A less kind, less gentle John Kerry

[kskiska]

Washington -- Sen. John Kerry is condemning President Bush with sharper language and more pointed attacks as the campaign heads into its final six weeks, hoping to turn the 2004 election back into a referendum on the incumbent.

(snip)

In the past six days, Kerry has charged Bush with caving in to the gun lobby, favoring Halliburton at the expense of American taxpayers, glossing over glum news from Iraq while "living in a fantasy world of spin,'' and presiding over an economic recovery that has generated "more excuses than jobs. ''

"I am absolutely taking the gloves off,'' Kerry told radio host Don Imus this past week. "I'm prepared to take (Bush) on.''

The confrontational tone, cheered by party loyalists, nevertheless carries a risk for the Democratic challenger. Kerry won his party's nomination in part because he was seen as more steady and careful -- and therefore more electable -- than former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, his chief rival in the early primaries. If Kerry's attacks are viewed as too strident, it may leave some voters wondering what he stands for besides "not-Bush,'' and turn off other voters who are reluctant to change presidents during a war.

more…
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/09/19/MNGK28REMA1.DTL

[whistle]

1. Go John Kerry!

[shraby]

2. Kerry is not the problem here,

it's the inability of the press to decide what they want from him. The press criticizes if he is more thoughtful and they criticize if he takes the gloves off. Sheesh. Alright, already, let Kerry run his campaign as he sees fit.
He's going after the bastids now and that's good. Maybe more people will see what Bush is really all about and have second thoughts on who will be better at running the country.

[Demoiselle]

12. Absolutely right, Shraby!

"It's the media, stupid." But I have to admit I think the press has decided what they want from him...They want him to lose.

[flaminbats]

13. when is the press going to give some of this same criticism to Bush?

I forgot...that's unpatriotic, unless we're dehumanizing LBJ in Vietnam, Jimmy Carter during the hostage crises, or Clinton on stopping war in Bosnia from spreading across Europe!

[Born Free]

17. "when is the press going to give some of this same criticism to Bush?"

Never happen, just as the press could break Howard Deans campaign, they will try to break up Kerry's campaign. Democrats are fools if they think the "press" is going to give Kerry any breaks. Every single vote has to be earned the hard way, mouth to mouth, Friend to friend, coworker to coworker. The media will never be friends with the democrats, never, whenever the democrats are in charge the media will become vicious attack dogs. This is the way it is, no sense crying about it, just learn to deal with it. Democrats have the power, we have the people , we have the solutions to the issues that face Americans but we will never have the media.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

3. He will be "steady and careful" but not a Karl Rove doormat

That's it. Kerry cannot and will not subvert his own nature, which IS to be "steady and careful."

However, he CAN acknowledge that he's signed up for one of the filthiest campaigns in U.S. history, courtesy of Karl Rove and "Bestest Christian Mom in the Whole Wide World" Sack of Shit Karen Hughes, and steadily and carefully kick Junior's ASS.

That's what I believe he will do.

:toast:

[PartyPooper]

7. Ah, the 'windshield cowboy' as Pickles calls him. You'll never see him on

a horse...cuz he's scared of them.

:bounce:

[Algomas]

14. OMG, that photo proves that Bu$h is Hud!...

If any DU'ers have not seen the movie, Hud, it's an amazingly prescient look at our fearless leader in all his sour and empty glory.

[wrate]

4. If Kerry could couple this strategy with a clear explanation of

where he stands on each of the issues he pounds * on, then the idiot media will not be able to say that he is not making clear where he stands. IMHO, of course. In any case, the World stands behind you Kerry!

[Mr_Spock]

5. That's a good Kerry - beat that dumb asses brains in

Fuck the intellectualizing - just pound away from here on in. These morons can understand a good can of whoop ass.

[theKnave]

6. Good grief...

.. I hope he's not suffering from Gore-gasms where we'll see a "new" John Kerry every week. Quit trying to play to every demographic and show us who you really are! Show us what we will be getting for our vote. Man, is this 2000 all over again?

I need a drink.

[Mr_Spock]

8. Kerry is known as a "strong finisher" based on exactly what he is doing

now. This IS the real Kerry and it's how he won the nomination. Get used to it.

[theKnave]

9. re: "Kerry is known as a "strong finisher"..."

"This IS the real Kerry and it's how he won the nomination. Get used to it."

As long as he's consistent, fine. My vote is a lock, and I don't see anything changing that. I'm concerned about what the swing voters will do if they see a John Kerry-meleon.

[pacalo]

11. Excuse me...

"Show us what we will be getting for our vote." Have you been living under a rock? Your vote is a "lock" for whom?

[flaminbats]

10. so is Marc Sandalow a reporter or neocon editorialist?

The confrontational tone, cheered by party loyalists, nevertheless carries a risk for the Democratic challenger. Kerry won his party's nomination in part because he was seen as more steady and careful -- and therefore more electable -- than former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, his chief rival in the early primaries. If Kerry's attacks are viewed as too strident, it may leave some voters wondering what he stands for besides "not-Bush,'' and turn off other voters who are reluctant to change presidents during a war.

So one Republican reporter writes his opinion that voters may wonder where Kerry stands if he's too critical of an incumbent. Why is this really risky for John Kerry, is that point of view really newsworthy? :wow:

[demoman123]

15. This is Carville's work.

Changing the style is fine, but what about an EXIT STRATEGY from Iraq? Gov. Bill Richardson (D) of NM was on TV today speaking for and about Kerry and he used the expression "exit strategy" twice, saying that Kerry could provide one and Bush couldn't.

I am waiting to learn about this. In my book, it is the most important thing.

[bagnana]

16. that is so true.

Bill Maher noted that Kerry's Iraq strategy seems to consist of "they like me better" internationally, and therefore he can get things done. Huh? This sounds stupid, and I agree w/Bill. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IRAQ? AND IF YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO BRING THE TROOPS HOME? If you can't answer those questions then why the hell should people vote for you instead of the war criminal Bush??? God it drives me crazy!