Another strategy for mining votes for Kerry / or non-votes for Bush

[Zen Democrat]

My boss is a life-long Republican who has NEVER voted for a Democrat. He's from the mid-West and is a classic "small-government" conservative. Not religious-right, but fiscal conservative right. Guess what, he's not going to vote this year for the first time. He said he will vote in the down ticket races, but not for president. He can't vote for a Democrat and he can't support what Bush has done regarding blowing up the national debt.

Dems should think about out-flanking Bush on the right on the budget deficit. This could neutralize a lot of traditionally conservative voters who, whether they vote for Kerry or not, would not be able to cast a vote for big-spender Bush.

Maybe show some old Perot spots when he was decrying how Bush I's deficits were bankrupting the country -- and show that Bush II has taken the deficit to historic record highs AFTER we had achieved a balanced budget and lowered debt between Bush I and Bush II.

We need to think about cutting into the Repubican vote. They already don't like what's happening in Iraq. I guarantee you.

[iamjoy]

1. Have A Friend Who Feels The Same

He's angry at Bush about Iraq, education (he's a public school teacher, hates the idea of vouchers) and a host of other things but just doesn't like Kerry & having been a Republican all his life, can't bring himself to vote for him. He has become cynical about the money in politics and may actually vote for Nader. I've stopped trying too hard to win him for Kerry. This may be one of those rare cases where Nader actually does take votes from Bush.

[napi21]

2. Pat Buchanan's book is doing just that! Let's see how it sells.

He was on c-span book tv yesterday with Brian Lamm. He was also on Washington Week this morning. I almost hate to say it, but I agrree with Pat on several points. He's very adamant that there was no reason to go into Iraq, and all the neo-cons are doing is making more enemies in the middle east. All the calls he got this morning were positive. So much so, that at the end of his time, the host said "Gee, I didn't expect a love fest for you today". There were lots of Pubs who called and said how upset they were with the shrub.

It's nice to have a Pub help us out here.

[JPJones]

3. I agree 100%

I think budget surpluses stimulate the economy (look at the late '90s). One could at least make an argument.

Instead of promissing a bunch of new programs, say that running surpluses will create jobs and stimulate the economy, leading to the benefits that you would have sought with some costly new program.

John Kerry - tough on Al Qaeda, tough on deficit spending.

It's the ultimate triangulation.

His proposals are already 'budget neutral', and I think he has a reputation as a deficit hawk. Seriously, economic conservatives are smart enough to see through Bush's lies on foreign policy and religious imagery, and hate the massive budget deficits.

[JPJones]

4. This is such a seriously good idea that it will

drop like a stone in favor of posts about cocaine.