Bush shows opponents he'll be tough to beat

Ann Arbor News ^ | Thursday, January 22, 2004

[demlosers]

Democrats will find it harder to be heard

President Bush's State of the Union address Tuesday night no doubt served as a ringing reminder to the Democrats running to face him in the November election why he will be so formidable an opponent.

Despite their attempts to diminish him as little more than a pawn of advisor Karl Rove, Vice President Cheney and wealthy campaign contributors, Bush to a majority of the 60 million Americans watching his address on television surely looked like a man confident, in charge and on a mission.

That mission, he made clear, was to safeguard the nation. "We have not come all this way, through tragedy and trial and war, only to falter and leave our work unfinished," he said, clearly suggesting in the same breath that he was the person best qualified to continue to lead that campaign.

Most Americans polled agree with him that he has done extremely well in the war on terrorism - Bush recalled that the country has not suffered an attack since the 9-11 hijackings - and see him as an exceptionally strong leader.

He also touted his tax cuts that most Americans say they favor, spoke of the country's economy rebounding and extolled his victories in education and Medicare reform that effectively have made him appear a champion of issues formerly considered under the thumb of Democrats.

He did so for 55 minutes on all the major networks without having to so much as dip into his bloated yet ever-growing campaign war chest.

His Democratic would-be opponents, meanwhile, had to settle Tuesday night for a few seconds of air time on those same networks, responding to what the president had to say.

Nevertheless, it's what the president didn't spend much, if any, time addressing that they undoubtedly will rail against in the weeks and months ahead in hopes of weakening his standing come the general election.

Things like the 2.5 million jobs lost since Bush came to office, the controversy surrounding Halliburton, the stalemate between the Israelis and the Palestinians, the roll-back of environmental regulations, the ballooning deficit and the holes the administration still is looking to fill in its campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq, and in homeland security.

As Tuesday night showed, however, getting heard won't be nearly as easy for them as for the president.

[EQAndyBuzz]

What's the point of listening when the RAT's have nothing to say?

[demlosers]

The Rats have a huge uphill battle. Bush will win, the question is by how much?

[thesummerwind]

Bush recalled that the country has not suffered an attack since the 9-11 hijackings - and see him as an exceptionally strong leader.

And, just imagine what the American populace will have to say about Kerry, the possible leader, when the public finds out he was a "thrower of someone else's military medals" kind of guy.

[Puppage]

Democrats will find it harder to be heard

Why, someone taking the NY Times away from them? Is Dan Blather retiring? Is the Washington comPost taking a hard right turn?

[hresources]

Shhhhhhh! Let's not let the cat out of the bag on Kerry too soon. We've already lost Dean as a possible opponent. We don't want to do anything to lose Kerry.

[glock rocks]

His Democratic would-be opponents, meanwhile, had to settle Tuesday night for a few seconds of air time on those same networks, responding to what the president had to say.

Oh, and a thrill that was... Nancy with her fluorescent teeth and catatonic gaze, reading her platitudes with a quaalude gait, and rambling tiny Tom, realizing for perhaps the first time that he had indeed just been neutered.

[thesummerwind]

Shhhhhhh! Let's not let the cat out of the bag on Kerry too soon. We've already lost Dean as a possible opponent. We don't want to do anything to lose Kerry.

YES! I figure the Clintons will allow Kerry to rock ahead for awhile............then kablooie!!!

Kerry may have to start singing the national anthem for very little reason, just like Doc Dean!!! ;)

This is all set up for The Rotten Crusty!

[azhenfud]

You may joke now that Bush has November all sewed up, and President Bush and his advisors may feel secure in his lead in polls at the moment. But need you be reminded President Bush won by a only a slim margin in 2000, and if he's not careful, he could easily alienate the more extreme conservative margin resulting in a loss of the White House?

Taking the constituency for granted? Nothing in politics is a sure thing until it's in the past tense - especially promises.

[Bonaparte]

"...had to settle Tuesday night for a few seconds of air time..."

A clear falsehood to anybody who actually watched. They got much more time than this and had plenty of opportunity to throw mud on Bush's SOTU.

[blowfish]

When you can blast money out of a firehose, you can knock down most any opponent...

[glock rocks]

A clear falsehood to anybody who actually watched. They got much more time than this

LOL. I watched. It seemed like it lasted forever!

[Howlin]

We've already lost Dean as a possible opponent. !

Exactly right! Let's not come out of the shute too soon!

[cynicom]

Showed his opponents??? Bush should worry about the people he has taken for granted.

[Howlin]

Can we not have ONE thread where that stuff isn't brought over here?

Just one?

[cynicom]

Well, the only thing I can suggest is that you not read these threads. I do not read books that do not interest me.

[Howlin]

You're only proving over and over what your agenda is. But keep it up.

[cynicom]

Why not keep comments on the subject, not personal.

[BushisTheMan]

I'm with you Howlin. Same ol' crap thread after thread.

[Howlin]

Why not stay ON TOPIC then?