QUOTE
In a development so big it requires BOTH sports metaphors and military ones, George Bush's Republican Party has put all of its players on the field in order to bring to bear maximum force against the enemy and define the battle on its terms.
The 2004 presidential campaign is actually a contest to see if George W. Bush can do a better job avoiding the mistakes of the last Republican president to seek re-election more deftly than John F. Kerry can avoid the mistakes of the last Massachusetts politician to be the Democratic nominee for president.
There is a creeping fear among some Democrats that they are up against a party that knows and lives by the following:
First Rule of Politics: "It ain't beanbag."
Second Rule of Politics: "Never lose control of your public image, but force your opponent to lose control of his."
Third Rule of Politics: "In times of battle, all hands on deck."
Fourth Rule of Politics: "Keep your candidate above the fray, but force your opponent to debate and defend against surrogates and shadowy, ferocious enemies."
Fifth Rule of Politics: "Say thing that get under your opponent's skin, and which will sound so implausible to his ear that at first he won't bother to defend himself."
What Democrats really fear now: that they might only be able to win the White House when an anomaly occurs (Watergate or the once-in-a-lifetime political skills of Bill Clinton).
Yesterdays' well-run convention program really the whole week is a metaphor for the themes, tactics, and strategy the GOP plans to use to allow a president with a wrong-track problem to keep his job.
The 2004 presidential campaign is actually a contest to see if George W. Bush can do a better job avoiding the mistakes of the last Republican president to seek re-election more deftly than John F. Kerry can avoid the mistakes of the last Massachusetts politician to be the Democratic nominee for president.
There is a creeping fear among some Democrats that they are up against a party that knows and lives by the following:
First Rule of Politics: "It ain't beanbag."
Second Rule of Politics: "Never lose control of your public image, but force your opponent to lose control of his."
Third Rule of Politics: "In times of battle, all hands on deck."
Fourth Rule of Politics: "Keep your candidate above the fray, but force your opponent to debate and defend against surrogates and shadowy, ferocious enemies."
Fifth Rule of Politics: "Say thing that get under your opponent's skin, and which will sound so implausible to his ear that at first he won't bother to defend himself."
What Democrats really fear now: that they might only be able to win the White House when an anomaly occurs (Watergate or the once-in-a-lifetime political skills of Bill Clinton).
Yesterdays' well-run convention program really the whole week is a metaphor for the themes, tactics, and strategy the GOP plans to use to allow a president with a wrong-track problem to keep his job.
Does this sound 'sound'? At least the Note gets things. So, things are finally starting to sink in on the Kerry crown. How many do you think are beginning to get that 'sinking' feeling.
And speaking of being on defense, how many more sinking feelings will become evident after tomorrow's Kerry speech in Nashville before the American Legion?
