Kerry's phallic symbol---John Edwards---is falling flat (VP political viagra's a downer)

SPECIAL TO FREE REPUBLIC | 7/10/04 | COPYRIGHT 2004 Use with permission only.

[Liz]

In a stunning acknowledgement-----indicative of a major Kerry misfire-----news reports quote Mark Mellman, Kerry's top strategist, as saying that the Kerry campaign does not expect the No. 2 selection---John Edwards--- to give it a surge in the polls.

Mellman claimed the campaign already has coalesced its core supporters and there are too few undecided voters to sway in an evenly divided nation.

Mellman's blatant spin----a last-ditch effort to save the foundering ticket----is one that astute political observers don't believe for a minute. The Edwards pick was expected to lauch the Kerry ticket into the stratosphere.

Mehlman's admission is a stunning turn of events barely a week into the Edwards-Kerry launch.

The conventional political wisdom was that Kerry's boring and haughty attitude was a turnoff----even to his base voters----and that the campaign sorely needed a dose of "sex appeal."

The Kerry people decided Edwards fit the bill. Edwards is youthful, enthusistic, a good speaker (he is a trial lawyer), and has a pretty-boy image that is accented with serious hair.

Edwards vigorously campaigned for the spot and his Southern roots also helped Kerry makeup his mind. even though Edwards did not even win his hometown in his Senate race---and did not win his home state in the presidential primary.

But almost immediately, things took a turn for the worse as the campaign had several defining moments:

(1) A Democrat Hollywood fund-raiser turned into a vile, pornographic Bush-bashing with many of the stars making hate-filled, crude joes at the expense of a sitting president. Not surprisingly, days later the Kerry camp was trying to distance itself from the Hollywarped weirdo Bush haters. One news report, "Hollywood's Bush bashing gets Kerry Some Bad Reviews," contained a scathing review by Democratic Sen Zell Miller. In a statement issued yesterday, Sen. Miller (D-Ga.) said he was saddened, but not surprised, that Kerry didn't challenge the (anti-Bush) commentary. "Last night John Kerry held a fund-raiser in New York that featured performers in a time of war calling the president of the United States a killer, a cheap thug and a liar. John Kerry just sat there, grinning like a mule eating briars," Sen Miller said.

(2) The two candidates engaged in a series of touchy feely personal appearances where they couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other. Some newspapers picked up on it and criticized the overt friendliness of the two men. Jay Leno also did a critical take on it. One hilarious email traveled across the nation which satirized the Democrat candidates' proclivity for playing grabass. The incident spread like wildfire. The hugging and kissing even had newspaper running headlines such as "Daschle Denies Hugging Michael Moore."

One post-Edwards survey published July 10 had Bush and Cheney ahead by 5 poimts in Virgina.

The Democrats internal polls must tell a sorry tale. The Kerry-Edwards ticket upon which the Democrats built their hopes of victory is turning out to be a bigtime downer, and is falling flat on its face.

The Democrats next move should be interesting. Maybe Kerry and Edwards will dose-up on Levitra.

[Liz]

I don't doubt that for a minute. The Bush strategy seems to be to let Kerry set his own trap and then they spring it on him when he's least expecting it.

[Rome2000]

What were these 2 imbeciles thinking?

Maybe they'll show up at the All-Star game and take batting practice next.

[Rome2000]

Gephardt or Vilsack would have been a lot tougher to beat.

Edwards was a stupid choice by a stupid man.

[Common Tator]

No way Liz. There is not true love for Kerry other than a very very large stack of thousand dollar bills.

I have believed from the start that Kerry, being a royal aristocrat, does not take advice from anyone.

When he came back from Vietnam he found the media wanted to make him a hero... like Jane Fonda. It goes with out saying that by giving glowing coverage to Jane Fonda, the media made her an individual hated by over half the population.

But to Kerry getting media support was all it took to achieve success. And Kerry proved it to himself when the media elected him to office in Mass.

So Kerry believes that if one has huge media suppor, one can not lose an election. So if the media said Edwards, then Kerry picked Edwards.

The media does not fact get in the way of their opinion. The media finally came to recognize that Kerry is not likeable. They thought Edwards was. But how could anyone who bothered to read a paper or listen to a newscast fail to understand that Edwards was beaten in all but 2 primaries by Kerry.

If Edwards can not beat kerry in Georgia.. then who could Edwards beat. Polls have shown for well over a year that Edwards could not get relected to the Senate no matter who the Republicans put up against him.

Why it is a surprise that Edwards has no political draw is beyond me.

The only person in the world who wants to look like Edwards is Barney Frank.

[Rome2000]

A young supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry (news - web sites) (D-MA) listens to a speech at a rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, July 9, 2004. Kerry and vice presidential candidate Senator John Edwards (news - web sites) (D-NC) will be formally anointed later this month at the Democratic convention in Boston as the party's challengers to President George W. Bush (news - web sites) and Vice President Dick Cheney (news - web sites) in the November 2 election. REUTERS/Jim Young US ELECTION

[Dog]

The Democrats internal polls must tell a sorry tale.

The internals must be very bad.

[lavrenti]

I guess in November, there will be TWO Billy Joe McAllisters jumping of the Tallachie Bridge.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Arkancide.

[scfirewall]

BHWHAHAHAHA.....Good one!!

[Rome2000]

There is something seriously wrong with these people.

[Dog]

Rome is that from today?

[Rome2000]

This is from yesterday via Yahoo/AP/Reuters

I fully expect to see heavy petting by the end of the month.

And how does a woman with a billion dollars have such bad hair?

[nothingnew]

Mellman claimed the campaign already has coalesced its core supporters and there are too few undecided voters to sway in an evenly divided nation.

Guess all the reports of the dems begging nader to drop out are just BS.

BWAHAHAHA!!

FMCDH(BITS)

[Liz]

Good point.....the Edwards fallout will boost Nader.

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

The Democrats next move should be interesting. Maybe Kerry and Edwards will dose-up on Levitra.

---

This all has me remembering how McGovern in 1972 backed his original choice of running mate, Sen. Eagleton of Missouri "1000 percent" after it came out that Eagleton had undergone electroshock treatment for a mood disorder, and just before kicking him off the band wagon.

One incredible gaff after another! This campaign is a target rich environment for humorists and satirists. Can't wait to see how Dave Barry sends this pair up. And we're weeks away from the conventions! Incredible.

[Dog]

Gives me the willies everytime I see them hugging.

[jslade]

the next couple of months.

From what I understand, Frist will bring it to the floor NEXT WEEK.

[Rome2000]

Jenna Bush, daughter of U.S. President George W. Bush (news - web sites), flashes the thumbs up sign as she walks across the South Lawn from the Marine One helicopter upon returning to the White House with her father in Washington, July 9, 2004. A reporter asked Jenna the question, 'How did it go today?' REUTERS/Shaun Heasley US ELECTION

[Liz]

I don't think Kerry will dump him. That would be an admission of Kerry's poor judgement. They're stuck with each other.