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robp
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 Posted: 11/03/04 - 09:48 Post subject: Where do the Democrats
go from here?
The way I see it George Bush was a very vulnerable incumbent and yet the Dems failed to unseat him. It was very close but I truly believe if they had come up with a candidate that was more middle of the road they would've pulled the election their way in a heartbeat. I don't see the U.S. electing a true liberal anytime in the forseeable future. A middle of the road Democrat - no problem.
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elkid
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 09:54 Post subject:
Kerry's pretty middle of the road. Perhaps the Democrats should scream more about terrorism and scare the bejesus out of the American public more. That tactic seems to work quite well.
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robp
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 09:55 Post subject:
Kerry is not middle of the road by most standards. Check out his voting record.
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 10:01 Post subject:
Well, I'm probably about "soccer mom vote" as you can get. Kerry just didn't relate well to me. If I were alone in a room with JFK, there would be no conversation. I imagine that he would act as if I weren't there.....and he pretty much did during this election. The dems picked the wrong guy----again. Maybe next time they try a woman!! They shouldn't have dissed Lieberman 
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 10:01 Post subject:
It's the problem with the primaries. To make it through a primary a candidate tends to be more to the right or left (depending on party), but in the general election they have to come back to the center. Plus, "lefty" and "liberal" seem to be dirty words in politics, as used by Repubs.
Kerry was just not the right candidate, despite Bush's vulnerability. He didn't seem to connect very well. Future candidates will have to. It may be easier when we don't have an incumbant president.
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Sahara
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 10:04 Post subject: Re: Where do the Democrats
| robp wrote: | go from here?
The way I see it George Bush was a very vulnerable incumbent and yet the Dems failed to unseat him. It was very close but I truly believe if they had come up with a candidate that was more middle of the road they would've pulled the election their way in a heartbeat. I don't see the U.S. electing a true liberal anytime in the forseeable future. A middle of the road Democrat - no problem. |
I consider Kerry a middle-of-the-roader.
To answer your question, I think that if the election is confirmed a win for Bush/Cheney that the those who identify, will galvanize in grassroots action. Individually people will become more active in causes that they believe in because they presently feel helpless on a larger scale. But the grassroots action has a way of moving things locally then in the state, then congress... I'm not sure how exactly, but I believe it would indeed translate to a stronger party and platform for 2008. Perhaps a backlash for the next four years (assuming the current trend of fundamentalist conservatism) will be a much more liberal president being elected.
Forgive if I've rambled, not sure if all those thoughts are qualified well enough.
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sonnylax
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 10:04 Post subject:
| elkid wrote: | | Kerry's pretty middle of the road. |
That view is not shared by most Americans, especially those that do not live in the Northeast. He is viewed as another Mass. tax/spend liberal in the mold of Teddy Kennedy (and his voting record backs up this viewpoint).
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Sahara
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 10:05 Post subject:
| sonnylax wrote: |
That view is not shared by most Americans, especially those that do not live in the Northeast. He is viewed as another Mass. tax/spend liberal in the mold of Teddy Kennedy (and his voting record backs up this viewpoint). |
I'd say that's how most that lean right percieve him. All a matter of perception, no?
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runaroundsue
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 10:11 Post subject:
The only good thing about this election is that some of the little voices were heard. No one was ignoring lil 'ol SD this year. The heartland isn't known for extreme views and the candidates really had to work for their votes
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RexRacer
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 11:16 Post subject:
| sonnylax wrote: |
That view is not shared by most Americans, especially those that do not live in the Northeast. He is viewed as another Mass. tax/spend liberal in the mold of Teddy Kennedy (and his voting record backs up this viewpoint). |
That's spin that stuck, Sonny. I agree with Sahara and elkid. The study where the GOP got that voting record stuff was published by the National Review (a pretty conservative journal) and was based on a very limited time scope of about four months, during which much of the time he was campaigning and tended to only come to the floor to vote on issues important to the base or closely challenged, which obviously would lean liberal in his case. Even then, he was only the 3rd or 4th most liberal voter, a fact distorted to make him 'Pinko Number One' during the close of the campaign.
Taken as a whole, Kerry's voting record is center/center-right among Democrats over his Senate career. Too moderate for my tastes, frankly, but I was willing to vote ABB.
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 11:20 Post subject:
I think this makes some excellent points on where to go forward.
Also, this makes the '06 elections SO much more important.
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Bill_Sev
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 11:20 Post subject:
The biggest question is what does that fat bastage Micahel Moore do now? Maybe he will disappear into the night!
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 11:22 Post subject:
| Bill_Sev wrote: | | The biggest question is what does that fat bastage Micahel Moore do now? Maybe he will disappear into the night! |
A. That was inappropriate and off-topic.
B. A Bush win would be exactly what would keep Moore publically speaking out against the President and writing more books.
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Gogirlgo
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 11:54 Post subject:
| Bill_Sev wrote: | | What does Michael Moore do now? |
Don't worry about him. His next film is about HMOs and pharmaceutical companies. He's plenty busy.
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Cappy
Excelent
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Posted: 11/03/04 - 13:11 Post subject:
| RexRacer wrote: | | ...but I was willing to vote ABB. |
Of the democrats whom had their hat in the primary ring, who would have been you're pick, in lieu of Kerry.
Is there a Democrat of whom you would have voted for on their stance on issues/politics, instead of an ABB candidate?
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