Is Kerry Second Coming of JFK or MSD?

An
interesting and amusing column by Dan Payne, the Armchair Strategist,
in today’s Boston Globe, does a side-by-side comparison of John Kerry
(JK) and Michael Dukakis (MSD), the archtypical Massachusetts liberal who lost to 41 (Bush, Sr.). Payne, who in the past has worked for
both Kerry and Dukakis is now a Boston-area media consultant and Globe
columnist. (see here
for a note on why some politicians get known by
their initials
and others not).

MSD fired his campaign manager and floundered, JK fired
his manager and flourished.
MSD got nomination on momentum and attrition, JK
ditto. Jesse Jackson too powerful for MSD to ignore; Al Sharpton
no Jesse. MSD had lousy manual for general election; first page
of JK manual says, Don’t use Dukakis manual.

MSD didn’t fit in at State House, but ruled jungle anyway; JK doesn’t
fit in Senate club and never even tried to lead. MSD ill at ease on foreign
and military policy; JK most comfortable there. MSD ran on Massachusetts
Miracle; if JK keeps Massachusetts out of campaign, it’ll be miracle.
(With convention here, nearly impossible.)

MSD had staffers write jokes for Bulger breakfasts on St. Patrick’s Day;
JK has Hollywood gag writers do his. MSD stubborn, JK impatient. MSD
mows own grass, JK moves own fire hydrant. MSD married independent woman,
JK married two of them. MSD rode tank, JK Harley. MSD owns shirts from
Hawaiian Islands, JK owns Naushon Island. MSD shopped at Filene’s Basement,
JK Hermes. MSD took T to work, JK takes private jet.

MSD carries ACLU card, JK hunting license. MSD against gay adoption,
JK against gay marriage. MSD read Swedish land-use planning on vacation;
JK went to Rio for environmental Earth Summit. MSD plays trumpet, JK
guitar. MSD knows everybody’s name he ever met, JK knows every celebrity
he ever met.

MSD speeches prosaic, JK baroque. MSD could take punch, JK delivers them.
MSD reluctantly let me ridicule opponent Dick Gephardt as acrobat on
issues in TV spot; JK not reluctant to let me ridicule opponent Jim Rappaport
as lightweight wheeler-dealer.

MSD’s Boston Harbor, dirty enough to walk on; JK’s Boston Harbor, clean
enough to windsurf. MSD furloughed Willie Horton, murdering rapist; JK
jailed Howie Winter, murdering mobster. MSD brought down Ed King, JK
brought down Oliver North.

from the Boston Globe