At 0-7, Adviser Bob Shrum Is Well Acquainted With the Concession Speech
By Mark Leibovich
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 10, 2004; Page C01
Each day at the Democratic convention in Boston, a team of 10 speechwriters would convene in a windowless office behind the Fleet Center podium to help compose and polish that night’s speeches. In the spirit of camaraderie, the speechwriters discussed making T-shirts for themselves.
One suggested a design featuring the slogan “Reverse the Curse” over a picture of Bob Shrum, the Democratic strategist whom many perceived to be presidential candidate John Kerry’s closest adviser. “The Curse” referred to Shrum’s career-long slump in presidential campaigns, a well-catalogued losing streak that runs from George McGovern to Al Gore.
Witness how he resists the trolling net and the obvious warnings around it. This is clearly a smart customer. Not only does he avoid getting entangled in an ugly discussion, but he raises the level of debate.
This isn’t a troll, this is true. Republican have become masters at getting people to ignore th real issues that would sink their candidate, while at the same time building up worthless issues and catchphrases (flip-floper) that mean nothing, but people focus on. I agree with Democrats politically, but they sure don’t seem like they know how to run a dirty election, which may be the only election that can win.
