Kerry's secret weapon, his ace in the hole: Bush's thin skin.

[BurtWorm]

Bush today asserted that Kerry had a Senate career "devoid of accomplishment." Now if anyone had said that about me, I would want to rip his face off. But Kerry, I think, is a pretty tough-hided guy (though Dean seemed to get under his skin a bit). Bush, on the other hand, has paper-thin skin and is famously easily rattled by criticism. While Kerry maybe should continue taking the "high road," he could very easily drop a few bombs on Bush's reputation as he progresses toward the debates, maybe even occasionally openly mocking the boy's actions and words. I think Kerry does have that requisite mean streak in him, too, judging by his sharp remark about "taking the training wheels off" of the Bush Iraq policy the very day after Bush himself got whacked by the dirt while mountain bike riding. The object will be to get Bush to loathe Kerry so much so that he'll be totally consumed with hatred when they actually meet. Then Kerry can keep rattling the Bush boy all night being utterly cool--and sharp-toothed--and I'll just bet the Bush boy loses it and shows off that ugly temper of his.

Can't wait to see the debates.

[Jack_Dawson]

1. How is Bush thin-skinned?

I mean...I know he's STUPID...but thin-skinned?

[BurtWorm]

2. He's famously--FAMOUSLY--thin-skinned.

Remember his feud with the Bush Snorts Coke Web site? He can't stand being made fun of.

[WoodrowFan]

4. flipping off protestors

Plus there's his history of giving to bird to protestors. I agree, he's likely to go off on anybody challening him. Wouldn't it be nice to see him lose it during a debate??

[BurtWorm]

12. It's one of his many achilles heels.

He's loaded with weaknesses, but his temper is a potential killer. I remember strategists were talking about it in 2000, and I was disappointed that Gore never quite got to get him that way--excecpt when he recanted his concession and Bush got all snippy about it.

[mermaid]

15. Remember, Also, him Calling Adam Clymer

a "major-league asshole??"

[City Lights]

39. He also exploded in public at Al Hunt, Judy Whore-ruff and their son

in a restaurant. It was when poopy was president I believe. Al had written something for the WSJ that junior didn't like. He ran into them in a D.C. restaurant and gave them a good cheneying. Maybe that's why judy is such a whore for him today. She has tasted a dose of his anger and she's afraid to piss him off again. :scared:

Getting him to lose it publicly wouldn't be all that difficult. Just takes a little planning.

[Bluebear]

3. I first saw this with the reporter who spoke French....

at a press conference and Bush had a fit, "Que bueno! See, I can speak languages too". He is TREMENDOUSLY thin-skinned!

[BurtWorm]

5. Prezackly.

He much prefers being the one to mock other people. He can't stand having anyone do it to him.

[mermaid]

18. Yep! (Karla Faye Tucker Is A Beautiful Example Of This)

He damn near creamed his jeans when he mocked Karla Faye Tucker at her execution...

[CaTeacher]

9. Kerry is going to clean him up.

Bush is going to look like a complete fool (even more so than usual) after Kerry gets through with him. I don't think it will even be close.

Bush is probably shaking in his boots right now!

[Jackpine Radical]

6. All narcissists are thin-skinned.

Think of him demanding that people compliment him on his shooting in F911; dressing down some reporter for saying Sir instead of Mr. President; walking off the stage when he didn't like the Lay question; being "accidentally" overheard commenting with Cheney about a reporter being a major league asshole...the list goes on.

And he really is a narcissist. None of them can stand the slightest attack on their egos.

[Ripley]

16. Getting really pissed off when that Irish reporter interrupted him..

I saw Brokaw interview Kerry the other day and he interrupted Kerry worse than that Irish woman did to Smirk. Yet, Kerry acted like an adult and let him ask, then said "As I was saying..." and continued with his point. Didn't get ruffled.

Smirky Dope Head looked like he was gonna blow a gasket.

[fujiyama]

57. Never actually thought about

his narcissm, but you're very right. He is extremely cocky and arrogant. That smirk was the first thing I disliked about him when I first saw him.

[gratuitous]

8. Oh baby, is he!

I could have him taking a swing at me within 30 seconds. Fifteen if I knew he was coming.

[buff2]

11. Haven't you watched him with reporters?

On the very very rare occasions when he answers a few reporters questions he gets really agitated.....tells them in that smart mouthed voice of his "Let me finish..just let me finish". It happens when they corner him and he can't deal with it. LOL. I wish someone would do something to make him blow his top. That would be the finishing touch on his already doomed pRESIDENCY. :hi:

[mermaid]

13. WHAT?!?!!?

you never realized that his thin-skinnedness is and was the ENTIRE REASON for the establishment of "First Amendment Zones" and why they were ALL placed in such ways, and at such distances, that Dumbya wiuld never have to SEE or HEAR the protestors?

This was all about Dumbya's handlers protecting Dumbya from himself!!

Can't wait to see the debates!! Bush's head is gonna explode, live, and I'm gonna get to see it!!!

[Generic Other]

29. He ran his car into the garage door after Laura criticized a speech

he gave when he first ran for public office.

[Jawja]

44. The very

fact that protestors have to be kept away from him is proof enough. Can't even peacefully stand with the crowd and hold an anti-* sign. Can't let the jackass see that some people just might not like his policies.

[liberalmuse]

45. Bush I was notoriously thin-skinned...

I didn't dislike Bush I like I do his son, but I was disgusted at how thin-skinned he was. He was always going on about those nasty reporters. Bush II is so much worse. I think he is a vindictive and petty man who goes further than his daddy's whining. He actually gets revenge for any perceived slights.

[KansDem]

47. One such example: "You fucking son of a bitch."

Apr 1986 A very pissed-off George W Bush storms over to Wall Street Journal executive Washington editor Al Hunt at a Dallas restaurant, where Hunt is eating with his wife and their 4-year-old son. Bush shouts: "You fucking son of a bitch. I saw what you wrote. We're not going to forget this." Hunt's transgression was having predicted in the Wall Street Journal that Jack Kemp would win the 1988 Republican nomination instead of Vice President George HW Bush.

http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/presidents/george-w-bush/

[Blue_Roses]

55. well, isn't that pretty talk

for such a "Christian man"...:eyes:

[Mikimouse]

7. My fondest dream is to see...

that asshole do a total meltdown on national television. I would die a happy man after that!

[mermaid]

22. You And Me Both!!

Except I'd die a happy WOMAN...

[Mikimouse]

26. When it happens (it will, during one of the debates, I'm certain)...

the party will be on me!!! I may even post it in the Texas forum! Dancing, drinking (for those who do) and cats; who could ask for more? :hi:

[mermaid]

27. Well, I'm More A Dog Person, Myself

Here's my beautiful baby!!

[Mikimouse]

28. Awww, what a cutie! Lab and? or just Lab (the ears are throwing me off)

The last dog I had was a half Belgian Shepherd and Half Huskie. Unfortunately, the powers that existed at the time demanded that he be excluded from the household, so I had to give him away. Should have given away the wife instead!:evilgrin:

[mermaid]

31. Lab/German Shepherd Mix

VERY loyal to me.
Wouldn't even let a FLY land on me.
Loves everyone, unless you try messing with me...or entering our apartment when i'm not there...she'll tear your head off for that...very well-trained watchdog, very protective of her mistress.

And we're a package deal. If my dog don't like ya...I don't like ya. And the dog comes with me, anywhere I go. Any man don't want the dog, then he don't want me.

Lyric and I are inseperable.

She's mostly Lab, but there's some shepherd in there...best my vet can tell me. Wouldn't know for sure since Lyric was a shelter puppy. She was a stray and got thrown into puppy jail, till I sprang her bail. Best 75 bucks I ever spent!!

But, by my vet's best guess she's mixed with some shepherd.

She certainly has the protective nature of the shepherd in her.

And she asked me to say woof, woof, slurrrrp to you!

[Mikimouse]

37. Lyric, great name...My old boy was the same way...

Very protective of me, especially when there were certain people around (heh, heh). He was also a rescue from puppy jail and his number was up for the next day. Once I saw him, it was love at first bite (still have a small scar on my nose from his first 'kiss'). I got him a feline playmate about a month later and they grew up together. What a team! One night they had a bit of a tiff, and decided that they were both going to put their foot down and make their individual claims. I was sound asleep, and woke up to find kitty sitting on my chest, and I thought, Awwww, isn't that cute. Then she peed all over my chest (marking me, I suppose) and immediately afterward, while I was still in shock, the dog jumped up and 'kicked me'. There is nothing as frightening to the outside observer than the sight of an unclothed, murderous man stalking two animals (or so my mother later told me), though, I didn't kill either of them, just gave them an impromptu shower (with me holding them under the stream). I needed the shower too.
Two of the three cats I have were all abandoned around the complex where I live, probably by students who were moving out. The third was abused and abandoned by my neighbor in Lubbock when I was there at TTU. They are my furfamily and I wouldn't trade them for anything (though it does get kinda crowded during naps and at night). The cats are pawing the screen while I am writing this (they seem to have a fascination with the cursor and try ro catch it constantly). The kitties, DC, Tootsie, and Pooky send meows and purrs to you and Lyric.:hippie: :hi: and a woof, woof, and an ear scratch to Lyric!

[mermaid]

38. Thanks

Actually, Lyric's number was up in two days, when I threw her bail.

And, it was love at first sight for us, too. It was almost as if both of us, on seeing each other...we both said..."I have to have her..."

It was weird. I'd done some looking on the Net, and had four dogs in mind when I went to the shelter. Lyric wasn't on the original list...she was over the weight limit my landlord wanted...by eight pounds.

One of the ones I'd wanted to look at had already been adopted out.

The other three...we just didn't CONNECT. i love all dogs...but, somehow...there just wasn't that special something I can't describe.

Anyway, I was moping around the puppy jail and happened on Lyric's cage. I'd seen her already, on the net...but had eliminated her beforehand, due to her being over the weight limit.

I said, screw it, I'm gonna take this one for a walk, anyway.

So, i leashed her up, and took her around. It was instant love. We had a connection. I couldn't explain it, then or now. somehow, I just knew we were MEANT for each other.

The workers at the shelter knew it too. they actually said to me, "I hope you realize she is picking you!" I asked them how they knew. "She NEVER behaves on a leash like that for us...she always pulls and tries to get loose...she is showing off for you."

Well, anyway, I pulled out my cell phone and called my landlord. I begged, I pleaded, I whined, I cried...I wheedled and pleaded some some...and my landlord gave in. I would just have to pay an extra 100 bucks non-refundable pet deposit.

Best hundred bucks I ever spent! So, all told, I actually spent $175 to get Lyric...75 to the puppy jail, and 100 to my landlord. no matter wht, I'd never take it back, and I have absolutely no regret. Lyric is a part of me, and I am a part of her. We are inseperable.

I remember when I went to Thailand for three weeks, and had to leave Lyric with a friend. When I got back, Lyric wouldn't leave my side for a week! I mean...if I just walked across the room to get a book or change the tv station, she followed!

I love her to pieces! She is my family.

[WindRavenX]

58. Oh that'd be great

A howler monkey-esq meltdown...And Kerry just standing there, hands folded on podium, calmly continuing to debate :)

[ClassWarrior]

10. Don't count on it.

His thin skin is a thing of legend - but he seems to pull through reasonably well in many of the tough situations. I wouldn't get overconfident about this...

[Bluebear]

17. I agree, they will have him Xanaxed up.

But it's fun to dream!

[MaineDem]

14. "Wimps"

Remember Poppy hated to be considered a wimp. I think it's inbred.

[kskiska]

30. Poppy's skin is even thinner

Remember how mad he got when Bill Clinton, campaigning for Gore, cited Junior's qualifications for president? "Well, my daddy was president, and I owned a baseball team…" Poppy got steamed and made a statement that if Clinton continues, "I'll tell him what I really think of him!!!" So there! (He even referred to Junior as "my boy."

[MaineDem]

32. I definitely remember that

Good thing Poppy's around to fight Junior's battles.

[Th1onein]

19. I doubt his handlers will let him debate.

There is going to be a very high terra alert to prevent that from happening.

[BurtWorm]

21. Is Tom Ridge working on a plan to cancel the debates

in case of terror alerts? :eyes:

[Karenina]

54. I also doubt it.

*dimson is incompetent. Everyone in the world, 'cept some really psycho Americans, KNOWS it. My kid could torch *dauphin in a debate, so many easily pushed buttons. I don't see the shadow gub'mint allowing Kerry to mop the floor with "their *boy." I simply don't see it in the cards.

[VOX]

20. * to press: "Who you talkin' to?"

Unless he steps up his meds, * will not change his behavior of letting fly with his pissy one-liners.

All that can be hoped for is that the media doesn't keep giving free passes to their favorite boy.

[blm]

23. Heh. Bush WISHED Kerry's Senate investigations of BCCI and IranContra

hadn't happened because his Harken deal with Salem Bin Laden was exposed there. Bin Laden was actually arrested for his crimes involving BCCI.

Does Bush REALLY want to go into what Kerry did in the Senate? BRING IT ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to LOVE the next 3 months.

[Cronus Protagonist]

24. Of course, he'll be on designer drugs and well trained for the "debates"

Gore tried to tick him off by standing too close and towering over him and it didn't work, largely I think to the anti-anxiety drugs Bush probably has on a drip in the green room.

SHOVE IT! - Drop Bush Not Bombs! - Hero Kerry AWOL Bush
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[democratreformed]

25. I can see it...

It will be beautiful to see that annoying arrogance get him in the end.

[geek tragedy]

33. Kerry should use the following phrases:

AWOL
deserted (the poor, the environment)
"restoring honor and dignity"

[enigmatic]

34. The Crack-Up

I think there's a real chance that either W or Cheney will crack in the debates, at least once. Edwards is going to grill Cheney on Haliburton like a ribeye steak; all Kerry has to do is challenge W everytime W trots out the "I'm a leader" BS and slap him (nicely, of course) w/ W's own words. And if W tries to infer that Kerry isn't a patriot for serving his country, then Kerry will nail him..

[ProfessorPlum]

36. I wish we could count on that

But remember, in the "debates" the candidates don't get to ask each other questions, usually. They are asked by some media whore who is on the GOP payroll.

And then, no matter how terribly Dick and Bush do, they will be declared the "winners". So don't hope much for the debates. It is a nice fantasy . . .

[Cat Atomic]

35. "WHO ARE YOU TALKING TO?!", says the boy king.

Remember Bush's tantrum when a reporter dared to call him "sir", instead of "Lord High Super Duper Fantastically Impressive Master of All Biscuits and Other Good Things", or whatever?

[QERTY]

40. The Reporter, Unlike All The Others, Should Have Said...

...a failure, a dumbass. Once in a great while the WH press corps has turned on Ari or Scott but I don't recall similar bravado with Dim Son. I truly wish that at one point, one of these obsequious pissants would come to the conclusion that if their job entails facilitating the userpation of our democracy, that it is a job no longer worth keeping.
Mr. President, why must you lie to the American people?
Mr. President, you seem drunk. Are you?
Mr. President, do you own a calculator and, if so, can you use it?
Mr. President, does all of the blood on your hands make it difficult to sleep?
Mr. President, FUCK YOU!

[snippy]

51. You shouldn't say" "Mr. President, FUCK YOU!"

You should say: "Mr. President, go fuck yourself!" I beleive this is the correct republican protocol when addressing elected officials.

[mermaid]

52. I Second That Motion

Mr. pRESIDENT...GO FUCK YOURSELF!!

[MuseRider]

41. We need to restart the

wimp theme. A bully like this would not be able to stand it. Look what it did to his daddy. It would be fun to drop that one in a major way the day of the RNC when he has to make his speech. They would need extra drugs making him look even worse or his head will blow.

[TNMOM]

53. Yes!! AWOL wimp!

That's exactly what he is. A wimpy leader trying to look macho by bullying the world. Let's make bumberstickers: Bush is an AWOL wimp.

[Pepperbelly]

42. When they shake hands before the debate ...

Kerry should whisper something obscene, derogatory, and egregiously insulting in Bush's ear.

What would work that would really set the mother off?

[yardwork]

48. It seems to be the military service.

It's insane for * to keep picking at Kerry's service, because * can't win this and all it does is call attention to his own AWOL pitiful record.

But * will not let it go. He's constantly got "vets" criticizing Kerry, suggesting Kerry didn't earn the medals, da da da....

It must really, really bug * that he was an AWOL twerp while Kerry served for real. He can't stand to see Kerry get all that attention.

I think that * is a narcissistic sociopath. I think that's one reason he invaded Iraq. In his fantasy he is a war hero.

I think that Kerry knows this about * and it is one reason why the Convention pushed Kerry's service so much. That and the fact that it is totally relevant that Kerry's background is a strength.

All Kerry has to do is whisper "AWOL" in chimp's ear and he'll probably take a swing at him! Missing, of course.

[Flubadubya]

43. "Can't wait to see the debates."

Hah! He will just demand that Cheney accompany him just like he did at the 9-11 commission testimony!

[AlinPA]

46. True , but that $87B funding for Iraq is being used every day by Bush*

and will be a "good hole card" for Bush*. He just said it again in Canton; it has to be very effective with vets.

[Pepperbelly]

49. During the debates over the $87 billion ...

David Firestone’s 10/22/03 New York Times report:

"The White House threatened Tuesday to veto its own spending bill for Iraq and Afghanistan if Congress made reconstruction aid a loan, taking its most forceful stand on the issue even as more lawmakers supported a reimbursement by Iraq."

All props to Bob Somerby who does such incomprable work at the Howler.

http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh073004.shtml

What else needs to be said? Bush preferred the bill that would fuck us more and Kerry supported a bill that was at least marginally better.

[grasswire]

50. the easiest way to rattle *....

...is to damn his father with faint praise. He would be off like a rocket.

His paranoia is very, very deep and real, too. He always thinks questioners are trying to "get" him. It should be relatively easy for a prosecuter to box him in and then let him self destruct.

Can't wait to see that head bob again!

[kodi]

56. I'm waiting for. "Excuse me, George, but just what war did you serve in?"

behind by nearly double digits in the polls, jesse helms used it aganst jim hunt in a 1984 debate and hunt exploded on stage. hunt never recovered, and helms won going away.

[goforit]

59. Hmmmm........but how many plane crashes is it gonna take?

Innocent people may take the brunt of that strategy.