Since 1980, the taller guy has won the Pres. Election (except once).

[TexasSissy]

Did you know that since 1980, the taller candidate has won the presidential election, except for once? Guess which time that was.

HEIGHT OF CAMPAIGN SEASON
Only once in the last six elections has the shorter candidate won.
1980
Ronald Reagan 6'1"
Jimmy Carter 5'9 1/2"

1984
Ronald Reagan 6'1"
Walter Mondale 5'11"

1988
George Bush 6'2"
Michael Dukakis 5'8 1/2"

1992
Bill Clinton 6'2"
George Bush 6'2"

1996
Bill Clinton 6'2"
Bob Dole 6'1"

2000
George W. Bush 5'11 3/4"
Al Gore 6'1"

Source: USA TODAY research

[NMDemDist2]

1. and the "except once" Gore actually won! don't forget that! n/t

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. No Fucking Way

If Bush is a 1/4 inch short of 6 feet I'm Shaquille O'Neal...

[Cha]

7. Isn't bush about 5' 10'?

Of chimpiness?

[TexasSissy]

9. I totally agree. I think that's a PR lie. Standing next to hisdaughters,

he is not much taller than they are. I would guess that he's more like 5'10", which is average height.

I'm also guessing that he wears "lifts" during debates.

[cliss]

10. I agree with you. I don't think this is accurate.

I've seen MANY photos of BeetleBrain standing next to other men, and he's often shorter than them. Take the photo of Brash standing next to Jacques Chirac about 2 months ago. Chirac positively towered above Bash. What does that make Chirac? 9 feet tall?

I don't believe this "statistic". I think he's more like 5'9".

[drscm]

3. Well, actually it is true in every case. Gore won! eom

eom

[Selwynn]

4. But really, since 1980 isn't all that long

still neat, but of course you know also meaning nothing.

And by the way - Gore actually won. :)

[TexasSissy]

11. Actually, I've read some psychology stuff about the height thing.

I have read in the past that people view taller people as more intelligent and authoritative. Taller people also get paid more, on average, than short people. Tall women don't have as much trouble in leadership positions as short women (because of the way subordinates view them).

There is something to the height thing. There are exceptions, of course. Still, it's good to know that this psychological reaction to height is in OUR benefit.

[Selwynn]

18. Hmm... interesting

Kinda scary too when you think about it..

[TexasSissy]

22. Not to me (a scientific documentary buff). It's the appearance factor,

which we find throughout nature. There's a biological reason for it. Just as there could be a biological reason for the fact that more attractive people are thought to be more intelligent and successful than less attractive people, get better grades in school, and get paid more, on average, than less attractive people.

The prettiest, most colorful male bird is the one who gets the mates. It's a biology thing.

[against all enemies]

5. Bush probably lied about his height and said he was 6'4".

The media knew that he wasn't over 6 feet but failed to report it. Although the press did run some stories about how Gore claimed he was 6'1", when he was really 6' and a half inch, with the Headlines "Gore Lies About Height".

[Cha]

6. Actually the taller guy did Win in 2000...he just didn't

get his ass situated in the white house..the loser's party had a coup and he's squatting in our Nation's House as we type.

[PsN2Wind]

8. Maybe we should take another look at Bill Bradley then

Although we know, if the price is right, they, the repubs, can get Shaq.

[jsw_81]

12. The debates will be fun

Remember how small and weak Dukakis looked while shaking Poppy's hand on the debate stage back in 1988? That single moment probably cost Dukakis several hundred thousand votes. Can't wait to see our guy towering over Poppy's idiot son this fall.

[PsN2Wind]

13. Maybe Kerry

should emphasis the height differential by telling bush, " getting a little thin on top there Mr pResident" as they shake hands.

[TexasSissy]

17. Bush will wear elevator lifts @ the debates, I'm sure.

Another trick is to use a stool, without podiums, so he can halfway sit down when the other guy is standing, so there's no direct comparison. That's what he did in one of the Gore debates.

[mitchum]

21. If Kerry wears a yellow hat, the debate handshake will look like...

a "Curious George" illustration

[Comicstripper]

24. Hahaha

[Wickerman]

14. 5'11 3/4

What a load of bullshit. Everyone else in the world measures their height by the inch. Bush*, born on third base, yet thinking he was robbed of a home run has to measure his height in freaking quarter inches? Someone knows he is a crock of shit, packaged by ad men for gullible public.

I noticed all the way back in his military records his height was reported in fractions - funny, when I was in the military they measured my height in inches, rounded.

BTW - the USA Today research is faulty. Since 1980 the taller man has won each election. They need to be reminded that Gore won in 2004 - the Supreme Court made the worst decision of our 200 year + history and refused the US the chance to fairly determine who was the actual winner (hint, the taller man) and the rightful President.

[TexasSissy]

16. I think Bush Jr. is 5'10" actually, Average height.

I think he wears lifts sometimes, but he is not much taller than his daughters. Look at him the next time he's on TV standing next to one of his daughters.

[Wickerman]

19. I don't give a rat's ass if he is 6'2"

what is incredibly chicken shit is the measuring in 1/4 inches. What a moran.

And yep, he always looks short on stage. I think at times Laura appears taller than him. What a goon. You are te height you are - deal with it and move on.

[merh]

15. He didn't win the election, he stole it, so the pattern prevails.

Gore won the election.

[JI7]

20. Bush didn't win and he wears padding in his shoes during debates

[eleny]

23. Padded shoes, padded shouders...

....tennis balls under his arms and a towel in his jumpsuit crotch!

[giant_robot]

25. So by 2025...

we will be ruled by a race of giants </sarcasm>

[devinsgram]

26. Out of curiosity

How tall is Kerry?

[tom_paine]

27. So, what you are saying is the taller guy ALWAYS wins

Because Bunnypants* didn't win, he had to steal it.

[calico1]

28. I saw another "unscientific" poll too...

The candidate with the most hair wins. Apparently this has always been the case. Eisenhower was nearly bald but so was his opponent, Stevenson. Interesting....

[Screaming Lord Byron]

29. Reagan was 6'1?

Didn't look it. I always thought he was a small man.

[SavageWombat]

30. I've been saying this all along

Why do you think the Bushies are trying so hard to portray Kerry as "Lurch", or "Frankenstein"? They're desparately going for a "that Kerry is just too tall" image.

Goes right along with the "that Kerry is just too smart" bit.

[THUNDER HANDS]

31. gee I hope

that Shaquille O'Neal is a democrat, just in case he ever decides to run for President one day. :)

[Catfight]

32. UM...Bush did not WIN, he was appointed...so EVERY time in history

the taller guy WON! Period. That's why the Bush administration really wanted Howard Dean to run, they had a chance, but now, Mr. Kerry will soon be Mr. President of the United States and little Bush Napoleon, with his little man complex will slither off into exile.

[terrya]

33. Kerry is 6'4", right? Hee, hee! :-)