Why Some Us Are Anxious About The Kerry Campaign

[Yavin4]

Some of us are anxious because we believe that this election is going to be close. We have had a hard four years under this president, and we want this administration to go away now. Kerry's campaign did make two huge gaffes this week, and that has made us even more nervous about this election. Such gaffes could swing a close election in Bush's favor. Kerry and the Democrats do not have the money nor the media power to overcome these kinds of mistakes.

Finally, understand one thing about this election: In the past four years, we've lost 3000 people in 9/11, thousands of innocent lives in Afghanistan, about 1,000 troops in Iraq, and tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis, many of whom are dying as I type this. All of this death and destruction because of a butterfly ballot in Palm Beach county in Florida.

This campaign is literally about life and death, so please excuse us if we get a little anxious every now and then.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. I Don't Think Anxiety Is A Productive Emotion

NT

[movonne]

2. I am very anxious about this election...I can't hardly breath thinking

about another 4 years of this and much, much worse. There will be no 2 party elections left. I believe this country will be a Soviet Union light...with no rights left.

[Kanary]

10. I understand your anxiety. I have a lot to lose, personally.

My disability could be completely cut, and my housing taken away. So, yes, I understand anxiety.

The point for many of us is, to please let us voice our concerns about the candidacy and race because we are intelligent people, and we have valid concerns.

What is getting in the way is people who are anxious getting all worried that any expression of doubt or concern meets with some pretty ugly derision, and even demands to leave DU and leave the party.

I have no problem at all supporting people who are feeling anxiety and fear. What I have a problem with is people turning their anxiety and fear into angry towards their own.

Kanary

[zulchzulu]

3. Two questions

1. Who did you back in the primaries?
2. How do you get your news?

[Yavin4]

6. I Supported Dean, But I Was Fine With Kerry

I get my news in this order:

1. DU - Late Breaking Page
2. Air America Radio
3. NY Times Online
4. Washington Post Online

[KittyWampus]

4. Confident Expectation. Imagine It. Project It.

People love a winner... or someone who comes across as a winner.

Kerry has that in spades. He appears relaxed, optimistic and Presidential.

Junior is beginning to have the stink of death (nod to Burrows) on him.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. Good post Yavin. I get anxious and

down right scared, to be perfectly honest. I tell my husband (who doesn't want to hear it and refuses to see it with the passion I do) that this is the most important election of our lives. I get pissed when I hear on the media a little quote from Kerry that could/should have been said better....In MY opinion.

You've summed it up though. All of us are scared and when we something that we think is not a 110% smackdown, it scares us more. We're not underestimating the Bush campaign. We know what ruthless players they are and we've been watching for the last 3 1/2 years the arrogance of this administration. When it's not a smackdown or KO, it makes me nervous too.

I don't know what's going to happen on Nov 2. Even if Kerry has a 72% in the polls, I'd still be nervous about the results. Too many surprises and disappointments, I guess.

I think some are overreacting. But make no mistake, I understand it. I feel that way at times, too.

[newdealer]

7. Kerry needs to be Kerry

I understand, and share some of the anxiety with you about this campaign. For one thing we have conservative talk radio blasting falsehoods throughout the country.

But you may find your anxiety decreasing if a couple of things happen with the Kerry campaign and Kerry himself.

As November approaches Kerry needs to sharpen his vision, don't play to his handlers, and ignite his passionate side. Get angry!

He's got to play just a bit more aboveboard than the Bush/Cheney people, but they are going in for the kill and Kerry needs to show that he can fight off those pack of lies and counter with strong criticisms, and a confidence that he is going to win.

[BurtWorm]

8. What two gaffes are you referring to?

Honest question. I haven't been paying close attention to the Kerry campaign this week.

[oasis]

9. What were the "two huge gaffes" that Kerry made?

[Yavin4]

11. The Gaffes Were

1. When Bush put a question to Kerry asking him, "knowing what you know now, would you have voted for the Iraq War resolution". Kerry gave a nuanced answer. He said that knowing what he knows now, he would have indeed voted for the Iraq War Resolution, because he supports giving a president the authority to build international coalitions, going to the U.N., etc. The media went with the first line of Kerry's answer, and it gave Bush a huge opening to blast him over.

2. Kerry didn't immediately respond to Cheaney's assinine remark where he quoted Kerry out of context. Cheaney quoted Kerry as saying that he would fight a "sensitive" war on terror. Again, that quote was way out of context, but Kerry's campaign didn't get any rapid response on the air, so again, Bush's campaign scored some cheap, but very effective, points.

[BurtWorm]

13. Kerry will never give a less than nuanced answer to the IWR question

I believe, because he sussed this all out when he cast the vote and he's remaining consistent, right or wrong, for better or worse. Faulting Kerry for the media's idiocies is a little unfair, it seems to me; but perhaps Kerry and his team do need to figure out how to stick to their story and get it reported the way THEY want it to be.


On the second point, Cheney just opened up for Kerry a major pathway to his sack-o-balls by using the word "sensitive" a couple of times to explain the Bushist approach to Najaf. I hope Kerry cocks his boot and lets fly. There's a thread about this on GD, I think.

[oasis]

14. We have to challenge the media. It's far better for "the people" to take

on CNN. If Kerry doesn't back up "the People's" complaint, then I too will have a bone to pick with the senator.

Let the people speak up and mount a campaign against biased reporting.

[chuck555]

16. Do I have to?

The defintion of insanity is watching cable TV and hoping it will change.
Kerry has written off any help from the "media". He will take his message to the people. 1on1. It worked for HST and it will work for Kerry.

[Yavin4]

12. This Aint The Primaries

Kerry aint facing Kucinich nor Dean, both rookies in national elections. This is the major leagues. The Bush gang are pros at running elections, and they also know how to cheat to win.

[JohnDoe1]

15. Sketchy Tactics

Cause we all know Bush has something up his sleeve.

[flaminbats]

17. I disagree...

I believe this election will be a huge blowout either for or against Bush!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. kick (nt)