The lesson of 2002 Don't go for the Republican vote

[genius]

Surveys show most people are extremely liberal but just don't like the term. The vast majority of people want universal health care, peace, an end to free trade and to bring jobs back to America. The majority even favor a moratorium on the death penalty and would be willing to pay more in taxes if it meant greater services. Moore quotes from a great many surveys in "Dude, Where's My Country?" to show just how liberal Americans are.


Our Party was crushed in 2002 because it voted for the war, voted for USA-PATRIOT, voted for Homeland Security and voted for all to many other right-wing Republican bills. If we want to be viable, we have to return to Democratic values.

[Hubert Flottz]

1. You've got that right!

I'm still heraing that there is NO difference between the GOPers and the Democrats! But that is a damned lie!

[corporatewhore]

2. what did harry truman say?

"given the choice between a republican, or a democrat in republicans clothing, they will pick they real thing."

[leftofthedial]

3. you should finish the thought

"don't go for the Republican vote in a year when the entire nation is swept up in fear and jingoistic phony patriotic fervor and the PResident is a Republican."

BUT, do go for the swing vote.

Kerry has to run to the center. He'll never get Rpukes to switch. They are irrational. The bulk of Murkan voters, though, are to the right of those of us at DU.

Bush naroowly lost to Gore becaue the bushgang did a good job of misleading the Murkan center.

[genius]

4. Whose center? Kerry comes from the center. If he goes right, he'll lose

The majority of people are no further right than Kerry. Most of those to the right of Kerry, won't vote for him anyway. He needs to hang on to those to his left to win. What he needs is to discuss the issues so most people see that they are no further right than he is.

[leftofthedial]

5. Kerry is a centrist, slightly left of center.

He certainly is farther right than many of us here at DU (definitely myself included), Most Americans are to the right of us.

Running for political office is a bit like trying to get position for a rebound in basketball. You have to stake out your space a little beyond where the ball will be so you can "box out" the opposing player.

In this case, the American political center (which is actually quite conservative by world--and DU--standards) is the space where the "ball" will be coming down.

It is political tactics 101.

[pop goes the weasel]

6. no, he's more to the slight right of center

Especially on foreign policy. But still to the left of the majority of nationally known politicians, mores the pity.

It's completely true that it is self-defeating for Democrats to try to woo Republican voters. All that does is leave left-wing Democrats feeling abandoned, non-voters convinced that there is no point in voting because the major parties at least publicly take essentially the same stand, and swing voters deciding to vote for the real Republicans rather than Republicans-lite.