Just "lay Low" and reap the benefits of Bush Implosion. Kerry Strategy.

[KoKo]

Kerry speaks out and says "Replace Rummy with McCain or Warner." Top news. The kind of statement that is "music to ears" of Repugs.

THE STRATEGY!

When will Kerry speak to the Progressive Left of his Party? Or should we still just "shut up" and admit that the Kerry Strategy (DLC/DNC..same folks who lost us the 2000 Selection because they didn't fight back and the midterms), will once more trot out the old
"We have a Strategy" routine," and silence those on the Left who are appalled that Kerry would just allow Bush to "hang himself on his own" rather than trying to offer a postive dialog or discussion about why Bush/PNAC/RW THINK TANKS,has been a DISASTER for America?

Why are we such "Daschle Weenies?" If we don't offer an alternative to this, then what the hell kind of Party are we? What do we stand for?

The Party of "Give 'em Enough Rope and they will Hang Themselves?

After all we've been through with America in peril..is this enough???

:grr:

[David Dunham]

1. Kerry is smart to bring up McCain, who attracts lots of Independent votes.

[pocoloco]

6. to vote repub??? WTF is he thinking??

[Gore1FL]

32. Not to vote Repub

If ABB spreads across party lines, it does two very important things:

1> it eliminates the Neocon power
2> It gives hope to the restoration of the true GOP.

If it takes a unity admin to accomplish those things, it is well worth it.

It isn't like we have to worry about Kerry being conservative.

[still_one]

2. It is best not to come out to early

look the pugs have spent millions to trash Kerry and the polls just have them at a draw

Kerry is conserving his resources, and will come out with both guns blazing when people are ready to listen which will be as we get closer to the election

[jobycom]

3. You write the strategy, then

I have Kerry speaking a lot lately. He's condemned Bush, he's called for Rumsfield's ouster, either by firing or resignation, he's condemned the photos in IRaq, he's begun promoting a health plan, he's spoken up about the fake Republican recovery, and he's leading Bush by 5 points in the most recent Pew poll.

I'm confused-- do people think Kerry is going to win unanimously, and thus they don't like his strategy? Or is it that he should start shouting like Dean just to be heard and not shut up until he loses?

I mean, if you have a way to have him do better, let us all know. Because so far he's doing quite well without DU's advice.

[Padraig18]

4. "You never have to explain what you don't say."

The savviest ward committeeman in Chicago once told me that, and it's a damned smart strategy.

[jfxgillis]

5. Actually, McCain or Warner would be Great SecDefs for Kerry

If Kerry wants to reform the military, he needs to be INVULNERABLE to right-wing demagoguery on the subject.

I mean, he'll need bulletproof armor. Warner and McCain provide that.

ALSO

He mentioned Carl Levin LITERALLY in the same breath.

Got a problem with that?

[KoKo]

8. Thenyou must believe in a "One Party System for America!" A kinder

and Gentler Repug Party where the "Lions Lay Down with the Lambs" philosophy for America.

Any time one lays down with Repugs one comes up with parasitic fleas.

The philosophies of the two parties WERE very different. When anyone pushes John McCain or any other Repug here, I always wonder if you've done even a "simple Google Search" to understand what McCain has voted for in legislation to hurt the "average American" and what his stance on the PNAC agenda for "unending wars of American Imperial Agression" which we cannot afford is.

Why would anyone think that to "beat the Repugs" we must join forces with them?

Any review of the History of America 101 would show how ludicrous this propostion is, if one is truly interested in "Non-Corporate Controlled America! :shrug:

[jfxgillis]

13. That is fair rejoinder

However, I think a close reading of American political history will reveal that it is precisely such cross-party appointments--IF the men involved are statesmen and not hacks--that lead to genuine if incremental progress.

FDR's Treasury Secretary was a Republican.

I suppose the mediate position between our points of view is our judgment of whether or not McCain and Warner are hacks or statesmen.

[KoKo]

19. Fair enough, but Warner would be so off the wall in a Kerry Administration

that I think some of us would leave the Dem Party. McCain is a hack.

A Hack and a Hawk or two Hawks and a Hack. Personally I think Kerry could do better than those two if he's honestly looking for a "balanced administration." There are many Moderate Dems who would be far better than McCain/Warner. Those two are like letting "foxes in the chicken house." I mean that as what I say. ;-)'s

[seaglass]

26. Are you sure you didn't misunderstand this? I read the

statement earlier in LBN and he was talking about replacing Rumsfeld with one of them NOW, not in his administration.

If you read it in the Guardian it was a misquote, this is what he said:

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2004/05/12/kerry_names_replacements_for_rumsfeld/


"Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said Wednesday any number of people, including Republican Sens. John McCain and John Warner, could replace Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, rejecting concerns that a change in Pentagon leadership could hurt the war effort."

[Old and In the Way]

18. Kerry, more than any other Democrat I know, has investigated

late 20th century American imperialism. So I assume he would be extremely receptive to Congressional investigations that hopefully will convene when he becomes President. The larger the mandate, the bigger the coattails and the more leverage he'll have to get this done.

And it's a very smart strategy to let Bush implode. The RNC smear machine won't be able to distort his words if they are busy defending Dimson's wreck in progress. Kerry is doing precisely what he should do, given the Bush's plummeting polls.

Selective use of Republicans is also smart politics. Of course, under Bush, he has been an ideological demogogue and surrounded himself with same thinking syncophants. So it's no wonder to me that his pResidency is a complete mess. Kerry won't make that mistake. He'll bring some moderate Republicans into his administration because he will be a President of ALL Americans, not the 1% that financed Bush's career and will look to getting counsel from the entire landscape of political perspectives. Clinton brought Bill Cohen (R-Me) into his administration as SecDef. It was a brilliant move. Bill was an excellent SecDef and a thoughtful Republican Senator from Maine. He also might be remembered as one of the Republicans who voted, as a House Representitive, to vote the Nixon impeachment out of committee.

You really should stop marching lockstep with the anti-Kerry movement.

:-)

[ibegurpard]

9. I have a problem with that

Have McCain and Warner been on the forefront of criticizing the right wing loons who control their party? If not then I view any talk of posts for them in a Democratic administration with EXTREME suspicion and cynicism.

[jfxgillis]

11. Nope

But then, they'd be working for Kerry and it would be their JOB to take those loons on.

[snippy]

36. Nearly all republicans are afraid to criticize the right wing loons.

That is a sad, shameful, and serious problem for this country.

[solinvictus]

42. Pat Buchanan

HATES Bushco.

[snippy]

47. True. How odd that our country needs more people like Pat Buchanan.

A few years ago I never would have believed that.

[no name no slogan]

7. What if Nader jumps in the vacuum?

Seriously, this is something Nader could easily do at this point in time, since Kerry seems content to "sit back" and let Bush define the argument yet again.

The anti-war vote SHOULD naturally go to Kerry, but the more he hesitates on standing up on this, the bigger the chance Nader will grab it (and the headlines) and steal the non-party-affiliated anti-war vote.

Kerry NEEDS to address this issue, and address how he'll get us the hell out of the mess. Iraq gets worse by the day. Even the American "mainstream" is starting to see it's a quagmire and that we have to get out of there, and soon.

Kerry can "wait" for Bush to further implode, or he can be bold and decisive and address the issue head on.

I'll take bold and decisive any day, as would most Americans.

[splatbass]

10. There is an old saying:

"When your opponent is commiting suicide you don't need to murder him."


Bush is getting enough bad press on his own, Kerry is better off staying above the fray for now.

[Padraig18]

12. "Never step in front of a perfectly good train wreck"

Rule #1 in Chicago ward politics.

What you want, my friend, is to see the Republicans cower under the lash of Kerry's tongue. Patience---it'll happen soon enough, and in PLENTY of time for the GE.

[KoKo]

21. "Give 'em enough rope to hang themselves" was the point of my post, but

some here don't seem to get that the analogies are the same as what you are saying. :shrug:

[swhisper]

45. At what point will the GOP change their candidate?

When *Tush's numbers reach 30?

[Journeyman]

14. You might call this the Roosevelt strategy. . .

similar to the approach FDR took to win over Hoover: He didn't have to say much, just present himself as someone other than "that dumb bastard President Hoover" (which was the phrase said by a lot of people back in '32, people not necessarily tuned in politically, but who just liked saying "that dumb bastard President Hoover"). So now, the difference is people complain about "that stupid moron Bush," and Kerry need only bide his time, steering clear of the implosion cosuming the (mal)Administration.

[sandnsea]

15. WTF??????

You think Bush is going to replace Rummy with Kucinich??? What is wrong with Kerry saying there are obviously other people who could be Secretary of Defense and not be ideological nutballs like Rumsfeld???? You think if Kerry suggested Kucinich as Secretary of Defense, America would elect him then???

You people make no damn sense at all. You ARE NOT going to get any of your platform in at the convention. Reality check. Dennis barely got 1% nationwide. America doesn't agree with him. Your choices, Bush or Kerry. Face it.

[Mattforclark]

16. I would love a Warner or McCain Defense secretary

Not least because it GETS THEM OUT OF THE SENATE. Both Virginia and Arizona have Democratic governors. Consider doing the math.

:)

[aldian159]

31. very good point, forgot about that

Warner's re-election is in 2008, McCain's in 2004. Appoint warner and lets beat McCain.

[sangha]

17. I just love

the "Dems lost in 2002 because they were too conservative"

People who say that never explain why those disappointed liberals voted for the Repuke

[Old and In the Way]

20. hehehehe

They'll have to have an off-site meetup to discuss that question sangha.

[G_j]

48. what are you saying?

do you have some factual basis for this? "disappointed liberals voted for the Repuke" perhaps you were being sarcastic

[sangha]

50. I was being sarcastic

in order to show how something that seems reasonable on it's face, becomes a farce when examined in depth.

And please note how no one has explained what happened to all those disappointed liberals (note: Dem turnout was up in 2002)

[phiddle]

22. Don't forget that

Kerry has a lot of people out there doing heavy lifting and supporting his campaign. Clark and Edwards are actively involved in retail campaigning, Dean has his new PAC, Kucinich is still running around, MoveOn and ACT are doing grassroots and media stuff. In this situation, Kerry should keep his own powder dry, and let the above-mentioned make inroads into the enemy's position.

[turiya]

23. if Kerry lays low

nobody will know anything about him.

[Sparkly]

24. I don't understand

What's the problem with his saying "replace Rummy with McCain or Warner" -- that McCain and Warner are Republicans? I think it's pretty smart. Both have been thorns in the Bushies' sides, especially lately, and it draws not only a contrast but points out dissention within the GOP, contrary to their "steady" theme. I don't see how this precipitates a fuss about "Daschle weenies."

[MAlibdem]

25. Look, Kerry is seen (wrongly) as a flip-flopper

or at least the Bush campaign is trying to cast him that way. Since the Iraq situation is so fluid, the best thing to do right now is see how is pans out for a while, then come up with a plan that works, and not change it. In the mean time, talk about candidate history and domestic policy, while acknowledging there is a foreign policy prob.

[Lefty Pragmatist]

27. McCain v Rummy

The reason Kerry juxtaposed Rummy with McCain is that it strafes a nerve. The EOP is seen (accurately) as an exclusively PNAC club when it comes to the DOD. Saying "I think they should replace Rummy with McCain" would be like Goldwater saying "I think they should replace Bobby Kennedy with George Wallace." It exposes a crack in the GOP that the White House is in no position to shore up since they've already picked a side.

It was a message for Republicans to stew about, not Dems.

[MontecitoDem]

28. Excuse me?

It seems to me Kerry was saying Bush can replace Rumsfeld - he wasn't saying whom he would choose once elected. Perhaps I am wrong, but this was my interpretation.

Why are some people here itching to bash Kerry at every turn?

[sampsonblk]

29. Kerry's new ad in PA

says "John Kerry even went against his own party..."

"John Kerry stood with John McCain..."

What is THAT bullshit? You never hear a Republican bragging that they voted against their party, and you never hear them naming guys they like from the other party, and most of all, you never hear them implying that they are not 100% loyal Republican conservatives.

I say again, we are not wrong. They are. Why are we playing this damn game?

[Hippo_Tron]

46. Bad idea for Pennsylvania!!!

I would accept an ad like that in somewhere like Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, or Tennesee, but Pennsylvania that's a big no no. Pennsylvania is literally the definition of swing state. They went for Gore in 2000, yet Dick Santorum was elected twice. Pennsylvania seems to have almost as many dem voters as they do republicans. This would signal to me that a good politician, who can get his base fired up wins there. Right now the base is pleanty fired up because they know PA is a swing state and could very well mean the election, and they DONT want another Bush term. The Repukes are divided over the whole Toomey v Specter thing and many will stay home on election day because they are pissed that Toomey didn't win. I hope Kerry reconsiders what he's doing in PA, and fast.

[cap]

52. it depends where the ad is being played...

good idea in pennsyltucky... conservative, central PA.

Bad idea in Philly and Pittsburg.

[ecstatic]

30. His strategy is NOT working!

He is virtually tied with Bush, after ALL THIS SH!T that has been revealed over the past few months! TIED! Yes, I'm angry dammit.

[Pepperbelly]

33. the reason why is quite simple actually ...

and it has nothing to do with Kerry's candidacy per se.

-snip-

The real reason that Mr. Kerry is making so little progress is that voters are now focused almost exclusively on the president. This is typical: as an election approaches, voters first decide whether the incumbent deserves re-election; only later do they think about whether it is worth taking a chance on the challenger. There is no reason to expect a one-to-one relationship between public disaffection with the incumbent and an immediate surge in public support for his challenger.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/12/opinion/12KOHU.htm

[fujiyama]

34. Gallup's number

are of "likely" voters. This early on, registered voters makes more sense to look at. Kerry leads by 5 with Nader, 6 without.

[KoKo]

35. Well, give a kick to this, while I see Kerry trying to speak out...it's

not forceful...or perhaps not "detailed enough" to give an effective counter to Bush & Co. :-(

[Kanary]

nebba mind

[KoKo]

38. Hush Hush...and don't say it...Whisper sweetly and "don't tell." Bide

time and wait without working and ....all will come true for you....

[Kanary]

40. ??????

[KoKo]

41. Not YOU.....Kerry and DLC/DNC....hush, hush sweetly.....n/t

:-)'s

[Pepperbelly]

39. It's not time ...

and I trust Kerry's political instincts implicitly. He knows how to win elections and remember, the election is still almost six months away. Why should he get in the way of Bush's self destruction. Reality is slapping BUSHCO and his minions in the face right now, repudiating his policies, his positions, and his ideology.

Let it happen.

[KoKo]

43. I hope against hope,"Pepper" but I've done that since "Selection 2000."

I think Kerry will win. But, when he "wins" whom will he owe his "win" to? It ain't us here trying to "take back America" since 2000. It will be to the same folks who gave us BFEE, Inc.

Give me something that says differently? :shrug:

[Pepperbelly]

44. either belief is a matter of faith, not fact ...

or hope, perhaps.

I do know that the difference in my lifetime between ANY Democratic administration and ANY gop administration is the difference between night and day. I know some of the more ideological driven here didn't like this or that about Clinton but the harsh reality is that life in America under BC was Utopia compared to life under BUSHCO and the evil minions and pirates with whom Bushie surrounds himself.

Kerry will make some progress for us. Not as much as we'd like. Maybe not even enough to catch us back up to where we were at earlier moments of history but progress nonetheless. Hells, bells ... I would breathe a sigh of relief if we'd just keep EVEN for a while in our lives.

[KoKo]

51. But, "Pepper," what about "principles?" What about what Clinton gave

away when he was embroiled in the Monica affair? "Media Deregulation," and what about earlier when we Dems could have fought harder when Hillary was trashed for the "Medial Care Reforms" or "Nafta?" Or what about the "Paula Jones" affair which Reno was so happy to get involved with along with "Whitewater" fiasco, where Clintons LOST money instead of being bailed out like Chimp with Arbusto (Apples and Oranges, there) but if our PARTY had stuck by Clinton like the Repugs did with Bush then Clinton wouldn't have had to cave.

But, what if Clinton caved because he believed what he was doing was "good" for the country even if he trashed his wife and himself in the process?

Still it was up to him to hang tough and not get turned to the RIGHT and cave like he did. Maybe he was always so centrist it didn't matter to him, but to elect another centrist President who will be co-opted, corrupted and pander to the right means we Dems have fallen in with the Repugs. Indeed we've probably been in bed with them in the House and Senate for decades more than we want to believe.

Kerry must stand for a change or what does he stand for? So far, he seems Bush Lite, by conceding to Bush with some "minor equivocations"in his differences in policy.

I'm hoping his "Strategy" works. But, it didn't work with Daschle/Reid in the mid-terms and I'm not impressed with the Biden/Lugar/Dodd/Levin counters all over the media to the Iraq Invasion, or by the mild dissention of all of Bush's giveaways in tax cuts to the rich and the rest of the crap i.e. Patriot Act that we are suffering through.

:-( I am trying to be patient, but at some point expect him to listen to those of us who have been fighting in the trenches since the Stolen Election of 2000. I'm not hearing that he cares that Dean or Kucinich had different views of our party. He doesn't want to acknowledge that. I'm still waiting and hoping...:shrug:

[Hippo_Tron]

53. If there had been no 9/11, Kerry would be ahead by 10 points...

But 9/11 was used by the administration to feed to people this idea that Bush is their "protector".

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[ACK]

49. Kerry is not laying low!?! Look at these articles

Kerry assails Bush on Iraq Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A22443-2004May12.html

Kerry calls the Iraq War a Failure

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A20807-2004May12.html

Don't Rush trials for Iraqi Prisoner Abuse

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/orl-aseckerry13051304m ...

Numbers don't bode well for Bush

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25367-2004May13.html

He is bashing Bush and winning in the polls.

If anything the whore press is getting to their push point of picking up the Repuke line that Kerry is trying to take advantage of tragedy for political gain.

_

[kodi]

54. why try to kill a man about to commit suicide?

.