No Bush Bashing?

[dennis4868]

What do you all think about that? I just heard on AAR that a directive has come down from the Kerry campaign that there is to be NO Bush bashing at the convention. On the one hand I feel that if anyone in the history of the world deserves to be bashed it is Bush. Every incumbent running for re-election gets bashed during the opposing party's convention. So why should Bush be treated with more respect than other incumbent presidents? We all know there is PLENTY of material to use to bash Bush.

On the other hand, I can see where Kerry is coming from. He has a small lead in the polls, and it seems as though many undecided/independent voters are moving closer to Kerry and Kerry needs to close the deal this week with these voters and bashing Bush will not help that in any way. At least that is how Kerry's advisors see it.

Do you agree with Kerry that there should be no Bush bashing at this week's convention in Boston? How would you handle it?

[LuminousX]

1. The convention should be about what Kerry will do for the US

not what Bush had done against the US.

There is plenty of campaigning left to do for that. Kerry is running an optimistic campaign and is hopefully keeping an eye on healing the rift that has ruptured.

[shraby]

2. I agree,

give voters something to vote FOR not against. Kerry has taken the high ground and should stay there. People are tired of Bush's negativeness. It is obvious that he has no positives to run on, so he goes negative against Kerry and anytime someone points a finger, there are 3 more pointing back at themselves.

This is a Democrat convention, and the less Bush is mentioned, the better, otherwise it becomes a Bush convention.

[Hello_Kitty]

3. Swing voters

I do see the Kerry strategists' point with regard to independent and swing voters. Everyone else is pretty much firmly decided. The way to capture the undecided votes is to stress domestic issues and the economy. That's how Reagan won in 1980 and how Clinton won in 1992. So it makes sense but I understand the frustration because Bush has so much to answer for.

[porphyrian]

23. "Undecideds" are a myth this election.

There aren't any undecided voters out there by now. Anyone who says they are undecided at this point just doesn't want to disclose who they're voting for. Without cheating at the polls, this election should be a wash in favor of Kerry. The "undecided" crap is just the right-wing Democrats' excuse to continue sucking corporate cock instead of representing the majority of us.

[Droopy]

4. I wonder if that means they won't attack Bush on policy?

I can understand him not wanting another Whoopi fiasco. I think that's where he's coming from. But what the hell are they going to talk about if they don't bring up Bush's failed policies? It seems like they have to do that. It can't all be just rah rah for Kerry.

[redqueen]

5. I think it's smart

People will be watching to find out about Kerry... this is his chance to introduce himself to undecided voters. Since the purpose of the convention is to rally the Dems and formally nominate Kerry as our candidate, it's only fitting that it should be about him.

[FlaGranny]

6. Every time the Democrats

make an optimistic statement or talk about platform goals, it is a silent Bush* bash. No need to directly bash Bush*. I hope they never mention his name.

[EndElectoral]

7. I disagree

I agree with no Bush bashing in the TV ads, BUT not in this forum.

Bush's record is abysmal, and it must be emphasized what Bozo has done to America.

I don't think of it as Bush Bashing, but telling the truth about the opposition's accomplishments (or non-accomplishments)

I agree civility is important, but Bush's failures must be hit and hit hard.

The danger is in looking pleased with ourselves over Bush's record. It then looks like aren't we clever....

I would like to see some real furor over Iraq, real furor over the ignoring of the environment, the disasterous hela care stories, the borrowing of our children's security by massive military spending abroad, the weakening of our defense to deal with both national and international emergencies such as Sudan. The corporate fraud, the selling of american jobs, the hypocrisy of our foreign policy, the increase in international terrorism, the consumption of fear crated in America, and the ripping away of our personal liberties. The Halliburtons, Enron's, have GOT to be emphasized as on this watch.

I will be very disillusioned if this is just a pep rally for Kerry. I want to see Michael Moore's anger, I want to see AL Gore's fiery and Howeard Dean's fire. If it is just Edwards and Kerry smiling and waving, I think this is the wrong tact. Get people outraged by what is occurring, not just smiling photo ops. I will vote for Kerry because the thought of Bozo returning to office makes me ill, but let's hope Dem's show some kahunas at this convention. If not, I'm gona be pissed.!!!

Goddamit, embrace liberalism, don't run from it!!!

[redqueen]

10. Being Positive has nothing to do with running from Liberalism

e.g. Any Kucinich Speech.

Can't wait to see that. :D

[LiberalEsto]

8. Bush bashing

If the political strategists running the Kerry-Edwards campaign feel it's necessary to dispense with the bashing, so be it. The campaign experts have a better idea of what works and what doesn't, than I have.

We bashers have got more than 3 months to do all the bashing we want.

That said, I wish I were more of an entrepeneur -- I'd be selling Bush, Cheney and GOP elephant pinatas at the convention. People could bring them back as souvenirs and bash away in the privacy of their own homes. Or have Bush bashing parties. Now there's an idea for the viewing parties on the night of Kerry's acceptance speech -- Bash Bush pinatas.

[MuseRider]

9. As much as I love

Bush* bashing I think this is smart. Adding Edwards was the first hint that we were going to take the high road. The high road has not always served us well but in this case all we have to do is tell the truth and have it get reported (that is the crucial part).

[KurtNYC]

11. To me it is a big mistake

Like driving the speed limit in the Indy 500. You HAVE to bash to get your message through this RW filter. At least when they come to you to answer to GOP attacks you have to imbed a bash in your answer. Example: "Why did you vote for the war before you voted against it?" Answer: "why did Bush say he would get international support then fail to do so? I voted to go forward with a coalition..."

Very difficult to draw a contrast to Bush without "bashing."

[BurtWorm]

16. I agree with you.

If it's all bash all the time, that might not work, but no bashing at all signals that it's okay with the Dems if you vote for Bush. :eyes:

[kaitykaity]

12. Kerry takes the high road, and he looks presidential

in the process.

That's the absolute best thing for us.

Let the proxies do the bashing -- Randi, MoveOn, David Brock,
all the rest.

[Kitsune]

13. Kerry, please note: TELLING THE TRUTH IS NOT B*SH BASHING! *nt*

[swag]

14. It's exactly right

This has obv been focus-tested.

The voters they want to attract aren't ready yet to feel as shitty as they should about

907 US soldiers dead for Bush's greedy lies,
20,000 maimed for lies,
17,000 Iraqis (mostly civilians) dead for lies,
our economy wrecked for Bush's lies,
the world destabilized.

The Repukes are on to this shit also, only in their own bad meta-"message: I CARE!" (Dems are PESSIMISTIC) way. They can't convey a message, they can only convey a meta-message.

THE DEMS KNOW WHAT THEY/WE ARE DOING: SHOWING THE OPTIMISTIC WAY TO A BETTER AMERICA!

Get over it and save your helpful negativism for the Republican Convention.

[CO Liberal]

15. It Will Set a Precedent

By taking the high road and focusing on ideas, vision, and our candidate, it will make the GOP look bad if they engage in Kerry-bashing at their convention.

The country will see a sharp contrast between how adults (us) and children (them) act.

[dennis4868]

17. I believe....

Dukakis did the samr thing and lost the election....that is how I remember that campaign.

[swag]

19. Bush/Dukakis - Completely different environment

[CO Liberal]

24. That's Because Dukakis Did Not Respond To The Attacks

We know better now. The responses will be coming, but not from the convention podium.

[thebigidea]

21. "it will make the GOP look bad if they engage in Kerry-bashing"

Yes, because I'm sure the "liberal media" is going to wrinkle their nose at Kerry-bashing by the GOP. After all, why wouldn't they? They've been scathingly critical of all of Bush's Kerry-bashing commercials thus far, right?

Oh, wait...

[thebigidea]

18. Boy, I'm glad they listened to Susan Estrich and Rich Lowry. Uh huh.

Come to think of it, Ed Gillespie just gave an impassioned plea not to bash Bush, saying the Dems would only get a bump from the con if they didn't criticize Bush.

And if any one knows what's best for Dems - its Edd Gillespie.

[VolcanoJen]

20. There's a difference between "bashing" and "debating."

Hillary Clinton just went after Bush and his policies in an interview with Judy Woodruff on CNN, and she certainly wasn't holding back.

She made her points eloquently, and lucidly, and from watching her, I think it's clear that nobody is attempting to discourage dignified debate that will appeal to undecided voters during our convention.

Watch Hillary all week for cues... I think she's got it down, and that's why she's been sent out to the media to lead the pack when it comes to debating Bush's policies. :D

Hillary Clinton with Judy Woodruff - GD thread and play-by-play

[Generator]

22. I don't know how I feel about that but I'm disgusted to the TEE

about these attacks on Teresa? What about that shit? I'm getting to the point I don't want to be in this country anymore.

It feels like Jew-baiting to me. It feels like pure hatred. The hatred is from THEM. What we say is not hate-it's the fucking truth. Bush is a liar. That's not hate. Is this nightmare going to end? Is it? I feel we have a media that is verging on pure propaganda.

If Bush bashing means telling the truth then the soul of the Democrats is LOST. What's the point? The only thing that gave us any fire was Howard Dean telling the truth as it is. This fucking country can't handle the truth. Who the fuck needs Democracy? Why even have an election? Let's just install leaders and forget about it. I swear to God if this worthless lying man is selected to lead here I'm leaving. I will have no love left for the people here anymore. You get the leaders, you get the future you deserve. You deserve George W. Bush and his lies and his religious vision of armageddon? Great, goodbye. I don't want your world anymore.