Can someone tell me what was wrong with Kerry windsurfing?

Everyone in the mainstreem whore media is going off on Kerry for windsurfing....WTF? Windsurfing is not the easiest recreational sport out there. You need some courage to do it. Even dems go on TV and bash Kerry for doing it during the campaign. He actually did it during the RNC and so he was taking a short break from campaign trail. Now Bush is using it in one of his dishonest attack ads.

But I cannot figure out what is the big deal with windsurfing? Is windsurfing some king of negative thing to do? I dont get it. Maybe I am missing something....who knows!

but Bushies think it is an "elitist" sport--It is more manly to watch football and scratch your groin while gulping a beer and eating pretzels.

I think that ad was a waste of money. It shows a vigorous Kerry doing a difficult sports. They set this all up just to show him using wind power. And if wind surfing is elitist so are all sports!

and there's no way he could possibly do anthing requiring the coordination and strength that windsurfing requires.

It's jealousy, and reversing the images made for a typically Rethuglican cheap shot.

Why can't they show * falling off the Segway and make some kind of "falling down on the job" analogy?

kerry does it. ;)

some ball to get the swing voters.

Fuckin' huge! Extreme!

I think is their point.

Goes with the flip flop moniker

Time for some one-upsmanship on our part, I'd say.

Have the Titanic with the Chimp's campaign logo headed for an iceberg shaped like Iraq. The slogan: "Bush, he stays the course no matter what"

But on the other hand, such ads make the campaign look childish. The windsurfing ad will backfire on the Repugs. People are already getting sick of hearing the flip-flop charge. Just think about how mature and responsible Kerry looks next to these people.

People want a leader who creates jobs for them, improves health care and education and protects them from harm -- not someone who makes fun of his opponent non-stop like a schoolyard bully. Such tactics might work along with a strong campaign message but won't work by themselves.

and the SCLM considers its job to be repeating whatever people say, without imposing "filters", like "reason", or "fact-checking", etc.

If he fell (like falling of a segway, a bike), then that wouldn't be newsworthy

Everyone knows * would be in the drink (pun intended) inside thirty seconds.

Kerry actually showed the ability to control his muscles. Makes * look bad, indeed.

There is the problem. Bush needs training wheels on level ground.

Like they can't find a picture of Bush looking goofy?

So he was wearing sport clothes and we all look goofy in those - but when does Bush not look goofy. I think it's time for an ad about the pretzel.

It's just unbelievable to me, with all the creative people who are democrats, that the dems ads are so unimaginative and don't use simple IMAGES to win this election.

Put togethor an ad of Bush being rude. An ad of Bush losing his temper. An ad of Bush smiling when he talks about blood-shed. An ad where he can't complete a sentence. Where he says something stupid.

The average american does NOT know this George Bush and they need to see it!

Why don't we hire Moore to make some commercials?

That can't even manage to ride a segway correctly!

The images are of a guy alone on the water enjoying a semi-expensive sport that most Americans have never done. What does that image say to lower middle class people in Iowa? What if he was playing Baccarat??

Look at what Bush does for contrast. His image is very carefully controlled. There are always people standing behind him in his rally speachs. He has a variety of connect-with-the-people type props: dozens of American flags behind him, Barney the dog, golf, fishing, cutting brush on his ranch.

what is wrong with Kerry taking a break and having some downtime to himself....people understand that....Bush does alot of shit that most people never done. I dont hold that against him for crying out liud. We have majot issues to deal with in our country and if someone is going to decide to vote for Bush because Kerry is windsurfing then we have a major problem in this country!

nt

on his ranch in Crawford. :eyes:

He is in his 60's and does great at it. Probably most americans sit at tv and watch stupid reality shows or sitcoms and sports like baseball and football.

I heard Kerry has a german shepard dog, I wish they would show pics with him running with his dog. People can relate to that.

Some will say that it's an elitist sport - I mean, have you ever seen cheerleaders at a windsurfing event. It's certainly not something you'd eat pretzels while watching.

:eyes:

i live in miami.
i suppose the redneck bush state people think its odd or elitist?

like chasing greased pigs or tipping cows or shagging sheep would be for us civilized blue state people i guess.

Those morons can make fun of anything. That's the mind of the average sixth grader.Rove and Murdock understand that and use it quite effectively.Just like the phrase "flip-flop". It would catch on in the average sixth grade class room, and all the disciples of Fox news.

Those morons can make fun of anything. That's the mind of the average sixth grader.Rove and Murdock understand that and use it quite effectively.Just like the phrase "flip-flop". It would catch on in the average sixth grade class room, and all the disciples of Fox news.

"Get me ma SEA-DOO Dick!!!...NOW"

It allows the Repubs to paint Kerry as a rich, effete, snob who can't relate to "heartland" values and concerns. It allows ridicule and lampooning. I bet that you didn't hear about Theresa H-K asking what chili was in a Wendy's either but it sure burned it's way through the Repub blogosphere. Rich, foreign, effete, un-American... it allows cheap shots and appeal to reverse classism. Joe Six-pack is lucky to get time off to fish with a cane pole. Meanwhile, Kerry is living the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

Think back to when Kerry went windsurfing during the RNC. Nightly on national television the Repubs were flaying Kerry alive. Kerry windsurfed instead of fighting back. Similar non-reply to the Swiftees.

Now, fast forward to yesterday. Kerry is fighting back immediately. There's a virtual spitting match via the media between Bush/Cheney and Kerry/Edwards.

Immediate and public response to every allegation, slur and false boast that the Bush campaign puts out.

It's the way that Bill Clinton got elected and re-elected.

I'd guess about 2. People want to like people that, guess what, are like them. Why do you think Bush runs around cutting lumber, hunting, and fishing while he's on vacation (Which is a lot)? Because Karl Rove knows that 99% of Americans do exactly that when they are on vacation!

Simple psychology.

Real men shoot captive ducks that are released right in front of their manly duck blinds, thus proving the evolutionary superiority of man over wiley waterfowl.

They think that people are stupid enough to buy this stuff. They vastly underestimate the ability of Americans to get it right in the long run. Bush has NOTHING positive to run on, so they are reduced to trying to find something for which to fault Kerry, like this. Meanwhile Kerry has a multitude of Bush mistakes that he can criticize, and show how he will do better. If it were not for the media talking heads that are sold out to Bush, Kerry would be way ahead in the polls by now. Still, in the end, I am confident that Kerry will win. Yes, we are going to take back the White House!

it makes him look cool.

Someone was trying to convince me that Kerry wouldn't be a good president because he played bass in a rock band in high school. I said, "Kerry plays bass? Cool." I think people will react to the windsurfing thing in the same way.

The problem is that people are stupid enough to be influenced by this.

I have no problems w/ Kerry windsurfing, but leave the cameras at home.

Our campaign people really need to get out more - - better yet the inner campaign staff needs people from every walk of life, region of the country and income level. No way the campaign should have let him being photographed windsurfing when you're trying to win in Ohio, Wisconsin and Missouri.

Sandersadu hit it right on the head....as did an earlier poster about how it is so amazing that while the Dems are the party of Hollywood, our ads suck. Where are all those creative people out in Hollywood? How come they can draft a speech in movie that brings tears to the viewers eyes, but aren't enlisted to draft some great K/E ads?

Unlike golf and mountain-biking.

I'll try to explain why. Regardless of the actual athletic prowess it requires, it puts him- his physical personage- in an unflattering position rather than in a position of strength; more graceful than grounded.

There are other sports that require strength, agility, flexibility and daring would have been equally poor choices. I adore Baryshnikov but leaps and spins and tights aren't reflective of a champion in the War On Terror (I'd do a little trademark symbol there if I knew how) and isn't that what needs to be "sold" right now?

It's understandable that he'd need to empty his mind and get centered with occasional physical activity. Even I have to force myself to participate in "normal" life things now, so worried am I about how quickly everything seems to be crumbling.

But I wish the footage was of him slamming fast balls in a batting cage or riding a motorcycle or reffing a community soccer game. I think that folks in rural areas and inner cities and even in most suburbs would relate better to a more common activity.

That's not to say that's right- he *should* be able to do whatever the heck he enjoys. I'm just talking about perceptions and considering how much energy can be spared explaining/defending something that a little political sense could have avoided. The political reality is that all of his activities are scrutinized and he should be made to look the strongest to the most people.

That is unpatriotic!

irritating....He also knows how to ice hockey; maybe he should crack somebody over their thick skull to show how western industrialized cowboy nation hormone manicial macho guy he is....

geez... I wouldn't turn down flowers from the guy .... or an opportunity to go windsurfing....

riding a Segway.

That would rattle Bush.

"See, Mr. President? One more thing that I can do and you can't."


Imagine the look on Bush's face.

as did Gerald Ford.

Doesn't matter. He's been photographed hunting, shooting skeet, playing soccer, throwing a football, playing hockey, pitching a baseball, snowboarding. They'd ridicule him no matter which sport he's involved in.