Bufoonery

In honor of Don’s superb description of the politician’s daily tribulations, and in honor of the start of the World Series, here are two recent examples of political bufoonery followed by a classic. First off, John McCain shows how tough he is. Or isn’t. He can’t seem to make up his mind. Actually he was joking or maybe not (HT: Drudge):

Republican presidential candidate John McCain told workers of small
weapons factory that he not only wants to catch Osama Bin Laden if
elected, but said he "will shoot him with your products".

"I will follow Osama Bin Laden to the gates of hell and I will shoot him with your products," McCain said.

McCain told reporters afterward he was joking when he made the comment at Thompson Center Arms in Rochester.

"I certainly didn’t mean I would actually shoot him. I am certainly
angry at him, but I was only speaking in a way that was trying to
emphasize my point," McCain said. "I would not shoot him myself."

Why not? Does he not think Bin Laden deserves shooting? Does he think it untoward to shoot someone, that it somehow smacks of the vigilante? Is it too violent an act for a man who would be President? Would he want Bin Laden brought to trial? Or would McCain simply delegate the task of shooting Bin Laden to someone else for some unmentioned reason? Was it really a joke? Can you name another joke that contains the phrase "gates of hell?"

Then there’s McCain’s competitor for the nomination, Rudy Giuliani, who at a fund raiser in Boston, goes out on a limb and says he is rooting for the Red Sox to win the World Series:

Rudy Giuliani, a big Yankee fan, said he will be backing the Boston
Red Sox over the Colorado Rockies when the World Series begins tomorrow.

"I’m rooting for the Red Sox," Giuliani said while wearing a red tie
during a press conference in Boston’s financial district. "I am an
American League fan."

The former New York mayor said he wasn’t pandering to the local crowd either.

"I am not just saying that because I am in Massachusetts. If I am in
Colorado in the next week or two you will see that I have the courage
to tell the people of Colorado the same thing," he said.

Yes, he is a man of remarkable conviction isn’t he? He’s not afraid to tell the people of Colorado that he is a fan of the American League. The only problem I have with this incredible tale of political courage is that no Red Sox fan ever roots for the American League team in the World Series if it’s the Yankees. And I doubt most Yankee fans root for the Red Sox.

My favorite political sports gaffe comes from John Kerry, Senator from Massachusetts who invoked "Manny Ortez" as a star for the Red Sox, combining Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz. He then corrects himself and refers to "David Ortez." He then mentions that this fellow, David Ortez along with Manny Ramirez and Curt Schilling and others will be off taking a break for the All-Star game when in fact the All-Star game break refers to the teams and people NOT playing and the players he names are actually playing in the game and hence going without a break. But the best part is Kerry’s comforting the listener that he and John Edwards won’t be taking any break. I assume he is referring to his relentless efforts to make my life better or at least win the nomination on our behalf. The Kerry clip is here. It ends with a clip of Kevin Millar giving a refreshingly candid assessment of sports talk radio. Kevin Millar will never be President of the United States.

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