Dem Ticket Doesn't Wow Marines At Wendy's.

7:30 a.m. EST Friday - At a rally before the 3,500-mile campaign bus tour leaves Boston, Sen. John F. Kerry [related, bio] drapes an arm over Mayor Thomas M. Menino's shoulder as they exchange post-convention compliments.

10:30 a.m. - The tour consists of 10 buses - half for the candidates, their families and aides, and half for media - along with four minivans, a lead car, a vehicle for TV camera crews and a truck carrying the gear that provides wireless Internet access. That doesn't count the Secret Service or state troopers. Rolling down 84 West, the highway is closed in one direction while Kerry's motorcade comes through. Some motorists seem angry at the delay, but Kerry supporters line up along the route with signs.

12:30 p.m. - Since it's the Edwards' 27th wedding anniversary, the candidates stop for lunch where the couple celebrates each year, at Wendy's. Edwards and Kerry greet a table of Marines, who answered their questions in monosyllables.

Later, the Marines tell reporters they support Bush. ``(Kerry) imposed on us and I disagree with him coming over here shaking our hands,'' one said.

4 p.m. - Supporters gathered for an outdoor rally in sweltering Scranton, Pa., wait for the bus tour - which arrives an hour and a half late. An onlooker collapses from heat and Vanessa Kerry, a third-year medical student, rushes to give medical assistance.

"I mentioned on another thread that I thought Kerry was trying to hand the Marine a card...and the Marine didn't want it. Everyone insists a finger because he is famous for pointing to someone else. I see how they could jump to that conclusion but it cannot be his finger... it is as straight as a board."

The Kerry campaign Photoshoped the "finger" in. Seems that the Senator didn't have the guts to point at a Real Hero.

One sunny day in 2005, an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench.

He spoke to the Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Kerry."

The Marine replied, "Sir, Mr. Kerry is not President and doesn't reside here."

The old man said, "Okay," and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Kerry."

The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mr. Kerry is not President and doesn't reside here."

The man thanked him and again walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same Marine, saying, "I would like to go in and meet with President Kerry."

The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mr. Kerry. I've told you already that Mr. Kerry is not the President and doesn't reside here. Don't you understand?"

The old man answered, "Oh, I understand. I just love hearing it."

The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said, "See you tomorrow."

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.