Radical Thought: What If Dems Just Rolled Over Until October?

[stopbush]

On the one hand, I admire Kerry's rapid response team and the fact that he's taking every opportunity to display a bit of righteous indignation. But on the other hand, we're always playing on the R's field - answering *their* questions, questions that have arisen due to *their* screw-ups.

What if we took a different tact?

What if the Dem strategy was to get totally out of the way and allow the R's to implode? What if there was no imagined check on the folly of the Rs? If the war and the economy are bad now, imagine what they'll be like by October!

Is it possible that by presenting counter-arguments to the constant barrage of RW spin, we are being viewed by Joe Six Pak as nothing but LW spinners who are just as responsible and culpable for bush's mistakes as is bush?

So, the Rs try to make an issue out of Kerry's medals. Rather than engaging the *issue,* what if Kerry's response was "whatever. I want to talk about creating jobs." When asked about what he'd do differently in Iraq, what if Kerry said, "whatever. I sure wouldn't do what bush is doing. We'll discuss that during the debates."

I'm sure that this is a horse shit strategy, but the other strategies aren't exactly kicking ass (why isn't JK up by 30 points?), so, why not?

What if the single message was "bush must go, never mind the specifics on why, he just must go," rather than our usual laundry list of complaints? What if the strategy was, "call me when you've had enough of these losers and then - and only then - I'll tell you how I'm going to fix things?"

OK. Flame away!!

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Well, it's worked so well for the last 4 years...

:eyes:

[stopbush]

2. Excellent point! n/t

[rockymountaindem]

3. I won't flame, but...

your strategy leaves us open to the "they don't have any plans, they just criticize without providing an alternative" criticism. I don't think that would work any better.

[stopbush]

5. Sure, but what plans did * reveal in 2000? It was all empty promises,

smoke and mirrors and sloagneering ("it's your money"). When Gore pointed out that bush's tax cut was the same pile of $ bush proposed to spend on programs, bush just shrugged it off.

Hey, I said it was a crazy strategy. But maybe it would get the media's attention.

It's sort of a Rose Garden strategy without being the occupant of the Rose Garden. Maybe Kerry would score points for *artfully floating above the fray of current events*?

[coloradodem2005]

4. No.

Like Howard Dean said, "The only way we are going to beat George Bush is to stand up to him." If we did this, it would be far worse than even 2002.

[stopbush]

6. Yeah, I miss Dean. Kerry's standing up to bush, but Howard was so

much better at it.

Talk about apples and oranges!

[coloradodem2005]

7. I agree.

THough Kerry has impressed me as a good and smart candidate so far. Whether he is as good as Dean really remains to be seen.

[lindashaw]

8. I miss him so much, too.

[sandnsea]

9. How about expose their attack machine

And then say, "I want to talk about the issues". Don't attack them, don't over-respond. Just expose their campaign as smear tactics and instillng fear in people. Then say, I want to talk about jobs, education, health care, a plan to get out of Iraq, international respect and cooperation.

Which is what he's doing.

May not make those who are ready to rip Bush to shreds with their bare teeth happy. But those Republicans will never get away with this kind of campaign again. And I can be patient since that's the payoff.

[On the Road]

10. I Think Kerry Doing a Modified Version of That

in not spending the money and unleashing the heavy armor right now. Going completely limp might run the risk of being completely defined and destroyed in the public mind until it's too late. I do agree with the observation that being on the front page every day criticizing Bush is NOT the right way to win the election.

Kerry needs to be defined by a set of policies and aspirations rather than just by criticisms of Bush. Right now, it's slow going. Some people may see Michael Dukakis redux, but Kerry is acutely aware of that. I think he knows the right times to do the right things.

Hope that confidence is well founded. Bush is doing his own Howard Dean impersonation by going negative so often, and I think Kerry will sneak up on him for a big win.