Kerry stubs his toe (Liberal Slams Ketchup Boy Over "Regime Change" Remark)

Boston Globe ^ | April 6, 2003 | Thomas Oliphant

[PJ-Comix]

JOHN KERRY goofed in the middle of war last week. Instead of decrying the reaction to his goof, he should learn from it. In presidential politics, the damaging mistakes have more than one dimension; that's when they resonate. Unfortunately for Kerry, his had four -- rhetorical, substantive, political, and contextual. The first two dimensions were obvious; the other two are potentially more serious. In rhetoric, parallelisms should be parallel. The term ''regime change'' belongs to Saddam Hussein in US politics. For someone running to replace George Bush, it is perhaps cute to recommend, as Kerry did intemperately in New Hampshire last week, regime change for this country as well -- but it is also dumb. The reason is that the line may not directly imply moral equivalence, but you can be positive that other politicians (especially hypocritical right-wingers on demonization duty) will infer same. It is always dumb to hand opponents an easy attack line.

[PJ-Comix]

Thomas "Bowtie Boy" Oliphant is criticising Kerry but mainly because he is concerned that Kerry's dopey remark will cost him politically. He supports Kerry but worries if the idiotic statement has ruined his darling Ketchup Boy.

[MEG33]

I am deeply concerned about his concern for Kerry. Saddened

[Redleg Duke]

"He's dead, Jim!"

[PJ-Comix]

Ever see Oliphant on TV? I keep thinking that bow tie of his will spin like a propellor and fly him away.

[Steve Eisenberg]

Politically, it should be axiomatic among challengers to a sitting president, that you never say or do anything on the long road to the nomination that complicates the even tougher road to actual election.

Nobody who follows this axion too closely will be nominated.

Kerry had a big problem in that Dean was gaining on him over the war issue. Kerry had to find a way to show that he was really, really on the side of the anti-war Bush bashers without actually going over to the losing side of history with them and Dean. I think Kerry may have done it. If he gave us another little issue in November, well, that was a price Kerry was willing to pay.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

When I see Oliphant on TV, I always think something along the lines: "no, this can't be for real. This is some Hollywood parody of a foppish, effete member of the elite Eastern press. Way too over-the-top to be an actual person."

Kerry must know he's in trouble when he wakes up and reads this. Of course, just to show that his heart is in the right place (well to the left side of his puny chest), Oliphant takes a few obligatory swipes at Republicans.


"Hypocritical right-wingers on demonization duty": OK, Tommy, we heard you. You can now go back to sipping on real French Chablis and delicately nibbling on authentic camembert without fear of rejection by your liberal clique.

[Savage Beast]

The Democrats just can't get it.

"I think it's a big mistake to underestimate him."

--Tom Daschle. Meet the Press, NBC-W, November 10, 2002.

[Leroy S. Mort]

How did Oliphant miss getting the DNC talking points? When asked about Kerry's remarks, one is to repeat "Tom DeLay, Tom DeLay" until ones questioner is comatose.

[airstrike]

Hey Senator, why the long face? This, being an example of Kerry's judgement, is reason enough to be greatful he is not President right now. May as well put some ketsup on those lofty plans and eat them Kerry.

[Leroy S. Mort]

Nothing like picking at a scab in the middle of a war for some jollies, is there?

[rvoitier]

What do Popular votes have to do with electing a president in America, Tommy?

It's the Electoral College, STUPID!

[Senator_Blutarski]

Popular votes and Florida aside...

...Bush has so botched relations with other countries' leaders, allies, and diplomatic adversaries that he is no longer trusted...

I'm aware of what some of those officials say in private about Bush, and it's pretty ugly and mostly accurate...

...issue a ringing call to hold Bush to his Azores pledge with Spain and Britain...

Oliphant never misses a chance at a dig, does he?

[Brytani]

Kerry had three reasons for making these comments.

1. To gather liberal democrat votes.
2. To secure a place of diplomacy with the likes of China, France, Germany if he is elected.
3. To appease dictators/terrorists around the world, a standard platform of the democratic party going back to at least Carter.

Fortunately for the United States, his remarks will prevent him from becoming president.

With 70% of the population securely behind the war in Iraq, his voter base shrinks daily.

Americans will not accept friendly relations with France/Germany etc after the way they have treated us, our troops and our President.

Finally, after 9-11 appeasing terrorists/dictators has come to an abrupt end.

Good riddance to bad rubbish I say. Kerry can add his name to the pile of Democrats who slowly but surely are causing the downfall of the democratic party.

[monocle]

Does "regime change" include Kerry himself as a member of the Senate as one could infer from the definition of "regime".

[Puppage]

Hey, that propellor matches the one on his hat.

[leprechaun9]

"Kerry stubs his toe?

That is a physical impossibility, when the foot is in your mouth!

[Diddley]

There are hawks, and there are doves.

Kerry is a dodo (extinct bird).

[WOSG]

Hey Senator, why the long face?

LOL!

[doug from upland]

Oliphant has so much Clinton DNA stuck to his chin that he can never get it clean.

[pbear8]

Ever see Oliphant on TV? I keep thinking that bow tie of his will spin like a propellor and fly him away.

I keep waiting for him to get a matching propeller beanie.