After all, this is just the kind of bold initiative that people were screaming for--something that would set Kerry apart as more than just an ABB candidate. What gives?

Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose. During a campaign, this would have been evidence that Kerry is a communist. Now, it's still evidence of communicity, but who cares?

We need to stop beating ourselves--and Kerry--up over the loss. America chose this madness, and I think it did so with its eyes mostly open.

He did.

HE did, its just that big news orgonizations
made it look like he was playing dodge boll

Well I for one don't see anyone out there filling the leadership role of the opposition party, or offering any bold initiatives or plans as to how to deal with republican majority in Congress.

All I remember from prominent dems is...wow that Porter Goss he's a goodie he would never politicize the CIA.
That Gonzalez...he's another goodie..I see no problem in confirming the man who was responsible for the legal justification making quaint prison abuse. Or how about this

Wow, we really need to reach out and work hand and hand with those republicans who are just so morally righteous because redstate voters don't like gay rights or reproductive rights for women. I mean really how dare we even think we could ever nominate or have a bluestate candidate especially one from the coast and liberal Massachusetts like John Kerry. Really after all the republcian party is the party of church goers (not necessarily of God, though that is what they will claim because in their and the media's mind church attendance and bible reading obviously equals Godliness).

I agree with others above, we need to stop beating ourselves up over this. Let's not dump on the messenger or the message of this very appropriate intitiative just because we are frustrated and angry at the election results. Winners never quit and quitters never win. At least JFK is still out there trying to do something for Americans. I don't see anyone else out there stepping up to the plate. But this idea is a good start, and we need to do something instead of just sitting around being labeled the obstructionist party for the next 4 years. Health care for kids is a great start and meets the idea of being pro-life very effectively. I'm just worried the thugs will try to add some stupid amendment to it to derail it in its tracks, even if it comes up. That is what they are famous for and do so many, many times.

Big YEAH! to emal's comments above. Kerry fought hard and he lost, and he's coming back swinging. Either this initiative will get passed, in which case he can take credit for it, or it'll fail and the Repubs will become the party that denies health care to poor children. Every time they vote down something like this it's another negative point for them. And if they support it, it can be used to point out that even Congressional Republicans support the Dem's agenda. This is a win-win situation.

Clearly, tactics are not a Dem strong point. Maybe Kerry hinted at this Child Health thing during the campaign, maybe he boldly proposed it. The fact that I can't remember which is revealing in and of itself. But the fact is that the GOP Media would not discuss any legit proposals that would have benefitted Kerry, even if he had them. What will it take for blogdom to understand the depth of Media ownership and control by the right wing Corporate Barons is the main reason for the unjust, illegitimate Bush regime's dominance. Its not their "values" ,they stink (DeLay f.i.), it is the Message Control that takes good, well meaning programs like Child Health and turns them into "East Coast Liberal givaways".

While I think this was buried in that "Plan for America" thing, I think the handlers kept this off the books for the exact fear that it would be perceived as too liberal and damaging. You wouldn't think that when it comes to kids and their protection, we'd be like that, but welcome to America 2004. In my local paper, there was a letter to the editor decrying a proposed school funding initiative, becase "my property taxes have gone up $2500 over the past three years and they should not be allowed to go up any further for ANY reason!"

I think that we might be seeing what Kerry might have been able to do without all the handlers keeping him tied down. Maybe we needed a bit more of that over the course of the actual campaign.

Clearly, tactics are not a Dem strong point. Maybe Kerry hinted at this Child Health thing during the campaign, maybe he boldly proposed it. The fact that I can't remember which is revealing in and of itself.

Thanks for making this precise point, as this is what I was getting at. I'm sure this child health insurance initiative was tucked away somewhere in Kerry's in list of proposals, but he certainly didn't trumpet it. This inability to clearly articulate policy goal (whether it's the media's fault or the Democratic advisers) is something that's going to come up again in 2008, so it's important to discuss, even if it's in hindsight.

Actually, Kerry quite frequently referred to this aspiration. If you didn't hear about it you just weren't paying attention. The Murkin people in general don't pay attention and apparently don't get anything that isn't repeat thousands of times in complete isolation from anything else. Can you really imagine that the single drumbeat of health care for uninsured children would have helped? Get real. This election was won on fear and greed.

T2 is correct. It does not matter whether Kerry talked about child health care or not. The Media was not going to give Kerry any support on anything.

Kerry lost because he did NOT fight back charges of flip-flopping on issues and he did NOT fight back when Rove attacked his character by unleashing the SWB liars. Have you heard Kerry's explanation for his 87bil vote yet? My mom told me Kerry threw this election on purpose. I am slowly coming to that conclusion now. How do you explain Kerry's stupid silence on the SWB liars? Keep in mind that the same group attacked him in 96 when he ran for reelection. Mom is always right.

Kerry lost because voters found him to be unacceptable as replacement for W. It is that simple. Negative attacks did Kerry in, not healtcare or jobs.

It is a lesson to be learned but Dems continue to fail to learn it.

NEVER ALLOW NEGATIVE ATTACKS TO GO UNANSWERED.

Kerry did so he lost. End of story.

Kerry should have learned something from Barbara Boxer who is small in statue but is tenacious fighter.

I find this thread absolutely baffling. Kerry's health plan was a huge part of his campaign, and insuring children was the biggest, most important plank in his proposal. It came up in the debates, Krugman wrote a column praising Kerry's plan -- and I know others cited it as well. The fact that people are now bashing him for not introducing it during the campaign...when in fact he DID...just hammers home to me the real reason we lost this election: the left's congenital inability to rally behind its candidates. We can't expect swing voters to forgive our candidate's flaws if we don't. And we can't expect them to recognize his strengths if we diminish them.

I read every post. What J. said. Amen.

What Judith said and what J Said.

How could you expect the Corporate Press/Media to pay attention to insignificant things like children's health when Preznit Bush is the only thing standing between us and the Brown Islamic Hordes?

What John said -- Kerry didn't fight back, and allowed Bush/Rove to control the narrative.

The meme of the campaign: Bush = Strong Wartime Leader; Kerry = flip flopping equivocator.

Game Over; Bush Wins . . .

Bush and company clearly believe they can control the agenda. That's what must be countered.Kerry's plan for extending medical coverage to all children is an example of exactly what needs to be done. Higher minimum wage. Etc. People are not so afraid now and may listen to Democratic plans BECAUSE they don't have to do anything right now-- dump a President in the middle of a war etc.

Let Republicans be seen as blocking popular plans is an advantage. But it won't work well without Democrats being united in Congress AND media (advertising) AND organized support (Move-On type activities) outside of Congress to back them up. Right now there are huge expenditures at the back end of the campaign on smaller and smaller segments of the population. Why not reach a broader public over a longer stretch of time. Republican scare tactic depend on a kind of fear based time compression a closing down of thinking.

People have become so ahistorical. The advertising should be of at least two sorts one a history of Democratic party leaders and achievements. People said that nothing could be done about.... rural poverty.... a culture of discrimination, elderly poor but Democrats led the way, social security, war on poverty,.... Something can be done. We've done it. Not nostalgia, not you owe us for the New Deal..... The underling theme something was done that worked, and something can be done again.

A second should support a fighting Democratic agenda directly.

the only reason john kerry "lost" is because the presidency was STOLEN from him... and he's going to get it back. just wait and see....