Kerry's train is leaving the station

[Feanorcurufinwe]

Look out George W. Bush. John Kerry's a-comin' for ya.

When he stopped in Michigan on Friday, Kerry, the Democratic senator from Massachusetts, had already refined his new campaign theme: The fight is now with Bush. In a confident and pointed speech in Warren, Kerry appeared to be launching his general election campaign strategy and assuming the air of the Democratic nominee. In short, the Kerry train left the station and began a long haul to November. Although some pundits say Kerry has a lock on his party's nomination, the deal isn't set in concrete yet. However, assuming Kerry emerges as the clear Democratic favorite in the next few weeks, his campaign can begin the work of dissecting the Bush presidency and building on themes that could sway millions of voters in November.

Getting behind one candidate early in the process isn't the traditional Democratic way, but it might be the most effective way this year if the Democrats want to engage Bush -- who is conveniently in the media background while Democrats fight for the nomination -- in honest debate on the economy and the war on terrorism.

Given the growing concern about joblessness and questions about the confusing direction of the war, Kerry is baiting Bush into a head-on collision of ideas, hoping to derail the president as he begins to campaign for a second four-year term.

<snip>

The big difference between Kerry and Bush right now is how each man is inspiring his supporters. In the eyes of many Democrats, Kerry is the perfect anti-Bush as well as a solid president-to-be who already is prepared, at least mentally and politically, to move into the White House. Bush, on the other hand, is having trouble even within his own party over his war-making and expensive domestic spending.

http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/news/stories/20040207/localnews/370009.html

[Old and In the Way]

1. It's going to be the most satisfying campaign of my lifetime.

I reall think we'll be watching the start of a new political dynamic.
It took an a totally worthless Republican monkey-puppet and an ethically challenged Republican Party to energize the American middle class against the continued firesale of this country to the 1%.

Bush vs. Kerry what will they discuss?

The Bush economy? $900BB delta and 3MM jobs gone.

The Bush "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq?

9/11 - Goat stories, trifectas, and fleeing harms way? "George, did you really see the 1st plane on TV?"

bin Laden - Remember him? What was the deal with getting his family out of the country after 9/11?

Harken Oil - Who bought those shares George?

AWOL and , by the way, please explain this one George:
"I've been to war. I've raised twins. If I had a choice,
I'd rather go to war."

-- George W. Bush, Houston Chronicle, January 2002

Gawd, Kerry is going to have so much fun picking this idiot-dumpling apart, it's going to be amazing. Watch Bush avoid debates. Maybe Kerry will stand outside the WH with a megaphone and challenge him to debate like a man. "George, don't go AWOL on the debates, where's your fight man?" hehehehe

[revcarol]

2. Without me

and thousands of others.

thanks for trying to stampede everyone, when 10 % of the delegates have been selected.

It'll be over when the convention sings.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[krkaufman]

4. I just hope someone notices that the bridge is out.

I just hope someone notices that the bridge is out before it's too late.

[Leilani]

5. The bridge is out

That's really good!

[Shanty Oilish]

6. Politics and maturity---both arts of the possible

I've been a Kerry supporter right along, and not for reasons of ideological purity. That won't win this election.
This one's a reactive election. The mood is anti-Bush, not pro any liberal supernova in the sky. The nation is not energized to do great deeds and buff up the political body, it's just Bush-sick. Sufficient, I think, to deny Bush a second term.
That's enough for me. Let's go with a seasoned politician who knows his way around the hill, whose liberal credentials are undeniable, whose campaigns have succeeded and whose gaffes are infrequent.

He can win, and when he wins, the Bush-sick will have relief and the idealists---they may just find that he's got a bigger plan than just keeping the seat warm in the Oval Office.

[markus]

7. It's not about ideological purity

If it was DK would have been leading Dean.

It's about throwing the money changes out of the temple. It's the start of a rebirth of the Progressive movement of 100 year ago in the face of the same challenges.

If Kerry is the nominee, we must all support him. But it must be absolutely clear: if he practices triangulation and appeasment with the neo-Fascists in Congress, he will be a one term President because we will not support his re-selection by our party and media elites.