Kerry has to destroy the "TOUGH ON TERRA" facade that Bush perpetuates

[mzmolly]

in order to win this election. And, he needs to make a huge dent in this faux armor tonight.

As I've said time and time again, Bush is seen as the great protector. As a Mom from a swing state, I can tell you with certainty that Kerry is losing the election because of this issue ALONE. I'm not trying to be a doomsdayer, I'm stating fact.

Though I hate to quote Joe Scarborough, he's had good advice for Kerry on occassion. He said at one time "Kerry has to realize, this is a blood sport" another DU-er said "Democrats don't know how to street fight."

Seems we put our eggs in the economy/health care basket early on and have been slow to adjust. We've since found out that, TERRORISM is the numero uno issue (polls back up this claim) and if we don't go for the jugular on this tonight ... it's all over but the crying folks. Mark my word. I've studied politics and people for over 20 years, and while I'm not a paid consultant, I have a "feel" for what's happening in middle America. ;)

We can't leave this up to Michael Moore, John Kerry has GOT to tackle this issue ... NOW. And, he's got to LEAVE NO DOUBT. He can't be "nuanced" he's got to GO FOR IT.

I've contacted the campaign with specifics, as I'm sure many others have, I can only hope they listen. :hi:

[jean]

1. yup - it's the 'strong, strict father' frame - we need to shatter it!

Dailykos - Markos explains this better than I can - see his thread here (scroll down to read how neocons frame the issues):

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/20/24655/5647

[mzmolly]

2. Repugs do two things well, attack the opposing candidate on their

strenghts, and leave them without it ... and they market/package their candidate and his message very well.

We could learn a thing er two.

[AirAmFan]

9. I think you're onto something here. Simply STUNNING reporting about

Dubya throughout the last four years has gone nowhere, largely for want of effective FRAMING of the issues. There are always a few reporters who ARE still doing their job. They uncovered Dubya's historic looting of the Treasury, warmongering big lies about WMD and Terror Haven in Iraq, "ministry of fear" attack on the Bill of Rights, outsourcing of energy policy to Enron, desertion from TANG duty, insider stock trading, self-enrichment through eminent domain at Rangers Stadium, etc.

But after a few news cycles, these stories have gone nowhere. DUers have blamed the media, but FINALLY it's time to take responsibility and do what WE can do with the resources a few good reporters have given us.

This kind of can-do attitude worked well for Democrats 12 years ago, when James Carville and Paul Begala beat Daddy Bush for Bill Clinton. Have you seen their classic little book about framing issues in political campaigns? It's called "Buck Up, Suck Up . . . and Come Back When You Foul Up : 12 Winning Secrets from the War Room". Part of it is online at http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0743224221/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-9927339-5447034

[AirAmFan]

3. How's this for a question: 'Mr Bush, why did you harbor 200 al-Qaeda

TERRORISTS in a US-controlled enclave, for a year and a half after 9/11?'

Too bad the rules Kerry agreed to do not allow him to ask Dubya any questions.

Seven months ago, Joshua Micah Marshall reported that Abu Musab Zarqawi, who now has the same $25 million price on his head as Osama, ran a well-known anti-Saddam terror camp in US-controlled Iraqi Kurdistan, for a year and a half AFTER 9/11. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reported that, on THREE separate occasions, the Bush White House HALTED specific Pentagon battle plans to wipe Zarqawi's gang out when they still were all in one place.

The reason: If the WH could not point to "Iraqi terrorists", they could not claim that Iraq was a terrorist haven and needed to be invaded. Problem: The terrorists were in an area of Iraq BUSH controlled, not Saddam!

See post #4 at http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x923052

[mzmolly]

4. Wow!

:wow:

[AirAmFan]

5. My hunch is that Ed Bradley is or was working on this story for '60 Minutes'

Why else would Ed Bradley have been sent to Jordan recently, explicitly to research Zarqawi's roots? If Bradley's story is a profile of Zarqawi, how could he leave out the fact that the White House let Zarqawi off the hook THREE TIMES, so Bush/Cheney/Powell could LIE about Zarqawi and make Saddam out to be a harborer of terrorists...

I've already set my VCR to WEEKLY SUNDAY for the '60 Minutes' timeslot.

From http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/09/24/60minutes/main645596.shtml

"This week, Correspondent Ed Bradley went to Jordan, where al-Zarqawi was born and spent most of his life, to find out more about this man who now has a $25-million price on his head. It�s the same reward the United States is offering for Osama bin Laden, dead or alive. ...'

[mzmolly]

7. That would be a great story!

I hope your right!

[cheezus]

6. it should be EASY to get around that rule

he's just gotta say:

I believe the American people derseve to know why president Bush horbored 200 al-Qaeda TERRORISTS in a US-controlled enclave for a year and half after 9/11.


ANY direct question, phrase as

I believe the American people deserve to know -insert question here-

edit: stupid html brackets

[mzmolly]

8. Very good suggestion.

:)

[Mountainman]

10. Lets make a list of all that Bush has done to make us safer.

Not enough money to search all containers coming into ports
Not enough money to keep all the police on the streets
Created a motive for more people in the Middle East to hate America.
Not found OBL
Stretched our military very thin to fight a country that was no threat to America.

[ItsMyParty]

11. Actually, It's a little more pinpointed than simply "terror"

The polls show the evidence all over the place---it was the Russian school killings that freaked primarily the women out and they went running to Bush. They have no clue that Bush has failed to adequately fund homeland security, opposed the office to begin with, hasn't protected ports/nuke reactors/borders--nuttin'---and thus, they are very unsafe. We haven't been attacked because the terrorists just have not decided to do it yet. BUT--I digress--the key is to talk about making the schools safe. Perhaps, beefing up number of cops so that each school can have an officer trained in "terrorism"???? In a word, John has to specifically hit this school security issue tonight.

[AirAmFan]

12. Great point. It also points to a tactic for defense on gun control

If gun control comes up, Kerry should be sure to make his statement all about the Columbine High School rampage, leaving little time for other aspects of gun control.

[AirAmFan]

13. Kick for the pre-debate crowd

[mzmolly]

14. Thanks AirAmFan...

:hi:

Please o please o please o please Mr. Kerry ... :)