Is It Wrong To Say Kerry Is Screwing This Up?

[phrenzy]

I have seen many posts freaking out that people would dare be concerned over the current state of the campaign. While I can understand anyone saying "It's over" is not worth listening to, simply accepting the status quo is NOT GOOD ENOUGH. We need to strategies and focus w/ laser like intensity on that strategy or we may be screwed.

I think kerry may have relied on the ABB sentiment for way too long. That was bound to collapse as soon as Shrub got in front of the country at the convention and convinced people he wasn't the antichrist.

Unfortuantely, I think we need to make Shrub into the antichrist again. Obviously this thing will now hinge on the debates. And Kerry will have to DESTROY shrub in the debates (as well as shrub making a fool out of himself) to such an extent that even the media can't declare shrub the winner.

I honestly think this election is now in the hands of Kerry and his advisors. Certainly not us. Kerry has made it hard for me to sell him. Sure I can say why Bush must go, but I can't make an argument for Joe Idiot as to why Kerry is a far superior choice to Shrub.

Honestly, I think even Gore did a better job than Kerry is doing. This is scary.

PS - I am NOT a fucking 'infiltrator' or any such nonsense, so paranoid fellow DUers please save it. I really just want a real assessment and discussion of the situation and not claims the the 'polls are rigged' or that 'it will all fade' - WE CAN'T COUNT ON THAT.

[expatriot]

1. it be negativity, my friend, the darkness we must suppress

[mourningdove92]

2. What would make you say that Kerry is screwing this up?

keep in mind that he had spending limitations during August.

He is also hampered by a media that refuses to let him get his words out. So he is doing what he can at this time. He is taking it to the people by going from town to town.

Kerry is a very smart man and an experienced campaigner. I have no fear that he knows just exactly what to do.

What have you done lately to help him?

[seabeyond]

3. how about it is not wrong for you to say, but that i think you are

wrong.......i dont think kerry is screwing up. and from past experience i have seen dems do this to their people and create more of a screw up, from this constant saying candidate is screwing up feeding the negative. so though you absolutely have the right to say, i disagree and further i think sometimes we need to sit back and understand we dont have all the fact all the info and a candidate has to take their personality into account. they cannot be you. and it isnt hard for me to sell kerry. need help ask, i find a lot of good things about kerry to sell.


i would like to see dems able to take their religion back and would love for people to be aware how bush isnt the christian people promote, but that may never happen

[soothsayer]

4. Reeeelax. He's a known closer. And boosh is a known LOSER.

So we're ok!

[TheDonkey]

5. It distracts the activists working for JK who go to this site

to hear a bunch of "doom and gloom" by some easily excited DUers.

Kerry is far from "screwing things up" which is an opinion many people hold on DU. There is one thing to want to challenge the status-quo and give examples, talking points, and ideas on how to take down Bush and pump up Kerry.

It's another spread dozens of title threads to take down Kerry, pump up bush, on a supposed haven for liberal politicos and activists.

Please rant if you feel like it, but do so in moderation and consideration or don't be surprised to the flame wall.

[knight_of_the_star]

6. I'm still going to do what I can

Every little bit we do to ensure Kerry's victory is another little bit we can't forsake. Bush has more money than us, this we know. He doesn't have the people power or the heart that we do, and that is how we will win. We have to take this fight to the streets and make the media look like the idiots that they are.

[stray cat]

7. Kerry is running against GOP Incumbent, Senate, Congress, Media

Kerry's biggest battle is how the media spins every aspect of this election and the media loves GOP lies because they appeal to watchers which means money. Kerry or any democratic candidate needs a grass roots effort in order to get the truth out. I agree Kerry needs to aggressively fight back. However, lies and smear campaigns are hard to beat when the incombent gets a free ride on anything he did prior to the age of 40. If we want to get rid of Bush it will take a massive revulsion on the part of the American people.

[Ducks In A Row]

8. Yes it's wrong because it's the whore media...

telling you it's a mess.

[necso]

9. There is nothing "wrong" with criticizing the campaign.

There are issues of perspective and proportion, however. And one does wonder why there has to be so much of it, and who are all these people, what is their motivation.. and just what exactly do they have to offer?

Do you think that Kerry is lacking for advice (from all perspectives) and needs yours? Do you think that the board hasn't had enough of this? Or what?

If you are just venting, I am cool with it, but how many threads on this subject do we need?

I think that the campaign is Kerry's to run, and you are free to run your own campaign in any way that you like. And if I disapprove, I will try to keep the carping to a minimum out of simple respect for our shared goals.

[rndmprsn]

12. it's ok...

to vent and criticize...thats only human, but please offer at least one constructive solution to the point being criticized so we can stay net-balance positive.

he had a bad august, carville admitted as much today...but like the bushies are telling everyone, we must look to the future...i honestly believe that the best of john kerry is still to come, but i hope it comes very very soon!

kerry is a fighter and he'll prove it...i also think that the terrible RNC masquerade ball-smear fest will backfire on W, not only turing voters eventually away from them, but energizing democrats like never before.

remember there are more of us...we are the majority!

[necso]

17. I find your choice

of level to post on interesting.

Posted one level above, I read your post one way, posted on this level I can read it another.

But I appreciate a little ambiguity.

Then again, posted here, you are pretty safe... except from me!

Welcome... I think?

[BillZBubb]

10. If you believe, it is not wrong to say it!

Contrary to what the "group think" bunch believe, you are just as entitled to your opinion as anyone else. You are not showing weakness by offering constructive criticism and asking questions.

Kerry had a very bad August. He totally blew the "I would have voted the same way" issue. He totally blew the Swiftscum response. He let Rove put him on the defensive across the board. His spokespeople have been unusually ineffective.

Since he couldn't really spend money in August, he was at a huge disadvantage. Even so, he did much worse than he should have.

But, now it's September. I think we will see him start to differentiate himself from Bush* much more effectively. Rumblings are that he will get more aggressive. If that's the case, we are in pretty good shape.

So, I am concerned like you, but I won't be overly concerned unless things don't improve by next month. This is the month that will really tell the tale.

[CarolynEC]

11. I think your analysis is a bit off-target in one respect

The criticism of many in the "time to ramp it up, JK" crowd is that he has not done ENOUGH with ABB. That he hasn't fully capitalized on the many blunders, deceptions and outright failures of the Bush administration. I confess, that's been my perspective right along -- which is why I jump up and dance a little dance every time JK lands a well-timed dope-slap on Bush, Cheney, et al these days!

We're in the closing innings of a tie ballgame now, so it's no surprise the fans are anxiously hanging on every pitch. Like many posters on this forum, I have little patience for the gloom-and-doomsayers. But I think the people who react with anger to every criticism or concern could use a reality check, too. We've earned our neuroses the hard way, folks, in 2000 and in 2002. Cut us a little slack, wouldya, while we promise to keep our criticisms constructive.

Deal? :)

[WilliamPitt]

13. I sent this email to a Kerry staffer friend of mine

I'm watching Russert right now, and he put the question to Bob Graham:
"Kerry said that knowing what he knows, he would still have voted to
authorize the war. Is this a position Democratic voters can accept?"

Graham replied, "What Kerry said was bla bla bla bullshit bullshit bullshit."

In other words, an el floppo answer, and a perfect example of a missed
window. "What Kerry said" is a rotten way to start a reply. Kerry said
what he said. Why did he say it?

If you are cobbling together something on the problem of our reps,
possibly include these two points (one specific and one general):

(specific) 1. Why would Kerry have voted for the authorization anyway?
Because weapons inspections in Iraq require a threat of force to be
effective. Period. Ask any weapons inspector.

(general) 2. When Pat Buchanan is the best spokesman for our side on a
national news show, we are seriously in need of a re-evaluation of our
standing.

[Blue_Roses]

14. Let's just say

on point #1--mental note.

on point #2--ditto.

It's pretty frightening when I find myself siding with the opinions of Pat. I really don't want it to happen too often;)

[creeksneakers2]

15. I hope our Dem Strategist is OK

I've been a little worried.

Also, there might be some good advice here that can make its way through if Dem Strategist is still reading DU.

[EST]

16. YESS!!

Have any opinion you wish, here the limits are pretty wide, other than direct attacks. It's probably not a great idea to start a thread with sighing and sobbing-far too many of those-but go past the first page and find a discussion, then jump in. Extremeisn and bigotry of any sort(IMO) should be discouraged, and blind optimism or hysterical negativism are very distracting. Pollianna won't get far and Woejoe won't even start, so a certain amount of self control simply has to be cultivated. Whether you tend to be the kite or the tail, everyone has a job to do. Pick one and get busy.

[TexasSissy]

18. He's getting it right NOW. August he made mistakes, but he's

correcting those.

I wouldn't "misunderestimate" him just yet. He's going on the offensive, as are his staffers and friends and fellow Dems. We're spittin' mad and we're not gonna take this bullsh*t lying down any longer.

Go get 'em, Kerry!

[dreadneck]

19. If the flip flop fits

In most any other election year, Kerry might have gotten away with waffling on the war in Iraq. This year is unique, with 9/11 moving national security to the top of most voters' priority lists.

Same principle holds with his failure to immediately and aggressively counter the Swift Boat smear. It's too late to appear proactive and strong on the issue.

Bush sucks in so many ways, but he has a huge advantage on issues of strength and security--and that's what will decide the election.

[Awsi Dooger]

24. Kerry needs to forcefully address flip-flops in the debates

No doubt the moderator will make the so-called flip-flops a significant theme, several questions worth. My friends who vote but do not follow politics closely mention that EVERY TIME and IMMEDIATELY when Kerry's name comes up, as if nothing else matters. It is much more signficant than the Swift Vote attacks or virtually anything else. And Kerry fed into it with the 87 billion line, which should have been easily explained, and recently the Iraq comment.

Like Clinton said in a speech last year, "It's better to be wrong and strong..."

[lagniappe]

20. August was a difficult month. No doubt about it.

I always knew the republicans would launch their attack machine, but the swift boat ads, the purple heart band-aids, and Zell Miller were a new low even by republican standards.

Who was it that said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. If Kerry follows the same Democratic strategies of the past, I would say yes, he is screwing up.

However, in the past few days, his speeches have become sharper. A new ad campaign is starting. We shall soon see if the Democrats have a new spine. Rove is already trying to control the debates, but I am optimistic that Kerry will not allow this to happen.

[Pepperbelly]

21. Please, phrenzy ... riddle me wthis ...

what the fuck are you talking about?

Specifically, please.

[peacetalksforall]

22. On a more progressive note - why not spend some energy asking

quality spoksepeople to appear more often on TV? I don't get to watch much TV and my program of choice is Washington Journal - but I say spend your energy persuading these people to appear. From what I see, if it weren't for Joe Trippi and Clinton's WH staff. we wouldn't be anywhere. While we're at it - ask Dede Meyers to stay home and ask Susan Estritch not to say she is a Democrat since she is paid by Fox and is very wobbly in her positions.

While I'm at it - ask Washington Journal to tip their guest list center and left. The ratio is pathetic lately.

Guest appearances and domination by spokespeople is where the right wing reigns. They groomed them and they use them. They are mighty successful. They are mighty smart in a rotten way.

Spokespeople can be more effective than Kerry - he can't do it all - he can't accomplish it all - let a presidential aura come out, bury them with facts, and play get-even dirty.

[0rganism]

23. Factually or morally, or both?

Offering an opinion as to what John Kerry to do to improve his campaign is fine, IMHO. It's probably a waste of time, but it doesn't really hurt anything. Constructive criticism is potentially helpful; for example, it can give uninspired activists raw material to work with.

On the other hand, delivering heaping piles of unsupported excrement about how Kerry is fucking everything up and another hypothetical candidate would do so very much better is counterproductive and downright mean. Sen. Kerry is not behind by an insurmountable margin. Bush's convention bounce by any measure is less than the 15% typical for an incumbent headed to victory, and I'm willing to bet money that his approval rating is still below 50%.

This race should be, and ultimately WILL be, about the incumbent's performance. If enough people approve of the way bush has handled his first term, there's very little a challenger -- ANY challenger -- can do about it. For that reason, I think the attacks on Kerry are hurting bush as well as their intended target: they use up airtime in which bush could be promoting his own record.