Serious Question: What Happened Since the Summer of 2003?

[indyjones1938]

I'm a fairly new poster here (though I've read the site for a while), so I have to watch what I say, but I'm going to say it anyway.

What has happened to the Democratic Party between Summer of 2003 and August of 2004?

One year ago, I recall there being an intense hatred of George W. Bush across all spectrums of the Democratic Party. Blue Dogs, Yellow Dogs, Conservatives, Progressives, Moderates, Liberals, and everyone else from Socialists and Greens to Moderate Republicans was screaming "GET BUSH OUT!" It wasn't a Democratic issue, or a Republican issue - it was an American issue. Millions were losing their jobs, the country was fighting a losing war against terrorism, public schools were crumbling because of slashed funding, gas prices were sky high, Iraq (for better or worse) was being blown to bits, seniors couldn't afford their medications, farms were closing down, corporations were outsourcing jobs to China and Mexico, the poor were becoming poorer and the rich were becoming richer. American citizens - Democrats, Republicans, Independents and everyone on both fringes was crying foul. People were protesting the president on the issues - the economy, terrorism, Iraq, education, Medicare and Social Security.

Now, one year later: millions are losing their jobs, the country is fighting a losing war against terrorism, public schools are crumbling because of slashed funding, gas prices are sky high, Iraq (for better or worse) is being blown to bits, seniors can't afford their medications, farms are closing down, corporations are outsourcing jobs to China and Mexico, the poor are becoming poorer and the rich are becoming richer.

The issues have not gone away. In fact, they have gotten worse. But instead of attacking the president on the issues - and more broadly, the imminent decline of the republic - we're arguing about petty things like...

Was John Kerry over the Cambodian border on Christmas of 1968, or two miles east? Or was it January of 1969? Was Van Odell's boat 300 feet away from Kerry's, or 300 yards? Did Kerry's arm bleed, or was it merely a contusion? How many Vietcong were actually shooting at Kerry's boat, and was it a large enough action to justify the Bronze Star? Were the Chinese soldiers with Jim Rassmann commies themselves, or were they loyal to the USA? Was the Vietcong guerrilla with a rocket launcher aimed at Kerry's boat merely a teenager, or a grown adult? Was he only wearing a loincloth, or was he dressed in combat gear? How many bullets does it take for the rescue of an imperiled soldier to be considered to have taken place "under fire?" Was Kerry's shrapnel wound on his buttocks or his thigh? If it was on his buttocks, does it mean he was fleeing from the enemy? And so on, and so on, and so on. How many months in Vietnam and how many times do you have to be wounded before you can be considered a true hero? Are three Purple Hearts not enough? Or is one Purple Heart earned in a major engagement worth more than three Purple Hearts earned in river combat? Did Kerry actually plan to get wounded three times in Vietnam? Was it all part of some sinister master plan?

Where the hell did the issues go? They didn't disappear, they've just been covered over with wite-out, so it seems.

I was not a Howard Dean supporter. Nor a Kucinich supporter. Nor a Clarkie. I was originally an Edwards and Kerry supporter. I thought that, together, they made an outstanding ticket. And I still do.

But I can't help thinking that there was an incredible energy in the early primaries that is not present today. It was a seething hatred of George W. Bush, and the willingness to attack him out front and in the open on the issues. It was a time when "Any Democratic Challenger" was handily defeating George W. Bush in all the national polls. I honestly can't help thinking that we were more energized during the "Anybody But Bush" phase then we are now. Our swift boat seems to have drifted off course, if you will, two miles over the Cambodian border, as Rove's guerrilla snipers pick us off one by one from the riverbanks - then claim that they're innocent as angels. Does anyone have ideas on how to get it back on course?

[A_Possum]

1. DU pretty much reflects the media/gossip/excitement factor

It's human nature. That's why the smearvets have been such a success.

Issues are boring. Sex, guns and lies are fascinating.

That's just the way it is.

[Uzybone]

2. should Dems refute smears or not?

is basically the question you are asking. If we do not prove that these lies are in fact lies and instead "just focus on the issues" then we are dead meat.

I remember the "love story" and "invented the internet shit", I wish Gore had made it a point to prove how false those stories were. Instead he "focused on the issues". Americans prefer scandal to issues.

[indyjones1938]

4. n/t

"Americans prefer scandal to issues"

Well, that's obviously true. The problem is, so far, all of the scandal has involved Kerry instead of Bush. It should be the other way around. There's certainly enough ammunition for us to fire with!

I think what it really boils down to is what strategy is going to attract those 5% "undecided" voters who have been in a bubble for the last four years and are too dull to comprehend the differences between Kerry and Bush. Apparently Ted Devine thinks the best strategy is for Kerry to don body armor, let Bush shoot all his arrows and pray to God that they all bounce off. Unfortunately, it looks like the SBVT arrow may have had a sharper tip than Kerry expected.

I have always thought that "undecided" voters chose a candidate based upon personal qualities like integrity, honesty, strength, and so on. I mean, if they chose based upon the issues - they wouldn't be undecided. Kerry and Bush are polar opposites on almost everything.

[Catch22Dem]

Excellent post and welcome to DU

I dig the name too.

I think you have an excellent point. I should mention, we didn't really take ourselves off track. The media hasn't let this SBV thing die. They could be talking about Plame, torture, jobs, healthcare, etc.... but for some reason, they've become transfixed on what happened 35 years ago!

I also think you're seeing some of the calm before the storm. We all know next week is about them. They get the media coverage and we have to combat all their bullshit. (talking about RNC) So, once the convention is over, we're going to have to fight the "bounce" if there is any, and we'll have to get fired up before the debates.

A lot is going on, trust me. And again, welcome to DU.

[Catch22Dem]

3. Delete: posted twice