September 05, 2003
Machiavellian Advice
Don’t give Dean a free ride! Have you ever noticed that, despite the repeated promises to the contrary, every campaign goes negative at some point? It’s a fact of politics and the higher the stakes the dirtier it gets. The secret is being able to attack your opponent with a smile on your face; be negative in a positive way. Yeah I know, it’s a contradiction but you get the point. So far Lieberman is showing himself to be the wisest of the bunch, forecasting that “The Bush recession would be followed by the Dean depression.” If you know a fight is inevitable, there is no shame in taking the first punch. Dean is likely McCain-esque and prone to mistakes when he’s angry. The Dems need to realize that they have to beat him before they beat Bush
Posted by Mike Van Winkle at September 5, 2003 03:13 PMDid we watch the same debate? Dean was cool as a cucumber after Lieberman and Kucinich attacked him. The guy was presidential.
Did you hear the boos when Lieberman went after Dean?
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at September 5, 2003 04:12 PMThe debate was a joke! It made me ill as the candidates pandered to the Hispanic community. On a question regarding amnesty for illegal immigrants Dean looked confused as he struggled to say that amnesty was a good thing and that illegal immigrants should have driver licenses. It was as though he knew what he was saying sounded ridiculous, but if he wants to win he has to play the game.
My point was specifically regarding the debates. My point is more general. The other Dems have been sitting on their butts while Dean’s momentum has built and built. As far as the boos go, all that means is that the Dean fans are noisy. In the polls he’s still vulnerable. Sure maybe not in NH but then NH is over-rated.
Listen, when McCain’s campaign took off Bush attacked him, coopted his message and sent him packing. Its still early but they can’t let Dean go into the primary voting without mud on him…if they do they lose big.
Posted by: Mike Van Winkle at September 5, 2003 06:01 PMKarl Rove spread false rumors about McCain being gay, having kids out of wedlock and other slams using push polling.
If that was the worst mud on Dean they have then the next debates that will matter is Dean and Bush.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at September 5, 2003 06:17 PMWatching the Democrats jockey for position is like watching the back of the pack at a NASCAR race. Who cares! None of them have enough charisma to beat Bush and the real test will be when they have to face GW in a debate. GW’s style will make the other candidates look out of touch and unpredictable. The socialized medicine issue will be Dean’s undoing! If the master debater Al Gore couldn’t be GW how are these wannabes going to.
Posted by: Deth Frmafar at September 5, 2003 06:21 PMWhat makes Bush a contender is the amount of money that he has raised and that he is going outside of the federal funding system. He is expected to spend 200 Mil in the 04 race.
Not to mention the political use of 9/11 and the Iraq war.
Deth I think that Dean’s Heathcare plan is what is going to win him the Whitehouse.
If you look at the August 7, 2003 Pew Center Poll
And I quote
Most Favor Raising Taxes for Health Care
Two-thirds of the public (67%) favors the government guaranteeing health care for all citizens even if it means repealing most of the recent tax cuts. Significantly, just as many Americans say they want the government to provide universal health coverage even if it means raising taxes.
Half of respondents were asked if the government should guarantee health insurance for all even if it means repealing “most of the recent tax cuts,” while the other half was asked a different version of the question that mentioned “raising taxes.” The virtually identical results indicate that most people do not make a distinction between providing health insurance by rolling back tax cuts or by actually raising taxes.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at September 5, 2003 07:16 PMPolls… whatever. Those questions are asked in a vacuum. They contained no policy specifics whatsoever. Don’t you remember the reaction to Hillary’s drastic (and disasterous) health care plan?
Posted by: CJ at September 5, 2003 07:55 PMYes I remember the Clinton heath care plan and I remember how well it worked for Bob Dole in 96 election after Dole destroyed it. Dean is not asking for a single payer health care plan and you can learn more about it from his website if you are curious about it.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at September 5, 2003 11:13 PMThe fact is….
This was not a debate.
If someone can tell me how this was a debate I will eat thier shorts. This was a love-fest between Democrats that relentlessly bashed Bush….Whoa! Did I just say “Bashed Bush”? That sounded vaguely dirty.
Anyway….it looked like a Pez dispencer seance with all of the podiums and talking heads. It was largely unproductive and kind of boring. That is the real point here. Nobody watched it because we are over a year out. Nobody cares and that is why the major networks did not carry it. No ratings, who cares? Give it time….like a year or so, then it might become interesting.
