes of voters when it comes to the war on terror and homeland security, an area where Bush has been slipping.

An ABC-Washington Post survey of 1,005 adults May 20-23 found that 40 percent approved of Bush's handling of the situation in Iraq, down from 55 percent in January. A CBS poll of 1,113 adults taken at the same time found Bush's approval rating on Iraq was 34 percent, down from 39 percent two weeks ago. Both nationwide surveys had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

``Kerry knows that if an election is mostly about security issues, the advantage is naturally with the incumbent,'' said Mark Rozell, head of Catholic University's politics department. ``So he needs to get on top of security issues early on, to establish his credentials as a credible alternative to Bush in this area. It is a good campaign move for him to do so.''

New Alliances

Kerry will outline his plan to prevent al-Qaeda from obtaining weapons of mass destruction in the speech ``including building and leading new alliances and making full use of our diplomatic, economic and intelligence power,'' his campaign said in an e-mailed release.

Kerry said Bush had ``even cut back our efforts or turned away from the greatest threats we face in the world today.''

The Bush campaign pointed to almost $1 billion in State Department, Defense Department and Energy Department programs toward a Group of Eight industrialized nations nonproliferation initiative, known as the Global Partnership.

``From the earliest days of his administration, President Bush has worked with our allies to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,'' said Scott Stanzel, a spokesman for the Bush/Cheney campaign. ``Under his leadership we are taking aggressive measures to keep fanatics and terrorists from using the world's most deadly weapons.''

The Port of Palm Beach is the fourth busiest container port in Florida and the eighteenth busiest in the continental U.S. It is a hub for the shipment of sugar, molasses, cement, utility fuels, water, produce and break-bulk items.

Bush and Kerry are in a virtual dead heat in Florida polls. Bush garnered 47 percent to Kerry's 46 percent with 3 percent going to independent Ralph Nader in an American Research Group poll conducted May 17-19 of 600 likely Florida voters. Without Nader in the equation Bush and Kerry were tied, each with 47 percent of the vote. The margin of error was 4 percentage points.

Bush made his 21st visit to Florida last month. Florida is one of 17 so-called swing states that have the potential to tip the November presidential election. Bush won the state by 537 votes out of 6 million cast in 2000, after the U.S. Supreme Court halted a 36-day ballot recount. Florida has 27 electoral votes, fourth largest after California, Texas and New York.

Port Security

This is Kerry's 15th trip to Florida since he declared he was running for president last fall.

Kerry has criticized the Bush administration for not fully funding U.S. port security, such as the port in Palm Beach, to cover less than 5 percent of container ships entering U.S. ports.

``We need to employ a layered strategy to keep the worst weapons from falling into the worst hands,'' Kerry said. ``A strategy that invokes our non-military strength early enough and effectively enough so military force doesn't become our only option. America must lead and build an international consensus for early preventive action.''

The Bush campaign pointed to its success in getting Libya to discontinue and disclose its weapons of mass destruction program as well as its work to get North Korea and Iran to disarm, in the e-mailed release.

`` North Korea has defied the world, has tested long-range ballistic missiles, admitted its possession of nuclear weapons and now threatens to build more,'' Bush said in a speech to the National Defense University on Feb. 11. ``together with our partners in Asia, America is insisting that North Korea completely, verifiably and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear programs.''

The Bush administration came out with its own criticisms today of Kerry's national security record, saying Kerry's opposition to the reauthorization of the Patriot Act made him weak on the war on terror.

``In a statement supporting the Patriot Act, Senator Kerry said the law would, make it a lot more difficult for new terrorist organizations to develop. I won't be saying this very often in the next few months, but Senator Kerry was right,'' said Vice President Dick Cheney in remarks prepared for delivery in a speech to supporters in Kansas City, Missouri. Kerry will travel to the same city to discuss strengthening the U.S. military to meet new challenges brought on by the war against terror.

Kerry ``now calls the Patriot Act a blind spot in the American justice system,'' Cheney said. ``He now says he wants to let vital elements of the Patriot Act expire at the end of next year. What he hasn't shared, however, is a single example of the Patriot Act actually being abused.''


Ha!, Cheney admits Kerry was right! (this is longer than two words)

Kerry voted to cut intelligence, and left us blind to Al Qaeda.

Kerry is responsible.

Bush took funds away from veterans.

He speak words.

Bush has increased veterans funding by 37.6%


http://www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docID=144


Stop the Democrat lies.

According to a letter sent to the President by the major veterans groups, Bush’s 2003 budget “falls $1.5 billion short” of adequately funding veterans care. [Independent Budget, 1/7/02].

Stop the Republican Lies!!!!111!!1!11ONEONE!!

http://www.house.gov/appropriations_...ughtonfilm.htm Mmmm, spangley government site, ooo, my cite is better than yours, commie.

The spending has gone up 37.6% from Clinton. Just because they want more does not mean Bush has cut anything. Stop lying.

A lie is a lie. Bush promises, he doesn't deliver, our great nations veterans are owed by the governemnt that sent them in to war and you're making excuses for Bush's lies against them.

Are you even a US citizen?


Bush increased funding 37.6%.

You said he cut it. You are the one lying.

Bush reduced his budget after making promises, a lie is still a lie, Bush is a dishonest criminal.

[insert shameless bumb, one sentance of irrelevance]

You aren't even a US citizen. You know nothing about this election.

You are not a patriot, you know nothing about this great nation.

Which "nation" is yours?

Canada? England?


Certainly not the US.

Just as I thought, a foreign kid.


Birthday:
April 16, 1981
Biography:
Currently writing a Mud (SSMUE)
Location:
UK, Middlesbrough

Which country you give your allegience has little to do with my patriotism to America, the greatest nation on earth.

When I want the scores for the cricket match, I'll call you.

When I want billious hogwash removed from political reality, I shall call you.

Which politics? My country, or yours?

How is Tony Blair doing, Guvnor?

I'm sorry, pawning your misguided allegiance won't work on me when your roots are in genocide.