What, precisely, is a "vision" in the context of a political campaign?

[Sinistrous]

And how does "having a vision" differ from "having a coherent set of policies"?

How can we tell when a candidate's "vision" is adequately defined, so that he or she can no longer be accused of not having one?

[Doctor_J]

1. Dunno how to define it,

but I know it when I see it. You could tell during the 2000 campaign that * is a complete dunce who's never read a book. It was agonizingly clear that he doesn't have any vision, and we are paying the price.

[Old and In the Way]

2. I think vision is the "big picture" of what America is and where it's

going. For instance, I believe Kerry needs to set a clear vision of America that is stark contrast to Bush Republicanism. This vision has to revolve on national security and our energy policy.

Republicans = Oil = Wars = Deadend
Democrats = Renewable/Alternative = Domestic jobs = a positive future

Bush must run on oil energy and war because that is his core constituents. Kerry has a compelling reason to set a new vision of America that will ween us off oil and make us energy independent. That will require a reinvestment in our infrastructure and jobs to make this happen. Kerry's constituents are the middle-class and he can address 2 pressing needs (energy and jobs) by breaking with the Republican energy model that has dominated our planning since Reagan.

[Sinistrous]

4. Energy policy is only a sub-set of the body of Kerry's proposals.

He has succinctly stated the positions you advocate, and has also stated positions on many other issues. It appears that this entity labeled "vision" must encompass more than the issues you stated.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Vision defined:

A short, pithy phrase that can be repeated ad nauseum as conventional wisdom. Bonus points if it rhymes or is alliterative.

[Sinistrous]

5. I would like to think you are incorrect.

However, "Having a vision" and being "visionary" generate positive emotional responses in many people. The terms seem to give the person to whom they are applied the aura of being larger than life. But, in my musings on the subject, I have been unable to nail down a concrete meaning of the term.