Who else is sick of hearing about the "likability factor"?

[finecraft]

Kerry and the 'likability' index
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0727/p01s02-uspo.html

(snip) "When Quinnipiac University recently asked voters who they'd rather have a backyard barbecue with, 50 percent chose Bush; 39 percent said Kerry." (end snip)

Am I the only person on the planet that doesn't feel like they really need to have a backyard barbecue with the President of the United States? Shouldn't they have better things to do than come over to my house, share a few beers and laughs, and barbecue burgers? I want a leader...someone who can act on the world stage with other leaders without appearing to be a total moron...someone that can speak in complete sentances...someone who's vocabulary doesn't include the phrases "evil-doers" or "smokem' out". If the President came over to my house to barbecue, just what would we talk about? Lawn mowers and economic policy or brands of beer and foreign relations with China?? I would rather have a President that can put together a meaningful coalition of countries to tackle important world issues like terrorism, aids and economic globalization, instead of one that knows how to put together a good coleslaw.

[nickinSTL]

1. likeability

I think this is pretty stupid.

But, if pressed, I'd have to say Kerry.

I don't think I could stand Smirk for five minutes at a barbecue, or anywhere else.

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

9. They are right. It's all about LIKEABILITY

You know, they are right its about Likeability.

I like...

That John Kerry served his country AND served his conscience.
The 127 representatives led by Dennis Kucinich spoke out against the war.
That more Americans are realizing that we aren't better off now than we were four years ago.
Jimmy Carter cracking back on them with gentility and honor in his speech Monday night.

And I'll really like the opportunity to walk into my local voting place on November 2nd and send help send Bush back to Crawford, Texas.

I sure as sin do NOT LIKE the Halliburton Occupation of Iraq, the Patriot Act, the Every Child Left Way Behind Act, and just about everything the Republicans have managed to mishandle since they stole the election and brokered the selection.

I'll like winning by a margin so vast, that the GOP can't steal it.

[redqueen]

2. I'll go with Hillary's response -- we need someone we can trust to lead us

not someone we want to be pals with.

This is our security on the line. The lives of our troops, and the economic stability not only that we live with, but that of our children and granchildren.

[central scrutinizer]

16. even that is playing into the puke's hands

Bushco's supposed likability is a media myth. He is a pampered rich northeastern carpetbagger, went to prep school and elite Ivy League universities. His whole family hates anybody who isn't wealthy and powerful. He never appears before audiences that are not 100% handpicked suckups. He is a shrewd conman with the sociopath's natural gift to lie convincingly and appear to be your best friend, while calculating how to use you to his best advantage.

[skypilot]

3. Oh! Oh! Oh!

I sure as hell am!!! Thanks for reminding me, I was going to post about this. I'm so sick of hearing about how Kerry is "stiff" and "remote". Bullshit. I guess people will see him as stiff and remote if people repeat it enough, which they seem to be doing--even on our side. I see him as serious and no-nonsense. He could be as stiff and remote as he damn well pleased as long as he gets down to business once elected. I am SO tired of that "likability" shit.

[UTUSN]

4. What Bill MAHR and Senator CLINTON Reply to "Likeability"

She said, "You know, I keep hearing that pollsters are asking which candidate you want to have a beer with. In these dangerous times, that's missing the point. It's, who-do-you-want-in-a-foxhole-with-you."

MAHR has been pumping much the same line. This morning on MSRNC he said all this crap about "optimism" in a candidate was stoopid. "How about a president who is INTELLIGENT, who is REALISTIC, TRUTH telling, especially when the truth is UGLY. Not some simpleton who is blowing bubbles up everybody's ass." (Paraphrase)

[Booster]

6. Maher is right.

My nephew who is a Marine and going to Iraq in August, said Kerry seems to flip flop (wonder where he got that idea) on issues, and I asked him if he were in Iraq would he rather be in a foxhole with Kerry, who would cover his back, or Bush, who would probably be reading comic books, and he said "er, Kerry". The Dems should be pushing this on the airways as often as they can. SEND KERRY.

[redqueen]

12. 'some simpleton who is blowing bubbles up everybody's ass'

Damn! I'm loving Bill Maher more and more every day... I gotta find a direct quote on that... fantastic!

[Ganja Ninja]

5. Try making the same stupid comparison with Edwards & Cheney.

Not that it matters but who the hell would want to party with Cheney.

Try asking the question of foreigners. The Bush "likability factor" drops off the chart once you cross the American border.

[thebigidea]

8. what, you don't like slaughtering 100s of birds & having heart attacks?

Cheney is a BLAST.

[Canuckistanian]

7. Would you have liked to have FDR at your BBQ?

No?

Leading your country during wartime? Definitely?

Thought so.

[Paradise]

10. He's a serious guy, in serious times! n/t

[porphyrian]

11. They should have a "lickability factor,"...

...but I'm not going to be one of the researchers.

[zanana]

13. My mother warned me...

My mother told me all about "charming" men a long time ago. She wasn't wrong.

[skippysmom]

14. I don't really care if the president is fun to be around

I want him or her to be a strong leader who cares about the American people and knows something about the world around him/her.

But of course, they're doing the same thing to Kerry that they did to Gore. They said Gore was boring -- well, I went to one of his speeches in 1992 and he was fantastic. Now the meme is that Kerry isn't likeable.

And I'd much rather spend time with Kerry anyway. Bush seems like a real asshole. Kerry seems genuine and intelligent.

[candy331]

15. Hell 3/4 of the people will never get close enough to the president

to have a beer or attend a barbecue with him so that is all a bunch of baloney to prop up the chimp, a phony who has to buy a piece of dirt and call it a ranch to be seen as an average guy is still a phony with a piece of dirt. Will be interesting to see how much he goes to the dirt ranch after his time in office.