I think from this day forward our candidates should only run against

[Toots]

The Republican Party and not the individual. Kerry should have made his campaign against the Republican Party instead of Bush*. If we do this with every election we should be able to do to Republican what they have done with Liberal. We can start with The Contract with America. That was done to Prove that Republicans keep their words. A great many Republicans promised to term limit themselves afteer the Supreme Court ruled that they were unconstitutional. How many kept their promise? Every sleazy thing tom delay has done and said should be made public. Every crime committed by a Republican Politician should be made known especially those of a sexual nature seeing as how hung up on sex they are. It should always be against the Party and what things they are doing to the nation. It would be much easier to pool information that way. Money as well.

[mitchtv]

1. sounds good to me

that's how they did it

[Nite Owl]

2. I think it would be a great idea

but I can't see it happening. These guys get on tv and they seem like they are all buddies. 'My good friend...' and saying how they agree on some things. It's more like it's a big club to them.

[tsuki]

7. I watch President Carter address this issue. He said when he

ran against President Ford, the dialog was so much more civil. Americans would have never put up with the name calling and lying. He and Ford always address each other as "my distinguished opponent," or "my distinguished colleague." To do otherwise would have brought the wrath of the electorate against them.

24/7 hate radio and TeeVee New$ has made forms of address that were not acceptable in 1975-1976 the preferred method of communication today.

[Ken Burch]

3. And if they do that, they HAVE to be willing to say

"HELL YES, I'm a liberal, and here's why."

That's the only way to get voters to respect us. If they don't respect us and think we don't respect our principles, we don't win.

[BlueIris]

4. Interesting. n/t

[bilgewaterbill]

5. Short of Dennis Kucinich

who in the party has the 'nads to follow this path? Hillary? She's too busy moving to the right to prove her electability. Kerry? Yesterday's news. Reid? Dean? Clark? Nary a 'nad between them. Who's going to lead this charge?

[adwon]

6. A slight shift

Rather than the GOP as a whole, they should run against "these radical extremists bent on destroying both the Republican party and the United States.' This phrasing should work better for picking up disaffected Republican votes because it separates the old line Republicans from the radicals of the right. Declaring the entire GOP to be evil will make that a bit harder.

Note: I didn't say a word about policy, programs, values, or anything else. This is strictly a framing issue.