Kerry sure wimped out on Crossfire, didn't he?

[Jack_Dawson]

Sorry if this has already been addressed, but I just watched the tape and Begala AND Novak gave him every opportunity to call into question Bush's AWOL status. Instead, he went career politican on them. "What I'd like to talk about is health care and jobs..."

I think I prefer Clark's straight-talk approach. Less refined than a career politican's maybe, but more real.

[jsw_81]

1. The AWOL thing is a fringe issue

It's like the legalization of pot; it's a good idea, but no serious politician is going to support it publicly (at least not now).

John Kerry is doing his best to look and sound presidential so that he doesn't lose his front-runner status. The so-called "straight talk" approach is what derailed Howard Dean, John McCain and countless other presidential candidates; they just didn't know how to act presidential.

[Melodybe]

2. Give me an unpolished politician anyday

I am so tired of them only saying what they need to win, I want someone who will be more honest than not.

[NNN0LHI]

3. Then what you want is a "loser" n/t

[Melodybe]

4. No I want someone to make this country a better place

[sleipnir]

5. Here, here!!!

n/t

[NNN0LHI]

20. I suggest the majority of America wants to be told what they want to hear

They do not want to hear the truth. So if we accept that suggestion for the sake of argument what options does that leave us. One would be that we can allow Bush to be elected. That is no good though because we all know he is a scum bag.

Another option would be to choose a candidate to run against Bush who tells the truth about everything. A real straight shooter type guy who lays it on the line. That is no good because that is not what the majority of people want to hear. They just don't. They prefer to be bullshitted.

Our last choice would be a candidate who talks and acts like he needs to do to get elected and sends Bush packing back to to the pig farm in Waco, Texas. We won't know if we have made a good choice until the person becomes president and actually see him in action. At least there is some hope for a better day with this scenario.

Don

[Andromeda]

24. You're right...I don't want Kerry!

:kick:

[jsw_81]

6. That's why your guy is losing

To win a national election you have GOT to be smart and you have got to know what to say and what not to say.

[Melodybe]

7. Wow, you are doing a great job of suming up exactly what is wrong

with this country. Thanks

[jsw_81]

12. Excuse me for being politically astute

Maybe I should just scream my head off and make a fool of myself on national television like a certain governor from Vermont.

[Jack_Dawson]

8. "Knowing what to say"?

They asked him a straight up question, and Kerry launches into his stump speech. It was so politician-like. People hate politicians, and that explains why 50% is considered a good turnout.

[JI7]

10. has clark called bush a deserter ?

or said bush went awol ?

[Jack_Dawson]

14. I see where you're going with this

Michael Moore called him a deserter. But when asked, Clark kept it "out there" which was brilliant. The RW media whores wanted him to completely disavow it, which he didn't. Fuck you RW media. Go Clark.

[JI7]

15. but will he ever say it ?

that bush went awol ?

[Jack_Dawson]

17. We'll see tomorrow

[jsw_81]

13. Please

Clark does the same thing. They all do.

[jfxgillis]

18. Look. Both tactically AND strategically ...

... i.e., to have the best chance of winning both this week's primary and next November's election, this a negative payoff for Kerry if he answers the way you insist he should.

This is like Casino Blackjack. The game is NOT "21." It's "Beat the Dealer." The idea isn't to hammer Bush as hard as possible on every conceivable issue of character or politics, just like you don't need to keep hitting to 21. The idea is to win in November.

MOREOVER, even if Bush was so far ahead that every conceivable blow needed to be struck at every possible moment, Kerry's very presence and resume rebukes Bush as a "deserter" whether Kerry takes the available shot or not.

Patience is a virtue.

[Kipepeo]

28. Exactly!

Kerry sounds like a career politicain and he makes people turn the channel, not want to turn out and vote for maybe the first time ever.

We need an honest straight-talker.

[Kipepeo]

27. Thanks Melodyb

I'll take a straight talker like Dean or Clark any_day over a polished politician like Kerry who puts people to sleep. What I want in the end is someone who I know will tell the truth, not someone who will try to make sure his answers are corporate and media approved at the risk of being so polished they make me snore.

[eileen from OH]

19. But he doesn't HAVE to support it publicly

All he has to do is refer to the Boston Globe article and say that he doesn't know what went on, but it IS kind of odd. Surely someone as savvy as Kerry can phrase it in such a way that he doesn't "own" it, but doesn't dismiss it either. Since, by the way, it IS bloody true and Bush & Co. never came up with anything to refute it.

But to pooh-pooh it is EXACTLY the kind of roll-over-and-play-nice stuff that drives a lot of us nuts.

eileen from OH

[Michael Harrington]

22. It does suck.

eileen from OH wrote: "But to pooh-pooh it is EXACTLY the kind of roll-over-and-play-nice stuff that drives a lot of us nuts.'

That's exactly the point. I think it sucks, too.

Tactically, it's probably smart. This duck and cover, Me-tooism is what put Kerry and Edwards in position to take over when Dean "slipped" before the voting in Iowa. To expect them to stick their necks out now over something as silly as principle...well, that seems unlikely.

[CWebster]

26. Who decides what "presidential" looks like?

someone playing the role?

This is such a scam to cast Kerry's rigid, aloof demeanor into regal bearing and malign other more genuine character attributes of the other contenders. We are not electing a DAR debutante escort.

[JI7]

9. so he talked health care and jobs ?

so did he start to talk about health care and jobs ?

[Jack_Dawson]

11. After he ducked the question, yes he launched into his stump speech

:boring:

[JI7]

16. good to see that

i'm glad they allowed him to speak on that.

[JailForBush]

21. Ah, the infamous Democratic Catch-22...

If you speak the truth, you won't get elected. Frankly, I don't think this country will ever be reformed until people get that silly idea out of their heads.

Sure, Americans are stupid, and the truth can cost you votes. But not speaking the truth can cost you votes, too. And if you're interested in long-term reform, you're going to HAVE to address the truth sooner or later.

Unfortunately, it seems most Democrats can't see past the present election, which is always described as the last great sacrifice: "If we can just sneak this candidate into office - by not saying too much - then we'll have some freedom for political maneuvering the next time around."

But the next time never comes. So we're stuck with candidates who are status quo politicians. They don't educate the public, and they don't rally activists. And how are we supposed to know if they're even on our side if they won't tell us what's on their minds? How can we hold them to campaign promises if they don't make any?

This is precisely the type of logic that has cost the Dems over and over in recent years. I was hoping people would finally rally and give us a real battle in 2004, but I'm becoming less optimistic every day.

What a waste.

[femmecahors]

23. I think Clark is great . . .

If Dean fizzles, I'd be thrilled to jump on Clark's bandwagon.

He's handsome.
He's intelligent.
He's a straight talker.
He's a success in life.

Yesterday, I visited the websites of Clark, Kerry, and Edwards, and I have to say that I'm really impressed with all of them . . . and of course, with Dean.

The Democrats have some great candidates this year . . . we can be proud of all of these guys.

[CWebster]

25. Brace yourself

for more of the same

[blm]

29. Can you post Clark's straight answer about Bush's AWOL status?

I'd like to see how he handled it.

I only saw his answer at the debate which seemed noncommittal to me. I thought then he handled it right for the time.

[Jerseycoa]

30. Clark defended freedom of speech

If Clark were ever to get into this issue of whether or not Bush went AWOL, it won't be now and it shouldn't be. It may be never. I would trust him on using his head. What he did do is show loyalty and steadfastness to a supporter of his. Most important, he stood firm for free speech. Clark knew this was part of the Republican agenda assisted by the Fox debate against the Dems. Kerry, on the other hand, enabled the Republican agenda. He did this either to exploit the situation or because he lost his balls momentarily.

[Jack_Dawson]

31. Exactly - Kerry was weak

That's my whole point.

[Southsideirish]

33. I heard him droning on yesterday. The media is going to get bored

with him very quickly - but he is their creation and they are stuck with him..

[creativelcro]

32. Yup. Some people say he'll fight later on .... But my bet is that

He'll wimp out over and over until he loses (if he gets the nomination).

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

34. John "Bob Dole" Kerry

will lose us the election because he ALWAYS rolls over when it comes to the Bushes. Wonder why?

[Southsideirish]

36. Oh, this is going to be a dreary campaign if he gets the "nod." (n/t)

[creativelcro]

37. Why ? Because Kerry is afraid of authority at some very basic level...

[Southsideirish]

35. There is a reason his campaign was going nowhere until Iowa

where it was artificially pumped up by a screaming Ted Kennedy and tons of veterans he brought in from Ma.