Who Made This Decision?

[Kong]

From today's Washington Post:

"Democrats prepared for the opening day of a national convention that party officials vowed would accentuate the positive and tone down attacks on President Bush"

Why?

[K-W]

1. Someone intelligent.

Lets use this convention to present a candidate with leadership abilities who has a clear and positive picture of the future of America.

[bryant69]

4. Right on

The Convention has to be about showing how America will be better if we elect John Kerry. The nation already knows that we don't like President Bush, this is a chance to highlight the positive steps that Senator Kerry will take to improve this nation.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[ronnykmarshall]

23. It's a smart move.

[redqueen]

2. Apparently Kerry did!

Smart, considering we don't need to use this time to define Bush. We should use this time to give Americans a chance to get to know John Kerry.

[never cry wolf]

3. John Kerry did

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2063368

[Cleita]

5. I think Bush's mismanagement of his office should be spoken

about loudly and clearly. It's a mistake not to.

[K-W]

7. That isnt the issue, the issue is if we speak about anything else.

Bush is being attacked every day, the question is, should kerry and his campaign focus on attacking, or focus on presenting Kerry as the right man for the presidency.

[Journeyman]

9. We've still got 99 days to bash BushCo. . .

Let's give America five days of hope and optimism -- let the American voter make his own comparison with Shrub's shrill attacks -- and give the public something to vote for instead of just someone to vote against.

[LSdemocrat]

6. I'm sure they'll be plenty of Bush bashing,

just not in the highlighted network (ABC, CBS, NBC) covered speeches.

[LunaC]

8. He said "Tone down"

not stop it altogether. I'm sure the Dems will get their swipes in without being overt. The Dems will show what a Class Act is all about.

[Selwynn]

10. Someone with a fucking brain!

Americans rapidly get sick of endless criticism and atacks made on opponents. This is why the Bush strategy right now is backfiring. If Dems run a positive, issue oriented, candidate oriented convention - I will be extremely happy.

It takes little to no BRAINS to keep making the tired old and obvious criticisms against the other guy. It takes far more intelligence and character to have a real honest to god plan for what you are for, and what you intend to do, and what you stand for, and why somone should support YOU, not just oppose the other guy.

And if the Republicans come to their convention and do nothing but Bash the Democrats, they are going to turn off lots and lots of people.

[WilliamPitt]

11. THEY'RE ALL TRAITORS AND SCUM AND SHOULD BE STOMPED

LIKE OBAMA!!!!

Or something.

:eyes:

[Sparrow]

24. why is every post of yours

sarcastic and condescending towards everyone?

[WilliamPitt]

26. Because I hate you

:P

[redqueen]

12. Heard that many undecideds were interested in hearing about Kerry

on NPR this a.m. - Bush they know about already. They need to learn about Kerry.

If these people tune in and see mainly bush-bashing they won't really learn anything about Kerry, and they might just get upset at the tone and tune out.

[Selwynn]

20. That's exactly right.

[AntiCoup2K4]

13. Because the DLC ASSKISSERS want to control this convention

or at least every second of prime time coverage.

And it's a ridiculously BAD strategy.

This week is Kerry's one and only opportunity (besides possibly the debates - if there are any, and I seriously doubt there will be more than one) to show "middle America" how he's different, and indeed better than Bush.

How in fucking blue blazes do you do so without pointing out what a complete fucking failure Bush is?

[Selwynn]

19. Or... you know.... not.....

"How in fucking blue blazes do you do so without pointing out what a complete fucking failure Bush is?"

Answer: by doing it.


Kerry will do nothing but show American how he is different and better than Bush. Pointing how what a failure Bush is, something that the (slim) majority of Americans already understand, even those still not sure they will vote for Kerry, has little to do with demonstrating why Kerry is the RIGHT choice for America. Pointing out how wrong the other guy is has very little with pointing out how right our guy is. It's easier to lambaste someone else's failures than it is to put your fucking money where your mouth is and talk about what YOU will do to make it different.

He will do that by actually talking about who HE is and what HE is for rather than the mindless attacks on opponents that anyone with a third grade education can do. It's not that there will be no mention of the administration's failures. It is that the FOCUS will be on what Kerry has to actually OFFER.

Its the difference between a "vote for me because I'm not Bush" campaign and "vote for me because I am the best person for the job" campaign. The latter is what will win.

[Pastiche423]

14. Sensible Liberals

Advised by Will Marshall, no doubt.

Let's all become Depublicans! It's the latest rage!

:eyes:

[Individualist]

15. So true!

In a speech to the National Press Conference in '95, Senator Ted Kennedy said the following: "If Democrats run for cover, if we become pale carbon copies of the opposition and try to act like Republicans, we will lose -- and deserve to lose. As I have said on other occasions, Democrats must be more than warmed-over Republicans. The last thing this country needs is two Republican parties."

If he goes along with the DLC agenda for the convention, I'll be very disappointed.

[unfrigginreal]

16. Nothing wrong with toning down attacks

but there damned sure better be some contrasting going on. To hear the "sensible" Democrats on this board, they falsely submit that it's an all bash or nothing proposition. Funny that these folks that were so hell bent on giving us the candidate of nuance now revert to black or white arguments.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. The roll over and wag your tail DLC.

Who else would pander to the folks who vote for candidates because of their underwear or get upset at the truth?

[dryan]

18. Watch...

videos of both the 1992 GOP and Democratic conventions. Whomever is in charge made the right decision...Americans want to hear something positive.

[Pastiche423]

22. Positively one party for America?

[ACK]

21. Americans already negative on Bush

The strategy is get them positive on Kerry.

Focus on humanizing the candidate and toning down but not eliminating attacks on Bush.

All in all considering the negative impression of Bush, it is not a bad policy.

[K-W]

25. And now think of this in light of the spin.

With the republicans getting media access to spin our convention they are going to try and make it seem like all we are doing is bashing bush and being pessamistic etc.

Think of how bad it would have been if that actually was our convention. We would be playing right into thier hands.