"Attack dog-in-chief?"
Posted on 08/14/2004 6:16:31 AM PDT by veronica
AMERICA was reintroduced this week to one of its most charming, gifted, relaxed, wily, plainspoken and ruthless politicians: George W Bush, the candidate.
If the US president loses his re-election bid on November 2 - a fate that is a real possibility - it will not be because he lacks the skills needed on the stump. Love him or loathe him, the past ten days have reminded voters and political journalists just what an effective campaigner Mr Bush is.
As he and John Kerry, his Democratic opponent, have engaged in the first intensive round of election-year combat, sparring with each other as they criss-crossed the country's battleground states, even Senator John Kerry's friends admit that Mr Bush has run rings around him.
At the same time, Mr Bush has donned a persona with crowds that has proved disarmingly effective all his political life: funny, down to earth, slightly humble, with an artfully simple message delivered in skilfully crafted short sentences. It is an image that deliberately hides a man with formidable political gifts and instinct.
Just 11 weeks before polling day, Mr Bush does not have the strongest of electoral hands. His job-approval rating remains stuck below 50pc, a perilous position for an incumbent president.
More than half the country is now unhappy with events in Iraq. Last week delivered disappointing employment figures, with only 32,000 jobs created in July.
Yet Mr Kerry's messages on the economy and Iraq were drowned out by a president who, helped by Vice President Dick Cheney and his attack-dog-in-chief, outsmarted and out-joked him.
Mr Kerry's problems began when Mr Bush challenged him for a yes-or-no answer on a critical campaign issue: if he knew last year before the invasion that no weapons of mass destruction would be found in Iraq, would he still have voted for the war?
Mr Bush, whose own answer is an unequivocal yes, knew that Mr Kerry's position on Iraq is by necessity more complicated, not least because he voted against Mr Bush's later request for $87bn (€70bn) in post-war reconstruction funds, at a time when he needed to appease the anti-war tide dominating the Democratic primary race.
In a sign that Mr Kerry is still struggling to crystalise a clear message on Iraq that convinces a majority of voters, he had to debate with his aides on how to respond to Mr Bush.
On Monday, he declared that he still would have voted for the war, but handled the lead-up to war and the post-combat phase differently. Then Mr Kerry surprised aides by declaring that he could begin to reduce US troops in Iraq significantly within the first six months of his presidency.
On Tuesday, at a rally in Florida, Mr Bush pounced: "My opponent has found a new nuance. He now agrees it was the right decision to go into Iraq. But just remember, there are 83 days left in the campaign, time enough to change his mind again."
Over troop reduction, he accused Mr Kerry of sending "mixed signals" on Iraq and giving succour to Iraqi militants. The senator's aides were forced to issue "clarifications".
Jo Biden, the veteran Democrat senator, conceded that the first round went to Mr Bush, despite the renewed insurgency in Iraq and poor job figures, which abruptly forced Mr Bush to drop the claim that the US was "turning the corner" on the economy.
On Thursday, Mr Cheney ridiculed Mr Kerry for saying that he would fight a "more sensitive" War on Terror, ignoring the fact that Mr Bush used similar language last year.
Yesterday, as he ended his 15-day, 22-state cross-country tour in Oregon, Mr Kerry began what his aides said would be a two-week offensive on the economy. But that message was overshadowed largely by Mr Bush's success in focusing on Mr Kerry's position on Iraq and terrorism.
Mr Bush is in the fight of his political life. He is running neck-and-neck with Mr Kerry, himself a veteran campaigner.The President is largely at the mercy of events in Iraq, and on the economy.
Kerry is only the second worst thing that could happen to our country. The number one worst thing is the junior senator from New York.
"Attack dog-in-chief?"
Kerry is running on four months! A goofy public lurks out there..........Kerry has squandered an endless string of good luck and fortune in his political life, passing on every opportunity to be something exceptional. Now, claiming to be exceptional purely by osmosis and circumstance, he sells us courage with no inventory to sell.
Former Governor Weld came close and you are right, an entrenched democrat senator in Mass. shouldn't have any problems getting reelected. After all they reelect a murderer time after time.
Coombes tried to pin that on him last night. He said it in March 2000 and, as Mr. Newt (I think it was Mr. Newt) pointed out, he was talking about diplomacy, not war fighting. Then they showed some montage of everyone that's ever used the word sensitive. I think most of us understand what that word means, and I think most of us understand what Kerry means when he uses it -- he means getting a permission slip from the French, the Germans, and the UN before taking any action. Which, by the way, I don't think sKerry would do... I think he would become arrogant, autocratic, and imperious as hell were he to become the most powerful man in the world.
What kind of dog does Kerry have a relationship with? Never trust a man that isn't trusted by a faithful dog.
How will the economic impact of the hurricanes affect national economic figures? What reporting date will they be reflected in?
LOL.
Ruthlessly charming?
Give me a break.
President Bush is charming because he knows what he is about. Through and through. And when he makes a decision, he sticks to it. He is NOT charming in a malicious ( or ruthless) way, nor is he charming in a psuedo way. We have had experience with this - ala bill clinton - and know a snake oil salesman when we see one.
Kerry-Mr. Gourmet, Mr. do whatever it takes to win, Mr. Vietnam War trasher extraordinaire, has all the charm a fancy life affords with none of the grit it takes to form good character.
Give me a President who has worked in the private sector, has mastered in Business and knows the goodness in people ANYTIME!
I went to Home Depot and Menards and bought a dozen sheets of plywood and drywall on monday, anticipating the next four months of being without a single sheet to sell.
1. Bush is filled with the Holy Spirit of God!
2. There is nothing coming to W without passing through the Lord first!
3. God's People are praying for this man, and have since he was elected. A lot folks are on "The Presidential Prayer Team".
I believe the God's people throught-out the world are praying for him too.
Sooooo, he WILL be RE-ELECTED, because that's what we've been praying about.
So let's praise the Lord for his re-election!
BUSH/CHENEY 2004
...and resolute in his determination to defend freedom and the people of the Free World--just in case this has escaped you, Tim.
"the past ten days have reminded voters and political journalists just what an effective campaigner Mr Bush is."
...AND just what an effective defender of freedom and Western Civilization he is.
"Mr Kerry is still struggling to crystalise a clear message on Iraq..."
...or anything else--except this: He is a morally flexible opportunist who wants to be the most powerful man in the world.
This would not escape the astute observer. Unfortunately, Tim, you do not seem to have grasped it.
It is obvious from his article, that Tim Reid does not comprehend the substance of what he observes.
It's like reading the first part of The Sound and the Fury. The truth can be discerned from the observations of the mentally retarded Benjy, though Benjy has no comprehension of what's happening or what it means.
Tim, George W. Bush is a profoundly intelligent, truthful, capable, and courageous leader, who is determined to protect the United States and the Free World, liberty, justice, and Western Civilization, which have been attacked and drawn into war by a ruthless and formidable enemy that is determined to destroy them all.
John Kerry is a morally vacuous politician, who will take any stand or all stands that would serve his ambitions.
All this is obvious to the keen observer.
It is also sufficiently nuanced.
Unfortunately all this escapes the Benjys...oops! I mean Tim Reids...of the world.
Alan Colmes does nothing more than read the DNC talking points. He never has an original thought in his liberal head. I was happy to see Cheney go after Kerry on his remarks! Our President never uses the word "sensitive" when it comes to fighting and winning a war. I think in 2000 he said something about having a "humble foreign policy" but that was before those maniacs killed 3000 innocent citizens. Kerry is as big a liar as clinton and just as arrogant. I tremble at the thought of him governing the USA.
Speaking of dogs, check out this thread.
Funny... When the press isn't using the exact same description to call President Bush a dunce, they're using it to call him a "ruthless... politician."
I guess just being who you are, a "funny, down to earth, slightly humble" man makes you ruthless, while being an outright liar, like Clinton or Kerry, makes you "charismatic!"
Mark
Mr Kerry's problems began when Mr Bush challenged him for a yes-or-no answer on a critical campaign issue: if he knew last year before the invasion that no weapons of mass destruction would be found in Iraq, would he still have voted for the war?"when did you stop beating your wife" ping.
At last some of dem der ferreners recognize "The Hammer" for who he really is.
Dogs can be too nice to be good judges of character --- even Clinton managed to find a dog that liked him. I think instead put someone with a horse and see how the horse takes to him. You saw plenty of Reagan pictures with him riding a horse --- but interestingly -- none of Clinton or Gore.
This is one reason why I put little faith in the polls we see. They are a form of reporting and like most in this country, seem to be quite left leaning. A few point lead for kerry is interpreted as 'opening an big gap' and I suspect an 'even race' is actually a large Bush lead. The perspective of an 'off shore' report may be far more accurate sometimes.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.