Gillespie and Repubs plan on "bashing" Kerry and the Democrats....

[kentuck]

They have set up their own "truth squad" to tell people the truth about John Kerry. From what we have seen thus far, there is a lot of hyperbole. It's disturbing that they may get as much attention as the Democratic Convention itself. The Democrats could just go home and let the Repubs and the media define what they are saying.

It's ironic that the Democrats have called off any "Bush bashing" at the convention or, at least, have said it will be toned down, at the same time it is being turned up by the rightwing, radical Repubs. Will the people notice that it is the Repubs that are indulging in negativity? And will John Kerry be rewarded with running a "positive" campaign? who knows where the psychology of the nation is on this matter?

[Democat]

1. Why do they need to? The media allows right wingers to cover the event!

Republican talking heads will be covering both of the conventions for the mainstream media, why does the Republican party need any more than that?

[59millionmorons]

2. DESPARATION

That's the name of that game. If you were beind in every national poll you would be doing the exact same thing Mr Ed is.

[unfrigginreal]

3. Nice guys always win elections

don't they?

[sui generis]

4. I have a theory

I think that most of us entrenched people on either side aren't going to change our vote based on whether we're doing a sunshine campaign or not.

The idea of taking the high road is to grab the undecided, who typically have odd reasons for not picking a candidate or not voting, such as "he's not very nice". Clearly this only works in a deeply divided political environment, but it's meant to appeal to those undecided folks who last time thought that Gore was the grinch and who insipidly thought about Bush that "he's so nice". And that's how they voted.

I saw a recent Harris Poll on politics where a very high percentage of (profoundly stupid) respondents said that the most important thing about the presidential candidate was whether they liked him or not.

[Sparrow]

5. Repubs know negative attacks work

all this positive horseshit by the DLC will net zero.
The ONLY way a positive campaign works, is if youre already winning in a landslide.

[emulatorloo]

11. not sure they work when economy and war are in such bad shape . . .

EOM

[tom_paine]

6. Vaguley. No. The Psychology of Orwell's Party Members in "1984"

Does THAT answer you questions?

[chookie]

7. "Truth telling"/"hate speech"

Anyone who has been half-conscious over the last 10 years ought to know that one of their fave strategies against us is to try to shut us up by calling our criticisms "hate speech" or by trying to make us feel guily about not being "nice" -- because only we are capable of feeling thus, and THEY don't give a shit about being "nice".

It is a mistake not to "Bush bash". For crying out loud -- what "nice" thing is there to say about this guy that has any meaning at all? The fact is that he is the worst president in history! Say it loud, say it often.

Let me get this straight -- it's okay to defame Kerry, but it is "hate speech" to even criticize Bush? Let's call them on this bullshit! Get this out in the open! Expose it as the dirty tactic that it is!!!

Every idiot on tv is having a blast with Teresa's "shove it" remark -- but if, for example, Laura Bush had told Michael Moore to "shove it" if he got into her face with one of his "diatribes" -- well, wouldn't that be a different story? I think the analogy is a good one.

I for one say NO ONE should back down from this one -- I would flush this Scaife bastard out, and expose this tactic -- or else we will fall prey to it yet again.

[tom_paine]

8. Nice idea. Exactly WHO you gonna find in the Democratic Leadership

to do it?

<cue crickets chirping>

[LTR]

9. Gee, some 'truth squad'

Three of the people involved include Saxby Chambliss, Norm Coleman and John Cornyn.

Chambliss was the beneficiary of the sleaziest political campaign in recent memory, where the GOP questioned the patriotism of his opponent, a Vietnam vet who lost three limbs fighting for his country.

And Norm Coleman, a former Clinton-supporting Democrat who switched to the GOP to get a better shot in his campaign for Governor (lost the election in a shocker to third party candidate, Jesse Ventura). Now he's a hardcore Bush supporter who has tarnished the reputation of one of the greatest Democrats in state history (Paul Wellstone). He will attempt to tear Kerry apart on, er, 'flip-flopping'. He should know all about that.

[shraby]

10. Can you imagine what a free-for-all

the media would have if the convention was a Bush-bashing thing? They'd jump on it like fleas on a dog. Better to take the high ground and give them nothing to spin.

[deacon]

12. A truth squad is what they need, for themselves n/t