Kerry's AFL-CIO speech was less than inspiring.

[BurtWorm]

:boring:

It reminded me of an early SNL sketch, with all those uniformed workers standing pointlessly in the background and Kerry droning on and on and on and on and on and on and on (ad infinitum).

If Kerry's goal is to keep the excitement level as near absolute zero as possible, he's doing a brilliant job. :thumbsup:

[molly]

1. Someone besides me is excited - he's leading in the polls

[BurtWorm]

3. I see that. I only worry that his exaggeratedly uninspiring style

will give the RNC an opportunity to drive a wedge between Bush-despisers who find Kerry inspiring (for some reason) and the rest of us who don't. All they have to do is find the sweet spot in which to drive it and enough of us will lose the impetus to even bother voting, or will vote for someone else who does give us a charge, for Bush to win at the margins, which is precisely where he HAS to win. Ifrankly don't understand Kerry's cautiousness. He has an opportunity to blow this wide open by exciting people--finally--to vote FOR him, whereas now we all just want to vote AGAINST Bush.

[seaglass]

12. So the weaklings will abandon the battle, what else is new? n/t

[BurtWorm]

14. Nice talk from a Democrat!

Which weaklings are you referring to? The ones who've been protesting Bush since December 12, 2000? The ones who've been in the streets protesting the war Kerry and his fellow war wimps in Congress enabled? Are those the weaklings you're talking about?

[seaglass]

41. The weaklings are those that cannot perservere against

adversity.

The ones who bitch and complain about Bush policies, want Bush out, but are not strong enough to accept that the only viable option for accomplishing that goal is not to their liking.

So they whimper and complain and threaten not to vote ot they vote for a candidate who has no chance of accomplishing the goal. Those are the weaklings.

[BurtWorm]

42. If it makes you feel better to call people who disagree with you weaklings

well, whatever floats your boat.

[chimpymustgo]

2. Fortunately - MANY disagree with your assessment. Read this from WaPo:

Kerry Accuses Bush of 'Middle-Class Squeeze'
Democrat Declares Why He's Running

By Lois Romano
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 16, 2004; Page A15

-snip-
In a passionate speech before 800 union members here, the Massachusetts senator laid out his views on a myriad of populist issues -- from the standard of living to health care. "I'm running for president because . . . ," Kerry said repeatedly throughout the busy day of speeches and fundraisers in two competitive states -- New Jersey and Ohio.


"I believe in building up our great middle class," he told New Jersey's AFL-CIO. "I'm running for president because I want an economy that strengthens and expands the middle class, not one that squeezes it."


Kerry excoriated the administration for ignoring those who are struggling in favor of the wealthy, and for protecting pharmaceutical companies rather than consumers. He ridiculed the administration for developing a complicated tax code that he said panders to corporate America. "Our tax code has gone from 14 pages to 17,000 pages. Do any of you have your own page?" he said to laughter from his union audience. "Enron got its own a page. . . . And it looks like Halliburton got a whole chapter."


The forcefulness of Kerry's delivery and the words he chose were clearly intended to address critics in his party who privately say Kerry -- who often comes off as aloof and elitist -- has failed to excite the Democratic base and to give dissatisfied Republicans and swing voters positive reasons why they should turn to him for leadership.

-snip-

Kerry was well-received at his stops in New Jersey and, later, in Ohio, where several hundred turned out in the rain to hear him. In New Jersey, he brought union members to their feet at least a half-dozen times with his speech. "He was very, very good, and I feel much better after hearing him," said Tom Fischbach, a steelworker who said the Massachusetts senator exceeded his expectations. "He said what needs to be done -- he wasn't at all mushy."

-snip-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44661-2004Jun15.html

[BurtWorm]

5. Interesting.

:wtf:

[AP]

17. That was the best speech he has given since he started this campaign.

I saw a low count DU'er who said that Kerry shouldn't be talking about class, and I'd say that that has got to be motivate by fear from someone who doesn't want him to have a winning message.

[BurtWorm]

18. His best speech? That's not saying much, in my opinion.

I don't care what class Kerry comes from. I only care that he kicks the shit out of Bush like he means it.

[JI7]

38. did you read the recent oliphant article

the one on mccain and edwards? the second part about edwards is mostly about the primary and why kerry and edwards did well. and this afl-cio speech reflected much of that.

[trogdor]

4. I prefer boring to the status quo.

So should you.

[BurtWorm]

6. I plan to vote for Kerry as it stands. But he keeps turning me off.

It's him, not me. I'll do my part to get Bush the fuck out of office, but I wish Kerry would do his part a little more enthusiastically. I find it disrespectful of the "average Americans" he's allegedly trying to court.

[ACK]

7. I thought he had some fire back in his belly

Many of the lines seemed to come from a man back with some fire in his belly.

Lines about the lower wages of the jobs and the middle class squeeze that is classic Dem populist talk.

_

[BurtWorm]

8. If that's fire in the belly, then my boredom must really be excitement.

Yeah! That's the ticket!

[chimpymustgo]

9. Don't forget to vote in this poll:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1798738

[BurtWorm]

10. Thanks! I just did.

Kerry needs me more than I need him. He better remember that. We survived Bush II term I (almost) without his help, after all.

[ACK]

26. Your boredom is a sign you have already made up your mind

That is the real ticket.

_

[BurtWorm]

27. I have pretty much made up my mind to vote for Kerry,

but I'll keep kicking him if he doesn't show signs of life all the way to Election Day.

[ACK]

28. There are some good populist lines in there:

From the Wash Post of course:

"I believe in building up our great middle class," he told New Jersey's AFL-CIO. "I'm running for president because I want an economy that strengthens and expands the middle class, not one that squeezes it."


Kerry excoriated the administration for ignoring those who are struggling in favor of the wealthy, and for protecting pharmaceutical companies rather than consumers. He ridiculed the administration for developing a complicated tax code that he said panders to corporate America. "Our tax code has gone from 14 pages to 17,000 pages. Do any of you have your own page?" he said to laughter from his union audience. "Enron got its own a page. . . . And it looks like Halliburton got a whole chapter."

Alright that is not the meek middle of the road tone he was taking just a month or so ago.

I will kick a man but when he comes up with "expand the middle, not squeeze it" style line then my populist alarm goes off and I hear what I know the American public wants the Dems to have the guts to say.

_

[BurtWorm]

29. It's been pointed out by better minds than mine

that Kerry is reluctant to talk about any class but the "middle class." He doesn't talk much about working people or the working poor--the real victims of corporate capitalism. It's as though he's afraid of being accused of engaging in "class warfare."

But I will grant that was a nice riff on the pages of the tax code.

[ACK]

31. Other riffs not that I will totally convince you

From a post by papau:

At Bally's near the Boardwalk, the Senator cited Langston Hughes' "Let America Be America" no less than six times.

"It's not just an election. This is a fight for our lives. This is a fight for justice. This is a fight for rights."

"America needs a president who fights for your job as hard as he fights for his own."

Going on to describe cuts made by the administration and concluding, "If you think that's compassionate conservatism, then Dick Cheney is Mr. Rogers."

"I believe in the American worker; I believe in the American entrepreneur," then quoting Scripture to say, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be."

above as reported in ABCNote

_

[BurtWorm]

35. I guess you had to be there.

:boring:

[buff2]

11. I don't think your light bulb is very bright

:nopity:

[TexasSissy]

13. He's not an inspiring guy. And now, he's being overly cautious.

Ho-hum.

[BurtWorm]

19. I am keeping my fingers crossed, holding onto the slim belief

that Kerry will come on fire in September and October. It's painful to wait, though, and as I say, the belief is slim.

[sandnsea]

15. You've convinced me

I was wrong. I never should have supported Kerry. We're doomed. It's all over, 4 more years of Bush. I'm going to go back to my business which I've been neglecting horribly the last year. No point in wasting my time on a hopeless cause.

[BurtWorm]

16. He is hopeless, isn't he?

Four years to mount an attack on the worst. president. ever. And this is what we come up with? Gott help us.

PS: I'm not out to convince anyone of anything. I'm just trying to get this off my chest. I can't sit idly by while Kerry bores me to tears and say nothing about it. I'm usually right with the Dem by this point and with him all the way to Election Day, more and more ardently. Kerry hasn't lit a single spark in me. It's not I who should be apologizing for that!

[sandnsea]

20. You're right

I'm convinced. I quit. No more Kerry for me. Too bad I wasted a year of my life getting him elected. Live and learn I guess.

[BurtWorm]

21. Now why did you do that?

I don't get it. I usually get the Dem by this point in the campaign. I don't get Kerry yet. What was it about him that got you interested or inspired, if you will--or whatever word is most appopriate to describe the feeling Kerry arouses, if that's not too strong a word?

[sandnsea]

30. Just blind and stupid I guess

Like the rest of the country. Who knows. We're dupes, that's clear now.

[BurtWorm]

33. Thanks for explaining.

:eyes:

This seems to be a consistent position of a lot of Kerry supporters--not just you. If someone doesn't get Kerry, you chide them for not being with the program, but you don't give us a reason to get with the program. "If you don't get Kerry by now, you'll never get him," you've been saying--for months! Well, I don't get him, and I want to get him. I don't just want to get rid of Bush--which is, at the moment, the ONLY compelling reason for voting for Kerry that I can see--I want to vote for a president who stands for something recognizable.

[sandnsea]

39. I'm not chiding anybody

Don't you understand? You win. I was wrong. I quit.

[BurtWorm]

40. Ok.

:toast:

[zulchzulu]

22. He decided not to do magic tricks and tell jokes at the last minute

Granted some people want an entertainer to be President. Someone we can have a barbeque with in the backyard. Someone we can have a beer with. Someone who looks ya right in the eye and smiles like you're the only dude in the room. Kissin' babies and glad-handing the crowd like there's no tomorrow.

Kerry was going to do some magic tricks in the middle of the speech to liven up the crowd. It turns out the advance team didn't supply the disappearing dove and saws in the box materials. No wand either. What the hell were they thinking??? Not even a dancing monkey he could improvise some schtick with....man oh man.

They didn't have the guy with the snare drum and cymbal to play on cue when Kerry was going to tell jokes.

What the hell is Kerry thinking? Here we are now. Entertain us.

[BurtWorm]

23. What was with the human props behind him?

Wasn't that some kind of attempt at being "media savvy?" I could have done without that. I could have done with a speech that had some muscle behind it.

[zulchzulu]

24. Ever been to a rally?

If you have, you know that people are always behind Kerry (or any other speaker)...it's stage envy. The people who were behind him were AFL-CIO heavy-hitters, Kerry volunteers and others that were approved by the advance team and had gone through security.

I personally never really care about who's behind Kerry in a speech on the stage unless it's someone I know or recognize.

The speech had muscle...it wasn't blustery or in a screaming tone. The screaming Banshee act is not Kerry's style.

[BurtWorm]

25. There's no reason to have people *standing* behind you like props

when you're giving a policy address. Yesterday was not a rally. Those people were props, nothing more.

[zulchzulu]

32. Dude, he spoke before around 800 AFL-CIO members....that's a rally

If not called a "rally", it's a gathering at a conference hall with a stage and whatever...believe me, the people that were on the stage were there because someone who organized the event allowed people who probably had done volunteer work for the Kerry campaign or the AFL-CIO.

[BurtWorm]

34. At rallies they don't usually have to order you to cheer.

You usually do it on your own because you're moved.

[zulchzulu]

43. I didn't see the "Applause" sign anywhere at the event

C'mon...duuuude.

[lojasmo]

36. WHA!! Kerry less than inspiring!?!?!

sarcasm and flameproof suit on.

He is better than bush, though. At least he can field questions with a modicum of sense and aplomb.

[BurtWorm]

37. Good points.

:thumbsup:

Of course my cats have more aplomb and are better at answering questions than Bush.

[MessiahRp]

44. Locking

This thread is written in a flamebait way meant to criticize Kerry and draw the ire of his supporters.

Rp