From A Democrat - "Why John Kerry Is Losing Democrats."

UselessKnowledge ^

[Happy2BMe]

Why John Kerry Is Losing Democrats

By Max Burns
Sept. 13, 2004

This election has hit a new political low. It cannot even be called political at this point, and saying it is a low would signify that there is no room to sink further. All of the smear and trash from both sides, I say both side to remain as nonpartisan as I can, has disenchanted more voters than any campaign before. The smear attack against Andrew Jackson wasn’t even this low.

What does it say about the state of our Union when Vietnam, a war that has been over for thirty years, is still a major campaign issue? What does it say? That we have no problems to worry about now, so we had best go back in the past? So John Kerry served his time in Vietnam and got some medals. So George W. Bush’s service seems a bit foggier. It is completely and wholly irrelevant. I, like many voters, do not care anymore.

In 1992, 1996 and 2000, issues were at the core of the political game. God it was hard-fought in 1992 and 2000, when Republicans and Democrats were at sharp contrast and at each other’s throats constantly. Things were heated and passionate, but they were about issues. The 2000 election, before “national security” and “defending the homeland” became campaign buzz words, was a hotbed of competing, headline issues.

Bush and Clinton ran decent, professional, respectful campaigns that attacked concrete issues, not character foibles. Never were the words “AWOL” or “Flip-Flopper” mentioned. Dole put up a bold defense of his views for the United States, and Gore and Bush in 2000 fought like gentlemen, spiritedly and focused in a way that made this writer interested in the entire political process.

So thank you, George H. and even Dubya; thanks to Al Gore, Slick Willy Clinton, Billy Bob Dole and Ross Perot. Thank you, especially, Ross Perot, for you proved that economic issues, while boring, are what will inflame the independent minority to bolt left or right.

No thanks goes to you, John Kerry, because you have not put forth anything but your time in Vietnam and how you are not George W. Bush. You have not put forth any issue I can remotely latch on to. I was there when you spoke in Boston; I went as an ardent supporter of the party. I still am. You, however, squandered an opportunity to get your message out.

It was our race to lose; now it’s ours to win.

I am a Democrat, registered and proud. However, that does not mean I must support every candidate we bring out. I will not vote for the party over the man. That is not government as it should be. That is not, as Bill Clinton said, good government.

A while ago I begged you not to screw this up. What a waste of postage.

[Happy2BMe]

Good insight on what is going on in the Kerry Kamp.

[Happy2BMe]

"I am a Democrat, registered and proud. However, that does not mean I must support every candidate we bring out. I will not vote for the party over the man. That is not government as it should be. That is not, as Bill Clinton said, good government."

_____________________

Useful insight on the Democrat and John Kerry's "core support base" crumbling at the foundations - ping.

[Casloy]

Yep, utter resignation, sense of self defeat, blaming the enemy and your leadership for what went wrong, and loss of will to fight. Just like an army on the verge of collapse. It's happening and it is WONDERFUL.

[Chummy]

"...Clinton ran decent, professional, respectful campaigns...."

Is that what you call that airplane noisily dragging around a banner about the Iran-Contra question when the President visited "our town" in the last weekend before the election?

I'll have to make a note of that. "Decent, professional, respectful." Got it.

[Happy2BMe]

Many are wondering if Kerry wasn't "set up" to fall - paving the way for Shill Hillary in 2008.

[martin_fierro]

"I am a Democrat, registered and proud. However...."

Quick, somebody post this over at DU for a change.

[colorado tanker]

The Kerry campaign is a fish rotting from the head.

[Casloy]

You, however, squandered an opportunity to get your message out.

Actually, he did get his message out, unfortunately the message sucked and changed from day to day.

[Happy2BMe]

No - that's the terminology used by someone trying to admit he's been suckered.

[Boundless]

The campaign volunteers aren't showing up for work.

And the pool reporters may desert soon, because Kerry
ins't just not doing press conferences, he isn't even
talking to the hacks on the plane with him.

[IamConservative]

"Useful insight on the Democrat and John Kerry's "core support base" crumbling at the foundations."

I think this goes all the way back to Howard Dean starting so far left of center.

[LincolnLover]

Sounds like a Nader voter in the making to me. Hope you can take this guy and multiply him by a few million come Election Day.

[SpeakingUp]

I disagree. I remember much lower campaigns. This is not all that bad actually. Back when Europe really hated us in the 70's we had filthy campaigns. I remember millions of Europeans marching in the streets and burning flags because we had missiles defending them in Europe.

As for in the US, you should have been here for the Carter / Ford campaign. No, today's Democrats don't have half of the spirit of their predecessors. The reason it looks so rugged is because the Conservatives are not rolling over and playing dead this time.

In fact they turned the campaign over to Fatty and other third party flamers.

Just imagine if Tom Daschle had the luxury of not defending his seat. Would he be kissing up to President Bush (because he figured out that the public knows better) or would he be in the fight with his absurd rhetoric?

This is an easy one. It appears that Sen Kerry hasn't even begun to fight to me. What the heck has he done? He doesn't even give interviews. And where is Sen. Edwards? Do you remember the kind of fights Muskie and Humphry waged? They were awesome, these 2 are wimps.

[Happy2BMe]

I heard about how Kerry is now in the "Ignore the facts - Baghdad Bob says we are winning." syndrome.

He supposedly is even cutting off his strategic advisors before they even get a word in edgewise in his conference calls.

Hillary in 2008?

[angkor]

Many are wondering if Kerry wasn't "set up" to fall

No need for conspiracies, Kerry did this to his own narcissistic self.

[Stag]

The ONLY reason Bush '41' lost the election to Clinton was because Perot stole alot of the typical Bush supporters. So if you want to thank anyone for Clinton, send your regards to Mr Perot. What a self absorbed a-hole.

[Cultural Jihad]

Pssst!
Sen. Kerry was put up to run for office by . . . Karl Rove!
Pass it on! ;-)

[Gunder]

How do you know Kerry's volunteers aren't showing up?

[MEGoody]

"Gore and Bush in 2000 fought like gentlemen"

Gore was no gentleman then, and he's even less of a gentleman now.

[GSHastings]

What does it say about the state of our Union when Vietnam, a war that has been over for thirty years, is still a major campaign issue? What does it say?

It says that the actions of the Democrat candidtate at that time, and for 30 years since then, are very much directly relevant to what he will do if elected.

The Vietnam war turned out as it did, to a very large degree, because of the actions of Kerry and people like him.

Kerry, liberals everywhere, including the MSM, are all trying to validate themselves and what they did then, by attempting to apply the same behavior NOW.

History has proven them horribly wrong in what they did then. Their record proves that they haven't learned a thing from how history has played out in the last 30 years. And their present actions show that they want another crack at it.

The Vietnam war, and what the candidates did then, and for the last 30 years very relevant.