Can someone tell Kerry to smile

[keta11]

a lot more than he does on the trail and on stage. He often looks hard faced and "mean". Go Kerry!!!!!

[Ruby Romaine]

1. i saw him in person a fews weeks ago & he was smiling- what are

you talking about?
maybe the librul meedia prefers unflattering portraits of him.

[keta11]

4. He tries to look serious most of the

time on stage. IMO, he looks "dark" to me every time I see him on TV. He should try looking sunny and appear to be having fun on the stump. That could help. My 2cents.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

13. Yes, indeed...that's exactly what we want in the White House, don't we?...

Another vacantly smiling, pretzel-munching idiot in search of a village to call home. "Look ma...no brain"!!

Yes, let's continue to be the laughing-stock of the entire international community. I bet even the countries we pay off are laughing behind our backs.

[msmcghee]

2. Not only that . .

. . he should be telling some jokes - at Bush's expense. That shows that he's not afraid of Bush and that he is in control of the situation.

The dour expression and angry attitude conveys fear. If he's afraid of Bush - then certainly he must be afraid of the terrorists. (That's the conclusion they will make from his speeches.)

He should stop making logical arguments. No-one gives a shit about that. People just want to believe that he knows he's right. Then they'll accept the possibility that he is right. They'll see that in his attitude and expression - not in his words.

As Lee Atwater said, if you're explaining, you already lost.

Whoever is coaching Bush is doing a great job. Bush's hateful smirk and the flip-flop jokes are hitting home and hitting hard. Kerry should take notes.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

9. Sorry, but your post is nothing but psycho-babble, ad nauseum.

[msmcghee]

15. It's the old psycho-babble . .

. . ad nauseum argument.

B-) Clever.

[ProfessorPlum]

3. He was very relaxed and smiling on the Daily Show

a couple of weeks ago.


But I think it is Kerry's seriousness that appealed to so many Democratic voters in the primaries this year. Getting rid of this national disaster is a serious job, and JK is here to take the trash out!

Edit, typo

[msmcghee]

10. I thought he really screwed that up.

It was a chance to relax and joke around and let people know there was a real person in there. I'm sure there is but he didn't show it that night.

[ProfessorPlum]

17. Really? I thought he came across as quite relaxed

and personable, but also, of course, focused on what he was doing. As I would expect him to be. He mentioned at least three specific Daily Shows that he had seen. I kind of get a kick out of the thought that he watches that show regularly.

[msmcghee]

21. I don't mean to be so down on him.

Back when we were having those arguments here at DU over the various primary candidates I did what a lot of folks did and went with Kerry based on logical reasons why I thought he would be the best one to beat Bush.

But I knew then that logic is not what makes people buy things. I simply hoped he'd have the mojo too. I wanted to believe it.

Maybe he does and he's just been too cautious to let it out so far. There is a lot riding on his every word.

I want to see someone who can kick W's ass at his own game. But it seems like W is winning that one so far.

Remember, we're liberals and we tend to want to take the reasonable, logical approach to government - even fighting terrorists.

Most people (now fearing terrorism in their hearts) would go along with that if he also expressed a lot of confidence and belief that he was right - maybe even some hubris. I think Kerry needs to do that - and do it way beyond what Bush has been doing. And that's a lot.

I don't fault Kerry for being a liberal. I agree with him almost 100%. I want him to be a better salesman.

And I even hope a little that well thought out opinions on this subject might be digested and find their way to helping Kerry in the campaign.

[Nordic]

5. yeah, after all that $$ he spent on tooth whitening

he should smile more.

(I'm teasing here, no flames please. Has anyone noticed how WHITE everybody's teeth are now? Olympic athletes, contestants on "reality" shows, everywhere? It seems weird to me)

[blm]

6. He never looks mean. He does look like a serious-minded man for a serious

time.

One that can be trusted not to take a month vacation after being handed a briefing that states Bin Laden ia about to attack targets in US.

One that can be trusted to move quickly and act precisely when told his nation is under attack.

One that would have READ and implemented the Hart-Rudman report on global terror after having it handed to him on Jan.30,2001.

[keta11]

16. You think most Mr. & Mrs. US Public

analyze the choice this way when they see a 1 minute news-bite of Kerry making a speech?

As much as I hate Dumbya and would be really depressed if he won this election, I got to give him some credit for the way he interacts on stage with his crowds. He doesnt come accross on the stump as too serious,, thats why he polls well if we are to believe the polls.

Kerry can be serious and sunny at the same time. Its all in the marketing and presentation.If he loses to the incompetent fool we have now in thwe WH, he has to take some blame.

[bindersen]

29. yes, why didn't senator Byrd run for the office??!

He is great! Do you think that would be such a disaster? OK, he is old, but he shows more POWER and ENERGY than Kerry IMO. I don't see the real PASSION in Kerry's eyes...

[MISSDem]

28. Thank you! and not be out clearing brush off of the ranch.

Give me a break. Like he has to do that.

[ibegurpard]

7. I've often seen him smiling

and a fake smile is worse than no smile at all.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. IMHO, that's much better than looking drunk and confused like FratBoy.

[Generator]

11. IS DU going to hell in a handbasket or is just me?

How about mean faced fascists that already run the joint huh? I save my snotty comments for those that I dislike. Is what your saying going to have any impact on anything? No, it just shows that you think Kerry is not measuring up. Thanks again, I have cable TV for that message.

We don't need our enemies to do the dirtywork, we do it ourselves. Maybe WE don't deserve to win this election.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

14. Nah...someone said the sun had gone down and...

...all of the bats are leaving the cave looking for new talking points on which to feast.

[keta11]

20. Guys, flame away, I dont care

I am as emotionally invested in a Dem. sweep in November as much as any of you but what I dont like about DU recently is the "burying your head in the sand" approach that many people adopt.

GET IT THROUGH YOUR THICK HEADS. ITS NOT ALWAYS THE BEST CANDIDATE THAT WINS. PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO SUNNY PEOPLE, PERIOD, IF YOU DONT KNOW.

[Minstrel Boy]

12. Saw him smiling in a CBC report last night.

Looked genuine, too. The only genuine smiles I see from Bush come when he's remembering 9/11, or telling a joke at someone's expense.

I think Kerry's smile or the lack thereof is more a matter of elements of the US media determined to portray him as dour and humourless.

[dave29]

18. Can someone tell Bush to stop destroying the world?

Then maybe I can smile again

[ProfessorPlum]

19. Smiling a lot when times are tough can backfire on one as well

Carter smiled a lot, and a lot of people tell me that it sort of got creepy after a while, with so many problems with inflation, hostages, "malaise", etc.

I think the Smirking Chimp may feel a bit of that backlash as well, as he tries to jolly things up with people who have been losing jobs and healthcare for the last four years.

[msmcghee]

22. Smiles can convey fear, embarrassment - lots of things.

He's gotta be confident - that he knows what Bush is up to, that he knows how to stop the terrorists, that he knows how to deal with a repuke congress, that he knows how to run the government and get us back on track. Those are some tough problems. People are skeptical.

He's saying he can do it, but he's not selling it very well (yet).

[PittLib]

23. Quite frankly, I think he has a great smile ...

I've seen seen him up close twice now, and he strikes me as very warm and sincere. Hell, I stood ten feet from him on Monday, and he seemed comfortable and relaxed - scared? Hardly. And "mean"? Maybe that's his version of the "anger" that everyone seems to be asking for. Can this guy do anything right? "Be aggressive!" "Take the high road!" "Be a pal!" "Get pissed!" And all this from his supporters? No wonder they seem confused about how to run the campaign. Sheesh!

[msmcghee]

24. You're right.

If he was ahead in the polls right now we'd all be saying how perfect and smart and capable he was.

[PittLib]

26. Screw the polls I say!

It's all about the grindstone!

[Catherine Vincent]

25. As long as he doesn't pic his nose in front of thousands

like Prince Shrubnuts there.

[Minstrel Boy]

27. Why don't I ever hear "Cheney should smile more"?

Is he America's favourite uncle, or what?