Instapundit links to Varifrank's new site. Very nice. So I notice his latest post:

And then it hit me, the little nagging thing that had been bothering me for 9 months. It was the word I never heard Kerry use in the context of the Jihadi War.

Kerry does not talk about Victory.

Oh sure, He uses it it terms of himself prevailing over "the evil Bush", but Kerry never discusses the word or the concept of Victory by the Western Democracies. Kerry has said that he would "fight the Terrorists", but Kerry does not use the word "Victory". He has given up before he has started.

Kerry - doesn't believe in Victory. Kerry doesn't believe in us!

That's a great point. He doesn't. On May 20th, I write:

Second, the fact that he is more concerned with how we are getting out of Iraq is most troubling. For all his positions on Iraq and the war on terror, he has never talked of winning. The only thing he has offered is a way for us to leave. We cannot hope to be safer if we don't win the war on terror. Notice also how he ranks health care and education equal to safety. He really doesn't think terrorism is the greatest threat we face.
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But that is precisely what Bush is being attacked for doing. And let's be honest, we were never on Hitler's to do list, and as far as Japan was concerned, thay just wanted us out of the Pacific. Oddly, that has a familiar ring to it. Kerry has no intentions of winning the war, offereing a plan on winning, or continuing the fight. He doesn't because he doesn't think the war is that important an issue. If that isn't reason enough to empty the piggy bank and give it the Bush re-election campaign, I don't know what is.

The laatest debate proves that point again. He hasn't any concern for our victory. His plan for North Korea and Iran is to do more of the same failed policies of the Clinton administration. But he really does believe that any use of US force, especially without authorization is the wrong policy. And the last thing he'd ever want is US victory.

Last night's debate I believe sealed Kerry's fate even though the first one provided more sound bites. Most pundits will call it a draw, however two exchanges, if Bush chooses to exploit them, doom Kerry.

Item one: question regarding America's standing in the world.

BUSH:You know, I've made some decisions on Israel that's unpopular. I wouldn't deal with Arafat, because I felt like he had let the former president down, and I don't think he's the kind of person that can lead toward a Palestinian state.

And people in Europe didn't like that decision. And that was unpopular, but it was the right thing to do.

I believe Palestinians ought to have a state, but I know they need leadership that's committed to a democracy and freedom, leadership that would be willing to reject terrorism.

Bush chose to stand with Israel and in reminding people of that, just secured the Jewish vote.

Item two: Regarding where to fight the war on terror:

KERRY:And if we'd used smart diplomacy, we could have saved $200 billion and an invasion of Iraq. And right now, Osama bin Laden might be in jail or dead. That's the war against terror.


BUSH:And secondly, it's a fundamental misunderstanding to say that the war on terror is only Osama bin Laden. The war on terror is to make sure that these terrorist organizations do not end up with weapons of mass destruction. That's what the war on terror is about.

Of course, we're going to find Osama bin Laden. We've already 75 percent of his people. And we're on the hunt for him.

But this is a global conflict that requires firm resolve.

And there's the difference. Bush understands the war is a global war, not just a hunt for one man. Kerry's grasp is pedantic.

Those were Bush's two home runs last night. The previous debate, Kerry divulged his view of using US forces, that a "global test" must be passed. Last night, he divulged his juvenile, simplistic understanding of the world.

I'm beginning to feel a little better about the election.

The president needs to understand that reelction is a privelege. He can't just come out tonight, like he did last Thursday, and just "throw his hat on the field". If the president doesn't take apart Kerry's record, inconsistencies, and asinine ideas, then he doesn't deserve reelection.

The Deulfer report made it clear, the people administering the global test were being bribed by Saddam. Kerry's mythical coalition would really be the bribed and coerced. Unfortunately, it was bribed by Saddam, and coerced by the people making a killing off the oil-for-food scandal.

The report also shows that Saddam was simply biding time until the sanctions would end. Then he had every intention of restarting his weapons programs. Time was not on our side. Iraq was the right war, at the right time, and at the right place. And, the president should add, it was central to the war on terror. More importantly, Kerry's inability to see that clearly demonstrates he hasn't the judgement to be president in a time of war.

Kerry's plan for dealing with the Iranians is to give them nuclear fuel and have it tested. If the UN can't even administer an oil-for-food program, giving the Iranians nuclear fuel is the worst possible solution. How soon until the Iranians bribe UN Security Council members and inspectors? Again, Kerry's judgement is severely lacking.

Running for Congress in 1971, Kerry said he's an internationalist and that US forces should only be dispatched at the behest of the UN. Last Thursday, he said US action must pass a "global test". That's music to the ears of terrorists.

Kerry wants to talk unilaterally to North Korea, which excludes coalition members South Korea and Japan. It also excludes Beijing, who clearly has much interest in this. Kerry criticizes Bush for acting "unilaterally" in Iraq, yet he wants to the very same thing in North Korea. And, he wants to negotiate with a lunatic. He hasn't the judgement to be president.

Kerry attacked our development of the nuclear bunker buster bombs. Bush can eviscerate him with this line: "We are not part of the proliferation problem. We are the good guys. Senator Kerry equates our nuclear program to that of Iran's. Shame on him."

Senator Kerry has voted against every major weapons system deployed in Iraq. If he had had his way, we'd not be in Iraq because we couldn't be in Iraq.

The last time I saw holes this large to run through was in the 1980's when the Hogs were blowing open huge holes for Redskins running backs. If Bush doesn't rush for 300 yards tonight, quite simply, he doesn't deserve reelection. America isn't going to reelect a president just because his opponent is weak. He has to earn it. More importantly, a large victory sends a message to the Iraqi people, the terrorists, and the world. A great president not only leads the war, but leads the nation. There is only one legitiamte choice in this election. Bush is making it look like there are two.