Bill Clinton worked it so that his "Late-Nite Joke" negatives were positives

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

The standard, thoughtless Jay Leno style Clinton jokes were all about how he ate too much and was always horny.

Neither of those traits were really negative... they are humanizing good-old-boy traits.

GW Bush's cheap laff trait is being a moron.
GHW Bush's cheap laff trait was being weak and indecisive.

Those are bad qualities of a President, so they actually hurt.

I was recalling this about Clinton while watching a clip of Jay Leno saying Giuiliani's lead in Florida evaporated as fast as his wedding vows, and thinking what Leno's cheap-laff trait of Hillary would be.

It would be she's so tough, or mean, or bossy. Because she's a woman, those traits are considered paradoxical, and thus funny. But jokes like that just reinforce the public perception that she is strong, just as Bill's laff traits reinforced the perception that he's a regular guy.

All politicians should develop/steer their comedy persona, because most people get more political news from Jay Leno then from any other source.

[Bicoastal]

1. Honestly? Jay Leno isn't necessarily the reason Americans are so stupid about politics...

...but he's definitely a prime indicator that they ARE.

:thumbsdown: Leno.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. He shapes the dialog among swing voters

People who watch Nightline or PBS or cable news already know who they're voting for.

Leno owns the clueless folks who actually decide all national elections.

[hisownpetard]

3. Really? Jay Leno?

He can't even write his own monologue. How could he possibly have any say
in a political dialogue?