[churchillbuff]

IMHO, the CAUSE of these fires isn't one policy or another. The CAUSE of these fires is the incredibly dry conditions, hot desert winds, and ARSONISTS.

ALSO, A LOAD OF KINDLING - BRUSH, DEAD TREES - THAT HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY WARNED ABOUT BY PROPONENTS OF CLEARANCE, AND PROPONENTS OF BUSH'S HEALTHY FORESTS. There was even a congressional committee conference held earlier this year at Arrowhead - which is burning now -- warning that if clearance isn't allowed, fire would be intense. Boxer has been blocking sensible forest management policies, going with the (literally ) stupid greens instead. POINTING THAT OUT ISN'T "SCORING CHEAP POLITICAL POINTS" IT'S TELLING THE TRUTH -- - AND IT'S TRUTH VOTERS NEED TO HEAR.

[FreedomPoster]

But idiot Greens can't handle the truth. It's time for the rest of the folks out there to pummel the Greens, politically.

[Poodlebrain]

I agree one hundred percent. The cause of these fires may be solely the responsibility of arsonists, but the effects have been magnified by the policies being attacked. And it is the policies that Boxer has supported which will be the targets of the advertisements.

However, be forewarned that such advertisements will be compared to the James Byrd lynching commercials sponsored by the NAACP during the 2000 presidential campaign. The Democrats and the liberal media will suddenly find a sense of outrage over the linkage between a tragedy and policies which would have had no deterent effect on the cause of the event.

[ER_in_OC,CA]

Thanks for all your responses opposing my position that using campaign ads with the fires as imagery would be a bad idea.

I'm curious if any of you could provide me some facts illustrating what portion of these fire areas have been substantially effected by clearing restrictions that are under Federal jurisdiction.

It's been my assumption that these fire areas are not predominately national forests.

If a majority of the burned region is directly under Federal control and or mandates for clearing, and there has been clear and decisive obstruction by the government, then I will agree more fully with the "culpability" argument.

I appreciate one of you linking a fact-sheet from the 2002 fires, but this isn't the 2002 fire.

I still believe that seeking to play the fire videos on campaign ads will turn off more voters than it will turn on. Most voters in CA aren't conservative firebrands, and trying to pin the fires on Boxer won't wash with the Dems and/or listless independents whose votes we need to defeat her.