Do you believe Kerry is a skillfull politician?

[fujiyama]

Is Kerry a skillfull politician the way Clinton was?

I mean, take the recent arguments about Israel, for example. This is one area, where I think Clinton might have handled a bit better.

While the situation is very different than it was when Clinton was in office, he was still able to remain friendly to Israel and very comfortable with Jewish voters, yet at the same time tried to negoiate a peace deal, and even tried forcing Israel to make quite a few concessions in the process. Also, throughout his tenure, the WH was never very friendly or comfortable with Likud as the head of Israel's government. IIRC, didn't the Clinton administration butt heads with Netanyahu on several occasions?

Now, I agree that Kerry has to appear friendly to Israel for various reasons (votes, campaign contributions, etc), but was it really completely necessary to agree with Sharon on EVERYTHING? Take settlements. Here's an area, where just about everyone, but the crazy right wingers, agree is a roadblock to the peace process. Kerry really wouldn't have lost any votes or support, if he made it clear that the US would help both sides of the conflict in good faith, to help find a resolution to the conflict. Of course, Dean tried a similar thing, and was attacked, and quickly started backtracking.

What's strange is that Kerry has made unusual suggestions in the past such as Carter and James Baker (atlewast he dropped this idea - I can't stand Baker) as an envoy.

In light of that, he's making it appear as though he's flip flopping, an impression many already have of him.

[kera]

1. they ARE JUST A just a

BENCH OF DINOSAURES, LYIERS, WITH NO PRINCIPLES, NO MORALE

[Forkboy]

2. Not especially

[Sandpiper]

3. Kerry doesn't have Clinton's common touch

But few people do.

[eumesmo]

4. Kerry skillful?

Noone's as skillful a politician as Clinton was.

I think he's a resonably skillful politician. After all, he did win the nomination. A tougher question is who's a better politician, Kerry or Gore. Or to put it another way, if Gore were running now instead of Kerry, would he be doing better, worse, or the same as Kerry is doing?

[mobuto]

11. Clinton wasn't a skillful politician

Sure, Clinton has more charm and charisma than half the world put together, but that doesn't a skillful politician make. He got painfully few of his objectives accomplished. He lost both the House and the Senate, never won them back, and was unable to find a way to bend a hostile Congress to his will. Under his watch, the Executive lost more power to the other branches than at any point since Reconstruction.

Is Kerry better? I don't know yet. He wasn't when he was in the Senate, but legislative politicking has always been completely different from executive politicking. Its rare to have an electable politician who's actually skillful at getting things done. Who have we had since HHH and LBJ? The Republicans have had Gingrich and DeLay, but not any national politicians. Maybe this current Bush comes the closest.

[zoeyfong]

5. A pattern is emerging- Kerry wants to be the most macho

on foreign policy. He doesn't really seem concerned about the particulars of any given situation or making a rational determination as to the best course of action; he seems to be operating on knee-jerk machismo. It doesn't really bode well...

[Classical_Liberal]

8. Here is the thing I don't get

Why is he pitching that he will get along with foriegn leaders better, when he seems to approve of belicosity and posturing?

That is his achilles heel and that is how we can push him left as President.

[izzie]

6. Not like Clinton. Clinton knew voters better I think.

Clinton cut it down to the ABC's and Kerry seems to be a more thinking men. I say seems, meaning he can not seem to get it down to s ABC style. Even Bush does better than Kerry here. Bush will say War and off we go where as Kerry has all these reasons pro and con for them. I see the world in grays so Kerry seems fine to me but these people who like black and whites would like Bush and I think Clinton understood that so came out as seeming more black and white. Running, I think, the black and white's seem to do better.I just am not this good vs. evil type.

[Classical_Liberal]

7. He has been very clumsy lately.

.

[JHBowden]

9. Kerry is as skillful as they come.

Kerry, while underfunded and undermanned, defeated 9 other Democrats, including the charismatic Senator Edwards and the massive juggernaut Dean built. In addition, Bush isn't getting a solid return on his investments with regard to the attack advertising.

On Israel, Kerry has to look tough if he's going to ever knock down Bush's polling advantage on terrorism and foreign policy. While Clinton was THE man, he didn't face an opponent with a weird yet widespread positive association with a terrorist attack.

[blm]

13. Astute analysis, JHBowden.

Kerry is also a long distance biker and a sharp military strategist.

He's letting BushInc throw what they have at him now and break the wind for his ride to the finish line.

[StayOutTheBushes]

26. Massive juggernaut? The only state he won was Vermont.

.

[JohnKleeb]

27. rather what we thought was

[Padraig18]

10. Solid B+ politician.

He's not a brilliant politician like Clinton, but he's certainly no one's fool.

:)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. He lost his first political contest (1972) and he's won every one since

Sounds pretty skillful to me.

[kodi]

14. no, i do not. he is however a very rich one and that makes up for it

kerry has never shown me his center. that place from which all his morality and ethics reside and from which he bases his actions.

he has been unique amongst the democratic candidates this past year NOT to be able to articulate that center of his being.

perhaps that is why he won the nomination. perhaps that is why he won't win in november.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. lol

he won't win because he hasn't "shown you his center" ?

That's a good one.

[kodi]

18. thanks for the compliment, but he hasn't shown it to anyone else either

bush connects with people, even many of those his actions hurt because they feel that they know why bush is acting as he does and accept that from the man.

that bush can bamboozle so many of the fathers and mothers of american soldiers into thinking that it is his faith in america and freedom that is his center is another issue entirely. it is differnt because while bush may be using a false or dishonest portrait of his moral center, kerry is not revealing any center.

its why people say they trust bush (with all his dishonesty) and not kerry.

but, from your sarcasm, you feel kerry has revealed the core of his philosophy too. but that needs examples, doesn't it?

so, show me where kerry has shown that his policies derive from a tangible, explainable center of his being.

that he stands on an issue in a particular way because he can connect it back to his central philosophy in a cogent, understandable, explainable manner.

he hasn't, and he had better if he wants to be president.

it is the same as when mike wallace asked ted kennedy in the spring of 1980 why he wanted to be president. kennedy hemmed and hawed and showed that his desire to be president was not articulated in a way that revealed his true personal mission in attempting to be the president.

after that, many people trusted him less and carter swept to the nomination.

we did see it articulated from the other candidates in the 2004 democratic primaries, especially from edwards, kucinich, clark and gephardt. we did not see it from kerry.

is it especially hard to understand that people voting for a president want to know what the man is like, how he feels about life in general and what is the wellspring of his beliefs?

if kerry does not articulate this for himself, then bushevik smears will do it for him.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

19. I find your comments to be hilarious

You said Kerry won't win because he hasn't "shown you his center"

It is your premise that I find so nonsensical, not your impressions. Your particular emotional experience and impressions are completely valid in the context of your life. But it is the attempt to apply this to the political realm that I find funny.


but, from your sarcasm, you feel kerry has revealed the core of his philosophy too.

I've got a proposal - you stick to saying how you feel, I won't ascribe feelings, motivations, or opinions to you, and I'd ask that you don't ascribe feelings, motivations or opinions to me, but simply respond to my comments instead.


For the record, I don't think any human has ever revealed their "center" to me. Perhaps one in a billion (maybe) is capable of revealing their "center" to themselves.

[kodi]

20. all of us apply "emotional experience and impressions" to politics

but if the niggling noun for you is "center" then i'll use a phrase less disturbing to you.

you can't tell where kerry is going to land on many issues because you don't know from where he is starting.

and i am not looking for a foolish consistency here, but his world view and what kerry thinks his place is in it.

for those like myself who agree with kerry on a variety of issue and desire to find out what drives him, and have been looking for it for months now, there is no there there. and if people like myself who do support kerry can't see it, what is the potential to find john kerry, the man, by those who are not currently kerry supporters?

people don't just vote their economics or ideologies. they also vote for a person, a person they either feel comfortable with or not. few of us, i assume, vote for a person they with which they are uncomfortable.

so, even though i have the same economic and ideological perspective that kerry has, i still can't find out about kerry the man. and if that is so, why would people who do not share his economics or ideology support him? it has to be the person, the man himself who engenders trust. how can anyone say that kerry has engendered the trust of the voting public?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

21. Again, please speak for yourself - not "all of us"

You don't speak for me, so you certainly can't speak for "all of us". Yes, of course, actions are influenced by emotions, impressions, unconscious urges and desires. That doesn't mean we are incapable of acting rationally.


No, I'm not taking issue with your use of the word 'center' but with the nonsensical notion that you are expressing.

IMHO, you are simply presenting vague, emotional arguments that have more to do with you than with Kerry.

For a specific example, I refer to your statement about Kerry: "there is no there there" it is a phrase wholly without meaning except in the context of your emotional impressions. I fully respect that your impressions are valid in the context of your life.


What I find silly is your prediction that Kerry won't win because he hasn't "shown his center" (use any phrase you want to express this idea that you choose) - generalizing your specific emotional impression as if it were valid for everyone.

[eumesmo]

22. Makes sense

What you're saying makes perfect sense to me.

[Jeezwhiz]

15. Kerry's Qualifications

Not only is he skillful, he is a perfect blend of compassion, knowledge and experience for the job. He's no Bill Clinton for charm and being quick but has the edge in maturity. I hope he picks a fellow progressive for the VP spot and not some token player just because they may be from the south. His wife will compliment everything he wants to do internationaly and she will command instant respect.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

17. Jeezwhiz, welcome to DU!!

[Jeezwhiz]

24. Thanks

I've heard all about this forum...great stuff.....Go Kerry!

[WI_DEM]

23. Clinton is the best I've ever seen

Kerry doesn't compare.

[maxwall]

25. Politician, yes; Skillful, remains to be seen... n/t

[RobinA]

28. He's Skillful

as his record shows. He's no Clinton, but few are.

[GalleryGod]

29. Some of you all need an outlet for your fantasies,,,Sheesh! PolSci 101

Class!? This Campaign is NEW! Unlike any other because the presumptive candidate received enough pledged delegates by March-thus the field was cleared.:kick:

So...it's a long distance campaign,,and shall be run like one. The last place the Kerry Campaign needs to seek advice is DU:wow: