CAPTION THIS: John Kerry as "Alpha Weenie" - with yellow flower-power zipper pull

www.powerlineblog.com ^ | March 29, 2004 | Hindrocket (via Hugh Hewitt)

[EggsAckley]

GRAVITAS, BABY ! !

[AnAmericanMother]

Kerry snowboarding. Someone his age snowboarding ?

I was just up in NC a bit earlier this winter skiing. The oldest person I saw snowboarding was maybe 16 years old. All us oldsters were skiing. (Snowboarders were pretty rude too - cutting people off, cursing, etc.)

Here's my other thought - all Kerrey's sports require lots of expensive and flashy equipment - snowboard, windsurfer, high tech alloy bike, fancy clothes of all kinds (complete with daisy zipper pulls . . . ) Is he showing off his ability to purchase lots of high-end equipment, or what?

[MeekOneGOP]

I was curious about that myself, so I went to the source
of the pic/host and find this on the website too:
Note the flower zipper thingy there ...

The photo caption for the AP/Elise Amendola photo reads: "Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry , D-Mass., right, snowboards followed by ski and snowboard instructor, Jim Grossman, left, at Sun Valley in Ketchum, Idaho Tuesday, March 23, 2004."

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I was wondering when you were going to jump into this particular opportunity :-).

Any Mamas and Papas song, maybe?

"Lazy Days...." might be the song.

[Shermy]

but why do people attack him for this nonsense?

1. It's a long election season.

2. In this instance the clothing and sporting photo-ops are planned media events worthy of comment.

[LisaMalia]

I have to say, being an avid football fan, that is one of my very favorite pictures of President Bush. That look in his eyes....wow!

Kerry, on the other hand, looks like his typicial blundering, bafoon self.

[MeekOneGOP]

Whoops ! One more thing I just noticed in the main thread post ...

STILL MORE: Another reader thinks the photo is very funny, but wonders whether the daisy might have been Photoshopped into it. Fear not; the photo is straight from the Associated Press. Her question, though, did cause me to run a search for all photos of Kerry with his snowboard. And it appears that this picture is the only one that shows the flower-power zipper pull. I infer from this that shortly after the photo was taken, a horrified aide noticed the flower and removed it from Kerry's get-up. Leaving only the sunglasses, the vest, the gloves, the board itself and the botox as evidence of Kerry's Alpha Weenie status.

[altura]

I'm impressed.

But would you have the daisy?

[jjm2111]

While snowboarding is mostly a sport for the 20 and younger crowds, I've seen a few old timers taking to it.

[jjm2111]

Like No. 50 isn't a photo op? You think the President really has time for yard work?

[RipSawyer]

Now, if I had all that and a good, big, horse or even a good mule to drag logs, and my body would just stop hurting, I could really have some fun! And if I could just afford a new Peterson sawmill I would really be right!

[doug from upland]

Hint....Bay area...what you wear in your hair.

[ohioWfan]

It's stress release. He did it before he was President, and he does it every time he's at the ranch, whether photographers are there, or not.

You don't know much about him, do you?

[ohioWfan]

I kinda like this one better. The man REALLY wants to complete this pass!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Please ping me when it's done and posted on FR!

[jjm2111]

"But would you have the daisy?"

Lord no! My snowboard has a Glock sticker and a U.S. Navy sticker. If one really wants to be a rebel in the snowboarding world, they should have "Jesus is Lord" or "Bush/Cheney 04" on the board.

[doug from upland]

IF YOU'RE GOING TO SAN FRANCISCO

[Shermy]

Like No. 50 isn't a photo op?

It is photo op. Reagan set this standard of the "ranch work" photo op.

You think the President really has time for yard work?

Everyone needs to exercise how they can. I'd rather see this, or Kerry on the slopes than on the tread mill. But Bush has the sense to wear clothes which look like most people can afford. Clinton and Gore didn't doll up in chi chi rags either. Kerry can't help appear elitist.

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" as evidence of Kerry's Alpha Weenie status "

Funny you should mention the obvious.
Kerry's handlers have known for a long time, that Kerry had an image problem.
So, they decided a long time ago, to constantly pose Kerry in different outfits,as if that was all it would take.

Washington Post June 1,2003 " John Kerry : Hunter,Dreamer,Realist "

"That's our slogan," quipped his ad man,Jim Margolis. " John Kerry: He's no weenie."
Ivan Schalger,his friend " He is a damn Alpha male."

But,then the article goes into chapter and verse describing just how Kerry is the ultimate Weenie in a Wetsuit.

[viaveritasvita]

John Flower-power Kerry bump.