In Kerry-Bush Debate, Maybe Size Does Matter

[kskiska]

SPRING GREEN, Wis. (Reuters) - When it comes to presidential debates, it seems size does matter.

John Kerry (news - web sites), a 6-foot-4-inch Democrat, poked fun on Monday at George W. Bush, the 5-foot-11-inch Republican president for reportedly insisting that podiums be set far apart to offset his opponent's five-inch height advantage.

The Massachusetts senator told a town hall meeting in Spring Green -- where he is rehearsing -- that voters should not be afraid of changing commanders in chief in the midst of war with Iraq (news - web sites) and the battle against terror.

"You know when your horse is headed down toward the waterfalls or when your horse is drowning, it's a good time to change horses in midstream," Kerry said.

After a pause, he added: "May I also suggest that we need a taller horse? We could get through deeper waters that way."

more…
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=615&e=1&u=/nm/20040927/pl_nm/campaign_kerry_horse_dc

[leftchick]

1. Kerry is brilliant.....

God I love it! :)

And chimpy* is no stinkin 5' 11"! I am betting he uses elevators like he uses a codpiece!

[dumpster_baby]

2. good going, John. Play Dirty!

rate this article up!

[fob]

15. Play Dirty? I see no indication of Kerry playing dirty. Witty, a little

devious with the height joke, but nothing dirty, especially with the king of playing dirty on the other side. Just pointing out the obvious with a little humor is what I see.

No harm meant to you db, just would rather not have ANOTHER bush* tactic attributed to our side.

[dumpster_baby]

34. Kerry is getting his hards a little dirty

It certainly is using everything he has at hand to throw at Bush. And that is what he needs to do--Get His Hands Dirty!

[progressivebydesign]

57. you might fix your subject line.. it's unintentionally funny..

.. as it relates to the headline of the original message!

[fob]

58. OK, that's an entirely different metaphor, or is it similie, or allegory.

Whatever it is, it ain't the same as playing dirty!!

Getting your hands dirty means becoming involved and digging into the task at hand with gusto - And I agree with you on that.

Playing dirty means being unfair, mean and hateful - This is the bush* tactic that I didn't think was fair to attribute to Kerry

Thanks for the clarification, now on with the fight! Go Kerry Go!!

Kerry should hire Michael Buffer (The 'Let's get ready to ruuuuummmmbbbble!' guy) to introduce him at the debates.

Ladies and Gentleman, the Senator from Massachusettes, with 2 tours of duty, 3 Purple Hearts, A Bronze Star, A Silver Star, and a can of whoop ass for those that denigrated ALL Military Award recipients, Joooohhhhhhnnnnnnnn Keeeeerrrrrrrrryyyyyyy!!!!!

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dumpster_baby]

25. huh? But Bush is not "short"; it's just that Kerry is really tall

Take a pill.

BTW, if it WERE a case where Bush WAS really short, I would support Kerry taking any advantage he could to win.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

29. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dumpster_baby]

33. motivations and the pictures in your head.

Bush is a killer. He has killed thousands needlessly in Iraq. He will kill many more if not beaten. I will use ANYTHING I can against that motherfucker.

Bush is a killer. He may kill me, if he takes away my VA health care. I will use ANYTHING I can against that motherfucker.

Do you understand me?

BTW, I aint exactly the Olympian ideal here. ANYONE would call me fat, and many have....

[mahina]

50. I think it's funny....

signed, short fat haoles for Kerry!
I feel the aloha baby!

[Algomas]

40. "Short people got no reason...

short people got no reason
short people got no reason
to live."
Randy Newman

[Javaman]

3. Yeah, * wants the podiums miles apart, Debate? what debate?

[olddad56]

6. maybe he wants the podiums far apart because....

their platforms are so far apart.

[LiberalFighter]

23. Hmm Kerry had insisted on it being far apart...

expecting lightening to hit gw* every time he lied

[nolabels]

43. Lightning makes such a pretty picture

I checked this report but it said nothing about endangering monkeys, so what could this mean :shrug:


A report by Susan Arshonsky, Jeffery Florczak, Kenneth Laskowski, and Ryan Sochol

Effects on Humans
Types of Lightning

One type of lightning injury is a direct strike. In direct strike the victim’s body becomes the main pathway for the current flow. Because the brain contains so many nerves, the head is commonly a part of the electric path. Obviously, this type of strike produces many fatalities. Victims that received cranial burns have a mortality rate of 38% and are 3 times as likely to experience cardiac arrest. In addition to injuring the brain, direct strikes also can pass current through the heart and cause cardiac effusion or global cardiac dysfunction. Because this type of direct strike is so dangerous, avoid carrying metal objects or wearing metal hair clips to lessen the chance of being struck. If struck by lightning, these metal objects can melt to the body, causing even more damage.

Splash phenomenon is responsible for the most commonly type of lightning injury. A splash is when lightning strikes one object and spreads in a radial direction outward to surrounding objects. Splash is the most deadly when the object splashed upon is a better conductor than the original object. This is especially dangerous because lightning has the capability to splash from person to person. It can even occur from long distances away if the first object is a good enough conductor. Splash phenomenon explains why we are told not to stand under a tall tree during a lightning storm.

Another type is step potential. This occurs when lightning strikes the ground and then conducts through the ground. From the ground, the electricity can be transferred to a person. Since the human body is a better conductor of electricity than the ground, the electricity will travel through the person, usually in one leg and out the other. As a result, step potential causes leg burns, but is rarely lethal because the current does not travel through the heart or the head.

Flashover phenomenon is similar to the electromagnetic pulse of a nuclear weapon. When lightning strikes one object, a high frequency alternating current will travel on the outside of the conductor that creates an electric pulse. Most victims of flashover phenomenon happen to have wet clothing and amazingly, this wet clothing is often vaporized without burning the victim.
(snip)
http://wildcat.phys.nwu.edu/classes/2002Fall/Phyx135-2/Projects/Lightning/project/Physics%20Project/humans.html

[PermanentRevolution]

49. Damn...

That picture is incredible. Wow.

[livetohike]

4. Maybe Bush was 5'11" at some point in his life but

he doesn't look that tall today. Side-by-side it would be easy to tell who looks like a Commander in Chief (and it isn't Bush).

[olddad56]

24. he's 5'11, he also was a fighter pilot during the Vietnam war.

[dumpster_baby]

35. bush was a daddy's boy who dabbled in pilot training but he was NOT ...

....a FIGHTER PILOT.

[SoCalDem]

53. koolaid??

:)

[daleo]

55. That is fairly tall for a fighter pilot

I read that the minimum height currently is 5 feet 2 inches and the maximum is 6 feet 2 inches. I don't know about the Viet Nam era. Are you saying you doubt the reported height of 5 feet 11 inches for this reason?

On edit - another source says the ideal height is 5 feet 8 inches. It has to do with how the body handles g-forces.

http://www.avitop.com/AspNetForums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1609

[IA_Seth]

5. I dont know about this one...

I want Kerry to fight back as much as everyone, but the whole height thing to me seems a little elementary.

I suppose it could have something to do with the fact that I am about 5'10-5'11 or so. I guess I don't see how height makes you any better of a leader.

Kerry needs to focus on character, committment, and class...Bush has nothing on him in any of these.

[LuminousX]

7. Sometimes politics is like a game of pool

and you have to take the easy shot every once in awhile, even if you can do the tricky bank shot.

[MajorFlaw]

13. I'm not sure that you are dealing with the real question.

I don't think that anyone would argue that taller people are smarter, stronger, more competent, etc. than "shorter" people. For whatever it's worth, I'm about as tall/short as you. The question is whether some people will notice the difference in height between shrub and Kerry and, for silly reasons, favor Kerry. I don't care why someone votes for Kerry; they can believe that they are responding to the voices of ghosts for all I care. This election is about winning, not about style points.

[Lerkfish]

14. actually, I think he's making fun of BUSH's obsession about height....

not being obsessed himself. I mean, really, if Bush is so concerned he'll look shorter, and that would put him at a disadvantage, that's all in his own head.

I'm at 6'4", and can recall having a supervisor once that was about 5'2". It was NOT a problem for me, but he kept fixating on it and kept abusing me to make himself feel taller....really annoying. He should have just relaxed. I'm no more responsible for my own height than he was of his...blaming ME because he was uncomfortable with his own height was really monumentally idiotic.

I agree with you that height makes no difference, but that is precisely why the podium request from Bush is so patently ridiculous and manipulative. Kerry's just pointing and laughing..he's not the one with the fixation.

[daleo]

18. I tend to agree with you

Historically, height has very much been associated with class (richer meant taller). In this case that reference is not germane, since they both came from very upper class backgrounds, but it is worth bearing in mind that this height prejudice historically reflects a class prejudice.

[Carolab]

21. Actually height does play a role

People treat taller people with more respect, because they naturally have to look up to them. I know this for a fact, because I am tall, and when I want to assert my authority I just stand up.

[arwalden]

8. Bush* Is Truly A Small Man

[barbaraann]

9. Hey, maybe he read my thread about "changing horses in midstream"

We had a bunch of good suggestions for countering that meme.

[napi21]

10. Does this mean they won't have the traditional handshake before

the debates? I have heard many times, even in past elections, that it's a real hindrance to be the shorter candidate!

[KansDem]

11. Not only should they shake hands...

but while they're shaking hands, Kerry should put his left arm around Bush's back (real "chummy-chummy" like) and place his left hand on Bush's left shoulder, in essence getting him in a quasi-bear hug. Then, while looking down at him, and shaking his hand profusely, Kerry should smile broadly and say "Let the best man win..."

[dumpster_baby]

36. YES, Kerry should draw out the pre-debate handshake

PLay dirty, kerry!

[VegasWolf]

12. Way to go John!!! Rated the story a 5 - only 66 votes so far n/t

[Beetwasher]

16. He Wears Lifts and Thick Soled Shoes To Make Him Appear Taller

I'd say he's probably around 5'7''.

Look at this picture and notice a couple of things; the thickness of the soles of his shoes and the height of his pants' cuffs. His cuffs are pretty high above his shoes because he's wearing lifts inside the shoes that were not there when his pants were tailored.

[Carolab]

32. Look at this picture

He's not much taller than Condi.

5-11 my ass!

[GingerSnaps]

41. Can we find the measurements of airline steps on the Internet?

I know that this sounds nuts but he has 7 stairs in the back and I wish I knew how tall they are.

[nolabels]

44. Maybe F. R. could pool their money together to buy him some new sneakers

http://allshoesandboots.com/asccustompages/HTMLCatalogA/Product30453.asp

[GingerSnaps]

45. You need to post them on the ugly shoes thread

[The Icon Painter]

17. Rated

Seventy-seven votes and rating of 4.29. Some Freepers must be doing whatever it is they do.

[VegasWolf]

19. I thought it was just his intellect that was small.

[Lisa]

20. speaking as someone who's 5'2" ...

I think Kerry's "May I also suggest that we need a taller horse" comeback is hilarious!

Of course, Bush will probably trot out the "I'm the little guy" schtick he used last time (where he claimed to Alexandra Pelosi that he was 5'11", contradicting his own campaign!).

[VegasWolf]

26. I don't see why we can't have a straight out comparison of penis size on

TV. I read in one of these tell-all books that Georgie, as
he was known in West Texas during his drunken years, was secretly
refereed to as "peashooter." While Kerry's "cannon" was huge enough
to snag him a billionaress. If the election was based solely
on penis size, it would be Kerry 95, Bush 5.

[VegasWolf]

30. Might explain his predilection for war too!

[LastDemStanding]

28. Spare us the short people line

Who gives a crap if one is taller than another? This kind of petty shit is a non-winner. Why not stick to the issues?

[jcappy]

31. The point is

thatBush at 6-4 would make every use of such an advantage in whatever context he could use it--esp in the debates. But Kerry humorously makes use of advantage in height, some people here cry foul--once again, those out of power, are not suppose to raise their voices or talk back to the mighty ones (bush enclave) without paying a price and these lurking posters want to make sure we pay it.

screw the man in the elevator shoes.

[George W. Dunce]

37. I head this same BS coming from team Whistle-Ass

when Dean was ahead, saying he was a midget and Bush will tower over him, also Americans want someone who is tough and rugged someone they know can protect them. LOL what comes around........

[VegasWolf]

38. If this were a job interview, * would still be looking afterwords.

[VegasWolf]

39. Kerry says he is "Extra size" while * is a regular.

[deadparrot]

42. Ten bucks says * didn't get it.

[Jaybird]

46. i've seen bush up close......

...and believe me, he IS NOT 5'11". I am barely 6' and he was way shorter than me. I would say he is 5' 9"....tops. he's a little twerp.

[Carolab]

54. and getting

smaller all the time

[NVMojo]

47. this is not as funny as it seems!!!

I noticed that alot of people who wanted to support Dean were put off the first time they saw him in the big lineup shot with all the candidates. You'd be surprised at how visually oriented most people are without even thinking about it. Bush/Rove know this too. That's why. You gotta remember, KKKarl Rove is not a truth spinner, he is a "perception-builder". The health with whether it is reality. He knows that if you put Kerry and Bush side by side, Bush will look like the Alfred E. Newman little bully twit he really is.

[truthisfreedom]

48. 1] size does matter when both men can be seen at once. 2] Kerry isn't

taking his joking too far with that particular statement. bush just made fun of Kerry today and LIED about him again... Kerry isn't lying. he's just joking, and it's pretty good-natured joking as well. not nasty lying like that "flip-flop" chant they use at thug rallies.

[Katha]

51. I remember learning in a history lecture

that in every presidential election so far (where heights have been documented) the taller candidate has won. The only exception to this is Ford/Carter -- Carter was shorter than Ford.

Oh yeah, and Al Gore is 6'1" to Bush's (yeah, right) 5'11", and we all know who really won that election. :)

[DemBones DemBones]

52. The Bush* campaign made height an issue by insisting on

debate formats that will hide W's shorter stature. Besides that, I'm sure John Kerry has heard "How's the weather up there?" jokes for decades so why shouldn't he use his height to his advantage when he can?

[ILeft]

56. Of course if the Dem candidate had insisted on this due to height...

...the cable news/Right Wing radio/networks/Republican Campaign, etc. would have used this to relentlessly ridicule the Democrat until the masses were hypnotized into a state of revulsion every time they heard the Democrat's name or saw him.

[AspenRose]

59. "6'6" if you include the hair"

Wasn't it Vanessa Kerry who said that at the convention?

Hee hee hee. :-)

Rock on, JK.

[VegasWolf]

60. Teresa says that "size" really does matter, that's how he snagged

a billionaires!!

[Catfight]

61. I heard Georgie was riding in on "His Pet Goat." n/t