Why I think Kerry may need a defining moment in debate three

[WI_DEM]

John Kerry has performed well in the first two debates. He has been presidential, intelligent, well-spoken. The chimp has presented his two personas--stupidity and anger to a wide audience: 62 million people in the first debate and 47 million in the second. Kerry has succeeded in stopping the slow bleeding that was plauging his campaign prior to the debates and has roused the democratic base--as evidence of this is the fact that in such "Blue" states as NJ, Illinois and Maryland where Bush was gaining in several polls--Kerry now leads again by solid margins.

But overall the polls are still showing a tied race. This will be the last opportunity for the American people to see the two side by side and I am confident that Kerry will again show he is the best candidate--intellectually and otherwise, but I think he has to go beyond that.

He needs a defining moment which will fuel his campaign for the next three weeks up until election day and help sweep him to victory. It is simplistic, but a soundbite which will resonate with the American people.

Reagan achieved this in 1980--twice--when he turned to Carter with that famous smile of his and twinkle in his eye and said, "there you go again" and later when in his summation he asked the American people, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" Two simple lines yet they are what everybody remembers of that pivotal debate. Reagan went from even or slightly behind Carter to a ten-point victory a week later--bringing along lots of Republicans in house and senate races as well.

In 1984, everyone remembers Reagan's quip in the second debate about the "youth and inexperience" of his opponent, Walter Mondale, but nothing of the substance of that debate.

Now, Kerry, is not Reagan. Reagan had certain gifts honed from years in front of the camera. Kerry has other gifts which he has already presented to debate audiences--chief among them is his ability to present a coherent case, in prosecutionary tones, against the incumbent.

In two of the debates both candidates have used much of the same language that they use on the stump--I think Kerry should give some new lines and new arguements during this final debate. He must realize that Bush is going to go after him on taxes and on being a "liberal"--he must be ready to effectively refute Bush in clear language. But above all he needs a moment which will capture the imagination of the viewing audience--a soundbite which will help propell him to victory.

John Kerry needs his, "there you go again" moment.

[livetohike]

1. When Bush starts ranting and raving (and he will)

Kerry should point at Bush, look into the camera and say, "Is this the face of leadership you want the world to see for the next four years?"

[WI_DEM]

3. that is pretty good

[Catfight]

2. I think he should say, "Mr. President, angry is not going to change

reality, joking is not going to change reality, being Mr. Popular is not going to bring back dead soldiers. I appreciate your passion for your beliefs, but you are just dead wrong for America. I'm offering a new beginning, a clean slate and hope, you're offering the same and worse. America, you decide."

[WI_DEM]

4. That sums it up well.

[Catfight]

5. Thanks. I think the fact that there are a lot of lost lives for Bush's

vain war is the most heartbreaking of all.

[leftynyc]

6. Outstanding!!! Should be passed on to the Kerry folks.

n/t

[elehhhhna]

7. JK should just promise to read the PDBs. That'll satisfy me.

[ollie3]

8. Kerry Defining phrase: You didn't get it done....

Kerry can go down the list of things Bush tried, then say "you didn't get it done...."

Example: here could be Kerry's closing speech...

Mr President: You wanted to declare "Mission Accomplished" but you didn't get the job done.

You wanted to capture Bin Laden and prevent Al Queda from growing but you didn't get the job done.

You said you would, inspite of your tax cuts, have a balanced budget but you didn't get the job done.

You said no child would be left behind, but you didn't get the job done.

You said you were for a clean environment, but you didn't get the job done.

You said your tax cuts would create millions of jobs but you will be leaving office with a net job loss---you didn't get the job done.

You said during the debates in 2000 that you would have a humble foreign policy, that you were opposed to nation building, and you would not send our troops to battle without an exit strategy--- you didn't get the job done.

You promised to bridge the partisan divide in Washington but yours has been one of the most partisan and secretive administrations in history--you didn't get the job done.

You promised to be a "compassionate conservative", but with record spending, a burgeoning deficit, increased poverty and threats to our civil liberties, you have been neither conservative nor compassionate--you didn't get the job done, in spite of the fact you had a Republican Congress.

Our nation deserves more than catchy phrases and worn out excuses. President Bush, you tried and we know it was hard work....but you didn't get the job done!

[Catfight]

9. How sadly true, Bush, the American failure to get the job done. Sad.

[demzilla]

10. Are you better off

than you were four years ago? And will you be better off with another four years of Bush?