Reply #75: I think you have more faith in the intelligence of the electorate than I

[Sparkly]

I think the past memes stick, and nothing can undo them, among the general populus. The further they've spread, the greater the "damage," so to speak.

I agree that every possible candidate needs to know what the rightwing might use, and have counters ready to fire. (And also that our campaign needs to have no qualms about firing at whoever the opponent is! I say "our campaign" on the model that the candidate doesn't do the actual hurling of turds, but obliquely refers to the dirty work others do.)

All of the smears against Gore and Kerry have been debunked over and over again -- but nonetheless, they hover in the air, unfortunately, like the smell that lingers when a candle's blown out.

I think it's first, a great candidate. (And I do believe Gore and Kerry were great candidates!) Second, a campaign that does NOT heed the typical "free advice" from the right: "Stay positive! Don't go negative! Don't sling mud! Voters don't like that!"

They need to battle the MEDIA full-tilt, in every forum possible, including the internet and the grassroots (which Dr. Dean fully understands). That includes maximizing the energy on forums like this one.

And they need to recognize that all these "warnings" mean NOTHING -- unfortunately, negativity is what SELLS and the RNC has built itself upon it. No fears, no hesitance, no qualms, no worries about "high roads" and "low roads" -- keep the candidate above it as necessary, but fight like HELL with whatever works below that.

I think we've got great potential now -- even knowing it's merely the potential to begin to reverse the damage of this administration (damage that's going to last well beyond all of our lifetimes).

We CAN take it back, we HAVE to, and I believe we WILL. From there, it's all uphill, for decades to come.