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Bush’s secret weapon
The Statesman ^ | October 2 2004

Posted on 10/01/2004 5:42:06 PM PDT by NewMediaFan

Women tend to vote Democrat. So why do polls show them supporting Bush? GERARD BAKER, on the campaign trail, says they feel Bush has the guts to fight terrorism.

GRANDE dame of a Republican I know, a veteran of a couple of administrations and still active in the Washington political scene, doesn’t think much of the choice on offer for women in the US presidential election.

She told me neither George Bush nor John Kerry comes close to floating her boat. Bush is too self-consciously male, too Texan, too cocksure of his own convictions. Kerry, by contrast, is just too dour, too ponderous, too in touch with his inner Hamlet for these challenging times. “It’s a choice between the swagger and the droop, really, isn’t it?” she said sadly.

As a snap piece of political analysis it seemed an apt evocation of an enduring cliche of gender politics – the Left all sensitive and flaccid, the Right a bit rigid and macho. But as a commentary on this year’s election, it only hinted at something much bigger. A sexual revolution is exploding in this campaign that may not only determine the outcome of this election but may alter American politics for years. For the first time in almost two decades, America’s women are choosing the swagger over the droop.

Recent opinion polls indicate that Bush has not only opened up a small but solid lead overall against Kerry but that the President is also favoured by a majority of American women. Not since George Bush Sr beat Michael Dukakis in a landslide in 1988 has that happened. Since then the gender gap – a skewed imbalance in Americans’ voting behaviour by which women tend to favour Democrats while men lean Republican – has been a critical feature of politics.

(Excerpt) Read more at thestatesman.net ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; womenvote

1 posted on 10/01/2004 5:42:06 PM PDT by NewMediaFan
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To: NewMediaFan

The Debate tactic is sound.. Kerry came off as an empty suit politician.. say anything that he thinks the people want to hear even if it is not factual... the spin will hammer out the facts... Sure he attacked the President and the President could have slapped him soundly but in doing so the President would have looked mean and he would have appeared less factual than Kerry because of the current MSM spin that the war is going bad...
The more I watch the debate the more inhuman Kerry becomes and the more real and human the president becomes... One accusation that the left has been hammering to the swing is that all GW cares about is his political goals... last night GW was the most Unpolitical president I have ever seen. Notice his kind words to Kerry and Kerry's girls... and Kerry was caught way off guard he responded a little stuttering and mutterred something like feelings mutual... anyway it was a clear human moment for the President.

I think in politics the cardinal rule is to remember the voters know your audience...the people you are trying to persuade to your cause. GW has his base solid.. The President locked up a lot of the swing voters by appearing human and Kerry may have rallied his base but its too late for that... I don't think Kerry got any of the swing because they saw him as an elitess snob that would let the world run the security of the United States...


2 posted on 10/01/2004 5:43:53 PM PDT by tomnbeverly (Don't let John Kerry put a price on our childrens heads bear any burden pay any cost elect GW.)
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To: NewMediaFan

Just got off the phone with a WashDC contact and I don't know what to make of his analysis.

My take was a tired GWB with fatigued tongue from whatever occurred that day be it war or hurricane.

His take is with 2 more debates to go, GWB is playing a game with Kerry.

I don't know. I know there is an October surprise coming, two of them in fact have been mentioned, so maybe he knows more than I allow.


3 posted on 10/01/2004 5:53:13 PM PDT by OpusatFR (Let me repeat this: the web means never having to swill leftist garbage again. Got it?)
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To: NewMediaFan
"the Left all sensitive and flaccid, the Right a bit rigid and macho. For the first time in almost two decades, America’s women are choosing the swagger over the droop."

My wife cannot stand the whole metrosexual garbage. I saw a couple of quotes on Fox.com today from Kerry bragging about his manicure and being metro. I'm glad women (the ones who shave) aren't being wooed by this freak.

4 posted on 10/01/2004 5:58:43 PM PDT by FightforFreedomCA
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To: OpusatFR
My take was a tired GWB with fatigued tongue from whatever occurred that day be it war or hurricane.

That's what I was thinking, too. He had been viewing the hurricane damage yesterday, while skerry slept.

5 posted on 10/01/2004 5:59:06 PM PDT by the Deejay
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To: OpusatFR

Any kind of thinking that suggest that there is a 'game' being played, or that somehow the Bush squad made some kind of strategic decision to throw the first debate (or at least deliberately appear underwhelming) borders on the day-to-day lunacy we see on DU.


6 posted on 10/01/2004 6:03:28 PM PDT by HitmanLV (I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.)
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To: HitmanNY

There was a plan for what to do if Bush won, and what to do if he lost.

Rove's executing the plan for "loss," that's all.


7 posted on 10/01/2004 6:04:37 PM PDT by Poohbah (If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.)
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To: NewMediaFan
I know this is off the debate topic, but I think Laura is one of W's secret weapons!

After Action Report Laura Bush Speaking in Salem, OR, 09-28-04

8 posted on 10/01/2004 6:05:48 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: FightforFreedomCA

kerry gets the unshaved vote ?...LOL


9 posted on 10/01/2004 6:07:32 PM PDT by kingattax
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To: Poohbah

I agree with that, no problem.


10 posted on 10/01/2004 6:07:42 PM PDT by HitmanLV (I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.)
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To: HitmanNY

Thing is, Kerry doesn't have a strategy for "I-won-but-made-an-a$$-of-myself."

Rove had one ready.


11 posted on 10/01/2004 6:08:45 PM PDT by Poohbah (If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.)
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To: the Deejay

And lets not forget serious action in Iraq, men's lives were on the line in Samarra, Bush has to run a war AND campaign!


12 posted on 10/01/2004 6:09:10 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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To: Poohbah

Haha! Kudos!


13 posted on 10/01/2004 6:09:17 PM PDT by HitmanLV (I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.)
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To: FightforFreedomCA
Kerry is a pretty boy. Don't get me wrong I don't mean handsome. He spends far too much time with his appearance, preening, and trying to look athletic. That may go over big with the Hollywood and Entertainment crowd but any woman with half a brain, following half the issues, has to see Kerry as an empty designer suit. Attentive women know that we can't rely on primping and weakness to lead us in a time of peril.
The President may trip over his tongue on occasion but the words are honest and heartfelt and they have strength.
14 posted on 10/01/2004 6:17:58 PM PDT by pieces of time
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To: pieces of time

Kerry hasn't worked a day for the Senate since ...May?

W is President AND candidate.

Off topic:

Next debate, I want W to ask Kerry if Sandy Berger is still going to be in his cabinet.


15 posted on 10/01/2004 6:35:38 PM PDT by bitt
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To: bitt

Want to see how LOW the Dems are stooping!!! In keeping up with Daschle/Thune senate race I came upon this site...PLEASE go to... www.thebird.typepad.com......This blog is kept up by a 16 year old high school boy who is PRO BUSH and ANTI-DASCHLE. Right now he is taking flak from some parents who have even called his high school trying to get his blog SHUT DOWN...I emailed him & I think we all need to get his story out. He has written about what is going on and then how he has a right to FREEDOM OF SPEECH....I think it is DISGUSTING that the DEMS are sinking so LOW they are now picking on kids who express their own views...I guess the Democratic Party only wants the young vote if it is for them.....Please go to his site and help get the word out...


16 posted on 10/02/2004 1:26:55 AM PDT by lotex
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To: lotex

I tried, but the url doesn't work...


17 posted on 10/02/2004 2:28:56 PM PDT by bitt
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