Kerry’s reluctance to differentiate

[Samantha]

Al Gore observed after our 2002 election losses Dems would continue to lose elections if we positioned ourselves as mirror political images of our adversaries. I believe this was an accurate observation. His words were a condemnation of the DLC (“New Dem”) election influence on the 2002 election campaigns (I support the war, I stand behind George Bush).

Kerry is failing to differentiate himself from Bush* in an effort to present himself as an acceptable alternative to Bush.* Will this strategy truly attract a large enough percentage of undecided voters to propel Kerry into the Oval Office? It seems risky to me. If you are desperate in your passion to eject Bush,* do you feel comfortable or uncomfortable with this approach?

Remember, the universal criticism of Gore after his failure to claim the Presidency in 2002 (notice I did not say “failure to win”) was due to his inability to win by a margin large enough to prevent the theft of the election. Ask yourself is Kerry headed toward the same result with his reluctance to differentiate strategy.

How does an intelligent, experienced politician like Kerry running against the abominable Bush* record poll even-steven with the president? HOW DOES ONE DO THAT?

Is Kerry’s obtuse political strategy puddling into abstruse polling results we at this point simply cannot handicap?

I am not suggesting that the mere failure to differentiate signals there is literally no difference between Bush* and Kerry – I am suggesting that much of the voting public that does no political homework on its own might perceive that to be the political reality and not bother to vote.

In his own words spoken during his acceptance speech at the Democratic convention, Kerry remarked people criticize him for seeing many issues through an overly complex lens. He admitted this often happens. Is he doing that now in this campaign? Would a simple go-for-the Bush* gut approach, think Dean or Sharpton-lite, emasculate the threat of four more years of Bush*?

So is the failure to differentiate a cause for concern or the key to the win? What is your analysis?

[mmonk]

1. concern

You can't out republican the republicans. Those who might be in the middle will go for the genuine one. It will also possibly boost Nader's support thereby chiseling more needed votes.

[Lorien]

2. I've talk to a fair number of dems who don't want

to vote this time around because they think there's no difference between the candidates (I'm working hard to convince them otherwise). The vast majority of voters won't do anything remotely like "homework" on the candidates, and that's why a clear, defined message from Kerry is so important. Two old sayings that MUST be remembered this year are 1.) in uncertain times, voters prefer strong and wrong over weak and right. And 2.) Given a choice between a republican and a democrat who acts like one, the voters will chose the republican every time.

[Samantha]

5. Your point #2

expresses clearly my deepest fear. I am not sure I can live through four more years of Bush.*

I have been considering encouraging people to vote on the issues. It's not in the average person's best interests for Bush* to win this election; therefore, you must vote in your own best interests. Think about the Social Security privatization plan. Think about the overtime issue. Think about the open borders to encourage cheap labor in this country. Think about the education issues and the failure to fund. Consider all the lies.

It is thoughts of these things that will persuade me to vote for the Democratic ticket. I swore I would never vote for anyone who supported the war. If I don't back off from that position, four more years of possible Bush* wars loom ahead. It is in my best interest to do what I can to prevent his continued occupation of the Oval Office.

[A_Possum]

3. You quoted the difference

We've had a simpleton with simplistic views for 3.5 years. People see where it's gotten us.

I think the people who "criticize" Kerry for seeing complex issues as what they are--complex--are political pundits/advisors who severely underestimate the basic common sense and savvy of Americans.

People DO understand that there are things they don't understand...and desire a leader they can trust to guide them. People instinctively understand that it's better to have a pilot who understands the treacherous cross-currents than to have a captain who just yells "Full speed ahead, damn the torpedoes!" And if they didn't before, then they do now (whether they admit it out loud yet or not.)

[Cats Against Frist]

4. The reason we are running neck-in-neck

is that "God" apparently speaks to the president. The religious right is probably the largest voting block that is the most organized, in the entire nation. If it wasn't for the "God speaks to Bush," contingent (that can't be reasoned with), we'd have a much bigger lead.

[Samantha]

6. Pray to God to start speaking to Kerry

in the next couple of minutes or so.

[lapfog_1]

9. It matters not

if God speaks to you, or indeed if you speak to God. It only
matters if you listen to God, or he listens to you.

[Rebellious Republican]

7. There have been post concerning the Accuracy or should I say

Inaccuracy of polls. Personally, I do not accept the polls, for to many reasons. They have all been hashed out here at DU! How many times have you seen "DU this Poll" threads here? Polls are only as accurate as the source wants them to be! My advice, take them with a grain of salt.

[Samantha]

8. I have thought about that a lot

but another side of me tells me I am in denial. The country is in a literal 50-50 split on political issues. There really are quite a number of people that think Bush* was put here by God to lead us.

It's amazing to me -- maybe I should say stunning -- that he could garner 15 percent of the vote after his incredible run. What are these people thinking? Is the continued support of Bush* simply a reflection on the accuracy of Moore's remark about Americans' stupidity?

[sandnsea]

10. Has it been a week yet?

People were ecstatic on Friday. Crowds like we haven't seen since Kennedy, not in early August. And people STILL believe the media lies over their own eyes.

Or are they just not over Dean.