Now, more than ever, Kerry must take the high road and go higher yet.

He should be describing a Healthier Nation, Richer and Wiser too. An describe how we gonna get there, realistically, and with Reason/Common Sense.

He should become the Healing President, one that would steer the Nation back to its roots of Fair Play and Honor. He could play it right and see to it America emerges stronger, if at all possible, and address all the things Bush neglected... Global Warming, environment, pollution, toxic sites/streams/rivers. Energy conservation by minimizing waste, better efficiency in our use of torque/power.

He should be positive and inspire us with this mood thru a good and realistic PLAN.

Its obvious the Bush team was reactive and nowhere near Proactive.

A positive vision for all you speak of, and bash the hell out of Bush for this illegal, immoral doctrine of "pre-emptive" war. Do the American people want more Iraqs? Then re-elect Bush. That's a powerful message.

staggering, bleeding, out of breath, out to lunch even.

Kerry should NEVER be seen as an attacker!

He needs to parse SOTU Address, particularly the references to the RUSH to War. In doing so, he can act as the voice of veterans and lost soldier's families betrayed by the Administration.

He has been playing up the jobs point which is a very good thing since Under the Bush recovery, the stockholders get righer, but nobody has a FULL TIME job.

The wiser and more respected point is a great one because I have to believe all Americans are ashamed of the way we are viewed in the World today.

I do remember hearing a lot of the talking heads saying that Jack Kennedy won the election by telling people they would feel better about their country and themselves.

The only thing I worry about is Kerry's ability to pull it off. I like him and I do think he would be a good President, but he doesn't have the carisma that Kennedy or Clinton had, and you can't make that happen....you either have it or you don't.

Kerry is getting better as Bush is getting worse. Reminds me of Ball Bearings and Strawberries on the Caine

everyone who sees him in person is overwhelmed and he is looking better and better on the campaign trail. I think by the time the conventions and debates get here he'll be awesome.

and Clark was echoing that message in his nomination campaign. Kerry needs the "vision thing".

It's going to be a long and ugly summer, we will need the healing.
I also think the women's vote is in the bag. Bush is like the husband that gambles away all the money, fights with the neighbors, drinks, beats the kids, and burns down the house. Kerry is like the calm, mature, kind, wise second husband.

For the latter, I guess we can Rush for a connection, lol

But he'll never do it - he made his career as a parser and a statesman, not a visionary. That's the real problem here - he's selling himself not as a transformer but as someone who can man the wheel best.

Dukakis tried to take the high road in 1988.

What happened? He blew a 17 point lead in the polls.

Candidates go negative because it works. And there is PLENTY to legitimately attack Bush on.

Kerry should go negative early and often.

Republicans make up complete crap to attack Dems (Dukakis and Willie Horton, Gore's a liar, Cleland's lack of patriotism).

Democrats make legitimate attacks (Bush I's lack of focus on economy, Dole's ties to Gingrich).

Kerry can EASILY keep his attacks legitimate and policy oriented, but he must always be on the offensive against Bush, changing the public perception of Bush, especially among swing voters.

Although he should come up with a more coherent theme/vision to his campaign akin to the New Deal/New Frontier.

Pubs got Bull Shit only

"Bush's Brain" describes how Karl Rove campaigns. Bush/Rove do not play fair, and they do not respect opponents who do.

Kerry's advantage is that Bush lies so much that all Kerry has to do is to win is to tell the truth. Americans were told lie after lie about Iraq, the environment, Bush's education policy, the Medicare prescription drug plan, Bush's pre-9/11 terrorist policy, almost everything. Voters are beginning to see through a few of the lies for themselves. Kerry will win by telling the truth because what he says will confirm people's personal experiences and suspicions that Bush lies.

cannot be denied.

The Pubs are in Denial full on.

I say no holds barred, throw everything thats true about this disaster of a white house agaist the wall ,something is going to stick ! Why should we do anything except that ,did they go easy on Clinton for eight years ,while Kerry is taking the "high road" bushes gang of liers will being pulling off every dirty trick they can. I say every action deserves a reaction. Like on this stuff about Kerry and his metals. We needeed to respond everytime with the fact that Kerry ,voluterred to fight in Viet Nam ,while bush was to busy being a drunk and a chicken hawk ! How dare they even ? Kerry's service when their guy and his V.P. did everything they could to run and hide from serving ! Kerry's reply should be is you want to discuss sevice to the country ,bring it on ,and I will bring on the truth !

but balance with the obvious truth to expose the lies and to offer promise and hope in a realistic way.