Dick Morris on the election

[Chef]

I attended a conference Monday where Dick Morris was the lead off speaker. He made several predictable points about the election, key states where the election will be fought, etc. Of interest were his comments about other aspects of the race:

1. He didn’t think it would be a close election.
2. He thought Kerry could win it.
3. Thought Kerry should pick Clark, Richardson, or Clinton as his running mate. He preferred Clinton, but suggested that the Hispanic vote was so important that Richardson would be strong.
4. Bush has only one issue (terror and keeping us safe). Kerry has all the rest. If by election, safety is more important to voters, Bush wins.
5. However, Bush can not ignore Social Security, Medicare, education the economy or the environment or Kerry will widen the gap between him on these issues. Likewise, Kerry can’t give Bush a pass on defense, or the same will happen.
6. He also suggested that the Republican Party was dead as the dodo. It just hasn’t been reflected in their congressional majorities yet. The reason is that they are on the wrong side of all issues that are important to the vast majority of Americans and eventually this will become apparent to them, once the safety defense issue is put into perspective.

I am not convinced he really has any better idea about these issues than anyone else, but it was interesting to hear him speak.

[AntiCoup2K4]

1. There's no way that Toe Sucker is favoring the Democrats

Think I'll read between the lines here and speculate that his #4 means he's got some advanced warning of the "October Surprise"

[mikehiggins]

19. Unless he figures the GOP is over, and is hoping to feather his

own nest. His main problem with the party has been his problem with the Clintons. A dem party headed by someone else might have room for someone like Morris, as unpalatable as he might be.

The kind of petty arrogance he was accused of is hardly rare among consultants, many of whom come to beleive their own press releases just as easily as do the candidates who they work for.

And I agree with him that when the GOP collapse comes, it will come fast and hard. This election may do it, and if not, 2006 certainly will.

You can't fool all of the people all of the time, and it is quite possible that time is up for the right wing. I think they will try to jettison Bush/Cheney if at all possible and leave it to the Dems to try and clean up the mess they leave behind. A spate of bi-partisanship may well be in the offing after January.

We'll see.

[sidwill]

2. All I can say about about that is:

Dick Morris before he dicks you.

[coloradodem2005]

3. I would have thought that it would have been more pro-Republican.

[trotsky]

7. No kidding, so did I.

It surprised me to see him admit that Kerry has a good shot. He's been just brutal to virtually all Democrats lately. And for him to admit today's Republican party is out of touch, well, damn.

[Chef]

8. Morris

I was taken that he made several snide remarks about Bush. He was generally catty about everyone, but he came across as not having much use for GW.

[boobooday]

4. I like the part about

Dead as a dodo.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[Skittles]

5. um

isn't Dick Morris always wrong?

[Goldmund]

6. I hope Bush doesn't believe this:

"If by election, safety is more important to voters, Bush wins."

It's absurd if it's true. If the electorate were a little more informed and sentient, national security would be Bush's greatest weakness.

But if it is true (politically, of course) and the Bushies believe it, expect Red Alerts, and more "incompetence" in preventing attacks. And if it's true, attacks will be planned, Osama can't let his boy Dubya lose.

[Chef]

10. Safety

Someone mentioned this to him. He just smiled and asked "Who controls the alert anouncements?"

[ulysses]

9. ulysses on Dick Morris

With friends like this...

[SeattleRob]

21. Thanks Ulysses!

Your photo says it all. Why the hell does anyone give any consideration to anything that comes out of that toe sucking, repuke's mouth?

[MidwestTransplant]

11. This concerns me

because he is always wrong.

[Warren Stuart]

12. He's clued into a different reality

He's a weasel for sure, but he is a player. He sees, hears and processes things from a much different perspective.

For someone in his position, he only has one outlook, that is: What does it take to win? He is a pro, most of us are amatuers, we don't have his connections. Plus he has the greatest motivator advising him; greed. He is only looking out for himself.

He has worked with Democrats in the past, and very well may in the future.

I called him a weasel, however a more apt analogy would be a rat, they are always the first to jump off a sinking ship.

[KoKo]

13. Didn't he just say last month that Bush would win? I thought I saw that

posted and flamed here on DU! What's he smoking? He's suddenly seen a turn in the tide? And, that he thinks Clinton would make a VP choice for Kerry? I would think that would be a real "ego" problem. No one would see Kerry as the candidate if Clinton was his VP and it would bring up all the old dirt out there. :eyes:

Thanks for the upbeat post, however. One always has to wonder which side Morris is playing and it's usually for himself.

[lancdem]

14. I don't think Clinton as VP makes sense either

BTW, perhaps Morris is different when he's not on Fox or writing for the N.Y. Post. It sounds that way.

[Chef]

15. Senator Clinton

His opinion was that the Clintons still control the party and that if Kerry does not pick her, they won't be pleased. Also, if wins without her and is reelected, she most likely will never get a shot at the presidency.

[Piperay]

17. Picking Senator Clinton as VP would

guarantee another 4 years of chimp and his regime, Hillary Clinton is to divisive and would bring out the RW as never before. :argh:

[Leilani]

16. Depending on who is paying him

that's what his "analysis" is.

The guy has NO core beliefs.

He was working for Trent Lott, at the same time as working for Clinton.

[fujiyama]

18. ...

[THUNDER HANDS]

20. Dick Morris CANNOT be trusted

My poly sci professor wrote a book with him, did all the research for it, basically did everything.

Morris slapped his name on the book and didn't even credit her at all. Not even a thank you or acknowledgement.

He's scum.