I do not think that Kerry speaks clearly. How will he promote an agenda?

[w4rma]

If he is unable to explain his agenda and/or get folks to get behind his agenda then how will he get the popular support required to pass that agenda?

He was at the forefront of investigating Iran-Contra, but he wasn't able (I think he was willing) to explain to folks what was going on and why it was wrong. Sen. Kerry has had his senate seat for a soapbox since before Bush* took office and he has been unable to successfully explain to folks what Bush* was doing wrong. Whatever faults one might have with him, Gov. Dean successfully brought many of the Republican Party's problems into the mainstream.

[MercutioATC]

1. Well, aparently it's "smart" to do it under somebody else's name...

(debate quote)

Maybe he'll have somebody else (like Dean) promote a new agenda for him.

[creativelcro]

2. Kerry = Dem suicide.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. I think Dean is a national laughingstock.

How will he promote an agenda?

[MercutioATC]

21. He seems to have done a better job in Vermont than Kerry did in Congress.

[DJcairo]

4. What is your evidence for him not getting people behind his agenda

He's winning voters who say the economy, healthcare and getting rid of Bush are their top priorities. What is your evidence that Dean does a better job of this? What? You arne't mainstream. Dean'
s supporters are a small sliver of elitist Dems.

[w4rma]

8. Most folks are currently supporting Kerry's resume, not his agenda, IMHO.

Many who are supporting Kerry, support Dean's agenda. Sen. Kerry refuses to clearly explain his agenda so they can't be supporting Kerry's agenda. I've never seen him successfully explain policies in a manner that someone who isn't a lawyer or involved in politics can understand.

[bearfartinthewoods]

27. i think it's more that he doesn't come of as very ispirational

it's just a style point but it might matter.

[funky_bug]

5. The only things I can even remember from a Kerry speech

are

"Don't let the door hit ya..."

and

"I'm not going to say that, because that would be a lie."

Kerry never says what he's going to do... just what he's NOT going to say. It's frustrating as hell, because he can't pull that shit against GW. In my opinion, it makes Kerry sound like he's watered down on every issue, and it opens the door for him to say whatever he wants to say, whenever he wants to say it, without being accused of "flip flopping."

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Kerry's been speaking about the issues.

Maybe his applause lines are just too memorable or something.

[girl gone mad]

9. Yes,

he talks a lot about the issues, and if you go to his web site you will find a lot of long paragraphs detailing the problems in our country.

What you won't find in Kerry speeches or on his web site are tangible policy plans, specific ideas for what to do about these problems.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. What you said isn't true.

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/


Saying things that aren't true, when people can easily follow a link and see the reality for themselves, is not going to be persuasive.

[creativelcro]

11. Easy to look good on paper...

[funky_bug]

12. No thanks - went there once and that was enough

I went with an open mind to Kerry's site after he made his speech about removing tenure and teachers' unions... just to see if he had some firm reasons. Nothing was stated about either of those, and it was all "No Child blah blah Bush blah blah" and a bunch of watery ideas about his views... and a few proposals that made me heart sick.

I don't think there is anything Kerry's website will say that will make me change my mind. He'll get my vote ONLY if he's the last man standing.

Kucinich may not have a shot in hell, but at least he believes in his ideas, and speaks with conviction.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

13. I'm not trying to change the mind of any DU member.

But when someone says something false, I will correct them.

[girl gone mad]

7. "BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON!...

"BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON!BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON!"

ad nauseum.

[Leilani]

25. I'm already sick of it

I don't think I can take it for 9 more months.

[edzontar]

19. Don't forget "Bring it on", chanted into mindlessness

The Kerry surge looks to me, at least right now, like Dem Party suicide.

[zulchzulu]

14. Yuh, the voters overwhelmingly don't think so...huh....

Kerry is kicking butt. Dean is...um...not.

[Upfront]

15. I Have Tried

To hear Kerry out but he just puts me to sleep. Sorry, but it is the truth.

[papau]

16. that is my number one fear re Kerry but I judged Reagan as a lousy speaker

so what do I know - not much I assure you.

Reagan had no thoughts that held much logic or solved much in the way of problems - but folks liked the con in 80 (to a point - another week and Carter would have been re-elected), and then the media protected him in 84.

Any of the Dems are heads above Bush - but Rove/GOP/media want to make this a discussion of how one Dem lacks something that another Dem has - the idea is that a first impression that sells so and so may have won Dem nod but he lacks something - is a major way to avoid discussing GOP/Bush failure and to allow the GOP's "but they have no other plan" defense to work.

I see the GOP today are also rewriting history - with talking heads saying the shrinking economy started under Clinton, and acting like the recession did not END 11/2001 - more than 2 years ago.

[arewethereyet]

17. I don't know but he seems to be doing OK at it somehow or other

given his role as the top dog

[IndianaGreen]

18. Kerry is going to spend the Fall defending himself against himself

All Bush has to do is to show the many contradictions and the many waffles of Kerry on the issues. Bush will ask the voters if they can trust a man that doesn't even know from one minute to the next where he stands on the issues.

[DrFunkenstein]

20. Democrats Kicked Him Off The Iran-Contra Panel

Suddenly, Kerry's theories didn't seem so far-fetched. He hoped this would be his moment to help lead the investigation into this extraordinary episode. The Iran-contra scandal was the top story in town, and there was worried talk in the halls of Congress that the United States might suffer another failed presidency.

But when congressional leaders chose the members of the elite Iran-contra committee, Kerry was left off. Those selected were consensus-politicians, not bomb-throwers.

The feeling among a disappointed Kerry and his staff was that the committee members were chosen to put a lid on things. "He was told early on they were not going to put him on it," Winer recalls. "He was too junior and too controversial . . .. They were concerned about the survival of the republic."

Even some Democrats "thought John was a little hotter than they would like," says Rosenblith.

As a consolation prize, the Democratic leadership gave Kerry chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Narcotics, and International Operations and a charter to dig into the contra-drug connection.

While disappointed, Kerry stuck with his investigation and the subcommittee published a report in 1989 that concluded the CIA and other US agencies had turned a blind eye to drug trafficking occurring on the fringes of the contra network.

http://www.boston.com/globe/nation/packages/kerry/062003.shtml

[maxr4clark]

22. He has done better lately, but it is still a concern.

Of more concern to me is that he is so traditionally Democrat, he won't be able to get anything passed with a Republican Congress.

Clark has a background as an Independent, and he has a very patriotic message. Republicans won't lose face with their constituents by supporting Clark's agenda, but they will for supporting Kerry's.

[Hawkeye-X]

23. Kerry has zero credbility or even an original idea of his own...

Kerry copies from Dean and touts it as his own which all of the Dean supporters know its even more bullshit. If Dean dropped out, who can Kerry cling on for original ideas like a parasite feeding?

Hawkeye-X

[MercutioATC]

24. It's not his fault, Kerry was "smart" and let other people put their names

on his legislation.

You have to know how thinks work in Washington D.C. for that to make sense, according to Kerry.

[DrFunkenstein]

26. Do You Mean Trippi Re-Hashing Old Gephardt and Gore Slogans?

Or Bob Shrum's age-old populism of the people vs. the powerful interests?

[sangh0]

29. "the people vs. the powerful interests"

Wow, how fresh is that? I don't think I've ever heard a politician say that before! I wonder if Dean will have the guts to talk about "changing politics", and "take our country back"? I've been waiting and waiting, but politicians NEVER talk about this!! :-)

[killbotfactory]

28. He'll hire Dean as his speechwriter

He's already taken most of his message, so why not?