Can Someone Please Slap John Kerry For Me

[THUNDER HANDS]

Wake him up and tell him to accept the nomination at the convention.

Please?

I know how important money is, but I doubt that anyone walked away from the 2000 election going "you know, Al Gore would have clearly won the race if he just had another $10 million to spend."

We have to have Kerry accept the nomination at the convention. It's a freakin' NOMINATING CONVENTION for Pete's sake.

The media won't cover it if Kerry won't be accepting the nomination. Where's the news value in seeing Democrats up on stage just applauding each other?

Just accept the nomination John, the potential benefits of getting some extra shekels do not outweigh the known negatives of holding off on it.

Which include:

* Making the convention itself irrelevant.

* Giving the GOP an excuse to say Kerry can't make up his mind on anything - even whether or not to accept the nomination.

* Throwing away four days of tv coverage when you hardly get any at all as it is.

* Making the Democratic Party seem like it has no clue what it's doing when it moves up its convention schedule and then pushes back its nomination time.

* Pissing me off.

Now John, you know I love you. Don't make me use tough love here. Accept the nomination at the convention. Have a party. Drink some beer. Then work like hell for the next three months to get in the White House.

Rant over. Thank you.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. My question is

Doesn't the early nomination give him more of an opportunity to raise funds that can only be used in November? Am I the only one missing this point?

[Richardo]

8. As I understand it - No.

The contributions to candidates stop for the general election cycle. You get your $75 million from the federal government and that's it.

The GOP gamed the system by making their convention 5 weeks later, meaning Kerry must dip into his $75 + whatever amounts he raised pre-nomination, while Bush can continue to raise money.

Contributions CAN go to the party, but not the candidate.

[Nicholas_J]

16. Yup

If you notice, Repukes have stopped attacking Kerry's military record, his Purple hearts, his liberal voting record, and so on, because they were using up the few bits of attack materials they had, because after a while repetition of the same stuff gets so stale, that people stop even listening to it. Waiting for the period between the democratic convention and the republican convention would allow them to bring all of these issues up, and force Kerry to either decide to spend his 75 million on countering the attacks, and then have less money for the period after labor day, OR not spend it, and lose a number of people who beleive it because Kerry remains silent about it because he is saving up his 75 million so that he and Bush run on equal financial footing after the Bush nomination.

I think he should take every advantage he can and hold off on accepting the nomination for a month.

The only other option would be for organizations like MoveOn to begin attacking Bush's false attacks on "DEMOCRATS" during the interval between the democratic convention and the republican convention, in such a way that those who are heaing Bush's attacks, can make a clear connection to Kerry, without Move On directly advertising Kerry for President Ads.

[Warpy]

19. Does anyone have a quote from KERRY or even his team

..saying that this might be an option? The only quotes I've seen are from right wing freaks who are saying this is something Kerry MIGHT do.

In other words, it's just another right wing, sky is falling wet dream.

Don't slap Kerry. Slap the freaks on hate radio who are promoting this claptrap.

[saracat]

Dupe/Delete

[saracat]

33. The Party sent out a letter as did the campaign saying

the delay was being considered.

[WI_DEM]

9. No

once he accepts the nomination he is cut off from raising money he has to keep to the $75 million limit. That is why he wants to delay accepting the nomination so he will have five more weeks to raise money without the limits. But I agree with Magic--the convention could give Kerry a tremendous push--remember what it did for Clinton in '92? he was running third behind Bush I and Perot and after the convention he was in the lead and never fell behind.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

42. Didn't Perot pull out of the race during the Dem convention?

or just after? He did get back in later, but I think his pulling out at convention time makes it a poor case for comparison.

[rucky]

2. it's all kinda academic at this point

accepting the nomination is a mere formality & will not be incredibly newsworthy even if it's done at the convention.

money is more important

[jus_the_facts]

3. *SMACK*

.....I agree! :(

[mirandaod]

4. I agree...

Money is important, but I think delaying the nomination looks weak and indecisive. I hope they don't go through with the plan.

[JI7]

5. democrats did not delay their convention for weeks as bush is doing

it's not the same as before. if it was the normal schedule then it would be no problem. but the fact is the republicans made their convention date much later after the democratic convention was over. it's not just 1 or 2 weeks,but over a month where they are free to attack kerry while kerry would be limited.

[Jacobin]

6. Does anyone underestimate the

Barrel of slime that Rove is cooking up to cover the airwaves with in the two weeks before the election.

By November, if you listen to the Smirk ads, you will think there is a good chance that Kerry is the spawn of satan, that he is a pedophile, engages in sex with dead goats, has sixteen illegitimate black children, is a member in good standing of al qaida, that his wife funds gun confiscation companies and that Kerry's father was a member of Stalin's inner circle.

Mounds of money will be required to refute the deluge of garbage and lies that will spring forth.

Remember what they did to John McCain?

If not, I suggest you check it out.

[jus_the_facts]

11. that'll be done regardless.....

:eyes:

[Jacobin]

17. It takes money to counter a slime campaign

That is my point

[Kahuna]

7. Why don't you send him an email via his website? It would be a

whole lot more effective than grousing on DU.

[Jmeyers130]

13. tough call for Kerry

Either face the heat and grab more cash from open-minded citizens to fight the chimp, or hope the convention gives a permanent boost in the 3 months leading to the Fix, erm, election. He cannot even use previously contributed funds in his campaign once he accepts the nod, so it is a very difficult position. And of course the Repigs are going to attack him if he holds it off merely to balance out the money situation. Damn attack dogs.

If he does accept, us wise citizens have one option to help out if we still want to contribute financially, and that is to donate to organizations like DU and Moveon.org and hope that they do enough (and can actually get commercials to air if the "liberal" press will allow it ).

[THUNDER HANDS]

21. I doubt it

They shouldn't do this because I'm screaming at them to. They should do it because it's plain, ol, common sense.

If they need to solicit advice from a 25-year-old with no political campaign experience then they're in really bad shape.

Plus, I like grousing. :)

[On the Road]

10. This is Exactly Why the States Should Have Kept Bush Off the Ballot

since the GOP convention is held after the filing dates in many states. It gives the GOP an advantage in several ways. Every single state -- even Democratic ones -- broke the rules to allow Bush to be put on the ballot after the deadline.

I think at least some states should have upheld the rules and made the Republicans race around to change their convention plans.

Now the Democrats are faced with a lose-lose situation. I personally agree with Magic Rat -- money spent a couple of months before the election is less important that the overall message. Kerry should backload the ad spending anyway and use it all in the last two weeks. That makes the question irrelevant.

[WI_DEM]

15. I agree

Democrats don't have the fighting instinct the GOP has--we should have kept Bush off ballot in both Illinois and California-sure they are likely Kerry states, but they also have lots of popular votes and it would have made a big difference there.

[fujiyama]

22. Democrats went out of their way

to get Bush on the ballot?

:wtf:

What the hell is wrong with the party? I think the party needs a nasty, Tom DeLay-ish ass hole character...Keeping Bush off the ballot in several states would have been very sweet revenge for what happened in TX (redistricting) and FL (theft of the election).

[Village Idiot]

12. Why so important to accept right now?

Let the man raise some $$$$, for Gods' sake. Until he formally accepts, he can make all the hay he wants...He's got 5 more months to go! And we really don't want him to peak too early, do we?

[JI7]

14. don't you know how disgusting the right wing is

he has to plan for all. you better believe they are looking forward to this time when kerry will be limited while they can raise and spend money freely in attacking kerry.
the difference between the attacks on kerry now and the attacks then is that right now manyh aren't paying attention. but after the convention they WILL start to pay more attention. he has to take all this into account.

this doesn't mean he should delay the nomination for sure, but it'snot as simple as one may think.

i suggest they try to come up with a plan where they can deal with these attacks and campaign for support after the convention without delaying the accepting of nomination. but if they feel it wont be enough then delaying might be the right idea.

[AndyTiedye]

20. We're Screwed Either Way, But Kerry Will Need the Money

If the media is going to uncritically swallow and run with the
Rovian talking points on this, and of course they are,
we should just eat the cost of changing the date of the actual convention. Have it at the end of August.

It won't be just the $75M that we'll be fighting,
you know Faux will pull out all the stops to stump for Bush*.
As long as they call it "news", they can be all-Bush*-all-the-time
and it's OK with the FCC and the FEC.
The other networks are only a little better.

[sybylla]

18. Agree!

"Democrats will never have more money than Republicans." Sen. Russ Feingold, February 2004.

Democrats have work ethic, sincerity, passion and reason on their side. We don't need to game the system - which is exactly what it will look like to the sheeple.

[mitchum]

23. Not me! He's killed like...20 guys!

Kerry 2004

[Padraig18]

24. Add my smack to yours!

I know DEMOCRATS who are majorly pissed that he's even considering not accepting at the convention, and that includes me. The 'downside(s)' are so obvious and so huge, the 'upside' isn't even worth talking about, IMO.

ACCEPT THE DAMNED NOMINATION IN JULY, LIKE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO, SEN. KERRY!

:wtf:

[no name no slogan]

27. Agreed, Padraig. And don't forget the 527s!!!!!

I think a lot of people also don't realize that, even though Shrub has more money, the Dem-leaning 527 orgs have more $$ on hand than do the Repub-leaning ones.

So, Kerry may not be able to raise as much $$ as Shrub, but the party and its supporting orgs will STILL be able to take on Shrub

Also, we gotta remember, Shrub outspent Gore by $60 MILLION in 2000, and he STILL had to have his brother steal FL for him to "win".

Yes, money is good, but Democrats DON'T win elections by outspending Republicans. We win them by staying true to our values, and getting our people out to vote by giving them a REASON to vote.

Despite the 80s & 90s, we're STILL the majority party in this country. Most Americans agree with US on the issues, NOT the GOP. The problem is that we seem to think that acting like Republicans is how we win. WRONG!!!! We do MUCH better when we act like DEMOCRATS, and give people a CLEAR CHOICE between US and the Repubs.

Senator Kerry, step forward and ACCEPT your party's nomination at the convention!!!

[Padraig18]

29. ACCEPT THE NOMINATION *PROUDLY*, SEN. KERRY!

Exactly, n_n_n_s!

:thumbsup:

[sandnsea]

25. Just send money now

All you have so by the time the convention gets here he won't need anymore. I suspect that's the point of floating this whole nomination thing in the first place, to make it clear to Dems we have to give now.

[Zorra]

26. IMO, JK is leaving his options open, depending on what circumstances

exist at the time of the convention. Let the GOP whine and bluster and make pompous fools out of themselves.

A logical, reasonable, and effective strategy.

[WillyT]

28. Question: Does He Get To Keep The Pre-Covention\Nomination Money ???

I truly can't remember. Is he supposed to empty the first bank account before getting the 75 Million, or does he get to keep, or roll over whatever he has left from the primary season???

:shrug:

[WillyT]

36. HEY... I Asked A Question Here, LOL !!!

help... please...

:shrug:

[bushwakker]

30. It's a trial balloon - he will not wait to accept the nomination

The media will not let him get away with it.

[Monte Carlo]

31. If it would give Kerry a bit more time and money, it's at least worth...

... a moment's consideration. Maybe that's why we're hearing all about this now, instead of at the convention. Maybe Kerry's campaign wanted to measure the reaction.

I don't see what is so wrong with this. Is it such a crime to break with these formalities? It's an unorthodox strategy, I think, against an unorthodox foe.

[slinkerwink]

32. well, you went with "Mr.Electable" and abandoned Dean

so you're stuck with Kerry.

[saracat]

34. We would have been

equally "stuck" with Dean except he couldn't even get his own party to vote for him. I like him but that is not a great recommendation for a nominee.People gotta vote for Ya!

[LoZoccolo]

39. Get over it, please.

It's embarrasing to other Dean supporters.

[THUNDER HANDS]

41. um...so are you Slink

We're all "stuck" with Kerry. And thank goodness for that. He's going to win, baby!

[Feanorcurufinwe]

43. LOL

the voters decided they wanted Kerry. Sorry to hear that you are still nursing hurt feelings from the primary.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

46. And I thank God, Buddha and the Cosmic Muffin for that everyday

[Strive to be Dust]

35. Convention coverage: good or bad?

If it weren't for the way bushiekins and co. have been shooting themselves in the foot lately, I'd have figured that the TV coverage would all have been spun in the worst possible light for Kerry. However, things are in flux and even some republicans are finding it hard to support those creeps in the White House. If Kerry starts to get some sympathetic coverage, the convention coverage could provide so much good press that it can't be sanely passed up. I think he ought to wait a little longer before deciding. If coverage goes back to pre-torture scandal norms, he'd probably be better off skipping the convention entirely.

[SW FL Dem]

37. Dumb Question here

I believe we can still donate to the DNC, DSCC and DCCC after the convention (527s too). I know that 527s can't have any connection with the Kerry campaign. Is the DNC subject to similar restrictions? Can the DNC run pro Kerry ads during that 5 week period?

[SW FL Dem]

44. Kick

Cuz I am curious for an answer

[LoZoccolo]

38. Not true.

The media won't cover it if Kerry won't be accepting the nomination. Where's the news value in seeing Democrats up on stage just applauding each other?

They'll still cover it.

[no name no slogan]

40. What did the five fingers say to the face?

[incapsulated]

45. Look people...

The Conventions are the most watched, most important, most covered Campaign Ad in the election year.

It may seem a mere formality to you, but do you have any idea how many swing voters make up their minds based on the Conventions?

No amount of money is worth this being viewed as controversial, tainted or confusing in any way.

[Lefty Pragmatist]

47. Nobody

...makes up his or her mind from watching the convention.

1 day after the convention ends the candidate will have a 10 point blip. 1 week after it will be gone unless the candidate follows up with ads, debates, a divinely inspired bus tour, whatever.

It doesn't mean squat unless you back it up with message.

The Dems made the mistake we always make -- we're the cheap warm-up act to the GOP's professional show. We were outflanked because our leadership sucks.

[incapsulated]

48. I disagree

What can Kerry possibly do to create and possibly sustain that kind of Convention Bump with some extra ads later on? Nothing.

The Convention is the one "Ad" that anyone who is undecided will probably watch and more importantly pay attention to. It's the platform for Kerry to get out his message to the people that will decide this election. He has to accept or it will seem like a farce to most uncommited voters. Perception is everything. We never had the money the rethugs do, but we can't afford controversy swirling around Kerry's Big Moment.

[Lefty Pragmatist]

52. But disagreement is treason!!!!

Oh, wait, that's the other party. ;-)

I respect what you are saying, I understand it theoretically, but I do not think it is borne out by history. You're overestimating the effect of the convention on the public psyche. In practice, it is both dramatic and ephemeral. I recommend Thomas Patterson's work on electoral politics, but a good internet search will turn up a lot of evidence that conventions are grossly overrated as candidate "ads."

One thing they are *very* good at is being a firewall against plummeting ratings. Kerry doesn't have that problem and I doubt he will before July. Bush will have that problem and will use the convention to shore up his numbers. That's one reason it would have been better to go second.

The other reason is self-evident to any baseball fan.

[RoeBear]

49. Why did we ever...

...get in this position? Is the Dem convention always first or does it alternate every 4 years?

[MidwestMomma]

50. He needs to accept the nomination and tell the Bush money machine to

BRING IT ON!

He needs to send the message...What me worry?

I think not accepting the nomination sends the message that he is afraid of what the Rove proganda machine will do because they have more money.

One of the things Kerry must stress from here on in is that he is FEARLESS! That he has complete confidence that his is the leadership that will turn this country around.

Accepting the nomination at the convention sends the message that he has no need to delay accepting his party's nomination because NOTHING they can throw at him will keep him from becoming the next President of the United States.

I think perhaps the idea of his not accepting the nomination could be one of the greatest PR moves ever. What a great way to get thousands of viewers tuned in to the convention to see what will happen and in the course of their viewing, expose them to the Party and our platform. And bonus...hear our party leaders expose the weakness and corruptness of the current administration.

It could make for some great TV!

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

51. I can't see networks not covering the convention if Kerry doesn't accept

the nomination then; however, if he decides not to do so and networks don't cover it as they see the convention as just some "pep rally" as Brokaw called it on LK tonight, then Kerry should be smacked.

I understand the deal with raising more money, etc., but for the mere sake of publicity: Kerry, wtf!