Kerry doesn't have a personality problem. Period----> .

[ALago1]

This issue of Kerry's personality (or lack thereof) is somewhat puzzling to me. I never understood why this perception of "aloofness" originated.

At events I've seen senator Kerry speak, I've seen in my eyes an intelligent, passionate, statesman with a great sense of humor. He engages audiences well and they (evidenced by Iowa) seem to respond in an effective manner after hearing him speak and meeting him one on one.

In my opinion, he'll have no problem campaigning all over the country (with perhaps the exception of the deep bible belt south) should he gain the nomination. Don't worry about people seeing him as a cold, out of touch fogie. He'll do our party good. Who's with me??

By the way, I'm undecided in my support.

[creativelcro]

1. He's a shell... I'm not with you...

[Andy_Stephenson]

19. I have a hard time

With his more recent voting record myself. 500+ Dead Americans and untold numbers of civilian dead. Hard to erase that from my mind.

[JI7]

2. remember, the media wrote him off

the media kept saying his campaign was over. he had to go directly to the people and it worked. just look at his campaign events. he has great detailed answers and solutions to their questions and problems.the people also challenge him many times. they don't just accept his answer always.

[KittyWampus]

3. I Dislike People Who Pontificate

[ALago1]

7. I don't see him as one who pontificates

I will say that he used to be much more "longwinded" in the past. This didn't bother me as I saw such actions as showing off his intelligence and wide array of knowledge.

When he started gaining momentum again, Kerry dropped his roudabout way of speaking and now communicates in a more straighforward manner.

This wasn't an issue with me to begin with, but he has changed somewhat.

[intheozone]

4. I find him uninspiring. Sorry, I just do. nt

[girl gone mad]

20. I have to agree.

I've been watching all of the rallies on CSPAN, and I find him to be the least compelling speaker. It's real hard to pay attention when he's talking.

[arewethereyet]

5. I guess its all relative

if being reserved and statesmanlike is a personality problem then I guess so. But I have to give him credit for adding some spark over the past 4-6 weeks or so,

[quaker bill]

6. Sorry

Good post. You may even be right. However, I just find him irritatingly dull.

[sandnsea]

8. He's great

Once people get over their sour grapes or whatever peculiar obsession there is to bash him, they'll see it too. It's funny that this is the only thing the media ever talks about. He mustn't have been too much fun for Boston to cover over the years if all they could keep coming back to was aloof!

[lucidmadman]

9. JK looks better to me all the time...

I too am 'undecided'. I think it might be a hot vs cool thing between HD and JK.

[dolstein]

10. Sorry, but perception is reality

NT

[KC21304]

16. And as you know, perception can change very quickly.

[milkyway]

11. It may seem silly, but his voice is his biggest problem...

It's very muddy and drones unemotionally. He's got, by far, the worst voice of any of the candidates (repug Joe doesn't count). Dean has an electric voice, one that would be great for announcing football games, and Edwards, of course, is quite the talker (btw, has he finished answering any of the debate questions yet?)

[LBJBestEver]

12. Dean does have a good voice <nm>

[ALago1]

13. Interesting

I've always thought Kerry had the best voice. Very baritone and sophisticated. Maybe the voice has some role in the perception of a personality defect?

[AmandaRuth]

14. i don't know

my husband and daugher and i were mighty impressed after tonights 60 mins. I especially enjoyed seeing the younger kerry, as did my 12 year old, who views the Vietnam era as ancient long ago history.

[m-jean03]

15. IMHO he is my "ideal man"

Reserved yet warm,
gentle and down-to-earth,
calm and in control; commanding.

No Problem there!
GO KERRY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[HuckleB]

17. Unfortunately, it's very real.

Conversations with swing voters and undecided Dems leave me scared shitless at the prospect of Kerry's nomination. They just don't see a personality outside of the caricature of him being a boring, Washington insider who doesn't inspire.

It doesn't matter what he does to small crowds, or one on one. Most people will never get that from him. This issue can't be ignored, if we are to take back the White House.

[LSdemocrat]

18. I think Kerry's full of himself

To me he comes across as insincere and egotistical. To me whenever he speaks, I get the impression that he thinks that he is the greatest thing this country has ever had. For me he epitomizes the "vote for me, and I'll solve all your problems" mentality that Dean criticizes in his speeches.

Doonesbury cartoon from 1971 (from the Boston Globe's website):

[Old and In the Way]

21. and, and, and....he's got BO, too!

He's too tall, he's got funny hair, he's aloof and

he's going to be the next Democratic President of the United States.


Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeahhhh!

[isbister]

22. America has a short attention span

and Kerry's not a very good sound bite guy.

Look at the cover of Newsweek,he had to high-jack someone else's sound bite :-)