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ctembreull · 08-03-2003, 07:50 PM

MuadDib:

I disagree strongly with you about Kucinich's electability. Part of it is his stand on the issues. It's been said that 40% of the country will vote Democrat no matter what, 40% will vote Republican no matter what, and it's the middle 20% that makes the difference. That 20% is the key battleground, but Kucinich is in practical terms too far left. This isn't saying that I don't agree with him, but to capture that middle 20%, a candidate needs the appearance of moderation. Bush lied his ass off to get there, but he appeared moderate enough to take away a good portion of that 20% - enough to make Florida an issue. Kucinich, I think, is too honest and too forthright to appear as anything short of what he is - a very liberal Democrat. Hence, I consider him unelectable.

This is why I said that we need a moderate - and Kerry is a very good moderate-to-liberal candidate - to pave the way for real liberals like Kucinich later on. Right now, though, the country has been "conservatized" by Republican propaganda, and we need a moderate who can step in and do battle with Bush in the turf he's trying to claim - the moderate 20%. In the future, you could be right - Kucinich would be an excellent liberal candidate. But today, right now, after the last three years of conservative depredations and a media culture that makes the country think they're getting a good deal, we need someone who can battle Bush on his own turf and win. I see Kucinich's role right now as being an influence to pull Kerry and Dean and Gephardt - the three big dogs of this race - enough to the left to keep the liberal base happy, but without sacrificing their ability to draw in the moderate middle by hammering Bush on the ground that he claimed in 2000.

You know and I know that Kucinich is savvy, compassionate, and intelligent. But to the rest of the country right now, he's fringey. Give it eight years of Democrat control, and we may just be in a position to elect someone like Kucinich. But not now. Certainly not now.

08-03-2003, 07:50 PM	#33 (permalink)
ctembreull Crazy Location: Silicon Valley, CA, USA, Earth	MuadDib: I disagree strongly with you about Kucinich's electability. Part of it is his stand on the issues. It's been said that 40% of the country will vote Democrat no matter what, 40% will vote Republican no matter what, and it's the middle 20% that makes the difference. That 20% is the key battleground, but Kucinich is in practical terms too far left. This isn't saying that I don't agree with him, but to capture that middle 20%, a candidate needs the appearance of moderation. Bush lied his ass off to get there, but he appeared moderate enough to take away a good portion of that 20% - enough to make Florida an issue. Kucinich, I think, is too honest and too forthright to appear as anything short of what he is - a very liberal Democrat. Hence, I consider him unelectable. This is why I said that we need a moderate - and Kerry is a very good moderate-to-liberal candidate - to pave the way for real liberals like Kucinich later on. Right now, though, the country has been "conservatized" by Republican propaganda, and we need a moderate who can step in and do battle with Bush in the turf he's trying to claim - the moderate 20%. In the future, you could be right - Kucinich would be an excellent liberal candidate. But today, right now, after the last three years of conservative depredations and a media culture that makes the country think they're getting a good deal, we need someone who can battle Bush on his own turf and win. I see Kucinich's role right now as being an influence to pull Kerry and Dean and Gephardt - the three big dogs of this race - enough to the left to keep the liberal base happy, but without sacrificing their ability to draw in the moderate middle by hammering Bush on the ground that he claimed in 2000. You know and I know that Kucinich is savvy, compassionate, and intelligent. But to the rest of the country right now, he's fringey. Give it eight years of Democrat control, and we may just be in a position to elect someone like Kucinich. But not now. Certainly not now. __________________ Mac "If it's nae Scottish, it's crap! Last edited by ctembreull; 08-03-2003 at 07:56 PM..