Al Gore invented the Internet.

[spotbird]

This campaign is a rerun of 2000, the right lies and lies the media repeats and repeats. The lie becomes the truth.

How in the name of God did Kerry's team not anticipate a mammoth smear campaign. It would have to be a fabrication, all the smears are! How could they not learned anything from Clinton in how to respond, and from Gore the cost of delay!?!

Why is this happening?

[IronLionZion]

1. I hope Kerry knows what he's doing

But it is tough to defend against blatant bullshit and still get your message out.

What a nasty state of affairs. Politics in this country has gotten so shitty lately.

[ClassWarrior]

4. Actually...

RepubliCONs have made politics in this country so shitty lately.

But we can win... we just have to work at it.

[mourningdove92]

2. Kerry did anticipate a smear campaign.

However, until it happens, he had no way of knowing where they would cast the slime.

I believe he knows what he is doing. Have faith.

[ClassWarrior]

3. He's responding. He filed suit with the FEC claiming...

...that the Smearboat Vermin were coordinating with Boosh*. Now WE need to help out - go to your local BUSH*/CHENEY* office and look around. If they're publicizing the Swiftboat Liars in any way - posters, flyers, verbally - TELL YOUR LOCAL KERRY CAMPAIGN. This could support Kerry's case. And if you have one of those cell phone / camera thingies, take pictures of the evidence too.

[spotbird]

6. At long last!

They need to follow the War Room standard. All attacks are answered immedately, never, never ignore an attack. Then fire back.

It took two+ weeks and polling to get these guys into motion. There is enormous coverage which lends credibility to the charges. Chimps people won this round of smears.

[ClassWarrior]

8. Do you really think so??

Almost immediately the Smearboys' credibility was called into question, at least in the press.

[spotbird]

9. I really think the attacks are having an impact, here's why.

There is a small core of the population which is well-informed. There is another group who thinks they are well informed, but get all their news from Fox and Rush.

Then there is the rest. These folks get their news by osmosis, a bit on the radio, surfing between stations, at the water-cooler etc. Current events bore them silly so the momentum of a story carries them along. They are the people who think there is a connection between Iraq and 9/11. They now think there is an actual dispute about Kerry's war record.


Today's RW talking point is that Kerry is losing it over the Swift Boat liars attack, therefore doesn't have the temperament to be president. This is the exact smear also used on McCain in 2000. They aren't even trying new material, the old stuff worked so well.

[ClassWarrior]

13. Then we need to speak louder. Talk to EVERYONE.

Write letters to the editor. Jam up CNN's switchboard like we did last week. Join message boards.

We CAN do it.

[kentuck]

5. Actually, the Bush people were on the defensive up until just a few weeks

ago. About the time of the turnover in Iraq and the press stopped scrutinizing his fuck-ups. Then, at the first opporunity, they went on the offensive and went negative.....big time! And that's where we are now, in my opinion. We must find away to put Bush back on the defensive or back into his box. He's too dangerous to be outside.

[xray s]

7. lets trust Kerry

Right now, it looks like the Swift Boat Liars for Bush and the Bush campaign are the ones with a lot of 'splainin' to do...going right into their convention. And, with the Liars lies being exposed, it will make the attacks on Kerry that Rove has planned for the convention seem that much more unfair.

Kerry's timing might end up being just perfect.

[spotbird]

10. I hope so. nt

[oasis]

11. In this election, Bush won't get a pass on his many negatives. He can

no longer tout himself as a "compassionate conservative".

[CBHagman]

12. We always knew it would be dirty.

Go right out and find a copy of "Boy Genius" and read the chapter on what they did to John McCain in South Carolina in 2000. I'm going to photocopy those pages and send them to my friends in SC.

We always knew they would do ANYTHING, and the rule of attack for the Bush/Rove camp is to go to the opponents strengths. Bush has no military career, so the plan is to pick, pick, pick at Kerry's career. You will hear the following things dutifully parroted by the media and even members of the public:

*Kerry "only" served a few months (Uh, "only" a few months could get you disabled or killed. Besides, his total service amounted to several years, a fact most people conveniently omit. Look it up.

*There's doubt about one of Kerry's medals. (But not according to the U.S. Navy)

*Kerry claimed there were war crimes committed by Americans in Vietnam. Uh, I knew that when I was IN MIDDLE SCHOOL 30 years ago.

*Kerry went to war so he could run for president one day. (See first item above, and consider that this attack is as dumb as claiming Hillary married Bill for power).

*Kerry has "lost his cool." Not the way Bush did in front of Al Hunt back when Kerry was building his career in the Senate. Bush was still getting drunk and creating scenes when Kerry was conducting investigations.

Keep on debunking!

[coreystone]

14. I agree with many of the notions that Kerry need not be ...

second guessed. I believe both Kerry and Edwards, in addition to their advisors have a handle on the next 82 days. After the Republican Convention, I think that things will open up. The debates should prove to be MOST interesting.