I'm sorry - I just can't anymore....
Posted on 07/11/2004 9:47:51 AM PDT by traumer
It was day one of a new beautiful relationship. Backs were slapped, hands held, hugs given, and teeth flashed.
The epithets flowed thick and fast in Cleveland. "They are the dream team", "the dynamic duo".
In truth, John Kerry and John Edwards are rather more like the odd couple.
In the heat of battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, there had been some bad blood between them. Today was a chance to dispel the doubts.
Edwards' magic
It was very much "family viewing". Fresh from a night at the Kerry farm near Pittsburgh, they appeared as life-long friends.
With children in tow and wives to the microphone, the two spoke of their mutual warmth, their admiration, even their common bonds.
Mr Kerry called his new partner one of the best vice presidents America could have and the crowd chanted "Edwards, Edwards".
The senator from the south returned the favour praising the presidential candidate as a man of "strength, courage and vision", and they chanted "Kerry, Kerry".
Could it be that some of the Edwards magic was even rubbing off on the famously stiff Mr Kerry?
He joked that the only person who had a better week in America than he and Edwards was Spiderman, which set records at the box office.
And there was more. "We have better hair too", which presumably was a comparison to George Bush and the follicularly challenged Dick Cheney, rather than Mr Spiderman.
Challenges for Kerry-Edwards
I had a few moments to talk to Mr Kerry's wife, Theresa. I asked her what it was that John Edwards brought to the campaign. "Youth and verve," she said with just a hint of amusement.
Mrs Heinz-Kerry is the ketchup millionairess. Like her husband, she can appear aloof, uneasy with the business of being first-lady in waiting.
But in the flesh, she has a warm, easy manner with a surprising tendency towards candour and often incisive critical analysis, even when it involves her husband.
She said that the campaign was now more rounded. John Edwards, she thought, was representative of what many Americans are socially (working class by birth) and what they aspire to be (successful).
It was a theme both her husband and Mr Edwards worked on at the rally.
The Democrats have two fundamental challenges. First, they must convince Americans that the economy will be stronger in their hands.
Enter Mr Edwards with his message of hope and aspiration, promising a "better tomorrow".
But this is a time of war and uncertainty and Americans are looking for something else too: Someone who can protect them.
Enter Mr Kerry with his Vietnam credentials emblazoned on his chest.
Cheney versus Edwards However, this is still likely to be the most difficult sales job for the Democrats.
George Bush spent the day in Mr Edward's home state of North Carolina. He was asked how Mr Edwards compared to Vice-President Dick Cheney.
"Dick Cheney could be president," he replied. Point made and line-of-attack clear.
Still, on a rainy day in Ohio, this was a chance for the Democratic faithful to celebrate.
The crowd swayed to the strains of Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode.
"Go! Go! Go Johnny, Go!" and the red-white-and-blue confetti rained down.
If yesterday was the engagement party, then today was the wedding celebration. It will be up to the American people to decide how long the relationship lasts.
Don't the Brits like girly-boys?
You missed Chris Matthews' show. Fineman, the ever unbalanced Dem from Newsweek (I think) insisted that he heard on good rumor that some in the WH were upset with the President for so simply stating, in almost Reaganesque fashion, what he did. If it's not true, then what else is new? On the chance it is, who the heck is working in the WH, anyway?
I'm sorry - I just can't anymore....
"George Bush...was asked how Mr Edwards compared to Vice-President Dick Cheney.
'Dick Cheney could be president,' he replied. Point made and line-of-attack clear."
That's it in a nutshell. And I think that is all people look for in a veep. But I don't think even the lack of that will keep them from voting for the top man. I always liked Dan Quayle, and maybe he would have made a fine president, but he did not really project that as Bush the father's vp. But Bush got in anyway, and it certainly wasn't Quayle who cost him the election on the second go-round.
Neither Edwards nor Cheney will make or break the election for their side. Admittedly the left is demonizing Cheney, but I think that's because they realize the Bush bashing isn't playing in Peoria. If the left didn't have their shills in the media they'd have nothing.
Right in one.
If its Newsweek, I would not put much faith in it.
Odds are the guy speaking with Matthew's is full of it.
John Kerry as Henry David Thoreau, on Walden Pond. An image of Kerry posing as philosopher-king, retiring to the solitude of distant places, to contemplate lofty answers to mundane problems. Only thing is, the events would come pelting about his head a lot faster than Kerry could deal with them, and almost certainly, he would be overwhelmed in making decisions. Decisiveness is a trait he has shown little affinity for in the past. It is not always an option for one to change one's mind on a whim, when acting as President.
John Edwards as William Jennings Bryan, oh, what an oratorical treasure he would be. Bryan's most famous foray into political statement was the "Cross of Gold" speech, upholding the populist standard of the day. And Bryan's last public appearance was at the Scopes Monkey Trial, facing Clarence Darrow, on the teaching of evolution in schools. Incidentally, Bryan won that case, and it was judged to be a misdemeanor to teach Charles Darwin's theories in Tennessee schools.
Don't apologize, traumer, easy target or not, it is our favorite. We'll just turn our back to the target and use a mirror to aim over our shoulder-assuming we can borrow a mirror from the narcistic targets.
A love affair between a yankee and a Rebel is not beyond the realm of possibilities, but the way Kerry of the old money rich, is cuddling up to Edwards of the new money less rich, is a shameless marriage of convenience, and expedience.
Should the pretty little newly rich damsel from Dixie, be successful in selling the crap of the born into old money wealth and twice married into even more old money wealth carpetbagger from Boston, to the more gullible among southerners and that carpetbagger won now and won again- would the carpetbagger support the southerner in his run to replace him in the Oval office? Probably not. I predict the damn yankee would shun the southerner, like old money elite would snub their two bit whore, if she showed up at a family reunion
Don't look now, John the shortest, but Long John is playing you for a damn fool. Your fifteen seconds in the spotlight will be as a clown.
Damn! Matching $200 dollar haircuts, Matching hundred dollan, blue neckties, (Blue to match Edie's eyes or blue for the tiny part of America's realestate occupied by liberal democrap voters?), hundred dollar shirts, Matching suits, that I don't even want to guess at the price of, matching tee shirts, drawyers, and socks, and shoes,the cost of which would support a family of four for a lifetime.
If this pair of pansies were to donate the rags on their backs to one of the normal American's they are suckering into voting for them-That American could retire in redneck luxery on what those duds brought in at a yard sale.
Kerry and Edwards are for "us" ? depends upon one's definition of "us".
I am told that there were "high-fives" flying everywhere, when it hit the networks!!!
LLS
LOL I see they've heard about our "Viet Nam hero" overseas too. :-)
"The senator from the south returned the favour praising the presidential candidate as a man of "strength, courage and vision", and they chanted "Kerry, Kerry".
Could it be that some of the Edwards magic was even rubbing off on the famously stiff Mr Kerry?"
LOL
THE CROWD ACTUALLY SAID KERRYS NAME AND KERRY ACTUALLY SMILED..OH YEAH THERE IS A LOT OF LIFE IN THIS CAMPAIGN NOW.
SHEESH
It really is funny. What I haven't seen them address is this: If Johnny Edwards will suddenly make Effen more attractive to voters, why did Effen blow Edwards' doors off in the primaries? If he's soooo much more exciting than Effen, why didn't Edwards win the Dem's presidential nomination?
"Enter Mr Kerry with his Vietnam credentials emblazoned on his chest. "
Ballad Of the Green Berets
by Sgt. Barry Sadler and Robin Moore Fighting
Fighting soldiers from the sky
Fearless men who jump and die
Men who mean just what they say
The brave men of the Green Beret
Chorus:
Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America’s best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret
Trained to live off natures land
Trained in combat, hand-to-hand
Men who fight by night and day
Courage peak from the Green Berets
(Chorus) Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret
Back at home a young wife waits
Her Green Beret has met his fate
He has died for those oppressed
Leaving her his last request
“Put silver wings on my son’s chest
Make him one of America’s best
He’ll be a man they'll test one day
Have him win the Green Beret”
(Chorus) Silver wings upon their chest
These are men, America's best
One hundred men will test today
But only three win the Green Beret
And doesn't he just prove that Americans can do that now? Why do we have to change a system where that can happen?
Or is he trying to say that he is superior to the rest of us, and we need extra gov't help to do what he did?
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