Posted on 06/30/2004 2:19:54 AM PDT by kattracks
Edited on 07/12/2004 4:17:01 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Despite the constant torrent of vitriol from his political opponents, President Bush's standing among voters on questions of character appears solid. Moreover, notwithstanding the odious Michael Moore and a national news media obsessed with systematically undercutting the rationale for the war in Iraq, Sen. John Kerry has yet to capitalize on the constant barrage of attacks on the president's character and judgment.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Mr Bush flew in and spent some time with the Nascar dads in FLorida some time this year and the people loved him for it; just WHAT can Kerry do to match that?
Maybe have a sitdown with some French Wine & Cheese and discuss some art perhaps mon ami?
You can't like Kerry, he's not likeable at all in any way. You might be able to admire him, or pity him, or be amused by him, but you just can't like him.
Which is why 'most people would have traveled a distance to spend an hour with Reagan - and why most any of us would walk across the street to avoid shaking hands with x42.
There's a quality called "authentic". GWB exudes authenticity. Kerry, IMHO, does not.
I've long believed this "Likability" factor is real, though I called it "cute" or "pretty". I think it's a big factor in why one William Jefferson Clinton, a man of exceedingly bad character, was elected president-twice! His opponents were **perceived** as "worn-out old men" by physical comparison. (Still, I doubt Clinton would be able to jump out af an airplane at age 80; he's more likely to die of AIDS first.)
OJ was just too cute to convict.
This is why I think presidential debates are actually a dis-service. The "winner" is the one who can get off the best one-liner and who is the "prettiest".
The conventional wisdom on that is that we're all supposed to vote based SOLELY on "the issues." Yeah. Which is exactly how we get people of NO character, like Bill Clinton, in the office of President.
I just think that Clinton was an "unusually good liar", and that people are more wary of that level of pathological narcissism now. But, I DON'T think we should just vote on competing sets of policy papers-- too many things can happen on which no one thought to do a policy paper, and character is the best predictor of how one will behave in unpredictable circumstances.
Nope, I can't muster anything but total revulsion for him. He is an arrogant elitist who oozes contempt for the "little people".
I seriously will turn off the TV for 4 years if he wins. He makes me waaaay too angry to subject myself to his pontificating.
Its a comfort factor. Can you stand seeing the guy on TV every day for four years? Democrats don't feel as comfortable with Kerry as Republicans feel comfortable with Bush. If you don't like your own guy much, you can't expect other people to see any good qualities in him either. Kerry might win but its for other things than charisma. Things would have to go south though for voters to overlook likeability to elect Kerry President.
Kerry, head and horse: Is this subliminal influence on the writer of Kerry's appearance? I leave it to you.
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.