For them I have just 5 words.
If President Bush had taken on Kerry and answered his charges, where would Kerry be? He would be on the road to defeat and every Democrat would know it.
What would the Democrats do if they knew that Kerry did not have a prayer of winning this fall?
Dean did not have a very leftist senate voting record that spanned 19 years. He could have shifted views. The media could have played him as just pandering to his base... nothing to worry about. There is plenty to worry about with Kerry.
But what if going into the Democratic convention Kerry was a certain loser. What would the party have him do... They could force him come down with a hangnail and resign. He could set his delegates free. He could make an open convention. The New Jersey situation with the Torch proves it could be done.
So don't look for President Bush to make major moves to destroy John Kerry before the Convention. It would not be a wise thing to do.
Remember that just a little over 2 months ago the president had a high 50s approval rating. He can turn the situation around in September and October and put it there again. A president has huge a control of events. He can control the agenda. A challenger can't do that. He has little power to control.
Another thing that really destroys the credibility of the media is their overhype of the Nader factor. Currently, they have Nader garnering six per cent. Even the dumbest sheeple can do the math. Add Nader to Kerry and Kerry has a solid, steady lead. Thus, the Democrats are right to being worked up into a lather over Nader even being in the race.
We all know what happens if the race is really close down to the wire-- all the Nader voters except the most committed switch just like they did in 2000. Further, the media attention to Nader makes whoever is the Democrat candidate seem oh so moderate. For every two votes that Nader steels, the Democrat picks up at least three from the mindless mushy middle who is convinced that Nader proves the moderateness of the Democrat position.
Had Buchanan been given the same coverage as Ralph Nader, it is entirely possible the same thing would have worked on the right-- and the press knows it. So Nader will continue to get hyped and scapegoated if the election is close. I really hope you are right about a blowout. I think it is very possible that Kerry may be the leftwing equivalent of Bob Dole, but without the charisma and character.
Like the Torch, I wouldn't doubt the Dems would dump Kerry - even after the Nomination. Remember, they did that to McGovern's running mate, Thomas Eagleton, in '72! Democrats have their "perfect" candidate waiting in the Wings primed and ready to go, Hillary.
There would be no time for the Media or the public to closely examine her (not that they really would). There would be no time for a grassroots campaign against her (remember the Campaign Finance Reform Act). She would have no time to "debate" and defend her positions in an open contest (not that she really can or would). Like the Torch, she would likely cruise to power on pure public emotion, adulation and Media hype because she is the first woman candidate and the Media simply adore her (not that anybody should). Liberals and most "Independents" would simply swoon at the opportunity to vote for her for the obvious reasons.
I smell a sucker-punch setup by the same people who brought us a senile, illegally nominated Lautenberg.
Dude, you make an incredible amount of sense - Thanks!!!!
What conservatives and republicans always seem to forget is they see the world from their own prejudices and preferences. Yes, Kerry does have some very soft spots. But then too, so does President Bush. Are we better off than we were 4 years ago? In general no. Is it the President's fault? In general, most isn't.
Our virtually jobless recovery, largely due to a combination of outsourcing and the continued dow meltdown would have taken place no mater what. 9/11, while a factor has largely been moved on in the minds of many American's. You live where you can read the Dispatch. Have you read today's article at the bottom of page 1 discussing jobs? Central Ohio, largely immune from swings in employment has lost I believe 9,000 jobs between this January and January 2003. That's depressing. I read a report yesterday that said the upswing in net national jobs was largely due to government employment, not private sector which remained flat. Kerry may be soft on issues. The President will be judged in many cases on the pocketbooks and wallets of average folks.
There was vast support in the war on terrorism in general and the Iraq war in particular. Many people felt the invasion was a completion of unfinished business from 1991. There was strong emphasis placed on WMD's, links to Al Qeuda or other terror groups that threaten us, and the fact that we would not be the policemen of Iraq once liberated. Yet this morning in our paper we read that the extreme religous leaders in Iraq killed an opportunity to begin a constitution signing in the country. It may be a temporary setback as implied by the paper. But then again, it could be representative of a much more dangerous process than was sold.
And everyday there is a report of terror or death of our brave soldiers, the strength of President Bush trickles away. Republican's may see the longer goal. The average Joe doesn't. The tide is turning.< p>Incumbency is very powerful. And the President has that on his side. But he is weak. He has thumbed his nose at his conservative base, yet is now seen by liberals and conservatives alike as pandering to this constituency. Our national debt has grown again. Sure some of it is security and war. Much was the approval of pork from the republican congress. Remember, the president has yet to withhold his pen from a spending bill.
His words after the supremes ruling in the Michigan racial preference case was not endearing to the core. His abondonment of some judicial nominees has also left his base realing.
I was listening to the christian talk station in this area last Saturday. One of the topics was "are conservatives hurting President Bush?" The guest was a book author. Yet like the supporters of Bill Clinton during impeachment, he was using any of the same rationalizations for supporting his man. And most of the callers were angry.
Kerry isn't the most inspiring speaker. but then again, neither is the President. The debates will be dull, like watching Bob Dole against Bob Dole. But Kerry isn't Al Gore. He's better, much better. And the debates is what did Gore in.
Yes this is still President Bush's to lose. But he is not coming from a position of strength. And just before Iowa, Kerry was largely written off. He prevailed. He came from nowhere to dominate. Don't underestimate him. And don't underestimate the man or woman voter who isn't an ideaologue republican or democrat.
This is indeed a very difficult time for our President and he is in for the run for his life.
CFR kicks in only 3 weeks after the dim convention.
Your need to know "what's going on" depends on the idea that "what's going on" at any given moment is important--which contrasts with the idea that the Bible and the Constitution are far more important than any cause celebre', and thus is an inherently anti-conservative concept.