Basu: To Democrats: Was Kerry the right choice?

By REKHA BASURegister Columnist
05/12/2004

So, where's John Kerry?
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Undoubtedly some of this is strategy. Kerry's advisors are probably hoping to sit back and let Bush self-destruct without getting the Democrat's hands dirty by taking the offensive. But it may also reflect a weakness that is generating growing concern - that Kerry doesn't have a focused message. That he was as unprepared to win the nomination as Howard Dean is now believed to have been. After a long lead in the polls, Dean fumbled badly under attacks and went under.

Some of it is delivery. Like Al Gore and Michael Dukakis, Kerry is challenged in the passion department. But if he wants to tap a growing public outrage, he's got to start showing more of it himself.

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This should have been a period in which, as Bush's popularity drops, his opponent's rises. But polls taken since the scandal broke show that's not happening. A new USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll released Monday showed Bush's approval rating down to 46 percent, his lowest ever. But support for Kerry against Bush also fell 2 points since last week, to 47 percent.
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Link to full column

Rekha Basu is the resident liberal on The Des Moines Register editorial team. She's a frequent target of wing nut criticism and verbal abuse. At times I've even found her too much the bleeding heart, yet on this issue we are in agreement.My letter carrier even feels the same.

ignore the fact that a campaign never starts this early. Bush started running ads early because he is doing so poorly. John Kerry will wipe the floor with him in the end AND we will take back the senate.

Every candidate I've seen, in both parties, has had this question raised, especially between the time they clench and the time of the convention. Gore, Clinton, Dole, Bush W, Bush Daddy, Reagan, Mondale...

Sometimes they've been the right candidate, sometimes the wrong, but the question is always there. Buyer's remorse, obscure band syndrome, boredom, whatever.

It's funny how people can have such a varying interpretation of the same events, too. I think Kerry is doing fabulous. He's suprising me with his sense of when to attack and when to lay back. I had not expected much of him. Others see the same events and think he is blowing it. I don't get how they can say that, and I guess they don't get how I form my opinions. C'est la vie. We'll know in a few months.

In response to all the DU threads re "WHere's Kerry?" I have made post after post in the last few days linking to stories at Yahoo news detailing Kerry's campaigning and harsh, focused statements he is making taking to task GWB. Surely Rekha could find those same AP and Reuters articles if she looked.

However Unlike me, Rekha Basu works at a newspaper and could, is she wanted to, use her influence to get some of these articles in her paper.

She'd rather whine.

"Kerry is challenged in the passion department. But if he wants to tap a growing public outrage, he's got to start showing more of it himself.

Is this asking too much?

John Kerry was very passionate when he testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1971! That's all people like Reka Basu and I want more of. We want to see the fire, the passion, the conviction of a Howard Dean, a Dennis Kucinich or a Helen Moseley Braun!

and was sad to see Dean lose like he did.

That being said, Kerry is a great candidate and I am excited about his chances.

The hand wringing must stop because we are playing into the GOP's hands. Hell, they don't question the rightness of the decision to nominate George Bush - the dimwitted son of an ex-president. Nor do they show any qualms about him being their candidate this time after 3 1/2 years of incredibly bad decisions and missteps. We need to take a cue from the GOP and stand behind the candidate. If we can't do that, then all is lost.

Read this and feel good:

http://www.thehill.com/mellman/051204.aspx

Clarke has charisma and integrity

But we have Kerry. He is tough. He has knowledge

He will slug it out.

I hope he attacks the White House Gang not just one person.

White House Chicken Roost.

Get out the vote.By precinct. Key.

Spend money at precinct level.