War President (What Dubya needs to say to the American people)

The Washington Times ^ | June 28, 2005 | Frank J. Gaffney Jr.

[quidnunc]

Memorandum for President George W. Bush: The speech you will give tonight about the status of and prospects for the war will likely prove to be among the most important of your presidency. In the final analysis, the American people and history will both judge the latter principally by your conduct of the former.

Indeed, you were rehired by the voters largely because they had more confidence in your leadership as a war president than in your opponent's judgment and abilities. To continue enjoying this confidence, however, the speech must not be seen as a box-checking exercise in which today's theme will shortly be replaced, once again, by a renewed focus on domestic issues.

If you want the public to internalize and respond positively to the fact we are engaged in a life-and-death struggle that will determine the security of our children and grandchildren, you must make the war once again a central — and visible — focus of this administration.

Such a focus will require, among other things, the following:

-snip-

[Williams]

The leftists' focus on Iraq is tricking us into playing in their court. The liberal game plan since all this started has been to protect Syria and Iran. We should be thinking about how to expand our Iraqi success East and West, not buying into debates about whether Iraq is a "quagmire." Terrorists with car bombs cannot defeat the US military or the Iraq government.

Iraq is now a nagging problem which we are managing, not a serious threat. Syria and Iran are threats, to be eliminated as we did with Iraq.

[princess leah]

I think Bush ought to have weekly updates and go directly to the American People to keep us posted becauses all we are getting from the news media is BS! Clinton used the bully pulpit to excess while Bush, by not being more outspoken, allows the media to control what's being said at his and our military's expense. He may not be comfortable giving press conferences but can't he see that he plays into the dems hands by staying away from the press?

[onedoug]

He needs to condemn the Supreme Court's authorization for profit enterprises to take private property through eminent domain. Otherwise is his acquiescence to one form of one dictatorship over another.

[atomic_dog]

Hey W. crack down hard on the southern border, shut it tight as drum, and the people will be so surprised and elated that you'll get a pass on Iraq.

On the other hand that the oligarchs in the U.S. have decide that Hillary Clinton is going to be the President and so you have no choice but to do your best to make that happen. Sorry about that.

[Williams]

Agreed. The truth is that Bush is a crafty politician and he deliberately doesn't want to associate himself with the day to day details. IMHO that is a mitake in this setting.

[Tolik]

Very good article by Frank J. Gaffney Jr!

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[BayouCoyote]

Bump!

[hershey]

Excellent analysis by Frank Gaffney. Turned on Fox a moment ago and there was David Gergen blovating about what Bush needs to say tonight. If Bush heard him, let's hope he ignores the advice.