Posted on 10/07/2004 5:19:50 AM PDT by Timeout
I believe I've figured out Kerry's strategy, especially in the debates. Actually, it's Schrum's stategy...he tried it with Al Gore, but Gore couldn't carry it off. With Kerry, I think it's working. Kerry is a better actor.
THEIR STRATEGY: Take the "likeability" card out of contention. Create an atmosphere where Bush has to choose between hitting back hard or appearing weak if he doesn't respond to harsh lies about him and Cheney.
Kerry trails in the "likeability" category, so take away the president's trump card: his connection with ordinary Americans.
THEIR TACTICS: Show disdain and disrespect. Take away any atmosphere which would play to GWB's class, his folksiness, his ability to connect with ordinary people. Force him into the gutter with Kerry. (Think: punk rock culture where "dissing" garners respect).
In the very first answer, call Bush a liar (misleader). Lie about his record, misquote him. This happened in both debates so far. Call him a stubborn warmonger, "out of touch with reality". After totally insulting Bush/Cheney, Kerry AND Edwards then went on to answer the question in a way that demanded a response. This took viewers' attention off the insults at the beginning. And it forces Bush or Cheney to choose between dealing with the insults or answering the policy challenge.
This can be a win/win for Kerry:
1. If Bush & Cheney get angry but don't rise to the bait, their anger shows and it takes away the likeability factor.
2. If they do rise to the bait, they look angry, weak, and defensive. (Also accomplishes #1). __________________________________
I think this is a very real danger for Bush.
I'm no debate coach, so I don't know the best way to counter them. I'll put my suggestion in my first post. But surely out in the blogosphere there must be lots of debate coaches and strategists who can tell us how Bush and Cheney can escape this trap.
"if you do not vote you are not allowed to gripe and whine about whomever is in office"
LOL - I love to gripe - so I always vote:
Lincoln said: "He has the right to criticize, who has the heart to help."
I don't like my title either. But I was hoping to get people's attention and, perhaps, the attention of any strategists who might be monitoring FR.
As I said in #128, I believe Bush should attack the TACTIC. The Dems are tearing down the administration and the country at the very time we need to be united against the real enemy.
Kerry hardly ever mentions the kidnappers, beheaders, car bombers...i.e., the enemy. Has Kerry EVER criticized allies who have undermined America's war on terror? While Bush is trying to strengthen the U.N.'s effectiveness and credibility, has Kerry EVER mentioned the Oil for Food and other scandals plaguing them?
Who are these people? You're the only poster I recognized. I wonder where they meet up beforehand to discuss which thread to circle jerk...
Great. I wish he would repeat it word for word.
I think you are right. People don't like bullies and the people who know GWB just get madder the more they see him attacked and the Indies, if there any left, it will turn them against Kerry for being a bully. I think, if that is their strategy, it will backfire.
Or, better put, I'll tell you why I'm not voting in the presidential election this year.
vote or not - you will be "voting" - if you were going to vote republican,
Your non vote will result in a vote for Kerry...
The Dims have figured out this "he lied" tactic works. That is how they managed to get his poll numbers down so much in one year. They keep repeating it and it doesn't matter how many times you set them straight, they won't let it go. He needs to bring proof and shut them up once and for all. Personally, I think this will be the October Surprise. WOMD's will be found. Maybe have been found already and GWB is going to whip them out and make the Dim's look like idiots. Oh, please, God.
The answer? Slap the beotch with a great big smile on your face!
The perfect is the enemy of the good.
Another thing that would help the Bush camp. People are upset with outsourcing. We understand it but most people don't. He needs to explain in plain terms where everyone can understand, why it works.
If there's such an "October Surprise" all the better. But, for now, we can only strategize with what we have in hand. Bush is going to have to deal with this.
I think by going after the TACTIC, rather than deal one by one with each lie, Bush can convice the wishy-washy middle that Dems are responsible for the poisonous political environment. Once convinced about Kerry's gutter tactics, swing voters will see Kerry's stragegy and say "There you go again". That's the challenge for Bush.
(BTW: Bush should have a good follow up line like the "There you go.." to repeat every time Kerry starts the "lies" and "out of touch" diatribe.)
Kerry's plan to raise taxes on small business would kill many, many more jobs than any perceived outsourcing would be. Total layoffs from outsourcing is about 1%.
Bush needs to be prepared, and to pull out all of the big guns in this debate. Cheney won the VP debate for him hands down against edwards the other night, so now a Bush win on Friday night is vital, and quite likely since it is a town hall debate, Bush has a lot of pluses going for him there, so President Bush...let's rock, let's roll!!
If you'll notice, too, those that are being honest(VP Cheney) will say our "surplus" we had was only purported or on paper only and this deficit is the same. Clintoon cooked the books to make it look like we had a huge surplus but it didn't really exist.
Madame!!
You are so right!
I think the "hitting the tactic" is more important than answering each charge. I noted that both Kerry and Edwards had multiple charges each time they spoke and they wandered around among their litany of charges in such a way that it was disarming. Once you see the tactic, it is much easier not to get shook. And addressing the tactic focuses the audience on just the tactic so they hear each charge as part of the dem tactic and thus depriving the charges of power.
What do we do with all of the foreign corporations operating in America, employing Americans?
I think Kerry is a big arrogant sob and he is going to try to show off to the audience by belittling GWB. I have a brother-in-law just like him, always putting people down and ridiculing them just to feed his ego and make himself look better. You all know the type.
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