"Bush and kerry step up attacks". NYTs Kerry advisors split.

[hansolsen]

Here is the link. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/11/politics/campaign/11campaign.html?hp

Here is the relevant graf:

"Officials said these attacks were being made through the party and not the campaign to provide a measure of distance from Mr. Kerry, who is described by many officials as reluctant himself to impugn the president's character."

Here is the problem: This election is not about Georg Bush's competence, it is about his character. If Kerry can't take that on directly and personnaly, he cannot and should not win.

Kerry should address Bush character issues every day:

Bush lied about the evidence of WMD on his desk.

Bush approved torture at Abu Ghraib.

Bush approve the smearing of McCain and Cleland.

Bush is indifferent to the growing income disparity in America

on and on.


Character is everything. It must be front and center in this campaign. What's not to understand??

[Melodybe]

1. Man we all ought to mass e-mail this article to the Kerry campaign.

Kerry needs to come out and say what shit Bush is, right now and through out all of the live debates!

[hansolsen]

2. Yup. N/T

[Born Free]

14. Mixed feelings

Once again the article suggest that if the democrat responds to these character attacks with their own character attacks the public will turn on them. This happens all the time, just look at the difference in the way the media handle Howard Dean's scream vs Zell Millers madness toward Chris Mathews. The media likes to box democrats in to a stereotype and any time they step out of that role, any time they stand up the media likes to try to make them back down.

In reality, America craves fighters now, right or wrong, that is the fact of it all and Democrats need to ignore the media, stop worrying about how to best discuss issues, and start fighting. It may get a little dirty, a little rough but when the smoke clears America will be better off for learning the truth about the bush coward hiding behind God for all he poor decisions. Every time he implies "God told me to do it" democrats should be asking Americans if it was not "The devil made me do it" Americans need to realize this guy is not a man of God but following the ways of the devil.

The devil may want and enjoy 30,000 people getting killed for political reasons, but not God. Yet the bush coward keeps insisting it is GOD that is guiding him, Americans need to know the voices that the bush coward hears are not that of God but from the personal daemon within his own corrupted mind, perhaps as a result of the drugs and alcohol.

[radiclib]

3. Kerry needs to understand that this election is not about him

or Bush for that matter, it's about our very survival as a democracy. It's much bigger than the candidates, and nothing can be spared to achieve victory.

[Sugarbleus]

5. Interesting point. I was thinking this very thing the other day..

It occured to me: Does Kerry FULLY realize that he is fighting for US?? That this whole nation is at risk? It's clear that Bush doesn't give a damn.

We, the people, are starving for REAL leadership. We wonder if anyone in politics is really listening to us or whether they even GET IT.

I'm hoping Kerry has an ace up his sleeve; that we'll be surprised by him when we least expect it.

I want my country back, damnit.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

7. I wonder if he understands what the average family will go through...

...if Bush gets his way, does away with the Federal Income Tax, creates a National Sales Tax in addition to the local state taxes, and 40-50 percent tax will then be added to EVERY purchase.

The lucky families will be walking to the store and living on rice and beans.

http://www.georgewbush.com/agenda/Chapter.aspx?ID=1

("A Plan for Creating Opportunity for America's Workers")

"Three years. Three tax cuts. An economic recovery—American ingenuity—unleashed. At a critical moment in the Nation's economic history, while a recession was taking hold, America was attacked, and corporate fraud was exposed. In response to these challenges, the President acted decisively to strengthen the economy and create jobs. The President's leadership resulted in Congress returning taxpayer money to the families, entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors who earned it.

In his second term, President Bush will focus on building a more prosperous, competitive economy that will continue to be a strong engine for jobs and prosperity for years to come. The essential elements of his plan include: taking the next bold steps in reforming education; building a skilled and effective workforce; encouraging a pro-growth, fair, and simpler tax system; promoting research and development in both the public and private sectors; opening markets for American goods around the globe; meeting our energy needs and lessening our energy dependence; reducing the regulatory burden; and reforming Government to be smaller and more efficient, responsive, and effective. President Bush is committed to making sure America has the best prepared, best educated, and highest skilled workforce in the world.

President Bush believes that education is the key to opportunity and America's best tool in an increasingly competitive global economy. This means that every child deserves a world-class education and every worker deserves the support of a Government that makes a lifetime of learning a top priority."

FUCK the "experts" who say "leave Kerry alone, he knows what he's doing." For ONCE I'd like to know what he's doing too. This election IS NOT "about" John Kerry, and I'd like MY country back, TOO.

[JI7]

8. yes he does that's why Kerry talks about it

but people on du and other places don't pay attention

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

10. He needs to stop talking and start yelling

I pay attention but Bush is running daily TV commercials featuring a sound bite about that "fair, simple tax plan" he wants to put into place.

Now, maybe that plan will go the way of the "blanket amnesty / guest worker program" for illegal immigrants he cooked up when he was pimping the Hispanic vote.

Maybe we won't be lucky at all. Maybe the people who aren't terrified of this have enough money in their checking accounts to start paying 150% for EVERYTHING they buy.

It still comes down to trust. Do we "trust" Kerry to win this election even if we cannot articulate his "strategy," or even confirm that he HAS one, other than to let Karl Rove steamroller over him and make him nothing more than a nice guy who finished last?

I agree...in part, but not completely...with your statement that "Kerry talks about it but people on du and other places don't pay attention." Don't get me wrong, I absolutely RESPECT your opinion...my concern is that I need to see the fighter in Kerry. At this point, a lot of the things I would LIKE to hear him say are coming out of James Carville's mouth. James ROCKS, but he's not the candidate.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

15. "He needs to stop talking and start yelling"

Well put.

[cardlaw]

4. I wonder what they have in store...

While Mr. Kerry's longtime friends from Boston privately express frustration that they have been unable to get Mr. Kerry to stand up for himself more, one senior Kerry aide said obliquely that the campaign still planned to address the attacks on Mr. Kerry in a dramatic way.

"You have not heard the last from us on this subject," the aide said.

[radiclib]

6. Don't hold your breath

How long have we been hearing this murmuring about a major offensive? Kerry's looking a lot like Dukakis lately. Just taller.

[JI7]

9. more like people just not paying attention

people too busy complaining and whining to actually pay attention and listen to what is going on.

[Leilani]

11. I have been paying attention.

I watch C-Span a lot, & read news articles everywhere.

And I talk to people.

Kerry has let the Repubs pound & pound at him, with no response. When the Swiftboat story was really hot, Kerry was photographed boating & windsurfing, smiling at the press. Like he did not have a care in the world. People see that, & make the connection that he is not strong.

Look, I want Kerry to win desperately...it will affect my life personally in big ways.

But honestly, I am disappointed, I truly am.

[JI7]

12. they did respond to the swift boat thing

petenyc posted on it. but the media pushed the swift boat side as just the other side without taking account of the facts. john o'neill refused to go on shows if max cleland or james rassman or some other abled person was on .

but kerry understands how the media works. that's why he isn't going to react to every single thing the republicans or media do. if it wasn't the swift boat thing it would have been something else. and they will continue with other lies and attacks.

it's just something one has to deal with .

[Sugarbleus]

13. I hear your worry...

There's still time for a big up tick. I wrote in another thread that "perception" can sometimes be deceiving. I like Kerry's easy going style. I hate uptight people. However, because he's not as "macho" bloodthirsty as Bush, somein our country may think Kerry is too soft. Looks aren't everything though, but I get what you mean about OTHER PEOPLE'S perception.

I WILL NOT VOTE FOR ANYONE BUT KERRY. I hold to hope that he will pull a huge ace out of his sleeve right when we least expect it.

As far as polls go; well, they haven't polled EVERY voter in America..the results are only a sampling. So, I don't go with them so much. We've just got to keep people interested in staying with Kerry.

Your livlihood and mine depend on getting Bushco the hell out of Washington PDQ!!
Hang in there......

[kstewart33]

17. There will be no big tick up

Unless and until Kerry starts fighting. He has talked about how much of a fighter he is. I haven't seen it. Have you?

No wonder he's losing ground on the character issue.

He's reluctant to "impugn" Bush's character? How the heck did Bush grab the lead? By trying to destroy Kerry's character.

What is it with Kerry? Now is not the time for Bostonian upper crust manners.

This guy is amazing. If I had known this about Kerry before and if the Dems had known that this guy can't fight in the political trenches, ah geez.

Big tick? Not coming.

[Catfight]

16. The Cover up is going to Back fire ON BUSH, he's the liar! n/t