Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Kerry on the Ropes
The American Spectator ^ | 10/15/2004 | Wlady Pleszczynski

Posted on 10/14/2004 10:30:27 PM PDT by Utah Girl

ANNANDALE, Va. -- The immediate consensus on the Fox right was that Bush had hammered the Tall Guy rather decisively -- this from the same hard-to-please folks who had felt Bush hadn't done too well in last Friday's rather successful townhall debate. The ABC left preferred to call last night a draw, though one could detect a lack of confidence on that score. On Nightline George Stephanopoulos conceded Bush was "much more likable and human" than Kerry -- this in reply to a question from Ted Koppel fretting at why Kerry had "failed to ignite" his campaign. Not the sort of comments one might expect from media libs confident their guy had carried the night. Even Nightline guest John Edwards came off churlish. Why else would he have claimed that last night's debate was less important than the first two if not because his guy had lost and thus his own political career was entering its lameduck phase?

Scoring these events doesn't make much sense, in any case. For one thing, Kerry was Kerry was Kerry at all three debates. It's not a pleasant sight to see a tall guy overmatched. But what else can one conclude when over and over Kerry responded by rote recitation of his talking points? This allowed Bush to escape more than once. In other circumstances, for instance, Bush would have been hammered to calling on the young and healthy to abstain from flu shots this winter, owing to shortages of the vaccine UNDER HIS WATCH. Instead what did Kerry say? "This really underscores the problem with the American health care system." You know, five million Americans lost their health insurance under President Bush. Children nationwide aren't being covered. So rather than zing Bush on a timely issue ripe for demagogy, Kerry got zinged instead.

Mr. Schieffer: "Mr. President would you like to add something?"

Mr. Bush: "I would, thank you. I want to remind people listening tonight that a plan is not a litany of complaints."

At other times Kerry just sounded like warmed-over Gore. Comedy show talent scouts must have been licking their chops. He explained his "truth standard" this way: "That's how you gain legitimacy with your own countrypeople ... " Countrypeople? As in Friends, Romans, and Countrypeople? At one point he defended religion only to end up a practicing pagan, again via the weirdest wording: "And I think that everything you do in public life has to be guided by your faith, affected by your faith, but without transferring it in any official way to other people. That's why I fight against poverty. That's why I fight to clean up the environment and protect this earth." Give the poor guy an L.L. Bean gift certificate and a Good Earth catalogue.

Most painful was his closing oration, which could have performed by Kevin Kline practicing being presidential in front of a mirror in the movie Dave. Read it very slowly, as if you were practicing too. "I ask you to allow me the privilege of leading this great nation of ours, of helping us to be stronger here at home and to be respected again in the world. And most of all, to be safer forever. Thank you, good night, and God ... bless ... the ... United ... States ... of ... America." It's the closest Kerry ever will come to delivering orotund from the Oval Office.

At times Kerry appeared to be wincing. He couldn't keep his eyes open beyond a squint. Was it because Bush was showing no mercy working him over? Certainly Bush showed him no respect. Where Kerry regularly referred to him as "the President," Bush didn't have the grace to refer to Kerry as anything other than "he" -- unless, in a more compassionate moment, he deigned to call him "my opponent."

Kerry cowered in other ways. Those bishops who don't want Catholics to vote for him? "I respect their views. I completely respect their views. I am a Catholic..." Bush waxing about his religious beliefs? "Well, I respect everything that the President has said and certainly respect his faith. I think it's important and I share it..." Last and certainly least, he was asked about his fearsome wife -- and he took a pass, in favor of some invented story about his mother on her death bed. This, mind you, right after Bush had scored huge in talking about his perfect wife. One could easily conclude Kerry must be a very lonely man.

To add insult to injury, Bush beat Kerry at his own game: he was the nuanced one. Is homosexuality a choice? "You know, Bob, I don't know, I just don't know." Illegal immigration? "I see it as a serious problem. I see it as a security issue. I see it as an economic issue, and I see it as a human rights issue." You could seem him jump with joy after throwing those categories back in Bob Schieffer's face.

And although there were no questions about the environment, Bush went ahead anyway to demonstrate that he's a recycler. Amazingly, he led off his closing remarks with the story of a West Texas painting by Tom Lea. It depicts a mountain scene, which, as Lea has described, shows the east side of the mountain. "It's the sunrise side not the sunset side. It's the side to see the day that is coming not to see the day that has gone." The thing is, Bush told the same story in his acceptance speech at the Philadelphia convention four years ago. Expect to hear it a third time next Inauguration Day.


Wlady Pleszczynski is editorial director of The American Spectator and editor of this website.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: gwb2004; kerry; thirddebate
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

1 posted on 10/14/2004 10:30:27 PM PDT by Utah Girl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Utah Girl
Bush would have been hammered to calling on the young and healthy to abstain from flu shots this winter, owing to shortages of the vaccine UNDER HIS WATCH.

It's Bush's fault?

2 posted on 10/14/2004 10:50:25 PM PDT by etcetera (All men are endowed by their Creator with the inalienable right to shoot back.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Utah Girl

I have never loved a president before. Its a new and very WIERD feeling---I just want it to be Nov 3rd and Bush reelected so I can get back to work. I made about 30 % less during the invasion of Iraq because I kept hitting the refresh button and cheering, screaming, GO MARINES!!!!!


3 posted on 10/14/2004 10:54:21 PM PDT by wildcatf4f3 (out of the sun)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Utah Girl

** PING **


4 posted on 10/14/2004 10:55:15 PM PDT by Bitter Bierce
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: etcetera
It's Bush's fault?

In the sense that any Chief Executive is ultimately responsible for any snafu created by the institution of which he is in charge, yes.

And, had Kerry chosen to demagogue the issue, he could have done so on this basis.

But, of course, the whole truth would be that the responsible party was none other than Her Heinous, Hillary Rodham.

5 posted on 10/14/2004 10:56:30 PM PDT by okie01 (The Mainstream Media: ARROGANCE & IGNORANCE ON PARADE)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: etcetera
No, he's just saying that Kerry could easily have demagogued it that way.
6 posted on 10/14/2004 11:12:43 PM PDT by davidjquackenbush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: etcetera
It is actually Bill, Hill and John Edwards fault. Our country's vaccine manufacturers went kaput because of the vaccine plane of Hillary's and money-grubbing lawyers so we had to count on a foreign firm.

Same thing will happen when we import drugs from Canada. Our drug companies spend all the money on research and devolopment, get by the FDA, prove it's safe, and then market it. Let me know if you know of any safe, accepted drugs that Canada and Mexico have devoloped.

7 posted on 10/14/2004 11:30:09 PM PDT by tiki (Win one against the Flipper)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: etcetera
It's Bush's fault?

In the fantasy land of liberal thinking, conservatives are the only thing between this world and Utopia.

Everything bad is our fault.

Even the weather is our fault.

8 posted on 10/14/2004 11:37:27 PM PDT by AndyTheBear (Disastrous social experiments are the opiate of elitist snobs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: etcetera
It's Bush's fault?

Yep. While he was wasting his time at all those NSC meetings and Pentagon briefings he could have been in his blue bunny-suit mixing vaccine in a laboratory.

OK, I'm kidding...

9 posted on 10/14/2004 11:41:02 PM PDT by Billthedrill
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Utah Girl

On the out sourcing of jobs-I hope kerry get's elected so he can bring all those heinz jobs back to the US.


10 posted on 10/14/2004 11:52:00 PM PDT by longfellow (You're either with US or from Hollywood! Ultimateamerican.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: okie01

By pointing out that the problem was due to a foreign made vaccine being unsafe Bush subtlely pre-empted Kerry's criticism about not allowing imported prescription drugs without ever mentioning the issue. I was surprised none of the talking heads caught that.


11 posted on 10/15/2004 12:31:46 AM PDT by Hugin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: longfellow

The last time I was home (Sapulpa OK where it is mainly still Democrat) a friend told me that Kerry is going to do something about OUTSOURCING. He is doing something about oursourcing jobs alright! Hmmmmmmmmmm....

Heinz, more than 57 varities of outsourcing factories worldwide

HEINZ FACTORIES:

HEINZ-UFE LTD. Established 1984 Guangzhou, People's Republic of China Factory: Guangzhou Major Product Lines: cereals for infants. Brand Name and Trademark: Heinz.

HEINZ COSCO Established 1999 Qingdao, People's Republic of China Factory: Qingdao Major Product Lines: infant foods/ketchup/mayonnaise/puree. Brand Name and Trademark: Heinz.

ALIMENTOS HEINZ C.A. Caracas, Venezuela Factory: San Joaquín Major Product Lines: baby foods/bouillon/ketchup/sauces/soups/vinegar. Brand Name and Trademark: Heinz.


DISTRIBUIDORA BANQUETE, S.A. Acquired 2001 San José, Costa Rica Factory: San José Major Product Lines: ketchup/sauces. Brand Name and Trademark: Banquete/Columbia/Emily Gyor/Salsitica/Tipica.

HEINZ INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED Acquired 1994 Mumbai, India Factory: Aligarh/Bangalore Major Product Lines: glucose powders/infant feeding products/ketchup/medicated powders/milk-based beverages. Brand Names and Trademarks: Complan/Farex/Glucon-D/ Heinz/Nycil/Sampriti.

PT HEINZ ABC INDONESIA Established 1999 Jakarta, Indonesia Factories: Daan Mogot, Jakarta; Karawang Timur; Pasuruan Major Product Lines: chili sauce/fruit drink concentrates/ ketchup/soy sauces. Brand Name and Trademark: ABC.

PT HEINZ SUPRAMA Acquired 1997 Surabaya, Indonesia Factory: Sidoarjo Major Product Lines: noodles/noodle snacks. Brand Names and Trademarks: Burung Dara/Heinz.

HEINZ UFC PHILIPPINES Established 2000 Manila, the Philippines Factories: Cabuyao Laguna; Davao City Major Product Lines: banana ketchup/hot sauce/sweet chili sauce/tomato ketchup. Brand Names and Trademarks: Jufran/Mafran/Papa/UFC.

HEINZ HONG KONG LIMITED Established 2000 Wanchai, Hong Kong

H. J. HEINZ (Botswana) (Proprietary) LTD. Formed 1988 Gaborone, Botswana

KGALAGADI SOAP INDUSTRIES (Pty) LTD. Acquired 1988 Gaborone, Botswana Factory: Gaborone Major Product Lines: dishwashing liquid/laundry soap/toilet soap. Brand Names and Trademarks: Botshelo/Kgalagadi/Marang/Ngwana/ Okavango/Olga/Oodi/Snow Kiss.

REFINED OIL PRODUCTS (Pty) LTD. Formed 1987 Gaborone, Botswana Factory: Gaborone Major Product Line: vegetable oil. Brand Name and Trademark: Olivine.

OLIVINE INDUSTRIES (Private) LIMITED Acquired 1982 Harare, Zimbabwe Factory: Harare Major Product Lines: baker's fat/candles/canned foods/condiments/glycerine/ laundry soaps/margarines/protein meals/sauces/toilet soaps/vegetable oil. Brand Names and Trademarks: Buttercup/Cartwrights/Colman's/Fortris/ Heinz/Helio/Holbrooks/Jade/Luna Candles/Olivine/Perfection/Ricco/Soyola.

CHEGUTU CANNERS (Pvt) LTD. Established 1992 Chegutu, Zimbabwe Factory: Chegutu Major Product Lines: canned beans/ketchup/soup/vegetables. Brand Name and Trademark: Heinz.

HEINZ SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD. Established 1995 Johannesburg, South Africa

HEINZ WELLINGTON'S (PTY) LTD. Acquired 1997 Wellington, South Africa Factories: Barvale; Benoni; Wellington Major Product Lines: dehydrated vegetables/sauces. Brand Name and Trademark: Wellington's


HEINZ SINGAPORE PTE. LTD. Established 2001 Republic of Singapore Factory: Singapore Major Product Lines: chili sauces/ketchup/preserved beans/soy sauces. Brand Names and Trademarks: SinSin.

HEINZ WATTIE'S LIMITED Acquired 1992 Auckland, New Zealand Factories: Christchurch; Hastings Major Product Lines: beans/condiments/frozen meals/frozen vegetables/infant foods/ketchup/meals/organic products/pet food/sauces/seafood/spaghetti/soups. Brand Names and Trademarks: Champ/Chef/Craig's/Eta/ Farex/Good Taste Company/Gourmet/Hellaby's/Nurture/ Oak/Rival/Wattie's.

TEGEL FOODS LTD. Acquired 1992 Newmarket, Auckland, New Zealand Factories: Processing, feedmilling and livestock operations at Christchurch, Auckland and New Plymouth/Feedmills at Levin, Mataura and Nelson/Value-adding plants at Chefs Boutique (Auckland) and Coq au Van (Wellington) Major Product Lines: NRM: animal health products/calf-feed/horse-feed/pig and poultry products. Tegel: fresh and frozen wholebirds/portions and boneless portions. Brand Names and Trademarks: Collaid/Golden Coast/Moozlee/NRG/Peck 'N' Lay/Stockaid/ Sweetfood/Tabletalk/Tegel.

HEINZ JAPAN LTD. Established 1961 Tokyo, Japan Major Product Lines: curry/demi-glace/frozen potatoes/frozen meals/ketchup/pasta sauce/pet food/soups/specialty cooking sauces/white sauces. Brand Names and Trademarks: Buono/CountryHarvest/ Ore-Ida.


HEINZ KOREA LTD. Established 1986 Inchon, South Korea Factory: Inchon Major Product Lines: chocolate/edible oil/ketchup/margarine/mayonnaise/shortening. Brand Names and Trademarks: Chefs Cap/Heinz/ Napoleon/Solomon/StarKist.

HEINZ WIN CHANCE LTD. Established 1987 Bangkok, Thailand Factory: Bangplee Major Product Lines: chili sauce/ketchup/oyster sauce. Brand Name and Trademark: Heinz.


HEINZ EUROPE

Established 2000 Hayes Park Hayes, Middlesex, England UK and IRELAND Factories: Chorley, Fakenham, Grimsby, Kendal, Kitt Green, Leaminton, Luton, Okehampton, Telford, Westwick Major Product Lines: bagel bites/beans/bean meals/can-making/cereals/chilled sandwiches/frozen and chilled desserts/frozen chips and potato products/frozen ready meals/infant formula/pasta/pasta meals/pizza crusts/pizza toppings/puddings/quick meals/reprographic and packaging solutions/single serve sachet condiments/soups/vegetarian frozen ready meals. Brand Names and Trademarks: Farley's/Heinz/John West/Linda McCartney/Ross/San Marco/Weight Watchers.

H. J. HEINZ COMPANY LIMITED Established 1917 Hayes Park, Hayes, Middlesex, England

JOHN WEST FOODS LIMITED Acquired 1997 Liverpool, England

H. J. HEINZ FROZEN & CHILLED FOODS LIMITED Established 1993 Dublin, Ireland and (1999) Hayes Park, Hayes, Middlesex, England

H. J. HEINZ COMPANY (IRELAND) LIMITED Established 1996 Dublin, Ireland


SOUTHERN EUROPE Factories: Greece: Aliartos; Italy: Commessaggio, Latina, Monguzzo, Ozzano Taro, Rovereto Major Product Lines: baby biscuits/baby juices/cereals/champignons/dairy products and yogurts/extruded bread/freeze-dried babyfood/fruit products/herbal teas/liquid and powdered milk/nutraceutical products/pasta for babies/pasta sauces and condiments/sweetener/vegetables/wet babyfoods/wild mushrooms. Brand Names and Trademarks: Bi-Aglut/Dega/Dieterba/ Fattoria Scaldasole/Heinz/Mareblu/Nipiol/Ortobuono/ Plasmon/Weight Watchers. HEINZ ITALIA S.r.l. Acquired 1963 Milan, Italy

FATTORIA SCALDASOLE, S.p.a. Acquired 1996 Monguzzo, Italy

COPAIS FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANY, S.A. Acquired 1990 Athens, Greece

NORTHERN EUROPE Factories: Germany: Seesen; Netherlands: Baarn, Elst, Giessen, Koog aan de Zaan, Nijmegen, Rijssen, Utrecht, Wormerveer Major Product Lines: baking flour/baking products/ breadcrumbs/breakfast cereals/condiments/cordials/ desserts/pasta sauces/portion pack jams and sauces/printed cartons and labels/quick serve meals/semolina/soups and soup products/sport drinks/spreads/stews/sweet bread toppings/sugar decoration products/tomato products/vegetable preserves. Brand Names and Trademarks: De Ruijter/Foodmark/HAK/ Honig/Roosvicee/Serv-A-Portion/Sonnen Bassermann/ Weight Watchers.

H. J. HEINZ B.V. Acquired 1958 Elst, The Netherlands

H. J. HEINZ BELGIUM S.A. Established 1984 Brussels, Belgium

H. J. HEINZ GMBH Established 1970 Düsseldorf, Germany

SONNEN BASSERMANN Acquired 1998 Seesen, Germany

KONINKLIJKE DE RUIJTER BV Acquired 2001 The Netherlands

HAK BV Acquired 2001 The Netherlands

FOODMARK Acquired 2001 The Netherlands HONIG MERKARTIKELEN BV Acquired 2001 The Netherlands DRUKKERIJ DE GROENBOER Acquired 2001 The Netherlands

EUROPEAN FOODSERVICE H. J. HEINZ COMPANY LIMITED Established 1917 Hayes Park, Hayes, Middlesex, England Factories: Rovereto, Italy; Telford, England Major Product Lines: convenience meals/dry sauces/frozen desserts and soups/jams and preserves/portion packs/sauces. Brand Names and Trademarks: Alveston Kitchens/Comexo/ Dega/Foodmark/Frank Cooper's/Serv-A-Portion.

HEINZ SINGLE SERVE LIMITED Acquired 1995 Hayes Park, Hayes, Middlesex, England

SERV-A-PORTION Acquired 1999 Turnhout, Belgium

Arimpex Industrie Alimentari S.R.L. Acquired 1992 Rovereto, Italy

Comexo S.A. Acquired 2001 Chateaurenard, France

H.J. HEINZ COMPANY OF CANADA LTD Established 1909 North York, Ontario, Canada Factory: Leamington, Ontario Major Product Lines: baby foods and juices/beans/canned pasta/frozen appetizers/gravies/ketchup/mustard/red juices/relish/salad and sandwich spreads/sauces/soup/tomato products/vinegar. Brand Names and Trademarks: Alpha-Getti/Diana Sauce/Heinz/Pablum/Scarios/Zoodles.

OMSTEAD FOODS LIMITED Acquired 1991 Wheatley, Ontario, Canada Factory: Wheatley, Ontario Major Product Lines: coated appetizers/fish/frozen vegetables and fruit. Brand Names and Trademarks: Leo D'Or/ Omstead.

H. J. HEINZ COMPANY AUSTRALIA LTD. Established 1935 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Factories: Dandenong; Northern Victoria (Echuca, Girgarre); Port Moresby, Papua, New Guinea; Wagga Wagga Major Product Lines: beans/condiments/frozen meals/frozen vegetables/infant foods/ketchup/meals/organic products/pet food/sauces/seafood/soups/spaghetti. Brand Names and Trademarks: Epicure/Farex/Golden Days/Greenseas/ Hamper/Heinz/Imperial/Nurture/Ox & Palm/ PetDeli/Tom Piper/Wattie's/Weight Watchers.


12 posted on 10/15/2004 1:00:44 AM PDT by buffyt (~Sure~ Kerry is smooth, but so is the underbelly of a poisonous snake!~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Utah Girl

I think that the Kerry campaign is about to collapse.
Kerry has peaked.

Mark it down. (Bookmarking)


13 posted on 10/15/2004 1:04:35 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Utah Girl

Nobody will remember much about the third debate except John Kerry's "merry outing" --- and the subsequent back-and-forth by the Cheneys and Elizabeth Edwards. The motives of Kerry and Edwards, in mentioning Mary Cheney, are very clear, and it's their motives that offended. Kerry not only lost the third debate with that one remark---he erased the third debate with it.


14 posted on 10/15/2004 1:07:29 AM PDT by Graymatter (Reload Bush/Cheney 2004)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Utah Girl

God I wish I hadn't missed this! Kerry wants us to be respected again in the world? The countries that don't respect us aren't worth worrying about. France comes to mind.

Maybe Kerry can move there after the election.


15 posted on 10/15/2004 2:38:25 AM PDT by TheSpottedOwl ("In the Kingdom of the Deluded, the Most Outrageous Liar is King".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Utah Girl
Has anybody counted how many times Kerry said, "...in America"? I was becoming disoriented I was so mad!

Yes, Senator Kerry, we're in America. We know that, thank you.

16 posted on 10/15/2004 2:46:55 AM PDT by Deb (A Democrat Stole My GREEN Sweater!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Deb
He also said "listen people" sounded like he was running for student council president, not president of the USA.
17 posted on 10/15/2004 5:21:26 AM PDT by IrishGOP (I don't like John Kerry, because John Kerry is going to get me killed.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Utah Girl
One could easily conclude Kerry must be a very lonely man.

As well he should be. I'll be even he can't stand to be in the same room with himself.

18 posted on 10/15/2004 5:27:42 AM PDT by mombonn (kerry . . . he spent 20 years in the Senate and doesn't have much to show for it. ¡Viva Bush/Cheney!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: buffyt

This will come in handy the next time I talk to a certain friend that didn't believe me cause all his ketchup bottles said bottled in PA.


19 posted on 10/15/2004 8:41:05 AM PDT by longfellow (You're either with US or from Hollywood! Ultimateamerican.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: etcetera
Bush would have been hammered to calling on the young and healthy to abstain from flu shots this winter, owing to shortages of the vaccine UNDER HIS WATCH.

It's Bush's fault?

No, it was largely because of a Clinton policy, but Bush's defence was a wide-open invitation to mock him.

20 posted on 10/16/2004 9:24:47 AM PDT by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson