I really want to see Kerry pre-empt the whole Osama thing....

[Gloria]

in other words,start talking about what I heard today on the BBC....that it doesn't really make any difference whether Osama is there or not, because Al-Qaeda has changed. It is many local groups who are free to devise their own plans. The reporter said that sometimes an "expert" from the top may come in to help set something up, but then he will leave and the locals will do the job.

In other words, Kerry should start getting into the brains of Americans that Osama, if he is "miraculously" caught two days before the election, isn't the big problem. The big problem is that the Al-Qaeda operation has spread and is now very hard to track....

Which points to misguided use of resources in going into Iraq, where a whole other hornet's nest has been stirred up...

And, frankly, I just have to express my opinion that Clark is the best choice for VP because he has been on this "wrong war, wrong time" theme and about how we didn't go after Osama when we should have and how we should have shut the whole operation down then.

[sangha]

1. I agree

I also think he needs to mention Republican dirty tricks and the October Surprise. Wrapping them all up the way you describe would help Kerry accentuate his leadership and his strength while also showing he is not a simple thinker.

[Gloria]

3. Yes..and Clark already has spoken about a Saddam trial being timed

before the election as being "political."

Clark has no fear about speaking on this stuff....that's why I want him in full view until the election, and on the national stage....

[sangha]

6. IMO, one of the benefits of Dem Unity

is that we're going to see a lot of "surrogates" speaking out about all sorts of things, which will lead the press to ask Kerry about it.

[maddezmom]

2. Al Quada is like a franchise

a sick as that sounds. But I think you're on to the new structure of the organization.

[KissMyAsscroft]

4. I agree...

He needs to paint Bush as a simpleton who is not up to the complex challenges that the "New War on Terror" offers.

[virgdem]

5. Have you thought of bringing this up to Kerry's campaign -

I am compiling a list of suggestions about topics that I think are important for them to focus on. This will be added to that list. It is vitally important that we stay on top of events and preempt any message or definition of Kerry that they want to instill in the mind of the voter. Hit them fast and hard. So far, I think Kerry is doing an excellent job of fighting back and staying on message. We have to anticipate every dirty trick and maneuver that these bastards throw at us.

[Gloria]

7. I'm not involved with any campaign now, but if you are and want to

send it to someone with Kerry, fine with me.

While I think Kerry is doing fine "fighting back" I want to see him more on the offensive, and this and the Saddam trial manipulation are the most important manipulative tools that Bush has left in his arsenal.

If Kerry starts addressing them NOW, leading the public along, then he can rob Bush of his two big phony issues.....

[Forkboy]

8. Excellent points

:thumbsup:

[Guaranteed]

9. If they catch Osama, Bush is getting re-elected.

May as well not even "worry" about it.

On edit: By the way, I think we're already doing a good job of pre-empting some kind of "Osama surprise" by just getting the word out that the Bush administration would be willing to be so manipulative. I doubt they'd be stupid enough to release it anywhere near the election, now, since people are waiting to jump on them.

[grannylib]

10. Agreed...they need to negate any positive spin the Bushies might put on

capturing Osama (like Chimp-boy can take any credit for that anyway; he said he didn't know and didn't care where he was, so neener neener nee-ner...)
There is bound to be backlash from Al Qaeda when they trot OBL out, so we will NOT be safer, far from it. The Terra Lert Level will go up, just as it did after OUR TROOPS 'got' Saddam, while we were being told how much safer we were.

[NV1962]

11. Clark's good VP for the campaign...

but he'd be a bit overqualified for the job itself - I'd prefer him as Secretary of State.

But you're right, he'd be a major asset for the campaign - the ticket would be really an armored blitz on Bush's home turf: national security.

Edited to add my agreement about the preemption of ObL bit - sorta lost track of the topic itself! :D

[dusty64]

12. Me too. He also

needs to start hammering on the fact that another "terra" attack on the US will mean TOTAL failure of our regime. I'm fearing they will pull another one out of their hat to scare the public into keeping them, as that seems to be our Pravda's mantra re: Spain's election. "A vote for the opposition is a vote for the terrorists", I'm pretty sure now that is their October "surprise" and it needs to be addressed ASAP!

[tobius]

13. pre-empt the whole osama thing? all the candidates thru the

primaries were very outspoken that the failure to capture osama was proof that the war on terror was misguided. it was a mantra on the stump and during the debates.
he has to be careful not to look like he is changing his mind to blunt the effect of catching OBL.