Kerry and Exuberance

[beachmom]

I was just goofing off with Google, and found this interesting quote from a psychiatrist.

http://www.washingtonian.com/books/books_09_04.html


Are politicians natural exuberants?

They almost have to be. The politician’s temperament is being comfortable in a roomful of strangers, being able to start conversations, not feeling awkward. But there are exceptions.

What about George W. Bush and John Kerry?

I think Kerry gets a bad rap. If you look at him when he’s talking about what he’s been reading or doing, or about ideas or sports, he lights up like a Christmas tree. On the surface, Bush is more “hail fellow, well met,” but he doesn’t strike me as a man who’s greatly enjoying life—whereas Kerry often looks like he is. It’s sort of counterintuitive, given the press he gets.
Exuberance is a very contagious emotion. You watch Bill Clinton, and it’s like the whole place goes nuts. Kerry is so opposite in many respects, yet sometimes when you look at him, he looks so interested in what he’s talking about. When he’s around his daughters, he looks like he can’t get enough of their company—also when he’s around his wife, who is clearly exuberant.



I just loved the way he described Kerry. I know his insights to be true, yet so many people think he's Mr. Dullsville. The other night on The Daily Show, that Rolling Stone, "Spanking the Donkey" nit wit was on and he called Kerry a "duffus" and Jon Stewart readily agreed. By the way, I just looked up the meaning of that word, and it said "incompetent, stupid, inept". With friends like these, who needs enemies? I was so mad, thinking I watch the Daily Show for a good laugh, and instead I have to listen to this!!! Oh, and the reason for this? Because of the Green Bay Packer gaffe. You know what, next time we elect a president, I want a complete geek who obsesses about terrorism, the Iraq War, and the economy, and is completely in the dark about sports!!! I feel like we are doomed if we expect our leaders to entertain us, instead of head up the U.S. government competently, explain to us the important issues of the day, and comfort us when things go wrong. Okay, with that rant over, back to the insightful psychiatrist. He floored me, when he said that * doesn't look like he's enjoying life, since that's what he's always trying to project. It's almost like the effort of being such a phoney zaps the life out of him. Meanwhile, Kerry's out windsurfing or playing his guitar and laughing with his family. In a word, Kerry is about being real, which we've decided we don't want, while * is out there playing a role of cowboy, war hero, tough guy, party guy, all of which are completely untrue, yet we (the American people) buy it. What is to be done about this? What is wrong with my Gen X generation when they think a president needs to compete with "Survivor", "Fear Factor", and all of Hollywood, when in fact, we need someone who is insatiably curious, boundlessly energetic and determined to solve all the problems our country faces! I'm tired of the presidential reality show campaigns, where everything is staged to look like reality, when it is the furthest from the truth. When will the American people see that it was all just costume changes and special effects, and that they have been duped into accepting, once again, a man who may look the part but is simply not up for the job. Sigh . . . .

[whometense]

1. I love that quote!!

Thanks so much for posting it.

And I agree with you. I saw that Daily Show, and could be heard yelling, "No, Jon, don't say that!" at my tv.

The guy who wrote that book is a real jerk. I saw him on c-span too, and he's just a self-important asshole who thinks for some unknown reason that he's the reincarnation of Hunter Thompson or something.

My daughter and I were both watching and agreed at the end of the segment that anyone who could spent two months running a Bush/Cheney field office and dissing liberals and still think of himself as a "journalist" has no credibility at all.

That said, the little anecdote about Kerry's response to the gorilla suit was charming and seemed in character.

It seems to me that the campaign plane probably is just like high school. But if so, Matt Taibbi would be the guy in the back row who spends all his energy drawing attention to himself by disrupting the whole class.

[politicasista]

5. I didn't see The Daily Show, but that dude is a Deaniac

We were blogging about it at sandnsea, kerrygoddess, and Ron's Light Up The Darkness Blog.

[FreedomAngel82]

24. Probably

I liked watching Pelosi's daughter's documentary of the 2004 campaign and her following around everybody. I loved when she followed around Kerry and Dean. They were the best with people in my opinion. They both connect to people. Dean is great where he is and Kerry is great as a president. Even my mom agree's. ;) My mom said she didn't like Edwards quite as much but I do. :)

[sandnsea]

2. But..but... we were united dammit!!!

It didn't help during the campaign and it doesn't help the party now either. I really don't know what these people are thinking. We should be running a 50 state "we told you so" campaign and instead we're bashing our Presidential candidate. stupid stupid stupid. :grr:

[pinkflower21]

3. I like the Daily Show

but that is annoying. I just think John Stewart likes to sometimes make little digs at everyone, not just Republicans but Democrats as well. I read an interview with him in Oprah magazine where he said he felt his interview with John was uninteresting because John wouldn't give him anything, he was very gaurded. I don't know what these people expect, John is interesting but he's not a Hollywood celebrity okay, he's a politician.

[sandnsea]

4. He was guarded? You don't say?

I'd be guarded if I were on with Jon Stewart too. I like him, but he does seem to bash Dems just out of some sense of "fair play". It would be nice if he would bash on stuff that doesn't matter, instead of perpetuating right wing garbage that helps us lose.

[politicasista]

7. You guys nail it again and again

The Rovian talking points is why we will continue to lose if the party doesn't step up.

[TayTay]

6. Note to Kerry staffers

Next time you put Mr. Kerry on the Daily Show, make sure he is wearing spandex or something. Perhaps he could come out to the 'Ride of the Valkyres' music. That motorcycle bit on the Leno show was ahead of it's time, use it again. (And add, like obstacles.)

Oh, and have Mr. Kerry hand Jon Stewart his personal (super-duper secret' personal diary and say, "Here, pick a page, any page, and ask me anything. Catherine Oxenburg, yeah, I did her. That chick from 'Dallas,' yeah, I did her too. Oh, and those twins from the old Doublemints commercials, them too! Page 445.")

Honestly, is this what we have come to? A smart guy didn't 'give me anything.' If this wasn't meant in like, a gay way, then it is inexcusable.

[sandnsea]

13. lol

"Here, pick a page, any page, and ask me anything. Catherine Oxenburg, yeah, I did her. That chick from 'Dallas,' yeah, I did her too. Oh, and those twins from the old Doublemints commercials, them too! Page 445."

That's pretty funny Tay Tay. You forgot to have him pass the joint...

[Island Blue]

14. Would that be his double super secret diary?

Have we (as Americans) really reached the point where we constantly need to be entertained (even with politics) or is the media (mainly television) just making us believe that we've reached the point where we constantly need to be entertained? Which came first?

As far as John Kerry being boring, that's just bullshit. He has probably led (and continues to lead) one of the most exciting lives of any American statesman that I know of. That's just lazy reporting. Just because the guy doesn't glad hand constantly, he's considered boring. Whatever.

I also don't understand this concept that a person would make a good President because he's "just like your neighbor" or because "he's just like a regular guy who you could sit down and have a beer with". I for one, don't want my neighbor to be president of our neighborhood association much less of the United States. As far as the President being just like me, no, I want my President to be MUCH, MUCH smarter and better than me (or is it I? This is the kind of think I want my President to know!). I have a feeling that the one we have now doesn't.

[FreedomAngel82]

25. Neither do I

I want my president to be smarter than me. Someone who knows his stuff and can handle things under pressure. Calm, cool, collected. Kerry can have fun of course. ;) I want someone who I can trust who can protect me and be serious with the job. Not a goofball. Oh and I'd rather have a hot dog with John Kerry anyday. Kerry has great interest in music and we like a lot of the same stuff. I wish y'all saw his MTV interview. It was awesome. He also did BET and they both asked Bush to come on but Bush denied. :eyes: Kerry was great on those interviews. Very funny and serious when he needed to be too. I love to watch his campaign rally's on cspan's website.

[beachmom]

8. See, the entertainment complaint again!

Jon expects our candidates to ENTERTAIN us, instead of worrying about the issues. You know who else is a stiff bore? Lincoln. That guy would never get elected today. If there was TV in 1860, there would now be two United States or slavery would STILL be legal. We need to realize that presidents are NOT there to entertain us. The thing that gets me was that Jon Stewart, in a previous segment that night, gave a blistering, hilarious presentation on the whole Karl Rove debacle. But then he ends this show destroying Kerry. And what message does this relay? He's saying the current people are idiots and the guy who lost is an idiot, too, so the vote means NOTHING. I really dislike cynicism because it just leads to complacency, more government corruption, and then apathy, and so on.

[politicasista]

9. I think what's unfortunate is the people don't care about the issues

anymore. It's about who can talk the smoothest, or tie a perfect tie or what he/she has on, or just plain gossip.

[pinkflower21]

10. politicasista, you nailed it

It's all about entertainment these days. I'm not looking for politicians to entertain me, I'm looking for a competent individual who is preferably smarter than I am that can run the country. John Stewart is cynical, but I do still enjoy his show because he bashes the Repukes a lot more than the Dems but his show is kind of based on that type of cynical humor. Also, I think everyone expects John Kerry to be Bill Clinton or something. Well, Bill Clinton was an entertaining president, that's for sure, <laughs>, in more ways than one, a little bit too entertaining with all of his womanizing. I would take John Kerry over Bill Clinton because John is just as smart and capable as Bill and he is Bill Clinton without the scandal. If John had been elected, I'm sure the media would be trying like crazy to dig up dirt on his administration but they would not be able to. I'm sure the media would think a Kerry administration was snoozeville because they are always looking for the salicious stuff and they would get none of that.

[FreedomAngel82]

26. Exactly

Just like with Richard Nixon. He tried to dig up dirt on Kerry and got nothing. On the 2004 indecision film Frontline had on PBS they showed Kerry running for Senate in Massachussetts and one guy did to him like Karl Rove did and did his Senate record and bashing it and all that, but after the clip they showed the guy now and said Kerry was a very smart voter and he was wise with all of his decisions and he always thought about the future. So I'm sure that no matter how much money they spent they would've found nothing on John Kerry.

[beachmom]

11. Exuberance vs. Entertainment

The theme of this post is becoming clearer and clearer.

Exuberance comes from within. It cannot be faked. It's contagious and inspiring when you come into contact with someone exuberant. Sometimes the TV camera lies, and exuberance gets lost in translation. But when you connect, and get that feeling from another, you remember it forever.

Entertainment is all about the surface of things. It feels real, but the feeling wears off rather quickly. It's easy for the TV camera to capture it, yet it rarely affects your life. It's superficial, and disappears quickly from our brain, as we wait for the next bit of entertainment to come our way.

Exuberance: MLK, FDR, JFK, Bill Clinton, Bono, Kerry, films that you still remember, music so moving that you tune out the rest of the world to hear

Entertainment: W, Madonna, Ahnold, films you forget in a day, music that is "wallpaper", Bill Clinton

Jon Stewart is both entertaining AND exuberant. When he's on, he's on, but he has his off, fake laughter days, too.

[beachmom]

12. Sorry, guys I'm on a roll today

* actually did have an exuberant moment which we all remember. That was at ground zero with the firemen and the megaphone, when he said "I can hear you, and the people who knocked these buildings down are going to hear from ALL of us soon!" That was real, not staged. I saw it live, and I remember that a pundit at the time was not too impressed, complaining about how the firemen couldn't hear him, and that the whole thing was hokey and disorganized. But after it was shown over and over again, everyone realized that this was a MOMENT. A real moment that the president simply could not duplicate. Unfortunately, his policies didn't live up to his exuberance of that day (i.e. not catching OBL and going into Iraq instead), and that's why nearly half the country turned away from him.

Kerry's moments of exuberance (for me) was his Dem convention speech, his debate performances (it was OBVIOUS how much he knew the issues and cared about them, was interested in them, and just plain enjoyed debating), and his concession speech. Yeah, I know, how can acknowledging your defeat be exuberant? Well, his exuberance for his supporters was plain to see. He stood truly in awe of all of those who actually came out to help HIM. Even the Repubs gave him his due that day (although I will never forgive wonkette.com for her snarky remarks about his speech, which is why I rarely read her). But I suspect that Kerry has had countless moments like these that perhaps some of you witnessed or heard about, because that's who he is. * only had one moment when he forgot himself and showed what he could have been. Sad for him and the country.

[fedupinBushcountry]

18. What gets me

about 9/11 and how * acted, and how he responded, and Guiliani etc. Now isn't that what we expect out of our leaders. So tell me a Democrat would of done nothing. What I remember most is where * was that day, and how he put children in harms way at that school. My God, we all knew we were under attack, and he sits in a classroom, looking like he doesn't know what to do until someone tells him, talk about a doufus. As far as his photo op with the retired fireman. I remember that guy being interviewed, I can't remember all of it exactly, but it came out like it was all a show. I don't think * has any exhuberance at all. JMO.

I watched the Daily Show the other night, and Jon should of came back at that guy after he called Kerry a doufus, all he had to say was and who was wearing the guerilla suit. The audience did go a bit mute, when he said that about Kerry, I think the laugh track was used a bit on the follow up.

[wisteria]

21. i noticed the audience got real quite also. I also got the

impression, Stewart was a bit shocked at the attacks on Kerry. Stewart did respond to the jerk with a question, something to the effect of, so you don't think it was the machines that caused him to lose? I personally don't think the audience took to this kid to well.

[MH1]

15. 50-state "we told you so" campaign - right on!

You are so absolutely right about that.

If these guys put anywhere near as much attention into your 50 state "we told you so" campaign as they do in their "framing" arguments and 2008 who's it gonna be polls, there'd be no doubt that we'd have a democrat taking the oath of office in January 2009.

Btw, I may steal that phrase - 50-state "we told you so" campaign - for a post at dkos one day when I'm feeling really thick-skinned. Or maybe Booman, where folks are less fond of flame wars.

[sandnsea]

17. Steal away

I don't know how you post at kos, I really don't. But god bless ya' for wading in there soldier!

[MH1]

19. Thanks!

It's such a great phrase, it may take me a while before I get around to posting it, because I want to get the wording just right. This isn't about Kerry -it's about the best way to be sure we take back the WH, and maybe Congress on the way. Which, incidentally, is the reason I became a "Kerry defender" in the first place - your line sums up EXACTLY what I've been thinking since Nov. 3rd. But, I'm really glad that as I learn more and more about Kerry, I find him completely worthy of my support. I just wish I'd been more tuned in before the election -I'd have been a better champion. Something to think about as we prepare canvassing teams for future elections: make sure your door-knockers know WHY their candidate is GREAT, not just that his position on issue A is such-and-such. Anyway...</stream-of-consciousness-babble> :-)

[FreedomAngel82]

27. I agree

We have seen that Kerry was right about EVERYTHING that he said. I told my mother once that I thought Kerry should get out and do a press conference and all he should say is "I told you so" and walk away. Of course that wouldn't do good with his image. I'm glad Dean is chairman now cause he's doing a 50 state campaign now and all year round. I think if we can get the canidates going ALL OVER the place during campaigning year that it would help a lot. I hope Kerry runs again and is the nominee unless we can find a way to impeach Bush and the gang and put Kerry and Edwards in.

[MH1]

16. Great article - and another good quote from it:

" Exuberance allows you not to mind so much that you’ve failed because you know you’ll get enthusiastic about something else."

Helps explain the bounceback that we've seen with JK. Exuberants just can't stay down for long. Although I'll admit I've been very impressed with the speed, strength, and quality of JK's bounceback. Almost like he just said a big "f*** them" to the smearmongers and the idiots.

[ginnyinWI]

22. he can roll with the punches

He's got a solid core of confidence, and has gone through worse things before, so he's tough. Plus I think he knows he really won. He's got to know they stole Ohio, if not more. And he's got his faith.

[FreedomAngel82]

29. I have read

and heard interviews from BradBlog's show. Sometime go and hear the interview from Bob Firtakis (sp?) on BradBlog's show. He tells how Kerry KNOWS he won but he can't talk about it. Someone in the blog posted also that one of Kerry's daughters was threatned so he knows who he's dealing with. Probably why the DNC put out their report as well. It would be too dangerous. Maybe now that Karl Rove could possibly be going to jail this could come out. :shrug:

[ginnyinWI]

30. wow

do you think this is credible info? if so, what a scandal that would create if it were known!

[whometense]

31. Do you have a link

for that interview?

BradBlog always overwhelms me - their design is too busy. :dunce:

On edit, nevermind. Google to the rescue. Link here: http://www.bradshow.com/Archives/BradShow_061105_Hour2.mp3

[whometense]

34. After listening:

Well, now I know where all the lefty freepers are getting their ammo from. "John Kerry has made no friends in the election reform community." "Jesse Jackson personally appealed to Kerry to fund the recoount effort, but he refused."

I would really like to know who was responsible for hiring Kerry's Ohio legal team. According to Fitrakis they were connected to Gov. Taft.

If I could ask anything of Kerry I would love to sit down with him in private over a bottle of something strong and hear his story (the non-pol version) of what he thinks happened in Ohio.

But for now that headache in my eye is back with a vengeance.

[politicasista]

36. I would like to know too

I wonder does he and Jesse still talk. I know there was (and still is) some animosity towards Kerry from some who say he broke his promise and didn't count every vote as promised. Gee.

[FreedomAngel82]

28. I think so too

I remember reading an interview with Kerry shortly after the last election and he said he learned from his mistakes. Just like when he ran for the Senate the first time. He learned what he did wrong and fixed it and won. So I hope he runs again. Kerry has been out fighting since after the election. I don't think he got any rest cause he was out in the middle east around the inauguration (which nobody was at the parade).

[wisteria]

20. I have to way in too on that daily show too!

I wasn't going to say anything, after all not everyone is going to be as crazy about John kerry as I am, but the more I thought about that jerk that night the more angry I became. It was as if he was deliberately, and I mean deliberately, discrediting Kerry. Since this show aired at the height of the Rove controversy,and right after Kerry's Rove remarks, I wondered if it was possible this guy was handed a few extra dollars to up the negatives on Kerry. Not by anyone on the show of course, but by Bush operatives. I got the impression,Gorilla man was a Bush supporter all along. This just shows what kind of judgment this guy really has. Anyway, when I cooled down, I realized this guy was obviously though so little of by others he had to dress in a gorilla suit in order to gain attention. And to think, his rational was that Kerry lost because he made a football gaff. This guy is a real idiot. I predict his book will be in the discount bin within a months time.

[FreedomAngel82]

23. I agree

Whenever I see Kerry whether a photo or on tv or something like that I always feel this GREAT positive energy from him. :loveya: You can tell he likes being around people and campaigning and things like that. You can just tell by his actions. With Bush it's all so fake. You can tell the difference between the two. Just watch their speeches at the conventions last year. If the media gave more attention to Kerry they would know him like his supporters do. Kerry draws you to him. Even when he was in college I'm sure he was that way since he was a very outgoing person and involved in all types of things from sports to political debate clubs. I love watching video's of Kerry because you can know him more.

[whometense]

32. Ask the babies.

Have you ever seen a picture of Bush holding a happy baby???







Contrast:

[Island Blue]

33. Too Funny!

That is a very smart baby Shrub is holding! His parents however should be turned over to DSS for child endangerment!

I love the way Sen. Kerry seems so relaxed and comfortable with kids. Love how he's shielding the first baby's eyes from the sun. So sweet. :loveya:

[whometense]

35. I know!

He has such an affinity for kids - and you just can't fake that.

Same with his daughters - he has real relationships with both of them. The kind you only get when you invest time and attention in your kids.