Reply #17: As an anecdote, my next door neighbor is a lifelong rep voter

[Stinky The Clown]

who is as moderate as can be ...... no fundie in any way, shape, or form. My wife and I supported Clark in the early going and he also sat well in my neighbor's view. When Clark folded, my neighbor went back to being undecided. He finally went for Kerry this time. Actually, he voted ABB and Kerry was the guy who got his vote.

But here are the interesting details of this anecdote. As to Kerry's VVAW activities, he said he was on the same side of that issue as Kerry was **at that time* and has been there ever since. My neighbor and I are both Navy guys from the 60's. That Swift As Shit Liar crap did not play well among the veterans from that era. I know many who saw them for the liars they were. I can't speak about later vets, however; it may have played better with them. Who it really hit was the **non* veterans ... the one's who have no perspective on that particular issue.

The thing that made my neighbor finally switch to Kerry was the VP debate of all things. When he saw Chimpus Khan up against Kerry there was no surprise. He knew King Khan was inarticulate and maybe not the brightest guy in the world and that he would look bad against Kerry no matter what. But he was shocked to get such a clear picture that Cheney was real guy in charge. That scared him.

He also later (after the "election") admitted he always had voted republican because of "business issues". But he now sees clearly how they really only favor big, BIG business, not the little guys. He and I are both small business people who are solidly middle class .... not in any way, shape, or form rich or part of Bush's "base".

So yeah ..... moderate/borderline Republicans *can* be induced to come over to the Dem side. And the Dems don't need to change anything ..... just to get the message right (and get the right candidate!)