Tea Leaves: Kerry On Domestic Now; Bush Stuck In Tired Attack Mode

[DrFunkenstein]

Bush had the opportunity to make the first debate the culmination of months and months of defining Kerry as weak and irresolute. However, Americans saw with their own eyes someone that was clearly in the driver's seat on foreign policy, with a sharp, concise message that laid bare all of the Bush campaign chicanery.

What's more, Edwards showed himself to be tough under fire as well. Mr. Senator, you are no Dan Quayle.

The failure of both Bush and Cheney to prove their point in the presence of their opponent has, in my judgement, proven the limit of their attacks. They may further galvanize their base, but no one who wasn't already thoroughly convinced will buy it anymore.

Failing to realize the position they are in, the Bush campaign seems very hesitant to change course as conditions demand. Believe me when I say that I mean no offense whatsoever, but this is the same mistake the Dean campaign made in Iowa. When Dean should have turned the corner and acted like a Presidential frontrunner, he continued to maintain the role of rabble rouser (in the best sense, of course). An excellent account of this dynamic was reported in the normally sucky US News and World Report. (I'm sorry if I sound smug or something, because I truly don't mean it.)

So, while Bush and Cheney continue their attempts to 'define' John Kerry - in complete contradiction to the public's eye witness accounts - Kerry has moved on to the economy and health care, which are consistently suggested as the most pressing issues for Americans today.

It may take a week or two for this dynamic to play itself out, particularly over the course of the next two debates, but I believe the writing is on the wall. The same wall that Bush is hitting by relying on a previously successful, but now tired campaign message.

Even if people were still susceptible to attacks on Kerry's character, which I believe few converts remain for, eventually as scrutiny continues, Americans will wonder why Bush is so occupied with attacking Kerry instead of touting his 4 year record.

I don't want to sound overconfident, because an insane amount of work has yet to be done, but if we continue to click they way we are now, I believe the road leads to only one destination: the valley of peace. Just kidding. I mean a Kerry victory.

[ProfessorPlum]

1. The Bushies inability to sense disaster

and adjust strategies accordingly (as in Iraq, domestic budgets, etc.) may finally work to our advantage. Oh, the irony.

[desiindian]

2. Man. Those two BC flip~flops look like Elephant's assholes

[cliss]

3. I agree. Bush is what you call a "one-trick pony".

I believe last week's debate was a disaster for him. The GOP advisers are frantically scrambling to stop the bleeding. They've GOT to salvage what they can at this point. Bush is seen as a moronic idiot who can't pronounce simplest words like "message" without getting it mixed up.

It is my humble opinion that Friday's debate will make or break Bush's campaign. The debate will be about domestic issues and the economy. This is Bush's weakest point (the war was supposed to be his strong suit).

As we speak, Bush's handlers are trembling at the prospect of things going badly on Friday. They're considering all kinds of options: pre-taping the debate and erasing portions that make him look like a Village Idiot.

They're debating using a little hearing aid to give him the right "answers" to the questions. However, they're worried that he'll tap his ear and say, "eh?" "Come again?" There's just no telling with BeelzeBush.

They're even considering dropping a bomb at the debate venue so the debate can be postponed. AT ALL COSTS: PROTECT HIS IMAGE.