Kerry campaign off target?

[Rot 911]

I am really curious about the direction Kerry's handlers keep going. They're in essence bringing up Vietnam again, this time over more records regarding Bush. I'm sure the records can lead to all sorts of interesting debate, but with 8 weeks left, why go back to an issue that has proven to be a loser? Ever since Kerry stepped foot on the DNC stage and said "Reporting for Duty" he's come out on the short end of the Vietnam debate and his numbers have gone down. Why on earth stick with it?

He needs to get a concrete message out there; stay ON MESSAGE come hell or high water, and start moving the electorate around to his way of thinking. Not revisit stale issues that aren't likely to sway anyone to his way of thinking and keep a thus-far damaging issue on the table.

But he did get 3 purple hearts

[GettinHeadStuds]

Kerry needs to focus on: 1) What Bush has done/not done over the past four years, 2) what his alternative policy ideas are.

With that being said, his campaign staff hasn't been bright enough to figure this out yet and probably won't...

That's a moderate republican's view of Kerry's focus, or lack there of...

[MichiganMat]

Now that the media blitz over his medals has died down it seems that his campaign is getting back on track with current issues. I think the campaign has always been on current issues but his media coverage has been mostly of him playing defense to the Swift-Boat-Jerkoffs. His recent rally in Ohio was excellent BTW.

[cowtown]

Originally posted by MichiganMat
Now that the media blitz over his medals has died down it seems that his campaign is getting back on track with current issues...His recent rally in Ohio was excellent BTW.

Was the Ohio rally the one where he said "the W stands for WRONG!" ?

Now who needs a platform on current issues when you've got that kind of speechwriter?

[dd74]

Kerry getting on track now might be too little too late. He picked the Vietnam battle and essentially had his hiney handed to him over it. Now he's talking about economics, jobs, so forth and so on, but it is what it is: talk. And boring talk at that. I'm no Bush fan, however Kerry needs to be looked at realistically. He's truly got nothing. He comprises a dull, stiff and poor message. Another Democratic effort wasted similar to Dukakis. Bostonian Dems just shouldn't run for high office, IMO.

[speeder]

Originally posted by dd74
Kerry getting on track now might be too little too late. He picked the Vietnam battle and essentially had his hiney handed to him over it. Now he's talking about economics, jobs, so forth and so on, but it is what it is: talk. And boring talk at that. I'm no Bush fan, however Kerry needs to be looked at realistically. He's truly got nothing. He comprises a dull, stiff and poor message. Another Democratic effort wasted similar to Dukakis. Bostonian Dems just shouldn't run for high office, IMO.

Ah, I can think of one who won.

You are right about his piss-poor campaign, but a win by Kerry is still possible. He is not all that far behind in the polls, and there is a lot of time left, plus debates. He has run a pathetic campaign so far, hell, if Clinton could run again he'd beat Jr. w/o even campaigning. One speech and it would be "boom, boom, out goes the lights!......."

[GettinHeadStuds]

Originally posted by dd74
Kerry getting on track now might be too little too late. He picked the Vietnam battle and essentially had his hiney handed to him over it. Now he's talking about economics, jobs, so forth and so on, but it is what it is: talk. And boring talk at that. I'm no Bush fan, however Kerry needs to be looked at realistically. He's truly got nothing. He comprises a dull, stiff and poor message. Another Democratic effort wasted similar to Dukakis. Bostonian Dems just shouldn't run for high office, IMO.

Very well said, almost my sentiments exactly.

Yeah Denis, the debates are still left... but the first one is at Univ. of Miami....a city where whites are a minority and cubans rule with a conservative fist. You think Kerry is going to remotely comfortable in that environment? It'll be a miracle if he (Kerry) comes out winning that first debate.

[MichiganMat]

Originally posted by dd74
Kerry getting on track now might be too little too late. He picked the Vietnam battle and essentially had his hiney handed to him over it. Now he's talking about economics, jobs, so forth and so on, but it is what it is: talk. And boring talk at that. I'm no Bush fan, however Kerry needs to be looked at realistically. He's truly got nothing. He comprises a dull, stiff and poor message. Another Democratic effort wasted similar to Dukakis. Bostonian Dems just shouldn't run for high office, IMO.

Don't forget, though, that Kerry is traditionally a strong finisher. He's been down and made come backs in a number of his campaign (ask Howard Dean). Maybe hes got a few tricks up his sleeve (and maybe GW has a few more gaffs in his)

As for being boring, thats one of the reasons I support the guy. Frankly, Im sick of excitement. No more "us agains the world", more "war on terror", no more scare tactics from the WhiteHouse and Tom Ridge, no more dying troops in a foreign land. Somebody tell the hawks and the cowboys to go home, I don't want to party any more.

[cmccuist]

Originally posted by MichiganMat
Don't forget, though, that Kerry is traditionally a strong finisher.

Kerry is not a strong finisher. Howard Dean exploded. W wouldn't have even had to campaign against that freak. That race would have made Reagan's ass-kicking of Carter look like a nail-biter.

The only other race Kerry has been challanged in was when he ran against William Weld. Why would he have to finish strong in the most liberal state against a Republican? Maybe because he's a lousy campaigner. He has never had to campaign hard. That's why he's getting worked right now.

Even though TX is a Republican state, W still had to work to defeat Ann Richards. Kerry and Kennedy are used to mailing it in.

His midnight rally in Ohio was a disaster btw. W is for Wrong!?! wtf! are you kidding me!?! Kerry was both ranting and boring at the same time. It was a stump speech with nothing new except the time of day.

And hiring Clinton mud-slingers is redundant in light of the dominant liberal media and overwhelming 527 support Kerry has recieved. What is he going to do? call W Hitler? Challenge him on his national gaurd service? Maybe he could find someone who shared a gram with Bush. Believe me, the Bush campaign already has prepared responses to these old chestnuts.

Barring an October surprise, Kerry and Gore will get together come November and live out their lives as two fat, hairy, ex-senators teaching starry-eyed liberal coeds the wonders of Marxism.

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by cmccuist
Barring an October surprise, Kerry and Gore will get together come November and live out their lives as two fat, hairy, ex-senators teaching starry-eyed liberal coeds the wonders of Marxism.

Regardless of anyone's political bent, this is the funniest thing I have read all day!

[dd74]

Originally posted by cmccuist

His midnight rally in Ohio was a disaster btw. W is for Wrong!?! wtf! are you kidding me!?! Kerry was both ranting and boring at the same time. It was a stump speech with nothing new except the time of day.

Correct. In fact, this might have been the final nail in Kerry's coffin. Midnight EST, 9PM PST, and people stayed awake on the east coast, and waited with baited breath on the west coast to hear that? It was by far the worst, most ineffectual speech of his campaign, and at the worst time.

Kerry shows me that he is simply making the moves, and has genuine disinterest in being president. Ironically, I got that from GW back in 1999 when he was running, but now, honestly, I don't. Bush has a platform, and he's utilizing it. Kerry, not.

Kerry, in fact, has no issues to speak of, and he most definitely has not addressed his flip-flopping. What a disaster! This leads me to believe Kerry suffers from exactly what Cheney said at the RNC: Kerry is out of touch. Maybe it's because he's a billionaire's boy-toy, or because he's part of the political machinery, unable to have an original thought.

I think the Dems should just throw up their hands and work to get a jump on '08.

[cmccuist]

Originally posted by dd74
Ironically, I got that from GW back in 1999 when he was running, but now, honestly, I don't. Bush has a platform, and he's utilizing it. Kerry, not.

You know that is exactly what i thought back in '99. It didn't look like Bush '41 was even trying! I don't get that feeling from Bush '43.

As far as Kerry, I think he's used to getting his way. Him being sheltered in Mass. with no dissenting voices and him not having to worry much about money.

For all his combat experience, he comes across as soft. Bush is the one who is the hard ass. That's what kills me about Paul Begala and Carville and Tad Devine - yea, that guy didn't have to give up his lunch money every day! Tad Devine! why didnt' his parents just name him "give me a wedgie and take my lunch money" but i digress.

Anyway, these guys are saying how W is a sissy and a cheerleader and yet he's also a bully. Truth is, he's not a bad guy. He's just an extraordinary man who's had a situation thrust upon him. He's made his decision and never wavered. Kerry can't find his stand on anything because he's never had to.

[Superman]

I've said this before. The democratic party has been asleep at the wheel for many years. They have a platform, they really do. I recently was informed that the democratic party has trouble with platform development and communication because of the great diversity within the party. Conservatives are much more homogenous (not homosexual) than liberals.

Still, I would very much like a liberal party to prepare and explain what we (most Americans, I think) believe. In the meantime, the conservative party has had the opportunity to steal terms from our side of the fence. Terms like FREEDOM and FAMILIES. The libs are all about people and liberty. But I guess regulating peoples reproductive behavior is "freedom" and letting corporations dictate politics is like supporting "families." And then we've got folks out there believing that libs would like to throw flowers and kisses to the terrorists, as a tactic. We've let this happen, through our silence.

[dd74]

All Kerry needs to do is attack Bush. Otherwise it's Dukakis all over again.

[fintstone]

Originally posted by dd74
Correct. In fact, this might have been the final nail in Kerry's coffin. Midnight EST, 9PM PST, and people stayed awake on the east coast, and waited with baited breath on the west coast to hear that? It was by far the worst, most ineffectual speech of his campaign, and at the worst time.

I totally agree.....pathetically inept...it was as if he had not even bothered to watch the Republican Convention before attempting to refute it. Most of his time was spent on issues that did not even come up.