"Election is Turning Into a Duel of the Manly Men"

[smirkymonkey]

By Jill Lawrence and Judy Keen, USA TODAY

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=2&u=/usatoday/20040922/pl_usatoday/electionisturningintoaduelofthemanlymen

"They talk guns, they talk teams, they talk tough. You'd think they were running for top jock. Or maybe leader of the free world. It's macho time in the presidential race. The best man could be the one who seems more manly.

Political analysts say they've never seen anything quite like the tough-guy competition between President Bush and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry. They point to two reasons: Millions of hunters and fishermen live in the battleground states each candidate needs to win, and voters everywhere are haunted by 9/11.

"It's about getting men's votes, but this year it's also about getting women's votes," Democratic pollster Celinda Lake says. "What in the past seemed too arrogant, too macho, women really like this cycle. They want someone who will do what it takes to protect America."

David Paletz, a political scientist at Duke University, says both candidates are trying to emulate Ronald Reagan (news - web sites) and Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites). "There's a very narrow notion of strength in this country," Paletz says. "It's all connected to militarism: kill animals, chop wood with an ax.""

Does anybody else think this macho bullshit is just way out of control?

As a woman, I find "machoness" a major turn-off. To me it's just a front, covering up weakness and cowardice.

[NC_Nurse]

1. Yep.

What a bunch of BS. Unfortunately, most Murikans really dig it. God forbid you be seen as "sensitive".

[hlthe2b]

2. I find the macho emphasis irritating too, but at least Kerry couples that

with intellect, common sense, and some level of sensitivity.

The sad thing about this election is how much damage it likely will do towards having a woman Presidential candidate taken seriously anytime soon...

[Dogmudgeon]

3. A lot of women love it

There's an old saying, to the effect that women love fascists. Certainly not all women. But enough of them.

The pseudo-Darwinism of the modern Conservative is at work -- debase humanity as far as it will go, and pretend to be the "Alpha" animal. Except that an Alpha animal is still an animal.

When are the humans going to be in charge?

--bkl

[progressivebydesign]

11. Then EXPLAIN John Edwards????

If these macho man stories are so real, then WHY do women swoon over John Edwards? Why do women from the ages of 18 to 90 scream when he comes over to touch their hand? He's cute as a kitten in a teacup.. not exactly the psychological scenario these articles are pushing as truth. John Edwards IS Kerry's secret weapon.. especially with women.. He's a nice balance to the gun-toting, crotch scratching, image that we seem to be promoting.

[Dogmudgeon]

17. "A lot" does not equal "all"

John Edwards attracts the more "evolved" human female units.

Bush-n-Dick attracts the Alpha-loving throwbacks.

But the problem isn't with who John Edwards attracts. It's with the people Team Bush attract.

--bkl

[Vickers]

4. Frankly, I think Kerry would kick Georgie's ass

I mean, Kerry has been in uniform under fire. Georgie has been in, what, a cheerleader's uniform on the sidelines?

Georgie might clear brush better...

[My Pet Goat]

5. Agree...

this is where it is heading and yes it is stupid but K/E better realize it. The good news, Kerry could pretty much whip * man to man or on any field of battle. Kerry should come to peace with his higher "manliness" level and draw from it on the campaign trail. Sad but true.

[Joe Chi Minh]

6. Now you

watch your mouth, woman! (Goldarnit.. Shouldn't have put the comma). Anyways, you jist try sawing wood with an axe! Ah tried the other day, and it's real hard yakker.

[Bluzmann57]

7. Manly Men?

Who? bush sure as hell ain't a manly man. He's a friggin' sissy, if you ask me. A real man makes sacrifices for his family, is secure enough in his manhood to maybe even do(gasp) housework and other "womens work", and sometimes, I stress sometimes, do what the wife wants to do. It is doubtful bush spends much time with his wife, and it's already been proven that he's a slacker who didn't do his duty but is perfectly willing to let others do his bidding for him.

[smirkymonkey]

16. Exactly, I think Bush is the bigges wuss of all.

It's only weak men that need to puff themselves up like he does.

If you ask me, John Kerry is a REAL MAN, but unfortunately he is being forced by all this repuke propaganda bullshit to play this silly game. I think it demeans him.

He could kick Bush's ass any day in every way!

[Zorbet55]

19. I'll tell you someone else who's a gurly man...

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhnnnoooooollllllllllllllldddddddddddddddd

[cmkramer]

26. I agree

I understand that many women are attracted to strong, masculine, "manly" men, but that is so not Bush.

[maxsolomon]

8. "i love a man in uniform"

women enjoy seeing men fight - its just nature.

i think a great number of women would be turned on by seeing kerry beat the snot out of the cheerleader in chief with a hockey stick.

that would be one great debate!

[A_Possum]

13. I'm pretty much a pacifist

But I must admit I wouldn't mind seeing that at all! ;)

[Leilani]

9. A lot of women (not all)

want to be taken care of & protected by a male...it makes them feel feminine.

And a lot of men (not all) want to take care of & protect the females in his life. It makes him feel more masculine.

[sendero]

22. And you'd be amazed...

... at how many people are in denial about that fact.

[progressivebydesign]

10. Oooh. I think I"m gonna SWOOON....

all those BIG, MANLY MEN... with those BIG guns! OOOOhh... Why, I'd only vote for the most VIRILE, MACHO MAN! I'm just a little, itty-bitty ol woman, who doesn't trouble her pretty little mind with anything important... I just want a BIG STRONG MAN to take care of me! Where IS my hanky and my smelling salts???? :loveya:

[Bluebear]

12. The vapors, don't forget the vapors. nt

[kskiska]

14. There are also women who swoon over gay/effeminate men

I remember how back in the 50s Liberace was a tremendous sensation on TV. Housewives went nuts over his curly hair, his love for his mother, and his smiles and winks as he played piano.

Not that long ago we had Fabio.

[A_Possum]

15. You're comparing Liberace to Fabio?

Heh.

Ooookay.

[kskiska]

20. Not exactly, but Fabio isn't exactly

manly. He's just another pretty face on the covers of romance novels. I think Rudolph Nuryev was fantastically good looking.

[zbdent]

18. Really? And, besides Kerry, who's the

other one?

[smirkymonkey]

21. What?

the other what?

[zbdent]

23. Manly man involved in the "duel"

Okay, we have Kerry, who is the other "manly man" in the duel?

[indigo32]

24. exactly

[smirkymonkey]

25. Oh, sorry, I'm a little slow on the uptake.

I guess if Kerry is the only "manly man" in the duel, then it would a manly man/wussy wimp duel.

[Joe Chi Minh]

27. Strength and its counterfeit

Men should be proud to be men and women should be proud to be women, but there is an increasing volume of evidence to indicate that women are the stronger sex. To mention but two examples, female babies are much stronger than male babies in terms of their ability to survive crises; and we know that women tend to age 10 years earlier than men and live at least ten years longer.

Historically, under stress, men, too often, it seems, have favoured p*ssing the family wage packet against the wall on a Friday night, instead of putting the family first. It is why women are so much more security-oriented, shrewder and more practical than men, historically often struggling to support the family and keep it together, even at the cost of selling their bodies.

From a Christian viewpoint, the pre-eminence of passive strength makes perfect sense, despite the apparently lowly status of women in Israel, the cradle of Christianity on a superficial reading of the Gospels. Indeed, the etymology of the very word "Passion", in connection with Christ’s crucifixion indicates this clearly.

However, even if we consider worldly strength, the highest reaches of worldly power tend to be peopled by men of indifferent physical strength, prowess, etc – the “Mr Bigs “; while what the film industry seems intent on promoting is the extraordinarily false notion of human strength as characterised by all-in wrestlers, bouncers, etc in their professional capacity.

This tends to inculcate in young lads a totally false understanding of strength in its best and most meaningful sense. Indeed, reinforcing it in the ghettoes, where indeed it may currently represent a safeguard for personal survival. But if they survive on the streets, by virtue of that normally superficial kind of strength, they are likely by that very same means to end up in the largest prison system in the world. Stripped of the most elementary powers and capacities. One of the far-right wing’s most favoured means of social control: the Bruce Willis-type film character as their role-model.

If youngsters want worldly power, they must be taught that putting a country’s workforce on a 3-day week, as a British PM did, by picking up a telephone – that is real worldly power. (Why is it not emphasised to schoolchildren throughout the country that coming to school with a gun and shooting unarmed classmates is the surest sign of a coward? Such a simple but compelling truth, that would surely make sense to them whatever their age).

True spiritual strength is not incompatible with worldly power, but rather, the latter can and must be used for the common good. To be properly effective entails espousing a commitment to a progressive political agenda, and working conscientiously and diligently towards it. So, rednecks who believe solely in the most superficial machismo are the ultimate dupes of very sinister and cynical masters.

[G_j]

28. what we need

Rambo, who returned to win the Vietnam war single handed.
we sure have evolved... :eyes:

[kaitykaity]

29. I hate it when the tar Kerry's strength with George W. Bush's

cocky, cod-piece-stuffing insecurity.