Marie Cocco: Bush's Trip Was Typical- All Politics, No Policy

NY Newsday ^ | December 2, 2003 | Marie Cocco

[presidio9]

I became acquainted with the peculiar co-dependency between politicians and cameras when I covered my first presidential campaign.

The candidate one day abruptly changed plans. Instead of a press conference set against what was supposed to be a picture-perfect backdrop, Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis would instead meet reporters at a hotel for a briefing allowing pads and pencils only. The TV crews revolted. Some refused to attend.

"As far as I'm concerned, if it didn't happen on camera, it didn't happen," an NBC man groused.

But what if it happened on camera, and still wasn't really real? What if the lens captures a set piece of propaganda and not a portrayal of some larger truth?

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Marie Cocco: Bush's Trip Was Typical- All Politics, No Policy

The policy is self-explanatory: We are in Iraq and we will stay as long as we have to.

Not liking something doesn't make it go away.

[mewzilla]

The policy is self-explanatory...

It is to anyone who doesn't have her head shoved up her...derriere.

[metalboy]

Hey, don`t you know Bush isn`t allowed to boost the moral of our troops? It doesn`t help the terrorists!

[metalboy]

It calls to mind another image from the recent past: The president standing with a bullhorn amid the rubble of the World Trade Center, surrounded by the sooty but grateful faces of firefighters, pausing from their arduous and sorrowful work.

At least he went there, unlike the last Prez who pretty much ignored that first WTC bombing, and ignored the fact that the mastermind of that bombing as well as three others involved all came into this country with Iraqi passports! (No Iraq link to terrorism? ha ha ha ..Yeah, Ok)

[malia]

"They say every picture tells a story, and that is so. A series of pictures, over time, eventually tells the truth."

Be careful of what you wish for Ms. Coco, Freepers have a slew of great pictures! Of your guy, also.

[wtc911]

Folks who are too far left and not quite bright enough for the Times write for Newsday.

[Republican Red]

Email: cocco@newsday.com

[mewzilla]

Too true. I daresay it's part of the job description.

[Southack]

After losing the 2002 mid-term Senate and House elections, then losing their prize California governorship in 2003, followed by losing their Kentucky and Mississippi governorships in 2003, and then after noticing that they were vastly behind in Presidential fund-raising and popularity, the Democrats in the news media have decided that their only hope is to criticize every breath that President Bush breathes.

And that criticism won't work for them, either. All that it will do is further inoculate the public, who have all grown weary of the daily anti-Bush drumbeat in the news media that so contrasts to what Joe Averages are saying to Jane Americans around our nation in everyday social and business settings.

[presidio9]

I thought it was "still the economy stupid."

[Don Corleone]

Ms. CooCoo and the libs can't recognize leadership when they see it. They have never associated with anyone in their own party that practiced it.

[colorado tanker]

The mediots are so military illiterate they don't understand that when troops are away from home for an important holiday, their commander has an obligation to sit down with them for a meal and show their all in it together. In this case, President Bush went way above and beyond the call of duty to show concern for his troops. That's what a good commander does.

[malia]

Here are a few good ones to start.

For Starters

[Wheee The People]

In her next breath Marie Cocco will say, with a straight face:
"I support the troops"

[sweetliberty]

[Steve_Seattle]

If Bush shows up at the sight of a tragedy, it's a cynical photo-op; if he doesn't show up, he's callous and indifferent to human suffering. The press will interpret Bush as they see fit, to cast him in the worst possible light.

[lilylangtree]

Just one more example of how the RATS are gnashing their teeth over Bush's Thanksgiving coup! Go W!

[sweetliberty]

"President Bush went way above and beyond the call of duty to show concern for his troops. That's what a good commander does."

It is classic projection. Because they never do anything wihtout an ulterior motive, they are incapable of conceiving that there are some people who do. Doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do escapes their comprehension as well.

[colorado tanker]

You nailed it.