What About 2004 Does Kerry Have To Deal With in 2008? IWR? Flip Flops?

[DrFunkenstein]

I think that, generally, people will get tired of the old criticisms of Kerry if he effectively deals with them during the primary.

I also believe that alot of people will have buyer's remorse with Bush as his policies come to fruition. This is a big plus for Kerry, but he will not be facing Bush.

A few things off the top of my head:

1. The flip-flop. Kerry must get people to believe he is consistent, but I also think people will tire of this lame term (unless the media decides to axe Kerry with it just for giggles). In fact, I think most of the conservative crap about being French-looking and whatever will not age very well. Mostly because it's all pretty retarded.

The flip-flop is important to note, though. The origin of the term comes from Kerry's 2004 albatross: the IWR vote. This took Kerry (rightly or wrongly) out of his game from the start. 2008 will allow Kerry to come out running, not stammering about nuances.

2. Long, boring speeches. Kerry needs to learn "short and sweet." And he needs to talk not like a "regular guy" (God forbid), but with more directness. Screw Kennedy-esque. If Kerry doesn't take some lessons on getting to the (friggin') point, I can't see him making it past Hillary.

3. Having an agenda. Kerry could have picked the war on terror, health care, the economy, or alternative energy as his campaign platform. But picking all of them doesn't really work. Pick a specific future policy that people can look forward to. Hillary will likely aim to get people wishing for another Clinton economy and Kerry will need to counter this.

4. Establish a relationship with the media. In 2004, the media despised Kerry from the time he formed his exploratory committee. He absolutely must find a more effective way of getting the 24-hour media on his side. And that includes profiles of his personality. Give them an ice cream cone or something.

5. Teresa. It will be very interesting how the media responds to Teresa while Hillary is in the running.

6. The Swift Boat Veterans. Kerry can easily (if done right) use the SBVs as shield against further smear campaigns. I am absolutely convinced that these scumbags can be used FOR Kerry in 2008.

7. Switch to ice hockey. The windsurfing and ski-boarding could have been used to show Kerry as more in touch with the youth market, but his media handlers sat on their hands while the right-wingers painted him as isolated and, well, out to sea. At the same time, though, try to keep Kerry out of skin-tight clothes.

8. Vietnam. Unless you plan to draw an effective parallel to Iraq, please don't ever utter this word again. Unless you want to talk about the time you went with McCain for the first time he revisited his old prison and then you normalized relations as bi-partisan chums. That story'll come in handy down the road.

9. An enormous fund-raising apparatus. This will come in handy, too.

--------------------------

I'm sure there are plenty of other things to think about. My question to DU is what do you think the benefits and burdens of 2004 will be for the next Kerry campaign?

[uppityperson]

1. The personality factor is a big one

How does he come across. People are not the thinking rational beings they think they are. They are ruled by their emotions, then attribute intellect and decisions to validate their feelings. Whoever runs needs to figure out a way to touch those emotions and use them and work with them.

Hope you are prepared here for the kerrybashers. :popcorn:

[GracieM]

63. He needs to "reinvent" himself...

I hate to use the word "reinvent" when some might argue that he never invented himself the first time. He needs to take a stab at emotion like Al Gore. Either it will resonate or it won't. Then we'll know whether he can be an effective candidate.

[JHBowden]

67. I don't think so.

Kerry simply needs to show up and not fall asleep at the wheel while he's being methodically smeared.

[kid a]

2. Kerry has nothing to worry about - he will not be the candidate

[politicasista]

9. Who will then?

Just curious

[kid a]

27. Thats easy!

Hillary

[SamBass]

45. I'm not so sure about Hillary.

Stars know the woman wants it so bad you can see her teeth ache when she smiles. But there's no way this country is ready to elect a woman for prez. And Hillary? Double no way. We've got a good shot at winning the presidency ~ shurg and ilk have screwed up so big, on so many fronts ~ if we can field a strong candidate, it could happen.

But if Hillary runs? Shoot, that's lights out from the get go. Now, if Bill could run again . . .

[FreedomAngel82]

30. I'm glad you can see the future

Tell me what else do you see in your crystal ball? :eyes:

[kid a]

33. The Red Sox will not win the WS this year.

[Boredtodeath]

3. Ummm....losing would be my FIRST issue

he's finished.

I have never figured this obsession with running certified losers over and over again.

He LOST.

And then he conceded without the promised fight to count all the votes.

Kerry needs to move on.

[AndyTiedye]

8. Election fraud is the issue that trumps everything else.

He LOST.

No, he didn't.

And then he conceded without the promised fight to count all the votes.

That is the problem.
Election fraud is the issue that trumps everything else.

[Noisy Democrat]

20. I've never figured this obsession

with throwing people on the garbage heap just because they tried once and failed.

[FreedomAngel82]

32. Really if that was the case

then Kerry would've never been a Senator in the first place. Remember his first election he ran he lost and his first election for Senate he lost. But he came back and won and has been a Senator since then. And look at Richard Nixon even!

[LittleClarkie]

72. We never get to use the experience gained

Not from Gore, not from Kerry, some have said. So we're always looking for "beginner's luck." How likely is that to happen? Aren't we always then reinventing the wheel?

[FreedomAngel82]

31. LOL

Kerry didn't lose. And did Richard Nixon move on? No. Do you think Al Gore should move on? :eyes:

[DrFunkenstein]

91. Shouldn't Everyone Who Lost The Primaries Give Up Too?

If there's anything I can't stand, it's someone who won't quit.

[ClintonTyree]

4. I'm hoping.......

there won't BE a next Kerry campaign. I supported him to the best of my ability on '04 even thought he wasn't my first choice. If he runs again in '08 I'm not sure I could honestly support him as much as I did in '04. He ran a terrible campaign and conceded in a New York minute, abandoning his promise to make sure that "every vote counts".

If he should get the nomination, I'll vote for him, but he's not the person this country needs IMO.

[still_one]

5. why in the world should we pick the weakest candidate?

but I will NOT vote for Kerry or anyone who gave bush the authority to go into Iraq. That is unforgivable. It violated the War Powers Act, and the Contitutional responsibility that only Congress can declare war.

There were enough contradictions from the state department, and previous administrations, that told us that at worst Iraq was NOT an immenient threat.

The good news is there are enough people who did NOT fall for it:

Boxer
Feingold
Kucinich
Dean
Clark

and many more

There are much better choices than Kerry

I remember Viet Nam, and this time they can't fool me

[FreedomAngel82]

34. Let me comment on your list

Boxer- Probably won't stand a chance since she doesn't have a power house last name and isn't wildley known. She's been in the news here and there and I think she's great and would support her all the way, but ask your average Joe or Barbie if they know who Barbara Boxer is.

Feingold- I like him but again. Not many people know him.


Kucinich- See the previous two. The guy is great and is a strong and hard fighter. Didn't make it past the primaries eh?

Dean- He did really great in the primaries and has a strong voice and passion. He promised when he ran for the DNC chair that he wouldn't run in 2008, so sorry.

Clark- What else does he have besides national/foreign security? He doesn't have any experience in being a governor, Congressman or anything like that. I think it's immature and arrogant for any politician whether it be Ralph Nader or a democrat running for president and he/she hasn't ever had any other type of politicial job. There was a woman here who ran for mayor and she never held any political office before. I didn't vote for her either cause there's nothing to base her past on with policies. How do I know they won't bankrupt the country and lose jobs? Because they share my political party doesn't mean they are above me being critical of them.

[FrenchieCat]

44. In reference to your Clark analysis,

I'm posting these rebuttals for you to read, if you so choose.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1989546&mesg_id=1990236

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4268582&mesg_id=4273089

PS. I consider it immature and arrogant to imply that the measure and worth of a man/woman is based on his/her elective history. The irony to your statement is that John Kerry chose to highlight his Vietnam service from 35 years ago, instead of highlighting his 20 years of service in Congress during the most important election in our lifetime. Goes to show that John Kerry didn't even hold his congressional record to enough of a great worth to really make it a focus during the campaign. Why was that.

I admire and respect John Kerry, but not for another run.

When one listens to paid consultants more than their "gut"...that is not what shows the true measure of a leader.

[Inspired]

81. I'm a little confused....

did Dean or Clark have the authority to give the President authority or not? As I recall neither was a member of Congress. I'm not saying I agree with those that did...just trying to be honest. It is easy to say you wouldn't vote for something when you didn't have to make the choice.

[jillan]

6. Kerry needs to address why he conceded when he did.

Kerry needs to listen to his heart, and not the advisors.

As of right now, I don't see one other person that offers more than Kerry!

Have you seen this thread?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1992384&mesg_id=1992384

[Lindacooks]

26. Yep. I was horribly disappointed when he quit so early, and so easily.

I won't vote for him again.

[politicasista]

28. Yawn

:rofl: :boring:

[Lindacooks]

46. Um, what's funny to you?

That Kerry collapsed like an undercooked souffle, or that he refused to challenge the obvious fraud in Ohio? What's the matter with you, anyway?

[FreedomAngel82]

35. It's really quite simple on Kerry conceding

What proof would he have had that would've held up in court? Look at Mr. Moss' suit. Still didn't get anywhere. There's nothing you can do to count the votes because there was no paper trail. So how can you prove John Kerry didn't win? How can you prove George Bush did? Because of the exit polls? Won't work in court.

[politicasista]

42. It's ok. pirana is on our side

:)

[Inspired]

82. Agreed

they didn't fight because they would look like sore losers. There was a big difference between Gore's results and Kerry's results. Gore won the popular vote. Kerry didn't.

Kerry simply did not win. He WAS a lousy candidate. I was a precinct captain in 3 precincts. It was HELL trying to defend this guy. The campaign gave us NOTHING to work with. Kerry gave us nothing to work with.

I like Senator Kerry but more people than I can count told me over and over again that they wished Edwards was on the top of the ticket. They wanted to vote against Bush but couldn't stomach voting for John Kerry.

Unfair? YES! But he didn't inspire anyone. He won all 3 debates and trounced Bush on foreign policy. He still couldn't generate much enthusiasm. Why would we nominate him again? What would be any different this time around?

[politicasista]

7. I agree.

[Fla4kerry]

12. Great Assessment of Kerry and what

needs to be done if he has any hope in 08. With out Bush in the picture now maybe the American people will appreciate intelligence and world knowledge. The bar needs to get higher on what we can expect. I believe Kerry needs to get more comfortable in his own skin and being around the media 24-7.
For the critics who won't vote for him due to his decision, there was too much fraud in Ohio and other States, and after 6 months of looking into it not much has come of it even with all the lawsuits. Bush had "over 3 million voter advantage",don't you think it would be nearly impossible to carry this out.. I mean please. If the popular vote was alot closer than I believe Kerry would have stayed in the fight.
Kerry needs to get Crisper and shorter in his replies. I agree don't focus on Vietnam .

[AndyTiedye]

10. It's More About the Media Than About Kerry

1. The flip-flop. Kerry must get people to believe he is consistent, but I also think people will tire of this lame term (unless the media decides to axe Kerry with it just for giggles).

They will. It worked so well last time.

In fact, I think most of the conservative crap about being French-looking and whatever will not age very well. Mostly because it's all pretty retarded.

Just the thing for the Repub base.

The flip-flop is important to note, though. The origin of the term comes from Kerry's 2004 albatross: the IWR vote. This took Kerry (rightly or wrongly) out of his game from the start. 2008 will allow Kerry to come out running, not stammering about nuances.

The media will recycle that stuff like it was only yesterday.

2. Long, boring speeches. Kerry needs to learn "short and sweet." And he needs to talk not like a "regular guy" (God forbid), but with more directness. Screw Kennedy-esque. If Kerry doesn't take some lessons on getting to the (friggin') point, I can't see him making it past Hillary.

Kerry's speeches were pretty damn good. Too bad hardly anybody got
to hear them thanks to a virtual media blackout.

3. Having an agenda. Kerry could have picked the war on terror, health care, the economy, or alternative energy as his campaign platform. But picking all of them doesn't really work. Pick a specific future policy that people can look forward to. Hillary will likely aim to get people wishing for another Clinton economy and Kerry will need to counter this.

He had quite a bit to say about jobs. The media only wanted to talk
to and about the Swift Boat liars.

4. Establish a relationship with the media.

We have a relationship with the media. It is similar to the
relationship that mice have with cats. The same applies to all
but the most RINO in our party (because they can get the RINOs
on camera supporting ** and criticize other Democrats).

He absolutely must find a more effective way of getting the 24-hour media on his side.

Other than selling out totally, there IS no way. They work for the Rethugs.

5. Teresa. It will be very interesting how the media responds to Teresa while Hillary is in the running.

They'll take the opportunity to trash them both.

6. The Swift Boat Veterans.

They'll be back for a return engagement, probably with a fresh
boatload of lies for Faux to repeat endlessly.

Kerry can easily (if done right) use the SBVs as shield against further smear campaigns.

How? They lie through their teeth, and the news media repeat the lies
until enough people belive them. What could be simpler or more airtight?

7. Switch to ice hockey.

Now if Kerry had managed to get the NHL playing again last year,
that WOULD have turned several northern red states blue!

[HeatherG.]

18. When The SBV Try To Come Back

In the event that Kerry gets the nomination again our strategists and spokes-people should be making lists of the claims the SBVFT have made that have been shown to be false. It is quite a big list. Then he/she will have a ready response if they get put on a show with one of them. At the time, they were caught off guard with these charges, so they had a little bit of an excuse. But, if they allowed the lies to dominate a second time it would be total incompetence. I don't think the SBVFT would get as much air play this time anyways. I think the media will be more skeptical of them this time around. Some of the lies were uncovered by the media. Still, they will most definitely give them more respect than they deserve.

[AndyTiedye]

25. But This Time They'll Have NEW IMPROVED Lies

So naturally all the talking heads on TV will want to talk to them,
and talk about them, and not talk about anything our candidate would
do as President.

[stray cat]

11. Personality factor - I don't think he can change that and not look fake.

I don't think he can pull it off.

[ray of light]

22. lol--at your description. Lots of people think he's sexy!

[Dr Fate]

13. How does Kerry make lemonade out SB Vets lemon?

I personaly think they- and his lack of response- crashed his bid.

[JHBowden]

69. I believe you are correct.

Kerry was ahead of Bush in several critical swing states until the swift smear vets came on the scene in August and started running ads in places like Ohio and Iowa.

Today, Kerry publically asserts that security fears made people rally around Bush and the Swiftsmear assholes had nothing to do with it. If Kerry privately realizes that they did and doesn't want to give them public credit, that's one thing, but if he believes what he is saying, he needs to get a clue.

[Still_Loves_John]

14. Have you been gone for a whle, Dr. Funkenstein?

I remember you waaay back in the pre-Iowa days, when it seemed like there were maybe two Kerry supporters on the board. I always liked how you dealt with people back then; good to see you back.

[DrFunkenstein]

15. Yeah, I Took The Election Results Pretty Hard

I decided to take some time off from the political scene. I'm still only tentatively returning. I mostly just read other people's stuff these days.

I have to admit that the national campaign was fairly disappointing. I thought Kerry would make a great leader, but I thought his staff was clumsy and Kerry needed to sharpen his message much earlier.

I know that he is strongly averse to anyone tampering with his speaking style, but if he doesn't figure out how to speak more effectively, I can't see him being the one giving the thumbs up at the National Convention.

At this point, I haven't given my allegiance to anyone. I would like to see Kerry become a better candidate, because I think he is a great man, but he's got to make some fundamental decisions about his message.

[chimpymustgo]

16. Dr.Funk. SAME here. I stayed away from DU, stopped watching

cable or ANY news, stopped reading Section 1 of the newspaper.

Watched a LOT of Turner Classic movies. I just started posting again in the last couple of months.

That sh*t was painful.

[sandnsea]

53. Well hey you too!!

I was beginning to think you were a plant or somethin'. I must have missed your recent posts. Good to see you too.

[kerrygoddess]

47. Good to have you back!

You've been missed Dr Funkenstein.

[sandnsea]

52. Hey You!!!

I don't agree with anything you said, I've got my own ideas on the matter. But that doesn't matter, it's SO GOOD to see you back. :hug:

[emulatorloo]

65. Glad to see you back -- I missed you. . . .

EOM

[DrFunkenstein]

66. Thank You To Everybody for The Warm Return

I missed you guys, too. I think all of us learned so much about modern democracy in 2003-2004, and one of the things was that there are so many inspiring, hard-working, inspiring, decent-hearted people out there that truly care about the country and the world (and even each other).

It is so good to see so many familiar names. Of course I mean the Kerry folk (you guys are wonderful!), but also the Clarkies and the people who gave their heart and soul helping the Dean campaign. I went toe-to-toe with lots of people here, but some of my fiercest debates turned into tons of (mutual, I think) respect.

[wli]

17. it's the rigged elections

Elections can't stop rigged elections. Something else has to.

[Noisy Democrat]

19. I agree

Your analysis is very good. Kerry needs to change some things, but the fact that the Swift Boat Liars have been conclusively proven to be liars can be used in his favor to insulate him against further BS. I disagree that the flip-flop thing came from him -- I think it was all GOP marketing -- but in any case, as he continues to be strong and consistent on his issues, I think he can fix that. People believed the flip-flop myth less and less with each debate. They just need to see more of him.

I think perhaps he can choose all 4 issues -- jobs, health care, economy and security -- if he links them thematically to form a coherent picture, a single unified concept. Or perhaps I'm just dreaming, but I think the problem was more that they came across like a laundry list; they need to be united into one coherent theme.

[Guaranteed]

21. I've gained much respect for Kerry since the election, but I don't think

he's going to be able to overcome the damage that was caused him during the election. The people don't trust him. He's too nuanced. The IWR- absolutely, and probably that most of all. The 87 B's...

He was excellent in the debates, though. I thought that third debate was the best I'd ever seen behind a podium. He was outstanding.

I just don't think he'll ever get over the rep in the context of what we're dealing with right now.

Gore has a rep, too, in a lot of ways. But I think he positioned himself well while he was out of the spotlight. It's much easier for me to support him because of that. He has his integrity intact because he took advantage of his lack of political interest. Consequently, I think that his positioning, combined with resume as V.P. during the best eight years our country ever saw (and next time he should make VERY liberal use of the Big Dog), would be killer in '08.

I actually think he would DESTROY, especially paired up with Clark.

[against all enemies]

23. He's a loser? " Knowing what I know now I still would have voted ..."

DrFunkenstein, why the long face? Come on, we're trying to actually win the next election. He was a shitty candidate, he had his chance, next!

[Goldeneye]

64. ......

Why did Kerry say on August 9, 2004 that he would still have voted for the resolution authorizing the use of force in Iraq if he knew what he knows now?

The resolution was not a vote to go to war (see first question above). Kerry did not say that he would have invaded Iraq even if he knew no WMDs would be found. He only said that he would have voted to affirm the president's authority to handle the situation. While George Bush attempted once again to spin this as a statement that Kerry would have handled things the same way he had, that is not even remotely what Kerry said. Kerry was simply, and clearly, reaffirming his unchanged position on granting the President authority in that situation. John Kerry has never changed his position on whether it was correct to affirm the President's authority to take action to defend the nation. Nor has he changed his position on whether he would have handled the situation differently.

"Yes, I would have voted for the authority . I believe it's the right authority for a president to have. But I would have used that authority as I have said throughout this campaign, effectively. I would have done this very differently from the way President Bush has.

"And my question to President Bush is, Why did he rush to war without a plan to win the peace? Why did he rush to war on faulty intelligence and not do the hard work necessary to give America the truth? Why did he mislead America about how he would go to war? Why has he not brought other countries to the table in order to support American troops in the way that we deserve and relieve a pressure from the American people?" — John Kerry, August 9, 2004

"I voted to hold Saddam Hussein accountable, because, had I been president, I would have wanted that authority, because that was the way to enforce the U.N. resolutions and be tough with the prospect of his development of weapons of mass destruction. But the president said he would go to war as a last resort. The president said he would exhaust the remedies of the U.N. The president said he would build a legitimate international coalition.

"And here we are, several years later, having made an end-run around the United Nations, alienated our allies, put our soldiers at greater risk than they needed to be, asked the American people to pay almost $200 billion, because we didn't have the patience, we didn't have the maturity to exhaust the remedies available to us and truly build that coalition and understand the nature of the threat." — John Kerry, Unity Conference, August 5, 2004

http://www.kerryoniraqwar.com/

[Silverhair]

24. Nothing. He won't be the nominee. NT

[FreedomAngel82]

38. Again I love the crystal ball you have there

:eyes:

[Silverhair]

60. No mystic, just logic & experience.

It appears that you desire Kerry to be the nominee, and that's OK. But his positioning is now poor and unlikely to improve. The odds on favorites are either Clinton or Clark.

[FreedomAngel82]

29. I think you raise a lot of good points

I think one thing that Kerry will have this time is no Terry McAullife with DLC ties. I know I've mentioned this before but I read an interview with Kerry's ex-wife Julia. She was telling how Kerry wanted to go after the SBVT guys but for whatever reason the DNC (headed by Terry McAullife with DLC ties) didn't want Kerry to and also no Bush bashing at the convention (see Al Sharpton). This time around Kerry can probably do a lot better with Dean as chairman. I've never heard Kerry speak ill of Dean and I'm sure they'll work better together more. My dad made an interesting comment that got me thinking. What if the DLC through Terry McAullife wanted Kerry to lose for Hillary so they could run her in 2008? This is why the bad campaign advisors and whatnot. If Kerry just had more power I think he would've done things a lot different. But I agree when it concerns being on the media he should be as clear as possible. I love an intelligent man and want my president to be smarter then me. I don't want him to dumb me down but make me think and inspire me. This is, to me, what Kerry does. Face it: the media won't give Kerry enough time on the air to show who he is as his supporters know him which is quite sad because I think they're missing out on a great person.

[DrFunkenstein]

70. Great Point - Dean Will Be On Kerry's Side This Time Around

Hopefully, Dean will help reassure Kerry that displaying your passion is an asset, not a danger. And I, for one, always get a charge out of seeing them on a stage together.

[Sgent]

36. As a then recovering Rethuglican

I voted for, but didn't work for Kerry.

Kerry has been on the left his entire political career. He runs for pres, and suddenly is a centrist????

He was terrible at directing his campaign. How many people did he fire? How many campaign managers?

I voted for him, but I thought he was an incosistant "go the way the pools go" person with few convictions. He certianly didn't stand on them during the campaign.

IMHO one of the single most damning things was his voting against the funding bill, while voting for the resolution. He did a terrible job on his Iraq policy -- and it showed. Tereasa wasn't far behind. She came off as the classic trust fund idiot who had done nothing but party and enjoy herself -- never facing real life issues. Her IMHO disasterous comment about Laura Bush was the icing on the cake.

[FreedomAngel82]

39. Then you really don't know Teresa very much

Why don't you take the time to get to know someone besides spewing rightwing crap? Teresa has been involved in politics since she was married to John Heinz. She has donated a lot of her money she gets from the Heinz's to charities. I guess you prefer the stepford wife then eh? I love John and Teresa together. She's her own person and not like Laura and George. George just treats Laura in public like a photo-op prop. Teresa is her own being and her own person. Nobody, you can tell, tells her what to do. I want that in a First Lady. Like Elanor Roosevelt.

[Sgent]

40. Telling a certified teacher that had

worked for years that she had never had a real job was insulting and it pissed off a lot of women -- including for instnace my mother who decided to sit at home that day.

You still haven't told me what Teresa has done that makes her anything more than the description I gave above, there is nothing that the campaingn managed to put out other than confirming the impression of vacuous rich snob.

Laura on the other hand was a mother of her chilidren, a wife, a teacher -- a role tha most americans can identify with if not in their life, then that of their parents. She experienced severe tragedy in her life, and although she does come accross as very "stepfordish", her approval ratings as still very, very high.

I'm sorry that you think these are talking points -- they are not (at least from me). If Teresa has depth to her, the campaign failed to get that message out -- which is yet another strike against Kerry's ability to run.

[politicasista]

43. The media blew it out of proportion

They badly smeared Momma T. They wanted her to be seen as a loose cannon. It's too bad people believed the spin instead of listening to people that actually heard her or met her in person. I guess you like the wholesome, hollier than thou first ladies.

[kerrygoddess]

51. I'll tell you right here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1992436&mesg_id=1993600

Oh and FYI...

Teresa Heinz Kerry is a mother to her children too. From what I can see they have turned out far better than the Bush Twins.

Obviously you were never looking for anything concrete on THK, because it was all there on JohnKerry.com during the campaign and it's still there. http://www.johnkerry.com/about/teresa_heinz_kerry/

Laura Bush has got NOTHING on THK. NOTHING.

[kerrygoddess]

49. Teresa Heinz Kerry

Is far from a "classic trust fund idiot who had done nothing but party and enjoy herself." You're actually talking about Laura Bush here not THK.

Teresa is a human rights activist, a women's rights activist and environmental activist...

"Teresa Heinz Kerry was a leader in the long struggle for human rights for Soviet Jewry during the last two decades of the Soviet Union. She was an original member of the group of women who launched Congressional Wives for Soviet Jewry in 1978, which she later co-chaired. She participated in silent vigils in front of the Soviet Embassy in Washington, organized conferences, and led an unprecedented delegation in 1987 to the Soviet Union to meet with “refusniks” (Jews the Soviet government refused permission to emigrate to Israel.)

Teresa traces her advocacy for human rights back to her experiences as a college student in South Africa during the late 1950s. She saw at first hand--and joined in protests against--the unfairness and brutality of the apartheid regime. “That remembrance,” she told a meeting of the American Jewish Committee’s Philadelphia chapter, “propels me to stand tall for those who cannot stand.”" http://www.johnkerry.com/about/teresa_heinz_kerry/citizen.html

If that's not enough for you to get a clue about who you are talking about try these:
http://www.johnkerry.com/about/teresa_heinz_kerry/
http://www.johnkerry.com/about/teresa_heinz_kerry/philanthropy.html
http://www.johnkerry.com/about/teresa_heinz_kerry/environment.html
http://www.johnkerry.com/about/teresa_heinz_kerry/women.html
http://www.johnkerry.com/about/teresa_heinz_kerry/heinz_awards.html
http://www.johnkerry.com/about/teresa_heinz_kerry/leader.html

As for Kerry working to appeal to moderates... the fact is there are more moderates in the country than conservatives or liberals. It's common to switch campaign managers during a presidential campaign, even in the primaries. Dean did it. Clinton did it. Gore did it.

[LittleClarkie]

73. Willing to work with the other side and once questioned affirmative action

He signed Balanced Budget amendments both when they were brought up from the left and the right.

And he was the saner candidate. The one who was willing to think things through and pick the right course, even if that meant working with a Republican once in a while to do it. So yeah, he probably could argue that point.

Nevertheless, any candidate on either side is going to try to appear more moderate than they are when they're trying to get elected. It's either that or lose like McGovern. But what's the difference when a centrist like Clinton will be labeled a lefty anyway by the other side.

As for firing campaign staff, you ask a question rather than give facts. The reality is different than your rhetorical question would imply. The fact is that he was losing in the primaries. So he fired his campaign staff and brought in new ones. Then he started to win in the primaries. Kept that same staff, and brought in others as needed when things began to flag. Would you rather Bush's style of "full steam ahead regardless"?

Recovering or no, you sound like you about half swallowed the talking points anyway. I grant you, you have to pay attention to the dude, but he was rather consistent if you took him as a whole, and not soundbite by soundbite.

One of my favorite resources for the Iraq War, as an example, is www.kerryoniraqwar.com, which is still operational as it was in the campaign. They look at the guy as a whole, and see that he was both consistent and right, on that issue at least.

I just wish he'd have gotten pissed off sooner. He talks in short sentences then.

[LittleClarkie]

75. Second reply, because someone else posted an article

making the opposite claim to you.

Is he a fake Moderate, or a fake Lefty?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1994501&mesg_id=1994552

Can he be both? Maybe it depends on the issue.

Or do we need to decide what we are, and what we want as a party, before we decide what HE is, or was?

[FreedomAngel82]

37. I think what Kerry also needs to do in 2008

is show the public what he's been right about. There's been so much he was correct about, so he should tell people how he was right and how people can trust him. So many times you hear people saying how someone looks as though you can't trust them. Kerry should show the public why they should trust him.

[zulchzulu]

41. I'm finishing up a documentary on the 2004 election cycle...

Many of the speeches that Kerry gave show what many have been saying...that Kerry was correct on so many fronts. Sure, he's not Clinton with a certain down-home delivery...he's a smart man with lots of facts, lots of progressive ideas and lots of fans who love him once they realize he's not a comedian, a red-faced screamer or a person who doesn't take his role serving his country (from soldier to senator) lightly.

I hope to not only show how correct Kerry was in the race but also show how grassroots politics works...that it's not all just over the net...you have to take it to the streets, knock on doors...and of course, showing the Ohio results and the DSM scandals are illustrated.

Kerry learned a lot from the 2004 race and I'm sure he is going to make some staff changes to make his voice more finely tuned.

There is a trailor of the documentary (which shows some footage) for the curious:
QuickTime
Windows Media

[TheDonkey]

48. You'd make a good campaign manager for him, I agree with those points

especially about Kerry picking an issues and making his statements short and sweet. I love to hear his speeches but during soundbyte time he needs to prepare himself for good ones. No one wants to hear a thesis during the nightly news even though the issue might warrant one!

I think Kerry would have a good chance of doing well in the primaries if he learns from his '04 mistakes. I do hope he at least tries and we can all vote for him or not but at least see what he does. I'm all for competition in politics, makes everyone stronger.

[wisteria]

You bring up some good points! I still support Kerry though!

I'm a Kerry supporter and I also have concerns about how he would handle a second run. I do however, strongly feel he would be able to over come much of what was hurled at him during this last campaign. Kerry strikes me as someone who learns from mistakes and doesn't repeat them.
He now have the added benefit of being proved correct on many things discussed during the election. Kerry stills has credibility and I think he is still generally well liked. I never get a negative response from people when I mention him to them. Some people on this blog site and other ones such as OKs, have candidates they want to promote so I can't take their criticisms to seriously. Many don't do anything more then repeat Repub talking points.
Maybe we should consider the fact that the repub smear machine gave it their all this past election, I doubt they could be very effective a second time around trying to discredit Kerry.

[Name removed]

50. Deleted message

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

[Clarkie1]

54. Kerry is not the best or most inspiring candidate in our community.

He is, however, a great American.

[kerrygoddess]

55. Well...

Many would disagree with your assessment. I find him to be extremely inspiring and although he is not currently a candidate for any office, in my opinion he far exceeds the pool of current names offered up.

[Clarkie1]

56. I was just going to add IMO, of course.

It's not just about Clark.

IMO, I think there are many candidates who would better represent the best the Democratic Party has to offer America and lead us forward, not backward...IMO.

I don't want another rehash of the the Vietnam war debate of 2004. It isn't what is best for America, or the Democratic Party. Enough is enough - it is time to move on to the here and now. Every Democrat, when the time comes, needs to think about who would best represent the party to a divided America, not who is their best buddy candidate (I hope you get what I mean by that, I can't think of how to put it any other way).

In any case, 2008 is a long way away and many things will happen between now and then. We need to focus on the present, not the past.

[kerrygoddess]

76. FYI

I never mentioned any names, so you are assuming that I refereed to your buddy candidate. Please don't assume.

You are also assuming that IF Kerry runs again it will be a rehash of the Vietnam war debate. Please don't assume.

Finally since 2008 is a long way away, your snarky comment about Kerry really had no place here. Kerry supporters here are by and large polite enough to keep snarky comments out of Clark supporters threads, have the same respect.

[Montauk6]

57. My worry is that, unless Cheney runs and becomes the nominee,

the overall strategy will be "We're not running against *, we're running against (insert name here); and it's unfair to try to link the two."

[AtomicKitten]

58. Flip-flop, my arse

If you watch archival footage of old Repub campaigns, they dust off "flip-flop" every four years. Doesn't matter who's on deck. Same old, same old.

And I don't accept that the Repubs will crush Hillary or bitch-slap Kerry (again) because the GOP Wrecking Machine will come out swinging no matter who the Dems put up. It's pointless to try to figure out a candidate they won't try to annihilate.

We just need someone who's going to get right back up in their faces and call them on their bullshit, toe-to-toe, insult-to-insult. We need an army of snotty, glib media folks to rip their candidate a new a-hole every day, 24/7. We need to fight fire with fire.

Now about the EVMs without a paper trail ...

[DrFunkenstein]

68. I Don't Know About Insult-For-Insult

But I absolutely agree that Kerry especially must obliterate this tag. Not having the IWR and a party split deeply over Iraq will help (Hillary certainly won't play to the left of Kerry on troop withdrawal).

Kerry needs to be direct, to be Clinton-fast on responding to (and anticipating) GOP talking points, and bring out a forward-thinking agenda point from which to go on the offensive.

If he goes to insults and cheap shots, the media will be all over him faster than you can say "Mary Cheney."

[liberalpragmatist]

77. He should "embrace" the term flip-flop

Seriously. It would have to be done VERY delicately and would be difficult - I'm not sure they'd be able to pull it off. But something like this would work well:

"President Bush and (insert Republican candidate here) live in a fantasty world where they are never wrong. For them, facts don't matter. All that matters is what they believe. But principle must go hand-and-hand with common sense. What does the President do when the facts change? He cups his ears and sings at the top of his voice. What do I do when the facts change? I change my mind. Now maybe in the president's mind that's some unforgivable sin, but I think most people would agree that's common sense. And if having some common sense makes me a flip-flopper, by all means call me a flip-flopper."

If the response is good, the campaign could even employ that in other areas - T-shirts, mugs, slogans - something like:

"We need a flip-flopper" or "Another flip-flopper for Kerry" (say, for Bush supporters who've seen the light)

"Common-sense voter for a common-sense flip-flop"

"I voted against him before I voted for him - another flip-flopper for Kerry."

"Come on America! Flip-flop!"

I am being utterly serious. This is a common rhetorical strategy, where an aggrieved party adopts a derogatory term and makes it their own - think of blacks who call each other the n-word or even the revolutionary-war-era Americans embracing the song "Yankee Doodle."

Doing this would cut the bite out of the Republicans attack and expose what a silly term it really is. And it would show that we have a sense of humor and that we don't take ourselves too seriously.

[AtomicKitten]

79. No, that's for evil minions to do.

We need the liberal equivalent of snotface Michelle Malkin and the like to do the damage.

[lojasmo]

59. The lack of the ABB voters

I certainly won't vote for him again.

[area51]

61. Q: "What About 2004 Does Kerry Have To Deal With in 2008?"

A: Cutting & running in '04 when he promised to make sure every vote was counted. No way am I supporting Kerry.

[flpoljunkie]

62. JK such a smart, decent man who kicked ass in the debates who got not one

break from our cowardly, corrupted, "lapdogs for Dubya" media.

Am hoping the netroots, and we, the people, will force them to do their jobs better in 2008. Otherwise, it will be the same old, same old for whoever is our candidate--with the media swallowing and repeating the RNC talking points.

The "I voted for it before I voted against it" on the $87 billion Iraq supplement was devastating--the gift to Karl Rove that kept on giving. I also cringed at the Convention at the painfully contrived "salute" and "reporting for duty"--and in the debate, my heart sank when he mentioned Mary Cheney's name. The windsurfing did not help him either, and was skillfully and snidely used against him. Image does matter.

Perhaps he has Gore's political tin ear. But I still think John Kerry would have been a magnificent President who would have given us hope for the future of our country--and the planet.

[JHBowden]

71. The 87 billion should't have been a gift.

Kerry voted for the 87 billion that was paid for by rolling back some of the tax cuts for the rich, and voted against the 87 billion that put it on the credit card.

Why Kerry didn't hammer Team Bush for being mendacious is beyond my understanding.

[flpoljunkie]

74. Beyond my understanding, too, that his campaign did not come out swinging.

[Catchawave]

78. I think the Swifties can still hurt him, as well

as the several million Viet Nam/era vets who are STILL alive, and will STILL vote against him 2008.

These are the same a'holes that smeared McCain and Cleland:

http://www.usvetdsp.com/jf_kerry.htm

From The Nation, this is better explained:

"Could Vietnam veterans and their families tip a presidential race? Contemplate this: The most frequently visited monument in Washington is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial."

http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml%3Fi=20040216&s=shapiro

The article is from Feb 2004, but the history won't change :(

Note to self and other Dems, No More War Heroes, please !

[LittleClarkie]

83. Surely even Smear vets know that Ted Sampley is batshit crazy

and living off the POW/MIA issue. The irony is that opening up relations in Vietnam was good for finding MIA's, not bad.

Thing is, those people will always be there. They remind me of the Schindlers. Even though the autopsy showed that Schiavo was truely brain dead, they're still in denial. Even though the 180 showed Kerry served honorably, O'Neill and the rest of them are still in denial.

I dunno. All I know is that I still like him, and that when I look at him, I see someone who looks and feels to me like a President, like someone who would return dignity to the office.

You should look up on Sampley's site for the article on Poppy Bush and how he didn't deserve HIS medals. Gee, I thought he was only after Democrats. Equal opportunity slime.

[Catchawave]

85. That's how I feel about Edwards too.....

He just feels so right.

Sampley should have been an easy target for the McCain people AND the Kerrys. We agree on that :pals:

[DrFunkenstein]

86. McCain Will Be Campaigning And Will Go On Record Again

Against the not-so-Swifties.

[LittleClarkie]

87. Didn't do him all that much good last time did it

I still can't believe that anyone would thing these guys are worth listening to.

Yikes!

[DrFunkenstein]

88. McCain Was Not The Focus Last Time

McCain will be front and center for quite some time. I think there'll be a split in the GOP along the sanity gap between Frist and McCain, and my money is on the brainwashed guy with the illegitimate black kid.

[LittleClarkie]

89. I guess I was thinking about 2000

when he was the focus.

But you're talking about 2004, when he stuck up for Kerry, eh?

[DrFunkenstein]

90. Yes, I Meant 2004

He did a bit of political acrobatics. He knew that he could not openly oppose Bush (or show any interest in Kerry's VP slot) or he would be sunk for 2008 without any GOP infrastructure to back him.

On the other hand, he couldn't let Ted Sampley and his gang of ass-mats piss on Vietnam vets everywhere with a bunch of scummy lies.

[LWolf]

80. Winning another term in the Senate. n/t

[LittleClarkie]

84. Say what you will

The man looks good in jeans.

Piddy pat.