Is Bush Running Circles Around Kerry Campaign?

[WiseMen]

Poll question: Is Bush Running Circles Around Kerry Campaign?

Is the Kerry campaign again in tactical paralysis? This happened early in the primaries with competing consultants uncertain as to how to respond to the Dean surge.

Now, some think Rove is running circle around the Kerry campaign even without a single worthy accomplishment of Bush administration to run on.

Kerry has 10x the credentials Bush has.
He seems to have a smooth, well organized campaign operation.
Kerry is getting huge campaign crowds.
BUT
Bush is still positioned for a strong comeback.
Bush seems to demonstrate much more tactical agility with his flip-flop jabs,
War record smears and terror alerts keeping the Kerry campaign off-balance.

What do you think?

[underpants]

1. a mixture of the first two

but for the most part it is going very well. They seem to have survived the whole SwiftBoat thing which the Repubs were counting on to put Kerry away-I know dirtier stuff is still coming but that was their homerun ball.

[lancdem]

6. I agree

I think his campaign is quite good, but every campaign learns as it goes.

[Beetwasher]

11. What Could Be More Dirty Than That?

I really think that that was their one big shot at the knock-out they desperately needed and it failed miserably.

The only thing they have left is terra terra terra...

[underpants]

20. Just covering my a** here Beet

I am assuming that they have something (regardless of how crazy/wrong it is) because I assume they do.

Beet-I agree this was their big gun but why release it in August? People are on vacation/pre-Labor day.....

Maybe they are planning on BIG LIE-ing this into the public conscience nous. That's all I can figure.

[Cha]

27. Maybe they started with this sooner rather than

later so Kerry would get stopped in his tracks after that huge approval he got after our Convention? So, he couldn't gain any momentum?

I read they started on Dukakis early and strong and they got him quick!

[underpants]

28. I heard Hannity SCREAMING "He is FAKE!!!" 2 months ago

He was just readying his audience for what was coming.

Hannity kept on it (oh WIMP!!! is included-so watch for something on that too) and on it. He is the one who picked up this ball and ran with it -even O'Reilly at first was shying away from it but I think he got another memo recently I think.

[Beetwasher]

32. Yeah, I Know, But I Just Can't Imagine Anything More Low or Dirty

I don't foresee a bimbo eruption, for example. That was neutered by Kerry early on...

I think they released it now because they realize they HAD to do it now in order to stop the hemmorhaging...

[chiburb]

2. What do you base this on?

Bush is still positioned for a strong comeback.
Bush seems to demonstrate much more tactical agility with his flip-flop jabs,
War record smears and terror alerts keeping the Kerry campaign off-balance.


Just a feeling? Results of a poll I haven't read? Punditocracy?

Inquiring minds want to know why you feel this way...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. This Karl Rove Is Ten Feet Tall Bullshit Is Tiresome.... (nt)

[WiseMen]

43. Rove is a punk who wins by breaking the rules. But it worked in the past

and may work again.

I base comments from the same type of analysts and pundits Mathews
uses on his Sunday show to vote on the week gone by.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Your Logic Is Flawed....

Your argument is internally inconsistent....



How can he have a "well organized campaign operation" and be in "tactical paralysis" at the same time

[WiseMen]

49. Hey Democrat: it says "seems to have"

[DoveTurnedHawk]

4. Dude, You Are Starting to Annoy Me

Enough with the Chicken Little nonsense, already.

:puke:

DTH

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. I Feel The Same Way....

but I was trying to be more diplomatic...

[DoveTurnedHawk]

10. I Call It Like I See It

:D

DTH

[chiburb]

18. I was trying to be diplomatic too...

In post #2. The truth is, I am REALLY sick of these drive-by wedgies. Where is the OP?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

31. Where Is The OP

Good Question

[Julien Sorel]

7. I think this is one of the more stupid posts I've seen.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. Where Have You Been

And I agree....

[Julien Sorel]

13. I have been working like a dog.

But I just became unemployed (resigned this week), and am now deciding what to do with my career. So I'm kind of passing time here. :-)

[_NorCal_D_]

22. Welcome back.

Though I'm sorry it's under those circumstances.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

12. Long Time No See!

Good to see you posting.

:toast:

DTH

[Terran]

35. Thank you

I could not agree more.

[Raya]

14. Dems have been too anti-Bush focused. Not prepared to defend Kerry.

[Monte Carlo]

15. Remember what Walter said - 'Nothing is fucked, Dude.'

Bush's campaign is not running circles around Kerry. Kerry is a strong closer - he'll put the effort in when it counts.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. The Bush campaign is running IN circles.

Specifically, they keep circling back to their 'strongholds', unsuccessfully attempting to shore up his base.

[Raya]

17. I suspect most of us are in Blue States. We are insulate from the shit

that flies in the wherever there is a "red" state of mind.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

25. Not me.

I can only give you the perspective from Montana.

I think you would be well served to revisit this speech.

[wildeyed]

41. Red state checking in.

Actually, more pink than red these days. Kerry is looking good from where I sit.

[_NorCal_D_]

19. To address your points:

---

Bush is still positioned for a strong comeback.

I would say that the only thing bush has to look forward to is his convention, and even that has the potential to hurt him, given the protests as well as the tepid and boring speakers.

In other aspects of the campaign such as advertising or the debates, I believe that Kerry will likely trounce bush.

---

Bush seems to demonstrate much more tactical agility with his flip-flop jabs

Well, I have yet to this this spectacular portrayal of wit and tactical agility that you speak of. Perhaps I'm just a biased hack and therefore cannot see the genius in bush's speeches? :shrug:

In terms of the flip-flop charge, the voters who seem most receptive to it are bush's fellow neocons.

---

War record smears and terror alerts keeping the Kerry campaign off-balance.

This is a ridiculous assertion. bush n' friends have abused this system so many times with their gross exaggerations that the terra warnings have essentially lost all of their meaning.

I am reminded of the actions that some American's took when the initial terra warnings were issued. I sadly remember the frenzy in which duct tape and plastic wrap were bought in bulk so that one could be 'protected against terra' :eyes: . How many individuals continue to purchase 'protective' items or hide under their beds when a terra warning is issued?

[Nevernose]

21. It's not just "Bush's fellow neo-cons"

In terms of the flip-flop charge, the voters who seem most receptive to it are bush's fellow neocons.

Among my co-workers/friends, the accusation has really seemed to have sunk in among undecided voters, and even a few solid Dems. Purely anecdotal, admittedly.

I agree with the rest, though.

[_NorCal_D_]

30. You are right, of course.

Since the flip-flop accusation is loudly promulgated by the media, is likely the most potent weapon in bush's arsenal.

Overall however, it has been my experience that when it comes down to it the typical individual will vote depending on the message, issues, thoughtfulness, etc, of the candidate rather than whether or not he or she is perceived as 'flip-flopping'.

Of course I'm only utilizing anecdotes as well. B-):thumbsup:

[Sensitivity]

29. Want to agree? But had big argument yesterday on Kerry's supposed

lies about his record. The lies are getting into the mainstream
and some people just want to believe the worst.

[mikehiggins]

23. The more frantic Bush gets, the more weakness he displays

Kerry and Edwards have to keep slogging forward with smiles and stuff and let their surrogates do the other stuff.

The thing to do is to respond to the GOP efforts--ANY GOP EFFORTS--with a smile and Reagan's old line, "there he goes again."

Putting "nasty Kerry" out front is counterproductive. The American public is tired of all the negative bullshit and the guy who does it the most is the guy who'll turn off the most voters.

Our base is pretty secure. You don't see people worrying about the Democratic voters, do you? It's the GOPukes who are facing defections in their own ranks, not us.

Remember Truman's old jibe. He said he just told the truth, and that it sounded like hell to the GOPukes. What goes around comes around.

Stop worrying about the top of the ticket and work towards getting some edge back in the Congress. That would be more productive.

[Nevernose]

24. Kerry HAS been fighting back -- media doesn't report it, as usual

At least he was last night in Vegas. He answered the charges against him, made a few of his own, and hopped on the Populist Train along with the union members, teachers, seniors, college kids... Sadly, unless you were one of the 15,000 people there, you probably didn't hear it, 'cuz even the local news didn't bother to air that particular bit.

And unless you've seen him in person, you might be tempted to believe the bullshit about him being too erudite or not charismatic enough. GREAT public speaker, GREAT crowd interaction. I've seen him a couple of times now, and hope to see him again.

[WiseMen]

45. Only way to get attention is to do a controversial Ad that is then the

rage of the pundits.

[MoonRiver]

26. Since Kerry is ahead in 90% of the polls, I'd say it's just the opposite!

:kick::kick::kick:

[sandnsea]

33. The campaign is fine

Some people just panic a bit too quickly. Kerry already came out today and countered Bush's stupid Iraq flip-flop stuff. Of course, I didn't notice anybody at DU responding to that. Not last I checked anyway. Some people on DU are still looking for any opportunity to beat up Kerry as a way to continue promoting their own primary candidates. Or Nader. Too many ulterior motives to keep track of it all. But the campaign is doing great. I suspect they'll turn their attention back to the war and terrorism when we get a bit close to either the RNC convention or the debates. Let Bush stew in his own Iraq mess for a while longer.

[Sensitivity]

34. IMUS said Kerry campaign had real problems. He smelled something wrong.

Was he just joking around with these recent comments. After all
he is a Kerry supporter.

[sandnsea]

36. First Free Republic, now Imus

I really worry about what they have to say. :eyes:

[Zynx]

37. Average the polls together, we have a solid lead right now.

[nonkultur]

38. Karl Rove's bitch stable?

That is priceless!

Kerry ran a much better race against Dean than he is against *.
The Campaign needs to get off the defensive and go on full offence.

[volosong]

39. Yes, Bush is in Control Now

THe village idiot is running circles around Kerry making Kerry look weak, indecisive, and keeping him off balance most all the time.

Kerry needs to take the offensive NOW.

I have brought up these points with the DNC and the Kerry-Edwards Campaign center to no avail.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

50. ! (nt)

[Arkana]

40. Mix of the first two

Kerry can take the high road for now, but that isn't gonna work when the Bushies come out swinging after their lovefest (er...convention). Then he's gonna have to fight, and he's gonna have to fight dirty.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

42. The Results Of This Poll Are Disturbing....

I have never seen so many armchair political strategists in my life.....



I doubt that any of these geniuses even ran a successful campaign for homeroom president.....

[WiseMen]

44. No need for pointless personal attacks. DU board is one of the most

informed political communities on the net.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

46. I Stand By My Remarks...

All this hand wringing is counter productive....


And calling Kerry's campaign staff part of "Rove's bitch stable" makes my remarks look tame in comparison...


Peace



Brian

[bigtree]

47. bush is running in circles

but not around Kerry

[DemocratSinceBirth]

48. Amen (NT)