The Trouble Is, So Far Kerry Stinks On TV

THE NEW YORK OBSERVER ^ | 5/3/2004 edition | by Joe Hagan

[Liz]

Watching Mr. Kerry on TV, (John Weaver, the former strategist for Senator John McCain said), "I don’t know if it’s a stream of consciousness or stream of unconsciousness."

"It’s a lot of words and no clarity, a lot of presence and no warmth," said Chris Matthews, the host of MSNBC’s Hardball, who was preparing to interview Mr. Kerry for an hour on April 27. "And I think he’s got to deal with that."

No kidding?

[Mike Bates]

"Maybe he needs some good professional advice," he added. . .

Certainly he does. And not of the media adviser type either.

[goldstategop]

Its not the TV stupid, its the candidate. He doesn't project likeability even in person. As usual, the Democrats don't get it. It has nothing to with John F*ckin's message or lack of one. It has everything to do with who he is as a human being. And if you can't get people excited about you, TV is going to only amplify what isn't there. The more you see of the Seinfeld candidate, the less you want to get know him.

[pittsburgh gop guy]

It depends on what your definition of "IT" is.....

[randita]

They're starting to pile on. The Village Voice and the Observer are naysaying today. The VV says Kerry ought to be dumped (in favor of Edwards -- yeah).

Can the mainstream press be far behind? Almost time for Brunnhilde to ride in on her white horse and save the party. Toyo-to-ho-o....

[livius]

That's okay, Hillary with deal with it on his behalf...

If I were Kerry, I'd be very afraid right about now.

[Conspiracy Guy]

John Kerry's presence is like a fart in a crowded elevator.

[jerod]

His wife has a half a billion dollars and he gets $1,000 hair cuts. Surely this fool must have paid some big money for advice already. It's obviously just not working.

If there's a new Munster's movie being made, he'll have the first offer for the lurch character. Other than that, the only thing Kerry is going to get our of this election is a big LOOSER tag stuck on his overly large forehead.

[goldstategop]

They don't mind using profanity to describe their opposition. All we know for certain is that when Seinfeld gets backed into a corner, he starts bawling like a baby. I don't think he's ready to handle the pressures of the Oval Office.

[Liz]

Conjures up an unpleasant image. LOL.

[Mamzelle]

He just better not blow it *yet*---

[goldstategop]

Let's just say this guy looks like he ought to be mounted in a wax museum.

[Conspiracy Guy]

Precisely.

[Nemov]

Since April 15, they’ve speared Mr. Kerry for having said in the fall of 2003, "I actually did vote for the $87 billion—before I voted against it." The context, of course, was important: Mr. Kerry was criticizing Vermont Governor Howard Dean at the time, arguing over how to balance the budget in the context of the war in Iraq. But instead of squelching that image with a decisive blow, Mr. Kerry has continually cemented it with distended, lumbering TV appearances.

Not that it matters that much, but Kerry’s quote about the 87 billion dollars came just two months ago after Bush ran an attack ad in West Virginia the day Kerry campaigned there. It had nothing to do with Howard Dean, Kerry was directing those comments towards Bush. After the gaffe, the Bush team added his stumbling comments to the original ad. Talk about doing your homework before publishing an article. yikes

[OESY]

Mondo Washington, by James Ridgeway

John Kerry Must Go

Note to Democrats: it's not too late to draft someone—anyone—else, April 27th, 2004 11:45 AM

WASHINGTON, D.C.— With the air gushing out of John Kerry's balloon, it may be only a matter of time until political insiders in Washington face the dread reality that the junior senator from Massachusetts doesn't have what it takes to win and has got to go. As arrogant and out of it as the Democratic political establishment is, even these pols know the party's got to have someone to run against George Bush. They can't exactly expect the president to self-destruct into thin air.

With growing issues over his wealth (which makes fellow plutocrat Bush seem a charity case by comparison), the miasma over his medals and ribbons (or ribbons and medals), his uninspiring record in the Senate (yes war, no war), and wishy-washy efforts to mimic Bill Clinton's triangulation gimmickry (the protractor factor), Kerry sinks day by day. The pros all know that the candidate who starts each morning by having to explain himself is a goner.

What to do? Look for the Dem biggies, whoever they are these days, to sit down with the rich and arrogant presumptive nominee and try to persuade him to take a hike. Then they can return to business as usual—resurrecting John Edwards, who is still hanging around, or staging an open convention in Boston, or both.

If things proceed as they are, the dim-bulb Dem leaders are going to be very sorry they screwed Howard Dean.

[Liz]

All depends on what the meaning of "it" is.

[demkicker]

John Kerry's presence is like a fart in a crowded elevator.

LOL! And a loud, stinky one at that!

[sauropod]

""It’s a lot of words and no clarity, a lot of presence and no warmth," said Chris Matthews, the host of MSNBC’s Hardball, who was preparing to interview Mr. Kerry for an hour on April 27. "And I think he’s got to deal with that."

I saw part of that interview last night. Chrissy Matthews might as well have said to Kerry, "Please sir. Unzip your fly."

[Conspiracy Guy]

Loud, stinky, and even worse, Kerry is also extremely unpleasant to look at.