Is Kerry being too polite?

[mvd]

I reluctantly don't mind the restraint on Kerry's part, as I want Bush out very, very badly, but I think Kerry's wording on things is sometimes a little too polite. He could have mentioned Clear Channel when asked about Stern, and when asked about Bush's AWOL, he should have said it could be on the table but only if Bush brings him to it.

[diplomats]

1. It's smart for Kerry to stay above the fray on the AWOL issue

and let people like Charlie Rangel be his "hatchet" men, so to speak.

[mvd]

2. I agree

But I thought someone as shrewd as Kerry could have thought of a little opening. :-)

[JI7]

3. he did

when asked about bush and AWOL , kerry said something like "it's not an issue for me since it's not MY service in question". simple and does n't come across as having any political agenda, but makes the point that someone's service is in question.

[mvd]

4. It still says it's off the table, though

I want something more like I mentioned.

[DuctapeFatwa]

5. Politeness is one of his main selling points

If he said "Elect me, and I will continue and expand the Crusade according to current US policy, use Iraqi oil to bribe other countries to join the US in slaughtering Iraqis and even exploit religious differences to get the dollahos in our client states to send some expendable troops to do it too, and we'll call it multilateralism," that would not play.

Americans like politeness.

"I'm opposed to the idea that people who work full time should be able to afford housing or food, and medical treatment is a commercial product like any other, as it should be. If you can't afford a doctor, don't get sick, duh." is not nearly as polite as offering "tax credits" to people with enough cash in the bank to pay the doctor up front, and defining "the little man" as people who have enough money to invest is much more tactful than "come on, if they can't even scrape up a few thou to invest, they'll be better off dead anyway. get over it."

I have no idea why he asked his supporters not to discuss bush's military service. Maybe it was a deal. Kerry will shut up about bush, and bush will campaign for Kerry by pointing out his flexibility on issues and his shrewd policy of continuous re-evaluation of his positions.

At this point, it doesn't much matter anyway. There are only 2 things you can do with a terminal patient (or country) if you're determined not to operate.

Either give palliative treatment or pull the plug.

Palliative treatment has already been declared "unelectable."

So no morphine for America, let's just vote on whether to have the plug pulled by a crude oilysmirk of an orderly or one with better diction and table manners.

[mvd]

6. Yes, they certainly do like politeness

It's no coincidence that Kerry and Edwards were chosen and they didn't attack other Democrats a whole lot. I'm supporting Kucinich because I want my values represented, and if he loses, I could move. But the other way, with politeness working, would also result in Bush being out. I could live with Kerry though I think he's been with the Repukes a bit much lately.

[DuctapeFatwa]

7. Well, one thing we can all agree on, whoever writes the check to Diebold

will decide what's best.

If voting makes you feel good, voting your conscience will make you feel better.

[mvd]

8. Well, if that happens, I will stay and fight

I won't run from another stolen election. :-)

[dennis4868]

9. seems like Kerry is....

polite on everything that can hurt Bush where it counts! For example, you do not hear Kerry saying that he was misled by Bush and therefore voted for a war based on lies by Bush and Cheney and would have never voted for the war if I knew what Bush knew all along....that Saddam was not a threat to our country. Why does Kerry back off from going after Bush the way I just described? It gives him an out for voting for the war.

If he said this people like Kucinich and the repubs could not say you voted for the war and got us ino the mess we are now in Iraq. Kerry could easily comeback and say, "when the president of the united states tells me that another country can attack us in 45 minutes, has the capacity and intention to do so, I give him the benefit of the doubt and will vote to give the power to the president to defend our country. However, if I had known the truth I would have never given the president authorization for this war. I was misled and lied to by the WH.

[MoonRiver]

10. The primaries aren't the time for this.

Perhaps the GE isn't either. WE GOTTA WIN, and these issues are not bread and butter concerns for Americans. Many other liberal special interest groups are going to be hammering away at AWOL * (Clear Channel is just a little too abstract right now, imo). BUT, if * starts to attack Kerry on his anti-Vietnam war record, then Kerry should bring out the big guns on *'s AWOL record. Let's think smart here.