It's about 2 Sides -- Kerry should unleash Populist Pitbulls

[Armstead]

There's a disconnect between the fire on our side, and what's being presented to the public as the Kerry campaign. The Kerry message and the alternative to Bush is being presented as vanilla pudding instead of the fire and anger and hope and toughness and great ideas that we all know is on our side.

Jan Schiakovski, Dick Durbin, Tom Harkin, Howard Dean, Russ Feingold, Dennis the K, John Corzine, Charlie Wrangle, Jessee Jackson Jr. etc. The fighting liberals and progressives have been in the closet lately. Kerry should put these kinds of tough liberals and progressives all over the media as surrogates.

That doesn't mean Kerry can't have a centrist message too. But IMO a key to the campaign is to send out reinforcements from the liberals and progressives -- as well as the centrists and military types.

Despite the different factions on our side, we are all on a side that's opposed to the GOP and Bush Cartel. This isn't a campaign just about John Kerry. Face it, Bush is dividing the nation into two camps, and we should fight back on that basis by emphasizing the core differences.

[rwheeler31]

1. I want to see everyone out there,

if only they could get on TV, the media is working against us.

[Armstead]

2. The campaign has to force them on the media

The demands of the Democrats for exposure can't be ignored if we put the pressure on at all levels.

[AlinPA]

3. Bob Kerrey did a good job this week. I wish he would go on the road

and give 'em hell.

[Southsideirish]

4. Jan Schiakovski is FANTASTIC - I wish she were his running

mate. No offense, John, but she is a tremendous fighter and I fear you are not. Our backs are to the wall.

[Armstead]

9. She is great

She's real and talks straight. That's what we need more of.

[sffreeways]

5. Ed Rendell

just gave a good rebuttal to the republican attack dogs like Zell Miller. He's another pitbull that could do the job Kerry needs. I'm afraid with Bill Clinton down and out that they are going to turn up the heat real fast. As if they could get any nastier but just when you think they can't they do.

I'd like to see more of Wes Clark. He's a strong personality and has a great presence. And Al Gore too, I'd like to see alot more of Al Gore despite them calling his appearance at the moveon.org event hateful, crazy etc.. Al is very forceful and strong. Democrats would be better served by ignoring the repulican characterizations of our strong leaders being crazy.

And I sure wish the democratic party would start harping on the religious right more. Drawing comparisons to the Taliban and really showing their scarey side because they are calling the shots and setting the agenda and democrats should be getting that out there.

They want to paint liberals as America haters and cowards democrats need to point out that they are wild eyed bigots, fanatics, and as Zell showed unstable and filled with hateful rage.

It's no accident that the conservatives have taken a page from the act-up/gay rights movement by calling us haters every single time we hit back. They have done that because it was very effective for the gay community to point out how filled with hate they are. The tables need to be turned around on them.

Kerry just does not have the character to be an aggressive orator. I don't think it would come off very good. So I agree that the party needs to bring out the big guns. Counter their accusations that all democrats hate America and love terrorists with conservatives are terrorists and hate the people of America that don't want to follow their ideology in lockstep.

[Armstead]

7. I think it's about diversity of our side

The two sides are in some ways, the lockstep mentality of the Bush conservatives vs. the freedom lovin and varied crowd on our side.

If the perception of the Kerry campaign is opened up to showcase the broad base of Kerry support with many people as possible, that could both energize the "base" of our side, as well as making more "swing voters" see more possibilities for identifying with Kerry.

[kentuck]

6. There's a reason they are not invited a "Democratic spokesmen" to

FOX-TV, CNN, MSNBC, etc. Sometimes I wish the Party would make a list of official people that could call themselves "Democratic spokesmen" and take most of these unprepared wimps off the list. They can be invited to the tlak shows - but they cant call themselves Democratic spokesmen..

[sandersadu]

8. The Big 4

I totally agree. The DNC/Kerry Campaign needs to come up with 4 Surrogates and have them be main people:

(1) WES CLARK! This guy is a friggin 4-star general, brilliant, a fighter, a southerner, and he's on our side. He's been woefully underused in a scattershot fashion. For the love of God, he brought so many people into the process (remember Draft Clark) who would work their hearts out for Kerry if given some inspiration. IMHO, it should be leaked now that Clark will be Secretary of State, period!

(2) HOWARD DEAN: Like Clark, brought many people into the process, and fired up "the base." In my perfect world, Kerry/Edwards/Clark/Dean would be the 4-headed Monster taking the battle to Bush* on all fronts. I mean really, is there nothing that those 4 couldn't do together if they all sat in a room and strategized. IMHO, McAuliffe should be replaced now, and Dean installed as DNC Chairman. Would be bold, smart and really fire people up.

(3) HILARY CLINTON: Where was she during the RNC? She's the Senator from NY for crying out loud, yet she was a ghost. She's one of our party's biggest stars, and should be used effectively.

(4) SHARPTON/JESSE JACKSON/KUCINICH. Should do targeted campaigning in the "forgotten urban core."

There you have it. Kerry can thank me after the inauguration.

[grasswire]

10. theatre makes news

Max Cleland going to Crawford.

Theater

Theater

Theater

If a Dem MAKES NEWS it will be covered. If a Dem SAYS SOMETHING, likely not.

[LTR]

11. Keep Feingold in Wisconsin

He's being attacked by looney GOP rivals for his Senate seat.

Though, after seeing two of his ads (Patriot Act and Outsourcing), compared to the Bush asskissing tripe Darrow and Michels put out, I'm pretty confident. Feingold has phenomenal advertising.

Feingold could help put Kerry over in Wisconsin.

[Catt03]

12. I just asked this question on another post

in re where are the Democratic leaders? Why the heck are they not out there and speaking on shows and having town hall meetings?

We should demand they get out there. Where in the world is Gore?