A realization I had about what the RW attacks on Edwards are about.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

The sheer number and intensity of the RW attacks on Edwards in the last 36 hours or so is so incredible as to be ridiculous. I mean, I'd be embarrassed if the Dems did anything remotely like this in response to the Repubs announcing their VP candidate, especially if the attacks were so generally without substance.

But it occurred to me that these attacks are probably primarily geared towards their Republican base. They probably realize this ticket will be immensely appealing to most Democrats, and they will have a hard time keeping truly independent swing voters from paying attention to the Kerry/Edwards ticket and their message and making up their own minds (but they'll try).

But they are probably REALLY REALLY WORRIED about that Atlanta/Raleigh/Memphis suburban housewife whose household votes Repub and listens to Rush, who turn on the TV and hey, there's an appealing Southern guy with an attractive young family. Let's listen to what he has to say. Let's watch the 1hr. Barbara Walters special interview with him and his family. Wow, I really like that guy! Starts to unconsciously make the visceral comparison between Kerry/Edwards family pics we've seen the last day versus the recent images of Baron von Cheney/Harkonnen. The wheels begin to turn.

They want to try to plant some ugly smear in that lady's head before she even begins to get a chance to form any opinion at all about him, hence the desperation to smear so hard in just this first 2 days! I think they are the MOST worried about losing some of their own previously "reliable" voters, particularly in the South, to us, because of Edwards. That is the real reason for this attack blitz.

[Kool Kitty]

1. I think you're right.

They are terrified. As my late Dad would say, "Bush doesn't know whether to shit or go blind." I think they are scared and they should be.

[Cats Against Frist]

2. I think they're scared & the scared don't play nicey

As much optimism that is floating around about the ticket, I still have uneasy feelings. There's a long way to go, and I hope and pray that "the terra" doesn't hit the elections -- I'm even worried that they'll plant strategic "disruptors" at the Republican Protest convention, to get the "Four Dead in O-hi-o" wheels spinning in the heads of their 45-60-year-old voting block.

I loved the poll that showed that people already think Edwars (by double digits) would make a better president than Snarly. There is something absolutely irresistable about those family pictures and those two little blonde kids.

And they know it -- all it takes is one little narrative to float and their whole Oxycontin house of cards can come collapsing in. There are numerous chinks to be exploited -- but they'll be exploited much easier with the palatable John Edwards exploiting them.

[Sugarbleus]

3. Well said. LOL------>'Snarly' lol n/t

[Cats Against Frist]

4. I can't take credit for that

some people on here call the Bush ticket "Smirky/Snarly."

I like it too, though.

[Must_B_Free]

5. They already hinted at using a new ion weapon on the crowd

They have a new stun gun that works on an entire crowd of people, using ions to either burn or shock them into submission.

Imagine the city block being turned into an outdoor microwave oven or localized lightening cloud.

too bad if you have a pacemaker like cheney, I guess.

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/06/30/new.stun.guns/index.html

[shraby]

6. People should probably wrap themselves

in tin foil with the shiny side out. Might deflect the laser beams???

[lanparty]

7. COMPETENCE !!!!

It's geared toward attacking people who are competent and accomplished. The likes of Bush and Cheney just can't compare to Kerry and Edwards.

The Republicans are REALLY SCARED of Edwards. He has the charm communication skills of Bill Clinton. He has declared open rebellion against the covert class warfare that's been going on in this nation for way too long.

They're scared of Edwards because he can talk authoritatively about WHY their caps on jury awards are bullshit. How the only people they'll help are big corporations. He's been there and he KNOWS they're full of shit and can point out MANY, MANY instances where class action lawsuits have saved tens of thousands of lives by forcing corporations to reform or face massive financial loss.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[LittleApple81]

9. I prefer to base the vote on looks, character, real life experiences

instead of misguided religion and believing that my candidate gets his marching orders to global war from God.
Or voting for a "governor" and getting a curtain and Cheney the puppeteer behind the curtain.
Or.....

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. The superficial stuff helps get people in the door to listen to the

candidate who might not otherwise.

You don't think there's any problem with people voting for shrub just because they think he's a Christian without any regard for his policies?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

12. Well, you voted for a Governor with no real-world experience

and Edwards is light years more qualified than him and his VP.

[Justice]

11. You Are Right - Edwards Has "It"

So much of Bush's appeal to his followers is that he is just like them, a regular Joe - he cannot speak, he is not engaged, he does not tell the truth - all of that is cast aside - because people think Bush is just like them. In that sense, Bush is like Clinton - many people don't care about any of his policies, they connect with him on a human basis, and that is why they like him.

Edwards has the same appeal as Clinton, and frankly, as Bush. They know it and we know it - and they are scared $$##@less.