Kerry needs to convince Democrats that Dean can't win

CONCORD, N.H. - With an ill wind tousling his anchorman's hair and rippling the fabric of his natty blue blazer, John Kerry stood on the muddy banks of a rain-swept pond and muddied his own message.

Just 17 hours earlier, the beleaguered presidential candidate had contended, on a New Hampshire radio show, that his nemesis Howard Dean would be a bad nominee; that the hero of antiwar Democrats would lose to President Bush in 2004.

Kerry is trying to pump up his imperiled candidacy - Dean seems poised to bury him in the New Hampshire primary - and his task is to convince Bush-haters that Dean can't win.

Yet by the pond the next morning, when a reporter asked the Massachusetts senator why he had assailed Dean's electability, he turned his craggy visage toward the questioner and insisted, "I don't believe I said that" - thereby demonstrating anew why this rich, articulate, experienced lawmaker and war hero has stumbled on the campaign trail, sagging like a bad souffle.

His critics put it this way: At a time when Democrats crave straight talk, Kerry offers circumlocutions.

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http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/7270770.htm

add to that his health problems of last year and you have had a WEAK candidate.

I have seen Kerry in MUCH better form and I don't understand what the problem is... Unfortunately for him the time grows short to figure it out.

A nice profile of the neocons in the Bush administration:

http://www.aljazeerah.info/Opinion%20editorials/2003%20Opinion%20Editorials/May/7%200/Neoconservatives,%20Dick%20Polman.htm

Gloating over the end of the Texas Dem's protest:

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/2003/09/11/news/nation/6732226.htm

This is so transparently a GOP hit job, that I'm really kind of surprised you'd put your reputation on posting it, pruner.

Not to defend a writer who's evidently a foul turd working for the GOP's Corporate McPravda, but Dick's (unwittingly, perhaps) provided the solution for Sen. Kerry's campaign problems.

The senator is a complex person. Most Americans, are far simpler in speech and worldview.

Sen. Kerry needs a "unifying sauce" that ties his entire package of positives together into one theme that can draw people in. My suggestion: "Competent, Courageous, Committed."

There likely are better phrases and better words, but from my perspective, these tell the Big Story in a way that gets people tuned in to hear the rest of the Big Story. Like in Marketing Com 101, once you get their attention and interest, you can work on their desire and get them to take action.

Kerry's rhetoric has worked backward for many Americans: He believes most people actually pay attention to what someone is saying. Would that it were so...

They are, in fact, quite decent. You're reaching.

Eloriel

just because people begin to percieve an aura of unelectability about Dean doesn't mean that Kerry will be the one who benefits from Dean defectors.

Clark's a good guy, and so is Edwards. At least they stand a decent chance against Bush.

Kerry is totally out of touch with the rest of the country. He has been too rich and too in the Beltway to connect with the average American. When it comes to the war, nuances won't do, you are either for it as Lieberman has been consistently, or you are against it as Kucinich.

So why does Kerry have to point out the obvious? Are we to believe that Democrats are too stupid to see this for ourselves?

That's funny, I haven't made a decision yet.

"My candidate is losing, therefore I shall seek to bring down Dean"

Sorry, poll after poll and measure after measure says Dean can win just as easily as any other candidate now in the race. If he gets the nomination, the only thing that can get in his way is the attitude of the "Dean can't win" crowd.

We're going to build a new Democratic Party. Come be a part of it.

We're going to build a new Democratic Party. Come be a part of it.

Based on what? Anger and empty slogans? If I 'come, be a part of it,' does that mean I have to cheer mindlessly and wave my little Dean card when The Leader chants repeatedly 'You have the power,' while enacting the exact same policies that the other candidates would?

Howard Dean is the most straight-talking and accessible candidate. He gets to the heart of things and does not play politics. He gives every indication of being an exceedingly accessible president as well and therefore willing to incorporate The People's wishes and interests into his policies. And how could there be "the exact same policies" when the shadow government that twists so much of it to its own agenda will be GONE. This could not be guaranteed in a John Kerry regime--the others, probably okay, but I know for sure Howard Dean is not associated with any of them and only very lightly with other corporate interests. I would expect, in fact, some anti-corporate measures to be initiated during a Howard Dean presidency. He is exceedingly responsive to the complaints and needs of we Americans.

it is customary to present evidence to bolster that claim, instead of your own opinions, which frankly and without hyperbole, I consider no better reasoned than a Branch Davidian's about David Koresh, or a Moonie's about Moon. I can go to Dean's website and see policy positions that are essentially identical to the other candidates', and I know about Dean's corporate-friendly tenure as governor of Vermont. That's evidence; your parrot-like recitation of Dean's campaign propaganda and the wish fantasies you have projected onto Dean say far more about you than they do about him, and what a putative President Dean would do in the (thank God) highly unlikely event he ever reached power.

"and see policy positions that are essentially identical to the other candidates'"

so why all the hate? If he's the same thing, why get so worked up about him on a daily basis for MONTHS on end? Surely you can balance your scorn a bit, spread it aroud to the essentially identical other candidates.

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Son, you're getting yourself all worked up over nothing. Since neither you nor the other fanatical antiDeans can ever back up claims that Dean "lied", I'd suggest a new tack...focus on your candidate (if that's Clark, that's cool because he's my second choice). Let's hear all the reasons that Clark is a better choice instead of all the infantile, empty rage over Dean.

Come on, give it a try. You can do it. YOU HAVE THE POWER.

"Because I despise mindless fanaticism, and Dean's supporters are full of that."

It's so nice to be part of a sweeping generalization. And here I was thinking I supported Dean for his policies! Thank you for letting me know I've simply been duped.

another BB special :eyes:

Dean gave a great performance at the Iowa event. He was really in his element and connecting. It is a real morale booster to see that kind of energy and audience reception as a beacon of hope for our building momentum.

chance of beating Bush. Plus, the press has been giving Dean a pass (as even the ABC Note pointed out the other day). After his weird performance at the Iowa dinner last night I'm more convinced then ever that Dean will lose to Bush.

Kucinich, Mosely-Braun or Sharpton has a better chance of beating Bush? Those I'd love to see.

It will be kid gloves time for Dean. George Will defended him over that flap last week, so when the RW pundits praise you, well, cash it in, folks - the GOP wants Dean, and not just because he can be beaten by the Chimp.

:eyes:

see him taking most of the Dem tickets down with him in the competitive states and districts.

Yup, that convinces me...

Stick a fork in him

he's done

Let's declare Dean the winner and move on! No need for states to spend any more money on voting at all. Yep, Kerry's done and that's that.

/sarcasm

and not Kerry who YOU claim gets all their support? Why does Dean get the teflon that the corporate media gave to Bush?

Why does the corporate media, in fact, go out of their way to SLAM Kerry over the past two years? They would NOT cover important stories like the endorsement of the Fire Fighters, and Gary Hart, Rand Beers, William Perry, Max Cleland and Joe Wilson - ALL powerful testifiers to BFEE crimes and Bush incompetence.

What happened to your S&B theory? YOU trust Dean's lifetime Libertarian centrist record and distrusted Kerry's lifetime liberal record.

Amazing AND disgusting.

Isnt Bush/media telling enough lies about our good DEMS w/o so called Democrats smearing them with unproven accusations???

I've asked Seventhson about 20 times to provide me one example a "conspiracy" Kerry committed through his Skull & Bones connections- but all I ever get is links to Christian Identity "Black Helicopter" sites...

Great Job Seventhson- you did at least manage to fool admin and the mods!!!!

You deserve a medal, seventhson. For a year and half, you've gone above and beyond the call of duty to smear John Kerry — the best chance the Democrats have of winning in 2004 — as a stooge of the BFEE through Skull & Bones. Truth is that Kerry has done more than anyone running for President to bring down the BFEE.

To take aim at Kerry they pumped up Dean. They gave Dean focused press when he started attacking the other Democratic candidates at the end of Jan. They gave Dean a press plane in fuckin' June. They gave Dean the magazine covers in July.

They've hid every important story about Kerry and the team aligning with him. The team that has the goods on Bush. You think Joe Wilson wrote that column about Cheney and the intel last July without having support behind the scenes from those planning Bush's downfall?

You think BushInc. wants to face that team?

Get real.

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THat's what the voters do, remember.

If Kerry beats Dean, then he's my guy.

same for the other candidates (Okay CMB would be my gal)

Thanks for helping to spread repuke memes on this board!!

supporting the war instead of making excuses for it. He was wrong and so were Lieberman and Gephardt. Flat out wrong...and they keep finding reasons to give support to continuing this outright fraud being foisted on the world. They were instrumental in handing the neo-cons the power they now wield.

trying to convince voters that he can win.

male menopause, mid-life, crisis.

Somebody give him the hook. Please.

From the beginning, Sen. Kerry's supporters and critics alike have said the guy's got to have a clear, concise, CONSISTENT message that can be heard above the media din. Just what that message is right now, I have no clue — and I'm a follower of the guy since Operation Dewey Canyon II. Not that anyone in the campaign gives a hoot, but if I was his communications director it would be: Competent, Couragous, Committed. Repeat ad $200 million nauseum.

A trait acquired from being a perennial Washington insider. Let's hear some more spin on why you voted for the IWR.

Damn. That's harsh. The point is not lost however. Kerry has not gained one inch of ground by critizing Dean. It's just not working for him and now it looks like it may be working against him.

Kerry has too long and too distinguished a record to play the roll of hit man. It's beneath him and he sells out his supporters when he plays it. He needs to get on with a message that is about Kerry and start painting a vision of a positive America under Kerry leadership. But he better hurry. He's running out of time.

What is it with Kerry these days? He's falling for the old trick of being cornered so that you are forced to define yourself by your hate, and not by your positive ideas.

Kerry needs to lay off the Dean attack plan and concentrate on what a Kerry presidency would do for Americans. That's all. If he doesn't do this he will join a large pile of political corpses, all put there by their inability to frame a positive message.

He needs to try defining his own faltering campaign instead of trying to define the other's campaigns.

...but it applies to all our vialble candidates, except perhaps Clark...

...I've never liked any of the candidates going after each other- I dont think most traditional DEMS like it either...

When watching the Debates, I get pumped at all the great comments- but as soon as the attacking between candidates start, I get turned off...

I think there is a select few in the DEM base who apparently like this tradition- I do not.


Attack Bush. Tell me why YOU are good. Dont bash your fellow DEMS to build yourself up...

but too many candidates (as you say Clark is the only one really not engaging in this) just take the easy political cheap shot (a la Liebermans CF ad) in an attempt to bolster themselves.I think the differences should somehow be highlighted in a less confrontational way.

But that's primary season for ya!

All I have to do is look at the language this "journalist" uses to know what he thinks about Kerry & Democrats...

Clearly a biased article. I wonder if this autheor every describes Bush's voters as "Democrat Haters" or uses unflattering adjetives when writing about him...I doubt it.

BIAS.

I just got back from campaigning in NH for Kerry, and I believe more than ever that Kerry is the right man to be President.
He is a liberal Democrat with priceless military and national security background and a man that knows what to do and how to do. He has an eloquent message that he wants people to hear, but like Gore, he hasn't been able to get that message out. I'm not going to bitch and moan about Dean, but I will say that Dean frustrates me because Kerry, IMHO, has Dean beat on every issue. Kerry has just FAILED completely to demonstrate that. Dean is beating Kerry, IMHO, not because of the issues, but because of the personality differences. We saw this in 2000 as well; people didn't like Gore's "cold" personality, while people loved Bush's "commonman" appeal. Kerry is suffering in this way. I admit it; Dean is more exciting. But on the issues..Kerry is really a much better canidate IMHO. And this is not disrespect to Dean, please understand that.

Even the Iraq war? :evilgrin:


It's not everything but it's huge. There's a lot of other issues out there, imho, but Kerry is certainly qualified.

I've noticed that politicos have a tendency to sweat over whether their "message is getting out" but all too often won't face the possibility that people just don't resonate with their message.

I think John Kerry is a nice guy. I'd trust him around my daughter, tending the plants, feeding the cats. But there are issues surrounding him that have nothing to do with the accessibility of his message. Here's a few of them that I know for a fact turned some of my aquaintances away from him:

His IWR vote. I'm sorry I know you have got to be sick of hearing this, but damn it it's around his neck like a ball and chain. He HAS to do something to come to grips with it - renounce it, confirm it, something other than denial.

The perception of being just another DC Insider. This is a biggie, especially noting the populist anger seething at the grassroots level these days against insiders and life long politicians. How will John Kerry connect with people even if it means confronting the precious DC establishment that seems to run the roost in government?

He's just another establishment Democrat who will cave to Republicans when push comes to shove. This goes back to IWR, but it could come up in many other issues. Do people really want the same faire that has been served up by the Democrats over the past few years? Is there a reason why democrats have been losing elections while pushing a statist DNC line?

He's defining himself only by attacking Howard Dean. He is the most vociferous attack dog against Dean out of the pack. Kerry got so nasty with it recently, that on a talk show the host had to ask Kerry to please comment about his plans and policies rather than Deans. That was extremely embarrassing, in a media already hostile to democrats and the left. When will John Kerry stop wounding himself more than he wounds Howard Dean with all these attacks?

That's a short list, but I give it to you sincerely. Consider that many potential voters don't LIKE what they see coming from John Kerry - not that he's having trouble communicating it.

This is not meant as an outright attack on Kerry and I hope you don't take it as such.