OK, so what if the economy improves AND Iraq Improves? Then What?

[liberalpragmatist]

IF the economy continues to improve and the net job loss is wiped out, AND if Iraq goes through a period of relative stability and low American casualties (things that we all should agree would be good), what do we do?

Here's what I think: Focus on Health Care and the environment primarily.

As secondary issues (big, but not as heavily emphasized as the other two): energy independence (tied with environment), civil liberties and foreign policy by continuing to campaign on a platform of respect in the world and diplomatic reengagement PLUS Getting Tough with the Saudis.

What d'you all think?

EDIT: Please note that I am not saying this is bound to happen or that if this happens Bush will even benefit - there's usually a lag in perceptions. I'm just articulating the case that should Bush begin polling better and those two things improve, we'll need to somewhat shift focus.

[Trajan]

1. Bush has already fucked up ...

The bell cannot be unrung ...

[theivoryqueen]

2. always be ready with backup strategy?

my op: on jobs improvement - numbers not reflecting average american reality, same as economy. One can only hope IRaq gets better, but the original premises of the invasion, and ideas behind handing the admin so much power are still hugely troubling.

[liberalpragmatist]

3. I agree and we shouldn't abandon those critiques

My point is just that we may have to step up and emphasize the things I listed more than we've been doing so to appeal to voters who may otherwise think "hey, jobs are growing, so the economy must be good, and iraq seems mostly ok, so what's the point in getting rid of Bush" - we need to make sure people don't go complacent about this guy.

[theivoryqueen]

8. hard to be complacent when you're facing financial meltdown

unless you are one of those foolish "idealists" without a clue who vote against their own economic interests. Those people are lost causes.

[LibertyorDeath]

4. "Iraq Improves" ROFL

What you mean were going to stop torturing them.

They still have Oil

[Doctor Smith]

5. Neither will happen, so it's irrelevant.

[no name no slogan]

6. Good points, but even then, we CAN do better than that

Also, we may get more jobs, but what kind of jobs are they? It reminds me of a joke I heard in the 90s when Clinton created so many jobs:

Two businessmen are reading the Wall Street Journal at a coffee shop. One of them says to the other, "Hey, did you see that the economy created 600,000 new jobs last month?" Their waitress, who happened to be refilling their coffee cups, overheard and chirped in, "yeah, I've got three of them".

Having two jobs can be good, but only NEEDING one of them is even better.

Low interest rates are great. But getting paid fairly and not having to borrow to cover your basic needs is even better than a low-interest loan.

Health insurance is good, but universal health care for at a cost less than yet another insurance policy is better.

Cleaning up the environment is good, but preventing polluters from polluting in the first place is BETTER.

Voters (and potential voters) want a REASON to vote, other than "he's not the other guy". Being different from Bush is good, but being a real alternative to Bush is the BEST.

[Radical Activist]

7. Then monkees will fly out of my butt n/t

[TexasSissy]

13. LOL LOL

[w13rd0]

9. on your issues...

...energy independence is not only about the environment, but it's a security concern, and could be an "Apollo project" style endevour that would also kickstart new economic growth.

...Getting tough with the Saudis...considering how much of this nation those phucks own, I doubt that this will happen, in a Bush or Kerry administration. Only way it would happen is if
a) Americans are willing to deal with some MAJOR sacrifices in the short run...
b) #1 - energy independence

If the Saudis and Chinese were to "pull out" of our economy tomorrow, the US would collapse within a month...

[coloradodem2005]

10. Do this.

Also to quote Reagan in 1984: Are you better off than you were 4 years ago. Raw data will only tell you so much. Look at the tangibles. What kind of jobs do we have? So we have a net gain, but what have we gained versus what we have lost? Look at that.

[ieoeja]

11. It's too late.

Double-digit inflation came to a crashing halt Carter's last year in office, but that didn't stop you from hearing all last week about Reagan inheriting it anyway.

[Nederland]

12. Then Kerry Loses

but I don't think its going to happen--especially Iraq improving.

[fujiyama]

14. Economy may improve slightly

However, Iraq will continue to be a mess.

As long as US troops are there, they will continue to die, it really is that simple. All this talk of transfer of power changes nothing. We have a puppet government in place, which in turn will be attacked.

There's been an assassination and/or explosion there every week.

[wiggs]

15. This is why...

....the Kerry campaign should focus on the BIG PICTURE of incompetence, secrecy, special interests, arrogance, corporate favoritism, and a policy in which ideology trumps facts, truth, and research.

If Kerry focuses solely on individual issues which can change over time he (we) becomes vulnerable.

The gloves have to come off at some point in order to do this, though.

[Monte Carlo]

16. Kerry's campaign is going to be more than the previous week or two.

Local upswings change very little in the grand scheme. Besides, we're on an upswing, but I have some good reason to believe that a downswing is coming.

[wiggs]

17. environment

Why isn't DNC and Kerry focusing on environment more? This is a key issue that should be dicussed every day! BA has no leg to stand on here. Only 7% of America believes that environmental policies should be weakened, yet BA has gutted policies, enforcement actions, and funding at all levels.

For those who don't know, the League of Conservation Voters has a program (Environmental Victory Project) where they are sending volunteers to four battleground states (Florida, New Mexico, Oregon and one other), going door to door to talk solely about environmental failings of the administration. They have focused on four key states in order to be more effective. I think it's a great idea and have contributed.

The program can be found at www.envirovictory.org. You can volunteer or donate if you like the program. The League of Conservation Voters also has a very interesting website with lots of campaign stuff at www.lcv.org.

So I agree with libprag on emphasizing environment and definitely respect of the world as well.

[ieoeja]

18. I'll be too busy shooting pigs as they fly by. (n/t)