Stuck in Iraq - Stuck in Iraq - Stuck in Iraq - Stuck in Iraq - Stuck in Iraq

[beachmom]

I'm still quite upset about how the whole botched joke episode will affect Kerry long term. However, I have decided that it actually did help the Democrats as opposed to having no effect. Why? Because for three whole days, all everyone heard was the former presidential nominee talk about "us" or "the troops" being stuck in Iraq. And, it got people to thinking -- DAMN!! Why are we STILL stuck in Iraq? Fuck it -- I'm voting for the other side.

There was an LTE in my paper today from someone who couldn't stand Kerry AND Cheney. But, see, our candidates are other Dems who are going to oppose Bush/Cheney. So I think there's a good chance that even those who laughed at Kerry, are more persuaded than ever to vote Dem.

My conclusion -- Bush, in his gleeful hatred of Kerry, did himself in with this stunt. It has completely backfired on him, and Dems will do very well on Tuesday. Unfortunately, this does not translate into helping Kerry. I have no idea what will happen on that front. I only know that Bush's cruelty is now going to bite him in the ass.

[Noisy Democrat]

1. Kerry was right

The way to fight it was to use it to get in digs about Iraq. As for long-term repercussions, I think we're all on tenterhooks about that, but my gut feeling -- which is worth exactly what you pay for it :) -- is that this all reverberates among the pundits (who never liked Kerry anyway) more than among regular people who actually vote. Now, I'm not naive, and I know JK has to line up heavy-hitting supporters to make a go of it, and if they all think he's a fool, that's a problem. But *that* is the potential problem, I think, as opposed to something like "the troops hate him" or some crap like that.

[JI7]

2. is it true we have been in Iraq longer than WWII ?

i think that's what Barbara Boxer said at the event with Kerry on Monday.

i think that would be effective as well. "we have been in Iraq longer than we had been fighting WWII". it really brings perspective.

what are people going to come back with ? but we have been in Vietnam even longer. yeah, that will work.

[karynnj]

5. Kerry's said it for several months- so I think we must

have just passed it.

[MH1]

3. I'm also seeing the word "botched" used frequently for actions of the * admin

Kinda like the writers woke up and said "hey, that's a nice short colorful word to describe this administration, that we can actually print!"

[beachmom]

4. Hey, did "botched" come specifically from Kerry/Kerry staff? n/t

[karynnj]

6. I have heard that phrase continuously

So is it just coincidence that there was a shift over those days in people mentioning Iraq as the key issue. Your right that it may help the Democrats. I think Kerry has a better chance getting over it if the Democrats are not hurt by it - being helped by it is gravy. There is no way to definitively prove the cause of the numbers improving, but it will be interesting to look at the polls.

[emulatorloo]

7. Again, who is to say that the focus on Kerry in the national news

didn't result in some folks thinking:

CRAP I SHOULD HAVE VOTED FOR KERRY RATHER THAN BUSH IN 04 AND WE WOULDN"T BE IN THIS MESS.

GUESS I OUTTA GO VOTE FOR THE DEMS.