Reply #110: Woulda, coulda, shoulda theories.....

[FrenchieCat]

Edwards can blame Kerry. Kerry can blame Edwards. We can blame the both of them and the voting machines.....but at the end, it's the media that really called the shots throughout this election....primaries and all.

If we had an honest media, any candidate would have won against Bush. We don't....which makes it hard to say that anyone of them would have won against Bush and done better than Kerry.

Yea...I'm a Clarkie, but I don't think that threads as to whether Clark or Edwards or Dean would have won had one of them been the candidate are very helpful...since they are all based on hypothetical woulda, coulda, shouldas. Of course, we all have our opinions as to what might have happened....but it's all in theory.

But since you asked...here are my opinions ...:

Was Kerry the best candidate for the Dems? I personally don't think so.
Did Kerry choose the right VP? I personally don't think so.
Did Kerry utilize his VP correctly? I personally don't think so.
Did Kerry run a good campaign? Not particularly.
Did many voters vote FOR Kerry or against Bush? I think most voted against Bush...I know I did.
Should Kerry run next time? He probably will, but probably shouldn't.
Should Edwards run next time? He probably will, but probably shouldn't.
Why shouldn't each run? Cause while they were in the senate...and even had a small senate majority for a short while during the summer of '01...they never really went to bat for the issue of the voting machines...or common sense voting reforms or media reform....the things, that in the end analysis are most crucial to our democracy and most crucial to Democrats. Instead they voted for that friggin war, voted for that patriot act, and basically did a ballet in pink tutus. When they had the chance to walk the walk....neither did. Leadership is about doing what is unpopular but is required. Voting against that war would have shown just the kind of leaders John kerry and John Edwards were.

But beyond that point....

The media makes and breaks our candidates. Hell, that's why McCain is such a star. Not because he is as awesome as some believe...but because the media pumps him up anytime they have a chance. Guess they feel guilty for the 2000 primary smears. But the media is also why Bush is President and we are at war. It's that simple.

What will be more complicated is how do we change the media, now that we have even less power? How do we encourage election reforms? Maybe that's what Edwards should talk about...since he should want to stand for something important that makes a real difference to the next election and to our democracy at this point. Would be a sight better than talking about the 2 Americas...cause the media already has determined that there are....the Reds and the Blues (that's a sham though....cause America is a varied shade of purple...damn near throughout).

Although many DUer say that we should not be discussing 2008 candidate just yet....I disagree...Hell the Republicans are doing it..so why shouldn't we? What I say, however, is that talking about something that has already passed, and replaying it with a different set of circumstances...well, that's really a waste TO ME.