Comments on: Power and Powerlessness http://www.aquick.org/blog/2004/11/28/power-and-powerlessness/ entertaining hundreds of millions of eyeball atoms every day Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:06:22 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Adam http://www.aquick.org/blog/2004/11/28/power-and-powerlessness/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Adam Mon, 29 Nov 2004 21:46:13 +0000 /?p=299#comment-77 I've spoken to a number of Republicans about this, and they've all expressed the same opinion. "Sure - Bush is bad, but I see no reason why Kerry would be any better." I think they're at least partially right. To be clear, I'm not a Democrat. If anything, I'm a Libertarian, except that I think they're not currently viable as a political party on a presidential scale. I just happen to think that these Republicans are especially bad, and they don't even behave like good Republicans. Like me, the ABK voters look at Kerry and see a lot of complaining about what's wrong, but no coherent answers about how to fix it. When ABK voters look at Bush, they see a man who's got no clear answers, but determination. When they look at Kerry, they see neither. This is pretty critical, I think. Personally, I've always thought that Kerry was a weak choice - he's lacking in outward conviction, and his central message is "Bush made a mess on the carpet". But if you look at his policy proposals, he doesn't present any clear answers in reponse to that. How are you going to fix Social Security? (Don't touch it.) What are you going to do about Iraq? (Call the Germans.) Are you going to vote for all the same crap that broke the system in the first place? (Yes.) I strongly feel that the Democrats need to field a candidate with conviction to make actual changes and a plan to fix things, not just make them less bad. I’ve spoken to a number of Republicans about this, and they’ve all expressed the same opinion. “Sure – Bush is bad, but I see no reason why Kerry would be any better.” I think they’re at least partially right. To be clear, I’m not a Democrat. If anything, I’m a Libertarian, except that I think they’re not currently viable as a political party on a presidential scale. I just happen to think that these Republicans are especially bad, and they don’t even behave like good Republicans. Like me, the ABK voters look at Kerry and see a lot of complaining about what’s wrong, but no coherent answers about how to fix it. When ABK voters look at Bush, they see a man who’s got no clear answers, but determination. When they look at Kerry, they see neither. This is pretty critical, I think. Personally, I’ve always thought that Kerry was a weak choice – he’s lacking in outward conviction, and his central message is “Bush made a mess on the carpet”. But if you look at his policy proposals, he doesn’t present any clear answers in reponse to that. How are you going to fix Social Security? (Don’t touch it.) What are you going to do about Iraq? (Call the Germans.) Are you going to vote for all the same crap that broke the system in the first place? (Yes.) I strongly feel that the Democrats need to field a candidate with conviction to make actual changes and a plan to fix things, not just make them less bad.

]]> By: Josh Koenig http://www.aquick.org/blog/2004/11/28/power-and-powerlessness/comment-page-1/#comment-75 Josh Koenig Mon, 29 Nov 2004 21:19:42 +0000 /?p=299#comment-75 That's a good point, though with turnout at a record high on both sides and no third-party taking a decisive slice of the pie, I don't know if the ABK group was really the factor. Clearly incorporating their concerns into the future development of the party is critical if the Dems are to rebound. But I'm thinking of people who were ABK for left-wing reasons (e.g. he's too centrist). There are possibly other dem-leaners out there who were ABK for security or character reasons as well. I'd be interested in elaboration on what exactly you mean. That’s a good point, though with turnout at a record high on both sides and no third-party taking a decisive slice of the pie, I don’t know if the ABK group was really the factor. Clearly incorporating their concerns into the future development of the party is critical if the Dems are to rebound.

But I’m thinking of people who were ABK for left-wing reasons (e.g. he’s too centrist). There are possibly other dem-leaners out there who were ABK for security or character reasons as well. I’d be interested in elaboration on what exactly you mean.

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