How do we get Kerry to fight back?

[absyntheNsugar]

Fighting back is what is going to make or break this election. If Kerry rolls over and plays dead (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040214/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=716)
every time the GOP starts a "Hanoi John" lie, or circulates a doctored pic (http://www.newsday.com/ny-kerry0215,0,4733861.story?coll=ny-top-headlines) how in the name of heck his he going to win???

Dean had the success he did because he fought back. Kerry should take note and start his own Kerry Defense Corps if he expects to survive.

Rolling over and playing dead has been shown NOT TO WORK.

Does anyone here remember "Al Gore said he invented the internet"? Gore just ignored it, and it destroyed him, and it was a complete lie. Now Kerry is trying the same strategy. Thank you, I really like living under Bush....

Look, I'm all ready to defend Kerry and fight for him if HE JUST PUTS ON SOME FREAKING GLOVES AND FIGHTS HIMSELF!!!!!

[Maddy McCall]

1. Any good strategist knows that the defensive is the disadvantaged position

that no one wants to be in, politically or otherwise.

I think Kerry has handled his situation beautifully--he hasn't fallen into the trap. He is a clever politician...why should he emulate a loser?

[absyntheNsugar]

2. But....Bush 48%, Kerry 43%....

In that Rasmussen Poll. Say what you will about the poll's veracity, but Kerry CAN go on the offensive...all he has to do is mention AWOL Bush.

But HE'S NOT!!! This would seem to be the best strategy...

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Rasmussen's poll is counter to every other major news orgs poll

You might also want to check out Rasmussen's call for the 00 election.

[denverbill]

5. No, that would be the stupid strategy.

Nobody likes a politician who is seen as a sniper. Kerry's campaign can throw out AWOL all they want, as can other organizations, but Kerry has to ignore it.

What Kerry has to do is grow some balls and start actually promoting an agenda for the 90% of Americans who have been screwed over by NAFTA, Medicare reform, and all the other bullshit that has transpired over the last 20 years. And to do that, he has to repudiate some of his own votes.

[absyntheNsugar]

7. I agree, but he can also start

by growing some cajones and nailing Bush every chance he gets.

Is it so stupid a strategy? It's what Bush did in '00. It's what Reagan did in '80. It's what Nixon did in '68.

And...It's what Clinton did in '92 (remember "It's the Economy, Stupid"? - 92 was all about attacking Bush I on the economy, every chance)

[library_max]

8. First, "It's the economy, stupid" was a note Clinton wrote himself

and always had visible on his desk or somewhere in his office, to keep him on message. It wasn't a catchphrase he used in his speeches.

Second, the economy was something everybody cared deeply about. If Kerry gives as much emphasis to personal attacks against him as Clinton gave to the economy, it'll sound like whining.

Nor will you find actual instances of Bush II, Clinton, or Nixon taking potshots at their opponents, except over core issues where they knew they had the public on their side, and even then the tone was always respectful. The personal attacks are always delivered by surrogates, if at all.

Besides, it'd be wasteful for Kerry to trot out all his A material now and have nothing new to talk about in September and October.

[lancdem]

6. I'm dubious about that poll

because no one else has numbers like that, and a national tracking poll 9 months before the election makes no sense. BTW, Rasmussen is a GOP firm. You can tell their bias by looking at some of their questions and results, like "64 percent want smaller government."

[Jacobin]

3. Its a bit problematic

Does he fight back about the Iraq invasion which he voted for?
Or NAFTA which he voted for?
Or No Child Left behind which he voted for?

He mustn't get "mad" or people will say he's not "presidential"