Fineman: The 'Sock Puppet' Strategy (Kerry vs. *)

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5092803/site/newsweek/

In Seattle they want their coffee strong and their salmon straight from the river, a yen for flavor that may explain why the air was buzzless in McCaw Hall when Sen. John Kerry unveiled his plan for bolstering American "security and strength for a new world." But wowing locals wasn't the goal; outmaneuvering George W. Bush was. Despite rising sentiment in the Democratic Party against the war in Iraq (given voice last week by Al Gore's roar), "Kerry is not going hard left on the war," declared a top adviser. Not if he wants to win swing votes in Red States.

So in a painstakingly balanced speech—crafted by a coalition of Democratic centrists—Kerry took dead aim at the mainstream, calculating that voters may want to change leaders more than philosophy. The president, Kerry declared, was an inept, simplistic, go-it-alone cowboy incapable of carrying on America's tradition of global alliance-building. Even so, Kerry agreed that creating a new Iraq was necessary for American security, and he proclaimed himself just as tough—and as willing to use military force, even pre-emptively—as the man he wants to replace.

In McCaw Hall, there was some evidence that Kerry's modulated sales effort might succeed. Iraq is "an absolute mess," said David Haldeman, 25. "Kerry did not address Iraq as clearly as I would have liked. But my dislike of George Bush overrides everything at this point. You can put a sock puppet next to Bush and I would vote for it."

At Kerry headquarters in Washington, no one's calling it the "sock puppet" theory, but it's pretty much the one they are operating on. The election, in their view, doesn't turn on Kerry's legislative victories (in 20 years in the Senate, they are few) or on his grand new ideas (his foreign policy, judging from his advisers, would be a Clinton Restoration). Rather, his handlers think, the race is about being a minimally acceptable alternative and in the right position to capitalize on the president's weakness.

[bobbieinok]

1. isn't Fineman one of the bush apologists?

[RamboLiberal]

5. Yes Fineman is a * Brown-noser

Just when you think Tweety (Chris Matthews) is coming around, he and Fineman manage a way to salivate over * in his jeans, flight suit, polls of who people would rather BBQ with, etc.

[depakid]

6. MHO's Media Whore of the year 2001- n/t

[pippin]

7. and having been around him

at close quarters, a pompous pushy ass hole to boot.

[The Zanti Regent]

8. Whoreward Fineman at it again!

Whoreward always lies for the Nazi Party

[OneBlueSky]

2. if that's Kerry's strategy (and I'm not saying it is) . . .

then it's a pretty weak one . . . it's counting on Bush to lose it rather than Kerry doing something affirmative to win it . . . not a hallmark of leadership, imo . . . but this is Howie speaking, so take it with the requisite grain . . .

[leftistagitator]

3. It's the appropriate strategy at this point

Bush*'s incompetence is turning off even his core supporters, if we work the semantics properly this could turn into a rout. Besides, it's not like campaigning to the middle forces Kerry to govern from there. For example, I remember a famous right wing resident who at one time claimed to be a compassionate conservative.

[sandnsea]

4. Acceptable Alternative

That's the main thing he needs to be... for now. Later, he can turn up the vision thing. Although I personally think anybody who has been paying attention knows he is talking about taking this country in a completely different direction than Bush or Clinton. If he can win just by letting Bush lose, he will. If he needs to do more in September or so, he will. There's simply too many versions of the Democratic Party, and too many hard core loyalists to their perception of the Democratic Party, for Kerry to risk alienating any of them. If ABB works, then ABB it is.

[Eloriel]

9. Minimally acceptable alternative is about right

The only thing Kerry has going for him, frankly, is Bush. Kerry is the "ABB" candidate. I DREAD the idea of 4 years of Kerry. :puke:

BUT -- at least he's not Bush. Right? What a winning campaign!

[MasonJar]

10. Kerry has always been a liberal voice; he is a firm environment-

alist; he is a very eloquent, presidential type candidate. I originally had Dean as my no. one, but now I am glad Kerry is our guy. He is a fine patriot and has spent much of his life fighting for the people. I am also very proud of our other candidates (Dean, Edwards, Clark, etc.) who are out there speaking against the Stump.

[Manix]

11. I think this is very appropriate for now. Remember this is "May".

I think it would be a serious error to come out "guns blazing" this early.

[KoKo]

12. Well...many of us had hoped for better than "Sock Puppet" from Dems

having lived through a "Sock Puppet" for over three years. Bush=Cheney's "Sock Puppet."

But...I guess the 21st Century will be known as "Beginning of the Sock Puppet Presidency" which lead us down paths "unknown." :shrug:

[Classical_Liberal]

13. I want a change in policy

. Bush's foriegn policy is bad because he listened to the neoconservatives. It is not just because he is Bush.