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Voters "couldn't find" Kerry, says Hollings
The Hill ^ | December 1, 2004 | Geoff Earle

Posted on 11/30/2004 5:29:19 PM PST by NCjim

There’s an unwritten rule in politics not to kick somebody when they’re down.

But Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.) — who has made a point of speaking his mind during nearly four decades in the Senate — is willing to do just that by criticizing Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) for his failed campaign for president.

“He wasn’t himself,” Hollings told The Hill after delivering his farewell speech Nov. 16. “He had political peripheral vision.”

Hollings, who noted that he himself failed to capture the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984, said Kerry “had no [applause] line” on the stump. “The people were looking at him head-on and couldn’t find him.”

However, consistent with senatorial courtesy, Hollings placed the blame mostly on Kerry’s advisers and consultants. “He was overcoached,” he said. “They ruined him.”

Hollings also disputed the notion, widely reported in the media, that President Bush’s top political adviser is some kind of a political genius. “Everyone is going, ‘Karl Rove is the architect,” he said. “Hell no! He made every mistake you can make.”

Hollings also disputed interpretations of the election, based largely on exit-polling data, that Republicans had an advantage on “moral issues,” pointing to Democratic efforts on healthcare and education. “My morals are way better than the greed of the other crowd,” he said.

Hollings, who is departing after 38 years and will be succeeded by Republican Rep. Jim DeMint, offered no opinion on whether Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) will run for president. But he said the fundraising requirements for public office have gotten out of hand.

“You gotta start six years ahead of time,” he said, noting that he had to raise $36,000 a week for his 1998 Senate race. “You miss Christmas or New Year’s week, you’re $100,000 in the hole.”


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: South Carolina
KEYWORDS: demint; fritzhollings; kerrydefeat
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To: NCjim
“My morals are way better than the greed of the other crowd,” he said.

ROTFL! The rats do nothing but raise money! Kerry is one of the wealthiest dims around. What lies!

21 posted on 11/30/2004 5:49:44 PM PST by ladyinred (Congratulations President Bush! Four more years!)
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To: NCjim
And in other news, some Kerry supporters couldn't find their a$$e$ with both hands...

....In their own back pockets....

22 posted on 11/30/2004 5:52:07 PM PST by dirtbiker (Solution for Terrorism: Nuke 'em 'till they glow, then shoot 'em in the dark!)
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To: gov_bean_ counter
"Good day, I said GOOD DAY, SIR!!!"


23 posted on 11/30/2004 5:55:43 PM PST by Hillary's Lovely Legs (Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps.)
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To: NCjim

Public education has achieved its goal in that district. Smell the irony!


24 posted on 11/30/2004 5:57:58 PM PST by Fruitbat
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To: NCjim
“The people were looking at him head-on and couldn’t find him.”

I keep seeing this opinion expressed in one form or another -- it's just flat wrong!

Thank goodness that a majority of the American electorate looked at Kerry head-on and saw him for what he is.

25 posted on 11/30/2004 6:03:42 PM PST by delacoert (imperat animus corpori, et paretur statim: imperat animus sibi, et resistitur. -AUGUSTINI)
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To: Political Junkie Too
"That's why I think Senators should be appointed by the states, not elected by the people. It would make the best campaign finance reform by eliminating 33 of the most expensive campaigns that occur every two years."

Bingo. About to post the same thing myself. Appointment as the Founding Fathers intended would keep the Senate responsive to the States. And it would be reflective of the political make up of the states.

The Senate has become expensive, arrogant, unresponsive and a body that is darn near unaccountable.

26 posted on 11/30/2004 6:08:29 PM PST by drc43 (We have 4 years left to get it right)
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To: carlr
I concur completely; but if truth be known, South Carolina really deserved the likes of Hollings for decades.

Those Carolina folks by and large looked on their senior politicians as cult figures. Thurmond's staff really believed the old reprobate literally walked on water, etc. (I knew the Thurmond staff intimately in the mid-late 60's)

So, it is not surprising that a type-cast hack like Hollings lasted so long in the Palmetto State. Only recently has the leadership of the state de-shrouded itself from the Civil War, and the image of Rhett Butler standing at the foot of the staircase. And, there are plenty of vestiges still in the closets -- yet to be introduced to the 21st century.
27 posted on 11/30/2004 6:21:12 PM PST by dk/coro
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To: NCjim
“My morals are way better than the greed of the other crowd,”

This from Hollings (D-Disney, WorldCom, AT&T, RIAA, etc.)

Check out Opensecrets.org if you doubt how much swag this guy has taken.

28 posted on 11/30/2004 6:28:44 PM PST by Martin Tell (Red States Rule)
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To: Hillary's Lovely Legs

"I say, I say...that boy talks so much, his tongue's gonna get sunburned!"


29 posted on 11/30/2004 6:31:07 PM PST by The Loan Arranger (The modern definition of 'racist' is someone who is winning an argument with a liberal.)
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To: NCjim
Of course Kerry wasn't himself. As I said in a recent column, when Democrats are themselves, they lose elections. It's only when they convince people that they are hypocrits that they can win.
30 posted on 11/30/2004 6:34:28 PM PST by syberghost
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To: NCjim

Have they checked Cabela's? I hear he wuz lookin' to git him a camo jacket and a huntin' license.


31 posted on 11/30/2004 6:48:51 PM PST by Luddite Patent Counsel ("All of God's children have a uvula.")
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To: NCjim

"Sen. Fritz Hollings (D-S.C.) — who has made a point of speaking his mind during nearly four decades in the Senate"

You can't tell me that cross-eyed klan kisser has four decades worth of mind to speak!


32 posted on 11/30/2004 6:51:07 PM PST by Luddite Patent Counsel ("All of God's children have a uvula.")
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To: NCjim

Hollings is another decrepid waste of oxygen that a good rat could use. According to his definition of "morals", taking money from everyone's paychecks to buy votes with the miserable government health care and education programs makes him "moral". I guess that would make Karl Marx REALLY moral. What a blessing that this old f**t won't be stinking up the capitol any longer!


33 posted on 11/30/2004 6:54:34 PM PST by kittymyrib
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To: NCjim
“My morals are way better than the greed of the other crowd,” he said.

He refused his government retirement?

34 posted on 11/30/2004 6:59:49 PM PST by lonestar (Me, too!--Weinie)
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To: NCjim

On the contrary, Mr. Fritz Leghorn, we did see F'n as himself, and rejected him.


35 posted on 11/30/2004 7:27:52 PM PST by Paul Atreides (Why can't you be like Endicott?)
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To: Viking2002

Using a map.


36 posted on 11/30/2004 7:35:02 PM PST by AndrewC (New Senate rule -- Must vote on all Presidential appointments period certain.)
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To: NCjim; 2A Patriot; 2nd amendment mama; 4everontheRight; 77Jimmy; AJ Insider; AlligatorEyes; ...

South Carolina Ping List

Add me to the ping list. Remove me from the ping list.

37 posted on 11/30/2004 8:03:06 PM PST by SC Swamp Fox (Aim small, miss small.)
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To: NCjim
doddering . . . . old . . . . man.

thank God that public embarrassment to the state of South Carolina is gone.

38 posted on 11/30/2004 8:18:53 PM PST by smonk
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To: smonk
...thank God that public embarrassment to the state of South Carolina is gone.

Maybe soon Mississippi will be rid of Trent Lott....and his ilk.

39 posted on 11/30/2004 8:23:59 PM PST by stboz
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To: stboz
---Maybe soon Mississippi will be rid of Trent Lott....and his ilk.---

uh, what's wrong with trent lott?

40 posted on 11/30/2004 8:35:02 PM PST by smonk
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