Reply #10: Someone said Bush is an extremist

[ACK]

This is our greatest weapon. Even above the lies and half-truths, the core fundamental lie Bush's campaign in 2000 told to the American people was that Bush is a compassionate conservative. He is barely a true conservative and not compassionate at all.

He is an extremist and it is important to not lose focus and pin our attacks in this fashion.

It worked against Dole and it can work again. Every campaign needs a slightly different tactic than the one before it but when situations are similiar enough it is time to dust off the old playbook and run the winning plays.

Conservative Dems hate extremists on either side. Everyone from soccer moms but compassionate cube dwellers without a lot of political experience. Clinton was incredible at painting the Republicans as extremists.

To address some of your points:

1. Kerry in his campaign material points out that certain gun law loopholes and other such things need to be closed but mentions frequently he believes that people should have the right to own guns.

2. Kerry should have stuck with his original line about the War. He thought the President needed the power to act but made a mistake in not seeing the unilateral move coming and not understanding how badly Bush would f*ck it up.

3. Kerry should and has made this a core point in all of his speeches on the economy so far. Shrub made the outrageous promise of new jobs with his economic plan and the jobless recovery has screwed him. Presidents should not promise jobs but promise to make policy to help people until they can find jobs again and that will help the American worker. We need to capitalize on this mistake Bush made.

4. Kerry has to walk a fine line. It is not about protectionism or blind free trade but the key is truly fair trade. He has made some talk in this direction but he has to stick his neck out more on this issue. Global trade is important but has instead turned into a blank check for companies and corporatist policies worldwide.

5. Kerry has to keep plugging and emphasize over and over about expanding the middle class tax cuts. Repealing the Bush tax breaks for the rich are important and should be mentioned in reference to bringing down the deficit but only like an afterthought. You can not give the repukes tax and spend soundbites.

6. Kerry should emphasize it is not flipflopping to vote for a bill and then in retrospect understand it needs to be edited or went too far. That is called common sense something the current administration has a major problem in grasping. The Patriot Act has to be changed to be effective as a tool for law enforcement but at the same time preserving civil liberties. Let us all be frank that is the very best he can hope for anyway with a Repuke congress.

One you did not mention is healthcare. This can be vitally important on the campaign trail. Not that it will go very far afterwards but it is important for the campaign.

With Conservative Dems it is important to show the electorate that you are the real deal and not a repuke-lite. When faced with two conservatives one Dem and the other Repub, they usually figure the Dem is a fake and vote for the "real" conservative. However, that is the great balance. You cannot let yourself be painted as a stereotype of "liberalism" the way the talking heads in conservative ville has defined it.

What do you do?

You come out with a populist progressive voice and you get Edwards I would suggest to help you with that message.