Kiplinger: June, period leading to Bush going to Europe for the 60th D-Day VERY GOOD for GOP

Kiplinger Letter (can't provide link - subscriber site) | 05/28/04

[motife]

June will be a pivotal month in determining Bush’s fate. A series of high-profile events will put him in the spotlight.

Several summits plus the scheduled June 30 handover of power in Iraq to an interim government give Bush opportunities to shine or stumble.

His prospects for reelection may depend on how well he does.

The president is well positioned for success, in our judgment.

On Iraq, Bush will win UN approval for the transfer of power to Iraqis. His plan will be modified by France, Germany and others, but not so much that the president balks. He’ll use the UN action to claim that he has more backing on Iraq than foes credit him with.

And meetings with foreign leaders are sure to be well scripted.

D-Day anniversary ceremonies give Bush a chance to remind Europeans of America’s history as a liberator. He’ll have a prominent role as host of the summit of industrialized nations in Sea Island, Ga. A NATO meeting will be the trickiest. It’s doubtful that Bush will get more assistance in Iraq, but NATO allies won’t embarrass him.

All demonstrate the political value of being the incumbent.

They’re chances to look presidential that Kerry doesn’t have.

[motife]

In addition to this, the economy is becoming very robust. There is a head of steam that is way under reported now, but will soon be much clearer, due to some large extent to Bush's tax cuts. For proof of this, European economies which did not cut taxes in the downturn are having almost no bounce.

The advance/decline line in the stock market is INCREDIBLY strong right now. There should be a rip roaring rally into August, rivalling 2003's rally.

This would also follow the pattern of the 4th years of a GOP president, which on average have had big runups into Election Day.

The pro-American Allawi being named Prime Minister a month before the handover by acclimation on all sides, the fading into oblivion of al Sadr, all bode very well for Iraq, along with a drop in U.S. casualties in recent weeks.

Furthermore, Rasmussen has the head to head even again today, before the good things start happening. It's very early still, and it looks like no way to go but up.

Iraq, the economy, the stock market, and Bush should look much better by September and the time of the GOP convention. I think it's very good timing for the GOP to have the convention and it's bounce so close to Election Day.

[texasflower]

These things are going to be great for the President.

I'm looking forward to June and on to the election.

[bitt]

bttt

[F14 Pilot]

Bump!

[COEXERJ145]

Impossible. Bush is toast so get ready for President Kerry. All the polls and many members here say it so it must be true. /sarcasm

[kitkat]

GOOD NEWS BUMP

[Southack]

You can add to your good news list that the FBI reports that crime is down under the Bush Administration. Terrorism was likewise down for 2003.

Oh, and unbeknownst to most of the world, President Bush's team just negotiated peace between the Islamic north and Christian south in Sudan...ending a massive 20 year civil war that has claimed more than 2 million lives (expect the news media, however, to find some way to blame Sudan's impending famine on Bush, of course).

These are all items that ABC, CBS, and NBC are *forbidden* from telling the American public.

You simply aren't supposed to know that crime and terrorism are down, much less that President Bush just negotiated an end to the largest on-going civil war in all of Africa.

[Howlin]

And the Iraqis took their first step to self-governing today!

I think it's been a good week.

[JohnnyZ]

I agree, this is what I've been saying. I'm sure Rove et al are looking at the calendar very closely and thinking about how they can dominate the upcoming news cycles, filling gaps between momentous foreign policy events with key domestic and campaign initiatives.

Bush has some key things going his way in the months leading up to the election:

1. Progress in Iraq -- the handover. There have been a few milestones since the war started, but none since the new constitution was approved. The June handover will be the biggest milestone of progress since the capture of Saddam.

2. The growing economy. Every month of job growth until July -- basically the next two job reports -- are worth their weight in gold to BC-04. If we get another 200k/month in the next two reports, and at least another 0.1 drop in unemployment, the perception re the economy will be much improved.

3. The debates. Any exposure of John Kerry is bad news for the Democrats. Having horseface drone on and on in prime time will leave voters shaking their heads and wondering if Frankenkerry should really be eligible for the presidency.

[Southack]

"I think it's been a good week."

Yes!

This week's scandal was supposed to have been Bush or Rumsfeld or Cheney approving the Bin Laden's to fly back to Saudi Arabia after 9/11.

But when the left's darling lifetime bachelor Clarke took credit for that decision, they were left with a gap in their scandal calendar.

In the meantime, Iraq's casualties are way down from last month and our economy is booming.

Life is good.

[Howlin]

Now, with that movie about the weather coming out, it's "THE MOVIE THAT BUSH DOESN"T WANT YOU TO SEE!!!"

Peter Schurman from MoveOn.org was just on with Debra Norville and said that Bush was the one person standing in the way of saving the entire world.

[GulliverSwift]

What is the Kiplinger Letter?

[Right_in_Virginia]

BTTT

[NYC Republican]

I consider myself as news-savvy as they come, but I had no idea that a peace-accord had been reached in Sudan. Wow, talk about blatant media bias... Thanks!

[moonman]

I wonder if there is going to be news media abound with cameras filming Bush walking the beach of Normandy and focusing on stones miraculously set which Bubba Clinton just happened to stumble upon 10 years ago?

[motife]

"What is the Kiplinger letter"

It's been published weekly since 1921. Gives an unbiased heads up on business, politics, foreign policy, etc.

[norton]

I was aware of the pending truce but not of any particular US involvement in it; Southack, can you elaborate?

[RoseofTexas]

Let's see how much NEWS coverage all these events will get! I bet very little! I can't stand the pressWHORES!!

[T. Buzzard Trueblood]

European economies which did not cut taxes in the downturn are having almost no bounce.

You know, that's worth repeating.

European economies which did not cut taxes in the downturn are having almost no bounce.

[Southack]

"I consider myself as news-savvy as they come, but I had no idea that a peace-accord had been reached in Sudan."

Bush Administration Diplomats Achieve Breathtaking Peace; Ending 20 Years of Civil War In Sudan