Why was there a big deal about JKerry windsurfing last week?

[JohnnyRingo]

Even today I've been reading how it makes him look decadent..."A rich man's sport".

I live very near a lake, and they were very popular a few years ago. Total price: $600-$1000. A little more than a good canoe.

http://www.inlandsea.com/

We don't see too many windsurfers here anymore, "jet-skis" are all the rage now.....Thank goodness he wasn't seen riding one of those.

(My GOD! Does he have to rub our noses in his blue blooded wealth!!) LOL

[Quetzal]

1. I see windsurfers all the time on Maui

they seem like decent people to me.

[sam sarrha]

2. *ush cant ride a bicycle.. have to invalicate talent to surf..

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

17. Bush's bicycle

Is a carbon framed one which costed about three thousand dollars. Anyone own a bike costing that much?

I own three bikes a mountain bike, a road racing bike and a touring bike. I bought these over a period twenty years and never spent more than $500 on any of them.

[NMDemDist2]

3. geez Johnny that's quite a sig line eom

[wurzel]

4. Kerry taking a few days off is more scandalous than Bush taking a month.

It's just the Librul media again.

[A_Possum]

5. It's just that anything Kerry does is WRONG, see?

Don't you get it?

[UTUSN]

6. Just Wondering, Why Bring It Up? n/t

[JohnnyRingo]

15. I was at another site that was complaining that they don't want to see...

...anymore "windsurfing" until after the election.
After hearing about it ALL last week....I needed to vent.
(I do feel better having finally gotten it off my chest)

http://www.bestoftheblogs.com/2004_09_05_bestof.html#109440143608917575

excerpt:

Charlie Don't Windsurf

Enough with the windsurfing already. It doesn't make you look macho, it makes you like an aging elitist preppy who can afford expensive toys.

[sithknight]

7. Florida

That's why it's a big deal. The Bushie's are going to use it to paint him as "out of touch" because right now a big hurrican is walking over Florida and lots of people are geting screwed. (shrug) Of course it's bullshit, but watch as the GOP exploits it.

Still, windsurfing is more of a rich person's sport than surfing because the equipment is more expensive, requires more storage/repair, and is just generally dorkier than surfing. I mean, you don't have so many scroungy windsurfers as compaired with surfing. The same "logic" applies to a comparison between skiers and snowboarders...though as one who does both I can testify that they're equally spendy.

[otohara]

8. One Thing I Remember Most About George Bush Sr. Was Him On Boat

in Kennybunkport (sp) Pictures of Bush chopping wood is more appealing vs Kerry on a sail board.

It shouldn't be an issue, the man should be able to do what ever he wants in the way of sport. But I remember thinking Bush Sr., was ALWAYS on that boat, catching fish.

[madrchsod]

9. why?

cause 95% of old guys our age couldn`t do it..my hat`s off to any old guy that can still do something like that and get up out of bed the next day....

[xray s]

10. much ado about nothing

If Kerry likes to windsurf to relax, so what. It's not a rich man's sport, so I am at a loss as to how it makes him look "eliteist". Give me a break.

As far as image is concerned, I'd put Kerry on a Harley a lot more. Bush can't even ride a mounatin bike without falling on his ass.

[Davis_X_Machina]

11. REALLY real men...

...sit on their asses and watch college football and drink non-imported beer until they kick the cat and pass out.

That's what Kerry should have done. :-)

[JohnnyRingo]

16. LOL...With a five o'clock shadow and wife-beater t-shirt.

T'rasssa!...."Trot your tushie out there and get me a beer!"

A "real" guy commercial

[featherman]

12. I think he is supposed to play GOLF

apparently a more acceptable and understandable pursuit that the media elite can relate to. I can't really visualize Bob (the Reptile) Novak, Lil' Timmy Russert, Bill (Mr. GOP) Schneider, Wolfie, Tweety, etc windsurfing or snowboarding.

[zulchzulu]

13. I windsurf and it's actually pretty cheap

I bought the sail and surfboard together for $200...used.
Still works.

I didn't realize it was a rich man's sport. I thought that was stinkpotting.

As for Kerry and his time off during the RNC Convention, let assholes like Brit Hume and Cap'n PNAC (William Kristol) know that the opponent TAKES THE FUCKING TIME OFF DURING THE OTHER'S CONVENTION AS A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE.

These Murdoch shills are like lice in a pile of shit.

[VOX]

14. If JK gave up windsurfing and **walked** on the water instead...

The press would still harangue him with "being out of touch with the common man."

[DemBones DemBones]

18. Why? Because the media are all paid shills for

the GOP.

Kerry obviously stays in good shape and that's important for a man who is going to be president and actually do the job.

[kskiska]

19. I'd like to see the Chimp on the ice

suited up, wearing hockey skates. Or maybe he'd prefer figure skates.

[TheWebHead]

20. conservatives have been successful defining

only clearing brush as a "presidential sport." Mind you, these are the same republicans whose new hero, Ahh-nold, is famous for covering his body in grease and flexing his muscles while wearing a speedo...

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

21. Body building is dismissed by many as being a gay sport

[bklyncowgirl]

22. Drifting in the wind--yeah that's the image we want!

People who don't know anything about the sport think it's all about just drifting in the wind. Not the best image for a guy who's opponants have painted him as indecisive and unreliable.

Before you flame me, let me say that anyone who knows anything about the sport knows it takes skill and courage to do it well. Problem is most Americans don't know a damn thing about sailing.

In the best of all possible worlds a politican would be able to practice whatever sport he damn well wanted. Reagan for all his cowboy image preferred to ride his horses English in big old faggy peg top breeches no less.

This is not the best of all possible worlds.

[JohnnyRingo]

24. That's the best argument I've seen yet. Very good point. n/t

[DeepModem Mom]

23. Please don't flame -- I think it's just a sport not familiar to Joe 6Pack

so he and his wife can't identify. Therefore, it's labeled "elitist," and not seen as helpful to a candidate. We've come a long way since people loved the Kennedys for their glamour, for Hyannisport, Palm Beach, and Middleburg, Virginia. Now folks want a pig farm in the Texas heat, chain-saw brush clearing, and a barely literate "President" with limited use of the English language.