What a way to start the morning .... Imus talks about JK

[demdiva]

I was half asleep during Imus' conversation with Doris Kearns Goodwin when I saw Kerry's pic flash on screen, so I perked up and rewound about a minute to hear the whole conversation.

Imus started by talking about Bush's abysmal public approval rating (and the polls that were released yesterday) and then said that "The only person with a lower approval rating is Kerry ... and Gore is just as bad". He went on to say how much he likes Kerry personally and how he voted for him, but how he thinks he would have made as much of a mess as Bush. He (JK) can't make a decision to save his life and his wife (TH) is even worse. Thinks Gore is an idiot. Yada yada yada.

Please tell me this was just Don Imus being his typical curmudgeonly self.
I know we "don't believe in polls", but are there any recent polls on Kerry that support his comments????

[Mass]

1. Here - read the thread and you will see the numbers and the explanation

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=85997&mesg_id=85997

[demdiva]

3. grrr.... thanks for the info

However I support a lot of the comments in yesterday's thread. It's impossible to compare Kerry's approval as a minority Senator with the approval of Bush as the President of the United States.

Kerry's approval ratings are probably based largely on losing the election (democratic sore loserdom and republican rivalry) and on the american public's general displeasure with Congress. Additionally, as was noted yesterday, Bush's negatives are far higher then Kerry's. Kerry's negatives are reflective of a republican base.

[TayTay]

2. Kerry should schedule an in-studio visit

and answer these comments from Imus. (In person. Imus is vey rude to Kerry on the phone.)

Take it to him, in person and answer the charges.

[demdiva]

4. That's great idea

Has he ever been in studio? I rarely watch/listen to Imus.

[karynnj]

6. He was in December - a few days before his birthday party

In the studio, even most of Imus's cronies were impressed, with Imus repeating that that was what Kerry was always like. Kerry was great - he was very funny and very very likable. (At one point, Imus was asking something (2008?, not sure) and Kerry kept answering with little absolutely irrelevant answers (he reccommended Spamelot for example) - each time different but very light and smiling. (Imus's gang liked it - one kind of nudged Kerry at one point, then Kerry gave an answer.

Kerry was there to informally make the point that everyone knew what he was saying on the statements that the RW was trying to turn into Kerry says our troops are terrorists. After Kerry was gone, they were basically all saying he was a great guy and the news person showed he was digusted with how the RW was misinterpreting the issue.

So, it was shocking that Imus on St Patrick's Day was incredibly rude to Kerry - and dishonest enough that someone watching or listening could think that Romnney was the MA pol in the high 50s/ low 60s and Kerry down in the 30s - as no one in Boston likes him. (They only applauded when Imus asked, per Imus)

[demdiva]

8. Yeah ... unfortunately I'm sure a lot of people don't "get" Imus

Imus is a total curmudgeon. I think half the pessimistic stuff he says (which is most of what he says) is is just him spouting off ... he doesn't really believe it. And he relies on his cronies to offer another perspective (which sometimes they don't). He even said he like Kerry personally ... I think he's one of those "everybody in power sucks" kind of people too.

[karynnj]

11. I agree it's better that he says he likes Kerry than that he

dislikes him. If the comment is most often balanced by a negative comment though it doesn't help.

[demdiva]

5. How Kerry should answer polls (if asked)

"I think the american public is naturally upset that the 2004 election left them with such a horrible President and horrible Congress. When the democrats take back the Congress in 2006, we'll be able to fix the mess the republicans have created".

[wisteria]

7. I agree! face to face! n/t

[ProSense]

17. He should and

bring charts!

[jillan]

9. Ugh - I was hoping this was happy news.

Time to email Imus!

[wisteria]

14. He just got one from me. n/t

[jillan]

10. Oh sure - I go to Imus in the morning web page and look what is first

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9877519/
wtf??????????

Seems to me that Imus is the one that couldn't make up his mind if his life depended on it.

[e-mail]

Imus' email address if anyone wants to tell him to stop being so hard on Kerry.
I'm gonna give him a little piece of my mind.

on edit - my email

I happen to be a huge Kerry supporter.
John Kerry has never stopped fighting for us. After the election, he traveled abroad to meet with leaders in the mideast. He came up with his Kids First healthplan.
He is constantly on the Senate floor speaking out and speaking eloquently about what the Senate should be doing to move this country forward. He is fighting for health care, and end to the mess in Iraq and the world, fighting for small businesses, woman's rights, racism, and American's rights for freedom of speech.

John Kerry would have, and hopefully still will, be the exact person this country needs to get us back on track.

So when you speak about Kerry being a 'flip-flopper' or quote some ridiculous poll, all I can think is that you have been spending too much time listening to the right wing propaganda machine. Survey USA is the only polling that I am aware of that ranks Senators, and right now John Kerry has a 54% approval rating. His support on the internet, and on the Democratic radio talk shows continues to grow.

If you really feel this way about Kerry, maybe the next time you have him on your show you should confront him rather than pussyfoot around your feelings.

Sincerely,
xxxxxxxx
Chandler, AZ

[demdiva]

12. Nice letter!

[zann725]

13. Yes, but amazingly recently O'Reilly said Kerry should run.

You know how unpredictable, and flip-floppy those Repugs are. On this one, I'll "go" will O'Reilly. (Did I really say that?!)

Kerry is catching momentum the last month or so...I can feel it. He's getting lots of actual screen time on MSM, and talk shows. And his "energy" and "ideas" are clear and roaring. And the Dem Party ended up using most of Kerry's ideas (from the '04 run) in their proposed new plans NOW.

[demdiva]

15. Yeah .... Did anyone else see Hardball last night?

Trent Lott and Dick Durbin were squared off and Chris Matthews asked Senator Lott what he thought about President Bush supporting Jeb Bush (for president) in 2008. Senator Lott said of course President Bush would be supportive of his brother but he (Senator Lott) "not be supportive" of a Jeb Bush run for the White House.

Matthews, asked, "So do you think if Jeb Bush ran for president in 2008 against Hillary Clinton that he would win?" (paraphrasing) and Senator Lott answered that he thinks "Whoever the republican candidate is will be successful" ... after Chris Matthews accussed him of changing his mine, Senator Lott admitted "I don't think so. No." Dick Durbin tried not to laugh.

The funniest part for Kerry supporters ... later as Shrum and a republican political advisor (to Reagan) were squared off, Chris Matthews asked if we'd see another Bush/Clinton match up, and then he asked if Hillary would really be the candidate in 2008. When one of them (I think the republican guy actually) answered "No" ... Matthews offered "No I don't think so either". This really surprised me, because Matthews talks constantly about Hillary being president.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12721154/

[ginnyinWI]

16. I don't think Imus will stop--it's his bread and butter

He wants to be insulting and get a rise out of his listeners--has always been this way. I guess it's good that he says he likes JK personally--but clearly he doesn't want him to hold office.

As for O'Reilly--he might be saying what he says just because he thinks JK would be an easy opponent, just like some GOPers are promoting Hillary. I don't trust him, but will watch to see what he says to JK directly--that should be interesting.

[demdiva]

18. Yeah I agree .. although he also said he voted for him

I think his pessimism is directed at anyone in power and not just Senator Kerry.

I also share your skepticism of the O'Reilly comment.