The Word the Kerry Campaign Wants to Use

to describe Bush's assessment of the war in Iraq and the economy is "denial"

George Bush is in denial. His stubborn, arrogant, positions have cost us jobs at home, and lives in a quagmire abroad, yet he tells us all is well. Mr. Bush has taken a course that can only lead to disaster, because he refuses to face the facts that are obvious to everyone but him.

The term "denial" conjures up the image of drugs, or in mostly women, a failed relationship or marriage. It's a beautiful word, that captures the essence of Bush's problems. A word that is easy to relate to. Who hasn't had a friend that did drugs, drank, or gambled to excess, only to deny the obvious. We know that a person in denial can do harm to others, not just himself. He acts in an irresponsible manner, putting at risk all around him.

I believe this word, "denial", used in the proper context, and repeated often, can be more effective than the "flip-flop" bullshit from the other side. I hope Kerry uses it in the debates, his speeches and his campaign hammers it home in its ads.

...I've heard that one alot, and I think it sticks.

It conjures up an image of someone who is SO incredibly and deliberately out of touch that they might just be insane.

Also, they sound more likely to cause others danger by living in their fantasy world.

The entire GOP point of view is a fantasy.

The only way you can be a GOPer is to pretend.

Let's pretend things are getting better, instead of worse, in Iraq.

Let's pretend there actually were WMD's somehow, somewhere, in Iraq.

Let's pretend all those babies and women and grandfathers we're killing are "insurgents".

Let's pretend our own troops aren't getting killed.

Let's pretend record defecits don't matter.

Let's pretend the majority of Americans actually wanted the assault weapons ban to expire.

Let's pretend Osama bin Laden doesn't matter anymore.

Let's pretend George Bush isn't a complete corporate stooge.

Let's pretend Halliburton is only concerned with what's good for America.

Let's pretend an economic recovery is right around the corner and is fueld by tax cuts for the rich ....

It just goes ON and ON and ON

..makes me think of Disney, cartoons, and childish behavior.

Denial better represents the negative images that Bush refuses to acknowledge.

I don't know many people living in Fantasy land, and the image of the person who uses that reference is childish.

The image of the person accusing someone of being in denial is one of a person in authority, like a parent, teacher, or doctor.

Again, it reinforces Bush's negatives of drinking, drugging, and dead brain cells without mentioning those topics.

"Denial" can have a dual message, the more banal being that * denies the validity of criticism against him, thereby denigrating the validity of his critic.

but how do you know that Kerry wants to use it in the debates? I agree he should use it. It's hard to believe he would suggest the words he wants to use to a journalist, so that * could prepare a response.

I know, denial makes a better sound bite and is easier to swallow than callous disregard.

"Mr. Bush is obviously in denial, when he thinks the present strategy in Iraq is working, while one of our most important allies, Mousharouf of Pakistan, and members of Mr. Bush's own party, like Senators Lugar and Hagel, point out that it's an obvious mistake".

Whatever, it's good.

and it prevents turning off people who don't want to hear "liar," or even "two-faced." Carries a message that the poor man just can't, won't, see reality, and because of it, the country is suffering economically, and in a horror of war.

It highlights the groupthink going on at the White House with an administration pathologically incapable of being straight and honest with the public. Denial has an insidious, myopic quality to it.

As well, repeating the denial theme implies that John Kerry sees problems in our country's that every American can see, ones which are obvious. As in, "We see what the problem is, this admistration does not ... they're in denial."

Old joke. Dust it off and let it rip, Mr. Kerry.

Denial is good. I would get behind that. Also - I hate the word "miscalculation" - they should use "failure" and "failed" instead.