Posted on 07/31/2004 9:30:36 PM PDT by neverdem
BOSTON — So here's the race: the Skipper takes on the Sheriff.
(And, of course, the undercard in the fight: Bambi meets Godzilla.)
Talk about drowning in metaphor.
At least Teresa Heinz Kerry kept her subliminal message simple: She wore a ketchup-red suit to introduce the second senator in her life.
Her husband, as usual, went overboard. The Democratic convention, which was focus-group-dial-a- metered to death, needed a dose of dramamine. It was awash in allusions about Commander Kerry steering the ship of state - from the curved design of the metal and wood-paneled lectern, meant to evoke a ship's bridge; to the Massachusetts senator's arrival in Boston Harbor on the prow of a ferry, making like Washington crossing the Delaware; to the dramatic Vietnam Swift boat scenes in the biographical film; to Jim Rassman's iconic story of being saved when Lieutenant Kerry reached down and pulled him from the water over the bow, to the nominee's hokey salute and "reporting for duty."
Like the picture of Bill Clinton pumping J.F.K.'s hand at Boys Nation, there is a star-struck teenage Galahad picture of John Kerry with his idol on a Coast Guard yawl in Newport.
The convention center halls were adorned with more than 30 blown-up pictures of John Kerry in uniform. This signaled that the Navy lieutenant, who had requested a transfer to a Swift boat because he was inspired by J.F.K. and PT-109, is gunning for the flextime Texas National Guardsman.
"I learned a lot about these values on that gunboat patrolling the Mekong Delta with young Americans," Senator Kerry told the Democratic delegates in his acceptance speech, adding: "We were literally all in the same boat. That is the kind of America I will lead as president - an America where we are all in the same boat."
Ensign Kerry, Max Cleland exhorted the crowd, is "the next captain of our ship of state."
Bill Clinton got on board: "Since we're all in the same boat, we should choose a captain of our ship who is a brave, good man, who knows how to steer a vessel through troubled waters to the calm seas and the clear skies of our more perfect union."
John Edwards was a synchronized swimmer in the Kerry ocean of love: "In the heat of battle, they saw him decide in an instant to turn his boat around, drive it straight through an enemy position, and chase down the enemy to save his crew. Decisive. Strong. Aren't these the traits you want in a commander in chief?"
Even Alexandra Kerry echoed the aquatic heroic theme, telling of how her dad saved the family's pet hamster, Licorice, who was bubbling "down to a watery doom," after falling off a dock. He "hunched over the soggy hamster and began to administer C.P.R.," she said, denying rumors of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
The Kerry campaign even tried to spin Teresa Kerry's "shove it" in a more nautical vein, claiming that the chatelaine of the Nantucket manse had meant to say, "shove off."
Mr. Kerry had to go the skipper route since W. had already laid claim to the West, making the cocky cowboy sheriff his motif, the dusty gorge at his Crawford ranch his milieu, and the Louis L'Amour "smoke 'em out" language his argot.
It doesn't seem to matter to his fans that he often doesn't come through on his gunslinging taunts; they feel reassured simply by the "High Noon" patois.
Mr. Bush's prized possession is Saddam's old pistol. He keeps it in the study off the Oval Office as a trophy of their desert duel in the sun.
At the White House press briefing on Friday, a reporter asked Scott McClellan: "But does the president have to present himself as not quite the, you know, kind of, trigger happy, tough, shoot him from the hip cowboy, and sort of fill out that image a little more?"
Mr. McClellan replied that the president was leading in a - yup, you guessed it - "strong and decisive" way.
Given that the Kerry convention featured a skipper brave and sure, a first mate who makes others comfortable, a millionaire called "Lovey" by her spouse, two pretty young Kerry castaways and a movie star (the ubiquitously annoying Ben Affleck), I suppose we should be grateful that Camp Kerry didn't introduce the nominee with the "Gilligan's Island" theme song.
Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip
This is America after all not a third world nation - we can't let our political differences shut down commerce or dialogue.
That is like being in a cult. Political affiliations are not cults that are supposed to cut you off from non cult members.
Mel Gibson said derogatory things about Bush over Iraq and WMD - won't see his pictures anymore?
This is the democratic process and it should not be personal - in fact it is fun.
LOL Mo must have bought some good gin this week.
The whole idea of forking over cash to someone who will then do something harmful to my country is ludicrous. I consider supporting Kerry extremely harmful to my country.
Affleck is not a centrist. He supported Gore vocally, has been very outspoken in his hatred for Bush. If you want to get snowed by his behavior on O'Reilly--ala the Dems convention--go right ahead. (See, that's how it works.)
Do I know the politics of Actor X? Nope, so I will decide whether or not to support them based on their art.
The day I learn Actor X uses his money to support militant islam, for example, I will stop seeing his movies.
If you wish to base your viewing on your own personal philosophy, you do so--that's our way, you create your standards for yourself, I create my standards for myself. How you see that as communism, I don't know.
You go right ahead and financially support people who are actively trying to get a man elected who will do great harm to my country, that's your right.
Why can't you grasp this very simple concept?
Maureen was probably dreaming of a sea of booze...
She's as funny as a release of gas in a bunnysuit.
So did the majority (or is it the plurality) of the American people. The greatness of America is we have our political diffrences but when elections are over we do business with one another or do I wade jihad on them and base all my purchasing decisions not on quality of product but on party affiliations?
It is why 13 colonies - some with slaves and some without - could forge a great nation.
Your attitude actually goes against the American tradition. Can I buy stuff from an independents or Libertarians or just Republicans?
As for your militant Islam remark. Islam is the religion that demands you seperate yourself from non-beleivers. That attitude you expressed is actually closer to militant Islam than it is to the American political tradition.
Does that mean if Kerry is elected those like you must take arms and over throw him? Maybe ban the Democratic party - clearly it is a threat to America and thus should be destroyed and its members jailed.
Tell me again how that is not communist like thinking?
The night that Teresa spoke, Jimmy Kimmel showed the clip, said, "My god, she's dressed like a bottle of ketchup!", then showed a doctored clip of her from behind with a white cap on her head and a Heinz label on her back. Beat Mo to the punchline by five days.
You go right ahead and financially support people who are actively trying to get a man elected who will do great harm to my country, that's your right.
Sorry about the formatting folks, I'm newish here.
I haven't heard Ben Affleck's opinions, so I have no reason to not see his movies, aside from the simple fact that I he seems to be rather bland and hasn't made a movie that interests me. I don't have a problem with listening to a rational discussion, although facts seem to be fairly unimportant to the more measured liberals.
What's wrong with letting supply and demand work in Hollywood? Doesn't conservative money have as much right as liberal money to affect film-making?
OK Teresa...
Knock off making comments on Destro's computer.
If someone chooses not to see a movie because the poster was printed on glossy paper & they hate glossy paper - that is their business.
I will note, however, that as a rule of thumb, actors / actresses / musicians who hang out with politicians tend to be "C" level talents with "A" level reputations. And when they hang out with democrats, they are revealing poor judgement that is also reflected in what movies they make.
Conservative actors tend to be content with acting. Liberal actors tend to promote messages in their performances - messages that detract from whatever talent they may possess.
Never have seen a Ben-flick...but if someone pointed out that an actor in the movie is Ben, I'd spend the rest of the movie thinking "This dork chased the well-traveled road that is J-Lo's..." and "This dork hates everything that is important to me". It would ruin the film for me.
What are you, insane? You equate going to a movie that stars a Kerry supporter, or buying a Kerry supporting U2 CD is akin to buying lampshades made from the skin of murdered Jews?
Your own words proved my point.
Tell me again how that is not communist like thinking?
DUDE! Go get a cold one from the fridge. Drink it. Go for a walk. Get a life. Do SOMETHING rather than continue to look take-your-breath-away stupid!
Does that mean you could not enjoy The Beatles if you found out John Lennon was a far out leftist?
This is the guy you are defending:
Darkwolf377: If you want to buy lampshades from Nazis go right ahead, no one is criticizing you for doing that.
In other words because I think its stupid to make commerce decisions based on the political party affiliation of the movie actor - It is as if I am buying a human skinned naxi lampshade.
Next time think and read more before you insert yourself in a conversation.
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.