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Why Bush’s War College Speech Fell Flat -- Know Your Audience, Speak to Them
Special to FreeRepublic ^ | 29 May, 2004 | John Armor (Congressman Billybob)

Posted on 05/27/2004 8:22:14 PM PDT by Congressman Billybob

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To: Congressman Billybob
No one gets to be President of the United States without substantial experience in public speaking.

Horse Puckey!!!!!!

201 posted on 05/27/2004 11:44:39 PM PDT by alaskanfan
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To: Texasforever

You know what I think is going to be a really moving, and important upcoming event? The appearance of the Iraqi National Soccer team at the Summer Olympics. That story was ignored by the venal press, but that is a tearjerker that is going to MOVE the American people.

When those guys walk into the Olympic Stadium as free Iraqis ... the contrast of their triumph against Uday's torture of Iraqi Olympic athletes just three years before will be an indelible and seminal image.

It's going to be a big symbolic boost to the understanding of what we've accomplished in that country and for that people.


202 posted on 05/27/2004 11:45:51 PM PDT by Barlowmaker
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To: texasflower

Dealing with FACTS is something they obviously didn
consider. The Color Poll Number is all abouit the Poll Numbe


203 posted on 05/27/2004 11:50:58 PM PDT by MJY1288 (Our Wounded Soldiers at Walter Reed Have Yet to be Visited by John Kerry. What's he Afraid of?)
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To: CWOJackson
It sounds as if you're looking for a soundbite.

Yeah, that's probably it. Imagine this coming from the president's mouth:

"Liberty encounters resistance again, and will win it over, once again."

204 posted on 05/27/2004 11:56:08 PM PDT by budwiesest
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To: budwiesest
Careful, your agenda is showing. You weren't even looking for sound bites...just anything to be critical over.

What a putz.

205 posted on 05/28/2004 12:01:36 AM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: CWOJackson

As a matter of fact, I am looking for a soundbite. Anything. Geeez, politicians these days bore one to death. Look at voter turnout. Where the h*ll are the statesmen? Men of great vision? Have you been insired by what you hear coming across the news channels?


206 posted on 05/28/2004 12:10:59 AM PDT by budwiesest
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To: budwiesest

Naw...if you were you wouldn't have posted that soundbite you did post. You're just looking to attack the President any way you can.


207 posted on 05/28/2004 12:12:43 AM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: CWOJackson
Sorry, you just don't recognize sincerety when it's presented. How jaded is that? My point was that no president, republican or demorcrat will state what we need to hear 'cause it may hurt their poll numbers.

ps, I'm not a putz.

208 posted on 05/28/2004 12:20:21 AM PDT by budwiesest
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To: budwiesest

I do recognize sincerity...and BS.


209 posted on 05/28/2004 12:23:50 AM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: CWOJackson

We're no longer on the same page. With any luck, Bush's numbers will rise bewteen now and November, but it won't be the result of his handlers. Nor his so-called friends.


210 posted on 05/28/2004 12:37:52 AM PDT by budwiesest
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To: budwiesest
"We're no longer on the same page."

We never were.

211 posted on 05/28/2004 12:40:18 AM PDT by CWOJackson
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To: *Old_North_State; **North_Carolina; mykdsmom; 100%FEDUP; 2ndMostConservativeBrdMember; ~Vor~; ...

NC *Ping*

Please FRmail me, mykdsmom or TaxRelief if you want to be added to or removed from this North Carolina ping list.
212 posted on 05/28/2004 5:13:59 AM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: Congressman Billybob; Torie
I think your entire premise is wrong.

His audience was the hoi polloi in America and Iraq, not political junkies or the officer corps.

His message was we will stay the course as long as Dubya is POTUS.

There was no sweeping rhetoric and nothing new for those in the know.

The speech was not one for the ages but it was all Bush. Solid, straight forward and consistent with the mission as he has defined it.

213 posted on 05/28/2004 5:41:36 AM PDT by jwalsh07
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To: Texasforever

Exactly!


214 posted on 05/28/2004 5:48:26 AM PDT by NYC Republican (How can Americans SERIOUSLY consider voting for an ADMITTED WAR CRIMINAL Scum like SKerry???)
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To: finnman69
I thought the speech was wonkish. But I would like to hear more inpsirational speeches on a more frequent basis.

Oh no... You're not wavering in your support also, are you?

215 posted on 05/28/2004 5:52:09 AM PDT by NYC Republican (How can Americans SERIOUSLY consider voting for an ADMITTED WAR CRIMINAL Scum like SKerry???)
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To: Congressman Billybob
Hey John, I just got CD's NC Ping today. This is a great piece, and an important piece. In reading the comments posted, some are surprising, some are thought provoking, some are jes' plain dumb, and some are excellent feedback that will make your piece even stronger if you are able to incorporate them prior to formally publishing this. These include the comments providing factual clarifications as well as those pointing out some minor logical flaws.

It has become apparent that FR is a superb venue (possibly the most efficient ever devised) for vetting an essay prior to publication. There are some great minds out there in FR, and they are eager to help!

We're all looking forward to one day seeing you displace David McCullough or Sam Huntington on the best seller list! Nice work!

216 posted on 05/28/2004 6:01:18 AM PDT by Huber (Clinton's military policies caused the Abu Ghraib debacle)
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To: Joe Hadenuf
The place is a freaking mess.

Pray tell, does this come for your extensive first hand experience with all that has and is happening in Iraq? Or could this possibly just be your own personal opinion, heavily colored by the fact that very few others seem to agree with you?

Your personal assesment of the situation in Iraq, while of the utmost importance to you, is meaningless to the the remainder of the world.

217 posted on 05/28/2004 6:04:41 AM PDT by been_lurking
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To: Congressman Billybob

The first rule of public speaking is: Know your audience. The second rule is: Speak to the interests of your audience. Many Americans were listening over the shoulders of the faculty and students of the War College (despite the inexplicable decision of all the alphabet networks not to cover the speech). But the first audience was at the College itself.

He was speaking to his primary audience, the American people. The few hundred in the War College don't compare to the millions watching on TV. The Army War College was a venue, not an audience.

218 posted on 05/28/2004 6:10:09 AM PDT by kabar
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To: All

no offense, but I reject your premise......it was a great speech, the country has already respopned in a positive way, what more could your want


219 posted on 05/28/2004 6:12:49 AM PDT by The Wizard (Democrats: enemies of America)
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To: Congressman Billybob
John, I respectfully disagree. You missed the audience. The audience was NOT the guys at the war college, nor even the American people. It was the Iraqis, good and bad. Bush was letting them know that they had to a) get their act together and get someone in charge; b) that we would keep killing baddies, and c) that after the June 30 handover of sovereignty, we would do as THEY bid. Rush pointed out that was critical, because after June 30 it is an independent government requesting us to stay and to look for WMDs!

Moreover, a military audience such as the war college is MUCH different than the "troops" in the field. A military audience is SUPPOSED to be apolitical. I'm surprised Bush was EVER interrupted by applause at such a setting.

220 posted on 05/28/2004 6:14:40 AM PDT by LS (CNN is the Amtrak of news.)
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