The lesson in all this is... OFFENSE OFFENSE OFFENSE! RAPID response.

[Brotherjohn]

Kerry lost August because the Bush campaign and their surrogates attacked mercilessly via the Swift Boat thing. It didn't matter that there was little basis to the charges. This left Kerry playing defense, backpedaling, and the current attacks on Bush's national Guard service are a day-late / dollar-short response to that.

Perhaps more lasting, though, is the label of "flip-flopper" that the Bush campaign has successfully labelled Kerry with (they've "Gore"d him). It didn't matter that there was little basis to those charges, either. The day after, and I mean THE DAY AFTER, Bush ran his first ad quoting Kerry saying "I actually voted for the $87B before I voted against it", the Kerry campaign should have come out with an ad counterattacking, and labelling Bush with the same and worse:
"Bush was actually against the $87B before he was for it, because he wanted to saddle YOU wit the debt! You wanna talk 'flip-flops'?... " (rest of commercial could have run through a list: Against Dept. of H.S., then for it, Against a 9-11 Commission, then for it, Against nation-building, then for it...)

This would have nipped the entire "flip-flop" thing in the bud and turned it on Bush. Without such rapid response, Bush was allowed to set the debate, and determine what the CV is. He did it to Gore, he's doing it to Kerry.

The lesson is, start on OFFENSE. Attack attack attack.

But if there's a charge and you have to go on defense, do so IMMEDIATELY, and ALWAYS combine it wit a counter-attack.

If Kerry had done so immediately with the flip-flop charge, Bush would have dropped it like the coward he is (he knows he's even more of a flip-flopper).

If Kerry had done so immediately with the Viet nam issue, Bush would have dropped it like the coward he is (he knows his service can't stand up to the same scrutiny as Kerry's).

I am not being pessimistic... what's done is done. But I hope the Kerry campaign has learned this lesson. They belatedly counter-attacked the SBV thing, but at least they did. They seem to have, going much more on offense now. They need to keep it up and not let up, and they need to respond to every attack the DAY it is made, and ALWAYS link it with a counter-attack (put BUSH on the defensive).

We'll see what the current run of ads that Kerry has bought will yield. They seem hard-hitting and hopefully will snatch back the debate.

[Catfight]

1. Yup, you can't fight alley cats with a domestic cat..you have to fight

back period!

[cthrumatrix]

2. totally agree ...it's all show....zero substance and avoid issues

[yardwork]

3. The Democrats in Congress need to help

I've noticed that the minute something embarrassing to President Bush or the Republicans surfaces, the Republican National Committee and high-profile Republicans in Congress are all over it. Spin spin spin.

Democrats can spin too. When Kerry points out one of the thousands of incompetencies of the White House, the DNC and Democrats in Congress need to be there with press conferences and statements to the press.

Kerry can't do this by himself. Where are the Democrats?

[Southern Patriot]

4. I'm totally mystified by the Kerry Campaign tactics

Bill Clinton survived scandals and a dedicated attack machine funded by multi-millionares because he had a war room with surrogates to respond immediately to accusations.

It's like Kerry and Shrum slept through the Clinton years and the 2000 campaign against Gore--- not to mention ignoring Rove's well documented tactics of third party sliming.

I'm just totally baffled. These guys are playing in the big leagues for the future of the nation, war and peace, lifetime Supreme Court appointments but it's like they're getting OJT.

[in_cog_ni_to]

5. Biden...yesterday

was the angriest I have EVER seen him. He looked like he wanted to rip someone's head off. He was on Aaron Brown last night talking about Cheney's "vote for us or die" comment and he was NOT happy. This may be what it takes to get the Dems to fight this gun fight with guns.....pure unadulterated ANGER. Nothing else has motivated them. I keep thinking that they must have some GRAND PLAN and they are waiting to unleash it. I'm still waiting.

Biden's interview with Aaron was a first.

[seabeyond]

6. i know, kerry needs someone watch all channels all day

and when a reporter says, kerry is worried forged document may backfire on him, have campaign worker call and say. you are wrong. we are not worried. this has nothing to do with us, forged or not. talk to bush

[mourningdove92]

7. Truth- They are in a statistical dead heat.

Smirk, the incumbent and "war president" should be ahead by 20 points. He is scrambling for his life, being forced to campaign night and day, and is also being forced to expose just how "controlled" the media is.

All this after the unprecedented free coverage given to the Smear Boat Liars for Bush and an RNC convention that was completely devoted to Kerry bashing and ridiculing.

It seems to me that Kerry is doing just fine. I plan on HELPING my candidate tomorrow and will work a voters registration booth right smack dab in the middle of Repuke Country. Yes, I live in Texas.