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Soldiers Lend Somber Tone to Iraq Speech
npr.org ^ | June 29, 2005 | David Greene

Posted on 06/29/2005 5:45:29 PM PDT by Destro

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From a PR - media standpoint the speech was a flop. The soldiers were under orders to be respectful and at attention. That means they don't interrupt and applaud like civilians. Aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln the sailors were at ease for the speech.

A mix of people - families - soldiers - civilians would have produced better "TV" results.

It is the nature of the TV beast.

Now, why did this article catch my attention? It was on NPR - that means the troops "silence" will be used against Bush - shown as proof that he has lost the backing of the miliatary over Iraq.

1 posted on 06/29/2005 5:45:30 PM PDT by Destro
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To: Destro

Where's some poll numbers?


2 posted on 06/29/2005 5:46:57 PM PDT by Huck
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To: Destro

"Still, the White House had allotted 40 minutes for the remarks. Without the applause that may have been anticipated, Mr. Bush wrapped up in just 28 minutes."

There's the "proof" for the implication the audience was supposed to applaud but didn't.


3 posted on 06/29/2005 5:50:30 PM PDT by Shermy
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To: Destro

I hate NPR.

They're our embedded reporters, here in theater.

Pray for your troops - we won't get fair reporting.


4 posted on 06/29/2005 5:50:46 PM PDT by Old Sarge (Follow Sarge on His Most Excellent Adventure - on Freerepublic.com!)
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To: Huck

I don't have poll figures.


5 posted on 06/29/2005 5:51:03 PM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting johnathangaltfilms.com and jihadwatch.org)
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To: Shermy
Perception trumps reality on television.
6 posted on 06/29/2005 5:51:36 PM PDT by Destro (Know your enemy! Help fight Islamic terrorism by visiting johnathangaltfilms.com and jihadwatch.org)
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To: Destro

I was disappointed at seeing a missed opportunity by the President. Rumsfeld over the weekend complained that none of the good news about Iraq was getting out. Here the President had all the networks, what should have been a receptive, appreciative audience and nothing new at all came out of the speech that would inspire the troops or the country.


7 posted on 06/29/2005 5:53:54 PM PDT by USISRIGHT
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To: Destro

A soldier who was at the speech last night called Rush and emphatically stated it is protocol for military men/women NOT to applaud while the Commander is speaking out of respect...he went on to say the media interviewed afterwards and it was as though they didn't here a word the President said.


8 posted on 06/29/2005 5:57:10 PM PDT by God luvs America (When the silent majority speaks the earth trembles!)
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To: Destro

Me either, but reliable numbers are the final answer, to get a feel for what people are thinking/feeling. Emphasis on reliable.


9 posted on 06/29/2005 5:57:22 PM PDT by Huck
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To: Destro

"Perception trumps reality on television."

Perception and reality, I know that Syrian border has never been guarded.

Guess we needed the money to fasttrack Star Wars Part Deux.

/sarcasm


10 posted on 06/29/2005 5:57:44 PM PDT by Shermy
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To: Old Sarge

NPR is crap, The soldiers were told not to interrupt with anything like that, Norah O' Donnell of MSNBC, Carl Cameron of Fox News, and Rush all said this to be the case, and the line where they did clap was initiated by a white house staffer I believe. If the troops didn't agree with the mission and the whole speech, why would they clap even if initiated by a white house staffer on the line "We will stay in the fight until the fight is won." if they did not agree with it. Another reason was because they had to give assurances to NBC and CBS which took until the last minute to say they would carry the speech, that the speech would not go long and applause tends to make it go longer.

Wouldn't want to miss Average Joe...


11 posted on 06/29/2005 5:57:59 PM PDT by Gribbles141
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To: God luvs America
As did the radio announcer I listed to, he said that there would be no applause tonite, the setting was supposed to be unlike a campaign stop.
12 posted on 06/29/2005 6:00:07 PM PDT by roses of sharon (,)
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To: Gribbles141

Our 1SG, the Blue-eyed Devil, told me up front: "Thou shalt not speak to the press lest they surely die!"


13 posted on 06/29/2005 6:01:06 PM PDT by Old Sarge (Follow Sarge on His Most Excellent Adventure - on Freerepublic.com!)
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To: Old Sarge

True. God bless you, OS.....


14 posted on 06/29/2005 6:02:27 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: Destro
Even with the old media propaganda and the dems rhetoric,there is no massive protests in the streets of America?

Why,'cause,this ain't the 60's anymore.

The old media is dead.

15 posted on 06/29/2005 6:04:13 PM PDT by mdittmar (May God watch over those who serve,and have served, to keep us free.)
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To: Destro; Huck; All

GALLUP: 74% rated the speech positively (46% VERY positively)

Flash Poll: Instant Reaction to Bush's Iraq Speech
A CNN/USA Today/Gallup instant-reaction poll shows that President Bush apparently persuaded many viewers of his speech Tuesday night to be more optimistic about the war in Iraq. Compared with their responses before the speech, people who tuned in are now more likely to say the United States is winning the Iraq war, that Bush has a clear plan for handling the war, and that the United States should keep troops in Iraq until the situation there gets better. These changes occurred despite the fact that this was not one of Bush's more highly rated addresses since he became president. As has been typical of Bush's speeches, the viewing audience.
http://gallup.com/


16 posted on 06/29/2005 6:07:33 PM PDT by DrDeb
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To: Destro
I loved the speech , it gets an A with me .
I think we are not bogged down in Iraq .
But ambushed by the evil ungrateful islamic fanatics
and all their legions of synchophants .
What does one do when ambushed ? Stand up? Cut and run for it? That's a good way to get mowed down.
You take cover , center your attention and ATTACK the ambushers .
This is what we are doing in Iraq , and the strategy is working . We have to keep hitting them so hard they can hardly ever regroup. Few prisoners , lots of KIA's on their side .Create a vortex that the militant jihadi's will get sucked into and chewed up by . It's a cost we have to pay to get rid as many of these human vermin as we can in the next few years . Future generations will thank us even if the bleeding heart Bush hater's nowadays are full of verbose scorn. Ignore them all and stay the course. Semper Fi .
17 posted on 06/29/2005 6:09:21 PM PDT by injin
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To: DrDeb

As has been typical of Bush's speeches, the viewing audience was composed largely of his supporters.


18 posted on 06/29/2005 6:10:53 PM PDT by Huck
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To: Old Sarge
"Thou shalt not speak to the press lest they surely die."

How about "lest they surely LIE."

The press lies.

19 posted on 06/29/2005 6:11:04 PM PDT by perfect stranger ("Hell Bent for Election" by Warburg)
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To: Old Sarge

Regarding news, NPR is No Purpose, Really.


20 posted on 06/29/2005 6:11:28 PM PDT by TheGeezer
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