The problem with Dem party and Dem candidates

[LTRS]

I'm not a professional when it comes to politcs, but I give tirelessly as a volunteer. I am a die hard Democrat - a party line voter who would not even consider voting for a Republican. I give my money and I give my time. I have met untold numbers of politicians and I have friends who are political consultants. I even had a great sit down discussion with John Edwards that lasted 45 minutes.

What I am about to say might not be popular, but from my 20 yrs of paying attention to politics, here is my assessment.... the basic problem with the Democratic party is that we are too nice; we are not near as aggressive as Republicans; and we don't believe that the ends justify the means as they so clearly do.

Should we be more like Republicans? Well, maybe just a little bit, at least as far as tactics go. But the basic reality is that if our party and its candidates won't stick up for themselves, and aggressively, the average voter will never believe they will stick up for them.

People SAY they deplore negative politics, but in reality they vote for the politicans who kick ass and take names. They don't vote for the nicest candidate; they vote for the most agressive candidate. Why didn't we learn that from Clinton's campaigns? Why didn't John Kerry learn that from his primary comeback?

When I talk to political consultants they tell me now is the time to play to the middle because the base is already captured, and they have some crazy idea that playing to the middle means being nice. I say that's hogwash!

What's this crap with Kerry asking Move On to take their ad down that questions *Bush's service record? Why are the campaign surrogates not ignoring this baloney about document forgeries and hammering the message that Bush, regardless of the documents, didn't fulfill his obligations to the military? Why are they not pounding the message that leadership means NOT sitting in a classroom like a deer caught in the headlights and then running around the country like a chicken with your head cut off for 11 hours? Why are they not pounding the message that nobody's flip flops like Dubya? The phrase "W stands for waffle" should be a household saying by now.

Kerry is typically a good closer. Well now is the time for him to start kicking ass and taking names. But when is he going to do that? There are only 50 days left. Time to make it happen.

The Dem agenda is what is right for this country - there is no question in my mind about that. But it isn't going anywhere unless our guys learn how to campaign better and start playing some hardball.

[mhr]

1. I Agree - We Can Play Dirty And Still Be Correct On The Issues

The difference is that we have to fight for our beliefs zealously.

The days of polite society campaigns are OVER.

The days of a fair and balanced media are OVER.

The days of a well informed electorate are OVER.

The days of a truthful opponent party are OVER.

The days of public truth and integrity are OVER.

Need one say more!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

2. Agreed

and by the way, folks, you CAN fight back hard and consistently without getting down in the muck.

I was always an independent with Democratic leanings and after the stolen election in 2000, I decided the gloves were OFF, I was formally joining the Democrats, urging everyone I knew to do so, and kicking ass and taking names.

[Shoeempress]

3. Thank you. I've said the same thing here and been attacked.

You are 100% right.

[LTRS]

7. Well I hate to say it.....

.... but I have never met a dem political consultant who agrees with what I posted. Those folks doomed Gore, and they may doom Kerry if he doesn't get on the stick. Carville and Begala had it right. These other guys have an inside the beltway mentality that is truly hard to believe when you hear them discuss it. They just don't get the average voter.

[newyawker99]

9. HI LTRS!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[cheshire]

4. Well yeah!

[Bronco69]

5. Great post LTRS,

and welcome to DU. :-)

[kentuck]

6. i agree with all the comments above mine....

We don't have to get down in the mud. We only need to be more aggressive and change our language to where it is not so cautious and passive. "They lied. We are not safer. There are more terrorists. They are using fear for political purposes. Iraq is a mess and we must get our troops out as soon as possible. Allawi must resign. He is seen as a puppet of the US and will never be accepted by the Iraqi people. Saddam Hussein was not a threat to us or our neighbors. We should not have invaded Iraq while Osama bin Laden and the terrorists that attacked our country were still at large. George W Bush has been a disaster as Commander in Chief and has made our country less safe...etc..etc.." :shrug:

[Mr_Spock]

8. I agree - let's kick Dubya's "I approve of this killin" ass

All that matters is winning to the sicko lying bastard Repukes. You can't play chess with morons - they just don't get it.

Kick ass and take names or don't play the friggin game. When they pull out the checkers at the chess game, pull out a hockey stick and shoot their simple minded checker pieces into the garbage. If they don't like it, cross check them into the wall and yell "checkmate".