Posted on 05/10/2004 12:16:44 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
These are tough times for President Bush and his administration. Reports and pictures of American soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners dominate the news. Worse images are still to come.
The fighting in Iraq during recent weeks has been the deadliest so far for U.S. forces. In the minds of many people around the world, both friend and foe, the United States has forfeited the moral high ground.
In his Saturday radio address, Bush declared the abuse of prisoners "a stain on our country's honor and reputation." Although the president maintains the atrocities were the work of a few, commanders in the field apparently ignored early warnings from the Red Cross of widespread abuse.
Amazingly, Bush seems to be holding his own against his Democratic challenger, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts. The president's approval ratings have slipped, but Kerry is finding little traction for his campaign.
Bush has made his performance as a wartime president a central theme of his re-election campaign, and the country is well and truly at war. But the worse the news from Iraq, it seems, the more the president's supporters rally round him. For them, the stain on the country's honor calls for stiffened backing for the commander in chief.
The strength of Bush's support perhaps draws on his resolve and optimism. For Bush, the economy is improving and, despite setbacks, Iraq is on the road to peace and democracy. Kerry believes the country is going in the wrong direction, but many Democrats don't see him as a candidate with conviction.
In November, May's poll numbers will mean nothing. However, before the August convention, Kerry must acquaint a majority of voters with his identity and message. If he doesn't, the Bush campaign will do the job for him.
Some political tacticians teach that a candidate can't win if he is too afraid of losing. To date, Kerry criticizes Bush well enough, but offers unstated caution and hesitation as alternatives, rather than boldness.
As missteps in the Iraq war demonstrate, global politics requires nuance. Bush decries it, while Kerry is capable of providing an overabundance.
The challenger needs a ringing theme that will carry above his careful calculations. In these dark days, Kerry might consider this: "It's the country, stupid."
Donna Brazile, who managed Democrat Al Gore's presidential campaign in 2000, said Kerry needs to be more aggressive in fighting back against the flip-flop image. Her advice to the Kerry campaign: "Don't be Gored. Don't fall into the same trap as the Gore campaign. Attack this head-on."***St. Petersburg Times column
..from bashing Bush and elbowing.....
Precisely why President Bush will win! He didn't seek the presidency out of his own ambition.
May the Lord continue to bless him and keep him safe.
And we all need to turn out to make that happen.
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