Why They Might Lose: One Girls View
The Democrats have not ever come off strong on defense. It's not their structure, it's not their winning position. They win on social programs, education, unions, that sort of thing. But not military defense. They like spending less and sending our military out to do more policing. That's their forte.
This year, however, in the midterms, the Republicans have angered so many, have misused so much, that the Dems might win simply because their different. And the people tend to speak up and call for change when enough is enough. Or rather, they tend to stay home and not vote. Which in this case accomplishes the same thing.
So in my view, the Dems could have sat this one out and just let it ride on by. They could have gotten away with a few well placed commercials that said, "Do you want more of the same? Or do you want something new?"
Or, even better, "Do you want a new Republican to vote for in the next Primary? Vote for me!" Which is essentially what a lot of Reps want in the next go round.
So the Dems didn't have too much work to do. The Reps had pretty much sabotaged their own chances with the likes of Mark Foley, an unpopular war, Immigration, and spending/pork. The only thing the Reps had / have going for them is that the economy is stellar (hello Dow, hello unemployment, hello budget forcast, hello consumer spending and income). Everything else is a wash for both.
Enter John Kerry. I'd expect something like this from Howard Dean. He tends to open his mouth without thinking. But John Kerry, speaking in California to a group of college students said: "You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."
With friends like these who needs enemies? Already analysts are talking about how this could swing the election the Republicans way. I'm not convinced, but it's definitely not hurting their chances.
Election aside, here is the bigger problem: many, many, many people think this. Not just Dems. Many, many, many civilians with no experience with military men and women think this. Why? Blame it on bad PR. Blame it on the poor kids people knew in high school who enlisted after graduation because they couldn't afford to go to college and didn't know how else to get a good job. Blame it on poor education of civilians. Regardless, the view that military men and women are stupid is not limited to the Senator from Massachusetts. He's the only politician stupid enough to say it, but he's not the only one who thinks it.
The truth of the matter is that after having served in the military, our servicemen and women are very desierable job candidates. They are disciplined and have recieved more diverse on the job training than most in the corporate world. But some people have their noses too high in the air to see this.
For most of us, Senator Kerry's remarks come as surprise only because he said it outloud. We all know he thinks it. It's part of the reason he didn't elected in the first place. Throwing medals away doesn't lend itself to respect for military service.
Senator Kerry is now off the campaign trail, because his big mouth has gotten his party in trouble. Many people are calling for him to apologize, including those from his own party. But instead of doing so immediatel, he claimed "Republican Attack Machine" or some such garbage and taking it out of context. [on Imus in the morning, Wednesday]
Really? Senator Kerry, I'm so glad you are not ever going to be President of the United States. And I think you're a coward and an elitist pig.
Put that in context.
And the headlines this morning read: "John Kerry says sorry for 'botched joke' on Iraq." That's taken out context. What he really said was: "I'm not going to let these guys distort something completely out of its context solely for the purpose of avoiding responsibility which is what they're doing. Look, everybody knows I botched a joke, it's not the first time anybody's done that Don." And then later he said: "I'm sorry about a botched joke, you think I love botched jokes? I mean you know, it's pretty stupid. But on the other hand, here's what’s--here's what's culpable and here's what's really unconscionable; the White House knows it."
But I guess since that context is viewed as unimportant by the main stream media, we just won't comment on it.
And you know what's missing here? I'm sorry American military men and women serving on the front lines in Iraq and on other fronts and serving here at home. I never meant to imply that you weren't intelligent.
I can't find those words. When I find them I'll let you know. And coincidentally, I really, really dislike Don Imus. Intensely.
This year, however, in the midterms, the Republicans have angered so many, have misused so much, that the Dems might win simply because their different. And the people tend to speak up and call for change when enough is enough. Or rather, they tend to stay home and not vote. Which in this case accomplishes the same thing.
So in my view, the Dems could have sat this one out and just let it ride on by. They could have gotten away with a few well placed commercials that said, "Do you want more of the same? Or do you want something new?"
Or, even better, "Do you want a new Republican to vote for in the next Primary? Vote for me!" Which is essentially what a lot of Reps want in the next go round.
So the Dems didn't have too much work to do. The Reps had pretty much sabotaged their own chances with the likes of Mark Foley, an unpopular war, Immigration, and spending/pork. The only thing the Reps had / have going for them is that the economy is stellar (hello Dow, hello unemployment, hello budget forcast, hello consumer spending and income). Everything else is a wash for both.
Enter John Kerry. I'd expect something like this from Howard Dean. He tends to open his mouth without thinking. But John Kerry, speaking in California to a group of college students said: "You know education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework and you make an effort to be smart, you can do well. And if you don't, you get stuck in Iraq."
With friends like these who needs enemies? Already analysts are talking about how this could swing the election the Republicans way. I'm not convinced, but it's definitely not hurting their chances.
Election aside, here is the bigger problem: many, many, many people think this. Not just Dems. Many, many, many civilians with no experience with military men and women think this. Why? Blame it on bad PR. Blame it on the poor kids people knew in high school who enlisted after graduation because they couldn't afford to go to college and didn't know how else to get a good job. Blame it on poor education of civilians. Regardless, the view that military men and women are stupid is not limited to the Senator from Massachusetts. He's the only politician stupid enough to say it, but he's not the only one who thinks it.
The truth of the matter is that after having served in the military, our servicemen and women are very desierable job candidates. They are disciplined and have recieved more diverse on the job training than most in the corporate world. But some people have their noses too high in the air to see this.
For most of us, Senator Kerry's remarks come as surprise only because he said it outloud. We all know he thinks it. It's part of the reason he didn't elected in the first place. Throwing medals away doesn't lend itself to respect for military service.
Senator Kerry is now off the campaign trail, because his big mouth has gotten his party in trouble. Many people are calling for him to apologize, including those from his own party. But instead of doing so immediatel, he claimed "Republican Attack Machine" or some such garbage and taking it out of context. [on Imus in the morning, Wednesday]
Really? Senator Kerry, I'm so glad you are not ever going to be President of the United States. And I think you're a coward and an elitist pig.
Put that in context.
And the headlines this morning read: "John Kerry says sorry for 'botched joke' on Iraq." That's taken out context. What he really said was: "I'm not going to let these guys distort something completely out of its context solely for the purpose of avoiding responsibility which is what they're doing. Look, everybody knows I botched a joke, it's not the first time anybody's done that Don." And then later he said: "I'm sorry about a botched joke, you think I love botched jokes? I mean you know, it's pretty stupid. But on the other hand, here's what’s--here's what's culpable and here's what's really unconscionable; the White House knows it."
But I guess since that context is viewed as unimportant by the main stream media, we just won't comment on it.
And you know what's missing here? I'm sorry American military men and women serving on the front lines in Iraq and on other fronts and serving here at home. I never meant to imply that you weren't intelligent.
I can't find those words. When I find them I'll let you know. And coincidentally, I really, really dislike Don Imus. Intensely.
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