True or false: If Kerry is put on the defensive by Bush, he's finished

[jpgray]

I really think we have to press our advantage here--the overwhelming balance of flaws, both in policy and in character, resides with Bush, not with Kerry. I doubt any DUers will argue that point--even setting his voting record under the harshest microscope, he destroys Bush on the issues. In my opinion, he also has far more character and integrity than Bush--this is more subjective.

At any rate, Kerry needs to keep BUSH on the defensive--the media are not with him in this fight, but the AWOL story is a good example of how to make things happen. Michael Moore threw the bomb, and the press tried to ambush Clark with it, but it actually spawned a new round of debate that didn't exist in 2000.

Shock them into examining something from the locker room, and give the 'sober' criticism when the cleats are on. We need to learn how to do this. There are myriad stories from both the 2000 campaign and from this egregious first term that have NEVER had their day in the media. Kerry, if he plays his cards right, can finesse the media into covering them. First on the block should be the economy--Enron, Harken, lies about bringing jobs, the deficit, a teetering Social Security, enduring doubts about the tax cuts and their disastrous effect--if Kerry can bring that pot to a boil, we've won this thing.

But if Kerry is put on the defensive, if he's forced to parse complicated votes from the Senate (i.e. having to explain why the cloture Medicare vote mattered, not the actual Medicare vote), he's finished, because there is no way the public has the patience for the explanation. They will only have patience for the attack.

[robertarctor]

1. The best defense is a ferocious offense

And Chimpy is vulnerable in so many places that Kerry shouldn't hav a problem volleying the ball back to Team Goebbels.

[spooky3]

8. I agree.

[Blue_Roses]

2. Geeze...what's with all the

gloom and doom votes. Kerry can hold his own.

[tobius]

3. was bush awol? nt

[radfringe]

4. just my 2-cents

kerry needs to keep bush* on the ropes and force him to defend his position

the underlying issue will be bush*'s leadership -- his ads and campaign are designed to portray him as someone with leadership and vision (i.e. stay the course) and to paint kerry as someone who flip-flops

my question is --- do we follow someone if they are leading us over a cliff? Are we Americans or lemmings?

[sandnsea]

5. Trust the American people

Truly, they aren't as stupid as we think they are. Every single attack Bush has tried so far has backfired. The American people aren't buying. If we believe, they'll believe.

[molly]

6. I'm sure Kerry's campaign team has expected every attack

and planned both offense and defense.

[Zynx]

7. If he remains there for more than a week, yes.

He must always attack. Make Bush defend his record.

[OneTwentyoNine]

9. Kerry come off as a Dukakis wimp to DU'ers?

Give me a break,I don't think he'll get shaky knees when they call him a Liberal. The guy is tough,Bush is a smirking little chimp. Watch the fun,you'll see.

David