Do you think that Kerry is Dour?

[coloradodem2005]

He does take a serious stance on things. But they are casting him in the same light as Al Gore. Your thoughts.

[theorist]

1. But Kerry has the countenance of a "concerned Uncle" to

Al Gore's "vacuum salesman". Many voters wanted badly to vote for Gore, but were ultimately unconvinced.

By the way, when I read the title of the thread I thought you asked "Do you think that Kerry is a DUer?" I certainly hope he isn't: the Repugs would say "Look! He hasn't been present for roll calls because he's reading about remote control airplanes hitting the Pentagon!"

[ordentros]

2. no, just not transparent

many told me they voted for edwards because they couldn't figure out why Kerry voted the way he did.

if you are a republican, I don't think you are going to fall for liberal trappings.

Kerry will move to the right to pick up repubs and we'll see if the left sticks with him, or goes Nader.

[Newcastle]

5. For heaven's sake!

How much further to the right does he have to move? If he does move even further, he's lost me. I hope that calculation - which has never actually worked before - works this time. Republicans always vote for Republicans, while Democratic candidates always run as if they're courting these Republican voters who don't vote for them anyway. Now that's a winning strategy! No wonder the Democrats trounced the Republicans in 2000 and 2002!

[eileen from OH]

3. I hope not

but then again, while I voted and liked Al-Gore-The-Candidate, I absolutely LOVE Al-The-Former-Candidate.

I'm a-scairt that Kerry will be,like Gore-the-Candidate, afraid to take issues head on and afraid to give a goddam "yes or no" answer to questions, and instead will weigh every goddam word so as not to offend any potential voter and indulge in 5 minute answers. Hell, yes, most of the important issues demand at least this much time. But Kerry needs to develop the sound byte answer, the ability to condense and quip.

This is my major worry about Kerry-The-Nominee - that by not being himself, and by trying to be all things to all people, his message will be muddled and he will be unable to distinguish himself in a debate.

It ain't the "dour" that troubles me, it's the "5 minute dour" that does.

eileen from OH

[slinkerwink]

8. exactly---it's why I don't have a lot of confidence in voting for Kerry

in November.

[ozone_man]

14. Or is he just beng himself?

This is my major worry about Kerry-The-Nominee - that by not being himself, and by trying to be all things to all people, his message will be muddled and he will be unable to distinguish himself in a debate.

After being in Washington as long as Kerry has, I think this may be John Kerry, even if it wasn't originally. A waffler, afraid to speak his mind in committing sound bites.

[Daisey Mae]

4. I think dour ...is an un nice way of saying serious.....

HE JUST IS NOT DOPEY LIKE W so they say he is dour......

[bitchkitty]

6. Dour? I wouldn't say that -

but I wouldn't compare him with Al Gore in any fashion other than the fact that they are both men. Dour? No. But if I were a kid, he would scare me.

[silver state d]

7. stern, serious, dour... he is a serious guy but

that will have appeal this year tis time fer the grown up to take charge.

[sandnsea]

10. Kids adore him

People sure don't know who John Kerry is.

[emulatorloo]

11. Kids are drawn to him - - - thanks for those pictures

I was impressed in Iowa how comfortable kids were with him and how genuine he was around them.

[bitchkitty]

12. A photo op proves nothing.

I recall plenty of photos of George W. Bush with children.

Some of these children may well become fodder for warmongers like Kerry.

[Piperay]

9. Serious yes but

Kerry has much more fire and fight in him than Gore had.

[salin]

13. Gore's fire... never appeared

for mass consumption.. until he reemerged after 2000 at the 2002 Florida Democratic Convention. I think that the reemerged Gore would have done much better in 2000.

I find Kerry very serious. But not as stilted in speech as Gore. I don't know that I would call him firey - but very firm (with fire periodically emerging.) And yes, his campaign shows much more (frequency and effectiveness) fight than that of Gore's in 2000.