Kerry Haters: We're Not Fonda John

 
Look! It's a Photographer!

 
TWO AMERICAS



The tearjerker
By Mark Steyn
Profile: John Edwards
Even if you have never heard it, you know how it goes: there's one America where Dick Cheney's oil buddies are swigging down Martinis and toasting their war profits; but there's another America where "tonight a 10-year-old little girl will go to bed hungry, hoping and praying that tomorrow will not be as cold as today because she doesn't have the coat to keep her warm".
You would have to have a heart of stone not to be weeping with laughter at that line.
…
Back when his maudlin 'twas-Christmas-Day-in-the-workhouse shtick was still new, I offered to buy a brand new coat for every 10-year-old coatless girl the Edwards campaign could produce if in return he included one substantive passage on foreign policy in his stump speech. I'm still waiting on both counts.

This is another America created with the help of John Edwards, Esq.:
'Crisis situation' _ Wyoming Legislature to look at rising malpractice insurance rates
Dr. Jodi Kaigh of Casper will be watching the legislative session closely. She moved to Wyoming from Missouri six years ago because she liked the open space and abundant sunshine, but she is now paying $100,000 a year for malpractice coverage and is expecting a rate increase soon.
"It goes up every year," she said. "Two years ago I was paying $40,000."
She estimated 13 doctors have left or decided to leave Casper in the past year.
…
To make matters worse, the state's largest malpractice insurer, Ohic, announced in March it will no longer renew policies for Wyoming doctors.

 
TOE THE LINE, DON’T CROSS IT



What if they held the Democratic Convention and nobody showed up? That’s basically what the unions are asking. This could be fun :)

Unions invoke Kerry in letter urging delegates to boycott Menino
The letter, which is signed by police union president Tom Nee and firefighter union president Nick DiMarino, asks convention delegates to honor picket lines that will be surrounding the 29 delegation welcome parties scheduled for Sunday, July 25, the night before the four-day convention begins.

 
LENO LAFFS




The Secret Service has announced it is doubling its protection for John
Kerry. You can understand why - with two positions on every issue, he
has twice as many people mad at him." -Jay Leno

"We make jokes about it but the truth is this presidential election
really offers us a choice of two well-informed opposing positions on every issue. OK, they both belong to John Kerry, but they're still there." -Jay Leno

"President Bush listed his income as $822,000. You know what John Kerry calls someone who earns $822,000? Not even worth dating." -Jay Leno

"Well the good news for Democrats, now over half the country can
identify a picture of John Kerry. The bad news, the majority still thinks he's the dad from The Munsters." -Jay Leno

"John Kerry accused President Bush of catering to the rich. You know, as opposed to John Kerry who just marries them." -Jay Leno

"They say John Kerry is the first Democratic presidential candidate in
history to raise $50 million in a three-month period. Actually, that's
nothing. He once raised $500 million with two words: 'I do.'" -Jay Leno

(latest estimate is that Ms Heinz is worth 1 billion -UB)

Thanks, Blue!

 
Nice Pass, Sir! May I Have Another!



This is the first we get to see the other side of the story. Usually we see Kerry making the throw, not the unlucky loser who has to chase the ball down afterwards.

 
The Phony Flag is Gone--Updated!



You think they read Kerry Haters?

Note that the bit that Kitty pointed out--the John Kerry President (not "for President") is also gone. Could it be that Kerry Haters gets results? I've noticed zero media photos of Kerry entering a church since we made a big deal of him posing in front of religious imagery outside, and I see about 100 Kerry photos a day (the things I do for my readers!). We started poking fun at the Tootsie glasses, and they disappeared faster than Al Gore's intellectual reputation (of course, a small website run by Drudge may have had something to do with that one too).

 
You Sure This Is the Kind of Pass You Want?

 
Embrace the Messenger, Not the Message

George Will agrees with Fred Barnes.

Perhaps the selection of Edwards expresses Kerry's desire to outsource, as it were, the nonsense part of his campaign. Edwards can talk economic foolishness for the constituency hungry for that -- the Democratic base -- while Kerry talks sense, as he understands it, about other matters.

Amazingly, though, Will makes an obvious mistake. (see note)

Furthermore, on his recent European trip Bush again aggravated many Europeans by urging the European Union to act favorably on Turkey's desire to join.

To aggravate means to make worse. Will clearly means to use the word "irritate".

Note: Corrected version. I originally said mistake in grammar, which is incorrect. I still caught George Will making a mistake and the WaPo not catching it. That is not the same as catching me. Ya gits whats' youse pay fer hearabouts. ;)

 
Listen for Kerry's Lies

He tells this one all the time; kudos to William Rusher for pointing it out.

A week or so ago, Kerry was braying along before some crowd of enthusiastic Democrats, and told them in appropriately shocked tones that "43 million Americans have no health care." (I happened to hear him on the radio.) He let that awful statistic sink in, then added in righteous wrath that "health care" ought to be the "right" of "every American." The crowd roared its agreement.

The truth is that every American is entitled, right now, to health care. It's as close as the emergency room of your nearest hospital, and by federal law it cannot be denied to anyone. What's more, if you are too sick to get to the hospital on your own, a call to 911 will quickly bring an ambulance that will take you there.

 
NOT MANY CONVERTS



One John, Two Johns . . .

At least he's got nice hair.

Edwards is an appealing messenger. His message could destroy Kerry.
By Fred Barnes
So what is wrong with Edwards-style populism? The simple answer is it rarely wins elections. … The Center for Media and Public Affairs found that TV's stories about Mr. Edwards in the primary were 91% positive, a record high for a major presidential candidate.
But Mr. Edwards won only a single primary--in South Carolina, the state where he was born..
…
Whenever Mr. Edwards delivered his "two Americas" speech to groups of upscale Democratic activists, party leaders or labor union members, he received a wildly enthusiastic reception. … But when Mr. Edwards appeared before less liberal and less partisan audiences, the response was quite different--far more polite than passionate.

 
WHAT BOUNCE?



Michigan voters barely notice Kerry-Edwards
Choosing U.S. Sen. John Edwards as his presidential running mate didn't help Democrat John Kerry widen his lead over President George W. Bush among Michigan voters, a new statewide poll shows
Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, maintained a narrow 46 percent to 43 percent edge over Bush.

 
THE MOTHER'S MILK OF POLITICS



Inside John Edwards' wallet
Sixteen of Mr. Edwards' top 20 contributors were major law firms.
These figures don't take into account donations made to Mr. Edwards' political action committee, New American Optimists, which total about $6 million. Of that, approximately $4.1 million, or 68 percent, come from the coffers of lawyers and law firms. These donations, again, total far more than the contributions from the next 20 groups combined.
Mr. Kerry has some impressive statistics of his own. Of the almost $149 million he has raised thus far, lawyers and law firms come in as the highest donors at almost $12 million.
…
Combine the duo's campaign contributors with their voting records, and some predictable parallels emerge.


AND THIS disturbing bit of info from a UK website,
Donating to Kerry's campaign:
Here is a list of Democrat-backing organisations taking online contribributions, though in most cases donations by “foreign nationals who lack permanent resident status” are disallowed under the rules.

 
More Hate Fest '04--Updated!

The Times' music reviewer was there and had this to say:

As it turned out, the night's most controversial moments came from speakers, not singers. There were passionate anti-Bush speeches from Meryl Streep, Jessica Lange, Chevy Chase and others, and Whoopi Goldberg delivered a raunchy but cheerful monologue that included a joke about eating bear testicles and some spectacularly unsubtle Bush double entendres. (She also struck an unexpectedly nonpartisan note when she said Nancy Reagan was the last White House occupant who "really looked good.")

After the concert, President Bush's campaign manager, Ken Mehlman, denounced it as a "star-studded hate fest," which makes the event sound like more fun than it actually was.

Update: Looks like this story is going into heavy rotation.

Monitors showed Kerry, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, laughing through much of the concert. Afterward, he told the audience that the performers "conveyed the heart and soul of our country." His only quibble was with Goldberg's repeated references to Edwards as "Kid." Kerry said his 51-year-old running mate, who is nine years his junior, is "a man."

I don't suppose we should ask Kerry how he knows?

More here.

In a statement yesterday, Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.) said he was saddened, but not surprised, that Kerry didn't challenge the commentary. "Last night John Kerry held a fund-raiser in New York that featured performers in a time of war calling the president of the United States a killer, a cheap thug and a liar. John Kerry just sat there, grinning like a mule eating briars," Miller said.

The controversy came as the struggle to define the mainstream values at the center of the campaign intensified. Bush was in Pennsylvania yesterday to counter Kerry's claim last week that he represented the "conservative values" of the heartland. Kerry and Edwards have argued that fighting for the middle class is a truer measure of moral values than what they call the divisive social issues used by Republicans.

And still more from the Post's delightful Deborah Orin.

At the Radio City concert on Thursday night, reporters saw a video feed — including a glimpse of Kerry laughing uproariously at Goldberg — but TV networks were barred from filming the entertainers. The campaign has a video of the event.

Goldberg, waving a bottle of wine, reeled off vulgar word plays involving Bush's name and female genitalia.

She also repeatedly addressed the fresh-faced Edwards as "Kid," adding: "He looks like he is about 18. I'm going to card his ass tomorrow."

The jab at Edwards was the only part of Whoopi's rant that Kerry challenged from the stage on Thursday night, insisting, "I have a man, Whoopi."

No wonder he looks so happy lately!

 
The Phony Flag is Gone



You think they read Kerry Haters?

 
Still Hugging

 
Kerry Hmmmm

Suddenly the support of international organizations isn't important to Jean Kerree.

Senator John Kerry released the following statement today regarding the International Court of Justice ruling on Israel's security fence:

"I am deeply disappointed by today's International Court of Justice ruling related to Israel's security fence. Israel's fence is a legitimate response to terror that only exists in response to the wave of terror attacks against Israel. The fence is an important tool in Israel's fight against terrorism. It is not a matter for the ICJ.

"I have made very clear from the start that I do not believe that the ICJ should even be considering this issue given that they do not have jurisdiction.

Now, you know he's just making sure that there isn't a dime's worth of difference between himself and President Bush on Israel. And Kerry's to be congratulated for that to the extent it reveals his true beliefs.

But (you knew there had to be a but in there), let's check how that one flies with the flies swirling around John Kerry's blog.

Human rights violations by Israel against the Palestinians have not been addressed by U.S. policy...how is that okay?

Posted by cat_in_former_life at July 9, 2004 04:10 PM

Noooooooooo!
Noooooooooo!
Noooooooooo!
Noooooooooo!
Noooooooooo!

It is time for a sensible Israel policy.
Free Palistine!
I'm still voting for Kerry Proudly though.

Posted by mississippi john at July 9, 2004 04:57 PM

Make a stand John Kerry. Take the road less travelled!

The wall should come down. Our government should not be supporting the tyranical tactics of Israel. Cut off their funding. I'm tired of my tax dollars being used to build this wall. It should be seen for what it is - one well funded bully beating up on the poor kid.

Posted by burp at July 9, 2004 05:45 PM

I am outraged by Senator Kerry's comments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, specifically, on the wall currently under construction. If the Senator thinks that rich Jews can contribute more to his campaign than I can, I will happily let them.

Thomas D. XXXXXX
XXXXX Oak Avenue
Gary, IN 46403

Posted by Thomas XXXXXX at July 9, 2004 11:03 PM

(Censored on the assumption that this could be somebody posting under someone else's name).

Mr Kerry, you just lost 16 votes. My family has been waiting for the elections so we can oust Bush but now I don't want to vote anymore. Just when are the palestinians going to get someone on their side ? The whole world thinks the security barrier is BS including you and now all of a sudden you support it ? You are no different than the lying Bush administration.

Israel can go around doing whatever they feel like it and if anyone says anything they scream bloody murder, holocaust, anti-semitism and yet ironically enough they are relentlessly killing the Palestinians and shoving them under the dirt just as bad as they themselves were treated at the hands of the Nazis. The whole world sees it but no one has the balls to stand up and tell them to stop...not even you!!

Posted by Michelle P. at July 9, 2004 11:08 PM

Nothing like the subject of Israel to get Kerry's die-hard supporters frothing.

 
Kerry On Defense Over Hatefest '04

The Democrats' orgy of hate for George Bush at Madison Square Garden must have sounded better in the original German.

A day after a $7.5 million Democratic fund-raiser in New York at which an array of stars harshly ridiculed President Bush, the Bush campaign criticized Senator John Kerry for what it called a "star-studded hate fest." Mr. Bush's campaign manager, Ken Mehlman, demanded that the Kerry campaign release a videotape of the event at Radio City Music Hall, which featured performers including Chevy Chase, Whoopi Goldberg and Jessica Lange.

Although Mr. Kerry had told the crowd at the New York fund-raiser that "every single performer" on the bill had "conveyed to you the heart and soul of our country," his campaign on Friday sought to distance Mr. Kerry and his running mate, Senator John Edwards, from the anti-Bush jokes, lyrics and statements of some of the entertainers.

But it declined to release a videotape of the performance at which Ms. Goldberg, a bottle of wine in hand, made an extended sexual pun out of the president's surname.

Mary Beth Cahill, Mr. Kerry's campaign manager, said that the candidates "do not approve of some of the remarks" but that "the performers had a perfect right to say what they said."

If you remember, that was Weasely Clark's defense to Michael Moore's deserter charge. We saw how far that got him. :)

 
Not That There's Anything Wrong With That

Via Instapundit, here are two hilarious bits on the special bond that has arisen between Kerry and Edwards. More here, too. And here. And here. Try this one out too.

 
Kerry on Larry King Live

I didn't know he was going to be on last night; I might not have watched anyway, because King is such a softballer. However, never underestimate John Kerry's ability to get tied into knots even with the easy guys--remember the way he stormed off the set after the interview with Charles Gibson of Good Morning America?

And our friend Aaron Matthew Arnwine suggested that I check it out.

Here's the transcript.

Right out of the chute Kerry steps into trouble:

King: Let's get to, first thing's first, news of the day. Tom Ridge warned today about al Qaeda plans of a large-scale attack on the United States, didn't increase the -- do you see any politics in this? What's your reaction?

KERRY: Well, I haven't been briefed yet, Larry. They have offered to brief me; I just haven't had time.

First question, and already Drudge has a headline story. It doesn't get any better for the International Man of Apology.

KING: Mrs. Kerry, what part did you play, if any, in the vice presidential choice?

HEINZ KERRY: Sounding board.

KING: He threw names at you?

HEINZ KERRY: I read a lot.

KING: Did you sign off on this?

HEINZ KERRY: Well, let's put it this way: If it had been unacceptable, he would have known it, but clearly it wasn't unacceptable. Clearly not.

But no, you know, John and I share a lot of information. And when he asks me a question, I'll answer it. I never told him you can't pick so-and-so, or you can pick so-and-so, but we just discuss.

And I think the process was a great process. It was very well thought out and very broad. And I felt that we learned a lot and felt good about it.

KING: How important was her input?

KERRY: Her input is important on everything. First of all, she's smart as a whip. Secondly, she's got as much common sense and is sort of as grounded as anybody that I've ever met. So, I value that input -- beyond just husband/wife, I value it.

But let me emphasize this, because people always make a big deal out of it. Neither of us want to -- not as a policy. It's not a policy adviser kind of thing. It's a partner. It's something -- it's a special kind of trust that exists between a husband and a wife. And -- she doesn't want to be a policy adviser. She wants to be my wife, and that's what...

Of course, he's backtracking rapidly here, because he doesn't want to create a Clintonian aspect to his presidency--the two for the price of one bit that Bill and Hillary presented themselves as in 1992.

Next, Kerry mentions that he consulted with Bill Clinton and Al Gore on the selection.

KERRY: Oh, absolutely. I talked to a vast number of people. And I sat down in the end, Larry, with my gut, with my heart, making that judgment, knowing he'd have to pass the test.

Now, here's what I believe. John -- you know, you look -- people have a way of only looking at things through sort of labelized, standardized lenses. I think it's a mistake to do that.

Yes, John Edwards has had six years as a United States Senator, but he's had a lifetime of experience and judgment, lifetime of fighting for things, lifetime of family life, lifetime of caring.

You know, Dick Cheney was only a few years in the Congress, and then he held several different kinds of various positions...

Including Secretary of Defense and the CEO of one of the largest corporations in America. Everybody in this world has had a lifetime of experience, by definition. To compare John Edwards' experience that would help him to become President, to Dick Cheney's experience is a tad ridiculous.

KING: What do you think, Teresa, would be the effect of another terror attack on the United States, politically?

HEINZ KERRY: I don't know. I think most Americans subconsciously believe something's going to happen. It's a matter of when, and it's a matter of how. KING: Strange way to live, though.

HEINZ KERRY: Yes, but, you know, Europeans have lived that way, and other people around the world have lived that way. Americans have been very safe, at least as a nation.

Just because the quisling Europeans are willing to live that way doesn't mean we are, Teh-RAY-za.

And last, but not least:

KERRY: Look, do you know that athletes going to the Olympics in Greece have been warned not to wave the American flag or show exuberance if they win? That is extraordinary.

KING: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

KERRY: I intend to restore America's ability to fly the American flag in parts of the world, and for people to look up to what it means again.

Yeah, Kerry wants folks to be free to fly the flag all right:

 
The Kumbayah Team

Wes Pruden gets in some good licks at the John-John hugfest.

The two Johns lock eyes frequently in deep contact and stop barely short of demonstrating what great kissers they may be. Monsieur Kerry might yet give us a demonstration of French kissing but, if he does, Mr. Edwards, a good ol' Carolina boy after all, will be entitled to slap his face. (Secret Service bodyguards, take note.)



"I've been covering Washington and politics for 30 years [said one wire-service photographer]. I can say I've never seen this much touching between two men, publicly." Indeed, editors determined to preserve the appearance of a little presidential dignity and campaign decorum on "the trail" are frustrated in their search for photographs suitable for a respectable mainstream newspaper. The photographers, keen competitors for the most startling shot of the day, naturally love it.

 
Who Said Iraq Was an Imminent Threat?

The Democrats have complained for a long time that President Bush described Iraq as an imminent threat. Actually, of course, he said that some had claimed that we must wait until the threat is imminent, but that he did not agree.

However, there was somebody out there claiming that the threat was imminent. And it was none other than the Eddie Haskel of the Senate himself, John Edwards.

But I do think that the more serious question going forward is, what are we going to do? I mean, we have three different countries that, while they all present serious problems for the United States -- they're dictatorships, they're involved in the development and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction -- you know, the most imminent, clear and present threat to our country is not the same from those three countries. I think Iraq is the most serious and imminent threat to our country.

And to underscore the point, from the same transcript, a paragraph or two later:

And they do, in my judgment, present different threats. And I think Iraq and Saddam Hussein present the most serious and most imminent threat.

 
Blogger Roundup

John Moore at Useful Fools has a good poster that will no doubt convince many voters to select John Kerry.

Rambling's Journal finds out that Kerry has his priorities in order. Fundraising first, intelligence briefing later. Much later. Captain Ed has more on the same subject.

ACE advises us of some more good news from Iraq that should provide long-term benefits.

Chicago Ray has a great look at the current face of the DNC--seems a little familiar to me. "Well just pick up your fishin' pole, and meet me at the fishin' hole...."

 
New Nickname for the Pair

Our buddy Danegerus came up with this nickname for Edwards & Kerry: Hair 'em & Scare 'em!

 
Image Versus Substance

Thomas Sowell trains his amazing intellect on the Kerry/Edwards duo and their attempt to "rebrand" themselves with enticing images.

It is an insult to our intelligence to act as if posing with guns is as significant as how the Senator has voted on gun control laws during his 16 years in Congress. It is an insult to our intelligence to claim conservative values when both liberal and non-partisan organizations have rated John Kerry's voting record as the most liberal in the Senate, more liberal even than Ted Kennedy's.

What matters is not what Senator Kerry says during an election year about life beginning at conception. What matters is how he has voted on bills involving abortion -- and how he has declared that he will block the appointment of any judges who are not pro-abortion.

Edwards doesn't do any better.

Edwards' specialty was suing when babies were born with brain defects, which he -- like other lawyers cashing in on junk science and gullible juries -- blamed on the failure of doctors to have had those babies delivered by Caesarian section.

Since then, Caesarian operations have increased greatly, but without reducing those birth defects that Edwards and others had blamed on a lack of Caesarian deliveries. Studies validated by leading medical authorities, here and overseas, have found no such link between birth defects and a lack of Caesarian births.

This is the problem with trial lawyers--they rely on junk science. Just ask my co-blogger Kitty how junk science can damage a small town.

 
McCain/Edwards Comparison

If John McCain was Kerry's first choice, how in the world did Nuancy Boy end up with somebody a virtual polar opposite from McCain? The Washington Times does the comparison.

Mr. Edwards has compiled a lifetime AFL-CIO rating of 96 percent, including four perfect 100 percent scores during his five years. Mr. McCain's lifetime AFL-CIO rating is 17 percent.

From the premier liberal rating organization, Americans for Democratic Action (ADA), Mr. Edwards received an average annual (1999-2002) rating of 85 percent before falling to a career-low 65 percent last year. But that score was misleading because ADA penalizes legislators for missing any of its 20 annual key votes. In fact, on the 13 ADA votes for which the itinerant Mr. Edwards was present last year, he supported ADA 100 percent of the time. (On the 17 ADA key votes cast by Mr. Kerry last year, he also supported ADA's position 100 percent of the time. Thus, between the two of them, they were 30-for-30 on ADA votes.) With Mr. Edwards' lifetime ADA rating at 81 percent and Mr. Kerry's at 92 percent, the 2004 Democratic ticket boasts higher lifetime ADA ratings than the avowedly liberal 1984 Democratic ticket of Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro. As for Mr. McCain, ADA reports a lifetime rating of 9 percent.

More liberal than Mondale-Ferraro!

 
Some Kinks In the Routine

Chris Suellentrop followed the John-Johns in their first day on the campaign trail.

In Cleveland, the running mate sums up the campaign's new message with a phrase so nonsensical I can't believe it when I hear him repeat it later in Dayton, Ohio, and again here in Florida. He and Kerry embrace "the politics of hope, the politics of what's possible because this is America, where everything is possible," he proclaims.

Let's get this straight. This campaign is about what's possible. In America, everything is possible. Ergo, this campaign is about everything. Which means it's about nothing.

For the first few hours of the Kerry-Edwards campaign, the two candidates do their best to make it seem like it, anyway. The Cleveland kickoff event is particularly inauspicious. Edwards, normally sure on the stump, stumbles on several occasions, declaring incoherently at one point: "With John Kerry as president of the United States, no young American will ever go to war needlessly because America has decided to go to war." At another moment, Edwards assures the crowd of Kerry: "He will lead this country to the place that it can go." Teresa Heinz-Kerry misfires, too, when she notes that she's from nearby Pittsburgh and gets booed. (Must be an AFC North thing.) Good-naturedly booed, but still—the only other boos from the crowds for the rest of the day are reserved for President Bush and Vice President Cheney.

Heh, yeah, Teh-RAY-za, you don't mention you're from Pittsburgh when you're visiting Cleveland. They don't like Steeler fans there.

 
STAND BY YOUR MAN



Ditto, Ditto
Kerryedwards is the most narcissistic ticket in 55 U.S. elections.
Both of their heads are rotating like satellite dishes scanning for signals. Light is ricocheting off porcelain in every direction.
…
Alas for John Kerry, the vote in November isn't a Democratic primary. ABB voting (Anybody But Bush) may get him to 45%, but he and John still need to articulate a vision of America across four years that will float that number toward 50%. They do indeed have a vision, and it's the one that has fired every Democratic candidacy since 1932. Fundamentally, nothing in their worldview has changed in 70 years.
…
At this stage of U.S. development, the Democrats still present themselves as the party of emergencies, accidents and disasters. Unlike Fritz Mondale and Michael Dukakis, Jolly Bill Clinton was able to glide past this downer. I don't think a pair of multimillion-dollar smiles can do the same trick.

 
Kerry's Buddies

The New York Bush Hate Fest at Madison Square Garden sounds like quite a treat.

Many of the stars who spoke issued harsh indictments of Bush, branding him "a liar" and "another cheap thug." They sang songs specially written for the Democratic ticket, such as Mellencamp's "Texas Bandito," which called Bush a liar. Blige's lyrics included, "New York City would never forget 9/11."

Lange called Bush administration officials "cronies" and said they're a "self-serving regime ... of belligerence."

Chevy Chase mocked Bush. "This guy's as bright as an egg timer," he said.

Chevy, Chevy, Chevy. What was the last good movie you were in? Caddy Shack?

 
I Hope Bon Jovi Wasn't Singing "Lay Your Hands On Me"

 
Is Kerry Another Quayle?

Not to knock Danforth, but when he was selected as VP, he obviously behaved a little giddy. It was only for a day or two, but it happened to be the day or two that everybody first focused on him.

Kerry seems to be behaving in that fashion this week. His fawning over the Breck Girl has gone from interesting to bizarre in the course of less than 48 hours. It's almost like Kerry's finally found a friend and he's trotting around behind him like a puppy dog.

One almost suspects that Kerry's response when Edwards accepted the nomination was, "You like me! You really like me!"



Jeez, guys, get a room!

 
You See Those Rubes Out There? We Gotta Convince Them We're Country Boys



Edwards at least sounds country. Kerry sounds like George Plimpton or Kelsey Grammer (sorry Kelsey!). And not a fascinating, witty guy like those two, but a boring, pedantic misanthrope.

 
More Hugger/Mugger



Edwards is already wondering if getting the Veep nod was worth it.

 
Kaus Hmmmm

I highlighted below Kaus' bizarre rationale for his apparent intention to vote for Kerry. Mickey also mentions that he donated $300 to Kerry's campaign (while griping about where it was spent).

Hmmm. I gave Kerry $300 and don't particularly want it to go to the Four Seasons!

Now here's the funny part. Open Secrets has no record of Kaus giving any money to John Kerry. There is a Steven Kaus, who's an attorney in the Bay Area, but the amount's not right and I recall that Mickey's from SoCal anyway. It's possible it hasn't been reported or posted to the Open Secrets website yet; from what I can see the latest donations they have records for are as of May 31st.

 
Edwards' Faux Populism Belied by His Investments

James Pinkerton is on the trail.

But a look elsewhere in the newspapers shows a different Edwards. It reveals where Edwards puts his money, as opposed to his mouth. It shows an Edwards connecting with big multinational companies to create jobs offshore. It shows an Edwards who divides himself between his political ambitions here at home and his financial ambitions overseas. It shows that his tongue isn't so much golden as it is forked.

How do we know this? We can peruse Edwards' 2003 senatorial disclosure forms, reprinted in yesterday's USA Today. On page five of the paper is a list of Edwards' assets, including a holding worth between $1 and $5 million - that's the deliberately obscuring style of "full-disclosure" forms - in "American EuroPacific Growth Fund." Actually, once we look at the prospectus, we learn that it's really the "EuroPacific Growth Fund." And that's honest billing; on page eight, the prospectus tells readers, "Normally, the fund will invest at least 80 percent of its assets in securities of issuers located in Europe and the Pacific Basin."

Great article, read it all.

 
Kerry Trivia Quiz Answers

1. Kerry had a dog during his days leading a Swift boat in Vietnam. Describe the amazing event that happened to the dog according to Le Fraude when a mine went off under Kerry's boat.

Here are Kerry's own words, in reply to a Humane Society question about pets that made an impact on him personally (link in PDF file):

When I was serving on a swiftboat in Vietnam, my crewmates and I had a dog we called VC. We all took care of him, and he stayed with us and loved riding on the swiftboat deck. I think he provided all of us with a link to home and a few moments of peace and tranquility during a dangerous time. One day as our swiftboat was heading up a river, a mine exploded hard under our boat. After picking ourselves up, we discovered VC was MIA. Several minutes of frantic search followed after which we thought we'd lost him. We were relieved when another boat called asking if we were missing a dog. It turns out VC was catapulted from the deck of our boat and landed confused, but unhurt, on the deck of another boat in our patrol.

Hey, happens all the time in Disney movies. This has the sound of a story that has been embellished over the years; a great dinner anecdote, but obviously untrue.

2. Who gave Kerry the nickname "Pterodactyl"?

Kerry's first wife Julia Thorne nicknamed him Pterodactyl while they were dating, in reference to his long face.

3. What was "Lowellgate"?

Kerry's brother Cameron and a campaign worker named Thomas Vallely (who is also working on the current campaign) were caught breaking into the Lowell, MA, offices of a Democratic primary rival during Kerry's run for Congress in 1972. Kerry has always maintained that they were set up by an anonymous caller who said Kerry's own phone lines were about to be sabotaged. How this justifies breaking and entering has never been explained.

4. How many enemy did John Kerry kill in Vietnam?

According to a Fitness Report (link in PDF file, see page 24) given to Kerry in 1969, he was "unofficially credited with 20 enemy killed in action."

5. Who proposed the plot to assassinate US Senators in 1971 during a meeting which John Kerry attended?

Fellow VVAW member Scott Camil proposed the plot to assassinate US Senators at a 1971 VVAW meeting attended by John Kerry.

6. What Senator mentioned at the assassination plot meeting attended by John Kerry was shot a year later in an apparent robbery and nearly died?

US Senator John Stennis (D-Miss) was shot and nearly killed in an apparent robbery outside his home in Washington DC. Stennis was one of the Senators who was proposed as a target for assassination (Strom Thurmond and John Tower were the others named specifically), and his shooting came approximately 14 months after the assassination plot meeting.

7. How many of Kerry's fellow Swift boat officers have endorsed his campaign?

Of Kerry's 23 fellow Swift boat officers, two have endorsed his campaign.

8. Who was the only person to beat Nuancy Boy in an election?

Republican Paul W. Cronin (gotta love that middle initial!) defeated Kerry in their 1972 race for Congress from Massachusetts' Fifth District.

9. What do Kerry's first wife and Michael Dukakis' wife have in common?

Both women contemplated suicide (Mrs. Dukakis actually attempted it) and both wrote books about their battles with depression.

10. Who paid for Kerry's prep school education?

Kerry's great-aunt Clara Winthrop footed the bill for Kerry's prep schools.

 
Good Kerry Joke and a New Nickname

Click here to find out how Kerry got his nickname "Running Eagle" from the Apaches.

 
Say it Ain't So, Mickey!

You may recall that about a month ago we pulled Mickey Kaus from the Legion and put him in our blogger favorites list, when we discovered that despite his wonderful posts about what a miserable candidate John F'ing Kerry is, Kaus himself intends to vote for the Democrat. I commented at the time I didn't want to have someone surfing through the Legion and hitting Kaus' John Kerry is a Dimwit But I'm Voting for Him Anyway column.

Well, he wrote it.

I plan to vote for him because I think a) we need to take a time out from Bush's strident public global terror war in order to prevent it from becoming a damaging, lifelong West vs. Islam clash--in order to "rebrand" America and digest the hard-won gains we've made in Iraq and Afghanistan (if they even remain gains by next January). Plus, b) it would be nice to make some progress on national health care, even if it's only dialectical "try a solution and find out it doesn't work" progress. I could change my mind--if, for example, I thought Kerry would actually sell out an incipient Iraqi democracy in a fit of "realistic" Scowcroftian stability-seeking (an issue Josh Marshall's recent Atlantic piece doesn't resolve). But I don't intend to agonize like last time.]

Hmmm, he does leave himself an out there at the end. But really this is typical of Slate. "Who should write the anti-Kerry pieces? Let's pick somebody who's voting for him." Don't get me wrong, Kaus has written some excellent stuff and I get zero feeling that he's pulling his punches. But his stated rationale for voting for Kerry is about as weak as it could be--rebranding America? Puh-leeze! I don't see him winning over any converts with that weak logic (which may be the point).

Hat tip: Kerry Spot.

 
Yakuza, Al Qaeda, What's the Difference?

We've commented a bit on Kerry's recent ad claim to have authored a book with a strategy to win the war on terror. Of course, the fact that the book was actually about international criminal gangs like the Yakuza of Japan sort of undermines the point.

Chris over at Waffle House has been busy creating a page devoted to Kerry Versus the Yakuza. Chris does a superior job of tying together the latest Bush ad mocking Kerry's absurd claim, several movie posters that have been manipulated a bit, quotes from and reviews of the book, and a New Republic piece debunking Kerry's supposed prescience.

I pointed yesterday to Chris' piece on Farmer John as well. If you haven't checked it out yet, be sure to take a look--it's hilarious. Volume check at work.

 
Where the Breck Girl Nickname Started

Jim Geraghty over at the Kerry Spot points us to this piece in the New York Times, which has the secret:

They do, indeed, have strikingly thick heads of hair, but Mr. Edwards, whose wavy locks were so commented upon that his aides handed out tiny bottles of Breck shampoo when his presidential bid began, has a top of chocolate brown, while Mr. Kerry's helmet is decidedly salt and pepper.

LOL! Self-inflicted injury by stupidity--yeah, Edwards fits right in with this campaign.

 
TOUCHY-FEELY?

 
WHO’S ON FIRST?



Funnier than an Abbott & Costello routine? You be the judge.

Edwards Surges Ahead of Kerry on Democratic Ticket
One Kerry campaign insider was confident the confusion would work to their advantage. "The one thing this campaign needed was a little excitement and John Edwards is it. It's got to be better than before Edwards when all the excitement was being inexorably sucked down into this big Kerryesque black hole of anti-excitement. It was this kind of endless, mind-numbing, soul-destroying tsunami of ennui and hopelessness that...Uh, maybe I've said too much."

 
Edwards: An Empty Suit



Crush Kerry has an outstanding post with Edwards' vapid replies to questions on national security and defense.

EDWARDS: "And everyone knows--I mean, I sit on the Intelligence Committee, Tim. Everyone knows there are huge parts of Afghanistan that are not secure, not in control.”
RUSSERT: “So what would you do, send thousands of more American troops?”
EDWARDS: “No.”
RUSSERT: “What would you do?”
EDWARDS: “No. What I would do is show leadership."

That's almost as bad as Nuancy Boy's comment when pressed about what he'd do differently in Iraq. He floundered a bit and then came up with this pearl of wisdom:

"Right now, what I would do differently is, I mean, look, I'm not the president, and I didn't create this mess so I don't want to acknowledge a mistake that I haven't made."

Read all of the Edwards piece and remind yourself that picking this empty suit is one of the first important decisions Kerry's had to make as the presumptive nominee of his party. You want him making decisions about the future of our country?

 
Straight from the Silky Pony's Mouth

No Pundit Intended has a great post up rebutting some of the dumber comments John Edwards has made. The source of the quotes is a BBC article located here.

"They have led us from the edge of greatness when Bill Clinton left office to the edge of a cliff."

The edge of greatness? Is Edwards a part of the revisionist attempt to create a legacy for Clinton too? When Bill Clinton left office, we were about to have a big recession and about to be attacked - I'd say we were already at the cliffs edge.

 
The Really Tough John Kerry Trivia Quiz

Alright, this is intended to be extremely tough. If you get one or two of these questions, consider yourself well-read on John Kerry. From 3-4 you're obsessed with the International Man of Mystery. If you get 5-6, the Secret Service will assume you are a potential assassin. If you get 7 or more, you should be an opposition researcher for the President's reelection campaign. Go ahead and throw answers in the comments section, spoiler warning. I assume that most can be googled, but try to figure them out beforehand.

Ready?

1. Kerry had a dog during his days leading a Swift boat in Vietnam. Describe the amazing event that happened to the dog according to Le Fraude when a mine went off under Kerry's boat.
2. Who gave Kerry the nickname "Pterodactyl"?
3. What was "Lowellgate"?
4. How many enemy did John Kerry kill in Vietnam?
5. Who proposed the plot to assassinate US Senators in 1971 during a meeting which John Kerry attended?
6. What Senator mentioned at the assassination plot meeting attended by John Kerry was shot a year later in an apparent robbery and nearly died?
7. How many of Kerry's fellow Swift boat officers have endorsed his campaign?
8. Who was the only person to beat Nuancy Boy in an election?
9. What do Kerry's first wife and Michael Dukakis' wife have in common?
10. Who paid for Kerry's prep school education?

 
Legion Members At Work



Note the guy in the back with the Left & Lefter sign and Bush/Cheney sign at a Kerry/Edwards rally. Note the "crowd" at this event, which included the Breck Girl. We salute you, fellow Kerry Haters!

 
Finally Some Enthusiasm!



Unfortunately, it's for the Boy Wonder, not Batman. Seeing this I do believe we're going to see some bad polls this month--Kerry's going to pull ahead for a bit, especially with the convention coming up. Unserious people will think Kerry's going to win. Remember, Dukakis was up on Bush Sr coming out of his convention, as was Al Gore in 2000 over W. Long way to go, but I got a hunch a lot of the polling news is going to suck for awhile, just thought I'd give you a warning.

 
Two More Blogs for the Blogroll

If you're not reading LaShawn Barber, you're lucky, because you've still got that distinct treat to come. But don't deny yourself any longer!

LaShawn put up an interesting post today sharing some tips for building the audience for your blog, and invited commenters to share their secrets. I surfed to a couple of the sites of people commenting and was just blown away by two of the blogs.

Ambra Nykola boasts that she's been bothering people since 1981, which, after doing a little work with the fingers, I determined means that she's 22 or 23 years old. But she's bright, funny, and one amazing blogger. What I particularly appreciate about her posts is that she assembles her logic carefully, like she's building a cannon at the defenses of the other side. Check this sample of her writing, from her post on Why I'm Not a Republican:

My immediate reason for voting Republican is default. Although I believer there are a few areas in which the Democrats have the Republicans beat (I will discuss in Part 3), I will forever remain diametrically opposed to most everything for which Democrats stand. This leaves a person few options--especially when Libertarian ideals are bit too removed and idealistic for my taste. This concept I just explained is familiar to John Kerry as he too will reap the benefits of an entire group of people who love to hate Bush. Votes by default are his only hope. Voting according to party lines involves far less thinking in my opinion and since I'm a thinker, I never let any candidate or issue get off that easily. I weigh everything against the backdrop of my foundational beliefs.

Also, check out the new smokes that are guaranteed to sell strongly, including a picture of Ambra herself. I refuse to demean her more important qualities as a blogger to comment on her obvious good looks. Errrr.

Athena is blogging as Terrorism Unveiled. She's doing a fine job of focusing on the war on terror. This is what I love about blogs--somebody can choose to become an expert in something and in a couple of months of serious blogging they become an expert on that issue/person. I have been blogging John Kerry for about 4-1/2 months now and I feel like I know him very well indeed--not as well as his family, but probably better than John McCain does. Athena is serious about blogging about terrorism. She's reading the Kuwait Times and the Jordan Times and the Bahrain Tribune. That serious. She appears to have been studying the subject material for awhile before even starting the blog. I've always been a sucker for highly specialized blogs. Although it's not typical of her focus, I gotta highlight her marvelous 4th of July post.

Bombs dropping, artillery firing...

It sounded like what the bombardment of St. Lo, Normandy must have sounded like during Operation Cobra in 1944.

For a brief few minutes, it probably sounded like some of the fighting in Falluja and Kabul.

I don’t really know, but I am certain it did not feel like it, however.

I was in my bed, safe and warm. It sounded as if all hell was breaking loose outside to my battle-virgin ears. When I first heard the explosions, I was dreaming about Wassef Ali Hassoun. I don't remember the sequence of my dream. I just remember him, blindfolded and praying in Arabic. I remember seeing an imam and a mosque in the background. I don't remember feeling scared.

Read it all. Special bonus points for mentioning St. Lo, the favorite city of crossword puzzle fans everywhere. :)

 
More on Farmer John

Our buddy Chris over at Waffle House recommended that we check out his page devoted to the International Man of Farming. Absolutely hilarious stuff--great photoshop gags, a funny theme song (volume check at work), and a solid review of Jean Kerree's real childhood. Lots and lots of great content; I especially liked what he did to Nuancy Boy's skeet-shooting photo op. Go, you'll love it! Great job, Chris!

 
Breck Girl Gets Thumbs Down from WaPo

This has gotta sting:

Yet lacking the ability to perform such political alchemy, we must also assess Mr. Edwards on his own and by the grave question that has to be asked of any vice presidential nominee: Is he ready to assume the presidency? This is a question that, since Sept. 11, 2001, has become both more thinkable and more important -- and it's one that, when it comes to Mr. Edwards, we can't yet answer with a resounding affirmative. Mr. Edwards's often impressive performance during the primaries demonstrates that he has the capacity to grow into the job. Yet his experience in public life is confined to the single Senate term that is now ending; his few years on the intelligence committee represent scant training in foreign policy and military affairs, far less than would be optimal for a potential president in this dangerous time.

Hey, John! You might want to put some ice on that!

Hat Tip: Hugh Hewitt (on the radio)

 
Speaking of Roberto....

Dynamo Buzz points us to Overlawyered, who have done an excellent job covering the Silky Pony. If you want more information about Edwards' career or his questionable fund-raising, this is a very good place to start.

 
New to the Blogroll

Welcome The Bad Hair blog. I saw a comment by Fausta in our comments section, and surfed over to her very cool blog. Lots of posts, great 'tude and to top it off, she's a Jersey gal! My guess is that she heard about us from Roberto of Dynamo Buzz.

 
Oh, Those Weapons of Mass Destruction

Wow! How come this story isn't getting headlines on Drudge?

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham (news - web sites) announced today that the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Defense (DOD) have completed a joint operation to secure and remove from Iraq (news - web sites) radiological and nuclear materials that could potentially be used in a radiological dispersal device or diverted to support a nuclear weapons program.

"This operation was a major achievement for the Bush Administration's goal to keep potentially dangerous nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists," Secretary Abraham said. "It also puts this material out of reach for countries that may seek to develop their own nuclear weapons."

Twenty experts from DOE's national laboratory complex packaged 1.77 metric tons of low-enriched uranium and roughly 1000 highly radioactive sources from the former Iraq nuclear research facility. The DOD airlifted the material to the United States on June 23 and provided security, coordination, planning, ground transportation, and funding for the mission.

Hat Tip: Polipundit, via Something to Cry About

 
Good Kerry-Edwards Cartoon

Filibuster Cartoons finds the Democratic ticket a little familiar.

 
Kerry Edwards--Anti-Growth, Anti-Trade

Larry Kudlow looks at the Democrats' ticket and sees a weak economy if this pair of anti-growth, anti-trade clowns get the keys to the country.

In a January primary speech in Des Moines, Edwards said, “There are two Americas — one for the powerful insiders, and another for everyone else.” This became his signature line. He would also say, “One America that is struggling to get by, another America that can buy anything it wants — even a Congress and a president.”

Or a political party. After all, with Edwards — the tort bar’s man in Washington — on the ticket, the takeover of the Democratic party by the 60,000 member Association of Trial Lawyers of America is now complete.

Anybody else find it amusing that a wealthy lawyer/Senator is decrying the "powerful insiders"?

 
That Farm Story Again

Here's an additional tidbit I didn't notice:

Afterward, a spokeswoman, Stephanie Cutter, said Kerry was referring to two farm experiences, one when he and his parents lived on a farm in Millis, Mass., and later when he frequented a dairy farm straddling the Ipswich/Hamilton border that was owned by his aunt and uncle. The first farm was where Kerry rode a tractor with a hand who worked the family's property. At the dairy farm, he tilled the land himself.

Obvious question: How much tilling of the land needs to be done on a dairy farm?

 
Edwards Helps Kerry Bridge the Values Gap?

Nicholas Kristof thinks so.

Senator John Edwards is America's best natural politician since Bill Clinton, and he'll help with the Democrats' most crucial task: reconnecting the party to Middle American voters.

When Republicans charge that Democrats are out of touch with the "real America," they actually have a point. Democrats poll well on issues like the economy, but Republicans triumph on values — and for wavering Missourians, values trump issues.

The problem with Kristof's analysis is that he makes the assumption that liberal policies are better economically for working people, hence their interests lie with liberals rather than conservatives. I don't buy it.

And I certainly don't buy the notion that blue collar voters are going to flock to Kerry because he's got Edwards on the ticket. People don't vote for the VP, they vote for the President.

 
Kitty Corner

Kitty has a good post regarding the Breck Girl choice, and points out that the "Kerry's Choice" cover of the NY Post featuring Gephardt is getting bid up on ebay.

Doh! Original post said NY Daily News. Sorry for the goof!

 
Andrew Sullivan Likes the Pick

But he tears Nuancy Boy apart for the airy speech announcing it.

This paragraph is so vapid, so empty of any meaning, it almost defies commentary. It's about "fairness." What unfairness is he describing? We don't know. But we do know that this candidate is very much in favor of people being able to go to work and pay their bills. I'm sure he's also in favor of afternoon naps, ice cream, and new cars. Then he says that his campaign is about people being "able to be fair." So now the government is not only in favor of fairness; it's in favor of fairness "ability." You can hack away at this kind of verbiage for a very long time and the weeds of blather just keep growing back.

Read it all. Yeah, I know Andrew's not going to be on Bush's side at the end. But reading articles like this, it's hard to believe he's going to endorse the International Man of Apology either.

 
The Buzzword of 2000 Returns As Kerry Taps Edwards

Lynn Nofziger brings up the gravitas gap.

Kerry had been winnowing out possible choices for vice president for several months before deciding on Edwards and perhaps deciding that gravitas doesn't really matter. Edwards, however, was not his first choice and perhaps not even his second. Kerry openly wooed Arizona's maverick Republican senator, John McCain, who decided he'd rather remain a Republican, and, failing to get him, was thought to be eyeing others. McCain is known for his gravitas. Edwards, on the other hand, is not, even though he came in second behind Kerry in the Democratic presidential sweepstakes. He has not produced any significant legislation. Nor has he appeared to seize any leadership role.

 
This Says It All

Boston Herald Headline: They're Left of Ted!

 
WHAT A BOOB



The Silicon Implant
John Kerry's two-day campaign swing through Silicon Valley in late June was meant to raise broader awareness of his supposedly pro-innovation, pro-growth economic policies while, at the same time, padding the campaign coffers just one month before the Democratic National Convention in Boston. The gambit has had mixed results -- and for good reason. Silicon Valley executives were still more than a bit miffed over Kerry's bitter invective against the perils of IT outsourcing earlier in the election campaign.
…
At this point, one can only wonder whether Kerry will ever be able to win over tech industry executives after he referred to them as "Benedict Arnold CEOs" for sending IT jobs overseas.

 
LOSE THIS ONE FOR THE ZIPPER



Republicans may not be the only ones praying for Bush to win. The Breck Girl on Botox Boy’s ticket could mean doom for both Slick and Her Royal C … not to mention the business and the medical communities.

Norquist: Establishment Dems Hoping for Kerry Loss
“By choosing John Edwards over Dick Gephardt, the Democrats today transferred power in their party from the labor unions to the trial lawyers."
…
According to Norquist, Edward's background as a trial lawyer will inject tremendous energy into both the business and medical communities.
By choosing Edwards, Norquist said, Kerry declared war on on both groups. "This choice was a declaration of war on doctors, hospitals and the entire business community.
…
"On the Democrat side, should Kerry win, the presidency isn't open in 2008 - it won't be open until 2012. With Edwards as vice president, if Kerry wins, it's not open until 2016."
This, he said, was "bad news for Hillary Clinton. It means her career is over. She'll never be president. The whole point of being Hillary will be she's just another vote in the Senate unless everyone you talk to believes that someday you'll be president. Then you're not just another Senator from a liberal state, you're important.
…
"The biggest loser will be Bill Clinton who, if Kerry wins, will no longer be the titular head of the Democrat party, which he is today."
Norquist continued: "Kerry will take over the Democratic National Committee and put his own people in, and Bill Clinton will just be an interesting guy who used to be president. He'd have as much clout in the party as Jimmy Carter."

 
HOLLYWOOD BRAINTRUST FOR KERRY

A concert to benefit the Kerry Kampaign was held in LA yesterday, and the Hollywood Braintrust, never one to shun free publicity, showed up in their best bibs’n’tuckers.



Actress Eliza Dushku, Actress Krista Allen, Actor Wiliam H. Macy (L) and his wife, actress Felicity Hoffman, Actor Jason Ritter, Singer Lisa Loeb, Actor Jason Biggs, Singer Lance Bass (L) and actress Jennifer Gimenez, Actress Jessica Biel, Actor Colin Hanks, Actress Joy Bryant, Singer Liz Phair, and Actor David Spade .