What Will Be The #1 Issue in 2004

[DemocratSinceBirth]

Poll question: What Will Be The #1 Issue in 2004

What will be the # 1 issue and which Democrat will be best equipped to exploit it?

[Catshrink]

1. Like father, like son, "IT'S THE ECONOMY, STUPID!"

eom

[Abe Linkman]

2. What would dem.since birth say was #1 issue in 2000?

The reason I'm asking is, I think it's a little dicey to try and frame a poll question like you have. Maybe if you would define what you mean by #1 issue, that would help. Otherwise you are only asking for people to speculate about what most voters next year will say is the #1 issue; not necessarily what issue will actually motivate people to go to the polls and vote for a particular candidate. Or, do you think I'm missing your point here? (I acknowledge I may be very wrong in what I'm saying here)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. That's A Good Question

I would say I meant the issue on which Bush is either reelected *or defeated.








*a case can be made that Bush is running for election not reelection.

[Bluzmann57]

3. The economy

without a doubt. As more and more people lose their jobs, they get more and more disgusted and scared. And they will want change, change at the top. In this economhy, even people with educations and making good money are losing jobs. Some of these people may not have voted before and may do so this time around. A strong economy leads to a strong country and this country, in spite of bush and co. is still the best. But it is imperative that he does not get another term! I see that I've rambled again, and I apologize for that. Its just that I feel strongly about this issue, as it affects every American.

[JI7]

5. economy first, and health care next

economy of course. and i believe health care next, which kind of goes with the economy.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. The occupation of Iraq and the spreading war

All else flows from it. The economy will suffer even more because of the enormous cost of occupying a hostile country and the cries of the military for even more money and blood.

But, the "war" is whats spreading unease about the idiotchild and will, hopefully, bring his already overdue downfall.

Who will be able to "exploit" it? Certainly not the VichyFour, Lieberman, Kerry, Edwards or Gephardt.

[booksenkatz]

7. None of the above

It will be the color of foundation makeup the Dem candidate used during the debates. This color will come to represent everything that is wrong with the world, the color of terra, we will be told to FEAR this color.

[Davis_X_Machina]

8. God, Gays and Guns.

You don't think the timing of the Judge Moore nonsense, and the drive for a Constitutional amendment defining marriage is accidental, or anything?

$300 million and nine months of God, Gays, and Guns. It kept the last election close enough to steal, didn't it?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. I Know You Didn't Mean It

but Michael "Savaged" Weiner said his vote will be based on God, Garbage, and Guns.

Which party is best on garbage pick up


Which party is best on God?- respecting freedom of relgion as Michael Savage s-e-e-s it.

and

Which party is best on guns - protecting Savage's 2nd Amendment rights.

[jagguy]

9. there is only one issue ever for prez

and its my wallet.

Edwards is the guy. He has a plan and the charisma to deliver it effectively.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. Then why did he vote for a war that's costing billions?

Oh, that's right, he's only concerned about the poor in this country.

The "poor" oil industry.
The "poor" armaments industry.

[jagguy]

12. I'm afraid that the average Joe won't connect the two

I'm guessing you picked one of the war options in the poll.

Look at history, the candidate that best makes his case for how to improve the lot of the average Joe is the guy who wins. This takes charisma. Edwards has this quality. Better than anyone else in the field. Dean has some good ideas but he looks a little Nixonian on camera. Remember how that quality played with the public ?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. Charisma?

I'm afraid that charisma is a little low on my list of priorities for president. Reagan had oodles of it. The fratboy-in-chief has any number of goggle eyed followers dazzled by the belt buckle and cowboy boots and swagger.

As for the "average Joe" not connecting the war and economy, I have a little more faith in the average Joe's ability to add. According to the polls lately they seem to be able to see the connection.

Call me an idealist, but I prefer integrity to charisma. Edwards may have a lot of the latter, but is a bit short on the former.

[jagguy]

20. well, the poll was about what the number 1 issue would be

I took that to mean the public as a whole's top issue, not that of just me.

As you point out, winners over the past several decades have been the ones with charisma mostly as they are the best at communicating their message. And that message has tended to be how I can make "your" life better ie put money in your pocket.

[Monte Carlo]

14. Defense, threats, and fear.

Why? Because Bush and Karl Rove will push that angle more than anything else. It trumped economy concerns in 2002, and I see no reason why it couldn't work again. Why appeal to people's hopes when you can appeal to their fears of the "other"?

[hang a left]

15. The War in Iran and Syria

[QERTY]

16. Mass Unemployment

That will be the real issue. You can count on the media to focus on other things. And, sadly, you can count on the electorate to fail to grasp anything at all.
I fear that no Democratic candidate is ruthless enough to depose the chimp. I mean, Jeez, it should be so easy. I keep thinking of brutal ads which I know are too mean-spirited for the DNC. I think the real problem with the party is embodied in Joe Lieberman. He has been reapeatedly co-opted by special interests and he seems to want a good relationship with the dismantlers of our Democracy. Paul Wellstone was a real Democrat. Lieberman is a Republican, pure and simple.
In fact, I'm starting to wonder what the DNC is trying to protect with their kid gloves approach. They don't seem to realize that 60% of the electorate isn't voting at all because of not apathy, but frustration. We have a huge coalition of Americans just waiting for a candidate they can believe in! What I'm talking about is a class war. What percentage of Americans would support a law like the Japanese have, which limits executive pay to 40 times the lowest paid worker? How many Americans would lose sleep over radically higher taxes on the uber-wealthy? I'm not talking about molotovs and little red books, I'm talking about getting elected! There are a lot more angry poor people than angry rich people. Make them know who cares and who doesn't. Let them know who builds roads and teaches kids. Show them why they should vote for a Democrat.

[Born_a_Democrat]

17. THE ECONOMY ST..ST..STOOOPID...

:bounce:

[Jacobin]

18. Perfect Storm of IraqNam and Economy

IraqNam by 2004 should be boiling over even worse than it is now.

[Imalittleteapot]

19. I voted "the economy" BUT

I believe that the GOP is setting up their target issues as
gay unions, religion ("Under God", 10 Commandments, prayer in school, etc.) and the fear factor - "terrorism".

[Yupster]

21. The issues Bush will push in 04

1. Should your tax cuts be taken back by the government?

2. Should the parental notification law for abortion become law?

3. Should the government recognize gay marriage?

If Bush is successful, these will be the issues discussed in the 04 campaign, in my opinion. They tie his base together.