If Kerry can't protect his honor - he can't protect this country

[bushwakker]

That's the calculation many voters are making. If the SBL's are lying then why doesn't he and his campaign vigorously attack these bastards with everything they've got - every day? I talked with a friend of mine today who I've been courting to vote Dem for 6 months. He supported the war and supported AWOL. He says he's still with Kerry but thinks his response has been wimpy and that they are kicking the crap out of him. Whatver response the JK camp has fashioned has not been getting thru. I know that if someone lied about me the way the SBL's are lying about JK I wouldn't wait around for some kind of judo effect to take hold. People expect him to fight for this job and they would understand it if he took the gloves off. They want it. They expect it. It's what they would do.

All the blast faxes and campaign press releases in the world are not gonna do the job. They must attack AWOL's military record and put it in play.

[blm]

1. The media is not airing any of their rebuttals.

I read their rebuttals and press releases and their campaign trail comments and expect to hear something from the media and....nothing.

[bushwakker]

58. They will air a charge that AWOL was AWOL

you bet your ass they will - especially if made by JK himself. it also happens to be a true charge. it is the only way to turn this thing around.

[Democat]

2. If Kerry won't fight Repubs here, why would he fight in the world for me?

That is a valid complaint, whether some DUers want to admit it or not.

[blondeatlast]

18. He already has, friend.

In Vietnam.

[drdigi420]

44. Kerry IS fighting back, the media is ignoring it

[bushwakker]

76. They will not ignore a direct and repeated challenge by JK

for AWOL to account for his missing year in the TANG. The Bush camp would be forced to respond.

[KittyWampus]

46. Another Negative And Ultimately Disruptive Post From A Fellow DU'er

Thanks for spewing the GOP line.

By the way, where have you been... Kerry's countered the smears in numerous ways.

[bushwakker]

51. He must publicly ask Bush where he was in 1972

when he was supposed to be serving in the TANG. Bush must be publicly forced to answer uncomforatble questions otherwise it will be ALL about Kerry. The ball must be swatted back into the B/C 04 court. The attack on JK's heroism is a red carpet to open the door on AWOL being AWOL - but only the candidate himself can do it.

[mondo joe]

54. It's not disruptive. And we ought to be able to discuss these things.

John Kerry and the DNC want my vote - which they have. They want my money - they got some and want more. But not my OPINION?

Sorry.

I support John Kerry. I support the DNC. When I think they're headed in the wrong direction I'll say so.

[barb162]

3. you're preaching to this choir

he has to come out swinging and fast.

[bigtree]

4. But since he is fighting, and succeeding

then the premise of your post is moot, and the title statement is worthless political rhetoric.

edit:

The Kerry camp could expand on the questions raised by the campaign in April.

April 27, 2004
Key Unanswered Questions: Bush’s Record In The National Guard
For Immediate Release

“If George Bush wants to ask me questions about that through his surrogates, he owes America an explanation about whether or not he showed up for duty in the National Guard. Prove it. That's what we ought to have. I'm not going to stand around and let them play games.” -- John Kerry, NBC News, 4/26/04


Bush Has Said He Used No Special Treatment To Get Into The Guard. How Does He Explain The Fact That He Jumped Ahead Of 150 Applicants Despite Low Pilot Aptitude Scores?

Col. Albert Lloyd Said A Report From Alabama To Ellington Should Have Been Filed. Where Is That Report?

Why Did Bush Miss His Medical Exam In 1972?

Where Are The Complete Results Of The Required Investigation Into Bush’s Absence From The Exam?

Why Did Bush Specifically Request To NOT Be Sent Overseas For Duty?

Why Does The White House Say Bush Was On Base When Bush’s Superiors Had Filed A Report Saying He Was Gone For A Whole Year?

Why Is The Pentagon Under Orders To Not Discuss Bush’s Record With Reporters?

Where Are Bush’s Flight Logs?

Why Hasn’t Bush Himself Demonstrated That He Showed Up For Service in Alabama?

Bush Has Said He Used No Special Treatment To Get Into The Guard. How Does He Explain The Fact That He Jumped Ahead Of 150 Applicants Despite Low Pilot Aptitude Scores?
“There was no special treatment.”

--Then-Gov. George W. Bush

FACT: With Family Connection, Bush Got Coveted Slot in Texas Guard Shortly After Graduating from College.

A family friend of Bush’s father pulled strings to secure Bush’s spot; Bush joined the Texas Air National Guard after his student deferment ran out when he graduated from Yale in 1968. Before he graduated, Bush personally visited Col. Walter “Buck” Staudt -- the commander of the Texas Air National Guard -- to talk about the Guard. After Bush met with Staudt, he applied and was quickly accepted -- despite a waiting list of over 150 applicants. Staudt recommended Bush for a direct appointment, which allowed Bush to become a second lieutenant right out of basic training without having to go though officer candidate school. The direct appointment also cleared the way for a position in pilot training school.

FACT: Bush Scored in 25th Percentile on Pilot Aptitude Test. When Bush applied for the Guard, his score on the Air Force pilot aptitude section, one of five on the test, was in the 25th percentile, the lowest allowed for would-be fliers.

FACT: No Shortage of Pilots in Texas Guard. Although a Bush spokesman claimed Bush was fast-tracked because the Guard needed pilots, Charles C. Shoemake, a chief of personnel in the Texas Guard from 1972 to 1980 remembered no such shortage. “We had so many people coming in who were super-qualified,” Shoemake said. Texas Guard Historian Tom Hail said there was no apparent need to fast-track applicants. “I’ve never heard of that,” he said. “Generally they did that for doctors only, mostly because we needed extra flight surgeons.” Col. Albert Lloyd Said A Report From Alabama To Ellington Should Have Been Filed. Where Is That Report?

FACT: Col. Lloyd: Guard Records Should Include Evidence Of Alabama Service. Lloyd also said he did not know whether Bush performed duty in Alabama. “If he did, his drill attendance should have been certified and sent to Ellington, and there would have been a record.”

FACT: White House’s Own Expert Said Bush Should Have Done More. According to the Globe, “the White House included with the documents a memorandum from a Texas Air National Guard personnel specialist stating that the documents prove that Bush had a ‘satisfactory year’ for ‘retirement/retention’ purposes between May 27, 1972, and May 26, 1973. But that specialist, retired Lieutenant Colonel Albert C. Lloyd Jr., acknowledged in an interview last night that he evaluated Bush using the lower of two measures for rating Guard service. Guardsmen, he said, needed to serve more days to meet minimum-training requirements than to meet the lower threshold to receive retirement credit for the year. ‘Should he have done more? Yes, he should have,’ Lloyd said of Bush, who was a fighter-interceptor pilot. ‘Did he have to? No.’” Why Did Bush Miss His Medical Exam In 1972?

FACT: Bush Was Suspended From Flight Duty For Failing To Take Mandated Medical Exam.

On September 29, 1972, Bush was officially suspended from flying for missing his annual medical examination. The orders note that Bush’s suspension is authorized under the guidelines presented in Air Force Manual 35-12 Para 2-29m, which reads that Bush’s local commander “will direct an investigation as to why the individual failed to accomplish the medical examination.” Where Are The Complete Results Of The Required Investigation Into Bush’s Absence From The Exam?

FACT: The order suspending Bush from flight duty stated: “Verbal orders of the Comdr on 1 Aug 72 suspending 1STLT George W. Bush…from flying status are confirmed…Reason for Suspension: Failure to accomplish annual medical examination. Off will comply with para 2-10, AFM 35-13. Authority: Para 2-29m, AFM 35-13.

Para 2-29m, AFM 35-13: “When a Rated Officer Fails To Accomplish a Medical Examination Prescribed by AFM 160-1…(1)The local commander who has authority to convene a Flying Evaluation Board will direct an investigation as to why the individual failed to accomplish the medical examination. After reviewing the findings of the investigation, the local commander may convene a Flying Evaluation Board or forward through command channels a detailed report of the circumstances which resulted in the officer’s failure to accomplish a medical examination, along with a recommendation that the suspension be removed. (2) The individual’s major command will forward the report along with the command recommendation to USAFMPC/DPMAJD, Randolph AFB TX 78148 for final determination.” Why Did Bush Specifically Request NOT To Be Sent Overseas For Duty?

FACT: Bush’s Application Indicated Bush Did Not Volunteer for Overseas Duty. On Bush’s application to the 147th Fighter Group at Ellington Air Force Base in Texas, Bush was asked what his “Area Assignment Preferences” were. Bush checked the box beside “Do Not Volunteer” for overseas duty. Why Does The White House Say Bush Was On Base When Bush’s Superiors Had Filed A Report Saying He Was Gone For A Whole Year?

FACT: Bush’s Superiors Were Unable to Evaluate Him for a Full Year, Saying he “Has Not Been Observed at This Unit…”
May 2, 1973: Bush’s superior officers William D. Harris Jr. and Jerry B. Killian, wrote on his yearly evaluation form, “Lt. Bush has not been observed at this unit during the period of report,” and that a “civilian occupation made it necessary for him to move to Montgomery, Alabama. He cleared this base on 15 May 1972 and has been performing equivalent training in a non flying status with the 187 Tac Recon Gp, Dannelly ANG Base, Alabama.”

…But the White House Claims Bush was on Base the Same Day Superiors Filed Report.
White House release says Bush was paid on May 2, 1973, the very day his superiors reported that “Lt. Bush has not been observed at this unit during the period of report.” <2nd Q 1973 pay record>

FACT: Bush’s Superior Officer Says He Would Have Known If Bush Had Reported for Duty.
November 12, 1973: Rufus G. Martin signed a report on Bush’s evaluation, saying Bush was “Not rated for the period 1 May 72 through 30 April 73.”

Boston Globe: “But retired colonel Martin, the unit's former administrative officer, said he too thought Bush had been in Alabama for that entire year. Harris and Killian, he said, would have known if Bush returned to duty at Ellington.”

Why Is The Pentagon Under Orders Not To Discuss Bush’s Record With Reporters?
FACT: Freedom of Information Officers Under Orders From Senior Pentagon Officials To Ignore Requests on Bush Files. According to the Spokane Spokesman-Review, “at the National Guard Bureau, now headed by a Bush appointee from Texas, officials last week said they were under orders not to answer questions. The bureau's chief historian said he couldn't discuss questions about Bush's military service on orders from the Pentagon. ‘If it has to do with George W. Bush, the Texas Air National Guard or the Vietnam War, I can't talk with you,’ said Charles Gross, chief historian for the National Guard Bureau in Washington, D.C. Rose Bird, Freedom of Information Act officer for the bureau, said her office stopped taking records requests on Bush's military service in mid-February and is directing all inquiries to the Pentagon. She would not provide a reason. Air Force and Texas Air National Guard officials did not respond to written questions about the issue. James Hogan, a records coordinator at the Pentagon, said senior Defense Department officials had directed the National Guard Bureau not to respond to questions about Bush's military records.”

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0427b.html

[mondo joe]

7. By what standard is he succeeding?

I'd be delighted for you to be right, but by what standard is Kerry succeeding?

[bigtree]

28. Kerry is polling even with an incumbent, 'wartime' president

with most of the polls that show Bush leads carrying 4-5% margins of error. This is an outstanding position for a reletively unknown candidate. This is August. Most voters are on vacation. The other half will be watching football when Bush gives his speech. Kerry will have just as much money as Bush to start out Labor day. There is a big push planned for that day to begin in Ohio. John Kerry will have an eternity to direct the campaign and introduce himself to the voters. They will have to craft a mix of attacks, profiles and policy presentations. This is a national election. We should expect some restraint. The voters that we need to convince will respond well to a campaign which is, at least on the surface, positive. Negative campaigns tend to attach negatives to the percieved attacker and have the potential to foster cynicism and depress turnout.

Bush is well known and will bear the burden of a dismal four years of failure and neglect: Record joblessness, record loss of healthcare, lying and 'miscalculations' on our invasion and occupation of Iraq, abandonment of our veterans and soldiers, decimation and compromising of our environment in favor of logging interests, nuclear meddlers, and polluters, the abuse and eviceration of our civil liberties, the abandonment of our nation's poor in favor of giving our hard earned tax dollars to the wealthiest, the sham of declaring himself the 'education president' while refusing to actually fund his own inituitives, the snubbing of science in favor of political meddling and obstruction, the attempted use of our constitution to discriminate against our nation's gays and lesbians, the refusal to sanction anyone in his office responsible for the outing of a CIA agent, the reintroduction of new nuclear weapons and weapon's production . . .


These pitiful republican smears have also served to draw attention to Bush's absense from duty and Cheney's refusal to serve. They have not actually affected the credibility of John Kerry among anyone who has bothered to look at the facts of the accusation and bothers to pay any mind to Kerry's actual campaign. When we get the spotlight back after the convention, our nominee will stand tall against the counterfeit losers in the White House.

[mondo joe]

32. I would love for you to be right. But I don't think there's enough

I would love for you to be right. But I don't think there's enough real data to say Kerry's succeeding.

He polled reasonably well while he was rampping up. But his numbers aren't increasing significantly now and Rove has many more dirty tricks to play between now and November. Kerry's lead was not significant enough that it can't be worn down.

The Repub smears have highlighted the Bush failures to US - but I'm not at all convinced that they've done so for independents. And that's what most of this campaign is about - swaying the independents.

[bigtree]

41. Not just Independents, Undecided

Also, there is the potential for a super-energized base of opposition that could increase the numbers of our faithful that actually show up at the polls. Two months is an eternity in a campaign. Rove doesn't hold all of the cards.

[Armstead]

42. Erroneous assumption

You're assuming that everyone thinks like you do, so therefore the voters will see what a sham Bush is.

Nope. What's necessary is an aggresive selling job that includes positive big themes AND pushing up Bush's negatives. The media won't do it, so Kerry's campaign has to work harder.

We can't assume that everyone will vote for Kerry because of anti-Bush sentiment.

[bigtree]

52. from the post

"They will have to craft a mix of attacks, profiles and policy presentations."

[Democat]

8. If Bush is up by 10% after the convention will you see a problem?

If the pre-convention trend continues, we are heading for trouble.

Kerry needs to kick ass after the convention to turn the tide in our favor.

[bushwakker]

10. AWOL is gonna be +8 by Monday

if you call that success than you must be honcho in the JK campaign. the idea that he is not losing ground is no longer debatable and i will not be shut up by folks who are blind to reality.

[MidwestTransplant]

19. Tell it like it is.

[bushwakker]

30. I was saying this 2 weeks ago

When the so-called "Dem Strat" was posting here saying how they were playing chess and judo with AWOL and the brilliance of their strategy would be apparent. Two freaking weeks of getting the crap kicked out of them. At that time I predicted two things that came to pass. One - it was so bad and the JK surrogates were so poor that the candidate himself would have to address the isssue - which he did effectively but for only one day. Two - that some "old hands" would be brought in on the campaign which is now happening. The cmpaign shake up stories have begun and it's a good time to do it during the RNC.

[bigtree]

31. Tell me just how superior you think the republican campaign is to ours

I could use the laugh.

[bushwakker]

34. they've succeeded in getting the crappy eco news

and high gas prices along with the continuing disaster in Iraq off the front pages. Then JK condemns the MoveOn ads and boxes himself into a corner effectively cutting off his ability to really get in the gutter with AWOL for fear of being labelled a flip flopper.

[bigtree]

49. not the same analysis I have

The 'denouncing of the Moveon ad was necessary to condem Bush for the Swiftliars and stay above the fray, righteous with clean hands.

Gore attacked Bush in response to attacks but got labeled by the Bush camp with practicing the 'politics of personal destruction'. Kerry skirted that and has the upper hand to respond in kind with a good deal of indemnity from charges of a negative campaign.

As for getting off message, that is the product of a dose of the scorched earth approach that you advocate we escalate. I think we need a balance with most of the attacks coming from surrogates. Kerry has to stay above the fray to amplify his positive message and positions.

edit: I like the AWOL strategy, with surrogates.

[NeoConsSuck]

57. Bigtree, I'm certainly not in a fighting mood..

but, you have an AWOL president, and a decorated war hero as his opponent.

If you came down from Mars and was told one of them is being attacked for their military service, would you ever in a million years think it was the war hero?

It's a campaign of sleaze, but it's effective.

[bigtree]

59. As is the counter response which has wrapped the lies around Bush

weakening the credibility of all of his attacks. Not everyone is so easily misled, and I don't believe any thoughtful voter can hang their vote on the word of the Swiftliars and their compatriots.

[mondo joe]

63. The "thoughtful voters" aren't enough.

And the smearboats are just the start.

If John Kerry is going to spend the next 2 months just defending himself against smear after smear it's going to be a long hard campaign.

When is he going to bring the battle back to BUSH?

It's outlandish that when one candidate is a decorated war hero and the other an AWOL punk that the entire political debate this month has been about the war hero!

[bushwakker]

61. It also presents a great opportunity

the kerry camp is playing scared. they want to come out of the sbl fiasco without being damaged. without being damaged? how about coming out of it after inflicting massive damage on awol? how about some gusto and confidence. perfect opportunity to open a up a discussion of bush' guard service. rove is petrified of it.

[bigtree]

36. I'm no campaign hack

Speak your mind. The idea that I am stifling you as you debate is betrayed by our very conversation in which you are expressing yourself fully and have implied that my point of view 'is no longer debatable'.

HOO!

[0rganism]

38. Every winning incumbent for the past 50 yrs has been up by 15+ post-conv.

If AWOL is only up by 8 on Monday, Kerry is in a solid position to unseat him. But he will have to campaign like he has never campaigned before -- the level of slime and corruption surrounding this race is unprecedented.

[henslee]

5. Nah. That "He tried to kill my Pa" , go it alone, Chuck Norris posturing

is why we are in the mess we're in now. And I strongly suspect folks realize it. (on edit) Retro vs. Metro.

[mondo joe]

6. I Agree - that's the problem.

It's why I keep saying Dems are handling this like it's a LEGAL problem rather than a POLITICAL one - doing point by point rebuttals rather than dismantling the credibility of the opposition.

I think even those who don't believe the swiftboaters are troubled by Kerry's lack of a decisive response that silences them.

Right or wrong, the perception is that dems are weak on defense. These days Kerry is not doing a lot to change that perception.

[LynneSin]

9. Because that's what Rove & company is hoping Kerry will do

They don't want Kerry talking about the failing economy or the war based on lies. They don't want Kerry talking about how many jobs have been loss and how many people lost their health care coverage.

God forbid we have Kerry talking about real problems of America. No, they WANT Kerry to 'defend his honor' in order to get Kerry off of the real important stuff that Bush has screwed up and defending himself against the lying veterans.

Kerry is making the smart move by ignoring this crap. Kerry has folks like Max Cleland and the men who served with him in the Swift Boat that will defend Kerry's honor while Kerry does the most important thing: Focus on the real issues of this country.

Rove was stupid to release this Swift Boat issue so early on in the election. In a month no one will know who the SwiftAss Liars are unless Kerry drops the real message and decides to go on the defense against them.

A John Kerry that won't focus on the issue and goes on the defense against the SwiftIdiots is a John Kerry that I wouldn't want as president.

[Democat]

12. The Swift Liars have more money now than before - they aren't going away!

What makes you think that in a month no one will know about them? They are running more ads and raising more money every day.

[AnewerWay]

21. They have nothing compared to our 527's

We have spent 80+% of the 527 cash and WE HAVE MUCH MORE IN THE BANK if we need it. Soros said he would spend all his billions to defeat bush. Now is the time for him to put up the cash while we can still spend it!

Get on the phones now and get the 527s reporting for duty!!!

[MrBenchley]

24. So what?

Every ad they run only points up that Chimpy can't talk about his service....or about any issues in THIS century.

[mondo joe]

13. What difference does it make if Smearboats dominate the news?

You say "They don't want Kerry talking about the failing economy or the war based on lies. They don't want Kerry talking about how many jobs have been loss and how many people lost their health care coverage."

But what has been in the news for weeks now?

The economy and lies and jobs? Or the Swiftboat smears?

I can tell you what's dominated the political discussions I see on TV - and it's the smears.

[AnewerWay]

16. Is Kerry being played by Rove?

Is JFK allowing Rove to steer the ship? If so then it must be stopped now!

[LynneSin]

68. Rove wants Kerry to focus on the SwiftIdiots

Because it'll make like Kerry has something to hide - which he doesn't.

We have enough other groups fighting back against the SwiftLosers, let Kerry keep in focus

[bushwakker]

20. They are lying about the seminal experience of this man's life

The American people expect him to be livid, frothing at the mouth sweating and red-faced with righteous indignant outrage. I'd be proud to vote for someone who stood up to the GOP slime machine and called AWOL on the carpet for being AWOL.

[Pachamama]

33. True, perhaps, but the current strategy isn't working very well....

I agree with your premise that this is what Rove & Co. want him to do....maybe....Perhaps they say that, or let people "think" that is what they want, but what IF Kerry did start swinging back? And Swinging Hard? What then? The media couldn't ignore that very long and quite frankly, for awhile, it was looking like the perfect timing for a full frontal assault with an assault from the left and leaping out from behind was about to take place (ie. first all the Swift Boat Liars on TV being taken on by people like Admiral William Crowe etc., Max Cleland showing up in Crawford etc.) The only thing missing was Kerry coming out and taking these a-holes on. Maybe they had hoped the other approaches would be enough. Sadly, I think not. I am on an email thread with a bunch of old college buddies. One of them is an absolute right wing-nut who will even go as far as suggesting that the reason Kerry hasn't responded is because he "can't"...and he keeps saying it over and over again ad nauseum each day...I can practically defend Kerry on all matters related to his service (and today's email thread involved the Bandaids issue, but on the issue of when he asks (on this email thread in front of some undecideds) why Kerry doesn't come out and defend or challenge these guys directly, his conclusion is always the same, which is that the Swift Vote Vets for Truth must be telling the truth, because otherwise Kerry would defend himself more vigilantly and take them on personally. And, unfortunately, I can't answer that, and the undecideds on the thread say...hmmmm....maybe he has a point. Meanwhile, during the broadcast of the convention coverage, I've seen a total of two different attack ads on Kerry from the Swift Liars and shown a total of atleast hourly or more today and I'm not in a battleground state and I'll admit they are upsetting, and I can only imagine people who are undecided being swayed by it.

This issue isn't going away....Kerry won't be able to talk about the "real" issues until he nips this one in the bud....and fast....the sooner, the better. Maybe he's waiting until the debates in October....maybe that's the strategy since everyone knows these "undecideds" won't make up their minds (or change them 10 times between now and the election) so Kerry's team wants to wait. But, if history is a lesson, I remember back to the Dukakis/Willie Horton ads and it was game over long before it got to the election. This needs to be stopped soon and fast.

[misterphelps]

11. Disillusioned over response...

Kerry should be kicking the crap out of this fool... Instead of trying to be the gentleman, he should roll up his sleaves and start swinging. They're throwing shit at you John. Are you just going politely ask them to stop??? I don't follow this strategy - Americans want to see strength in a president

[mondo joe]

14. Amen, When Kerry fails to defend himself he fails to defend me too,

And I want more than a defense.

I want Kerry to level a good attack on Bush. There's more than enough dirt there.

[bushwakker]

23. It's embarrassing

I feel the way you do. Fight for me JK! Fight for all the people on this planet who want to see this man defeated! Is this the best they can do? Where's the passion? The confidence? They look like they're not having any fun.

[mondo joe]

27. I'll support Kerry. But I'm missing Howard Dean right now.

Sorry, but I am.

[calico1]

15. Now why is it that although most of us

agree that the media is very biased in favor of Bush we still assume that they are giving Kerry fair coverage of his speeches, statements, etc and those of his supporters? Why is it we are quick to assume that if the biased media is not reporting what Kerry is doing that its because he isn't doing anything? The media is biased yet we believe they are giving fair coverage to the Democrats. Or so it seems.

[mondo joe]

17. Kerry has to make it work regardless of media bias. That's the job.

I don't expect the media to be fair.

Wht that means is that Kerry has to understand how to work the media. That is the job.

If he fails to do that, he fails.

[Nay]

45. I agree. Kerry has to make it work despite bias. For heaven's sake,

he can hire all the media muscle he needs to duke it out, but he doesn't. He could come here and use some of our ideas, but he doesn't. He could listen to Dean and try over-the-top ways to sock it to Bush, but he doesn't.

The media is the key, and what Kerry has to do is find a way to make covering him irresistable to the media. And he has to realize that 100 years of media advertising has made the American public a bunch of drooling idiots who can't tell apart their emotional and intellectual responses, and use that to his advantage. He doesn't have to TELL the public they are drooling idiots, but he has to remember that they are.

Remember what Adlai Stevenson said:

Woman in audience: "Mr. Stevenson, you have the vote of every thinking American!"

Adlai: "That's not enough, madam -- I need a majority."

[mondo joe]

50. Agreed. Excuses won't fill ballot boxes.

When election day comes Kerry won't get extra bonus votes when he explains the media was biased.

Kerry has to master the media DESPITE the bias.

[MrBenchley]

22. I doubt there's voters thinking, "If only there were more negative ads"

Especially not in August.

The slimeboatters do more harm for the Republicans than they do good...

[mondo joe]

25. One problem: negative ads work

Everyone likes to complain about negative ads, but the work.

You want something comfortable or something that works?

If Bush ran an honorable campaign I'd say don't go negative. But that's not the case.

And for a lot of Americans this is a test of how John Kerry hand;es being attacked.

I say go for what works.

[bushwakker]

39. John Kerry publicly asking George W. Bush where he was

in 1972 when he was supposed to be serving the TANG would work and it wouldn't be a lie. It would be a reasonable question based on the available evidence. And maybe a campaign surrogate asking how many times AWOL has been arrested and if he ever did community service in Houston in the early 70's would be a start. Put the ball in their court. Make them respond. But it has to come from the campaign itself.

[sandersadu]

29. It's the Message, Stupid

Here's the deal. All the blast faxes and press releases in the world don't make up for the simple fact that voters want to see some "Emotion" from the Candidate in simple, yet forceful terms.

Kerry has to improve his speeches/soundbites and talk in language that the average person understands. Democrats underestimate the emotional factor people attach to their leaders at their peril. (i.e. you want the Quarterback to never be rattled, but have a simple clear battle plan to win the game, but most of all ACT like a winner/tough guy - think Joe Montana)

[Ducks In A Row]

26. hate to say it, but it makes sense

and it's why it's so hard to get past it to get to other subjects.

I really have disliked having kerry as the candidate, although I plan to vote for him. but he's probably the worse pick to come out of the primaries for just this reason. he won't fight back.

vietnam is meaningless except as a stick to beat him with.

[Doctor_J]

35. I kind of agree

someone called franken's show a couple weeks ago, very emotional, and said, "If he won't fight for himself, why should I think he'll fight for me?"

* doesn't HAVE to fight because no one ever attacks him. Kerry is under siege and needs to hit back, hard.

[mondo joe]

37. Right. Bush needs to be attacked so voters can see hes a coward.

I want John Kerry to defend himself but I want more - I want him to smack Bush down and show the electorate who this man is.

[bushwakker]

56. Bush is NEVER forced to defend himself

the wall around him must be shattered and at that point he loks weak, cowardly and un-prepared.

[Gloria]

40. The candidate himself has to come down from Mt. Olympus and start

delivering scathing comments about Bush. The media WILL cover him then, because they want to see a fight. This is what they've done in the past...
Make it about Bush's character, integrity and incompetence and back it up with the facts.

Forget all the long-winded plans.....you can get a lot of info about your plans as you go after Bush's "plans."

Really. It's already in the gutter, so Kerry has to show he can get into the trenches and fight mano a mano. If he hangs back he will be perceived as WEAK and that will be the biggest factor in his defeat...

Mark Shields said that Kerry hasn't faced a camera and shown righteous anger about being smeared about his medals, anger about his own feelings and on behalf of other vets. He needs to start doing that. If you can't defend your own honor, for yourself...then ......



(posted earlier today on another thread...)

[bushwakker]

47. Exactly

It can only be done by Kerry. He needs to call out AWOL. And he needs to publicly ask where AWOL was in 1972 when he was supposed to be serving in the TANG. It is the only way they media will follow up and ask AWOL uncomfortable questions. I made this analogy two weeks ago: A man's girlfriend or wife is found murdered. The media speculates that he is suspect. Instead of coming before the cameras and proclaiming his love for her and the outrage at her murder - he hires a lawyer and goes underground. The public says "hmmm this guy is acting guilty." Is it fair? No but it is what it is. JK has in effect hired a lawyer and it makes people wonder if the SBL's are telling the truth.

[Gloria]

64. Well said, Bushwakker!!!

He's "acting guilty" by not coming out and fighting for himself.

He's selling himself as a vet, his honor is tied to being a vet....he has to defend that honor.

This is the politics of personal destruction in action. So, he has to deal with it personally to show people the stuff he's made of....

If he is hollow, undecideds will NOT vote for him. Clinton observed that people will follow someone who seems strong, even if they are wrong.
That leaves Bush for these people who are waffling......

[Pachamama]

43. I think that Kerry can protect his country- Problem is if the Undecided's

believe that he "can't protect his honor" or the honor of other Veteran's, that he won't/can't protect this country.

I know that many of us were taught (and I even teach my children now) that if someone on the playground throws sand at you, calls you names or starts a fight, that the best thing to do is to not fight them back doing the same, but rather to walk away or go "report them" (or to also use words wisely). But the problem is that Bush/FUCHeney and their bully gang of Swift Boat Liars are beating the crap out of him (with the help of the Media cheering them/aiding them) and Kerry is trying to "talk his way" out through his campaign or others. He's looking like a wimp and in a lot of cases people are wondering if there is truth to what the Swift Boat Liars are saying is perhaps truthful.

I think Kerry needs to come out and show people he is tough...The Swift Boat Veterans for Un-truth today challenged Kerry to "apologize" for his post-Vietnam activities. He needs to take this and the whole issue on - no hold barred and address each issue himself....get out in the press....challenge Bush and the thugs that they have released on him...challenge their assertions, not just the challenges to his purple hearts, testimony, activities after Vietnam, but also his Senate Record....Call them on some of their own "shit" and then while he's at it throw in the issues of the "economy" "jobs" "Iraq" etc. so that they (Bush/FUCHeney have to answer these things).

[Leilani]

48. I read that Kerry has not met with the press

since August 4th.

His media campaign sucks!

He can get 50,000 people at a rally...if it is not on the news, people do not know about it.

It seems there was no planning for media ops at the RNC. There is somuch there to be mined.

No one talking about the MOST radical platform in history...I am not hearing this from Dems.

Guiliani using 9/11 for political means..not a word.

1/2 million people PEACEFULLY protesting Bush...not a word.

John Kerry windsurfed this week..that is the news.

[0rganism]

53. Does the conservative media bias present an insurmountable obstacle?

Upon reflection, I don't think so, altho I did at first.

Sen. Kerry has access to a number of newscasters who will take his money as easily as they will Chimpy's. Tweety has expressed outrage at the SBLfB ads, and the recent purple bandage smear will not sit well with him. Larry King can be counted on to take just about any high-profile celeb who comes his way, and would probably run a 15-minute segment with Kerry or Edwards debunking the Swiftlies. Jon Stewart has an audience share for which some of the traditional media whores would give their left eyeball, and he clearly wants bush out.

Radio? Well, we've got Air America Radio in two dozen prime markets, and they'd certainly do whatever it takes to accomodate the senator. And don't write off Howard Stern, either -- get Edwards on his show, and maybe the Kerry daughters... no, wait, scratch that last part.

For grass roots, we need an all-out push by Kerry-supporting veterans to canvas their local neighborhoods. Sen. Kerry's swift boat crew, along with Jim Rassman maybe, could do some stumping all over the country. This would make it into the newspapers. They can hold Q&A sessions where they talk about their recollections of the various incidents.

This isn't over by a longshot, but Sen. Kerry does need to address this somehow. If the memes are allowed to settle into the public consciousness unchallenged, Kerry's campaign gets that much harder.

[bushwakker]

55. I've been asking myself - is it even winnable?

Given the media bias. God I live in Boston for Christ sake and it's just wall to wall GOP propaganda 24/7.

JK needs to feed the media what they want. What do they want? Conflict and contact. He needs to get up on the podium and ask AWOL where he was in 1972 when he should have been serving in the TANG - and then he needs to do it again and again. This will get the media in on the chase. they will then badger the AWOL campaign for their mealy mouth lying response. And then my friend you have put the spotlight where it belongs.

[brentspeak]

65. It's about time that Kerry start complaining about the media

The conservatives whined constantly about "liberal bias", even though they knew perfectly well it was a canard. And the result? The mainstream media actually caved in to their demands and treated Bush with kid gloves.

I don't care how "whiny" Kerry may sound while complaining about it --he's GOT to force the media to give him equal say.

[bushwakker]

66. he needs to use the media not complain about it

the apparatus is too entrenched to fix right now. what he needs to do is feed them a story they'll love - and it's a true on. it's about a war hero whose heroism was questioned by a deserter...

[mondo joe]

72. Agreed. Excuses don't fill ballot boxes.

The media can be used. Kerry has to figure it out.

[bushwakker]

77. all he has to do is call him awol

the facts are on our side. bush will be on the defensive. they have given so many different answetrs on his military servive that they don't know which way is up or down. but it won't matter unless jk himself opens the can of worms.

[0rganism]

79. Hell NO! You want them to start calling Kerry a "whiner"?

What the Kerry campaign has to do is buy into it fully and play their game, and beat them at it. Kerry has to USE the precious little time he gets, smartly, in such a way that his message gets out. This requires DISCPLINE among the surrogates dispatched to talking head shows -- stay on message, use talking points, hit hard whenever possible. Kerry's bunch has to be as organized in their presentation as the RNC, and that is difficult for Democrats, but not impossible.

For instance, when Krugman goes on a talk show opposite Bill Oh'Really, he CAN'T BE RUSTLING THROUGH SOURCE PAPERS during the conversation. He needs to have his shit together, and know which references say what off the top of his head, or not try to use sources to discredit the opposition. I swear, half the problem of our media image is poor use of the time we have.

Dismal as this media environment may be, there are still avenues open to liberals -- and I mean in the MASS media. We have to use them, or we will be marginalized further than we already are.

[ItsMyParty]

60. Amen to so much said above

Stop the "the media is so against us" pap. I've seen them cover Kerry whenever he says something bad about Bush---as in a real attack and not just part of the "we have a bad economy because George gave the money to the rich in tax breaks" type bites. Everyone has heard those things a zillion times. Kerry has a decision to make. He can go out and preach his PLANS again for the next two months which only the faithful audience before him who have been following him anyway are listening to, or he can start a massive attack on Bush the "liar", the "inept", "the AWOL", "the Pet Goat reader while Rome burned", etc. that will have even Wolfe down on his knees fondling Kerry's zipper. Latest press release says after the convention Kerry and Edwards are going to hit the trail big and tell the people about their PLANS!!---Jesus H. Christ. I do hope the latest news that his campaign is being shaken up is 100% on and that they stop this two month train wreck from going forward. Club Bush to death before he can go for the throat or go the way of everyone else who has tried to reason their way to victory.

[bushwakker]

62. Time to go negative

it's the only way fox, cnn or msnbc will touch the awol story or bush's coke bust in early 70's. jk himself must make the awol charges. that way it become a call and response game. ball in awol's court.

[agincourt]

67. Several things,

That POS O'Neil needs to be on a show somewhere where he gets a real interview,not patted on the head when oozes slime. We need more background material on the ones making the allegations, what kind of ditto-monkeys they are. Bushes kickback to Barnes when he was governator needs to be brought up. Rudy and McCain need less respect.
We need to tell people about the new product roll-out is ,if bush is elected. What happened at Tora Bora? How is bush connected to Pat Robertson whom is connected to Charles Taylor who laundered money for al-Quaida? We need a wide approach instead of just proving shitboats are liars. Also as I've said before Kerry needs to harvest his forgotten base, instead of trying to get the people who watch O'Reilly to vote for him. And don't forget, the media will be a whoring for the crawford crap much more now than they were a few months ago. We need to point that out.

[TrustingDog]

69. shut up already. be patient - to all you instant gratification kids.

I think he's going to slam hard after the RNC, which is the right way to go about it. All this anti-Kerry stuff HERE on DU is making me ill.

[mondo joe]

71. It's not anti Kerry for supporters to have issues with the campaign

You know - the way it't not anti American to oppose some American policies.

[bushwakker]

73. People here have been telling me to shut up for 3 weeks

they are bringning in new people to the campaign. what does that tell you? it means they have fucked up and they know it. i knew they were blowing it three weeks ago. never let this kind of attack go unanswered.

[TrustingDog]

74. let's just see what developes before panties go in knots.

Personally, I believe that there is nothing that can get Bush out of the big chair. The PNACers have worked for this for too long and have all the aces up their sleeves, all the right buttons to push on us - biggest button is the bought whoreMedia. I do not believe Bush will lose, but I totally believe he is a loser.

I also believe you just cannot give up even in impossible looking situations.

[bushwakker]

75. I say go down fighting that's all

i have never allowed myself to expect that bush will lose. the man ditched out on his guard service and i want jk to publicly call him on it before it's too late and it looks like desperation.

[nancyharris]

70. Frankly

It’s a little late in the game to expect Kerry to become someone he has never been. The Democratic Party rejected the fighting Progressive (Dean), the fighting General (Clark), and the true fighting Liberal (Kucinich). What did you expect? Sorry to say it, but to win, Kerry needs to become so much more like those he defeated.

[umtalal]

81. I did not want him I wanted Dean but he pulled a good one on him

and now that is what we are stuck with. so what else can we do?

[MirrorAshes]

78. Give it a freaking rest already.

Kerry is still in great shape. You people freaking out need to go take a cold shower or something.

[umtalal]

80. Right On. They should show the dead and the maimed in Iraq, they shoudl

show the poor and the unemployment in the United States. they should show the old with no medication and the young with no health insurance. they should make bush humilated and pathetic...because that is what he is.