Help me if I am off base (I don't offend easily)

[Racenut20]

Democrats would be playing straight into the Republicans hands if they delay the nominee acceptance, I think.

We need to discover what legal means within the current campaign finance laws can be used to establish PAC's to counter the Republicans five week "freebie" between the conventions.

Perhaps explore again, what were those blue states where Bush's convention is not in time to legally be on the ballot unless the States change the law and gives them a free pass.

And FIRE the idiots that did not have the foresight to not set the convention so damned early.

Thats all. Thanks for the space to rant.

[JI7]

1. the convention was NOT set early, it was republicans who made theirs late

to happen around the 9/11 anniversary so they can capitalize off the whole war president crap. this is also why the republicans are holding their convention in nyc.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Exactlty. Republicans started screwing around first by scheduling

Exactlty. Republicans started screwing around first by scheduling the latest convention ever.

Let Kerry file the official acceptance papers 5 weeks after the Democratic convention. Big deal if Republicans complain about that.

Also, George W. Bush in 2000 was the first Presidential candidate since the post-Watergate reforms to decline matching funds so he could raise an unlimited amount from the rich.

Who are the Republicans to complain?

[rock]

2. I see no downside in the delay

It's a mere formality (which however implies some legal changes which do have a downside).

[MoonRiver]

10. I agree with that.

What's the difference? It has nothing to do with ethics or legalities. Just helps the fund drive. What sane person could argue with that?

[JI7]

3. they planned for this and kerry and his people found a way out of it

the republicans had always planned for the free spending time when kerry wouldhave to be held back. but kerry and hispeople were smart enough to find a way around it. and kerry would be nominated, he just wont accept until later. just as he is running right now for president even though he isn't the official nominee.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. The convention was set early for a reason

The assumption was that our nominee would have gone through the primary season using Fed matching funds, and would have been down to running on vapors by the time July came around. Meanwhile Bush would have been clobbering him or her non stop with ads. An early convention was planned so that the next batch of Fed funds would be freed up to fight back sooner rather than later. Until Dean no recent Dem had run for the nomination without using matching funds. The plan wasn't crazy at the time. In today's media world though, Howard called it right (thank you Howard), Kerry matched his move, and now we are free to keep giving money to Kerry until he is nominated.

[Nite Owl]

6. Kerry is being like a fox

on this idea. It totally messes up the Repuke plan to wipe him out in August when he has limited funds. That was their plan. It may seem like Kerry just wants more money but it brings their moneyraising tactics to light too. I see it as a no lose for Kerry. He sure looks like a creative problem solver to come with this.

[Mz Pip]

7. What I would love to see happen

is a huge surge in money for Kerry. I think that would scare the Repugs more than anything.

Dean believed that 2,000,000 people would be willing to send $100 to help send Bush back to Texas. Now is the time to proove he's right.

MzPip
:dem:

[Democat]

8. You have it reversed, the Republicans are the ones playing games!

Look at the historical dates of the conventions.

[stellanoir]

9. I think the pundits are all over reacting to the damage the

delay would cause. After all, it all comes down to the delivery.

If Kerry says, "I would be happy to accept your nomination and I give you the commitment that I will do so over time, but not now because it would only handicap financing immeasurably, due solely to the Republican's manipulative delay of their convention in order to capitalize on the backs of the victims of the worst domestic attack on our shores which they, at the very least. . .allowed to happen through their incessant ignorance and arrogance. ". . .or something to that effect.

[salonghorn70]

15. Maybe

Not Such A Run on sentence.:) But that is why Kerry has speech writers that are paid big bucks.

[MilDem]

16. A little cleaned up, but that's right

If Kerry just explains that he has to delay in order to be on a level playing field with the President.

[cestmoi]

11. Repubs can put a negative spin on anything eg Cleland.

Forget Repub spin. Tiptoping around so as to not to give Repubs ammunintion is absolutely counter-productive and gives them the upper hand.

Kerry has to chart his own course.

[charlyvi]

12. Absolutely Right

The Repubs will be all over Kerry no matter what he does or doesn't do--they will spin, slant and outright lie to steal this election idea wise. Anyone who knows these people for what they are will agree that Kerry needs the extra time and money.

[troublemaker]

13. Let 'em

They'd smear Kerry for ordering the wrong kind of toast, but I doubt political games will be a big factor in this election, unlike 1996 and 2000 when nothing much was going on.

[Sparkly]

14. Bill Schneider says, "If they don't nominate at that convention,

who's going to cover it? Who's going to watch it?"

Hey Elfy -- you're going to cover it, and I'm going to watch it. It's not like the suspense is killing us, y'know?

[Blue_Roses]

17. Schneider...

what a Bush whore... "who would cover it," ...lol...good one Bill. Do you think a whore like him would miss it...no way... They are indeed scrambling because Kerry has his own game plan and isn't playing by the media's crap. ANOTHER reason he should be President.