Shrug ...
Try photoshopping out the name tape on the helmet.
I think you’ll find the image less ridiculous that way.
For me, the problem with the image was the hypocrisy ... if you lived through the 1980s, and were paying attention, you know that the democrats spent the whole time deriding and lampooning the Abrams as a waste of money. For Dukakis, the democrats’ democrat, to be campaigning in one was an outrage; the name tape made it into a CHEAP photo-op.
And what’s with the tape, anyway? We know you’re Mike Dukakis. You don’t need to tell us. Besides, real uniform name tapes have a last name only.
Agreed about the name tag etc!
This Politico piece (video) comes with sad, ominous music. In my mind here’s a more appropriate tune
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcq_xLi2NGo