Anybody else here feel Kerry needs to up the heat a little?

[revree]

Seems like he has been awfully quiet lately. Wondering what his pre-October Surprise assault will be on Bush. Almost makes you wish Dean were still shaking things up.

[tom_paine]

1. YES!

:bounce: :grr: :bounce:

[LuLu550]

2. With so many troops getting killed and the 9/11 hearing

Kerry has to be very careful or he will be accused of playing politics with the deaths of our troops and the victims of 9/11. That is why he is trying to stay above the fray, look statesman like and try to address the economy.

[Poiuyt]

18. It's the perfect time for a positive message like John Edwards gave

Upbeat, visionary. People like an optimist.

[sjgman9]

3. Why shoot bush now....

When Bush is doing a damn fine job of shooting himself in the foot with a machine gun?

Kerry can call out his bombthrowers (see Kennedy, Edward).

Maybe this is some screwed up SkullNBones thing

[robbedvoter]

4. heat? kerry?

nah. Others have to do it for him.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

5. I think Kerry should do to Chucklenuts what people do when they are

cooking frogs. Turn up the heat ever so slightly ever so slowly so that the turd doesn't even notice that he is simmering and boiling to death.

Also, I think Chucklenuts is doing a pretty good job of hanging himself right now.

This is kinda minor to some, but is anyone noticing how damn BAD that guy looks lately? Bedhead hair, puffy eyes, really kinda bedraggled, looking more nervous and twitchy all the time. Is anyone else noticing this?

[LuLu550]

7. yes, I have

His hair is much grayer, too. But I'm so cynical, I wouldn't doubt that they have stopped coloring it to make him look concerned over the troops.

[MrBenchley]

6. No...

As somebody said today, when someone you don't like is drowning, don't chortle over it...you might create sympathy.

The campaign won't really heat up until around Labor Day...until then he ought to be quiet and let the disaster that is Dubya unfold all by itself.

[enough]

10. No, for all the reasons above.

Also, events are moving very fast on several fronts. He needs to hold on and see how things fall out.

He's taking the right tack with sober statements like the one on Iraq in the Times today. He can be thoughtful, and maybe even say something useful.

Let others go on the attack.

Bushco is defeating itself.

[JI7]

8. why ? to make it easier to be seen as partisan attacks on bush

rather than just the facts which is what kerry IS mostly doing ? kerry isn't going to campaign and hope for victory based on deaths. he wants the killing to stop. he wants bush to go to the united nations and ask for help. he doesn't want to use this for his own gain. he will go after bush where there ARE real differences, but he isn't going to attack in hopes of getting something out of it for himself without being very effective in helping stop the mess in iraq.

[VolcanoJen]

9. No. Bush needs no help looking like a fool right now.

I do believe that the political climate is so precarious right now, Kerry might be viewed as opportunistic by seizing upon the political issue of massive coalition casualties over the last week in Iraq, as well as the politically unpopular issue of sending more troops.

Kerry should keep his cool right now... they don't need our help looking bad. They're doing it all by themselves.

He should continue to express his grave concern, and empathy... but for now, I'd stay positive and focus on the economy and health care. Now is the opportune time for Kerry to show himself as a positive alternative to Bush. But Bush needs no help from us right now... his entire cabinet is holding his head under the water right now.

[blm]

11. And DISTRACT from the news being made at the 9-11 hearings?

No way. That would be dumb.

Let the public absorb what is being learned.

[sangh0]

12. Yes, we absolutely need to draw attention away from Bush*

and his screw-ups

[Ernesto]

13. I also think Kerry needs to heat up

so I warmed his wallet with my monthly $100 last night....... How bout you?

[lupita]

14. He is giving the republicans enough rope to hang themselves...

I think it is a good move. Besides, he will get more air time when he announces his vp choice.

Lupita

[Upfront]

15. Almost Wish For Dean

Hell Ya! Every day, but it is Kerry, so I hope he picks up the pace. In the interest of getting rid of Bush I will say no more.

[welshTerrier2]

16. Not exactly

i don't think Kerry should turn up the heat right now ... turning up the heat usually implies "going negative" and i think bush is doing so well shooting himself in the foot that anything Kerry would do would enable bush to create a distraction from his failures by complaining about Kerry ... Kerry's "quiet campaign" is forcing bush to justify his own shortcomings ...

on the other hand, while it is quite possible this entire election will be a referendum on bush, Kerry does need to establish some gravitas ... his silent campaign has failed to that thus far ...

thus far, Kerry is seen by most voters as "Not bush" ... he needs to be seen as more than that if he hopes to enter November with a real lead ...

[Steely_Dan]

17. Kerry Should Stay The Course

A week or so ago, I couldn't have agreed with you more concerning the fact that Kerry needed to be more aggressive. However, lately, I've come to understand what I think their campaign is doing.

First...(as mentioned earlier) things are very precarious right now. Some additional cards need to fall before Kerry can do much.

He needs to stay in the media eye, but keep a low enough profile so as not to look as though he is kicking someone while they are down or taking advantage of a bad situation.

But most importantly...the Kerry campaign understands that the Bush administration is on the run. They are doing more to harm their own cause than anything Kerry could do.

It is right for him to "wait and see."

Having said that...
I hope that when the time is right he will take on a "Dean-like" approach to the campaign.

Kerry and his people should never forget the kind of grass-roots success that Dean had. He struck a nerve with Dems..and to some extent redefined the Democratic party.

If Kerry can articulate the anger and disillusionment of the American people towards a failed leader.

Stay the course, Mr. Kerry. However, when the time is right, make us proud. Expose Bush and his gang for what they truly are...a mean-spirited, dishonest and arrogant administration that is out of step with the true meaning and philosophy of our country.

-Paige

[Peachhead22]

19. I don't think so

I think for right now Kerry should keep on doing basically what he has been doing. Not totally disappear or go on vacation but just continue to make small campaign appearances here and there. They'll continue to get small news snippets here and there so Kerry won't totally disappear.

The news channels and the 9/11 Commission are basically doing all the anti-Bush stuff all by themselves. Kerry can save some money, not open himself up to any potential PR hit that could come from any negative campaigning, and not risk giving the 'Pubs and targets by message capaigning.

Others are doing plenty of damage to Bush right now. Why spend money and (paradoxically) cut into the media's anti-Bush coverage? They'll be time for wholesale ass-kickin in September and October when it'll mean the most.

[Bread and Circus]

20. Yes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He has been way to quiet for me.