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GOP Aims to Pull a 'Dukakis' on Kerry
Guardian ^ | July 27, 2004 | Will Lester

Posted on 07/27/2004 12:03:52 PM PDT by Vision Thing

BOSTON (AP) - Republicans ridiculed Democrat John Kerry's primary campaign contortions about the war on Iraq on Tuesday and handed out pictures of Kerry clad in a hooded blue anti-contamination suit as he climbed out of a NASA space shuttle orbiter.

The GOP effort to pull a "Dukakis" on Kerry is shifting into high gear.

In 1988, Republicans were able to turn Michael Dukakis from a Democratic presidential front-runner into a caricature soundly beaten by President Bush's father.

Key elements of that transformation were a constant drumbeat of criticism of Dukakis' alleged "liberal record" as governor of Massachusetts and a photo of Dukakis riding in a tank while wearing a helmet. At the time, Republican strategists for Bush's father compared the governor in the tank helmet to "Rocky the Flying Squirrel."

Asked the significance of the photo of Kerry in the anti-contamination suit, Republican chairman Ed Gillespie smiled broadly and said, "We just thought it was a great photo."

Republicans gathered at the GOP war room on Tuesday tried to pick apart a suggestion by former President Clinton that Kerry has the "strength and wisdom" to keep America safe.

"Part of wisdom is having a vision and being consistent with that vision," said Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman. "With Senator Kerry, we have seven different positions on his vote against the 87 billion dollars for Iraq.

"At one point he said it would be irresponsible to vote against it, at another point in time he voted against it, then he said he voted for it before he voted against it, now he says he's proud he voted against it."

Coleman noted that liberal filmmaker Michael Moore, director of "Fahrenheit 9/11," had a seat of honor at the Democratic convention.

"We had Michael Moore in the presidential box, someone who said Americans are stupid," Coleman said. "Michael Moore sits with President Jimmy Carter in his box. Is that the foreign policy coming out of this convention? Does that demonstrate the party's commitment to make tough decisions?"

While Republicans praised Clinton's speech Monday night, they turned on the Democrats Tuesday and claimed they were making false statements about the Bush White House record. The Republicans said Democrats are exaggerating the threats to Social Security, Medicare and a federal program that put extra police on the streets.

"You can say these things with a smile on your face, sound like you have a positive message," said Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, adding that statements distorting Bush's record are "still a falsehood."

Republicans say Clinton's successful Monday night speech will make things harder for Kerry on Thursday when he accepts the nomination.

"It's going to be difficult for Kerry to wrest control of these folks from the thrall of Bill Clinton," said veteran GOP strategist Rich Galen.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: dukakis; kerry
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To: counterpunch

I have a very slow connection and usually avoid threads that will be loaded with pictures...but that picture was worth every minute. FReepers rule!!


21 posted on 07/27/2004 12:28:59 PM PDT by Krodg
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To: Avenger

Somebody took the ooompah loompah picture and put bunny ears on it. I'll see if I can find it.


22 posted on 07/27/2004 12:29:00 PM PDT by GVnana (Tagline? I don't need no steenkin' tagline!)
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To: GretchenM

Perhaps you would like to add the pic here to "a day in the life" threads ... lol...
.


23 posted on 07/27/2004 12:29:05 PM PDT by AFPhys ((.Praying for President Bush, our troops, their families, and all my American neighbors..))
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To: Vision Thing

Well, for all intents and purposes Kerry *IS* Dukakis. Just another arrogant Leftist from MA - even down to having no charisma and the fact that both are dominated by their wives.

Yes the press will try to portray Kerry as a moderate. They've learned Clinton's lesson in 92. But Clinton was at least a middle of the road Democrat. Even for the Democrat Party Kerry is extreme - look at his lifetime voting record...


24 posted on 07/27/2004 12:30:32 PM PDT by swilhelm73 (We always have been, we are, and I hope that we always shall be detested in France. -Duke Wellington)
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To: GVgirl
It shouldn't be difficult. Michael Moore, bunny costume, Teresa cringing at his kisses, Jane Fonda, ad infinitum.

Don't forget his French looks and his effeminate relationship with his running mate.

We actually do not need to limit ourselves to making Kerry out to be another Dukakis.

25 posted on 07/27/2004 12:30:59 PM PDT by Vision Thing (Nuance is for girlie men.)
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To: Vision Thing
We actually do not need to limit ourselves to making Kerry out to be another Dukakis

Well you're absolutely right. I think the butt grabs have played out though.

26 posted on 07/27/2004 12:34:33 PM PDT by GVnana (Tagline? I don't need no steenkin' tagline!)
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To: Snuffington

There are some other great pictures that really, truly fit in with this "Dukakai moment" thread posted on the "Kerry flubbed pitch" thread...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1178385/posts?page=896#896

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1178385/posts?page=449#449


27 posted on 07/27/2004 12:34:45 PM PDT by AFPhys ((.Praying for President Bush, our troops, their families, and all my American neighbors..))
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To: dead; Vision Thing; potlatch

Alexandra Kerry blames dress on wardrobe malfunction in today's New York Post, p. 6: "Yeah, the dress was completely see-through. Not intentionally, mind you. I wore a very conservative dress that did not withstand the impact of 3,500 flashbulbs, says Alex, 30." And her pocketbook couldn't withstand the impact of underwear purchase?


28 posted on 07/27/2004 12:34:54 PM PDT by ntnychik
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To: workerbee

That's because John kerreeee has to TRY to look like he's one of the guys with biking and skiing and windsurfing and tossing the football, etc. If he was a natural he wouldn't have to do these things but he's not so he does. He can't even figure out how stupid he's gonna look putting on a suit likt the one he put on. All the dem/libs seem to fall prey to this kind of ridiculous behavior.


29 posted on 07/27/2004 12:38:34 PM PDT by cubreporter (I trust Rush...he will prevail in spite of the naysayers)
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To: nuffsenuff

That is so unfair. They don't teach you how to throw a baseball in a Swiss boys' school. He only went because he thought it was a BOTOX Yankees game and he'd get a free touch up.


30 posted on 07/27/2004 12:41:00 PM PDT by stop_fascism
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To: Vision Thing

"Space helmet on Captain Video. Wherever you are."


31 posted on 07/27/2004 12:43:59 PM PDT by N. Theknow (Kennedy family legacy - can't skipper a boat, can't fly, can't drive, can't ski)
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To: Snuffington

Kerry is simply trying to show us how he'll dress when he inserts himself up Jacques Chirac's butt.


32 posted on 07/27/2004 12:44:48 PM PDT by stop_fascism
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To: Vision Thing

In his space suit, Kerry looks like a character in a Planned Parenthood sex education training film to show kids how much "fun" it is to use condoms........Kerry looks like he's wearing a green condom on his head......and loving it.


33 posted on 07/27/2004 12:46:03 PM PDT by Liz
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To: nuffsenuff
This guy is just ASKING to be made fun of.

Yes, and we will answer. Boy, will we answer.

34 posted on 07/27/2004 12:46:50 PM PDT by Vision Thing (Nuance is for girlie men.)
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To: onyx; Fracas
Asked the significance of the photo of Kerry in the anti-contamination suit, Republican chairman Ed Gillespie smiled broadly and said, "We just thought it was a great photo."

I hope Ed doesn't lose sight of the "big picture" here.

35 posted on 07/27/2004 12:48:11 PM PDT by Liz
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To: Vision Thing
Oh puh-PLEASE. It's stupid to talk about things you don't know. Kerry has a Dukakis moment almost every day. His wife is running a close second.





36 posted on 07/27/2004 12:48:19 PM PDT by cake_crumb (UN Resolutions = Very Expensive, Very SCRATCHY Toilet Paper)
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To: nuffsenuff

It looked like to me that Kerry threw from in front of the mound and bounced it where Bush threw a strike from the mound.


37 posted on 07/27/2004 12:51:34 PM PDT by OrioleFan (Republicans believe every day is July 4th, DemocRATs believe every day is April 15th. - Reagan)
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To: Red Badger
He looks more like a terrorist-in-training....

A terrorist dressed all in white. It's not yet Labor Day, and as you know, blue bloods such as Kerry wear white only before Labor Day.

38 posted on 07/27/2004 12:53:02 PM PDT by Vision Thing (Nuance is for girlie men.)
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To: OrioleFan

Definitely. Bush threw a strike from the rubber and Kerry bounced a lob from about 4 feet in front of the mound.

It then looked like he was trying to blame the soldier for not catching it.

Kerry's such a LOOOOSER.


39 posted on 07/27/2004 12:54:12 PM PDT by nuffsenuff
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To: Snuffington

ROFL......

Thanks for the contrast. CLASSIC!


40 posted on 07/27/2004 12:54:19 PM PDT by Prolifeconservative (If there is another terrorist attack, the womb is a very unsafe place to hide.)
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