Don't underestimate the American people.

[Drunken Irishman]

I understand some here believe Americans eat up the sound bite answers, however, I do not believe this. I actually think Kerry's approach to the 2004 debates was the only reason he had a chance down the stretch. Now I know some will disagree, but compare polls before the debate to those after and you see a clear Kerry edge.

According to http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/10/04/opinion/polls/main647342.shtml">this CBS Poll done in late 2004, Kerry made significant gains after the first debate.

Prior to the debate, Bush led Kerry 51-42, or a 9-point advantage (teetering on blowout, folks). After the debate, they were both tied at 47%. What this tells me is that Kerry got back into the 2004 race because of his debate, a formula where he did answered questions thoughtfully and actually spoke intelligently, yet not condescendingly, like maybe it was perceived Gore was doing during the 2000 debates. This is how I see Obama, except with a little more emotion and comfort. Had Kerry failed at the debate, the election would have been a landslide for Bush, since he was leading by nearly ten points heading into the final stretch. Instead, it positioned Kerry to win and even though he didn't, I will bet you by late September, Obama is not trailing McCain by 9-points. Which means, if he gets the same type of bump Kerry did, he very well could put him away.

[Thrill]

1. I disagree. The sound bytes are what reach the low info voters

Its not just Kerry, Obama, and Hillary. Its Democrats as a whole. You even see it on the talk shows. They try to speak to people like grownups. While Republicans are very good at sticking to a specific set of talking points. And they pound it away over and over. Unfortunately the majority of Americans are idiots. They hear one sound byte and repeat it over and over.

The Republicans have mastered this. Democrats haven't

[Drunken Irishman]

3. Your whole argument flies in the face of facts.

If this were true, Kerry would not have closed the gap in 2004, instead, Bush would've blown the race wide open. Instead, the gap went from 9-points to a tie essentially over night because of the debate. For all the one-line sound bites we heard from Bush throughout the debates, it didn't help him at all. Kerry's real answers are the only reason he made it a race, or he would have lost by 10+ points nationally and probably about as bad in the electoral college.

Yes, sometimes one-liners CAN work, but they have to be really good. I've seen nothing from McCain that makes me believe he has a real good zinger stashed away for the debates.

[wolverinez]

6. Agreed. Common sense.

nt

[Beregond2]

2. Citing facts on DU? What could you be thinking?

If the facts don't jibe with most posters prejudices, they will ignore you anyway.

[grantcart]

4. Don't underestimate the American People

hell I am going to rec and kick for anybody with the guts to lead with a title like that on DU. lol

But I agree with you. People watching are not interested in who is clapping for who and they couldn't care less what Pat Buchanan says.


They also don't like people that are too religious and they don't like guys that fake it.


If they flipped through the channels from their football they saw Obama intelligent and engaged and McCain barking out his little get tough bullshit lines.

McCain didn't embarass himself but that won't get him votes.

[Triana]

5. Repig election fraud cost Kerry the election in 04, that and Repig swiftboat-style...

..dirty trickery. More than any debate performance - that's what lost it for us. And, they're planning it again too - only on a larger scale in 08. Repigs can't win on issues - they have to smear, lie, and cheat to "win". And - they will - and - that will cost more elections than debate performances or performances at cooked-up religious vetting trials like the one tonight - which was just another publicized political (religous) Obama lynching.

EDIT: And, on the American people? These mouth-breathing, knuckle-dragging religious-freaked rednecks (along with the above tactics, which they swallowed whole because they're so stupid and gullible and unable to think) helped put GWB in office not only once, but TWICE.

There is NO WAY to underestimate that level of stupidity or ignorance (willful or otherwise). These people are not even above the level of your basic neanderthal. There's simply no way to underestimate the lack of intellect or ability to think or reason there (or maybe just the sheer unwillingness to do it)

The knuckle-dragging, cave-dwelling apes didn't evolve into humans. They're now called "Republicans". No evolution happened there. It's sad that they require a person of normal intelligence to "ugg" and grunt at them in short "sentences" (ie: soundbites) in order to be understandable to them and to appeal to their votes. Maybe Obama should try beating his chest and grunting in certain volumes and patterns. He might figure out what their "language" is. I notice McShit has no problem speaking it and certainly not George W - the current Alpha Male of the species.

[RagAss]

7. The average IQ of any population as a whole is, by definition, 100.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

8. Kerry did very well in both debates. Bush had to be prompted.

[AllentownJake]

9. Don't over estimate them either (eom)

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

10. The record speaks for itself

Reagan, Reagan, GHW Bush, Clinton (with Perot being the deciding factor), Clinton (ditto), Chimp, Chimp.

All the repukes need to do is keep it close enough to steal.

A clear plurality of the American electorate is too fucking stupid to use toilet paper without referring to the instructions. 20 years of Bushes and Reagan has lowered the populace's IQ about 40 percent.

[Tresalisa]

11. I don't know how it is where other DUers live,

but here in the more red part of WA State, where I live, many people I talk to are so tired of election 2008, that seems like it's been going on since the turn of this century, and they're not paying attention anymore.

Course, that could be because they're GOP and are not entirely happy that McBush is their candidate! :evilgrin: