The November 11 interview in Newsweek--introspection

[ginnyinWI]

If you haven't seen it, here it is:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6777696/site/newsweek/

I've been thinking about that article for a few days; JK was wondering how to speak to and connect with ordinary voters. He said that the pundits didn't like him, and that he failed to connect.

I do think for a lot of people he was simply the Dem candidate who they hoped could take Bush out: he had intelligence, experience, and was a combat veteran. And now they are dropping him and are looking for the next guy that will lead them to the promised land. They didn't connect on a personal level.

Why? maybe his complexity. John is a complex person and not easy to understand at first glance. Not easy to know from a sound bite. And most are just too lazy to pay more attention.

As for the pundits: he's not easy to pigeonhole--that's why they're uneasy with him. Whatever they think he is, he turns out to be someone different. Too intense, too serious for the info-tainment shows. I've seen him interviewed by Chris Matthews where CM was clearly outgunned and he knew it--and Matthews likes to be able to come out on top. JK's too smart for them, and he won't play your games with you. So he isn't a good fit on these shows, as long as he is trying to make some serious points. They don't want that--they want entertainment. I thought he was fine on Letterman and the Daily Show---but that isn't enough coverage. Maybe he should have been Mr. Entertainment first and foremost, and not tried to make any serious points. Maybe it is more about personallity than policy when you are running for president. The repub candidate(who shall remain nameless here) certainly didn't strain himself by trying to talk about any issues in detail! But then he was the incumbent and we knew him already.

These days a candidate has to be such a showperson--like they have to go on TV and juggle fruit, twirl a hoop on one leg, and whistle Dixie at the same time! John's style would more easily fit into the days when politicians were merely expected to be smart, serious and responsible! He does better in person than on TV, because he is a gentle soul, really, and it doesn't translate as well on TV.

Then there are us "intensely loyal" followers! Why? We each can have our own reasons. For me, it is his sincerity. He really cares, and this comes across to someone who is paying attention. I mean, I liked Al Gore, for example, because I liked what he said, but I didn't connect with him. He tried to change himself to fit what people wanted, and it came off as insincere. I didn't think I really knew the man, you know? Or Bill Clinton either. Couldn't 100% believe him.
But when John Kerry says something, I believe that he means it to his core. And he is also obviously very intelligent and capable, and that gave me a lot of confidence that he could be a great president. He is simply a really good man! And I think that is why people like us don't want to lose sight of this guy--and want to keep following his lead. You don't find someone you can totally trust in politics very often. I think that's why his true followers stay loyal.

So I'm wondering, what advice you would give to JK and his advisors now? If he is going to run for president again, he'll have to convince all those Deaniacs, etc. that he can do it again and win bigger this time--and it won't be easy, if those other forums are any indication! How can he change anything, and not look like a phoney? I do think he was doing much better at the end of the campaign--his success helped him come out of his shell with more confidence.

And maybe this article is all hogwash--a first explanation of what went "wrong" and, and he and his advisers don't believe this anymore?

[vinessa4freedom]

1. here here, Ginny!

I agree--his sincerity is what makes us love him so much, and it's what pisses of the media so intensely. He isn't willing to play the game. He isn't willing to compromise values or his important agenda (like the civil liberties involved in Roe v. Wade). He is who he is, isn't willing to pretend to be someone else. And who he is is a good man, to the core.

The article was one I hadn't read before. Whining? Blaming? That choice of verbiage is exactly the definition of how the media has been manipulating the public. I am in complete disbelief of how we have become the better part of a dictatorship.

No, John shouldn't do anything differently. His sincerity is not what "cost" him the election. It was the media's refusal to report the truth.

[JI7]

2. the problem was that they didn't bring up his record more

his record as a prosecutor and his senate record. put that together with his military record and they could have used it to promote him as a lifetime fighter.

but bob shrum thought it would be too complicated. the problem was that they didn't need to try to teach people all the details. just get the message out that he is a fighter and went after these people and led these investigations.

as for his personality he did well when people saw him for themselves rather than the whore media presentation. that's why his poll numbers went up after the convention speech and the debates. contrary to what some may think about the swift boat assholes influence. kerry's numbers stayed up through that month of attacks in august.

the time he really lost his numbers in the polls was during/after the republican convention.

his numbers went back up after the debates but in the end the news was all about osama bin laden, iraq missing explosives, the russian school hostage thing and other fear mongering . and kerry was pretty much out of the news but they kept playing the right wing attacks about how kerry is going to leave iraq and there will be another 9/11.and people (mostly older married white women with kids) got scared and just went with who the viewed as more hawkish despite the problems they saw with him.

but i say if they had presented kerry's record as i mentioned then people would have had a better view of what he had done and been more comfortable with trusting him to defend them.

[ginnyinWI]

3. vinessa and J17

You've made some really good points. The corporate-controlled media is indeed a huge part of the problem. They were pro-Bush from the get-go and determined to keep it that way.

And yeah, the campaign should have had a clearer message. I thought the convention was pretty good, very unifying for the Dems, and the debates went fantastically well for Kerry. But he had the media stacked against him, and the campaign was busy trying to get out all sorts of messages instead of concentrating on making the public confident in JK's character.
I think the theme of "fighter" was one of the messages, but it should have been the only one! And he sure has been a fighter, all of his life! Standing up for the little guy against powerful interests. No wonder corporations weren't too excited about having him in the WH!

I was so excited at the thought of having an "activist" in the White House--well maybe it will come true some day.

[vinessa4freedom]

4. don't give up on this term

It's of course true that the whole election hope is over, but the truth will come out one way or the other. When people finally comprehend the scope of damage this administration has done, the pendulum will swing the other way. Historically, that's what has happened, and I'm sure it will happen again. When it does, people will look for the polar opposite of W. That is John, to a T. If he chooses to run again, I think next time there will be more ready to take up the fight. John Kerry is the ultimate leader. Those who really know him, will go to the moon for him. Next time, we need to make sure people really know him, as J17 said.

[ginnyinWI]

6. that is truly the best chance for JK

If there is universal knowledge that he won this election in a landslide (not just Ohio), and that massive fraud happened in many states, he'd have a really good chance next time.
Now, Al Gore was also shown to have won Florida, but not many people know it, or believe it. So this time it would have to be some huge revelation of,say, fraud in the voting machines, with some undeniable proof, along with a lot of media coverage.
Well, Watergate happened, so never say never.

[vinessa4freedom]

10. true enough

and look at how blinded Nixon had people. We need a deep throat now--maybe a few of them. I keep having this fantasy (call it my idealism maybe) that Tom Brokaw retired because he just couldn't stand to be part of the crap wagon that is the mass media anymore, and he's going to do this going public thing with top programmers and how the machines were rigged, and all of these eye witnesses to the horrors of inside the w regime. It will be filmed in some undisclosed location and the testifiers will be just silhouettes with funky disguised voices, and all of America will realize in one neat little hour how they've been deceived. The very next morning the entire election is nullified. OK- I'll stop myself there. Couldn't resist putting that out there. Kind of like an 80's teen movie happy ending, but hey, what the heck.

Anything can happen, and however it happens, and however long it takes I'll be working from my little corner of the world on promoting John Kerry.

[whometense]

17. Great fantasy.

I've had similar ones about republicans-of-good-conscience doing the same thing. Still waiting. But I lived through Watergate, and houses of cards can fall in an instant, if just the right breeze blows. I believe that is what Kerry is aiming to do - knock down the house of cards.

[vinessa4freedom]

21. I have a bunch of them, too

I love the house of cards analogy- so true, but as crafty as they are, John Kerry is the brick house that will be left standing.

[ginnyinWI]

22. Integrity matters. n/t

[angrydemocrat]

9. I agree Kerry is the ultimate leader

And we all need to work on making sure people really know him and don't depend on campaign advisors and the media. Kerry and the Kerrycrats will prevail!

[angrydemocrat]

7. John Kerry Is A Fighter That Will Not Stop For Any Reason

At anytime, for anyone. He will come back from this devastating loss and he will be stronger, swinging twice as hard, and smarter than he was the last time. Some find it hard to believe that Kerry could be any smarter than he already is but it is a sure fact about the man and it has happen many times over. John Kerry has already started his fight for the 2008 election and he will continue on with this fight with his supporters right along beside him. And my friend "we will prevail, we will win this fight" and you can take that to the bank. If anyone here doesn't truly believe that this man will not stop until he prevail I must say you are letting the naysayers and the media get the best of you. Because we all know that Kerry is a true fighter, leader, and a winner no matter what others try to portray him as.

Kerry and his supporters have not one thing to be ashamed of and we sure don't need to change our ways. The only ones that need to back track and change their ways are those who cannot handle reality and therefor blame others for their problems, those that feel they have to lie about others in order to make themselves feel and look better, and those who find it necessary to slander other people to try to bring them down and make themselves look and sound better. Because my friends when someone has to do any of these things they are the ones with the true problems and they are the ones who need to be changing their ways.

The one thing that is special about America and being an American is we all have the opportunity to succeed and better ourselves. We all can have what we want in life and enjoy life to its fullest, but what so many forget in this great country of ours is nothing comes free and you sure don't get anywhere in life by sitting on your ass and complaining, whining, and degrading others because they have had the strength, the ability, and the will to get where they are today and have and enjoy what they do. Every American has opportunities they just have to not be so damn lazy and use those opportunities to better themselves and their lives as others have done in this great country of ours.

Sadly there are those who cannot do for themselves wether it be due to illness, old age, mental capability, ect. My friends these are people that we have to find it in our hearts to always be there for and help in anyway we can. Helping can mean doing many things. You don't have to have money and power to be there for those who are less fortunate than yourself. Helping can mean being there to help in the care of someone, feeding someone who is hungry, trying to help those living out on the streets find shelter, help by showing support to people who are addicts to drugs and alcohol by trying to help them locate treatment for their addictions and being there so that they have someone to talk to, there are so many ways to help others that are less fortunate than yourself.

If there is one thing I have learned from Mr.Kerry himself is that everything about our government is not all bad. Yes sadly we have some money hungry, power hungry, and corrupted assholes running our country. That is where me and you come in at as well as him. He can fight them and bring them down in Washington as he has proven and done many times already in his career, but as good, as smart, as honest, and as knowledgeable as Kerry is himself he cannot not save America and it's people by himself. He needs the help of everyday citizens and voters of this country like me and you. Yes he is a hero of many, and he has done so much already for us and this country, but Americans have to realize this is the real world and one man not a damn fantasy land and Superman.

We as everyday Americans and citizens must wake up and smell the coffee and try to get others who ignore the problems in this country to do the same. You can do that by talking about it and pointing it out to others, try to get them to understand, tell them where they can find the proof or information you are telling them, hell sometimes we may even have to get the information and hand it to them in order to get them to start understanding. We can make a difference by doing things as simple things as these. You can do these things everyday wether you are at work, a grocery store, restaurant, ect. And if everyone was to do this think of the difference we as everyday citizens could make. Because word of mouth has always be proven a good way to get information out and has proven to be successful in many things.

Once you teach and people learn the true test and results will prevail. We as American citizens must teach all we can and hope that we prevail at the ballot box. We have to understand our government and realize who is working in the best interest of America and the American people. We must weed and seed. We must weed out those who are not working to in the best interest of our country and to help the less fortunate in our country but instead they choose only to better themselves and corrupt our government. We must seed those like Mr.Kerry that are true American patriots that are and willing to work their ass off for the best interest of us, our great country, and those in our great country that are less fortunate than themselves who very well may only need a helping hand to make it to the same point in life that they themselves have. We as American citizens must do this by voting out (weed) the bad and replace them (seed) with good everyday Americans like Mr.Kerry. That is left up to people like me and you.

So as I said before we nor Kerry are the one's who need to change. It is others who need to take a good long hard look at themselves and ask "what the hell is wrong with me, why am I acting the way I am." All we need to do is help others to realize what is going on and stand and fight the good fight with Kerry and be there to support him and help him anytime he needs us. This my friends is what we need to be doing and we need to be doing everyday. And as long as we do this we and Kerry will prevail.


"For America, the hope is there. The sun is rising. Our best days are still to come!"

[vinessa4freedom]

11. awesome

The challenge is getting the drones to wake up and smell the coffee. Just had a great conversation with my in-laws about this tonight over coffee. Talking about how we need to stay optimistic that we will reach critical mass and things will shift.

You all did such a magnificent job with the resource links. There is so much there, and very good data to share with people who are even willing to listen a little.

[angrydemocrat]

14. Thank You

We all try around here. I always hope to change someones mind and get another loyal Kerry supporter. Because I truly believe he is the leader we and our great country need so badly. I work at it every where I go. Anymore it is like I live and survive on politics. LOL

[whometense]

18. Wow.

I like the way you think!!!

And you're right - Kerry will NEVER give up. Those who call him a quitter? Are they in for a shock!

[angrydemocrat]

19. Thanks

And I think they are in for a major shock. And can't wait to see it.

John Kerry :yourock:

[sandnsea]

5. My advice?

Stop listening to the right wing media. People connected with Kerry just fine, I saw it every time I watched a town hall meeting. The only people I know who complained about John Kerry are just natural complainers, their self esteem is based on being smarter than everybody and they try to prove it by putting everything down. The left is full of people like that, anti-everything, unfortunately.

[TheDonkey]

8. be more personal about his mistakes and the slurs about him

He should nip the "flip-flopper" charge in the butt by just coming out and saying in plain language that charge is a lazy lie and if you look at his record he doesn't flip flop.

[WildEyedLiberal]

12. I "got" him

I feel a deep connection with John that I've never felt with anyone like that before. This is going to sound kind of kooky, but it's almost like I know him. And you're right, a lot of it is his sincerity. He's HONEST. And you can tell. I trust everything that man says - I trust that everything he does he does because he believes it to be, all options considered, the best course of action available. I love his shyness, too - a major reason the media never liked him. He's very shy, withdrawn, and gentle, and I find that insanely appealing. (See, people? I love him for more than his good looks. :P)

I would jounrney with him to hell and back, and do it again. Count me as one of the "intensely loyal." I've been obsessed with politics all my life, and spent all my life looking for my Icon - that rare person of complete and absolute integrity that realizes all your hopes. My mother had JFK and RFK - and now, I have John. :loveya:

[ginnyinWI]

20. you can't fake honesty

people can usually tell, by instinct, whether you are true or false.

I'd like to say JK is "reserved" rather than "shy", 'cause he certainly doesn't avoid people or the limelight. Shy people are fearful, and he isn't--it's just a New England reserve.

[WildEyedLiberal]

23. I imagine it has more to do with his personality than where he was born

Not everyone from New England is like him. There's just something sweet about his demeanor... he does remind me of the shy, awkward cute boy in class sometimes (if you'll permit a school metaphor). They're almost always the best ones to get to know, rather than the blustering jocks or the smooth players. I also think he sees the spotlight as more of a curse of his chosen profession, rather than as an end in and of itself... he's very private, and not extraordinarily extroverted, and I think he accepts the attention as a necessary trapping of his job.

I mean, I have the same general attitude and bearing as he does (reserved and introverted at first, warm and gregarious once you know me), and I'm definitely not from New England.

[TayTay]

13. Don't worry, be Happy!

I do not yet fully believe that Kerry has decided what he wants to do. It's too soon. I don't believe that there are yet firm plans to run again. It's just that a person doesn't run for President alone, your whole family and everyone you ever shared a conversation with seems to run with you. It well could be that everyone said on Nov 4th, I'm in if you want to do this again, but I just have trouble accepting that. A lot of people put their lives on hold and went through a lot of stuff that I will never know about to make this run happen. (My lord, look what his daughters sacrificed. That's a very great thing to ask someone to do again so quickly.)

Don't accept DU as the whole of the Democratic Party. While we are seeing 'the shitstorm', the rest of the world isn't. I think Kerry got very good marks and ran a good campaign. (Not a mistake free campaign, human beings always make mistakes.) I think he will mull over what happened and whether or not he wants to run again and then we shall see.

None of the rest of the remarks matter. Aides and pundits come and go. They are not paid by the accuracy of their predictions, just how loudly and frequently they make them. These professional commentators don't know what is going to happen anymore than the rest of us. They make a living based on the illusion that they know more than the rest of us. This simply is not true. There are people who want to advance another candidate, so they want to move in advance to check anyone else with a perceived power base. One effective way to do so is to go to the press and explain that so-and-so is damaged goods. That is a power play, but it can be countered. It is simply too soon to do so. There is time. Don't worry, things will work their way out, in due time.

[GRLMGC]

15. Great post

I totally agree. I think people jump the gun when they predict what's going to happen in 08. Nobody knows what's going to happen and how the climate will have changed by then.

[whometense]

16. What a great post!

Thank you. I think if he chooses to run again he won't have to change much (except for the corporate media - and I'm not sure Kerry can do anything to change that). He'll have the advantage of this year's exposure - people wouldn't be able to say they have no idea who he is or what he stands for.

I personally think it's a huge mistake to keep trying to run after the "perfect" candidate. I think we should be as relentless as republicans, and say to the country - he is our very best, and we want him to be president. I wonder if Dean will run again - I'm not sure he even really wants to be president. I'm of the opinion that he kind of freaked out and torpedoed himself last year when he saw how close he had come. IMHO.