Democrats who are supporting Bush ...

[Onlooker]

... are often irrationally afraid of terrorism. I know a liberal Democratic woman who cannot be convinced to vote for Kerry because she's afraid that terrorists will use nuclear weapons in the U.S. and sees no other issue as important. Try to convince her that Bush's policies play into the terrorists' hands, and she simply does not listen. From her point of view, there has been no attack since 9/11; therefore, she supports Bush. Would she support Bush if there was an attack? Probably. There are lots of people like her. Bush has played the terrorist card very effectively. I don't know what to do about those people.

[mourningdove92]

1. spend your time on people you CAN do something about.

[BurtWorm]

13. Like whom?

This is again shaping up to be a very close election. A Democrat who is voting for Bush, it seems to me, is someone who can be worked on.

Anything that softens the Republican vote is worth pursuing.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

2. She belongs to

the media created group called "Security Moms". Good luck to her.

[Melodybe]

3. I don't know one democrat voting for Bush, not fucking one

but I know 20+ Bush 2000 voters voting for Kerry.

[Czolgosz]

9. Me too! I know dozens of Bush and Nader 2000 voters supporting

Kerry and not a single Gore supporter backing Bush.

[tigereye]

14. I have canvassed a few

they are out there.

[Doctor_J]

33. Zell Miller and Ed Koch

that's the only two i know

[lancdem]

4. You can't do anything about them

but I believe people motivated to vote Bush out outnumber those who want him reelected (sic).

[flowomo]

5. I agree that this election comes down to hate vs. fear...

those who hate Bush's lies vs. those who fear Kerry will not fight terrorism. Which is the greater motivator? That will go a long way toward determining turnout... which will be the key to the election.

[secular_warrior]

25. nicely put - hate vs fear - you summed it up perfectly. (NT)

[shaolinmonkey]

6. My mother-in-law is the same way. She said:

" I think Bush will be better on terrorism. That's my perception."

I was stunned. "That's not true," I said, "he's created more terrorists by going to war in Iraq...". I'm furious at her. I wanted to scream at her "when the reinstate the draft and your grandson comes home in a f*cking box will you be happy?"

It sickens me.

[NewJeffCT]

26. people seem to forget...

People seem to forget that 9/11 was soon followed by the anthrax attacks. Remember, when they first occurred, many thought it was Osama having gotten anthrax from Saddam.

And, didn't the DC sniper say that their goal was terrorism, and I'm guessing many resident of DC, Maryland and Virginia were pretty terrified.

[mzmolly]

7. The Kerry campaign and the Dems need to dispell the myth that

Bush is the great protector. :shrug:

[tigereye]

18. I think it is his "tough guy" stance.. sort of the John Wayne

approach that people are responding to. The fact that there has not been another attack leads them to think that he has kept them safe, not the more likely explanation that the terrorists had one surprise chance and they took it. Granted, some of the protections and awareness that followed 911 have made a difference, but I think that awareness and the element of surprise being lost are also explanations for no further attacks. There is no real rational reason that Kerry could not keep us safe as well, with a combination of vigilance and the ability to interact better with Iraq and with other foreign leaders. We have to remember as well that Bush 1 was able to pay for most of the first Gulf War and still have other countries think well of us.

[mzmolly]

21. Exactly. Also, it helps to point out that AlQaida planned 911 for 8 years

and BUSH allowed it to happen! :hi:

[tigereye]

39. oh that is scary

as much as I dislike *, I dislike the folks in A-Q even more with no regard for life or innocents. There are too many with no regard for innocents around lately. :hi:

[Arkana]

24. Exactly

This is where much of *'s strength comes from--his unassailable image as the "great protector." Joe and Jane Sixpack don't see movies like Fahrenheit 9/11; they watch network news, and that is where this image is pushed most.

Through the media machine, the "security moms" have been created. They are a group of 50s housewives who don't seem to understand one crucial thing: a vote for Bush is a vote for the draft, and when their children come home in flag-draped coffins it will be too late for them to figure out the truth.

I'm a trifle disappointed that Democratic 527s didn't try to do more to dismantle this facade, but I am satisfied with Kerry's efforts so far.

The bottom line is this: pull the rug that is terrorism out from under Dumbya's feet, and it'll flip him on his ass.

[secular_warrior]

28. Kerry and the DNC should've gone after that myth from Day One

Should've hammered it over and over until completely destroyed. If Bush didn't have the "strong leader" myth he would have nothing. We've made many mistakes in this campaign but none bigger than that.

[mzmolly]

32. Agreed 100%, ... I've been bitching about it for months.

;)

[demokatgurrl]

8. Does your friend realize that 9/11 happened

on BUSH's "watch"? And that Clinton thwarted several attempted attacks? Maybe you can read her Richard Clarke's book.

[Onlooker]

15. Yeah, she does

My guess is that her response is a psychological condition of some sort, where Bush represents the father figure who has been protecting her, and she feels a perverse sort of loyalty. There's something profound about her behavior, not in a good, but in the sense that it reflects an aspect of the human condition that is probably the same sort of thing that made people blindly follow are sorts of terrible leaders throughout history.

[Tansy_Gold]

37. Not an expert here, but this seems like a classic example of

Stockholm syndrome aka battered woman syndrome.

The victim recognizes that the abuser is responsible for the abuse. But the abuser also presents him/herself as the only person capable of STOPPING the abuse. The abuser also presents him/herself as a "victim" as well, thus establishing a bond of identity between victim and abuser. The victim fears any act against the abuser will result in more abuse, thus gives the abuser whatever he/she wants, including approval.

My sister was in an abusive marriage for ten years. Throughout that time, she made excuses for her spouse, took a great deal of the blame upon herself, and steadfastly refused to leave because she was afraid of WORSE consequences if she left. Only after she finally got out of the relationship was she able to look at it for what it was.

Personally, I think boosh was an abused child and he's now taking out his repressed anger on the world, which he has the unfortunate power to do. And I think there will be far more women who react to him the way women react to an abusive husband -- afraid to stay, but far more afraid to leave.

Tansy Gold

[HEIL PRESIDENT GOD]

10. My suggestion

Sow the seeds of MIHOP/LIHOP in this woman's fragile, sensitive brain.

[Maestro]

11. If she is afraid of nuclear weapons

then why does she support a president who is attacking Iraq when Pakistan, a nuke capable nation, is the home or near home of Bin Ladin and many other radicals. It is scary to think that something could happen to the current government in Pakistan and then be taken over by some Talibanish regime with the finger on the button. Let's not forget about how this admin is basically ignoring the unsecure nukes in the former Soviet republics. Geeesh!

[Doosh]

12. LieberZell Democrats

[dolstein]

17. No truthful person would equate Lieberman with Zell

Contrary to what the GOP propagandists in the New York Post would have you believe, and contrary to the statements of the anti-Israel crowd, Lieberman is actively supporting Kerry's candidacy. Zell Miller, on the other hand, has endorsed Bush.

If you can't tell the difference between Zell Miller and Joe Lieberman, you must be blind. Whether you are blinded by ignorance or hatred, I wouldn't hazard to guess.

[GreenPartyVoter]

38. Clever!

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. So since we haven't been attacked since 9/11 and I guess it doesn't

matter to her that the chimp didn't keep us from being attacked that day, she trust him. And if we are attacked again before the election she would still vote for the chimp? Sounds like she is voting for him whether he can keep us safe or not. And that makes sense to her, how?

[coalition_unwilling]

29. She's a DINO (Democrat in Name Only)

You're wasting your time and breath trying to persuade her. If she really feels safer under *, let her persist in her delusions.

[cap]

19. then why are all the "targets" in NYC

voting Kerry? Bush doesnt make them feel safer.

[southpaw]

20. Convince her that, on Nov. 2...

The channel that is typcally all static and white noise will be playing an all day marathon of "Leave It To Beaver" re-runs, but you have to stare at the screen and concentrate intently without moving in order to see them...

Oh... and be nice, loan her a drool cup!

[cmf]

22. There were 8 years separating the first WTC attack and the second

3 years without an attack does not equal a success record. 9/11 still happened on Bush's watch. Even though the Clinton administration told them that Al Qaida was the most important national security issue. What did Bush do about Al Qaida the first 9 months in office? NOTHING. Why not? Ask her that.

That's how you have to talk to these people who are concerned with "security". You can't convince them that Bush leaves us more open to attack, even though we all know it's true. You have to let them convinced themselves. Then you swoop in with John Kerry's detailed plans for national security and "homeland security". They're on his website.

[secular_warrior]

23. I know many "liberals" like that also - it's sickening.

Mostly women who think Bush is the only one who can protect them.

The women's movement and the civil right's movement (Patriot Act, hatred of Muslims, etc) has taken a giant step backward.

People really show their true colors in times of hardship. That is when you learn who has the guts to stand with you and who was only there for convenience to begin with.

[blondeatlast]

27. Tell her to have a look at this...

http://www.securitymomsforkerry.com/

Incredible site; I'm a "security mom" for John Kerry!

[bush equals idiot]

30. Tell her to get her poly vinyl and duct tape ready

because Bush is her insurance there will be another terror attack.

Oh, and by the way...by Bin Laden, the guy Bush isn't concerned about.

Oh, and by the way, probably at a seaport or chemical plant that Bush has done absolutely nothing to improve security.

Oh, and by the way, we'll be fighting alone, because only about five countries in the world want Bush re-elected.

Oh, and by the way, I hope she don't need a flu shot...let alone protection against a small pox terrorist attack.

Oh, and one last thing, I hope she likes wars.

[missouri dem]

31. I have yet to talk to any dem who will be voting for w.

but I have had lots of repub's tell me that they will be voting Kerry or not voting for any presidential canidates. The Democrats that I talk to would walk barefoot through broken glass to vote for Kerry. It is going to be a landslide. GOTV and celebrate on Nov. 3rd.

[lastliberalintexas]

34. So why isn't she in Iraq?

Print an enlistment form for her. She needs to help save our country from those terrorists- merely voting for Shrub isn't enough.

[johan helge]

35. Tell them some simple facts

- e.g. that Richard Clarke thinks Bush has done a lousy job on terrorism, and why.

[childslibrarian]

36. Guess what? She's not a Democrat

Democrats are smarter than that.

[sharman]

40. I guess we all admit there's nothing rational going on

in that kind of thinking, but let me add to the chorus here:

Not only did 9/11 happen on Bush's watch, not only did the nation's terrorism czar stick his neck out to tell us how badly Bush failed to heed the warnings, but this one always gets me:

Condi et al. always whine that they didn't know enough, nothing they could have done blah blah. Well, how about this obvious thing: The PDB says bin Laden determined to strike in US, AND might use airline hijacking as part of the plot.

Now, jesus, if the First Moron had only put airlines, NORAD et al on high alert, dya think that they'd have been letting a bunch of Saudis board with box cutters? Dya think they might have been paying attention when 4 flights go off course, when one crashes into the first tower, then two, then there's one on the way to DC...

Dya think Pres Gore would have been reading children's books? (Btw, this one always kills me too. Bushie not only took 7 minutes to "collect his thoughts," he also took a few minutes to have his photo taken with the teacher and chat with reporters. One reporter even asked him, um, prezzy, do you know what's going on in New York? He was waved off)

I was almost physically sick when I saw recently security camera pictures of some of the hijackers going thru the security checkpoints. Two of them had even been stopped for closer questioning, then let thru.

OF COURSE 9/11 could have been prevented.

[nonconformist]

41. I don't know a single Democrat voting for Bush.

But I know some Republicans that are voting for Kerry.