Kerry's not really wooing the center right, he's

[troublemaker]

trying to put them to sleep. I admit I felt a little sick hearing the Kerry abortion thing, but I was heartened at the same time. This guy may be just slippery enough to win an American election.

In an environment this polarized suppressing opposition turn-out becomes more and more important. It's ugly to think about, but getting someone to not vote for your opponant is worth just as much on the scoreboard as getting someone else to vote for you. (Mathematically I think suppressing a vote is a teeny-tiny bit more valuable since the resultant turn-out pool is one vote smaller, but I digress)

The center-right will probably sit this election out if given half a chance.

The primaries are about screening out anyone that sounds too honest because honesty sounds sort of extremist to swing voters. We decry weaselly dishonest politicians, yet mysteriously we seldom elect any other kind. It's the right answer. Probably because the swing voters that decide all elections are themselves the biggest weasels of all.

The Republicans are very good at that stuff. They suppress a fair amount of left-leaning financially comfortable votes with tax cuts. (Some people would be ashamed to actual pull the lever to cut their taxes, but if someone else forces a tax cut on them...) They're also good at using race to suppress borderline whites. (Most folks don't consider casting a racist vote to be the same thing as failing to vote for the opposition.)


In 2000 Democrats did a good job of getting out their base (great in Florida) and got more votes because the Bush drunk driving story suppressed a few points of indifferent Bush leaners. "Do I want to go straight home after work or go stand in line to vote for the drunk driver? ... ahhh, skip it."

If you are blue collar but pro-life you want some sign that a Democratic candidate feels abortion is morally undesirable and/or an immensely weighty issue. You figure neither party would be politically willing to ban abortion, so voting is a symbolic gesture. Maybe you're one of these older devout Catholic women in western PA and you're pro-life but everyone in your town is out of work. You're not going to vote for Kerry no matter what, but you may stay home, partially because Kerry was cordial enough to pretend to take your position while opposing it. Essentially, that he thought you were worth lying to.

It's like a rock band saying that nobody rocks like you folks here in ... (insert your town's name here)

[Old and In the Way]

1. I agree......I think Kerry's feints to the right will be enough to keep

moderate Republicans from voting. They won't vote Democrat, but can't endorse Bush. Their solution? Blank or maybe Nader.

[Generator]

2. Clinton part deux?

Slippery enough to win?

We'll now that I've seen the true true dark heart that America can wander towards, I'll take it. I'll take it and laugh.

[rumguy]

3. Kerry's playing it smart - it's judo not wrestling

[turiya]

4. thats pretty sick

We are supposed to rejoice that our candidate is a liar?
This kind of stuff is why the vast majority of Americans do not vote at all.