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The Weblog at The View from the Core - Fri. 08/13/04 06:55:47 AM
   
   

Re: I Forgot to Remember to Forget

Democrats in Self-Destruct Mode CCCLIV

ABC's The Note follows up. (Embedded ellipsis and ALL CAPS in original; somebody really should tell them about bold, and italics, and underline.)

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.... So, beyond opening the door politely to swarming Bush-Cheney-Gillespie assaults on his national security credibility through "sensitive" and other remarks, what are the other potential and real elements of Kerry "helping" the president to keep his job? And what are the things that just might HAPPEN and leave Kerry under pressure to react?

Ask almost any Democratic sharpie — inside or outside the campaign — and you will get plenty of answers.

A. John Kerry's relative (un)likeability has yet to become as big of a factor in this race as it undoubtedly will in the fall. Hands down, Bush will always win the "have a soda with" question.

B. Says a top Democratic strategist about the Kerry-Edwards campaign: "No one knows what their message is. 'Complex and layered' isn't necessarily enough."

C. Kerry's position on terrorism leaves him somewhat vulnerable to the charge that he simply does not "get" the overwhelming consensus in favor of tough — and sometimes pre-emptive — action against terrorist entities — a proposition that both parties believe most Americans support. (This is entirely separate from the question of whether the Iraqi invasion was warranted, wise, or well-handled.)

D. John Kerry has not laid out a plausible position on how he'd convince foreign countries to send troops to Iraq, how he'd bring U.S. troops home earlier, etc.

E. Let's face it: there is something squirrelly and unsettling and not quite right about the way Michael Meehan answers the media's Vietnam-era questions — something that makes nearly every member of the Gang of 500 think there is still something there.

F. Too afraid, too disorganized, too protective to pull the trigger on accepting one of the many, many offers from TOP Democratic strategists and spokespeople to join up and help in the last two months.

G. It is not implausible that Kerry will get hammered in the debates.

H. It is not implausible that the possible array of "unexpected events" — capturing bin Laden, another terrorist attack, etc — will benefit Bush.

I. Voters for the most part take John Kerry's view of the economy, seniors support him in droves, and yet he barely leads — evidence that Kerry hasn't (you guessed it!!) closed the deal.

J. If there's a gay marriage ban on the Ohio ballot....

K. The Democratic message machine is OBSESSED with getting someone to write about certain subjects, like Halliburton, and spends way too much time trying to plant stories about it.

L. The Note is OBSESSED with field machines and knows that the Kerry campaign and the DNC are more than capable of putting together a stellar one. But the Republicans already have one. It's massive, intense, targeted, and sophisticated. The Republicans have the NRA and Redeem the Vote....

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They also run some messages from Gore-2000 but Bush-2004 voters.

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M. Connor, OH: "I am a lifelong Democrat from Ohio, who is proudly voting for President Bush. I am ashamed to say I voted for Al Gore in 2000. President Bush is a man of incredible strength and moral clarity. He is rock solid and a genuine family man who I am proud to support. John Kerry scares the heck out of a lot of us in Ohio. He is so unsteady and I don't trust him with the safety of my children."

L. Helton of Miami, FL: "I was NEVER into politics before like I have become in this election. I have become a news junkie, and a more educated voter ever since 9/11. I never cared for Bush before, but ever since 9/11 his decisions and resolve to stand up and protect our country has really impressed me."

B. Sigalow, Maitland, FL: "My main reason for doing so is my belief that Mr. Bush and the current administration are more capable of addressing the terrorist threat facing this nation and the Western world."

J. Faust, Des Moines, IA: "Have people forgotten 9/11? Have they forgotten we are the hunted, and that the United Nations let us down? Should I become an independent as I vote for the man, not for hatred?"

A.E. Diggins, NV: "I'm female, 40, work in academia, and the rest of my background reads like a liberal poster. But this election I'm switching because, for the first time, I'm a single-ssue voter — the war. Despite some misteps by the Bush administration, I largely agree with the way they are proceeding in this war. I have three, the oldest will be 18 in four years. Selfishly, I want this war to get fought and won over the next few years before my sons have to do the fighting.

P. Albinus, New York, NY: "Hi. I voted for Al Gore in 2000 and I plan to vote for Bush in November. Why? The war on terror. Bush may be too conservative for my tastes but he gets the war and the fact that we have an enemy that wishes us ill. Kerry, I'm not so sure."

S. Mahar, New York, NY: "The main reason I'm voting for Bush in November is the war against the fascist strain of Islam that would destroy us if it had the opportunity."

A psychology professor from Colorado: "I've never voted for a Republican in my life before now (2 Clintons, 1 Gore, and PA Gov. Ed Rendell). But frankly, I think that nobody can truly say what Kerry believes, and that's disturbing to me. His DNC speech sealed my vote against him, with the aforementioned 'retaliation' and the fact that he's running on 30 year old accomplishments and entirely skipped his long Senate career."

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Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Fri. 08/13/04 06:55:47 AM
Categorized as Democrats in Self-Destruct Mode.

   

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