(Hint: that's a cookbook he's holding.)
Posted on 08/02/2004 1:07:15 PM PDT by crushkerry
John Kerry attacked George W. Bush yesterday … for having a lame campaign slogan. Actually, he called it “itsy-bitsy,” which is a far lamer sound bite than “Turning the Corner,” Bush’s 2004 slogan. This marks the single pettiest campaign attack in US history, outscoring Kerry’s earlier entry, “we have better hair.”
“Turning the Corner” certainly lacks the thoughtfulness of “Bush is Hitler!” or the clear, reality-based intellectualism of “No Blood for Oil” or even the raw emotionalism of “Bush is the Real Terrorist,” so we’ll concede it’s a little on the dull side. And while we love George W. Bush immensely, his slogan proves there’s only one Ronald Wilson Reagan who during his own reelection campaign in 1984 celebrated “Morning in America.”
But there’s another hackneyed phrase Kerry should keep in mind as he attacks Bush on the campaign trail: people in glass houses should not throw stones.
All of Kerry’s campaign themes, slogans and taglines show the middle-brow artistry of a hack without an original thought in his gigantic head. Take, for starters, his original slogan, “The Real Deal.” This was obviously stolen from the almost-great boxer Evander Holyfield to show that Kerry was a real tough guy, a fighter who can stand toe-to-toe with that little Green Mountain midget Howard Dean anytime. It may have served Kerry well in the primary, but America’s most liberal Senator quickly learned “The Real Deal” sounds an awful lot like “The Raw Deal.” So that was quickly jettisoned.
Next came “Bring It On!” Kerry’s second attempt to imply he could beat George W. Bush in a fight if it came down to that. The only problem was Kerry stole it from Bush himself. “Bring It On” was Bush’s invitation to terrorists and thugs in Iraq who might be tempted to test America’s will and resolve. (For the record, the terrorist did test our resolve; Bush stood firm, Kerry was found to be lacking.) So when Kerry was out there screaming “Bring It On” to any and all who could hear, he has not only appropriated Bush’s line, but he was, in effect, comparing President Bush to the terrorists who’ve made Iraqi reconstruction as difficult as it has sometimes been.
Let us not forget Kerry’s star-crossed flirtation with “Let American be America Again.” Crushkerry.com blew the lid on this turkey only hours after Kerry revealed it to the public. The geniuses at Kerry HQ swiftly realized you can’t very well have a candidate for President of the United States (even a Democrat candidate) running around the country quoting angry, black-power Stalinists and expect to win the hearts of Middle America.
So now we’re onto Kerry’s two big slogans as revealed at the Democrat National Convention. The first, “We Can Do Better,” is perhaps the most oft repeated phrase on campaign stumps around the country for offices ranging from President of Student Council to Assistant Dog Catcher. Kerry advisor, Bob Shrum, who is above all else a speechwriter should be ashamed of himself for squeezing these boring, blurry, utterly meaningless words out of his client’s mouth. One Kerry Crusher quipped it would be more accurate if Kerry said “We Can Do Bitter.”
Which finally brings us to the theme of that little performance up in Boston, “Help is On the Way.” No throw-away line, Kerry repeated “Help is on the Way” at least ten times in his acceptance speech. And yet like “Bring It On” Kerry simply stole the line from George W. Bush himself. In fact, he stole it from George W. Bush’s 2000 GOP convention speech! So, in addition to holding the record for pettiest personal attack in US history, Kerry also has the distinction of being the only Presidential candidate in US history whose campaign slogans are the exact same slogans as his opponent. Dubious distinctions, no?
John Kerry may have a point, though. “Turning the Corner” doesn’t warm our hearts or bring wilted flowers back into full bloom. It doesn’t open up the dark, rainy skies to reveal a beaming, hopeful sun. Okay, fine. But given Kerry’s record when it comes to campaign slogans, we expect to hear him promise on the stump to “Turn the Corner” sometime soon.
Ping
I got one for Kerry and Edwards:
"We're not happy till your not happy, and we are damn near ecstatic."
OR
"Could we be any stupider?"
Some more lame suggestions for K/E's lame campaign:
"Kerry/Edwards--Together, We Can Do Something"
"John Kerry for President--Not that him being president means you are any less of a person"
"Kerry--Together, We Can Spend All Her Money"
"Kerry--He Won't Politicize Anything, Unlike Those Evil Republicans"
During and after the Dem Convention speeches, Kerry and associates have tried some 8 or more different slogans, and none has stuck. At least two during the Convention were 'lifted' from previous GWB/Cheney speeches.
The Convention was supposed to 're-introduce' Kerry to America. In 2000 Al Gore 're-invented' himself six or more times, and yet, he still came up Al Gore the bore. Kerry, too, failed short in convincing America is strong on war, strong on defense, to right of the conservatives.
Kerry came up empty in the Convention. Empty of ideas. Empty of details. Empty of direction.
Some day Kerry is going to have to give more than 'I have a plan [period]'. Some day Kerry is going to have to detail those plans. And waiting until after the election, as he said in recent interviews is too late.
Hanoi John’s most obscene phrase was his “reporting for duty” statement.
Ain't it the truth? In face, most of the speeches at the DNC were plagiarizations of some type.
Yup. It's a good thing my Sig wasn't chambered with a round and the magazine was empty. Otherwise, I'd have to buy a new tv and patch up the wall.
Before the convention, Kerry was a Vietnam war veteran turned Vietnam war protestor turned Vietnam War Hero, who accomplished nothing during 18 years in the senate.
NOW Kerry's a Vietnam war veteran turned Vietnam war protestor turned Vietnam War Hero, who accomplished nothing during 18 years in the senate.
I think the "Help is on the way" was Kerry's change from the previous nights "Hope is on the way" in Edwards speech. It reminded me of the Willie Brown interview that O'Reilly did the previous night. Willie Brown implied that it was better for the black community to get Hope from Clinton than Help from Bush. It's that kind of attitude that shows why Republicans are winning. These Democrat supporters (the NAACP) are that stupid. Hope is better than Help. O'Reilly looked stunned.
(Hint: that's a cookbook he's holding.)
A good test for the candidate for the executive office would be to judge whether he would be qualified as CEO of Wall Mart. Answer - No.
What leadership has he shown in the Senate, not being able to lead his associates to support any bill he has authored? As to his service in Vietnam, he put his entire crew in jeopardy when he beached his boat to get his Silver Star (violating standard operating procedures as I understand). What kind of leadership did that represent?
John Kerry resembles a horse no matter which angle you observe; from the front and from the rear.
and what about GWB's we "will not fail"
Otherwise, I'd have to buy a new tv and patch up the wall.
John Kerry resembles a horse no matter which angle you observe; from the front and from the rear.
I believe the "Help is on the Way" line was stolden from Dick Cheney's convention speech, not W's. The point still stands though. I hear that Kerry's next slogan will be " A souflee in every pot"
Kerry is an arrogant elitist. He the media will tire of him reacting to everything Bush does by criticism and a claim that he has a plan. At least I hope the media will tire.
Pray for W and Our Troops
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