Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

It all starts here: The Sept. 11 angle of Bush’s campaign
THE HILL ^ | August 31, 2004 | DICK MORRIS

Posted on 08/31/2004 11:48:08 AM PDT by COURAGE

Edited on 08/31/2004 11:53:11 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]

It all starts here: The Sept. 11 angle of Bush’s campaign

The recent attempt by the liberal media to mock the Republicans’ decision to hold their convention in one of the major Democratic strongholds misses the point. The Republicans knew what they were doing when they decided to hold their first-ever convention in a city they have no hope of carrying.

Holding the convention in Madison Square Garden highlights the linkage between Bush and Sept. 11, the most important moment of his presidency. By featuring speakers such as Rudy Giuliani, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Ed Koch, Bush implicitly recalls the day on which he truly became president, overcoming his narrow victory and his loss of the popular vote, to lead a united nation in a new and bold direction.

The fact that some have left his side as he has determinedly hunted down terrorists — in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere — does nothing to undermine the political significance of New York City and Ground Zero for the Republican campaign.

Critics of the GOP decision say that holding the convention in New York City rings hollow and leaves a bad taste in America’s mouth — as if Bush were exploiting the disaster for his own purposes. But this partisan coloration on the New York convention just won’t hold water among the American voters. Giuliani, Bush and New York Gov. George Pataki are joined at the hip by our memories of Sept. 11, and their presence together at the convention will bring back Bush’s proudest moment in office.

The street demonstrations outside, on the other hand, will increasingly rankle the average American voter. Without questioning their patriotism, voters from middle America will have a hard time with partisan protests and mass marches outside the convention hall.

In 1968, student protests toppled the Democratic Party during its Chicago convention because the very proceedings inside the hall were the object of their protest. In that year, Hubert Humphrey sought to steal the Democratic nomination by relying on the old party bosses even though he did not deign to enter any of the primaries. With all the votes having been cast for either Eugene McCarthy or Bobby Kennedy, the party nominated Humphrey.

There is no outrage at the Republican renomination of Bush nor any concern that he is not truly the heartfelt nominee of his party. The demonstrations will seem increasingly alien to the average man and woman on Main Street and will do little to help, and possibly much to hurt, Kerry’s cause.

Nor will the Democrats be able to distance themselves from the demonstrators. By holding the convention in New York and suffering the street demonstrations outside, the Democratic Party has made Michael Moore, and his ilk, its spokesman.

It is hard to determine which the Democrats have to fear more, the proceedings in the hall or those outside on the street. The contrast between the patriotism, inclusiveness and sincerity of speakers such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, John McCain, Giuliani and Zell Miller and the hubbub outside the Garden will be vivid for the viewer at home. Nobody looks their best when they are demonstrating in 85 degree heat. While the temperature has not risen to “Fahrenheit 9/11,” it certainly is hot enough to fray tempers and present a spectacle to America that the Republicans would have gladly paid for.

Dick Morris is the author of Rewriting History, a rebuttal of Sen. Hillary Clinton’s (D-N.Y.) memoir, Living History.


TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: bloomberg; bush; dickmorris; giuliani; gwb2004; humphrey; kennedy; kerry; koch; mccain; mccarthy; miller; rncconvention; schwarzenegger
Sorry about he format, but I do not have time to re-format!
1 posted on 08/31/2004 11:48:11 AM PDT by COURAGE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: COURAGE

Like blind squirrel, Morris found his chestnut.


2 posted on 08/31/2004 11:53:05 AM PDT by LS
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: COURAGE

From what I read at a daily dem site they're latching onto the purple heart band-aid issue. They want veterans to believe Republicans are trying to smear all vets. They appear to be getting quite desperate.


3 posted on 08/31/2004 12:04:57 PM PDT by Iowamerican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Iowamerican

> They want veterans to believe Republicans are trying to
> smear all vets. They appear to be getting quite desperate.

And the vets aren't buying it.

If anything, it's calling attention to the underlying
reason why the bandaids mock Kerry (and ONLY Kerry).
This is what the DNC calls "backfire".


4 posted on 08/31/2004 12:08:17 PM PDT by Boundless
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: LS

"With all the votes having been cast for either Eugene McCarthy or Bobby Kennedy, the party nominated Humphrey."

"March 12: Voters in the New Hampshire primary give President Johnson only a narrow victory over antiwar candidate Senator Eugene McCarthy. "

Think Morris missed one.


5 posted on 08/31/2004 12:08:31 PM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Control the information given to society and you control society.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Boundless

It's a great place for them to channel their energy. Maybe they'll send another protest squad to NY to deal specifically to focus on it.


6 posted on 08/31/2004 12:13:07 PM PDT by Iowamerican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: COURAGE
Am I wrong, or didn't Bloomberg specifically ASK both parties to hold their conventions in NYC?

The Dems wanted only themselves, but Bloomberg nixed that, so the Pubbies came in alone.

I distinctly remember hearing this, but talk this week has been that it was a Repub political calculation to milk 9-11. Is my recollection wrong?

7 posted on 08/31/2004 2:52:00 PM PDT by atomicpossum (If there are two Americas, John Edwards isn't qualified to lead either of them.©)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: atomicpossum

No, your recollection is not wrong. The Dems wanted an agreement from Bloomberg that the DNC would be granted NYC exclusively, and the RNC would be denied. Bloomberg refused, and said he'd welcome both, or either, but not one or the other. Something like that, sorry I don't have a link.


8 posted on 08/31/2004 4:14:08 PM PDT by Imperialist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: COURAGE

.

Praise GOD that...

President BUSH has promised,

During a BUSH Presidency,


Freedom's Return to:

Communist Vietnam
Communist North Korea and
Communist Cuba


...as well as...


Freedom's Arrival to:

The Entire Middle East


...as America's own best self-defense against future Terrorist attacks here at home.



'Remember the Lost and Suffering on September 11, 2001

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33

.


9 posted on 08/31/2004 4:16:22 PM PDT by ALOHA RONNIE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson