Humor piece in Globe today: 4/29/05 (Humor, what a concept!)

[TayTay]

Do not shoot the messenger. This was posted as humor in the Boston Globe. I found it funny. It is not even remotely true, that's why it's funny. And it is real progress for the Globe to put out a humor piece on John Kerry. This is how New Englanders show affection, we tease each other mercilessly. Okay? (It is affectionate. I can see it. Really, just don't shoo thte messenger.)

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/04/29/john_kerry_the_first_100_days/

If I get the time later I will scan in the 'scruffy tall guy in a bathrobe with 3 days beard growth' cartoon that ran with it. This is affectionate, honest.

[rox63]

1. I second TayTay's pov on this

As a fellow Masshole, I agree with TayTay's assessment of this piece. It really means they like him. You're not one of the gang here unless you can take the ribbing. They've been doing it to Ted Kennedy for decades now, and there is no one more beloved in MA politics than Uncle Ted.

[JI7]

5. doesn't Ted Kennedy do it to Kerry a lot of times also ?

and Kerry seems to really enjoy so i guess it is taken in an affectionate way.

[TayTay]

6. Gawd yes

And in this Rethuglican environment in DC, we need the humor more than ever. Teddy is a great guy, very funny and loves to tease people. (I can't wait to see him in a couple of weeks at the Dem State Con. Teddy should be in fine form to rail against the Rethugs. BTW, any Dem can come to the con as a guest. Just bring a slip that states you are a registered Dem, pay $25 and watch the Con.)

[muse]

2. Definitely funny!

You gotta be able to laugh at yourself.

[whometense]

3. As one who is

pathetically humorless when it comes to Kerry, even I think this is funny!!

Thanks, TayTay!

[TayTay]

4. Whew! Thanks folks. I apprecaite the cover

I really like the cartoon, but the Globe didn't see fit to make it available via their web site. Loved this! It was cute.

New Englanders can seem a little odd to others, I imagine. But the teasing is incessant and helps to sort out who rates further attention from those who can't take the heat. And it's genuinely affectionate. (In a weird sort of tough guy way.) And I agree with Rox, nobody has taken more teasing than Teddy K over the years and nobody is more beloved (and spurned as well) in MA politics.

[karynnj]

7. It is funny - thanks for posting it

I was trying to figure out why it's inoffensive - and I think because it doesn't hit anything that's likely to be sensitive. Although there are probably MA Republicans who would wish Kerry were hanging out in a bathrobe with 3 days of beard growth avoiding his Senate job, getting no one to return his calls, by now everyone knows that's not what's happening. Is this the Globe's way of praising him for doing the complete opposite? (I would take the Gore advice of growing a beard as more a slap at Gore, than anything as a slap at Kerry.)

[TayTay]

8. Just a funny reminder.

and a little wistful reminder that, well, what might have been - isn't. It also posits Kerry as a regular Joe, which is a bit of a departure for Boston media which usually never fails to mention that Kerry is 'rich.' (Only they use more words.) This is real progress.

[karynnj]

9. Yeah, the first 100 days

I wasn't thinking - if Kerry would have won, we would be seeing all these first 100 days articles. (Thanks to FDR) It's actually kind of sweet that they thought of him at this point.