Mo Dowd savages Theresa Kerry, as she highlights Bush/Cheney "global mess"

[DeepModem Mom]

Breck Girl Takes On Dr. No
By MAUREEN DOWD

Published: July 8, 2004

....It's sort of mesmerizing, really. (Theresa Kerry is) unlike any other political wife I've ever seen — unscripted and ready to do as she likes, in her intriguing, world-weary way, even as her second husband introduced his running mate at her adored first husband's 88-acre, $3.7 million "farm" in suburban Pittsburgh. The white-columned colonial mansion and swimming pool were out of sight and bales of hay strategically placed to give a populist touch.

She doesn't gaze like Nancy or glare like Lee Hart or look appraisingly at her husband like Elizabeth Edwards. She doesn't always seem to notice he's there. When Mr. Kerry moves in for a nuzzle or a kiss, she sometimes makes a little face.

She's easily distracted, waving and mouthing "Hello" at the audience and languidly arranging her hair and the red-and-blue "John Kerry for President" scarves she designed.

She siphons attention from a husband who has a hard enough time getting it. Yesterday, she distracted the audience when she seemed to be trying to get young Jack Edwards to stop sucking his thumb. Sometimes she'll laugh and smile in inappropriate places — she once chuckled while her husband talked about curbing tax breaks for the rich....

***

It's hilarious that the Republicans are trying to paint their ticket as the more optimistic one.

Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush radiate negativity, even as Mr. Edwards and his photogenic blond kids glow for the cameras. Dick Cheney glowers for the camera, a Dr. No with a dark vision that has resulted in a gigantic global mess. (When he was stopped by applause at a campaign stop in Altoona, Pa., on Sunday, he asked, "You guys want to hear this speech or not?")....

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/08/opinion/08DOWD.html?hp

[lazarus]

1. "her second husband"?

Interesting. How often was Nancy referred to as Ron's "second wife", anyway?

[Judi Lynn]

2. Apparently we have some among us who see women in such a poor light

they would prefer widows kill themselves and get buried with their husbands. To live on, apparently, is SCANDALOUS!

They tell you more about themselves than they realize, don't they?

Maybe she could square it with them if she gave all her money away, and moved into a trailer home!

[RebelOne]

4. Hey, let's not downgrade trailer homes. I live in one.

[Judi Lynn]

6. And I did live in one! It was actually fun. No insult intended. n/t

[patricia92243]

9. Good for you for standing up for yourself.

[Tellurian]

14. In defense of Mrs. Kerry...and in response to MoDo..

Her Observation:

"It's sort of mesmerizing, really. She's unlike any other political wife I've ever seen — unscripted and ready to do as she likes, in her intriguing, world-weary way, even as her second husband introduced his running mate at her adored first husband's 88-acre, $3.7 million "farm" in suburban Pittsburgh. The white-columned colonial mansion and swimming pool were out of sight and bales of hay strategically placed to give a populist touch.

She doesn't gaze like Nancy or glare like Lee Hart or look appraisingly at her husband like Elizabeth Edwards. She doesn't always seem to notice he's there. When Mr. Kerry moves in for a nuzzle or a kiss, she sometimes makes a little face.

She's easily distracted, waving and mouthing "Hello" at the audience and languidly arranging her hair and the red-and-blue "John Kerry for President" scarves she designed.

She siphons attention from a husband who has a hard enough time getting it. Yesterday, she distracted the audience when she seemed to be trying to get young Jack Edwards to stop sucking his thumb. Sometimes she'll laugh and smile in inappropriate places — she once chuckled while her husband talked about curbing tax breaks for the rich.

Teresa has the air, as Chris Matthews noted, of an old-fashioned European movie star. She projects a quality like Marlene Dietrich or Jeanne Moreau, a sultry touch-me-and-you-die look with an accent to match: a rare political perfume of I don't give a hoot, I'm worth a billion dollars and you're not and he's not and the Bushes are not; of I have four mansions and he doesn't; of I'm so confident I can admit to using Botox and I can wear Chanel while my husband complains about manufacturing jobs' going overseas."

My Observation:

MoDo answers her own befuddlement and doesn't realize it. Or, giving her the benefit of the doubt, is in complete disconnect with her analysis. Mrs. Kerry Heinz isn't like any other political wife.

She's nervous at presenting themselves as a couple and seems a bit overwhelmed. Who can blame her? Her husband undoubtedly has apprised her of the desperation and fear and the longing for leadership reverberating throughout the country. She's an internationl personality aware of the hardship and bad will Bush has placed on the world.

Sen. Kerry has taken on a tremendous responsibility in trying to straighten out everything thats wrong with the country. I see Mrs. Kerry as taking his responsibility as "their" responsibility to the voters of our country. This lady is a do'er, not the Stepford wife, who smiles mouthing scripted text for the cameras.

The first thing Mrs. Kerry said, after the introduction on the front lawn of their farm announcing Edwards as his running mate, was aimed at helping people in her state and the neighboring states suffering loss of jobs and the economic woes that come with it.

Give her time, I say...she'll take a step back and realize she has to do everything through a process. It may take her more than a moment to digest the fact her husband, after he's elected, will be the most powerful and well respected leader in the world.

We're lucky to have her. She's a wonderful women who has the potential to do so much for our country. She'll settle and relax, give her time, she'll find her stride.

[JI7]

3. notice her attacks on democrats are always on personal things

and not on policy issues much.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Wow, you're right! She seems to abhor what the Bushies have done to us...

with their policies and actions, but maybe feels she's more credible if she appears "fair and balanced." I wish there were a better way for her to prove she's willing to criticize both sides than going personal with her acid cleverness, aiming it at Democrats.

[Tellurian]

18. Fair and balanced?

I think she is forgetting or hasn't factored in, there isn't much Teresa Heinz Kerry hasn't been able to accomplish on her own. MoDo isn't familiar with dealing with two powerhouses, who in their own right have made significant changes in people's lives. She'll learn!

[Lestatdelc]

7. Dowd has a problem with other women..

...who have their shit together.

Look at the savaging she did of Judith Steinberg/Judith Dean.

Speaks far more about Dowd than either Heinz/Kerry or Steinberg/Dean.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi Lestatdelc!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DeepModem Mom]

12. Thanks for your insightful thought, Lestatdelc, and welcome to DU!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

8. What IS it with her personal snipes?

I like the idea that Theresa is her own woman, and acts like it. I think she could be a big hit among Hispanic voters.

[CWebster]

10. Always ready to play devil's advocate,

I had to think about this a bit.

I don't think I would mind so much--politicians have to expect this scrutiny if they had done similar commentaries on Laura Bush, stepford wife made flesh, but she seems to be invisible. Or if they had done any running commentary on Bush's lifestyle, how the homey ranch was purchased just prior to the election and much time was spent at country clubs. Not to mention his shady history of business deals--it took finally Michael Moore to give the subject of Harkin any broad exposure at all. And that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Although, that is a pretty front page photo of the whole family.

[IrRationalRose]

13. Ms. Dowd writes much like I did when I was a reporter

for my high school newspaper. The difference was that I was a teenager.

[NightOwwl]

15. Poor, poor Maureen

She is so jealous.

[MarkTwain]

16. Bartcop has said it best for years...

Mo Dowd: "She hates everyone."

[ibegurpard]

17. Maureen Dowd is a poisonous cynic.

Whatever it is that has colored her view of the world (and not to say that it's unjustified) she has let it pollute her perspective. Nothing is ever genuine in her point of view and everyone always has nasty ulterior motives. She is truly the epitome of a "limousine liberal" and gives all of us a bad name.

[Tsiyu]

19. Trailer trash checking in...

I, too live in a trailer on 5 acres. I own it all free and clear, no mortgage, no land payment. True freedom. One day I'll build a house on the foundation already started here, but for now it's a nice peaceful home for me.

I have no issue with the $3.7 million dollar mansion, and find it hilarious that Bushista and Co., as well as the media, are making such a point of rubbing that in Kerry's face. Catch a clue, morans: Wealth is not the issue. How you obtain wealth, and who you trample on, kill, and deny rights to -in order to keep your wealth and increase it - are the issues.

A side note: I try not to listen to the Panties-In-A-Wad Righties, but happened to catch some fucknut with a show called Savage Nation ( anyone know who this cretin is?). He was tearing down Kerry's wife ( real manly man- attacking a woman, That's what Jesus would do, huh?) He played her speech yesterday where she spoke slowly and, with the help of a female caller ( she claimed to be an emergency room nurse) decided that Mrs. Kerry is mentally ill. Actually, I think she may have been pausing because she was getting feedback from the mic, but I don't know. Nevertheless, this dumbshit then proceeded to say that women voted for Democrats because we're all "weak-minded." (Come to my house and I'll show you how weak-minded I am, dude. Because guys of your ilk would look good dancing to the tune of an SKS! Dance, Woman hater, Dance! How weak-minded am I now? Okay, just an errant fantasy....) I found it an absolutely hilarious exercise in radio masturbation.

Poor women-haters. Life is gonna get rough for you soon.

GO EDWARDS AND KERRY AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL WIVES!!!!!!!

[Literate Tar Heel]

20. Michael Savage

he had a short-lived TV version of his radio show on MSNBC for a while when they were going through their "out-Fox Fox" phase last year ... it became short-lived after he said this to a caller who identified himself as being homosexual: "Oh, you're one of the sodomites. You should only get AIDS and die, you pig. How's that? Why don't you see if you can sue me, you pig. You got nothing better than to put me down, you piece of garbage. You have got nothing to do today, go eat a sausage and choke on it." ... compassionate conservatism at its finest