Blogcritics Comments on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Comment by Mac Diva on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 16:03:58 EST

Didn't say that. Kerry comes from money and his wife can bathe in it by inheritance and her first hubby. Eric and I acknowledged Kerry is from the same elite above. But, I think whether there is a tradition of noblesse oblige in a rich family matters. (Though, on a personal level I hated being patted on the head by hoitie-toities as the little scholarship girl in school. Broke with a mentor in law school over that. My company was just as much a favor to him as his was to me, but he didn't see it that way.) Families like the Kennedy's inculcate a sense of having a duty of public service along with the elitist values. I don't believe the Bushes are that way. All the gravy is supposed to be for them.

Comment by Tom on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 15:54:01 EST

And Kerry doesn't have money? The five wealthies presidents have all been Democrats.

Comment by Mac Diva on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 15:53:21 EST

Not dumb like a fox, Hal. Sneaky. But, being sneaky is different from being sly. Sly implies more applied intelligence, I guess. Sneaky is seeing opportunities and grabbing advantage, I'd say.

Comment by Mac Diva on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 15:48:53 EST

What is 'not acting like an elitist'? If one has money, power and influence as the Bush's have had for generations, then it is part and parcel of what one is and does. If Bush sits on the porch eating pork rinds, it is not because he doesn't have other options. He is justly slumming. Rich people have always done that when they felt like it, I think.

Comment by Hal Pawluk on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 15:36:51 EST

Okay, I'll admit Bush is a good actor. But the evidence indicates that he's as ignorant as a stick. I would hope that the damage done through him is because he is so ignorant and doesn't realize how he is being manipulated by much sharper business and political heads. The alternative is that he's "dumb like a fox" and the biggest weasel in the history of this nation. Which do you think it is?

Comment by David Flanagan on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 14:22:40 EST

Actually, it came up because I made the point the Bush does not ACT like an elitist. Certainly his upbringing was one of priviledge, just as was that of Gore, Kerry, Kennedy, etc., but his image is completely different from the others. Thats why Democrats worked so hard to create the image that Bush was stupid, because they couldn't stand the thought of a plain-spoken man with a Texas accent beating their carefully groomed and cultured candidate in 2000. Then, in 2002, when Bush helped win the Senate back from Democrats and helped Republicans gain even more seats in the house against all precedent, Democrats were even more upset. How could a plain-spoken DUMB president such as George W Bush do this to them? Now, because Democrats finally have learned that the "stupid" script doesn't work, they've switched to the "liar" script and are desperately selling that. Unfortunately for Democrats, its look as if your candidate will be John Kerry, the guy who flip flops more than a fish on dry land... A guy SO desperate to win the Democratic nomination that he had to steal all of Dean's best lines in order to win enough support to beat Dean in Iowa. Its going to be great fun listing all of Kerry's flip-flops during his years in Washington. Voting against the "Defense of Marriage" act but then saying he is against gay marriage, voting to authorize military action against Iraq, then saying he only voted to authorize the "threat" of force, not its actual use. Then, later, voting against funding for Iraq efforts while, at the same time, accusing the President of not being able to "win the peace" in Iraq. And all of that hardly scratches the surface of this guy. As I said, this will be great fun. Thanks. David

Comment by Mac Diva on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 13:51:05 EST

It came up because Flanagan thinks Shrub is anti-elitist, Mark. (Stop laughing.)

Comment by Mark Saleski on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 12:50:20 EST

"liberal elites","socialist legislation","liberal elites"... all that talk radio propagand you listen to has gone to your head.

Comment by bhw on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 12:40:57 EST

The problem is, many of these people with money are educated beyond their intelligence. They have no grasp of common sense or the needs of people who are required to work for a living. And this describes ... who? Dick Cheney, perhaps? Now, lets contrast that to Kerry, who, if elected, will become the third wealthiest President ever to take office. That's his wife's money, which she inherited, and they have a pre-nup. His own income is relatively small, by comparison. I think he earned about $150K last year. He comes from a wealthy background, but not as wealthy as G.W. Bush. Next, let's compare the wealth of the VPs!

Comment by David Flanagan on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 12:34:03 EST

Well Mac, did you vote for Al Gore? It was VP Gore whom the press continually reminded us was "groomed" for the Presidency from childhood. And that by a father who was adamantly against the Civil Rights Act of 1968. But I don't believe in this right that people think they have because they are monied, whether it be Al Gore or George W Bush. I think liberals are worse when it comes to elitist thinking of this sort. Average people won't let them pass the kind of socialist legislation they want, so that pack the courts with judges who override our elected officials and force the changes that intellectuals think are right. The problem is, many of these people with money are educated beyond their intelligence. They have no grasp of common sense or the needs of people who are required to work for a living. Now, you can certainly claim that Bush is one of the elite, but what I'm saying, and I hope you can grasp the argument here, is that Bush does not ACT like one of them, which is what the elites find so incredibly offensive about him. George W Bush can trace his ancestry directly back to the original settlers who came to this country via the Mayflower, yet he doesn't act the part. Bush-haters regularly complain that Bush acts like a redneck, driving around his ranch in an old pickup truck, cooking steaks on the grill, etc. This is what offends liberals, that he acts like a "commoner," rather than a "leader" (as defined by liberals, a leader is a monied person who tells the commoners in this nation how they should live their lives). Now, lets contrast that to Kerry, who, if elected, will become the third wealthiest President ever to take office. He DOES act as the liberal elites expect him to. He has gone to all the "right" schools, has married into even more money than he originally had in the first place, is a proper member of upper class society, etc. Of course liberal elites want this guy over Dean, Edwards, or Leiberman. They can relate to him. Dean they think of as an upstart commoner who would DARE to challenge the Democratic establishment, Leiberman is FAR too conservative, and Edwards does not have the rights connections or societal standing because his money was self-made as an attorney. No, Kerry is the one for our nation's upper crust liberals, which is why Soros is sparing no expense to support him. The only problem is that Kerry is just the kind of Washington insider that makes most Americans nervous, and when the real campaign starts and Americans begin to see that, Kerry is going to lose a lot of those big poll numbers that we are seeing currently. I feel quite confident of that, but, I'll guess we'll see for sure in November. David Flanagan

Comment by Mac Diva on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 11:41:17 EST

Yes, and they know they are the elite. I went to school with people like that from eigth grade on. They know from childhood that they are supposed to run the world.

Comment by Eric Olsen on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 11:28:26 EST

I would have to say that GW Bush and John Kerry are both elites in every meaningful sense of the word.

Comment by Mac Diva on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 11:14:20 EST

Now I've heard it all. A person from old WASP money on both sides of his family is 'anti-elite'? A guy who is a member of several exclusive clubs open only to the financial, political and social elite is 'anti-elite'? A person who will inherit more wealth than everyone on the Blogcritics blogroll combined is anti-elite? I must not understand what 'elite' means.

Comment by Shark on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 10:04:27 EST

...President Bush is way too saavy a politician to attack Kerry with a salacious rumor like this... Savvy? How savvy was exposing a CIA agent whose husband did't stick to the Cheney WMD propaganda program?

Comment by bhw on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 09:50:40 EST

No, a guy who doesn't read the newspaper or have any curiosity whatsoever isn't really like the rest of us. I like beer and steaks, too, and I live in my blue jeans. And I love to watch sports, particularly basketball and football. But I also like to think. Thinking is NOT elitism or elitist. It's thinking, and it's a practice the leader of the free world should engage in from time to time.

Comment by David Flanagan on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Tue, 17 Feb 2004 09:33:54 EST

I don't really think he's stupid as much as he is anti-intellectual, a non-thinker... Actually, I think what some liberals object to with Bush is that fact that he's anti-elite. He has the same upbringing and education as Al Gore and John Kerry, but he's a plain spoken person who, for example, would prefer steaks on the grill rather a five star meal at New York's fanciest restaraunt. In other words, he's more like the rest of us. And that is part of his appeal. Thanks. David

Comment by bhw on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Mon, 16 Feb 2004 16:39:29 EST

I think that was me and not MD you were responding to. Personally, I'll never let go of the "Bush is stoopid" script. I don't really think he's stupid as much as he is anti-intellectual, a non-thinker, and therefore not really a good guy to have his finger on the button, no matter how astute his advisors. BTW, his advisors may have political savvy, but that doesn't make them good for the country.

Comment by David Flanagan on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Mon, 16 Feb 2004 16:35:01 EST

Mac, Didn't you hear, the "Bush is Stupid" script is not being used any longer. That was so two years ago. The new script is "Bush Is A Liar." As for the President's political saavy, just knowing who to surround yourself with is a measure of that saavy. Most any leader will tell you that, including Bill Clinton. Thanks. David Flanagan

Comment by Mac Diva on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Mon, 16 Feb 2004 15:28:25 EST

I can't say anything else. When I read this thread now, I just giggle a lot. Instead, I am going to refer people to Eric's new entry about the alleged victim denying there was an affair. Look under the Etc. titles.

Comment by JR on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Mon, 16 Feb 2004 15:28:12 EST

If you want to reveal this kind of rumor, you don't do it while the candidate is still fighting it out in the primaries. Unless you prefer to run against another candidate in the general election. See: Gray Davis, who was, if nothing else, a savvy politician.

Comment by bhw on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Mon, 16 Feb 2004 14:55:22 EST

The fact is, President Bush is way too saavy a politician to attack Kerry with a salacious rumor like this right now, if at all. Well, now you're going too far. Savvy? Not so much. Maybe Bush's advisors or the GOP head honchos, but Bush himself seems ... um ... a little light in the savvy department.

Comment by David Flanagan on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Mon, 16 Feb 2004 13:18:10 EST

I think everyone can agree that politicians and the truth are often like oil and water, whereas, politicians and sex scandals are an unfortunately common occurence. No party has a corner on that market and everyone likes to use them to best effect against the other party whenever possible. I could go on endlessly with examples that support my point, but most of those who have posted comments to this thread likely already know what I'm talking about. Instead, I just want to reiterate that my greatest worry is NOT the truth or falsehood of this story regarding Kerry, rather, its the fact that there are already attempts to make this look like a GOP/Bush attack on Kerry, which could not be further from the truth. It used to be that President Bush was called "stupid" by his opponents. They've stopped calling him that and now the new script to follow is Bush as a liar. The fact is, President Bush is way too saavy a politician to attack Kerry with a salacious rumor like this right now, if at all. If you want to reveal this kind of rumor, you don't do it while the candidate is still fighting it out in the primaries. Rather, you wait until its much closer to the election to reveal this kind of rumor, when it has the chance of doing far more damage. Obviously I think that Bush would never use such a tactic, which is why I wrote this post in the first place. I know that many others have their doubts. :-) Thanks. David

Comment by David Flanagan on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Mon, 16 Feb 2004 13:03:01 EST

Shark, Your point is taken and appreciated. Thanks for your comments and for your challenges. Regards, David

Comment by Phillip Winn on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Mon, 16 Feb 2004 11:03:43 EST

Maybe Kerry will be the person who finally blows this whole thing wide open. I can see it now: "Yeah, I hit it. Dude, she is hot - have you seen her? We're not in love or anything, but I need about 57 varieties, if you know what I mean, and my wife is a busy gal. So? Can we talk about Vietnam?" Someday, somebody's going to do it, and politics will be the better for it in the long-term. Why not Kerry? It's not too late. He can spin Imus and still "come out". Please?

Comment by Eric Olsen on Why Simmering Kerry Scandal is Not "Republican Dirty Trick"

Mon, 16 Feb 2004 08:35:03 EST

Somehow I missed this tempest over the last few days. I would agree that the actionable issue now is did Kerry lie to Imus when he stated unequivocally that he did not have an affair with that intern - whoa, deja vu.