John Kerry reminds me of what ex-Washington, D.C. mayor Marion Barry said of Jesse Jackson when Jesse was going to run against him for mayor. Barry for better or worse had been running D.C. and knew what was involved. He said, “Jesse can’t run anything but his mouth.” Barry won.

Kerry has no management experience. The presidency is the most complex huge operation in the world and requires managerial skills only obtained by running a large corporation or a large state. Being a senator for 20 years does not meet the test in this era of maximum danger.

Bush and most of his cabinet could pass the test. Furthermore, all Kerry seems to be capable of is criticism (running his mouth) of the current administration, not a coherent plan based on managerial expertise and experience. Gaining points in a debate is far different than solving real-world challenges. In the last debate Bush looked tired after comforting Floridians at the hurricane site before the debate. Kerry, who has been a debater starting in high school, was rested and had time for a manicure because he hasn’t done job one (being a senator) for months. How about having a job where you don’t have to show up to keep it and get paid to boot? Working stiffs should be envious.

Kerry even missed Iraqi interim Prime Minister Allawi’s address to Congress and then took a cheap shot at Allawi calling him a Bush puppet. Some way to win over the Iraqis if he becomes president and has to deal with them. He has also dissed our allies that are supporting our war effort. If that’s foreign policy expertise it’s a new approach that puzzles me. I’d say it’s an indication he’s not ready for “prime time.”

Orin Lowe

Holden