Democrats Grapple With Dukakis' Legacy

[Khephra]

Democrats Grapple With Dukakis' Legacy
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: July 12, 2004


Filed at 2:52 p.m. ET

BOSTON (AP) -- Michael Dukakis is not expecting a starring role at the Democratic National Convention, even though it is being held in his home state.

Fairly or unfairly, the former presidential candidate represents every political label that Democrats want their current candidate to avoid: liberal, soft-on-crime, tax-and-spend, and loser to a man named Bush.

To embrace him would surely dredge up unflattering memories of the oft-caricatured politician's amazing plummet in the 1988 campaign -- and invite trouble for this year's nominee from Massachusetts: Sen. John Kerry, who served as Dukakis' lieutenant governor for two years.

``The first rule for the Democrats is to avoid a picture of John Kerry and Mike Dukakis together at all costs,'' said Rob Gray, a former spokesman for Republican Massachusetts Gov. William Weld.

``Dukakis' race was an embarrassment for the party. He blew a 17-point lead. And the party feels in retrospect that they nominated the wrong guy.''


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Democrats-Dukakis.html

[jayfish]

1. Alright, Who Comes Up With This Crap?

I don't think I have even heard the name Dukakis in about a year. Hooray for the "liberal" media. They know where the real stories are.

Jay

[bemildred]

3. Indeed, what crap.

Looking for anything that will stick, like a week or two
ago when we had to belabor Clintoon's blowjob all over again
for a week. :puke:

[ixion]

14. Indeed... the timing here is suspect

Why bring this up now, if at all?

Where's the Rethugs grapple with legacy of death and destruction and draconian tactics article?

Geez. :eyes:

[wyethwire]

24. It must be a real slow news day

to come up with a nazel gazer like this

[wyethwire]

25. Surprised this wasn't in the Boston Globe

they normally indulge in this sort of self-indulgent thumb-sucker reporting.

[wyethwire]

26. Hub man killed in atom blast n/t

[Logansquare]

2. Republicans grapple with Nixon legacy

Take that!

[bemildred]

4. Yeah "Republicans grapple with Hoover's legacy" ... nt

[FredScuttle]

15. and Wendell Wilkie's legacy

and Dewey
and Goldwater
and Ford

what a bunch of malarkey

[calico1]

5. Just what I was going to say.

How come nobody brought that up when Bush 1 was running? Dukakis never got to be President. How lame can they get?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. Trouble is, they don't grapple with anything...

They seem to think it's their birthright to screw everybody over with no apologies.

That's why they hate Nixon...He had the audacity to resign in disgrace.

[DenverDem]

6. cheney that, publicans grapple with busholini legacy.

Worst. (pseudo)President.Ever

[progressivebydesign]

7. Bush can't carry Dukakis' lunch!

What a piece of shit article. ``Dukakis' race was an embarrassment for the party. He blew a 17-point lead. And the party feels in retrospect that they nominated the wrong guy.'' Bullshit... Bush, Atwater, and Rove did it.

Dukakis is a brilliant man. These people are assholes.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

20. It's sad that Dukakis is marginalized so

He was indeed brilliant and he was also the longest serving governor in Massachusetts' history.
I agree though that with photo ops in consideration he should be avoided in pictures with Kerry for now.

[progressivebydesign]

23. I met Michael and Kitty a few years ago....

.. and had the pleasure of hearing him speak on economic issues. He is truly a gifted man. It was such a source of frustration to hear him speak so clearly and brilliantly about our Country, and the world, and know that the Bush gang just destroyed him politcally. HE is the type of president the country could use... knows what the hell is going on. When we started electing presidents based on image and looks, we were sunk.

[xxqqqzme]

8. what, pray tell, is

'The Legacy'? He was not elected and Xcept 4 the commercial last year has been low profile. What Xactly is his legacy? I would think Clinton would have erased a Dulakis 'legacy'.

The whorporate media just eats this shit up The saurov machine pumps it out and they eat it up.

[yorgatron]

9. cheney grapples with

evil sack of shit legacy...

[tom_paine]

10. AP is a Bushevik Organization. This is a standard hit piece

using innuendo, asscoiation, connaotations and Newt's Contrasting Words.

As little as I trust AP pieces where the particular Bushvik Mockingbird is named as author (well, I have no doubt there are a few honest reporters left, most with Bushevik ockingbird Bosses, though), the only thing I would trust less is an unsigned AP Piece.

AP is crooked and very Bushevik influenced and controlled.

It is NO coincidence that AP was selected to do the Imperial Exit Polls where all polls will now agree with The State.

[dolstein]

11. Don't blame me, I voted for Gephardt in 1988

NT

[King of New Orleans]

12. I voted for Paul Simon

Wish that ugly son-of-a-gunderson had gotten the nomination.

RIP

[gratuitous]

13. Should I hold my breath waiting?

How long do you suppose it will be until the Times runs a story with the headline: "Republicans grapple with Dole legacy"?

Tell me that one about the librul media again? That one allus cracks me up!

[Piperay]

16. Dukakis' worst legacy

was that he let the Liberal label be sullied and never made an attempt to defend it. If a picture of Kerry and Dukakis turns up Kerry should use that opportunity to right the wrong that Dukasis did to the liberals. If a picture of Dukakis as "Rocky the Flying Squirrel" turns up Dukakis is just going to have to live with that all over again and hopefully Kerry won't repeat that mistake by riding around in a helmet and tank. :puke:

[boobooday]

18. What a load of cak

What a bunch of idiots.

A perfect example of how the media fall all over themselves to print the most outlandish garbage from the Republican party.

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[ScreamingMeemie]

19. What a joke. A big joke. Let's try and pull out all the bad

marks we can from the past...:eyes:

[agincourt]

21. I will never figure out,

how willie horton and the goofy tank, trumped the treason of Iran-contra and the outrageous S&L scandal. Sheeple will be sheeple, I guess.

[Mandate My Ass]

28. You said it

More from the Lee Atwater school of filthy smear campaigns disguised as "news."

[Solly Mack]

22. another right wing talking point developing...

[Dr Fate]

27. Reply: BS- the only people "grappling" with Dukakis are RWers.

Text:
Go ahead, let them believe Kery is Dukakis. It aint happening.
In fact, I have never heard a Democrat mention his name in years- just pundits.

[Longhorn]

29. Better not get a photo of * with Poppy!

After all, Poppy lost to a man named Clinton!

Since when does anyone care what "a former spokesman for Republican Massachusetts Gov. William Weld" thinks on Democratic issues?

[WI_DEM]

30. can't the media let this rest?

They dredge up McGovern, Mondale and Dukakis like they are boogey men when infact they had more principles in their little fingers than most national democrats today have in their whole bodies. McGovern and Mondale had the unfortunate task of running against popular incumbent presidents--especially Mondale in '84 when it is highly doubtful any democrat could have beat Reagan. Nixon in '72 was coming off of the Russia and China trips and de-escalating the war in Vietnam to a certain extent. Dukakis, I'll admit it he blew a strong lead--but he is a good man. All three deserve the respect of the democratic party.

[LefterThanMost]

31. Kerry should embrace Dukakis now!

Dukakis is the heart and soul of the Democratic party. Why on Earth would Kerry hide that fact? Only the hard right has a problem with Dukakis and Kerry needs him now more than ever.

[leesa]

32. total RW propaganda. How transparent!

[Media_Lies_Daily]

33. Non-NeoCons are grappling with FratBoy's future legacy....

...just imagine what that guy is capable of doing if he somehow manages to retain control.