Running Scared: [some] Republicans feel fretful at midcampaign

The Note ^ | July 16, 2004 | ABC News

[ejdrapes]

The Wall Street Journal's "Washington Wire" has this:

"RUNNING SCARED: Republicans feel fretful at midcampaign."

"Some voice dismay about defensiveness on Iraq in Bush speeches and time spent courting conservative base. 'There hasn't been a lot of talk about the future yet,' gripes one insider. White House aide Dan Bartlett counsels patience: 'We will really focus on this once the public is listening, and when the Democrats' convention is over.'"

[Paradox]

Right now, its rope-a-dope time.

[Charlotte Corday]

There is defensiveness on Iraq. I for one would have liked to see a much more assertive stance regarding the Richard Clarke accusations and the concoctions related to Abu Gharib. Something like, "Hey, it's war. Call us back if you think we're sawing anyone's heads off, OK?"

[susiek]

The Republicans I know who are worried over the election don't feel that way because they think Bush is doing anything wrong or isn't presenting a good message. They worry because the demoncrats are so vicious, so loud, so filled with hate this time around and it looks like many of the possible voters who don't pay close attention and truly understand the issues are only picking up on the constant anti-Bush messages out there. At this point, I don't share that worry. There is still time for Bush to continue getting his message out, time for Kerry to continue to show what a pandering, condescending, pessimistic wacko he is, and time for regular Americans to realize that what they're hearing from the media and Hollywood shouldn't dictate how they vote. But maybe I have too much faith in my fellow countrymen.

[susiek]

Hey, it's war. Call us back if you think we're sawing anyone's heads off, OK?"

I said something very similar to a co-worker who was going on and on about how terrible we Americans are treating everyone. You should have seen the reaction!

[saveliberty]

Agreed. But with the vitriol emanating from the establishment, it's unnerving to see the poll numbers such that the gigolo is ahead in the national polls, even in cluding Nader.

[abnegation]

Too many Repubs are listening to the liberal media and having panic attacks. When the Kerry campaign gets heat for their "ads aimed at blacks", we need to realize all is not well in Left and Further Left's camp. Think about it, why does Kerry even need to have ads aimed at blacks? They should have the black vote tied up already. So before we get too anxious, we need to take a step back, take a deep breathe and take a closer look at what is really going on.

[Senator_Blutarski]

Timing is everything. Watching the pools right now is a waste of time. There will be at least 2 or 3 major "surprises" that will erupt between now and election day. How each side handles those events will go a long way toward determining the outcome of the election.

Peaking too early is also a problem. Karl Rove wants the conservative faithful worried and motivated in November. Nothing motivates me more than the fear that John Kerry might be President.

Finally, the debates will be a major influence on the election. From what I have seen, Kerry has a hard time uttering a coherent sentence. He is has no real grasp of issues and relies solely on one sentence talking points (empty suit). He is lost and incoherent when he has to vary from his script.

[susiek]

I think you're right. I think the media is doing everything they can to play up the Republicans being worried and the demoncrats being confident to try to reinforce in easily swayed voters that they should go for Kerry. If Bush and his supporters are portrayed as the scared goliath getting beaten, or at least matched, by poor underdog Kerry then it helps Kerry.

[spodefly]

Any worries I have are based on the (I believe) unprecedented volume of attacks from the "main stream" press, Hollywood, and traitors within government -- The books written by Clarke, Wilson, et al., the mockumentaries, the loud-mouths in Hollywood ... I know such things have always happened, but it seems absurdely out of proportion this time around.

Of course, all that noise could have the opposite than intended effect

[Puppage]

a co-worker who was going on and on about how terrible we Americans are treating everyone

I love these kind of people....I guess they forget..

Yeah, WE'RE terrible.

[Senator_Blutarski]

Watching the pools polls

[RoseofTexas]

It's unheard of this kind of attacks on a setting president! The press, Hollywood, book agencies, radio, Tv, some in the govt., foreign countries, the record companies...the list is to numerous, it sometimes feel like a 20ft wave coming down on us, BUT greater is God who is in us than satan who reigns in those HATE FILLED DEMON POSSESSED folk! W will WIN!

[RoseofTexas]

"But maybe I have too much faith in my fellow countrymen."



I'm glad you do. I'm sorry but I don't. HOW can folk forget soooooo quickly about 9-11? How can our OWN country folk forget soooooo easily?? For this reason alone I don't put to much stock on them!

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

The Note ^ | July 16, 2004 | ABC News

'Nuff said - no credibility

[cincy29]

Too many Repubs are listening to the liberal media and having panic attacks.

I am listening to my friends and neighbors and having panic attacks. My precinct, which is more or less the same boundaries as my subdivision, went 64% for Bush last time. There has not been a whole lot of moving in and out in the past 4 years. However, after doing a lit drop for Bush, I am not encouraged. Of the 18 people I managed to speak with, NOT ONE said they are definitely voting for Bush. Iraq was the dominant concern. (This was just last weekend.) The exception was an elderly man who was concerned about the cost of his medications.

The only bright spot is that Kerry doesn't seem to be hugely popular, either. Only one person said he was voting for Kerry. He said he was a vet, and that's why he supports Kerry. When pressed, he said he was in from 76-78. He did not consider Kerry's testimony in 1971 to be treasonous. He said he didn't vote last time, but was definitely voting for Kerry.
I am working on them, but unless something changes, most are either voting for Kerry or not voting at all. Not a single one of the 18 I spoke with, or several others, showed up at our Party for the President.

Looking on the bright side, my unscientific survey actually gives Bush 67% this time. (My wife and I for Bush, the Vet guy for Kerry.)

[HorsePlayer]

Right now, its rope-a-dope time.

I could not agree more. Let these suckers keep throwing their punches for the time being. Throw a little jab at them now and then just to keep them swinging wildly. Then, after the Republican Convention, start hitting them with straight "rights" to the jaw.

In the mean time, those of us at the grass roots level must continue to do our part by steadily re-enforcing our conservative positions.

I believe President Bush is handling this campaign as well as any candidate I have ever seen.

[hunter112]

The only bright spot is that Kerry doesn't seem to be hugely popular, either.

I live out in the timber country of Western Washington, and while we have a LOT of Rat voters, I've only seen two Kerry bumper stickers in the last several weeks. One was on a Volvo being driven by a tourist in Birkenstocks, that just reeked of Seattle.

I'm hoping for Kerry stumbles that will shift the loonies over to Nader.