Should any of the Democratic candidates go visit troops?

[coloradodem2005]

With the media all abuzz about Bush going to Iraq, and the concern over our chances, should a dem presidential candidate (Dean, Clark, et al) go visit one of the war zones on Christmas or New years?

[tritsofme]

1. No, it would look too much like overt politicking.

A sitting president could do such a things and claim a role as "commander in chief" but the media would roast our dem for doing something similar.

[JailBush]

2. And give the Republicans an opportunity to kill them and blame it on

Iraqi freedom fighters???

[Occulus]

3. They should each

clandestinely spend two days there. Inform nobody. Stagger their visits so as to appear perfectly normal. Videotape that, collectively roll out their footage at the next debate. That could turn the debate into a serious discussion about the conditions on the ground in Iraq. The true situation, with visual proof, would be thrust upon a lulled and unsuspected public- a bit like dropping a boulder into a swimming pool.

Just my opinion. Wanna show * for the liar he is? Fine by me. But if I'm gonna suggest something, it sure ain't gonna be halfway. They should show some spine, do what * wouldn't even think of doing, observe, record, document, and then blast it onto the debate stage all at once.

Picture it. We already know Iraq will be a campaign issue. The Democratic candidates need to do something together to individually increase their chances of winning. * is going to use Iraq as a campaign issue, and if you include the Thanksgetting visit, he already is. The Dems desperately need to show the public the unvarnished truth of iraq just to get the issue off the table or firmly on it once and for all.

If things are as rosy as * would like to paint it in Iraq- something I heartily doubt- the Dems can pick the situation apart with their individual, multi-source video presentations and describe how their policies could make the best of our nation's success work for them. That would turn the issue in their favor in general; it would inject fresh ideas into the question of Iraq's future as well as our own.

If, however, Iraq is a mess, they will be able to shock the American public into stunned awareness in one single brutal frontal assault. This, I should note, would be an appropriate response. Policy, policy, policy. That element needs to be part of the Democratic candidates' platforms in regard to Iraq's future.

Incidentally, ours depends upon it as well.

[caledesi]

4. I think they should go to some of the funerals.

I even suggested this to Dean.

[burning bush]

8. Absolutely

Dean, Kucinich, and Clark should show up at the funerals, talk to the families of the soldiers, be compassionate, but never political. Let this go on for a few weeks, then leak it to the press that families X spoke with Clark, Y visited with Kucinich, and Z sat with Dean at the funeral of their son.

Don't make the candidates the story, make the families the story.

We have got to play a different game this year. High Rollers only, please.

[DinahMoeHum]

15. Especially if it's a soldier from their home state. . .

n/t

:kick:

[maveric]

5. Only the ones who didnt vote for the resolution.

Those from the senate who enabled bu$h have no place there.

[JohnKleeb]

6. Then that leaves DK

heh.

[sandnsea]

7. Kucinich?

Every other candidate backed war in Iraq under varying circumstances. If the ones who had to make a vote are responsible, then the ones who were saying Saddam must be disarmed, go in unilaterally in 30-60 days, are just as responsible.

Dennis was a lone voice calling for an end to sanctions and inspections through diplomacy only. He is apparently the only choice for President.

[Occulus]

9. Actually,

that ALL have a place there, at least to go look. Agfter all, how can they possibly claim that their admin would be better for Iraq than * if they've not actually seen it with their own eyes?

[imax2268]

10. if any one of them go...

they should meet with some Iraqi people...since ChimpCo didn't bother to even acknowledge they exsisted...

then maybe they should go see some of the soldiers who are camped out in tents...out in the heat, the cold and rain...not in some hanger where service workers are(nothing against them...they are soldiers too)...

or they could go to the military hospitals and visit with the wounded since ChimpCo has all but forgotten about them as well...unless he has the Press Corp with him for his weekly photo-op...

It would probably be a good idea...but the rethugs will probably cry foul...

[wndycty]

11. No it will look real bad. . .

. . .unlike Bush, who pulled a fast one, no Democrat can spin it as anything but politics.

[IndianaGreen]

12. Which candidate will ask the GIs to provide security for the trip?

You will be asking GIs to risk themselves to provide security to a Democratic candidate. I don't think that is the message we want to send.

A better message would be to do the same thing Ike did in 1952 when he said that if elected he will go to Korea. Ike did visit Korea in December 1952.



During his 1952 campaign for president Dwight Eisenhower had famously declared, "I shall go to Korea." The statement gave Americans, tired of the war, hope that Ike could end it. In early December 1952, while he was president-elect, Ike made a surprise 3-day visit to South Korea. As Stephen Ambrose notes in his biography, "The trip was carried out in great secrecy--while Eisenhower was gone, daily bulletins were issued ... announcing Cabinet appointments and giving the impression that Eisenhower was busy making the selections." Ike met with combat troops and flew a reconnaissance mission. "He studied an artillery duel with his bionoculars, chatted with the troops, ate outdoor meals from a mess kit, and came to the conclusion that the situation was intolerable."

http://hnn.us/articles/1827.html

[ima_sinnic]

13. I think they should wait until the candidate is elected

after the primaries

Then make a trip in order not only to visit the troops but also to report back on the truth of what is going on there and what is needed.

Before the primaries I think it would be spun as opportunistic electioneering.

The only way it would work before the primaries would be if all of them went down together on a fact-finding mission. That, however, would be a little too revolutionary for these times--it would actually bring the Democrats together in unity.

Attending funerals and visiting families could also be spun as opportunism by the repukes though the idea of talking about it later, after the fact, would definitely help to alleviate that.

JMHO

[coloradodem2005]

14. Great Idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!