How Bush will rig with The Handshake:

[Francine Frensky]

You know the picture that Karl Rove dreads: Kerry, shaking Bush's hand, towering over him. Bush is always carefully placed by people who are shorter than him for photos. Probably 30% of the electorate does not realize Kerry is the much taller man. Without lifts, Bush is barely 6 feet tall.

So how will Bush avoid this photo? Remember what he did with Gore in '00, when Gore had a slight edge in height: Bush STOPS SHORT of where the two are supposed to meet and holds his hand out so that Gore has to LEAN OVER, shortening himself, to grasp Bush's hand.

Expect more of the same this week. Bush will maneuver himself so that he is far away from Kerry for the handshake, so that Kerry has to lean way over.

I'm not kidding about this, I wouldn't be surprised if there is somethought of having Bush be so elusive on the hand shake that he causes Kerry to fall down.

Rove would love to arrange such a circumstance.

[displacedtexan]

1. I joked this morning that Kerry should wear lifts...

to offset George W.'s lifts.

But then I realized that the media would shout, "John Kerry is dangerously tall! He probably has a disease, like Osgood-Slaughter's. He looks positively gangly!"

And, once again, being tall like Lincoln will become a reason not to vote for peace and prosperity.

[T Wolf]

2. I'd like to see

John Kerry walk directly up to Bush* and pat him on the head. I'm sure it would not play well, but it would be so damn funny.

[newsguyatl]

31. LMAO

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Kerry should be within 6 inches of *, not lean over, but TOWER OVER

the little man and look down at him when he offers him his hand (face up in a concilliatory gesture). Discretely squeezing the space between *'s index finger and thumb also sound good.

[shockingelk]

37. You can do a lot with camera angle

... and lights.

[Onlooker]

4. Kerry should pat him on the head

or hug him a la John McCain style

[Guaranteed]

26. LOL!! nt

[dweller]

5. but i thought

God would descend the *moron to the stage, and he'd hover just low enough to shake Kerry's hand...

:puke:

dp

[Cocoa]

6. then Kerry should grab Bush's hand

stretch out his long arms, grab Bush's hand, and pull the little cheerleader toward him, hopefully knocking him off balance.

[ShaneGR]

7. All Kerry has to do is step forward, show strength

If Bush backs off from Kerry, what's Bin Laden gonna do to him?

[drbtg1]

29. Not sure if you know or not

....but I noticed your Ric Flair photo. Mr. Flair stated he's a big Bush fan on the "McEnroe" show. I don't know if he has become enlightened since then.

[Pirate Smile]

8. I read somewhere last week that Kerry's advisors said Kerry will hold

the handshake for a few seconds longer then usual and probably look over for pictures to freeze that moment.

I think the debate rules only "lets" them approach each other once (not sure if it is before or after) instead of both before and after the debate.

[Awsi Dooger]

32. Absolutely essential the handshake is BEFORE the debate

If Kerry's advisors caved in and agreed otherwise, they should be fired and flogged, then dropped from the highest cloud. It could be a 1 or 2 percent forfeit on November 2. I'm dead serious.

The handshake is virtually meaningless if it comes after the debate. The viewing audience will be chopped in half, talking heads will already be analyzing/spinning, minds will be made up, and relatives and advisors will already be climbing onstage, distracting from the height differential. I have debates on tape and save them. Camera angles frequently pull back at debate's end to show the front of the audience and the reactions.

Kerry will reap a significant subliminal shock advantage if the handshake is prior to the first question and prolonged. The viewing audience will suddenly see their great protector dwarfed by the weak flip-flopper and the potential benefits are huge. Kerry will automatically receive the benefit of a doubt on virtually every question. I'm not talking widespread, but just enough in a razor election and political climate like this.

My dad was a sociology professor and did countless studies on human behavior and reactions. I used to help research his textbooks and read many related sources. As others have pointed out, Bush is much closer to 5'10" than 6 feet or higher. Actually, Kerry's advantage would be much more significant if it were similar to Bush 41 over Dukakis, along the lines of 6'2' to 5'8". At 5'10" or 5'11", Bush is above average and never thought of as short by the American people. Candidates like Wellstone and Kucinich are sadly eliminated at birth from presidential consideration, regardless of their ability or passion. If Howard Dean had run a flawless campaign and was our nominee, there would be countless shorty jokes flooding the media now. Same with Wesley Clark, who is much shorter than most people believe.

[Awsi Dooger]

41. Excellent, the handshake IS before the debate

According to CNN tonight. The candidates will meet at center stage and shake hands before taking positions behind the podium. So basic but I'm sure Bush tried to weasel out of that.

Kerry just needs to make sure nothing about his appearance distracts from the height comparison. No weird color tie and lose some of that tan.

[Sputnik]

9. Was the 2000 election the only one

where the taller candidate didn't win? I remember hearing something about that back then. I know Clinton and GWB are the same height (6'2" or so) so that one was a wash.

I guess I could Snopes it, lol.

Kerry cannot let Bush be the one in command. Kerry must maneuver himself right next to Bush for the handshake and stand tall. Maybe he should even grab Bush's elbow with his other hand during the shake, a la Clinton, which will allow him to be in control then. If Bush pulls away, it will be noticeable to the viewers. Kerry should hold on to his arm while towering over him and staring right in Bush's beady little eyes.

But then, what do I know? During the 2000 debates, I kept thinking how much more comfortable I would feel knowing that a man like Al Gore with his calm demeanor (and broad shoulders) and an ability to discuss policy in detail would be manning our Oval Office. Silly me.

[July]

10. The taller candidate did win. (I'm referring to Gore.)

And Bush is nowhere near 6'2". His military records have him at 5'11", and that may be generous. Check out the soles of his shoes the next time you see a full shot of him -- thick full-shoe soles to give him that little extra the weeny needs to feel manly.

Did you mean GHWB rather than GWB?

[Sputnik]

14. July, thanks for correcting me! :)

Yes, I meant GHWB. When Clinton and GHWB ran in '92, I remember reading and/or hearing that they were both 6'2".

And, you're right that Gore did indeed win. That bodes well for Kerry receiving more votes since he is the taller candidate.

Oh, but wait....how tall is Jeb? And how tall are the Bush's five SupCo justices? :shrug:

Let's all wear lifts in our shoes to the polls!

[Awsi Dooger]

27. Jimmy Carter is shorter than Gerald Ford

That's the only shorter candidate who has won (2000 amended, obviously) in the TV era, if that is defined as beginning in 1960 and the first televised debates. Of course, they were not renewed until 1976.

[ochazuke]

11. He'll try a James Bond thing

Like wear a poison or virus on his hand, get it on Kerry with the handshake and then wait for the shakes to set in. Kerry should have a towel concealed in the podium to wipe off his hand after touching that thing. You never know where it's been.

[Beetwasher]

12. Camera Angles Are Written Into The MOU

For the handshake I can almost guarantee they will have a bottom up shot (camera low pointing up at the candidates) of the candidates that will negate any height factor.

[Francine Frensky]

25. That's just disgusting if they go to those lengths to hide

the truth.

I'm watching C-Span, but I bet you're right, if you watch on a major network, they will switch to some cock-a-mamie camera angle right when they meet, and all photographers trying to catch the handshake from straight on will be arrested by Ashcroft.

[Stephanie]

13. Bush is 5'10"

Look - he's the same height as Condi.

[Sputnik]

15. I hate to be catty on a Monday morning

(yeah, right) but who the heck dressed the woman in the brown suit and schoolmarm shoes? She desperately needs a "What Not to Wear" intervention.

:spank:

[Stephanie]

16. I'm sure the suit used to fit

When she first bought it.

[DancingBear]

18. Boy, I'm gald YOU said it

Now I won't have to. :)

Paging a mirror...

[mrgorth]

19. Is that insHannity's hand?

* is shaking?

[Josh]

20. Sure does look like him

nt.

[Stephanie]

21. It's from Wisconsin -

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040924/480/wiam10209241740

[bunkerbuster1]

22. Dang, he's looking pudgy these days

In a way I feel bad for the guy because it's mostly on account of his knee blowing out and not being able to run those calories off.

Scratch that. I'll wait until he's self-exiled to the pig farm in Crawford to feel sorry for him.

[Stephanie]

23. Nah - it's the bullet proof vest

The Coward from Crawford wouldn't meet ordinary people unprotected.

[bunkerbuster1]

24. A bullet proof vest wouldn't give you a gut like that.

I've seen him in other settings, it's not just that photo. Last I heard he was around 195#, at 5'10" for a natural ectomorph with a runner's build, that's likely to be hanging around in some unflattering places.

Let's just start calling him "Pudge." not that I'm into ragging on overweight people, but you know *he's* gotta be sensitive about it. He used to run seven-minute miles and was in outstanding shape for a guy in his mid-fifties, but he probably can't do anywhere near as much cardio as he used to now that he has to actually work full time.

[cheshire]

30. It's called a dunlop, because his gut don lops over his belt.

[grasswire]

28. his shoes...

...have soles that are twice as thick as those of the man shaking his hand.

[Beetwasher]

40. Look How High Above His Shoes His Cuffs Are, He's Wearing Lifts

He's wearing lifts inside the shoes too that weren't in the shoes when he got his pants tailored...That's why the cuffs are so high above the shoes.

[SeekingTruth]

33. Shorter than Condi!!

Look at the lifts, also, he is in FRONT of her - that gives him a perspective of more height....

[BootinUp]

17. Kerry should keep walking, maybe Bush would start backing away

Now Im laughing at the possiblities.

[JCMach1]

34. Kerry should go for the shake/hug combo...

:)

A great counterstrategy and 'disarming'!!!

[shockingelk]

38. Awesome idea!

A hug!

The Bush campaign demanded the lecterns be 10 feet apart. The commission wanted them sitting at a table.

[SeekingTruth]

35. Alpha male him....

Kerry also needs to make sure his hand is on top...it's an alpha male thing....but a trick...and like someone said, grabbing that elbow and pulling him in will do the trick as well....

[blm]

36. You mean lift his leg and pee on Bush's ankles?

.

[progdonkey]

39. funny, that's just what Saddam would do

According to Joe Wilson, Saddam wasn't exactly a towering fellow and had the usual "dictator" power-image issues, so whenever he met with someone to shake hands, he would only stick his hand out at a very shallow angle, thereby causing the other person to lean over and appear to be both shorter than normal and bowing slightly to Saddam.

No doubt Dear Leader will attempt to make Kerry bow to him.

[secular_warrior]

42. Doesn't matter. Kerry is much taller/bigger than Bush

With Gore that may've worked. Even if Kerry has to lean over he is much taller and the height difference will be very evident. Also, Kerry is not just taller but bigger - bigger head, hands, feet etc and his limbs are much longer.

[Contrary1]

43. This will be a non-event...

with Dubya's stuffed crotch area, nobody will be looking at how short he is anyway. :puffpiece: