KERRY IS JUST SNOW COOL

New York Post ^ | 3/19/04 | BILL HOFFMANN and BRADEN KEIL

[kattracks]

March 19, 2004 -- Here's Sen. John Kerry, acting more like a lordly man of leisure than presidential timber as he casually snowboards near his wife's stunning $5 million Idaho hideaway.

The Massachusetts Democrat sought respite from the relentless pounding being delivered this week by Team Bush as he began a five-day break at the magnificent spread in Ketchum.

[kattracks]

GLIDING ALONG: John Kerry, who often appears stiff as a board, loosens up with a little snowboarding yesterday in Idaho, where he's on R&R. George Frey/EPA

[IrishRainy]

OMG, I can SO relate! Except our imported house is much nicer than theirs.

[giotto]

A real man of the people, that Kerry.

[kcvl]

Does he EVER actually WORK?! We have seen him snowboarding, windsurfing, sailing, flying his plane, playing hockey, riding his motorcycle, etc. I can bet that he never mows his own yards. He is nothing but a spoiled gigolo who doesn't even bother to show up for votes.

I can so relate. /sarcasm

[kcvl]

"This guy has been wide-open, nonstop for months," said veteran Democratic consultant Dane Strother, who noted that an exhausted candidate is a dangerous candidate. "You leave yourself open to the possibility of making a major gaffe. You've got to recharge at some point."

Consultant Jenny Backus conceded that this is an important stage of the race, but argued that the crucial stretch will come in the fall as swing voters begin to tune in.

"It is March," she said. "We have a long time to go. The most important phase is to close strong."

Campaign aides said that while Kerry was taking a break, the staff was putting together an aggressive strategy to highlight the differences with Bush. Also on tap next week is a major Democratic fund-raiser in Washington with former Presidents Clinton and Carter.


"We will lay out a series of speeches on what John Kerry can do," spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said. She said Kerry planned a major speech on the economy, and would seek to renew the debate over health care and criticize the record deficits Bush is amassing.

"We will put out a detailed budget sometime in the future that will show how to get back on track," Cutter said.

Ornstein said Kerry is certain to take a battering, and it might make sense to get some rest out of the way quickly.

"The problem is, there's not a good time to vacation," Ornstein said.

[kcvl]

The risk for Kerry is that he will be seen as part of the Bush backlash -- a candidate whose chances rise with every bomb that explodes in Baghdad or Madrid. The more stridently he criticizes Bush, the more he's in danger of sounding like Spain's intemperate prime minister-elect, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Not content with announcing that he will retreat under fire in Iraq, the Spaniard on Wednesday called the situation there a "fiasco" and said he hoped Kerry would win. Friends like that Kerry doesn't need.

Kerry's dilemma is like that facing his would-be European supporters. They desperately want Bush to lose, and they worry that by coming to his rescue in Iraq they could unintentionally boost his chances of reelection.

Kerry must reject that logic. His line should be that he wants success in Iraq and will do everything he can, as candidate and as president, to make it happen. He needs to make clear that failure isn't an option for him any more than for Bush -- and that a Kerry presidency would never embrace a Spanish-style policy of cut and run.

In that sense, Kerry needs to take Iraq off the table as an issue. His advisers may say that's crazy -- to throw away their biggest weapon against Bush. But that understates the gravity of this election. Kerry's best shot is that he would be a stronger, smarter leader in wartime. On Iraq, he should tell the truth: Now that we've gotten in, we have to stay and support the Iraqi people in rebuilding their country. Period.

[dawn53]

There was a statement made late yesterday, after he was endorsed by the anti-Semitic leader of Malaysia (I think).

Kerry made the statement that he was not accepting any foreign endorsements, and used Cheney's exact words from his interview on FoxNews about how Americans are the ones who elect American Presidents.

It was priceless, especially after his gaffe in Miami about foreign leaders being behind him.

[goldstategop]

Of course that puts him at odds with the Democratic base and foreign leaders who hate America for being steadfast. They can forgive him though if its a politically opportunistic move. I think they will since in his heart of hearts they know he agrees with them.

[maggief]

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., snowboards during the first day of his vacation at Sun Valley in Ketchum, Idaho Thursday, March 18, 2004. Man behind is unidentified. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

[maggief]

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry (news - web sites), D-Mass., heads to the slopes with his snowboard during the first day of his vacation at Sun Valley in Ketchum, Idaho Thursday, March 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

[OldFriend]

I regularly call Kerry's D.C. office to ask if he's still AWOL.

[sgtbono2002]

I thought Kerry was having back problems.

[InvisibleChurch]

does that hair ever move?

[GailA]

He's AWOL ...the senate is STILL IN SESSION.

[Mayflower Sister]

What is the number? I'll call.

[alwaysconservative]

Can you post Kerry's office number and email? I'd also like to ask how much longer he plans to be AWOL. I'll also call or email Frist's office.

Where is the outrage that this guy is out vacationing, getting his (apparently) wholly undeserved paycheck while the "little people" are actually showing up for work?

[mewzilla]

Meanwhile.....

[HateBill]

Kerry's best shot is that he would be a stronger, smarter leader in wartime. On Iraq, he should tell the truth: Now that we've gotten in, we have to stay and support the Iraqi people in rebuilding their country. Period.

That would make sense if Kerry didn't get carried away by the "rapture" at campaign events. Some left-wing activist in a rope line will do some "male bonding" with Kerry by commenting on their common hatred for Bush and Kerry will try to "relate" by punching him on the shoulder and saying something like, "Yeah, Saddam was a prince compared to Bush" or ("Hitler was a prince compared to Bush").

What will kill Kerry is his uncontrollable desire to come across as a "guy's guy" in male company. And in his quest to prove his macho cred, he will say one stupid thing after another.

[mystery-ak]

What a gigolo!

[normy]

Has anyone noticed how the past three Dem candidates have had some weird sexual innuendo involved with them. On purpose though as if to let the ladys know how sexy they are, its very strange.

You had the Clinton boxer/briefs, the Al Gore brushed out weiner photo cause he was so large, and now the Kerry buy a jock strap with my daughter photo op. These Dems are nuts!