Posted on 02/01/2007 6:08:27 PM PST by UCAL
On July 25, 2004, the Red Sox and Yankees tussled at Boston’s historic Fenway Park. The then-presumptive Democratic nominee for President was Massachusetts’ own John Kerry. On the campaign trail, Kerry had routinely professed to be a die-hard Sox fan, even though in an interview a month earlier he named as his all time favorite Sox player a man who never actually played for the Red Sox. In order to demonstrate his Ordinary Joe bona fides to a watchful and suspicious nation, Kerry made a splashy show of attending that evening’s game.
To celebrate Kerry’s rare mingling with the hoi polloi, Kerry’s handlers cooked up a typically misguided plan in which Kerry would toss out the ceremonial first pitch while an Army veteran who had just returned from tours in Afghanistan and Iraq served as his personal catcher. In so doing, Kerry would bask in the affection of his local fan base as well as honor America’s military.
The plan quickly went awry. Much to Team Kerry’s surprise, the putative local hero was greeted by more boos than cheers by the Fenway faithful. When the time came to toss the first pitch, Kerry embarrassed himself by weakly heaving up an anemic lob that barely made it two thirds of the way to the military man awaiting Kerry’s throw. As if all this weren’t bad enough, Kerry blamed his pathetic pitch on his catcher, the just-returned Iraq veteran. Kerry asserted, “I held back. He was very nervous. I tried to lob it gently.”
JOHN KERRY IS NOT POPULAR IN MASSACHUSETTS. Take it from a native – he never has been. We have a familiarity with him that the rest of the nation lacks. That familiarity has bred contempt. The above anecdote, from the boos that greeted him at Fenway Park to his churlish response to his own womanish throw illustrates both the fact that we don’t like him and why we don’t like him.
Perhaps you prefer your data in a harder form. If so, there’s this: John Kerry got a lower percentage of the presidential vote in Massachusetts than Al Gore did four years ago. What’s more, Kerry didn’t have Ralph Nader siphoning away votes from him the way Gore did. And if you think Kerry’s performance lagged behind Gore’s because Bay State residents had developed a fondness for President Bush and his Texas swagger during his four years in office, think again. The only explanation for Kerry’s poor performance in ’04 compared to Gore’s in his home state is because those who know Kerry best like him least.
Kerry is up for reelection in ’08. While the rest of the country has rolled its eyes over his post-presidential defeat behavior of botched jokes and photo-ops with Iranian leaders, the Massachusetts electorate has simmered. Ideologically, Kerry is in line with the Commonwealth’s voters, but we don’t like losers. We especially don’t like losers who disgrace our region by performing in an embarrassing fashion. After his presidential loss in 1988, then-Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis had the good sense to not seek reelection in 1990. It was just as well; after the way he had brought shame to the state while seeking national office, he couldn’t have been elected dog-catcher let alone governor.
ON THE OTHER HAND, MASSACHUSETTS LOVES WINNERS. And this is where Kerry might have a serious problem. Red Sox star pitcher and local legend Curt Schilling is reportedly pondering a run against Kerry in 2008.
Curt Schilling is not the sharpest tool in the shed. He also is considered a loudmouthed boor by most of his teammates past and present, he is tolerated because of his skills.
That being said, I hope he drills Kerry with a fastball right in those horse-teeth.
Helloo! UNIONS! Thugs win every time.
Bush got 37 percent in 04.
For these Gay, professorial wimps that is HUGH
Nothing at all against you, poster, but I don't believe one word of this. Kerry, like Teddy, will continue to be re-elected by the voters of Mass. as long as he can breathe and waste space. I also believe that Mr. Schilling has said he isn't interested.
My thoughts exactly. How in the hell do they get reelected every time with so much hatred against them???I suspect morons live in that area.
I respectfully disagee with your assessment of Schilling. He's outspoken and extremely blunt, which makes him a little less than popular with some of his teammates. He also does not suffer fools gladly, and that doesn't sit well with some of your more pampered pros. His vocabulary and quick wit that he has demostrated on more than one occassion on TV and radio in Boston would indicate he's a little sharper than you give him credit for.
If MA was dumb enough to elect Kerry in the first place, it is certainly dumb enough to reelect him.
HUGH? Is that something like Hugh Jass?
HUGH? Is that something like Hugh Jass?
Why is he reelected ?
I hope so, but he's not sure if he'd vote for Obama or McCain for President.
Somewhat.. like Hugh Series Moonbat
"JOHN KERRY IS NOT POPULAR IN MASSACHUSETTS"
Then why does keep winning?
At last, some good news out of Massachusetts.
By the way, the latest polls show that Kerry is not popular in his home state.
The drop in his popularity is a recent development. Becoming a national figure has exposed his true nature, which had not happened during his reelection campaigns.
We are not all Morons!
Just most of us,
The others have moved away.
And we are seriously tired of being embarassed and denigrated, which is why we are all moving away as well!
It was already reported Schilling will NOT run, so that's out the window...
He was on the local talk radio station the other day and quickly put an end to that rumor!!!!He wants to pitch in "08,hopefully in Boston!!!
Never fear! The Brazilians will pay for it once "Deval in the Headlights" (borrowed from a caller on Howie Carr's show) gives them everything they want including restitution.
You know that Christopher Columbus.. we beat the crap out of the American Indians thing!
Just cause they taught the Colonists how to survive!
The Very Idea!
Well if not Curt maybe Manny Ortiz,Kerry's fave !!!!!!!
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