WHO THE HELL is Helping John Kerry!? He was ON FIRE in CO.

[Nimble_Idea]

He has finally started speaking like a normal human to people. He doesn't say subsidizing anymore!! He says Stop rewarding companies for shipping jobs overseas with YOUR OWN MONEY. It's great!!!

I smell landslide now.

[sonias]

1. He is the great closer

He just got his groove back.

Sonia

[MADem]

2. Carville n/t

[kaitykaity]

4. Yeah.

I remember JC used to bitch-slap Kerry about
his language all the time on Xfire.

Kewl.

[jjmalonejr]

3. A LOT of people are helping John Kerry

Unlike our current President, he listens to a broad range of differing opinions, and makes GOOD DECISIONS based on the advice he's been given.

I, for one, long to have a person like that back in the White House.

[tomfodw]

5. We got your back, Senator!

[theHandpuppet]

6. "Normal" humans don't use words like "subsidizing"?

Now that, my friends, is what truly scares me.

[evilqueen]

15. Average people understand "subsidizing" but...

You've got to remember that 50% of all people are below average. You can't "talk down" to them. You have to speak at their level. Those that are "above average" will still understand, but by speaking to those "below average" you're including everyone.

You have to be inclusive to win.

[theHandpuppet]

17. I strongly disagree!

To assume that anyone has to "dumb down" their vocabulary to be understood IS "talking down" to all people. To think for a moment that you have to lower your standards to be understood by the "below average" norm is condescending and insulting to those same people. As for myself, I would rather be puzzled than patronized.

[evilqueen]

21. I never said "dumbing down"

we have a choice about which words we choose to use. Talking way above people's heads proves you're intelligent, but those that don't understand will not sit there and listen, they will tune out. The same is true, for the most part, online. How many people will sit there and read through an entire bill slated to be heard before the House or Senate and get to the end and know wtf it was about? Not many, I can tell you that. Instead, we go to places that will tell us, in easier terms, wtf it says... written in simpler terms, layman's terms, so that we (who are not lawyers) can comprehend and make up our minds if it is a good bill or not.

To deny that people do that is to deny reality.

Lawyers, which most congressmen and senators are, speak in their own language. Doctors do too. They do it all the time... and they translate it for us, so we can understand. And I don't feel like they're "dumbing it down" for me, they're translating it into a language I can understand.

[theHandpuppet]

31. Using standard English...

... should not be considered talking way above people's heads. When the mere use of a common word such as "subsidizing" warrants an accusation that a person is trying to prove themselves intelligent, then we as a country have more serious problems with our educational system then I could ever have imagined.

[LiberalFighter]

32. Don't use more than 1 BIG word in a sentence.

That way it won't be too condescending and will still get the message out.

[rlev1223]

33. and don''t use a sentence.....

where one word will do.

and never start any sentence with the ominous phrase "let me give you a few facts..." (as the LA Tmes pointed out today)

[FrankenforMN]

7. "Finally"? How many stump speeches have you seen?

Kerry has been on fire for months.

[BlueNomad]

8. Kerry is ...

well known for being able to take advice, to read, to think, to weigh options.... Now that's a bit of fresh air, especially when considering he's about 25.5 times more intelligent than Bush and thus, would not have to be as open to the views of other "experts" ....

[KC21304]

9. Great. And I wouldn't mind if I didn't hear him say " middle class"

again before the election. I'm glad he is refreshing his rhetoric. I would love to hear him start ridiculing the " Dick and Lynne" standup routine. And he could say that if Bush was not lying about and taking out of context everything Kerry has said in the campaign, he wouldn't have a thing to say.

[meow2u3]

18. Kerry actually mentioned average American citizens

...and that Kerry knows, and will help to alleviate, the struggles Bush caused them. He didn't say these words, but that was his message.

[Boomer]

10. Where the hell did you go to school?

>> He has finally started speaking like a normal human to people.

I'm not sure I even want to know what you consider to be "normal" speech, but if a simple word like "subsidizing" doesn't make the cut then it's no wonder this country is in such trouble. John Kerry may be somewhat discursive and dispassionate in his delivery at times, but I've never found him to use language that required anything more than standard cultural literacy.

One of the most eloquent and impassioned speakers in Washington, DC is my own senator from West Virginia Robert Byrd. I always consider it an honor that he serves in his post with such distinction and without lowering his vocabulary to some putative "normal" level. He is living proof that West Virginians can support and appreciate a learned man.

[foo_bar]

12. someone did a Flesch-Kincaid count on the debates

Bush's transcript played at a "6th grade reading level" as Kerry clocked in 7th. Gore was an 8th grader like Clinton, Bush 2000 still 6th. Here's some depressing bar charts to that effect:



http://www.yourdictionary.com/library/presart1.html

[Boomer]

16. Interesting, I wonder...

...where Byrd would fall on that scale?

He reminds me of the orators of the 19th century, speaking with an eloquence, rhetorical flair and depth of knowledge that makes his speeches a delight to experience.

Ironic, is it not, that at a time when illitercy was widespread throughhout the United States, politicians were *expected* to be good orators and to write their own speeches, as well. Speeches which have been recorded in history and read over and over again long after they were delivered.

Now, at a time when literacy is much more common, politicans are being asked to speak down to their audiences rather than uplift them.

[evilqueen]

27. You can get text analysis for any web page here...

textalyser.net

It gives you a Readability (Gunning-Fog Index) : (6-easy 20-hard) rating, which may or may not be grade level, I'm not sure.

FWIW, my blog is currently a 7.9, but it depends on what text is on the page at any given time. I've seen mine rated at 11 as the highest, so far.

They've also got this part in Beta:
Readability (Alternative) beta : (100-easy 20-hard, optimal 60-70), mine is currently = 45.7

[sandnsea]

11. That's who he's always been

The reports of wooden, uncharismatic Kerry are grossly overstated. The John Kerry in Pueblo is that John Kerry he has been since forever. He knows how to give a "Presidential" speech, and he knows how to talk to the people. And he's been using that overseas line forever too. Glad you watched him though, it was great! The best NEW line is, "start giving the reconstruction money to the people of Iraq and stop giving it to Halliburton". Now THAT is a new plan for Iraq and shows the clear difference between Kerry and Bush. Money to the people, here and in Iraq; vs. money to corporations to "trickle down".

[henslee]

13. "I love the smell of landslide in the morning".

[diamond14]

14. Kerry has ALWAYS been a GREAT SPEAKER...most people never

heard Kerry speak....until the debates, and more recently, the very few KERRY speeches that are broadcast in full (sometimes on C-span, not much elsewhere)....


Kerry was ON FIRE in Iowa in January...when he won the Democratic Primary in Iowa....his acceptance speech was VERY Presidential and ON FIRE....


it's sad that Kerry still doesn't get much National TV coverage, while bush* gets the same-old repetitive, messed up words on TV ALL THE TIME.....if more Americans could hear KERRY speak, they'd be IMPRESSED, just like they were at the debates....KERRY will be a GREAT PRESIDENT, a real leader, and an impressive public speaker representing all Americans on the World Stage....

[Generator]

22. Yes yes yes!!!

Even I (oh fer shame) bought the propaganda. (I too thought it was going to be Dean and thought Dean was the firebrand we needed)

Kerry was dull. Then I saw him, then again, then again and damn he impressed me every time. And he's warm and real and smart, and oh damn, maybe this stupid country doesn't deserve him but you & I do!!

[faithnotgreed]

23. yeah!

[tarheel_voter]

30. Kerry speaking style

one of the * shills said they didn't like his speaking style in the Senate... Maybe he was just a little too Presidential!!!

Kerry sounds very sure of himself, and inspires confidence in all who see him. And as we saw in the first debate... he barbecued poor *... the only way it could have been any better is if the Presidents podium had been made out of Mesquite!

[bush equals idiot]

19. He loved delivering that line about Bush stadium.

[Cha]

26. And Salazar liking beer but would not

be drinking any Coors for 10 days!

And Kerry delivered it so WELL!

[TheDonkey]

20. He's been a lot more relaxed lately, I've noticed

of course I always think he's great but he's REALLY casual now. I find it very cool.

I saw him on CNN ridiculing bush saying "it's hard work" hillarious.

[AnIndependentTexan]

24. Does anyone really need to help Kerry?

I believe this is the same Kerry that many have seen in Going UpRiver of him as a youth. He was observing how the campaign was being ran and made the changes he needed to. Kerry is a man of great wisdom.

[Cha]

25. I know Kerry was on Fire in Pueblo, Colo!

I watched the whole thing on c-span and I was emotionally spent afterwards..and from seeing all the faces in the crowd..they felt the same!

:dem: WE HAVE KERRY'S BACK AND KERRY HAS OUR BACK! :dem:

[spooky3]

28. John Edwards and Bill Clinton

[harpo]

29. Clinton has probably given him some good tips :)

[txindy]

34. I always thought JK spoke very well. He appears so much more

comfortable, now, IMO. Relaxed and really enjoying himself. The election is in the homestretch and he's cruising along just great. Plus, look at the material he has with which to work -- four years of Junior & Co.! Who wouldn't be on fire?!