Kerry's problem is that he doesn't come off as if he believes it.

[Timefortruth]

I'm sure he does and all, but he doesn't have the Clinton charisma or the Bush good old boy charm (I don't find Bush charming but roughly half of all voters do).

This cycle is about energizing the base but Kerry just isn't hitting that mark. He can't alienate the middle, but he could throw the grassroots a bone. Doesn't he have consultants to teach him how to be cutting but funny? When he talked about folks scraping for gas money my heart sank because it was so obvious that he has no real knowledge of what it is like to not have enough. So it would be better if he spoke of someone he met and their struggles or left it that he understands that if you take home $250 a week an extra $10 bucks in the gas tank is an enormous burden.

And yes I'm going to bring up the third rail and become really unpopular. Mrs. Kerry needs some lessons on appearing relaxed and comfortable. Yeah,she may be the salt of the earth in person but that is decidedly not how she comes across on camera. She looks bored and almost as if she doesn't like Kerry. She often avoid his affection, and I don't give a damn if she is uncomfortable with public displays of affection, this is war and she is going to have to be a soldier. We're supposed to be above talking about her but it will be a consideration at the polls, so like it or not she is a factor. If that makes me a sexist pig then so be it.

[SheilaT]

1. Kerry is, in my opinion,

a total disaster as a candidate. Yeah, I know he's going to be the nominee, but I do not understand what people were thinking when they said they thought he was the most electable of the candidates. He manages to make Al Gore seem relaxed and charming. Worse yet, he keeps on validating Bush's positions. It's okay to assassinate Palestinian leaders? What in the name of all that's holy is he thinking?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. "It's okay to assassinate Palestinian leaders?"

"Hamas" is a TERRORIST GROUP!!!

They are not "Palestinian Leaders"

:eyes:

I have NO sympathy for Hamas!!!!!!!!

[Timefortruth]

4. The issue is certainly not sympathy for Hamas.

It is the justification of the assignation of its leaders, creating martyrs and causing more violence.

Do you remember the good old days when we had peace talks? How much violence was there then as compared to now? Now we provoke more hatred which will not lead to a solution.

[Timefortruth]

3. Yeah, that Palestinian comment was a disaster.

All of his comments about Israel were what I was talking about when I said he needs to throw the base a bone. He can't say things like that and drive people out to fight for him.

[skooooo]

6. Wow...

I won't even say what I'm thinking right now.

[doc03]

14. I have to agree with Sheila T

I want to support Kerry, but honestly I still don't know where he stands on any issue. I have seen him talk on both sides of everything. In this area the Bush adds are running 24/7 on every radio and TV station and what little adds I have seen for Kerry are not effective at all. The Bush add they Keep running is Kerry saying I actually voted for the $87 billion before I voted against it. I thought from the outset that they would kill him with the flip flop issue just from what I had seen myself. Why does this party keep making the same mistakes, every time we run a northeastern liberal we get killed.

[BeatleBoot]

5. Lol!

You digress from the real issues...these issues are what will defeat the moron. Ready? Here we go....

The schools in my area are getting pummeled by the Bushies with unfunded Republican mandates.

Cops are getting yanked off the streets in my neighborhood because of federal funding being cut by Bush and his Republican Congress.

The economy is in a shit hole due to Bush economic policies.

The surplus turned into a record deficit via Bush and his Republican Congress.

Bush cut out overtime pay for 8 million workers.

Bush wants to cut Social Security benefits just in time for the upcoming baby boomer retirements.

Gasoline is almost $ 2.00 per gallon in my area.

Halliburton is overcharging the U.S. Taxpayers after receiving no bid contracts.

The Bushies are being investigated regarding the outing of a CIA agent.

Air Force One phone records have now been subpoenaed.

Bush has tried everything he can to stifle the 9-11 investigations.

[skooooo]

7. Some people would rather Kerry down...

go figure.

[Timefortruth]

8. Listen, constructive criticism may save him.

I'm glad you think he is a flawless candidate, but not everyone sees it that way. The one thing we have in common is that we want him elected and blind devotion is not a means to that end IMO.

[BeatleBoot]

12. It would be really constructive by volunteering

on his campaign.

He needs folks like you working positively to defeat Bush on November 2nd.

Outsource Bush in 2004!

[Timefortruth]

13. Actually I'm working hard.

Today I'm lame, but in general I likely do more than anyone where I live. Not for Kerry, but for Democrats. There is no Kerry campaign where I live.

That said, it is not heresy to suggest that there are areas which need improvement. If his campaign thinks there they have reached reached perfection then they are sadly mistaken.

[BeatleBoot]

15. No one ever said they were looking for perfection

I've never seen a perfect presidential candidate either - ever.

Rock 'on...

[Larkspur]

16. I'm not an ABB'r

That philosophy is for sheeple who don't want to think and keep their leaders under scrutiny.

Kerry's only hope is to ride the ABB wave into the White House, but he'll have very little real support when the going gets tough after he gets there. ABB'rs are finicky beasts and if Kerry wins the WH and things get worse, whether or not his policies affect events, ABB'rs will either turn on him or will just drop their support of him.

[smada]

9. I'm glad someone mentions Mrs. Kerry

In almost every picture I've seen she looks almost scornful and impatient. She just doesn't come across as a very nice person.

This shouldn't be a factor in deciding who is president, but in reality, it is. She's a liability. And Kerry already has enough negatives of his own.

[freeforall]

10. It's pretty sad when an election boils down to

choosing a candidate just to see the other (greater evil) removed.

Kerry just doesn't have much energy, enthusiasm, or vision. He doesn't get people "fired up." No emotional appeal, which is very important.

Sure - vote for him. But I still think he's Bush Lite.

[osaMABUSh]

11. I also concur on the poor Theresa Heinz Kerry image

She always looks pained and when Kerry goes for the obligatory kiss on stage she really doesn't appear to enjoy it. She acts as if she doesn't even like him. I've heard all about her heart and charities but image is everything and frankly her camera image sucks.

[Larkspur]

17. She's probably wincing at that $6.4 million mortgage on their mansion

Johnny boy took out to rejuvenate his flailing campaign. She's hoping that their will be enough campaign contributions left by Convention time to pay it all off.

[ibegurpard]

18. Kerry has no problems!

None whatsoever and if you believe he does then you must want to elect Bush or else you must still be nursing sour grapes about Dean!
Have I left out anything? Oh yeah... Nader lover!

Edited to provide disclaimer for the sarcasm impaired.

[Beefheart]

19. Too many consultants

who have been in the game too long.

Bob Shrum works for Kerry. He's the inventor of the "a fighter for you against the special interests" phrase that was as awkward sounding from Gore as it is from Kerry.

[AP]

20. The importance of conviction.

I think one of the biggest differences between Clinton and Gore was that Clinton seemed to have conviction -- I could understand his motivations, where he came from, what he was trying to do, and who he seemed to think for whom he was working.

With Gore, I couldn't understand his conviction at all. Did he want to run for president because he felt that was his social entitlement? Was he doing it so that he could spend his retirement sitting on company boards? Did he really believe what he was saying.

I think Kerry has more conviction that Gore, definitely.

However, I believe that conviction might be the most critical component of a candidate's persona, and there's always room to improve.