Who else just watched Road To The White House?

[Island Blue]

Based on what I saw tonight, I'm still having a difficult time trying to figure out how this is supposed to be damaging to Senator Kerry and his chances in '08 should he decide to run. From the scenes they showed, JK looked fantastic, was eloquent, funny, excited about the process and loving toward his wife. This is bad?

I did think the filmmaker seemed to be trying to back peddle a little bit and distance himself from what had been reported about the film earlier. Or maybe that was me just reading that into what he was saying.

Overall, I think this will definitely be seeing when and if it's released. What do you guys think?

[fedupinBushcountry]

1. I watched

I came away with the same feelings you did.I didn't agree with everything the film maker said but it was his opinion, and I really think he came out of it liking Kerry, and also knowing the media did not treat him fairly.

I loved the Kerry scenes, and the couple with him and Teresa just made me melt. How could you not love this guy.

Did you catch the end where Rosenthal said IF THEY invite me back for '08.

[kttmmom]

5. I watched, too

I almost didn't watch it because of the initial negative spins about the movie, but now I'm glad I did. The filmmaker backed away from the early press -- he said something that the implication that Hillary was scoffing at JK and not Bush over the "got wood" incident was absurd. I also loved the JK and THK scenes (I think JK said something like "gimme a hug" before wrapping his arms around Teresa at the Ohio rally) All in all, I thought JK came across as patient, kind and gracious - the JK we all know and love.

[FreedomAngel82]

27. Just from me watching the scene with Hillary

it looked as though she was scoffing at Bush being a moron. And yes. Don't forget full of fun! I thought the one campaign staffer at home with his wife and young son was cute too.

[globalvillage]

2. Except for the SB stuff

I didn't see anything wrong with it. What did he say about Sen Kerry? Eloquent and graceful? I think it was something like that. Maybe it was charming. In any case, it was much more positive than I expected.
I can't figure out why he put the SB stuff in the film. The rest of the movie is about inside the campaign. Behind the scenes stuff. The liars seemed not to fit with the theme, as they were certainly not inside the bubble. Maybe reaction to them would make sense, but to show the ads seems a bit out of scope.
I guess I'll have to see the entire film to know the answer to that one.

[Island Blue]

3. I thought maybe he put the SBL stuff in the film to show

how the campaign reacted to, and handled what was being done by the liars. What Jim Loftus said though made sense, if they had reacted to it it would have just kept the story going even longer. The filmmaker may have had an ulterior motive, but that's just kind of what I thought.

I agree with FedUp, I LOVED the scene they showed in Ohio of JK and Teresa. Melt indeed!

[globalvillage]

4. It was a good point.

It just seemed like they showed a lot of the ads and little of the reaction in the clips. Maybe it's different in the film.
Agree that the JK and THK scene was very sweet.
Honestly, except for the SBLs, I think this film will be a positive for Sen Kerry.
He also made the point that Hillary was rolling her eyes at bush*, and that he didn't understand how anyone would conclude otherwise, but I think he was wrong about bush*'s response. I thought it made him (bush*) look like an idiot.

[FreedomAngel82]

29. From hearing the director talk about the film

I think he was just trying to show how the campaign is in general. Just shoot footage and get them and show how it is and what it's like to be on a campaign such as that. All the sacrifices you have to make etc. At least that's what I got.

[jillan]

6. I thought it was great, until the very end.

When Rosenbloom(?) started talking about the inconsistency of the message. I loved watching Kerry, and the day to day interpersonal banter going on behind the scenes. I was smiling ear to ear, but when he said that at the end, my smile turned upside down.

A couple of other comments kinda bugged me. Like when Kerry was in Tempe getting ready for the last debate, and he thanked the crew afterwards for all of their hard work, and Rosen--?-- said that Kerry was using the opportunity to get votes.

Overall, I enjoyed it. Anytime I get to see Kerry, I'm a happy dem!

[ray of light]

8. He thanked the crew

because he's a nice guy AND who cares if he's trying to get votes! idiots....that's his JOB!!!

I mean...what...he should run for President and treat people like cattle with a cattle prod?

They're idiots! (You are not!!!)

[FreedomAngel82]

31. Exactly

Kerry is just a nice guy like that. I betcha if it was Bush doing that they wouldn't have said that. :eyes: Just him being "homey". Ugh. I thought that was sweet of Kerry. I loved how he kept his same personality and the sweetness of him through all the pressures etc. that comes with the campaign.

[whometense]

9. Yeah, I thought that

comment was a piece of over-analysis. I thought it was very gracious of JK to take the time to thank the stage crew.

[fedupinBushcountry]

11. Well we came close

it is Rosenbaum.

Yes that Tempe comment got to me too, there was no reason to put his opinion into it since he admitted he knows nothing about politics.

[ginnyinWI]

44. that was the only thing that bugged me--

--that he interpreted JK thanking the crew before the debate as being a political act. No! JK is just a polite person who thanks everybody all the time. Never taking the "little people" for granted. This goes way back to the 1971 SFRC hearing--before he spoke, he went up to several of the Senators and thanked them for inviting him and shook their hands. Not political--just classy!

[whometense]

7. I saw it too,

and I agree as well. Mostly it was terrific, positive, and I thought Kerry came across as a thoughtful, serious but lighthearted guy that anyone would enjoy being around.

I loved the comments about the crowd at that rally near the end - they were so excited about how many people were there.

Honestly, the film is only about an hour long, isn't it? I feel like between tonight's show and the clips online I've already seen most of it.

[Island Blue]

10. You have a point

We've probably seen most of it. One scene I thought was very interesting was right at the beginning when he showed Jim Loftus holding a piece of paper with election day exit poll results scribbled on it. They had Kerry winning Ohio 51% - 49%. Things that make you go, hmmmmmmmm.

[fedupinBushcountry]

12. I missed the first part of it

but it will be on again at 9:30 est.

[jillan]

13. Ohhhh - I forgot about that.

I have it recorded on my dvr. It was sooo noisey in my house at that time, I locked myself in a room to watch the rest.

But I did catch that, and I too had my hair up on end.


Maybe it will open up the eyes of other people.

[whometense]

14. That part was

almost enough to get me to turn the tv off. It was enough to get my daughter to leave the room. She is still absolutely heartbroken about the election. I mean, she's moved on and is enjoying grad school and all, but she can't stand to talk about Kerry at all. Her first political experience was not a happy one, I'm afraid.

[beachmom]

15. For those who missed it, it's on again at 9:30 PM and 12:30 AM

I have been unable to view any of it online, so this will be the first of any of the film I have seen. Thanks, guys, for the heads up -- I'm looking forward to seeing it soon!

[Island Blue]

20. I just watched it again

I caught a line I didn't catch before. Someone was on the phone trying to set-up an interview in the limo with JK after the second (I think it was) debate. The dark-haired staffer (can't remember his name - the family man) said something like, "no, that's not possible. He's gonna need to one-on-one with THK." Lucky, lucky THK. It took me a second viewing to pick-up on that line.

I think I should consider checking myself into John Kerry addiction rehab.

[FreedomAngel82]

35. I heard that too

I thought that was so sweet. Making time for his wife. I wonder if Bush does that.

[ginnyinWI]

45. I should go with you, IB !

I have the show on my DVR, but intend to transfer it to videotape for a permanent "save" for my collection. I did pick up on the THK comment the first time through, and also thought it was sweet.

Family values, people! He honored JK's wishes for time with Teresa, and they showed him with his own little family, too. Great PR for Dems, if anybody picks up on this.

Overall I liked the clips, and I can see now that a lot of that negative spin came not from the director but from elsewhere (RW blogs, maybe?) He came off, to me, as a Kerry supporter.

[FreedomAngel82]

33. I know how she feels

Kerry was my first ever real vote and it is heartbreaking. I cried all day. :( :hug: You're still sad though and I don't think I'll ever get over what happened with Kerry and Gore. :(

[FreedomAngel82]

32. Yep

And it looked pretty late in the afternoon as well. If you haven't go to pbs.org and watch the film "The Architect" and watch the first segment about last year's election.

[wisteria]

39. OMG! I did just that. I watched "The Architect" and them watched

"Inside the Bubble". I still have not received a plausible explanation of the major polling differences. Add to that the absolute determination of Rove to win at all costs in order to further the agenda of a Republican majority and rule...well, I don't think this guy has any shame or conscience. I believe he would be capable of murder if it was necessary to further the cause.

[TayTay]

16. I liked it. I thought it was kinda sweet.

I adored the hugs and kisses scene. (Although I always kind of feel like I'm snooping when I watch stuff like that. I don't know why.) I thought the scenes with Jim Loftus where a riot. (He is very high-strung and excitable, isn't he. And he swears like a true Masshole. Does my heart proud to see this LOL!)

I thought they made some valid points about the SMear Boat Liars. It is heard to read the news cycle and figure out if you are reacting properly or feeding the media flames. (These are human beings after all and liable to make mistakes.)

I also thought Sen. Kerry looked very Presidential. He doesn't yell at his staff, he doesn't treat people who work for him badly and yell at them (which is fairly common.)

Not enough Marvin. I, ahm, really like Marvin. (I do. I just do. I find Marvin very refreshing. He;s not a born to it politico and his remarks are very refreshing.)

[whometense]

17. Marvin was

utterly adorable. He's a total natural in front of the camera, witty, and very relaxed as well. You can see why Kerry enjoys having him around. He must be a big help when you're trying to stay calm.

[FreedomAngel82]

36. I loved that

And yes Kerry always treated people well and not yelling even when it was clear he was frustrated (like in the locker room). He was still very sweet and down to earth to those around him.

[TayTay]

18. You know, I think it dawned on the movie maker

that he had to switch how he was selling his pic. Rethugs were never going to buy this because it's about John Kerry's campaign. People for any other Dem are not going to see this pic becuase they are not 'for' KErry.

Who would see this or buy it on DVD? Ahm, Kerry fans. So he changed tactics in order to sell his film. Smart man.

[wisteria]

34. Yep, I agree with your comments about Rosenbaum.

I'm ok with it though. He was honest for the most part about Kerry. I might even purchase the DVD just as an addi tonal memento of the election.

[JI7]

19. the filmmaker is a fucking idiot

he takes things and tries to make them out to be something they aren't. probably because he didn't really get anything "damaging".

that stupid part about Kerry thanking the camera crew. all he did was think them. he didn't do anything like give a political speech or anything else to get their vote. and who cares if he did. he is running for President.

and what's this shit he kept talking about the campaign being all about packaging Kerry a certain way and being on script. that was the BUsh campaign. the Kerry campaign was very open with allowing people into it no matter what their political opinions were.

i agree with some of hte other comments about how since the clips didn't really have anything damaging he is trying ot market it another way.

(all the scenes of Kerry himself were very nice to watch and he came across very nicely"

[TayTay]

21. He did. The scene in the interview/locker room was great

Shows how much people have to go through and how tight the schedule was.

I did love the scene with Teresa. That was soft and sweet.

I think the filmmaker was wrong about Kerry thanking the crew. Sometimes, Dr. FReud, a cigar is just a cigar. He was thanking the crew for doing a difficult and high pressure job. That's all.

[JI7]

22. i think most of the scenes which he tried to make an issue out of

were like that.

even his whole thing about the campaign guys playing and joking around.and how he wondered if the Bush campaign did that. isn't that common in all campaigns ? no matter how serious you are if you don't do any of that throughout the campaign you are just going to go crazy.

just the fact that the Kerry campaign allowed him access while the Bush one didn't should tell him a lot about each of the campaigns. but he isn't smart enough to see that. he tries overdo it with analyzing everything and misses what is clear and most telling.

[karynnj]

23. It may just be that he feels the need to explain why Kerry lost

From his point of view he has a lot of data on what happened in the Kerry campaign. They didn't win - so he wants to pontificate about why Kerry lost from the information there. The problem is that he only sees a small part of one element of the election. He doesn't see the carefully scripted very controlled Bush campaign, he doesn't analyze the media coverage (other than the one little SBV clip - where the Kerry guy explained that CNN followed FOX on it for ratings.), or the constant terror background.

If you try, you can see where he would have gone if Kerry won - talking to the stage crew in Tempe would become reaching out to the common man, the sweet scenes with Teresa would show how important she is to him, the calm, serious, good humored, even tempered behavior would be contrasted with an increasingly isolated, angry President. The intelligence, eloquence and charm would be mentioned. His comment that at the end, there was the time when people wanted to touch him or get him to sign things. That would be emphasized more and would end with the victory. (Not only would this end have made more us happy, it would flow more easily from the contents of the film.)

Even the staff level behavior was basically productive. They weren't bothered by the language and he said they mostly got along.

[JI7]

30. this is a good point

it's clear and he admits politics is not really his thing.

it's more about filmmaking and showing the drama, character analysis etc.

[FreedomAngel82]

37. Exactly

You should go to the website (insidethebubble.net) and watch the director on "Hannity & Colmes".

[sandnsea]

24. On again in ten minutes, 9:30 PDT

I'm going to catch it now, it's football Sunday guys, all football, all the time.

[FreedomAngel82]

25. I LOVED IT!

Of course being a Kerry fan. :) I can't wait till I'm able to buy this film. Will it be in store's or only online? I loved the locker room scene and when they showed him with Teresa. It was so cute.

[wisteria]

26. I agree with you on all accounts. n/t

[JI7]

28. about Joe Biden

the filmmaker is surprised by this or thinks this is unusual.he thinks he caught some exclusive behind the scenes thing.

but anyone who watches Biden knows that Biden is that way all the time including and especially in the Senate.

[FreedomAngel82]

38. Oh of course

Biden doesn't care about what people say about him. Even Jon Stewart pointed that out last year when Biden was on his show when they were in Boston for the convention. I may not be a huge Biden fan but one thing about him is he doesn't give a shit. He was actually sticking up for Kerry and saying what matters is what comes out of Kerry's mouth and he was telling the media press off for their tactics of going on the Bush campaign talking points etc.

[Dr Ron]

40. Hype from right wing media

Early stories about Inside the Bubble claimed it was very damaging to Kerry, but I think this was a case of the right wing media wanting to attack Kerry even though the movie wasn't all that harmful

I did receive a full copy from the director for review last week but haven't had time to watch yet.

[jillan]

41. Must be nice!

To have all those contacts.

[beachmom]

42. I really enjoyed the clips they showed

I didn't think it was damaging at all. The locker scene (which I hadn't seen before) was great, showing so many things at the same time, that you'll never watch a satellite interview the same way again. As to thanking the light crew, there was nothing unusual about that. Kerry also thanked everyone at the beginning of the first debate, and some people made snide remarks about that. The truth is quite simpler than some political exploit. It's called having manners. Since we're not used to that with our current president, it may look a bit weird, but that's really all it is.

I think there was a review of this film by a critic at Slate or something posted here. They talked about how it showed how utterly alone a candidate is. It is interesting that you have all of these people working for you, working crazy hours, and yet at the end of the day, it's just you. The other thing I read into it (maybe I'm just like the director!) was how the young boy Kerry who had to ride the train from Berlin to Switzerland through East Germany all by himself learned how to talk to himself to increase his confidence. To figure things out. To visualize things. To make a plan. Even to amuse himself. And this defense mechanism works quite well when you're a presidential candidate. Still, THK seems to be his rock.

Seeing what we've seen in this film, how does everyone think a President Kerry would have reacted if a feisty Irish reporter interrupted him several times? I think he would have leaned forward in his seat, engaged on the issues, and would have thought at the end -- well, that went differently than planned, but I did well, anyway. Heck, I've read that he interrupts interviewers because he knows what they're going to say, so that he can get in as many answers in as possible. He DEFINITELY would not have issued a complaint to the Irish Embassy like the current wussy who can't take a tough question or two from an Irish lass!

[ginnyinWI]

46. Did * really do that?

Issued a complaint to the Irish Embassy! Wow, what a---I don't know--cowardly bully! :grr:

[karynnj]

48. At one of the CSPAN rallies , as Kerry was speaking about something else

he was interrupted by a heckler yelling something about AIDS. Kerry, asked him to "hold his "question" and promished to talk about it - which what he had done on AIDS (bill w/Frist) after he finished a few other things. (May be wrong on details - but was impressed that he handled it so well)

[LittleClarkie]

43. I caught just an excerpt and the filmmaker talking

Seemed pretty innocuous for the most part.

But considering what time of the year it is and how I've been feeling lately, I started crying.

[ginnyinWI]

47. I know, LC

It's going to be hard to get past Nov.2. Hopefully this dark cloud will have a silver lining--if * getting a second term means long-term damage for the GOP.

Everyone's buzzing about the CIA leak investigation today--on Cspan, NPR, etc. Lots of threads here too. It's the only comforting thing to turn to--that enough people will become permanently disgusted with the corruption and vote them out.

But so much good could have come from a Kerry presidency this past year, so it's hard to figure which would have been better!

[beachmom]

49. * tanking not good enough for me

Once again, I'm an American first, Democrat second. It feels like * is going down, and WE'RE going down with him. What about a vote of no confidence on Nov. 2nd, so we can get somebody in who can do the job?

I mean, I admit that sometimes it's fun to read about another * gaffe or his poll numbers going down. But then I look around and see an endless war which if we lose means al Qaeda is going to attempt to theocratize Iraq and the region and have control of the oil, and then there's the gas prices, inflation, the looming deficit, the disaster in the Gulf, and I just can't go on anymore it depresses me so much.

I'm with LC. It's enough to make you cry, not just because Kerry lost but because the whole country lost. And we can't get 2005-2009 back. It's in HIS hands, and who knows what more damage he'll do (he still, after all, has control of the military). I'm a Gen X gal, and when I look back through world history during my lifetime, I feel like now is the worst of times. The only part that equals the best of times is making friends like all of you on the internet, people I never would have met otherwise. And the fact that John Kerry is in this world fighting for us. Ever still.

[Island Blue]

50. I agree Beachmom it is depressing

Even if *, Cheney and the entire starting line-up were impeached tomorrow for treason (or whatever) it wouldn't make things any better IMO because most of the people on the bottom of "line of succession" list are just as scary as the ones on the top. (Having said that, I have no delusions that * will ever be impeached, I'm just saying IF that were to happen.)

I would much rather have John Kerry in the White House right now than to experience this tiny bit of momentary joy I currently feel about the current administration* imploding. It's a tragedy that the nation will be paying for the mistake of November 2, 2004 for generations to come.

[TayTay]

51. I sympathize. I was also sorry that the better path was not taken.

But, we are where we are. There are NO shortcuts back to power for the Democrats at all. This business of the * Admin imploding won't help the Dems unless they step up and fight it. We have to work our way back. There is NO other way.

We have a golden opportunity to make some headway. (I personally don't think the DEms can retake the Senate in '06, the math is simply against us. But I think we can in '08.)

Politics will break your heart. That is a given. If it doesn't happen this time, just wait, it will happen in the future. That's the long and the short of it. Nothing is permanent, no fights are ever settled and nothing that you thought was a settled thing ever is. It's all a kabuki dance reflected in a fun-house mirror.

Remember what it is you believe in and hold to that. Find people that you like and trust and hold to them. Find a way to weather the awful storms and prepare your heart to be broken. Then find a way to get back up and do it again. Because that is what is required of you in a democracy. And that's the simple truth.

[ginnyinWI]

52. I just want to feel safe again

I just want the country to be in the safe hands of people who love her, not who want to loot her people! :( My unease started when * took office, increased dramatically after 9/11, then the invasion. Where will it all end? Please please, let some grown-ups who love America get control of the reins!

At this point, I'll settle for moderate Republicans in Congress who believe in fiscal responsibility, no torture, no illegal actions of any kind (there still are some, right?) If they can get a hold of the mean bastards in their party (including in the WH) and lock them down, we'll be able to survive okay until we can get the Dem leadership back in charge!

A positive note from Wisconsin today: When Tommy Thompson's administration was in power, our state went into deficit. Today it was announced that Gov. Jim Doyle (D) has turned it around in the last few years, and now we have a healthy surplus! Echoes the difference between Clinton and *.

[TayTay]

53. If you had sat at the Geek Table with me a few nights ago

you would have read tht geeky, statistics and table filled report that said that things might just turn around. The Democrats message was well-received and we have to work on middle and upper class voters.

We can do that. Honest. (Diet Pepsi? Geek table is still open and that report was refreshing. We have to work our way back, but it can be done. In fact, historical trends favor it.)

[ginnyinWI]

54. lol

I guess you are right! Geeks here I come. :)

[ginnyinWI]

59. TayTay--I read that document last night

(What's the matter with "what's the matter with Kansas") and I'm encouraged. Amazing how someone can write a whole book based on a wrong premise, and then everybody just accepts it. Don't they vett facts for books anymore? Is it all just too hard? Are we basing our policies on emotions now, or ideology rather than facts?

JK is right again: we don't need to swing left or swing right. We aren't losing the lunch-pail Dems. The middle and upper class's vote is split between economic and social reasons, and they can be appealed to with reason and facts, one would hope! I suspect that a lot of them enjoy simply voting with a majority and feeling like winners rather than losers. If they really thought about it or learned facts, they'd change--and I see the signs of that.

I read the "figures" but not the "tables" because I didn't pay enough attention to Stats in school, knowing I wouldn't ever need them! But reading that report brought back all the memories of Sociology class. Soc and Psych briefs are like that--thick, dry and full of jargon. My writerly side rebels!

[TayTay]

61. Me too! Statistics are a heavy lift for me

Thank gawd for the web, wherein I can lookup jargon.

The problem with appealing to the middle and upper class folks is the tax cuts argument. We do have to change how we talk about that. We have to talk up all the fees that came into play when the federal assistance programs went away due to the tax cuts. No one is better off, which just pay more to different places than before. But it's a real problem and has to be addressed if we are going to get some of these people back.

Plus, middle and upper income people were socially more conservative. This squares with Kerry not getting the usual Dem numbers for women in the general election. (Plus the safety issue.)

[ginnyinWI]

63. what I read was

that the working class Dems were more socially conservative and economically liberal, but that the middle and uppers were more socially liberal and more economically conservative. Right? So the trick is to appeal to the more socially liberal voters on issues without alienating the more socially conservative working class Dems. But still, oveall, economic reasons appear to be more strongly corollated with voting preferences, rather than the social reasons, anyway.

I have antecdotal experience with this working with lunch-pail Dems on the campaign. They were much more leery on social issues like abortion, and were much more excited about the prospect of more jobs, health care, etc. I just had to shut up about the social issues around them--I am definitely a middle-class social issues voter.

You are probably right about the tax issue. That old "Dems raise your taxes" think is just too commonly accepted. Although I think Kerry did a great job of talking about it during the campaign. I don't see how anyone could have misunderstood him when he said that he'd roll back the tax cuts only for the wealthiest 1%--he must have said it thousands of times.

[TayTay]

64. I think there was some leakage

in the upper brackets on social issues. (It didn't have to be a lot. We didn't lose the race by that much.)

I also read it as saying that we have to talk to 'our' base more and reiterate the economic concerns. Jobs, Health Care, fairer taxes, SMall Business, etc. (Ahm, now if only I could find a cnadidate who does that? LOL!)

[ginnyinWI]

65. I just found an encouraging article on this topic at TAP

Title:
"The Liberal Moderates"
Don't be deceived by the polls: The "median voter" is more of a liberal than you may realize.
By Paul Waldman
Web Exclusive: 10.18.05

Link: http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10438

[karynnj]

62. I'm going to try to read it this evening

I've put it off though I love detailed analysis, because my husband and I were real busy the last 3 days because we had a house party for a local assembly candidate yesterday. We spent most of the weekend calling everyone in the town we knew to get enough people because we didn't realize the date was the first day of Sukkot (a Jewish holiday)so lots of people couldn't come.

Mass - One of his Republican opponents is the creep who wrote the email mentioned in the article you saw (calling Kerry Lurch and saying they had to lock up all the women to keep them safe when he came). That column is being used against him. In fact, with friends who called who couldn't come - I've mentioned it as a motivating reason for becoming more involved (in addition to the quality of the Democratic candidates) saying a friend (sorry for the presumption)from outside the state pointed it out to me and I was embarrassed that he represents us. (I didn't want to say political board)

We have never been so involved (and the credit (or blame) goes to Kerry's comments).

[MH1]

55. Just watched it.

I taped it last night - thanks for the reminder(s)!

I agree with most of the points made above:

* overall not bad; some very nice shots;
* too much replay of the Swift Lies, more than was needed to make the point IMO;
* the scene where JK thanked the camera crew and the filmmaker said he "wanted a huge round of applause" - the filmmaker was full of shit on that one, it was just a gracious gesture from a gracious man.

I also loved the scenes showing John and Teresa together. Besides the attacks on JK's military service, the thing that most stuck in my craw last year was the attacks on Teresa, and the suggestions that there was something "off" in their relationship. So every time I see scenes like that, I feel vindicated. (Is it just me, or do other people think that the candidate's marital relationship ought to be off-limits, unless there is something seriously bizarre going on (and maybe even then)?)

One last comment. I think the pre-release right-wing spin was all about predisposing their bots to see the movie in a certain light. Many of those people live their mental lives in a Rush Limbaugh / Glenn Beck / (etc) infested world and never step out of it to watch things like "Road to the White House." So now that they've been prepped, they will see in the movie just what their handlers want them to see, and the neural pathways will be etched once again to recall that "even Hillary doesn't respect Kerry", "..(insert swift lies here)...", "the Kerry campaign was disorganized and backbiting"....and so on. Now that these memes have been refreshed, they will be that much more ready in case they are needed, oh say in 2007/2008.

Never think that the RW spin machine is just reacting, or reacting "incorrectly." Believe me, the RW spin machine knew that Hillary wasn't rolling her eyes about Kerry. But that doesn't mean they can't make their bots believe that she was.

[wisteria]

56. Good point on the repubs and their spin. This is an important

point. In order to beat your opponent, you must be able to predict there next move before they make it and be ready to get them before they get you.

[ginnyinWI]

57. on the marital relationship point

--I like to see who a candidate is married to as a way of further judging their character. I mean, who they choose to marry is another way to know who a candidate is.
Teresa confirmed to me that JK was a good guy. (In fact, seeing her on Cspan made me more interested in finding out who was married to such a remarkable person. I figured out she was one of the candidates' wives before I knew which one he was.) It showed me a guy who wants an interesting, intelligent partner who chooses him for himself rather than money or status (she already had both), with a warm and generous heart for people (like himself), and a zest for life (ditto). It says a lot.

If a candidate is willing to show his/her family relationships, I think it builds trust. When they don't or won't or seem to be putting on some kind of act for the cameras, that's a definite minus in the trust department. It's as if they are saying, "the real me is going to stay hidden--just look at the 'public' me."

[karynnj]

58. Your post actually does it explain why the RW hit Teresa as hard

as they did. (which had shocked me)

If people saw her as interesting, intelligent, warm, and generous with a real zest for life who had independently achieved enough that she had the status to be picked as a US representative to an international environmental conference (in addition to being very wealthy and quite beautiful), it would mean something that she married Kerry. If you think about it, there was probably no one she could have married who would have been her equal in all terms of intelligence, wealth, attractiveness, and character.

That Chris Heinz said they were soul mates (in one interview) means something.

[ginnyinWI]

60. true

She was/is a real asset, so naturally they attacked. The real Teresa couldn't be married to a wooden, out-of-touch loser, so she had to be "changed". That makes me so mad all over again!!!

And when you put the real Teresa side-by-side with Laura (or the plastic cut-out who tries to represent a real first lady)--well, enough said!

[politicasista]

66. I saw it. It wasn't bad

I liked the locker room scene and the one with Momma T and Vanessa.