http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2004_08_15.php#003295
excerpts:
There is a meta-debate going on here, one that I'm not sure even the practitioners fully articulate to themselves and one that I'm painfully aware the victims don't fully understand.
Let's call it the Republicans' Bitch-Slap theory of electoral politics.
It goes something like this.
On one level, of course, the aim behind these attacks is to cast suspicion upon Kerry's military service record and label him a liar. But that's only part of what's going on.
....
One way -- perhaps the best way -- to demonstrate someone's lack of toughness or strength is to attack them and show they are either unwilling or unable to defend themselves -- thus the rough slang I used above. And that I think is a big part of what is happening here. Someone who can't or won't defend themselves certainly isn't someone you can depend upon to defend you.
Demonstrating Kerry's unwillingness to defend himself (if Bush can do that) is a far more tangible sign of what he's made of than wartime experiences of thirty years ago.
On Sun, 22 Aug 2004 12:04:06 -0400, snit snat
<snitilicious at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
> Also, Michael Pollak might like this piece
> http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-strategy22aug22,1,3635747.story?coll=la-home-headlines
>
> (Note: I think this is a plant from Bush-Fuckyourself '04, frankly)
>
> And this outstanding party-pop-psychoan:
> http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/493kldgc.asp?pg=2
>
> This, below, is the best description yet of the Bush-Fuckyourself '04
> Campaign Strategy:
>
> "Here's how it works: The Republicans are working from the playbook of the
> schoolyard bully — teasing, taunting, questioning the opponent's manhood,
> and watching to see what he does. For Kerry, it's a no-winner. Fight back,
> and he looks defensive and angry, and lets the Republicans set the agenda.
> Sit back, and he'll just get beat down some more.
>
> Better yet, the approach stands to erode Kerry's base — the real prize for
> the Republicans, in a super-polarized election where positions are set and
> turnout may be the key to victory. If Kerry fights fire with fire, he risks
> looking "negative" and losing the middle-of-the-roaders to Bush or to
> apathy. (The Republicans have already seeded the notion that the Democrats
> are the party of negativity and hate. At the Democratic convention,
> organizers did everything to tamp down personal criticism of the president,
> and put on a happy, smiling face. Surveying the scene, Fox News anchor Neil
> Cavuto informed his viewers that "there's a lot of hatred in this room
> behind me.")
>
> But take it lying down, and Kerry looks wimpy — like Dukakis in the tank,
> like the French, like those who are "soft on terror," like the "girlie men"
> Arnold Schwarzenegger called California Democrats. And here, he risks
> losing his left-wing support: Dean, Kucinich and Sharpton supporters and
> progressives of all stripes who are spoiling for a real fight. The
> Republicans hope some of this support will turn off Kerry and move, say, to
> independent Ralph Nader — or that just enough left-wingers will lose the
> drive to go to the polls should the weather be nasty or their car break down.
>
> Right now, Kerry's lurching between the two response strategies, clearly
> attempting to come up with something better, but looking passive and
> indecisive in the process. His convoluted communication style doesn't help.
> Even when Kerry's fighting back, you can't tell for sure from his words.
>
> Taunting and bullying works. Despite a stagnant economy, growing
> inequalities, and a catastrophe in Iraq, Bush is running neck-and-neck with
> his challenger. Even better, the bullying keeps the focus on Kerry and lets
> Bush get away with empty slogans over concrete ideas. More deeply, it
> matches well with the cultivation of seething resentment, cowardice and
> paranoia that has been so successful since September 11.
>
> It's a nasty tactic, and shameless. But it's working well so far, and it
> might clinch Bush the prize of an outright election — popular vote and all,
> with no need for dirty tricks. Let's hope, for their sake, that the
> Democrats realize this.
>
> Siddhartha Mitter is a Boston-based writer and political analyst. He can be
> reached at siddharthamitter at earthlink.net.
>
> http://www.africana.com/articles/daily/bw20040816filth.asp
>
> "We're in a fucking stagmire."
>
> --Little Carmine, 'The Sopranos'
>
> "We're in a fucking stagmire."
>
> --Little Carmine, 'The Sopranos'
>
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