John Kerry is running the dumbest presidential campaign in modern history. Don't misunderstand. Dumb is not the same as wrong. Kerry may be right on some of the issues. But that's not the point. Elections are about votes, and Kerry's campaign seems calculated to actually repel them. Have a look:
Taxes. The first rule of politics is: Low taxes, good; high taxes, bad. President Bush understands this. He is running as a tax cutter, plain and simple. Elect him and you pay less.
Kerry, on the other hand, wants to raise taxes. Just on the rich, he says, but nobody believes that - and why should they? For years he and other Democrats have denounced Bush's cuts as unfair. Middle class voters look at Kerry and see a guy who's going to raise their taxes.
Religion. Another rule of politics is: Carry your own denomination. Bush will - he's the darling of Evangelical Protestants. Evangelical churches across the country are his de facto clubhouses, pastors his precinct captains.
Once upon a time, Catholic Democratic candidates Al Smith and John Kennedy could count on similar sectarian solidarity. But Kerry's stance on abortion has turned the Catholic hierarchy against him. He is so unpopular with the leadership that Edward Cardinal Egan very publicly failed to invite him to attend the annual Al Smith dinner next month. Getting the snub is the political equivalent of excommunication.
Family Values. Bush has made himself the champion of traditional marriage. Kerry is running as a Massachusetts metrosexual. "Ozzie and Harriet" beats "Will and Grace" in every swing state in the country.
National Icons. Sometime in the next two weeks, the Senate will take up a constitutional amendment to outlaw burning the American flag. Bush favors this amendment, Kerry opposes it.
The Democrats also have managed to get themselves on the "no" side of a House bill that seeks to keep the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. These bills are political theater, not legislation, but that isn't the point. Parties surrender control of the nation's patriotic symbols at their peril - especially south of the Mason-Dixon line and west of the Mississippi.
Iraq. Bush says it was right to take down Saddam Hussein. Kerry says it wasn't worth it. Bush says that Iraq is part of the war on terror, Kerry says it isn't. Bush says that America is winning, Kerry says America is losing. Bush says elections will be held in Iraq, Kerry says they won't.
These propositions are all debatable, but it is a debate Kerry can't win - at least not by Election Day. Nobody will know on Nov. 2 if Iraq can stage an election next year. Nobody will be able to say for sure whether America is safer with Saddam out of power. There will be no final answer to the question: Is the U.S. engaged in Vietnam II or World War III?
What voters will know is that President Bush is optimistic on the war, Kerry pessimistic. Pessimism is not considered a winning trait in American politics, certainly not in wartime. By going negative on the war, Kerry's position can be vindicated only if some major disaster occurs.
Five weeks out, Kerry has dealt Bush every trump card - God, family, low taxes, optimism and victory.
It is impossible to imagine Bill Clinton - or any competent politician - doing such a thing. It is only slightly more possible to imagine Kerry winning with the hand he has dealt himself.
Other than the God stuff... The article is dead on.... He has nothing to run on.. other than ABB... which is not enough....
I dunno.... Dukakis ran a pretty incompetent campaign. Managed to make Walter Mondale look charismatic by comparison and then of course there's that immortal image of his tank ride, where he looks like Snoopy taking off after the Red Baron.
When ballots have fairly and constitutionally decided, there can be no successful appeal back to bullets.
—Abraham Lincoln
People pray so that God won't crush them like bugs.
—Dr. Gregory House
Oil an emergency?! It's about time, Brigadier, that the leaders of this planet of yours realised that to remain dependent upon a mineral slime simply doesn't make sense.
—The Doctor "Terror Of The Zygons" (1975)
Patrick Degan wrote:I dunno.... Dukakis ran a pretty incompetent campaign. Managed to make Walter Mondale look charismatic by comparison and then of course there's that immortal image of his tank ride, where he looks like Snoopy taking off after the Red Baron.
Patrick.... quick question... are you Pulling the level for Kerry on a ABB basis or some other reason..? or not at all
Sudden power is apt to be insolent, sudden liberty saucy; that behaves best which has grown gradually.
Patrick Degan wrote:I dunno.... Dukakis ran a pretty incompetent campaign. Managed to make Walter Mondale look charismatic by comparison and then of course there's that immortal image of his tank ride, where he looks like Snoopy taking off after the Red Baron.
Patrick.... quick question... are you Pulling the level for Kerry on a ABB basis or some other reason..? or not at all
Because He's Not Bush, basically. Only thing he's got going for him.
Kerry should have been appealing to the middle class, offering tax cuts for the working man, the average blue collar joe and also for small companies, the fact that the evil rich® get higher taxes is something better left ignored.
Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who did not.
His Divine Shadow wrote:Kerry should have been appealing to the middle class, offering tax cuts for the working man, the average blue collar joe and also for small companies, the fact that the evil rich® get higher taxes is something better left ignored.
Problem: If Kerry is elected (looking like a pretty slim chance now, unless he shapes up) he'll be the richest President in U.S. history. So much for the Evil Rich®.
His Divine Shadow wrote:Kerry should have been appealing to the middle class, offering tax cuts for the working man, the average blue collar joe and also for small companies, the fact that the evil rich® get higher taxes is something better left ignored.
He cannot offer any tax cuts... he has promised to raise them..... or sorry.. do away with the tax cuts in place.. and The left does not belive in tax cuts... for anyone....
Sudden power is apt to be insolent, sudden liberty saucy; that behaves best which has grown gradually.
Patrick Degan wrote:I dunno.... Dukakis ran a pretty incompetent campaign. Managed to make Walter Mondale look charismatic by comparison and then of course there's that immortal image of his tank ride, where he looks like Snoopy taking off after the Red Baron.
Patrick.... quick question... are you Pulling the level for Kerry on a ABB basis or some other reason..? or not at all
Kerry —on an ABB basis, and because he's the most qualified of the opposition as well as having the best chance among them. But I admit I've not caught on to "Kerry Fever" as yet.
When ballots have fairly and constitutionally decided, there can be no successful appeal back to bullets.
—Abraham Lincoln
People pray so that God won't crush them like bugs.
—Dr. Gregory House
Oil an emergency?! It's about time, Brigadier, that the leaders of this planet of yours realised that to remain dependent upon a mineral slime simply doesn't make sense.
—The Doctor "Terror Of The Zygons" (1975)
theski wrote:
He cannot offer any tax cuts... he has promised to raise them..... or sorry.. do away with the tax cuts in place.. and The left does not belive in tax cuts... for anyone....
The republicans believe in tax cuts, the left believes in fiscal responsibility.
To quote Cheney "Debt does not matter"
