Posted on 09/18/2004 10:14:28 PM PDT by ambrose
Mitch and all Democrats,
This is long - but I urge you to read it.
I'm sorry but the whole strategy on this has been poor, slow of foot and anemic. It accents that Kerry is actually "flip flopping" in that he is slow to act, and then doesn't seem to have a single plan, but instead seems to have two plans.
First, we all knew the swift boat book and attack ads were coming. I knew about them in May, for God's sake. I saw postings on this site in Early July.
There didn't seem to be a clear plan. On the one hand, the Kerry team wanted to wait it out and say nothing and play the good guy role. Most of this was grounded in the same responsive approach Gore and Dukakis had used and it was obvious both that Bush would use this approach and the effect it would have. So why didn't we learn from the lessons?
Then we overestimated the impact and level of commitment of new found supporters gained from the convention. We began to believe our own press, and Kerry goes on vacation.
Now dammit, I've worked with Rove, Hughes, Bartlett and Bush. They knew he was a little "pretty". There was even a story about Rove's comments about Edwards being a little "pretty". What that means is that they knew he wouldn't be able to scrap. And they haven't.
So when someone claws Kerry what does he do, "Whine" to the FEC?
I spent some time on the phone with the Kerry campaign seniors yesterday after having to threaten to whip a little ass in order to get through seven layers of bureaucratic kids trying to get a job after the election. I talked with Max Clelend.
I hope he got the message, but even if he did, I'm not sure that his side of the issue can beat out the other half of the advisors. And that's a problem. There seem to be two factions within the Kerry advisors = one camp is the Gore holdover group who say play nice, we may make someone mad. The other includes people like Max Cleland who say kick ass. And the candidate can't seem to follow instincts and lay down some blood. The comments that he made Friday would have been effective if they'd been made the Monday after the convention, but two weeks later just doesn't work.
I'm concerned.
You have a candidate and all of us do. Your candidates are afraid to fight down and dirty. The people say they're sick of this- and they are. But Bush has nothing to lose. And he will do ANYTHING to get what he wants. SO when they do the attacks, if the turnout is lowered, as you are concerned, then he wins. If he scars Kerry, he wins. He wins in all directions unless there is a counterattack.
I said all of this to Max. I asked if they wanted to counterattack or ride this to ground and outlast it, not spending any money. He said counterattack. SO I gave them the information to do it with.
But none of them have called me back.
No, I'm sorry but until this party and this candidate learn to handle Bush, we in all honesty will lose this election. We have the emotion, the backlash, the issues, and discontent, but we don't have the passion for a fight. And that's what is about to get the elec tion tight enough that the dirty tricks in the voting booth and counting will work.
I've tried everything. Why do you think that my knowledge and ability was sufficient that I received death threat and actual shots fired at me? It's because I was willing not only to break ranks, but to fight. And I know how to fight them.
But the DNC is afraid of me, I guess, and afraid to do what I suggest.
John Edwards continues to be a non-factor. He won't fight.
So Kerry takes a vacation to go duck hunting, snowboarding, or something else every time he gets a slight lead. He doesn't know how to exploit success. This allows Bush to consolidate message, regain balance and regain momentum and then come back and kick butt.
Since Kerry just took away Moveon.org's counterattack, what the hell has he left himself? He has left himself as a piñata at the end of Karl Rove's baton. He will continue to receive attacks from 527s (it's ludicrous to think you could stop them), from the RNC, Cheney, Bush and he has just stacked arms - a unilateral disarmament - a cease fire negotiated by McCain - who has a dog in the fight (the other guy?).
NO ONE can tell me this is a well run campaign either by the candidate or the party.
I've volunteered to come back to come back out with more. Others have too. But this candidate doesn't know how to fight and the campaign organization seems destined to loss in spite of the victory handed it by circumstance.
I'm sorry, I hope I can change my observation - and soon. But every time we get momentum, we take a week off and lose focus.
George Bush is vulnerable on the issues. So put him on the defensive dammit.
And you don't do that by being a nice guy.
George Bush is vulnerable on leadership and you have to point it out.
The scores for the convention were a six on a scale of 1-10. But the follow through was anemic and lacked focus.
You can't wait for someone to attack you in these campaigns. You must be prepared for someone to attack you and respond immediately and in force. That's
what's missing. Some of you call it James Carville. I call it common sense.
And let this be a message for us in Texas.
Now I know I scare some of you - and some of you just aren't up for leaving any blood on this battlefield. But it's going to take some blood if we are going to take this country and this state back from the Bush's Rove's Delays, Hughes, Perrys and Parrys. If you aren't willing to scrap in this campaign - you'll be fighting for scraps throughout the rest of history of our country. It's that important and that simple.
For me, I've been to war. Most of you have quickly forgotten that I was the insider who broke ranks with the Bush Team and fought them in the legislature when our Democratic State legislators and LT. Gov were in bed with Bush to make him President. I fought many of the people whom you now consider HEROS because of Ardmore and Albuqurque. Why? because Bush was as corrput in Texas as he has been in Washington. And I exposed it.
While I hear all of you commenting and cannonizing the Repblicans who have jumped ship from the Bush Administration - Ambassador Wilson, Paul O'Neill, Richard Clarke, etc and then watching as the Modereate Republicans like Richard Holbrooke, and John McCain take to the headlines building compromise and disarmament, I know that I was one of the first on June 25, 1997; followed by the funergate scam and others.
If you want to turn this cuntry around, it can't be done with Bush in the White House. If you want to return freedom to our streets, it can't be done with Bush in the White House and Ashcroft as DOJ. So quit letting Ashcroft hide. Call him out.
If you want fiscal responsibility returned, you can't have that with Bush in the White House and the senate under the control of the Republicans.
Do more than talk. Be ready to gird up and go into battle. And when you go to battle there are scars. This isn't a gentlemanly event. It's war. And in war people get cut up, injured and killed. Take some risk. Be a leader nationally and at home. Quit just waiting for this victory to come to you so you can get some nice appointment out of it. If you wait, it will be a very long wait.
Bill Burkett
Just finished reading it last week!
Oh Man, it just keeps getting better!!!
Hot stuff here!
Bill Burkett: Charter Member of the Progressive Populist Caucus of the Texas Democratic Party
PROOF Bill Burkett is working WITH the Democratic Party - they claim him as a "Charter Member" of one of their influential caucuses!
These yahoo messages are great! This is a wonderful thread, and ambrose deserves a big pat on the back for posting these. Dig, everybody...
Hot stuff for sure!
YES...WE NEED to capture all the messages before they disappear..
Not really. I don't see the f-word anywhere. At the DUmp, profanity is obligatory.
ping and bring your friends!
ping
ping!
ping
Hey, Ernest_at_the_Beach!
Thanks for the ping.
Regards,
LH
GAGOPSWEEPTOVICTORY hit this post first yesterday
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1219668/posts?page=16#16
- I didnt' see it til now, so he/she gets the bouquet!
what's missing. Some of you call it James Carville. I call it common sense.
And let this be a message for us in Texas.
I'm ready. Let's get ready to rumble!
You think the notes are forgeries?
It wouldn't surprise me if someone is tweaking the 'Rats noses at Yahoo!
thanks
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.