Predictions of the 2004 campaign!

[MrFun]

With Howard Dean running for president, I fear one thing -- that some Republicans will resort to appealing to homophobia and hatred in the guise of "family values" in order to run a smear campaign against Howard Dean.

Something along this line:

"If you support preserving traditional family values, reelect Bush. If you wish to destroy traditional family values, elect Howard Dean -- the destroyer of family values."

I'm worried that some Republicans will appeal to homophobia and bigotry in the form of a smear campaign against Howard Dean.



Oh by the way -- I'm back from being banned for three days from Apolyton.



Does this mean that I belong to the "bad guys" club on Apolyton?

[Gangerolf]

"Howard Dean -- the destroyer of family values." vs "George W. Bush -- the destroyer of terrorism."

tough decision

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Gangerolf
"Howard Dean -- the destroyer of family values." vs "George W. Bush -- the destroyer of terrorism."

tough decision

The decision will affect the lives of all Americans.

[JohnT]

Think that's bad? Here's what Congressman George Smathers said about fellow Democrat Claude Pepper, when Peppers was challenging Smathers during the 1950 primary contest:

Are you aware that the candidate is known all over Washington as a shameless extrovert? Not only that, but this man is reliably reported to have practiced nepotism with his sister-in-law and he has a sister who was once a wicked thespian in New York. He matriculated with co-eds at the University, and it is an established fact that before his marriage he habitually practiced celibacy.

Smathers won.

Source: http://www.afn.org/~afn62971/pepper.html

[Kirnwaffen]

I don't think you'll see much in the way of a smear campaign on this issue. Most of the campaign, I think, will center on Iraq and the budget deficit.

Don't get me wrong, I think Dean will be attacked to some extent on the issue of homosexuality, but at the end of the day, the Bushies will probably want to stand on more solid ground.

[Imran Siddiqui]

That's assuming Dean DOES win. Newsweek, I believe, just ran a fun article about Dean and showing both sides, but in the end, it is basically says he ain't really that different from Bradley in 2000, Tsongas in 1992, or Anderson in 1980. Also some interesting stuff about how Vermonters, who are used to a centrist Dean, are shocked about this neo-populist stuff attached to him (kinda like how Gore went populist in 2000).

We should wonder how Bush will run against Kerry.... that may be a very tough election for the Bushies (they are secretly hoping Dean wins though... they are predicting 49 states if that happens ).

[Jaguar]

The problem Dean is going to have as an established contender is that he won't have the advantage of obscurity to hide his faults. He won't get away with another Meet the Press fiasco as the frontrunner.

[chequita guevara]

Dean will do quite well because he understand something that the Democratic voters have been screaming for decades: you don't beat the Republicans by becoming the Republicans, you beat the Republicans by standing up and fighting them.

The best thing that can be said about a Democratic government, however, is that things probably won't get much worse. They certainly won't get any better. But even that's better than four more years of the phoney presidency.

[Kuciwalker]

Prediction: Bush will win.

[Jaguar]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Dean will do quite well because he understand something that the Democratic voters have been screaming for decades

What democratic voters?

[Imran Siddiqui]

sky: If Kerry wins the Democratic nomination (which I assume he will), I think he'd definetly give Bush a good run. Maybe even win.

All the others? Not even close. Bush will cakewalk to victory against them.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by skywalker
Prediction: Bush will win.

Even if he loses.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Even if he loses.

huh?

Oh, some stupid crack about the 2000 election.

Notice that under the Constitution, BUSH was the winning candidate.

But of course, silly things like the Constitution aren't important.

[chequita guevara]

I agree with Imran. Kerry's gonna get the nomination. Dean's role is to excite the Democratic base, which was massively disaffected from the party in ever greater numbers since 1994. Come Agust, Dean will do his duty and tell all his people to hold their nose and vote for Kerry, to save the Republic from the Republicans.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Democrats hope that Dean can get more Democratic base voters excited than Bradley did in 2000, and then turn them over to Kerry .