Kerry's Jump The Shark Moment (What Was The Moment When the John Kerry Campaign Started Flopping?)

Self | August 2, 2004 | PJ-Comix

[PJ-Comix]

I believe that, like entertainment, political campaigns have Jump The Shark moments where you can trace the decline of a candidate's chances. For Gerald Ford in 1976, it was when he said Eastern Europe wasn't under Soviet domination. For Richard Nixon in 1960, it was when he showed up at the first debate with JFK without makeup to hide the thick shadow of his beard.

Perhaps the most famous political Jump the Shark moment was in 1988 when Michael Dukakis, in a double digit lead over George Bush, appeared atop a tank wearing a tanker's helmet that made him look like Snoopy. Arguably there were two other possible Jump the Shark moments in the Dukakis campaign. One was his emotionless response to a question about what he would do if his wife were raped. And a much less known Jump the Shark moment was when Dukakis appeared in public while power walking. There is absolutely NO dorkier exercise that power walking. You walk while wildly swinging weights in both hands. The net effect is to make the power walker look like the ultimate nerd.

So what is John Kerry's Jump the Shark moment? It must have already happened since he got a NEGATIVE bounce in the polls coming out of the Democrat convention. Was it when he wore that Sperm Cell outfit at NASA? Or perhaps that wimpy pitch at the Red Sox game where he was later booed? Or was it his overlong convention speech? Please give your ideas on John Kerry's Jump the Shark moment.

[yawningotter]

How about when the Clintonistas started giving him "advice" on how to win the election?

[hellinahandcart]

"My Three Sons" jumped the shark when Robbie and Katie brought the triplets home from the hospital. That led directly to Fred MacMurray marrying the mother of that odious little Dodie creature, and then Chip getting married in college...the writers were truly all out of ideas. If the show had been on the air one minute longer than it was, they'd have married off Ernie while he was still in high school.

[Servant of the 9]

When he saluted and 'reported for duty' at the start of his speech.

So9

[Toespi]

It has been a death by a thousand cuts. All of his contrived photo-ops have been silly, staged and failed. Then comes the convention and what stands out is that he saved a hamster's life. When he opens his mouth how could he possibly be taken serious?

[painter]

I'm on a couple of firearm websites and there are too many people willing to vote for the dems. I didn't see the same thing during the last election. Bush needs the gunowners vote to win.

A couple weeks ago Kerry voted for a bill that would have outlawed centerfire rifle amunition. It was a Ted Kennedy sponsered bill. I don't know the exact details of the bill.

You might try to find out more about that and post it on those web sites.

[Dante3]

The thought that Alexandra did it deliberately also crossed my mind. Imagine someone dressed like her in the White House greeting dignitaries.

I would say Alex combined with the bunny suit and his and Edwards's constant giggling and hugging and staring at each other -- reminds some people of a gay couple.

[Kozak]

The entire Potemkin Village, phony faced, hey we're regular folks not liberal wackos, please ignore everything we REALLY plan to do to the country convention.

[jayef]

That hamster story was the phoniest thing in a convention full of phoniness. I can't believe all the raves over the Kerry daughters. They love their father? I love my father too, that doesn't make him qualified to be president. They were both UNIMPRESSIVE!

[snuffy smiff]

Careful there. Is there a thousand Purple Hearts available for such a calamity?

[Inspectorette]

It has been a death by a thousand cuts. All of his contrived photo-ops have been silly, staged and failed. Then comes the convention and what stands out is that he saved a hamster's life. When he opens his mouth how could he possibly be taken serious?

"Death by a thousand cuts" is exactly the term, and it makes you wonder if Bill and Hill are giving him "advice" on all of the photo-ops, as well as having Michael Moore site with Jimmy Carter at the convention, and the Al Sharpton speech that would be a huge turnoff to Middle America.

The debates hopefully will be the coup de grace that finishes this dork once and for all. He is SO pompous and arrogant, not to mention his looks (saw a clip of him side-by-side w/President Bush yesterday - Kerry looked pale and cadaverous, President Bush looked ruddy, smiling and healthy). This makes me think that the fix is in on him in the media, again orchestrated by Hill and Bill.

[FreeManWhoCan]

#1) When Kerry said "I voted for it before voting against it."

2) When the spermsuit pics came out.

3) When Kerry reffered to Edwards at the convention and the camera pointed showed Edwars giving a "finger-gun cool guy happy salute to him". (I felt like crawling under a rock in shame of knowing that 25 millions people saw that)

Kerry, Kerry how you embaress us all.

I talk to my German friends and they tell me that we have a cowboy for a President. Isn't that cool?

[Pravious]

"Right after the Munsters was cancelled."

No, no... that was Addams Family Lurch was in...

My vote: The Bunny Suit.

Comment: Not sure there IS a JTS moment... fact is, around 50% of the country is RAT, and that 50% will vote for JFingK no matter HOW many stupid photos he's in, no matter HOW much he sweats, no matter HOW psycho his wife is. It doesn't matter... he's not George W. Bush - good enough for them. And if they're inspired enough by lingering anger over the "stolen" 2000 election, they might come out to vote in more numbers than we will... and that will be it.

[johnb838]

The idea that the electorate is decided is nonsense.

That reminds me -- in an interview this morning with E.D. Hill, Harold Ford said "Therre was no bounce because people have their minds made up. We introduced the candidate to America..." I wanted to scream that they can't have it both ways -- either America doesn't know him or they have their minds made up, not both, but he wouldn't have heard me. I often wonder whether these clowns are as positive and supportive offscreen as they are on.

[johnb838]

Nixon was supposed to have had a "secret plan" for ending the Vietnam war.

[TC Rider]

Not quite -- Fonzi was water-skiing and jumped a shark.

It's always important to remember that Fonz was wearing his leather jacket, swim trunks and his boots.

[reagan_fanatic]

(Sung to the tune of Ground Control to Major Tom):

"Spin Control to Major John
Spin Control to Major John
Pay your botox bill and put your pink tie on
Spin Control to Major John
Commencing campaign, fake smiles on
Check your flip-flops and may blind luck be with you."

(spoken) Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three (purple hearts), Two, One...

"This is Spin Control to Major John
You've really made the news
And the papers want to who cuts your hair
Now it's time to ditch the Clintons if you dare."

"This is Major John to Spin Control
I've really got 'em fooled
And the Blacks and Jews - they'll throw their votes away
But the polls look somewhat ominous today."

For here
Am I looking like a Clymer
Down go my polls
Guess I’ll move to France
while Edwards chases an ambulance.

"Though I've fell 10 points behind George Bush
I still think it's a go
And I wonder if Edwards thinks we've jumped the shark
Tell the Democrats I’ll lose the race -they know."

"Spin control to Major John
Your campaign's dead, there's something wrong
Do you concede now, Major John?
Do you concede now, Major John?
Can you hear me, Major John?
Can you...."

For here am I shuffling through my mansion
Far from ol' DC
Bush has won term two
And there's nothing I can do.

[epluribus_2]

thanx. But Rimmer's salute is correct for UK. (Snappy, too)

[TC Rider]

The neg bounce is just an indicator that sKerry had his JTS moment.

As to the actual moment, I would have to say it was the bunny suit, or TeRAYza telling the reporter to shove it.

For purposes of sKerry, perhaps we should refer to his post convention polls as a Dead Shark Bounce (still sinking).

[1Old Pro]

Kerry lost this when he was in the primary getting beat by Dean and moved Left forcing him to vote NOT to fund our troops after voting to allow the President to send troops.