The Bush team must be pretty nervous. Their response to every legitimate issue Kerry raises is some variation on, "Well that's probably the 5th position he's taken on that issue." Their campaign is largely relying on keeping people afraid of what terrible thing might happen if a wishy-washy indecisive Kerry is elected president and the terrorists attack us.
This is because, unfortunately for our nation these last 4 years, they don't have much of a real record to stand on.
They've been able to get away with this largely because their advertisements can lie, and they can lie to partisan, carefully screened Republican crowds, and can go on Fox News and spin away, all without immediate calls of BS.
But in live debates -- and the first is Thursday -- when Bush gives one of the tired lies about Kerry flip flopping on Iraq, etc., Kerry will be able to respond. And point out Bush's many failures.
As a result, the Bush campaign sent out an e-mail. They have set up a rapid response website where they want everyone to go, so that when Kerry speaks, they can spin whatever he says, and no doubt continue to confuse facts and perpetuate fear. Sadly, this will probably work on many people, especially those already looking for some excuse to continue supporting Bush.
It must be said though, given the deficits, the disaster that is Iraq, the sluggish economy and job growth, etc., the Republicans are doing an impressive job of keeping Kerry on the defensive rather than having to defend themselves. If only they could apply half the effort and cleverness to doing their jobs that they are spending on keeping their jobs. Oh well.
I just hope Kerry isn't as big a disappointment come debate time as Gore was.
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