Originally Posted by
Crowe Diddly
The first time I saw my former Governor in person, I was probably a sophomore or junior in high school. Somewhere between '92-94. I used to sometimes cut my last 2 classes and walk to Newbury St in Boston to hit up Tower Records and Newbury Comics, then be back at school 2 hours later to grab the bus home. Anyway, right in front of Simmons College or thereabouts, Dukakis was walking down the sidewalk in a suit with briefcase, likely going to teach a class nearby after getting off the green line, and he was picking up trash off the ground as he walked by. That's a real-ass guy who gives a fuck.
Also, guy loves his turkey soup.
By all accounts, Dukakis was a nice, honest, unpretentious guy, and these anecdotes from you and Mumbles align with that.
Unfortunately, that doesn't always translate into a good Presidential candidate, and he was especially wrong for the late 80s, when crime was at its highest in modern history, and people were still skittish about returning to the high tax 70s.
As far as character of Democratic candidates from 1976-2016 goes, Carter and Dukakis were definitely at the top of the list. Good guys, not really cut out for the Presidency. Bill Clinton, on the other hand, was very fit for the Presidency and made an excellent candidate, but he was also a shady, dishonest jerk, and very likely a rapist.
I can separate the men from their politics. For example, I've always disliked Trump as a person, and that hasn't changed. And I have no doubt that if I went to work for him, he'd fuck me over at some point. Of course, I also strongly disliked Hillary as a person, so the last election guaranteed that someone I felt was selfish and dishonest would win the election.