Dissecting the new Bush ads - (Chris Matthews actually likes the ads - Shock and Awe time ;-)

MSNBC ^ | 3/4/04

[areafiftyone]

The first of President Bush's ads have been released, and it’s an important day in the Battle for the White house, according to MSNBC’s Chris Matthews. “We‘re beginning to see how President Bush and his experts plan to get him re-elected this November. ”

Chris Matthews talked to political strategists about the political ads. They studied them frame-by-frame, critiqued the quality and the messaging, and dissected what this means in the battle for the White House. Read their reactions to the three ads:

BOB GARDNER, REPUBLICAN MEDIA CONSULTANT WHO MADE ADS FOR GEORGE H. BUSH, BOB DOLE, AND GERALD FORD: This is great stuff. You‘ve had nine people beating up Pres. Bush for months, and what I‘m glad to see is that he came back positive. He didn‘t come back with just an anti-Kerry or an anti-Democrat message. I think it puts him above the fray. It makes him presidential. I think it‘s going to improve his numbers.

CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST, ‘HARDBALL’: It reminds me of one of those brilliant G.E. ads you see on Sunday morning, especially, maybe the one where the geeky guy meets the beautiful model from Latin America. Only in this case, the president meets Laura Bush. It looks like Laura Bush was put up there as the running mate.

STEVE MCMAHON, FORMER DEAN STRATEGIST, AND CREATOR OF DEAN'S ADS: She did look great, and I think the President actually might be better off if she were the running mate, rather than the running mate he has. They were beautiful ads. They were well done.

[MJY1288]

Has the cabal of losers over at DU declared a Jihad against Chrissy Matthews yet?

I'm sure they're calling him a right wing wacko by now :-)

[cinFLA]

Has the cabal of losers over at DU declared a Jihad against Chrissy Matthews yet?

We've got our own set of loser Bush-bashers on FR that the DU crowd props up.

[cinFLA]

I know we usually refrain from posting from DU but since this is from the ADMIN and mentions FR ...

"Now that we have a nominee, many people have been wondering what it means for Democratic Underground. The short answer is: We don't really know yet. Since last spring, we have had a rule on the books indicating that we would support the nominee, no matter who it was. There has been a lot of talk about the possibility of a "purge" of people who don't "get in line," but we have no intention of doing such a thing, nor would we want to. Thoughtful criticism of the nominee will be permitted, but we don't wish for DU to be a place where opponents of the Democratic nominee can post partisan attacks. Democratic Underground was created to be a safe haven where our members could get away from the drumbeat of constant attacks against us, our values, and our candidates. Now that we have a nominee, we do not want DU to become indistinguishable from Free Republic when it comes to bashing him, and we will do what we feel is appropriate to keep that from happening. We aren't going to make any immediate changes. Currently, we just want to wait a bit to see what sort of natural equilibrium develops on the message board before we institute any changes."

[dirtboy]

There has been a lot of talk about the possibility of a "purge" of people who don't "get in line," but we have no intention of doing such a thing, nor would we want to...Now that we have a nominee, we do not want DU to become indistinguishable from Free Republic when it comes to bashing him, and we will do what we feel is appropriate to keep that from happening.

So they're not going to purge ... unless they need to purge. I see they've mastered the Kerry-esque art of coming down on both sides of an issue.

[cinFLA]

So they're not going to purge ... unless they need to purge. I see they've mastered the Kerry-esque art of coming down on both sides of an issue.

I just saw Bush's speech. He says "Kerry has been in DC long enough to have taken both sides of just about every issue."

[dirtboy]

I just saw Bush's speech. He says "Kerry has been in DC long enough to have taken both sides of just about every issue."

Hehehe. Let's just call him Flipper and use the song from that show as his campaign theme (with a few lyrical changes, of course).

[areafiftyone]

No yet. They haven't posted this yet. They are very particular about what they post. If it's in Bush's favor they tend to ignore the article and not post it. Only the brave souls dare to post pro-bush articles and then they get blasted to kingdom come!

[CaptainK]

I always take my temperature when I agree with Matthews.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Actually, he is more like schmiegel from Lord of the Rings.
I bet registered could do something really funny and effective based on that idea!

[cricket]

Just heard that the firefighters are upset with a Bush ad that show them at Ground Zero - this ad is being criticised for terrible taste, etc.

What surprises me is that there are 'Firefighters' supporting John Kerry - what is happening here?

As for the ad, I have not seen it - but am wondering why they couldn't they have just used a 'towers' backdrop; instead of involving any group of people. . .

This campaign is going to be too long and too painful~!

[dfwgator]

I see they've mastered the Kerry-esque art of coming down on both sides of an issue.

This is why Senators make terrible Presidential candidates, their record is out there for all to see.

[CFC__VRWC]

Currently, we just want to wait a bit to see what sort of natural equilibrium develops on the message board before we institute any changes."

It looks like they're going to see which way the political wind starts blowing before they start not purging. Another Kerry-like move.

Funny that theyseem to be copying his moves, since this isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of Jean Luc Cheri, is it?

[Cicero]

Not talking about 9/11 is like the Jews saying "We will never remember."

The press would love to forget about 9/11 and move on. But we will never forget. Especially we will not forget when our enemies are still out there trying to do it again.

[Dr Snide]

remember to distinguish betweeen real firefighters and the unions that "represent" them.

[Coop]

I always take my temperature when I agree with Matthews.

You might want to sit down, then, because Alan Colmes liked the "9/11 furor" ad, too. :-)

[NYCVirago]

It looks like this article was written before today's smear campaign against the ads. And it just goes to show how a few reporters can find outrage when there is none.

[jmstein7]

BUMP!

[whereasandsoforth]

It's just another lie. No one was "outraged" by the ads, so "outrage" has to be created. Dummies can't be honest about anything, so why think they're honest about their emotions?

[CaptainK]

I just went outside to bay at the moon.