Put on your thinking hats...

[kentuck]

What is the best way to put Bush and Co on the defensive? They were quite concerned about the NAACP convention that Bush refused to attend. But, they breathed a sigh of relief when it appeared to blow over. Perhaps someone needs to ask "how" our troops would be able to fight another war when they are stretched so thin right now in Iraq and Afghanistan? If it is just blusterous bullshit, isn't that a little dangerous to be participating in such an activity at this time?

Should we keep the "Dick Cheney going to be replaced" story going? Should we continue to remind voters that Bush lied about the threat posed by Iraq and how can they trust him in any other escapade? Any other ideas?

[Bush was AWOL]

1. I feel more comfortable when they think they are winning

When they are down, anything is possible.

[Cleita]

5. Good idea.

Our side just should keep letting the pollsters feed them positive numbers, let the media fawn all over them, let them bus in adoring supporters and cheerers until Voting day.

In the meantime it is my understanding that Kerry has hired law firms in all fifty states to ensure that the polls will be run on the up and up, no voters disenfranchised or other monkey business.

If this happens, when the axe falls, they will be astonished. I don't trust them as lame ducks either. We need to keep them busy with lawsuits, impeachments and all kinds of other distractions until inauguration day.

[NMDemDist2]

2. deficit, Dow is flirting with going below 10K again

jobs are not up to expectations and milk is freakin $4 a gallon!

[Citizen Daryl]

3. Keep bringing up the NAACP in relation to the high number ...

... of minorities who are targeted for enlistment in the Armed Forces.

Why are African Americans good enough to fight and die for our country, but not good enough to find an audience with the President?

[kat21]

11. I agree whole-heartedly

[Dookus]

4. lol

they ARE on the defensive! It's painfully obvious.

[El Supremo]

6. What I have always heard is that...

the "incumbent" election is a grading report on what the President has done in so far office. This pResident has failed even worse than his father. Forget the ideals and intentions. Concentrate on the unjust war, the economy, the environment, health care, the business scandals and the increasing inequality of the classes. All miserable failures.

[Terry_M]

7. Security might work...

Perhaps someone needs to ask "how" our troops would be able to fight another war when they are stretched so thin right now in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Phrased a little differently, this might work well. For example, saying that we are less secure than ever because we are now unable to respond to new threats.

[SpiralHawk]

8. kerry/Edwards should just keep emphasizing the positive

vision they have, and talk about their vision for the next 4 years -- and in some specific terms.

BushCo is going to just keep putting its collective dick in the wringer, I would bet a whole-wheat doughnut. They have screwed up big time on Everything, and lots of people are noticing. Repubs who have been to see F9/11 are talking to other pubs. It is happening. There are lots and lots of questions and no straight answers from BushCo, though the media keeps pushing their crap.

But Kerry and Edwards need do little to help sink the SS Chimpy in its self-generated swamp of lies and corruption.

Like a breath of fresh air, they should define a VISION -- a clean, sustainable, well-educated, diverse, egalitarian, non-polluting, job-creating VISION.

Americans have a huge list of reasons to vote AGAINST BushCo & Cronies. What they need are a list of reasons to vote FOR Kerry/Edwards.

[Soth]

9. I very much agree.

Kerry and Edwards have to focus on what they will do, while Bush and his buddies can continue to try and attack like blind rabid squirrels. If Kerry refrains from too many negative ads on Bush, while the GOP continues to throw around negative ads against Kerry, eventually people will get a bad taste in their mouths from all the attack ads and turn to the candidate who actually has a solid PLAN for America.

Which reminds me, has anyone seen those horrible Bush reelection ads? I'm sure this has already come up at some point, but the one about being "optimistic" about the future makes me want to laugh. It doesn't present a platform or a plan, it just says Bush is optimistic about the future, and that Kerry's pessimism about the current state of things is bad, because (quoting here) "one thing's for sure: pessimism never created a single job." Is that the best BushCo can come up with? Really? Jeez, man. Kerry's focusing on current problems and how to fix them, and Bush is saying he's "pessimistic." Pathetic.

[BillZBubb]

10. "Pessimism never created a single job"

And neither has Bush*!

I disagree about negative ads. They really work. People claim to not like them, and even to ignore them. Then, when they vote, they cite the issues in the negative ads as the reason for their vote.

Kerry just has to have GOOD negative ads. This election is first and foremost a referendum on the job Bush* hasn't done. People need to be reminded of that in effective detail.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi Soth!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[leftofthedial]

12. I think the class warfare angle

is likely to overcome the Repuke's use of divisive social issues to keep working and middle class voters in their fold.

It is nigh impossible to keep any issue alive in the media long enough to get the facts out though.

People vote with their wallets. It IS the economy stupid, but not just the unemplyment numbers, stock market or the deficit. It is the actual economic conditions faced by real Americans in their day-to-day lives: lost homes, lost standard of living, increased debt, outrageous prices for necessities, rising inflation (now).

we don't need a wonk-ish, academic sounding Kerry talking about the latest statistic--we need an Edwards-esque "two Americas" populist appeal. The Repukes will fudge and obfuscate statistics all day, but their lies won't put jingle in real people's pockets or food in their refrigerators.

I'm hurting financially and so is almost everyone I know.

[merh]

13. "we must end our dependence on Mideast oil." (2004 Platform)

Platform Preview
In offering this vision, we affirm our faith in the greatness of America. We recommit to the ideal of a people united in helping one another, an ideal as old as the faiths we follow and as great as the country we love. To those who are threatened, we pledge protection; to those who are victims, we promise justice; to those who are hopeless, we offer hope. And to all Americans who seek a better future for themselves, for their loved ones, and for our country, we say: your cause is our own.

- From the Preamble to the 2004 Democratic Platform

SECURITY
"To meet these challenges, we need a new national security policy guided by four new imperatives: First, America must launch and lead a new era of alliances for the post-September 11 world. Second, we must modernize the world's most powerful military to meet the new threats. Third, in addition to our military might, we must deploy all that is in America's arsenal -- our diplomacy, our intelligence system, our economic power, and the appeal of our values and ideas. Fourth and finally, to safeguard our freedom and ensure our nation's future, we must end our dependence on Mideast oil."

THE ECONOMY
"We will fight for American jobs and we will fight for American workers. Under John Kerry and John Edwards, we will revive America's manufacturing sector, create new jobs and protect existing ones by ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas and cutting taxes for companies that create jobs here at home; by fighting for free, fair and balanced trade; by encouraging investment in small businesses and helping companies deal with rising health care costs; by promoting new technologies, like energy, that will lead to the companies and jobs of tomorrow; and by ensuring that people of every age learn the skills to succeed in today's economy."

HEALTH CARE
"We will attack the health care crisis with a comprehensive approach. Our goal is straightforward: quality, affordable health coverage for all Americans to keep our families healthy, our businesses competitive, and our country strong."

EDUCATION
"John Kerry, John Edwards and the Democratic Party believe that a strong America begins at home with strong families, and that strong families need the best schools. We believe schools must teach fundamental skills like math and science, and fundamental values like citizenship and responsibility."

To read the full 2004 Democratic Platform and pass it on to your friends, go to:

http://www.democrats.org/platform

[K-W]

14. Economy and reckless foriegn policy.

Those are the issues. The economy is way way down, the administration is spending money like crazy and we are fully committed to a disaster in Iraq that Bush not only wont get out of but he wants to extend with more reckless agressive foriegn policy.