Indecision 2004

[missedherniceguy]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5210796/site/newsweek/

But who is this undecided voter? If you ask me, he's a moron, but if you ask a senior Kerry advisor, you'll get a more diplomatic answer. The undecided voter, the unnamed source told The New York Times last week, is "a relatively low-information, relatively disengaged political person." I'll stick with my definition for the time being--but regardless of what you want to call them, this group of people, who can't choose a side in the clearest ideological choice since the Reagan-Mondale landslide in 1984, will decide who the next president is.

And no one really knows who they are. Depending on which pollster you listen to, the undecided voter is either a 28-year-old, hyper-informed, media-savvy, female academic who cares about the environment, isn't particularly religious and favors gun control or a 36-year-old, doltish, unemployed male gym teacher who drives a pickup truck, goes to church every day and has the Second Amendment tattooed on his chest.

I'm not going to argue that every American should have his opinion of Democratic nominee John Kerry perfectly defined. Let's face it, Kerry's campaign has been so muddled that it's hard to know sometimes whether he is a war hero, an anti-war anti-hero, a war monger, a war widow or even a ward heeler.

[shraby]

1. If you've watched any of Kerry's speeches

on C-Span, you'd know what he is for. You can also visit his site and read what he's for. He's not wishy-washy or a flip-flopper. If you are watching Bush ads or sound bytes on the news, that's what they want you to think. The man has the courage of his convictions. He came back from Nam and joined in the protests to bring the war to a halt..and it wasn't a very popular position to take. Mainstream Americans and the politicians just saw a bunch of hippie types making noise. That's when Nixon was having the FBI make files on the young people for protesting and trying to label them as communists to discount what they had to say.
All I can say is read before you criticize. You might just learn something.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[missedherniceguy]

6. Why on Earth would you attack the messenger of an MSNBC story?

What pray tell is your intent by attacking me for linking to an MSNBC report?

[Maddy McCall]

9. Why on earth is EVERYTHING you have posted at DU

critical of Kerry or defensive of the Bush family?

[missedherniceguy]

10. I don't defend Bush period. I have no hate for his family

The rules do not forbid saying something positive about the family members of Bush and I challenge you to show ANYWHERE I have defended Bush himself.

As for being critical of Kerry I don't see where respectful and non insulting criticism is not allowed either. The are thousands of posts here that are critical of Dems but I don't see you stalking them and busting their chops. None of my posts were very critical and they are much milder than many of those made by old timers.

[Paradise]

7. hi jchild! really nice to hear from ya. :)

[OneBlueSky]

2. "Kerry's campaign has been so muddled" . . .

ain't that the truth . . . if you asked the average, quasi-informed (they watch tv) voter (who may or may not vote) what John Kerry stands for, all you'd get is a blank stare . . . hell, you'd get a blank stare from me . . . and there's no excuse for that . . . maybe Kerry should hire some good Republican campaign consultants . . . people who know how to develop a message and drill it into even the hardest heads . . .

[CaliforniaLady]

4. I haven't seen any tv campaign ads yet.

There aren't many "swing voters" or undecideds here in California, according to the network polls.

Kerry WILL win California, but it would be good in key states for Kerry to clearly define his message with network ads. Too many people polled in the "for Kerry crowd" are voting against Bush instead of for Kerry.

I only have basic reception on my TV cable. If I didn't have access to the internet, I would not know why it's important for Kerry to win.

[Moderator]

5. Not Latest Breaking News -- moving to Editorials/Other

nt

[Vickers]

8. So.....what kind of pickup do you have?

:P

[missedherniceguy]

11. An old one with a new Kerry sticker.

It ain't no ugly truck either.

[Mountainman]

12. Hi I'm John Kerry, I'm not George W Bush

Enough for me. Kerry is far less threatening to me than Bush. I care what he stands for but I will vote for him and against Bush rather than not vote at all or voting for Nader.

All those who want Kerry to meet their standards for a presidential candidate will be disappointed.

This reminds me of a club I tried to form in San Diego. All the members had one central, unifying interest but all had different flavors of that interest. Each one of the separate interests wanted their flavor to be the one and only one considered or they weren't going to join. Guess what happened. No club was formed.