Agence France-Presse reports that the Kerry campaign has invited a number of entertainment celebrities to Boston to help John Kerry overcome his "overly intellectual and pedantic" image:

US presidential hopeful John Kerry will get star backing from the likes of Ben Affleck at the Democratic Party's convention, but most activists from liberal California are saving their energy to protest against President George W. Bush. ... Some of the stars will extol the virtues of Senator Kerry and running mate Senator John Edwards to gathered party faithful, while others will simply bring glamour through their presence. ...

Celebrities leaving the firmament of Tinseltown for Beantown also include Bianca Jagger, Oscar-winning actor Chris Cooper, actor Sean Astin, actresses Christina Ricci, Ellen Burstyn and Janeane Garofalo, the rock group Red Hot Chili Peppers and super producer Harvey Weinstein, according to the non-partisan industry non-profit group Creative Coalition.

Bianca Jagger? Yes, the Republicans tremble at the very thought. Bianca's success, being based solely on her sexual association with someone who actually produced something, can remind everyone how John Kerry acquired his quality of life. At least, with this lineup, he's avoiding one of the risks of swamping his nominating convention with celebrities -- that he will be outshone, looking wan and disinteresting by comparison. It's impossible to look disinteresting when paired with Bianca Jagger -- also difficult to look stupid, too -- just like it's impossible to look classless (and ugly) when standing next to Flea, and impossible to look unfunny when sharing a stage with Janeane "Doomed, DOOMED!" Garofalo.

Another interesting point this article makes is that most of the street organizations that support Kerry won't make an appearance in Boston, instead aiming at New York and the Republican convention:

Groups such as United for Peace and Justice, the Coalition for World Peace and Baring Witness will not send representatives, preferring instead to keep their powder dry to protest at the the Republican convention in New York at the end of August.

"I don't know of any activist groups going to Boston," said Douglas Mattern, president of the San Francisco-based Association of World Citizens, which is calling for US nuclear disarmament. "Many peace groups are in protest mode over the war in Iraq and prefer to do that in New York."

This further confirms that whatever passion exists on the left is limited to Bush hatred, rather than any more than lukewarm enthusiasm for John Kerry. Their ABB rants fit perfectly with their strategy to only focus on protesting Republicans rather than supporting Kerry. Not all activist groups will be absent from Boston, though:

Only the women's group Code Pink and the anti-war International Answer Coalition are sending activists to Boston, but not to support Kerry -- the 25 supporters intend to protest against the candidate's policy on Iraq.

"It is clear that the Democrats are not for the end of the occupation," said Answer spokesman Richard Becker. "We understand that many people are horrified by Bush's policies and that they feel they have to support Kerry. But they should know who they are voting for as well," he said.

The Democrats should make sure that some of their celebrity invitees don't end up on the picket line outside the convention -- Garofalo, for one, is a public supporter of the neo-Stalinist organization.

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