Just called Kerry HQ.

[tedoll78]

They have folks watching the entire RNC and counting how many times 9/11 is mentioned - and many times healthcare or the economy is mentioned. A comparison of those numbers may very well be in our future.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Quit bothering the good Kerry people and get a grip.

Your points about the RNC are valid, but please, the Kerry folks have enough to do without our calls.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x701789

[tedoll78]

3. Umm..

Wow.. I haven't hear that argument before. And I like how you automatically read my state of mind and suggest that I need to get a grip; can you teach little ol' me how to read minds? Pretty please?

& FYI: the operator didn't sound that bothered. She was quite pleasant (hell.. humerous), and I figured that DU would appreciate me sharing that counting factoid.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. OK, I apologize for over-reacting. But the principle remains.

I'm sorry, I was reacting to a bunch of negativism that is swirling around, and my response to you wasn't the most appropriate.

On the other hand, however nice it might be, we don't need to call the Kerry campaign to swap jokes or to feel good.

On the third hand, thanks for sharing the talking point about the relative mention and neglect of social issues.

On the fourth hand, expect that the hypocritical "compassionate conservative" lie will get a retread tonight as "people of compassion". Just as much of a lie even when tarted up in bunting and baloons.


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x789734

[Seabiscuit]

12. What do you think someone should do

who is disturbed about Kerry's position on Iraq?

Don't call? They know what they're doing?

Don't e-mail? Don't write?

Just shut up and sit down? They know what they're doing?

Why can't the Kerry campaign tolerate any criticism?

There's no realistic way to get through to them, and that's disgraceful.

I'm not being "negative", I'm pointing out the tough reality about his campaign - they've left no avenue open to receive input from their constituents on the issues.

And your answer to all this is leave them alone and tie up Bush's phone lines?

Lots of good that's going to do.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. They are called campaigns by analogy to military campaigns.

Kerry is going to win or lose this his way. They have mapped out a game plan a long time ago and are adjusting and revamping it all the time. They know things we don't know.

"get through to them"? not "tolerate any criticism?" You can choose to see it that way. However, your golden drops of wisdom are not alone but are part of a tidal wave of well-meaning folk inundating the campaign with things that you suppose they have never thought of, have never discussed, have never rejected. If they change course towards your suggestions, see how powerful you are.

The things to call the Kerry campaign about now is for specific help campaigning, or with specific breaking news that they are unlikely to have heard of.

Don't bother the campaign now with nuances or big policy disagreements. Get Kerry elected, and then a week after the election, push hard with your disagreements over Iraq, when the transition team is starting to collect itself. You will have a bigger effect on Iraq if you get Kerry elected and then influence his policy. Otherwise, good luck trying to influence Bush's policy.

In a military campaign, there is such a thing known as discipline.

You can be the wind at Kerry's back or you can be an ankle-biter.

[Seabiscuit]

17. That is pathetic

You characterize people frustrated about not being heard by the Kerry campaign as being "an ankle-biter".

Geesh.

Wake up and smell the coffee. Kerry was dead wrong when he voted for the IWR and he's even more dead wrong about it today. He clearly hasn't learned a damned thing about the lack of WMDs, the lack of any imminent threat to anyone, the lack of any ties to Al Queda, the lack of any connection to 9-11. And the GOP is licking its chops. As a result he's LOSING on the Iraq issue because GOP soundbites successfully paint him day in and day out as supporting Bush's Iraq policies, contrary to Kerry's base, which opposes that war. And that's all the people hear any more.

Kerry could lose the election on this issue alone. Ever think of that? And if so, there will be no time after the election to try to get through to him. He'll be toast by then. And so will our country.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. Of course I thought of it. But there is a time and a place for everything

Kerry can't take back the vote. You are complaining that GOP soundbites focus on it. Well, so are you.

[Seabiscuit]

20. I'm focusing on it precisely

because this *is* the time and place to do so. There are only nine weeks remaining in this campaign, and Kerry's running out of time.

Apparently, either you agree with Kerry's wimpy BS position on Iraq, or you think it's nothing more than a harmless GOP soundbite.

As I said before, wake up and smell the coffee. It's on every news channel every day, and Kerry is taking a total pounding constantly on this issue. And as one GOP spokesman said about the GOP convention in NYC today on CNN, their message has been to repeat and repeat that Iraq = The War On Terror = National Security. And the Kerry spokesman simply couldn't answer any questions about why Kerry can't see the difference and admit that his vote on the IWR, at the very least with the benefit of hindsight, was wrong, and that if he knew then what he knows now, he would have voted differently. IOW, even Kerry's apologists in the news are speechless and dumbfounded when attempting to defend Kerry's position on Iraq. That is ENORMOUS!

The Repukes are mocking Kerry successfully about this, and it's ALL anyone's hearing every day about the issue. Kerry will go the way of Dukakis if he doesn't start addressing this issue and change his message to give the country a clear alternative to Bush's policies in Iraq.

You apparently falsely equate criticism of Kerry by Kerry's base (myself included) with a GOP soundbite. Shame on you.

[SeekingTruth]

19. Yes, they're too busy recuperating from unanswered kicks to the groin...

while playing fairly...

[forgethell]

2. You can't really expect

the Repukes NOT to mention it. This is their issue, what they are building their campaign around. That's OK. We have a strong leader, too, that can beat them at their own game AND get a mandate for our issues like the economy.

[saracat]

4. OOOOOOH! Thats a real threat to the GOP!

[democratreformed]

6. ??????????

Yes, truth is a threat to the GOP!

[saracat]

10. What I meant is ,another boring, subtle, non soundbite

approach that no one will get or pay attention to. Nuance is fabulous for foreign policy but not for engaging idiot voters.

[democratreformed]

13. Okay, I hope you're wrong.

Somehow, the truth has to get out.

[Norquist Nemesis]

14. Don't dismiss this

as another boring soundbite etc. When you hear Kerry critics from the GOP drop into their soundbytes "he only spoke 73 words about his 20 year career"...then you hear it again, and again, and again.

The Kerry team's just gathering ammunition that they can lock, load, and fire away with.

[saracat]

16. Sorry! It's still boring.Blah! Blah! Blah!

Barnes "ashamed he let Bush into Guard" is more interesting. Bush paid for Barnes silence with a 40 million dollar contract is more interesting.Counting words is lightweight and boring.Attack.Try it. It works!

[michigandem2]

7. if I can say something...

they counted how many words Kerry said on his "record"...they are proving there will not be much to say about the other "record" as well...I appreciated the tid bit

[Feanorcurufinwe]

5. RNC drinking game for teetotalers: drink whenever they mention Osama

[Doosh]

9. they didn't mention the economy or osama once last night

[Zero Gravitas]

11. How about

hitting back at Chimp? Why are they just sitting there and letting the Bush smear-machine define Kerry? There are enough failings in Bush's character and actions to totally destroy his public image without resorting to outright lies like the Republican Party does.