I was thinking, as I watched photo after photo come up on the screen, and then watched speech after speech, that Howard Dean looks like Jack Nicholson playing Johnny in Kubrik's The Shining. Especially when he smiles. Am I the only one who thinks so? Such an association inspires more fear than confidence in Dean's prospects as a president.
Then there's John Kerry. He looks a bit like a bassett hound. It's those droopy eyes and the long face. There's something reliable and friendly and maybe even a little sad in Kerry's appearance. While I haven't completely ruled him out as a possible Leader of the Free World, I have to say I wouldn't want a president that reminds me too much of Flash from The Dukes of Hazard.
Of the three front runners, I have to say John Edwards looks the most presidential in my mind. He's young and attractive, rather like Kennedy. And when I picture that page in my old World Book Encyclopedia, the one that had a little photo of each president so that I could learn them all (although I never did), I can't see Dean or Kerry fitting in. But I can picture Edwards in the lineup.
Of course I haven't even talked about Clark or Lieberman. They opted not to campaign for the Iowa caucuses. But I'll be watching them as they gear up for New Hampshire. I know it seems shallow to rate these potential presidents by their looks, but let's face it: it's rather like a Mr. Democrat contest. There's the talent portion, and the question-and-answer. . . but there are a few points awarded for appearance too. Not as much as in a traditional beauty pageant, certainly, but it's there. If it weren't, Clark wouldn't have gone to all the trouble to buy that nice new sweater.
Image isn't everything. But it's something. And while "image" can include a candidate's personal life--family man, ex-military, etc.--style also counts.
Article comments
1 - JR
Ben Stein called John Edwards "the Breck girl".
I see a resemblence between George Bush Jr. and Chevy Chase.
2 - bhw
I wrote a post yesterday about the first lady's looks. Sad, but true that we [collectively speaking] judge people so much by their physical appearance. What would have happened to ol' Honest Abe if the country had been as shallow back then?
3 - mike
Gore Vidal: "John Kerry looks like Lincoln [pause]....after the assasination."
4 - Eric Olsen
Kerry looks like Muskie, he is doomed.
5 - duane
Here we are folks
The dream we all dream of
Dem versus Dem in the World Series of Putdowns
Tell me, have you got the look?
You walked in, I woke up
I never seen a contender
Look so nuts, baby
You got that look
Color you lame and wack
Color me taken aback
Crucial, I don't think I wantcha
6 - Mac Diva
Have Right Winger's no qualms? Sinking to an attack on the Democratic candidates' appearance is rather mud suckingly low. And, why do I have a suspicion that Methos believes George W. Bush looks presidential and has done a great job?
7 - ZMethos
I'm not a Right Winger, and I'm not attacking anybody. It's just an observation. And you have nothing to base such a suspicion on. ~ZM
8 - duane
Haha! "Mud suckingly." Good one. I think it's more likely that people are resigning themselves to the sad fact that looks matter (see bhw's post), even in a presidential campaign. This has been pretty much accepted since Kennedy vs. Nixon. I'd rather give the benefit of the doubt to the posters here and ZMethos, and presume that they don't use appearance as a criterion when voting, but that they find it entertaining to make fun of the hopefuls anyway. Whether or not Bush looks presidential and has done a great job are two separate issues. Who cares what he looks like? Ah, nevermind...I think I just answered my own question.
9 - Mac Diva
I would be down with Methos (despite his fear of uppity colored folks and women taking over textbooks and thereby corrupting American youth) if he were being bi-partisan about the looks issue. But, to be fair in this thing, one must admit Shrub resembles a chimp. And Cheney? Newfound popularity for Mr. Potato Head. I believe Methos' political bias will prevent him from doing the same to Republicans.
And, let me add that I resent (yes, resent!) people who steal the names of sci-fi characters to use as their screen names. It is so-o-o-o unoriginal.
10 - ZMethos
See, you're turning this into a personal attack on me and there's no call for that.
First of all, I'm a "her" not a "him." You just can't keep jumping to conclusions about me.
Second of all, I don't have a political bias. Once again, I state for the record: I was watching the caucuses and simply had some observations on the apperance of some of the candidates. There weren't any Republican candidates present for me to look at at the time. Maybe I'll talk about them some other time. ~ZM
11 - HW Saxton Jr
That is really,really,really low Mac D.
What've you got against Mr.Potato Head?
12 - Mac Diva
Mr. Potato Head was the ugliest toy I ever received as a child. I'm still traumatized by it-:).
A woman ripping off the name 'Methos' from Highlander? That's even worse. At lease she could have chosen 'Amanda'. Nah. I like Amanda. Methos, too, beaky nose and all, until the name was ruined at Blogcritics.
13 - Joe
It strikes me as a bit odd that an anonymous Scottish drag queen would take umbrage at another's moniker.