(Bush Speech Live Thread) Bush to compare Iraqis to America's founders

CNN ^ | 12/12/05 | Unknown

[Coop]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is using a visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, birthplace of the U.S. Constitution, as a reminder before the Iraqi elections that the path to American democracy was not always easy either.

Pennsylvania also is the home state of a leading Iraq war critic, Democratic Rep. John Murtha, who planned to speak on Bush's heels and repeat his call to bring the troops home from a fight he says has become too violent and out of control...

Iraqis are preparing to vote under tight security to elect a 275-member parliament that will run the country for the next four years. The election will be the first under the new constitution ratified in an October 15 referendum and will complete the steps toward democratization following the ouster of Saddam Hussein's government.

Monday's Iraq speech is Bush's third, part of a campaign to win support for the mission, with most Americans saying in polls that they disapprove of his handling of the war. The speech is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. ET.

[Coop]

Figured I'd use this article as a stepping off point for the mandatory live thread.

[Rummyfan]

It's great that the President is doing this, but shouldn't at least one of these speeches been given in prime time with all-network coverage?

[Sister_T]

Pennsylvania also is the home state of a leading Iraq war critic, Democratic Rep. John Murtha, who planned to speak on Bush's heels and repeat his call to bring the troops home from a fight he says has become too violent and out of control...

And yet he didn't vote to do just that when the time came. Posturing pansy!

[Coop]

There's no guarantee the networks would cover a prime-time speech.

That's okay. Slow and steady. Dubya's got the State-of-the-Union coming up in about six weeks.

[philsfan24]

where in phila is the speech?

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Bush to compare Iraqis to America's founders

Meanwhile, Michael Moore and Cindy continue to compare the Iraqi insurgents to America's founders ("Minutemen").

[FreedomNeocon]

C-Span Video Stream
http://www.c-span.org/watch/cspan_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS


C-Span Audio Stream
http://play.rbn.com/?url=cspan/g2cspan/live/cspan4db.rm&proto=rtsp&rbnkey=1

[Coop]

According to Philly.com:

President Bush will deliver a speech about the war in Iraq to the World Affairs Council today at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue.

[cookcounty]

"It's great that the President is doing this, but shouldn't at least one of these speeches been given in prime time with all-network coverage?"

IIRC, the major nets refused to cover the President's 2003 speech laying out the reasons why were going to war. I remember being stunned to find that I had to go to PBS on my broadcast-TV to see the speech.

[HHKrepublican_2]

Sorry! I already coined the idea!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1535307/posts

....Bush can borrow that idea if hed like
/sarc

[Kimberly GG]

I've been thinking the same thing. I had hoped that the first speech at the academy could have been given at night, even if only covered by cable news.

[Jemian]

Good job, Coop. Thanks for starting this.

[Loyal Buckeye]

I see we have another speech to boost Bush's sagging poll numbers. </S>

[Coop]

The accompanying article on Philly.com is simply stunning in its portrayal of this speech. As in Bush was clueless until recently, his advisers have been lying to him, he's finally come around to admitting things are going poorly, blah blah blah. Totally disgusting op-ed disguised as a news article.

[TomGuy]

There's no guarantee the networks would cover a prime-time speech.



B.S. That's when a President uses the bully pulpit and uses 'political' pressure. Other Presidents have found ways to get their message out.

But, first, the current Administration has to ask. If they don't ask for prime time, they certainly aren't going to get it. A speech only covered by cable news during a typical workday is destined to get scant coverage.

[3D-JOY]

Thanks coop...I'll check back during the speech.

[philsfan24]

Totally disgusting op-ed disguised as a news article.

you expect anything less from the inquirer?

[Coop]

This Administration knows far more about politics than you or I.

[Howlin]

Live thread ping!

I wonder if Murtha will hold a press conference after the president's speech?

[Jemian]

I wonder if Murtha will hold a press conference after the president's speech?

I just don't care.