Let's call this the "Stupid" Strategy.

[Perky]

Our own October surprise

Let's say a loyal Democrat (fill in the blank --but I will say Cleland) Goes on Larry King in Mid October (prior to the first debat)and casually says that the president lack the gravitas to be president in the age of terrorism. "let face it he is not a very smart man...he can barely utter a complete sentence")

It causes a firestorm from the right. and a couple of days laters Cleland does a mea culpa. "I should not have said that...I am so sorry"

Does anyone else think it would cause a firestorm about * fitnees to serve and put back on his heals during the debates?

"a 22-caliber mind in a smart bomb world"

[RetroLounge]

1. "a 22-caliber mind in a smart bomb world"

Great line! Was that Dean?

RL

[Perky]

3. Actually I ripped it off of an episode

of West wing... Not the exact line but Bartlett "thought" the reporter was not back from commerical yet.

[Chichiri]

11. IIRC...

the actual line was more like, "we could have a 45 caliber country run by a 22 caliber mind."

[homerthompson]

4. that was on west wing, if i'm not mistaken

martin sheen says that about his challenger, and later apologizes, claiming he didn't know he was still on live tv. but it was too late; the media had already began question his challenger's intelligence. turns out, martin said it on purpose.

that line would work if * said it; the media takes any attack from the rethugs and forces the dems to defend, rather than challenge the rethugs to justify the accusation.

if a dem does that, they turn it into "dems and their dirty tricks"...

remember when kerry "accidentally" said that rethugs were a bunch of lying crooks, and he thought his microphone wasn't turned on yet?

the media fried him.

[Perky]

5. lying thugs is different

It was about the campaign not the man.


I think it would take on a life of its own, certainly with the talking heads on sunday morning and with leno and letterman.

Cleland apologizes for it two days later... but the press kicks it around for a couple of weeks.

And the publis makes an assesment during the debate.

[Perky]

6. lying thugs is different

It was about the campaign not the man.


I think it would take on a life of its own, certainly with the talking heads on sunday morning and with leno and letterman.

Cleland apologizes for it two days later... but the press kicks it around for a couple of weeks.

And the publis makes an assesment during the debate.

[Ghetto_Boy]

2. Wel written... have you noticed...."BUSH SUCKS!!!!"

[MoonRiver]

7. Why do you fantasize such things?

Maybe we're all suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome??

[unblock]

8. no no no no no! bush is SHREWD and CLEVER and DEVIOUS

and most of all an EXCELLENT DEBATER.

kerry got it right on the daily show when he pointed out the bush has never lost a debate. nevermind the fact that by any objective standard, gore creamed him. the point is that the media judges winners and losers based on expectations and based on whether or not the debater successfully accomplished whatever they needed to accomplish.

we must pump bush's reputation up prior to the debates. if we point out that he's stupid and can't string a sentence together, then he will win simply by sounding remotely coherent and talking in mostly complete sentences. this is how he "won" against gore.

we must instead point out that he successfully connected with the regular joe and seemed like one of the regular guys and sounded humble and normal.

any firestorm has to attack the part of the image that shrub RELIES on. he doesn't rely on being smart, in fact, he relies on his reputation for stupidity. calling him stupid accomplishes nothing, it just comes across as a mean thing to say.

now, call him arrogant, elitist, spoiled, connecticut, ivy leager, priviliged, out of touch, never worked an honest day, and worst of all, not genuinely christian, then we're talking.

personally, i like the "not a real christian" angle, but of course, as a jew i cannot effectively lead that charge....

[MoonRiver]

9. Why do you fantasize such things? It's not healthy.

But maybe we're all suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome??

[Bongo Prophet]

10. "Stupid and pampered"

It would probably backfire if done before the debates.
But after, with the addition of "..and has to have a bunch of nannies picking him up and court sycophants of the press pumping up his self-esteem, etc."... It would be framed not just on his gross incompetence, but the FOXes, Rushes, and Crowleys et al that rush to his defense.

See? There they go again. He can't utter a comprehensible sentence, and they have to explain what he meant...

Same with the Rove as evil smear and frear meme that is being set up.
See? There they go smearing and pumping up the fear....

Judo tactics on the very predictable attack styles of these guys.
Dragon style kung fu vs Rabid baboon style.