No. 1 qualification: Ability to beat Bush

[davidinalameda]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/01/22/MNGQF4F7HJ1.DTL

As Sen. John Kerry moves toward the front of the Democratic pack, one line in his stump speech invariably draws the loudest cheers.

"If George W. Bush wants to make national security the central issue in this campaign, I have three words for him,'' Kerry says, often bringing the crowd to its feet. "Bring it on!''

Nothing stirs passion in a Democratic crowd like the prospect of throwing President Bush out of office. As the seven Democratic candidates for president refine their messages and engage in a frantic scramble for votes in this frigid state, the one issue that moves crowds more than any other is the matter of who can beat Bush.

[tlpal]

1. Bush vs Kerry

Both men were born to privilege, both attended prestigious prep schools. Both attended Yale. One volunteered for the Texas National guard the other for Vietnam. One went AWOL and the other won a Silver Star, Bronze Star and 3 Purple Hearts. After the war one returned home from Vietnam and protested an unjust war, the other became a drunken idiot. Want to run on character? Bring it on!

[lostnfound]

12. Both of them are Bonesmen.

A despicable fact IMO, but nonetheless it might mean that some powerful people will refrain from taking sides. Which will help Kerry in certain quarters.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/01/23/0445212|DemocracyNow! interview> from today, on the subject of Skull & Bones, Bush & Kerry.

[ps1074]

2. this is the most laughable argument made by Kerry

When he repeats "who can beat Bush?" and "electability" does he now realize that he can hardly attract any new people outsde the democratic base?

For the Kerry supporters - what is his electoral strategy? How does he plan to beat Bush? What states that Gore did not won does Kerry plan to win?

[tlpal]

3. Doesn't need to win anymore states....

Just has to get credit for the ones he does!

[Beetwasher]

5. Ummm

Bush lost the last election to Al Gore. If everyone who voted for Gore votes for Kerry, and Kerry wins every state Gore won, including Florida (which Gore DID win) and I see no reason why they wouldn't, Kerry wins, in a fair election of course.

[AndyTiedye]

7. They Will Steal More Votes This Time

They will steal Florida again. It doesn't matter how many votes we get there.

They didn't have all the Diebold Republican Electing machinez in 2000.
They will steal Georgia just like in 2002, and many other states as well.

We need enough votes to counteract all that.

We need a landslide to win.

[Poiuyt]

11. Different times

To think that everyone who voted for Gore will vote for the Democrat again might just be wishful thinking. 9/11 changed the political landscape in America. Whoever we put up to run against bush is going to have to appear the the general public that he is strong on defense and national security.

It still amazes me that people think that a person who went AWOL from the National Guard (which he joined to avoid Viet Nam), who probably knew that the 9/11 attacks were going to happen, and is now stonewalling the investigation is the best person to lead this country.

[0007]

4. Is Kerry the man to do it?

[Snow]

6. I strongly advise you read with careful thought, Plaid Adder's

front page essay on 'electability'. Her thesis is that this is not some esoteric quality in the genome of each candidate; this is something largely determined by the media - so their statement about who is or is not 'electable' are what in fact determines that quality. It's circular. And the media know it.

[David__77]

8. He's not the one to forge a movement.

If we are to win, we must win at the polls and also forge a movement. We cannot do without building a relatively cohesive movement. We need some help from certain quarters financially, and we can create think tanks, new magazines and radio stations. But no one will come with passion and motivation if we don't absolutely BREAK with the rancid establishment politics that have led to the party's defeat in the past.

[Fovea]

9. All of the Dem candidates can

They all have opposable thumbs.

[sendero]

10. You have to go all the way...

... back to JFK to find a Senator that is promoted to President. Kerry is no JFK, he is an insider and the electorate will see him as one. He's going to have a real fun time talking trash about all the things he voted for himself.

I just cannot get excited about Kerry no matter how hard I try.