Tim Blair

I had a similar experience with a door-to-door canvasser at home; no mention of John Kerry, just "defeat Bush." I suspect that:

-These people are financed by organizations other than the Democratic party, and therefore, due to the new stupid campaign finance laws we have in the US, couldn't actually "endorse" John Kerry by naming him as their choice. But they can bash on GWB all they want to.

If a bribe in the form of a mouth watering salt beef sandwich on rye bread with hot mustard and new greens had been offered i might have wavered for an instant.
Now that's New york cuisine, as i remember it!

"Beat Bush"?!? ... no... I'm sorry... I just can't say it. It's too easy...

Richard stole my joke.

Anyway, the "Beat Bush" message is the only message of the campaign. For proof, look at this

I was always fond of a bumper sticker I saw during the 1992 campaign between Bush I and Clinton, it read, "Lick Bush." No lie.

It really concerns me what will happen if/when JF'nK loses. These folks will spontaneously combust from their hate, as that is all they seem to have. Yowza, and they call the rightwingers heartless…….

I saw a group of kids at an intersection here in Chicago the other day...all had John Kerry buttons and bumper-sticker clipboards...the young man I passed was saying loudly "Help stop George Bush! Help stop George Bush!" I asked him, "Stop him from doing what?"

He was a little perplexed and started to stammer, and then launched into the usual stuff...before he even got started, I asked him why he wasn't saying "Help elect John Kerry" and he pretty much said the same thing. Fundraising for the DNC.

I politely declined to contribute and walked to the corner. He announced again that he was looking for folks who "wanted to stop George Bush," and one woman went right up and said "Absolutely! How do I help?"

He remarked that they were fundraising, to which she replied, "Oh, well I don't have any money. But I think he should be stopped and [begin obviously long tirade about Bush here]..."
I almost laughed out loud.

I crossed the street and could still hear the woman talking to the kid, who was obviously irritated and wanted nothing to do with her. I looked back and the kid looked like he had a rash while this woman just talked and talked.

I bet she ruined his day.

Gearge, you just gave me a great idea for a way to react to the next canvasser/donationmonger for Kerry.

Waste their time haranguing them at length about Bush, but don't give them money.

Heh heh hehhhh...

Actually when the DNC twits were fundraising in the downtown mall, I would answer their pleas to "Help defeat Bush" with an answer my wife actually composed:

"No, thanks. I don't want to learn to speak Farsi."

Of course, none got it.

Tim, did the canvasser really fail to notice your accent (assuming you have one or did not manage to affect an American one)? Of course, to Dems it's perfectly reasonable to appeal to non-citizens for help in defeating their opponent.

87th & Broadway? I used to live near there. I used to climb up the Soldiers' Monument at 89th St. & Riverside Drive, & once I fell while climbing down from where the eagle sculpture is perched. It hurt for a while but soon enough I was back to norbal.

Kerry's "Beat Bush" slogan is childish and really could stand a little nuancing:

Help Kerry beat around the Bush! For a $250.00 contribution, Kerry will refuse to answer directly how he would prosecute the War on Terror. For a $1000 donation, Kerry will allow that he's not even sure we're in a war against terrorists. For a $10,000 payment to MoveOn.org, (foreign contributions welcome), Kerry will imply that Bush is the only terrorist who needs to be beat, and then deny he ever implied such a thing.

I agree we need positive messages in the election campaign, so here goes:

I'm positive that, barring massive brain damage, I'm not going to vote for John Kerry.

I'm positive I'm going to vote for George Bush.

There, I feel better already!

Sorry to disabuse you Tim, but here in Chicago (as of 15 minutes ago, in fact) they are still saying "Do you want to help beat George Bush?" I've found a swift umbrella to the head reduces their pluckiness a bit, though.

"soon enough I was back to norbal."

Norbal? Head injuries can take a while. Hang in there.

Other points of interest on the Upper West Side for Tim to check out if he has the time &, of course, the inclination:

- The "phantom" 91st Street subway station

- The railroad trains beneath Riverside Park, shipping mattresses etc.; male & female adolescents were once known to have enjoyed themselves down there

- A certain brownstone along 90th Street between West End Ave. & Riverside Dr. where Patty Hearst was rumored to have hidden while on the run from the law

- Further along that street toward Riverside Dr. is a sidewalk crack from when a manhole cover was dropped from eight storeys high.

- Tom's Restaurant, its exterior of Seinfeld fame, its interior where decades ago somebody ate lunch with his first lay (I won't name her, way too many on the West Side probably still remember her)

- The various spots where the Gryphon, New Yorker, Pomander, Austen, & Jolly Roger bookshops used to be (ask around)

- The spot where the Yum-Yum ice cream shop used to be (ask around); the son of one of the Shah's generals used to work there on weekends & had the info that Jimmy Carter complained of lacking

Well, I could go on & on.

I was witness to a group of four Kerry campaigners beseeching passers by to help "beat Bush".

It was two weeks ago on a visit to Madison, an extremely liberal city and capital of the State of Wisconsin.

For whatever reason, they would not approach me (maybe my West Ham soccer shirt shrieked 'right wing death beast'?) but as I watched them hassle folks, I was really amazed at how many told them curtly "NO".
Of course, they might've been Nader voters but if that's the response in "Madtown", this election is close to a lock for Bush.

Later that week, I'm in The Alley, a Chicago "punk rock" clothing store, and they have an entire rack of obscene and vulgar t-shirts with anti-Bush slogans. (No anti-Kerry shirts though.)

One featured, I kid you not, Bush with a red complexion and devil horns. The Great Satan, get it?

With a straight face, I asked the sales Goth behind the counter if the shirt was Made in Iran. He had the dumbest expression as he pursed his pierced lips and said dully, "I dunno". The joke obviously went over his head.

His vote, should he excercise it, will negate mine. Frustrating!

I was witness to a group of four Kerry campaigners beseeching passers by to help "beat Bush".

It was two weeks ago on a visit to Madison, an extremely liberal city and capital of the State of Wisconsin.

For whatever reason, they would not approach me (maybe my West Ham soccer shirt shrieked 'right wing death beast'?) but as I watched them hassle folks, I was really amazed at how many told them curtly "NO".
Of course, they might've been Nader voters but if that's the response in "Madtown", this election is close to a lock for Bush.

Later that week, I'm in The Alley, a Chicago "punk rock" clothing store, and they have an entire rack of obscene and vulgar t-shirts with anti-Bush slogans. (No anti-Kerry shirts though.)

One featured, I kid you not, Bush with a red complexion and devil horns. The Great Satan, get it?

With a straight face, I asked the sales Goth behind the counter if the shirt was Made in Iran. He had the dumbest expression as he pursed his pierced lips and said dully, "I dunno". The joke obviously went over his head.

His vote, should he excercise it, will negate mine. Frustrating!

Sorry about the double post (and it being so goddam long!)

Where I begged an employee for some spoonsful of instant caffeinated to mix with hot water for myself & my suffering brother & cousins. Where I was sure there must be some stashed away. The employee didn't think so but she left & shortly returned with a jar. Lovely woman.

Madison, Wisconsin.

I went to a relative's funeral service there. Family & his colleagues, lots of nice people but a puritanly PC society. At the meal held afterward at the University there, there were two big electric pots of coffee, both decaff.

If Flipper's flubbed even the Madison folks he'll flop.

Here in NYC, accents mean nothing.

Oh, and that guy from Madison? I'd have offered him a deal - not only will I vote for Kerry, but I'll recruit one more vote for Kerry, if he will agree to vote for Bush. 2-for-1, how can he go wrong, right? :-)

I'll lay decent odds it would never occur to him that a Bush vote in Wisconsin is worth more than two Kerry votes in New York.

10 days ago: I'm here because we need your help to get rid of Bush.

5 days ago: Would you like to help put a Democrat in the White House?

Today: Would you like to help get rid of Bush?

Three different people. They seem to be in conflict on how to put it, to say the least. The important thing is that NEVER has anyone mentioned Kerry.

I've had this idea to go out and collect donations to "Stop Bush!" then give the money to the Bush campaign.

funny site Whether you're a bush fan or not, you'll find this funny.

Damn that didnt work. Any, I'll just post the link. Go here: http://theonion.com/news/index.php?issue=4031

As of one week ago in Philly they were asking "Sir, would you like to help us beat Bush in November?" They had no hesitation in approaching me, as I was in office clothes and that doesn't give anything away. Those that did ask me this question soon regretted it. I just replied with a few simple questions, like "Bush lied about WHAT, exactly?" Get them off their canned talking points and they're helpless, they don't know anything and are wholly incapable of critical thinking. Each one got that deer-in-the-headlights look within about 30 seconds. There's no nice way to say it: these were really clueless people. And smelly. OTOH they are very well organized and their numbers are impressive. It's going to take a lot of work to beat them this November.

Somebody take caspian's keyboard away before he hurts himself.

Interesting comment about Madison - It's been a month since I went back to visit my Alma Mater. While an awesome school, the extremely one sided (leftist) political atmosphere of the place was stifling to say the least.

When I visited there a month ago I didn't find overwhelming support for Bush though. Even the Bush supporters I knew in college had issues with him. When asked if they would vote for Kerry, at least one said "Hell no."

It's definitely a case of who do you dislike the least.

It's definitely a case of who do you dislike the least.

That's what I was thinking. Kerry and Bush are both fairly similar. At least here we have latham and howard- two fairly different individuals.

That's right, caspian, Latham and Howard must be fairly different individuals. Apparently, Latham has the "horrifying job" of having to "walk a tightrope...daily" and "fly blind", whereas Howard keeps his feet on the ground and probably looks where he is going. The artist Bosler has said as much in the SMH, and his article most likey will generate many votes next election for that Howard guy who is not a circus act.

Or maybe he is ringmaster of the lot, and doubly deserves votes---

If you visit sites that support Kerry there are some who will admit to disliking Kerry. However, they will vote for him because they want to defeat Bush.

I don't think the 'beat Bush' message will go over very well with the swing voters. The swing voters want positive reasons to vote FOR Kerry.

And, caspian, Kerry and Bush are NOT similar. Kerry wears deck shoes where Bush wears flightsuits. Kerry projects New England privelege. Bush hides his. Kerry equivocates and discusses to death. Bush decides. Kerry is an internationalist. Bush is American first. Kerry is not sure we should wage war on terror. Bush is.

Kerry wants to create large give-away programs. Bush a little less so. (Can't have it all!)

What were you doing up in my old staggering grounds?

Try the Parlor on 86th west of Broadway. They draw a good pint and the eye candy's okay for an Irish bar.

I ran into some of these Dem canvassers outside a metro stop in uber-liberal Montegomery County, MD. Most people just walked by them but I loved the comment from one of my fellow commuters: "Feel the exitement - FEEEEL IT!"

I don't think these guys were asked to take part in the survey.

A typically US Democrat response to their weakness on the national security issue: turn defence into yet another form of identity politics. Their focus is who John Kerry is (He was a decorated Vietnam veteran, 35 years ago!) as a way of avoiding debate over what he will do in future.

As other, harder-headed liberals have noted, however, identity politics is an easy target for conservatives and libertarians to refute. "Opposition to affirmative action is racism"? Very well: Meet Clarence Thomas, Thomas Sowell and Ward Connerly. "Opposition to free abortion on demand is misogyny"? Let me introduce you to Phylis Schafly and Jeane Kirkpatrick. "Talk of 'Christian values' is a rehearsal for the next anti-Semitic progrom"? You might like to talk with Michael Medved or Rabbi Daniel Lapin on that one. And the Iraq War was racist imperialism by rednecks hankering to "kill Arabs" and re-ignite a crusade against Muslims? Gee, sort that out with Amir Taheri or Fareed Zakaria. Faced with these living refutations,

The Left is then reduced to muttering darkly about "house n****rs", "sellouts", etc -- to questioning the individual's honesty or competence ("Condoleeza the skeeza", "Uncle Thomas", etc) rather than debating the merits of their views.

If the Left were to respond to Thomas Sowell, eg, by saying "Well, you're entitled to your view, but the fact remains that a clear majority of African-Americans do support affirmative action", then you could have a civil debate. But writing off dissidents as "non-authentic", rather than simply "unrepresentative" or "atypical" (which is a statement of fact), is ORwellian. It's like the difference between being simply outvoted for now, versus being stripped of your citizenship because you were outvoted.

Uncle Mike — They did the same thing to Miguel Estrada during his judicial hearings, declaring that he wasn’t a 'real' Hispanic.

I always get a kick out of telling these over-pierced Kedwards Kids that I didn't vote for Bush last time but that I'm voting for him this time. That confuses the hell out of them for some reason.