Strategy Vs. Tactics

This was going to be a shout-out to the Wes Clark trolls on this blog (hi gang) but the Gephardt campaign, and the reactions to Dean's "defensiveness" here, make this post more urgent.

It is time to talk about the difference between strategy and tactics.

General Clark understands this. Strategy is how you map out the campaign. Tactics is what you do in the middle of the battle.

What we're seeing right now are tactics. Gephardt's desperate charge is a tactic, aimed at dissuading Dean people from outside Iowa from coming in, and at causing fence-sitters to recoil from Governor Dean. Clark's claim that Dean's flyers at his event are a "dirty trick" are a tactic.

Neither has anything to do with the elephant in the room, George W. Bush.

Tactics won't beat George W. Bush. You need a strategy, a coherent strategy that lays out an alternate vision, that appeals to swing voters, and that can compete with Bush's "Guns, Gays, and Gazillionaires."

Howard Dean has a strategy. He's going to run to the right of Bush, on issues like Homeland Security and the deficit. He's going to challenge Bush, and not let him get away with anything. He's going to appeal to the better angels of our nature, using the nation's founding documents.

Does Dick Gephardt even have a strategy? General Clark's strategy seems to be to point to imaginary fruit salad (medals) on his chest, then run to Bush's left on every issue.

People now beginning to choose a Democratic nominee need to know this. Beating Bush will require a strategy. Governor Dean is going to match Bush's spending with the energy of millions of people. He's going to stay on the offensive from now until November 2. He has laid out a clear, coherent vision for the country, based on its founding values.

Get this campaign out of the gutter now. Tell us, Mr. Gephardt, what is your strategy for beating George W. Bush? Tell us, General Clark, what is your strategy, besides pointing to your military record? How are you going to implement that strategy when you're out of money for months, after securing this nomination, while Bush has $200 million to fire against you?

We're waiting. Iowa is waiting. New Hampshire is waiting. The nation's Democrats are waiting.

If you want Bush out, do not consider supporting one of these other candidates until you get a clear, coherent answer to that question.

What is your strategy for fighting the Bush advertising barrage, after you run out of money in April?

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