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Can Bush lighten up and smile a little bit?
SF Chronicle ^ | May 7, 2006 | Bill Whalen

Posted on 05/07/2006 2:53:36 PM PDT by redgirlinabluestate

If there's an unintended consequence of lousy poll numbers, as President Bush is fast discovering, it's that sagging fortunes beget plenty of unsolicited advice, in this instance, how to put President Humpty Dumpty back together. The Washington Post, a reliable Bush critic, suggests that the president rebound by taking on climate change and lobbying reform, and "fess up to detainee atrocities." Fred Barnes, a Bush devotee and executive editor of the conservative Weekly Standard, has suggested a White House shakeup of 1906 proportions: elevate Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to vice president; shift Dick Cheney to the Pentagon after bidding adieu to Donald Rumsfeld; score bipartisan points by putting a Democrat -- Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman -- in charge of the State Department. I'd add an important item to any other Bush recovery agenda, and it has to do more with posture than policy or penance. My theory: While the president's troubles are substantial and not going away anytime soon (Iraq, gasoline prices), there's a separate problem. The president, simply put, needs to lighten up a little and show that he's having a good time, polls be damned. Less so than his predecessors, it would seem, Bush hasn't tapped his office for all it offers in ways intellectual, spiritual and, yes, even hedonistic. If he is, it's a well-kept secret. During the day, the president's speeches are defensive.The events seem same-song with familiar-looking backdrops and audiences. After dark, the White House is seldom open for business: Official dinners are few and far between, as are invites to movie nights in the White House theater, which seats about 40 and shows first-run films.The first couple's private evenings are exactly that: private,with Texas outsiders generally more welcome than Washington insiders. The funny thing is the Bush White House didn't start this way.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abushhate; americahate; bush; georgewbush; lightenup; talkingpts; term2
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To: redgirlinabluestate

You may have not noticed but we are in a war in which our terrorist enemies have declared they intend to deliberately murder children,old people,and all citizens of our country using any type of horrible means necessary to do it. Your President takes the matter seriously and really has no room in his busy schedule protecting you and the many souls of your non-combattant fellow citizens from horrible murder to, as you quaintly put it:, "Lighten Up".
Please don't take it too personally, but serious subjects are usually taken seriously by mature adults. (When you grow up to be a mature Democrat ,maybe someone will remind you how you were "used" as a youth.)


21 posted on 05/07/2006 3:14:02 PM PDT by CBart95
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To: redgirlinabluestate
The president, simply put, needs to lighten up a little and show that he's having a good time, polls be damned.

This is a ridiculous comment. The President is virtually always sunny and cheerful. The writer of this piece should visit the Daily Dose for plenty of examples.

22 posted on 05/07/2006 3:14:12 PM PDT by Bahbah (“KERRY LIED!! SCHOLARLY ATTRIBUTION DIED!!!”)
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To: redgirlinabluestate

Go to the Day in the Life thread. Bush smiles all the time...at children, at dogs, at regular people... maybe not at the media.


23 posted on 05/07/2006 3:14:18 PM PDT by altura (Bushbot No. 1 - get in line.)
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To: CBart95; Bahbah; altura

You all missed my point entirely. I agree with you.


24 posted on 05/07/2006 3:17:37 PM PDT by redgirlinabluestate
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To: kitkat

I live in Los Angeles. I'm surrounded by liberals. This is what they talk about. When they're not talking about who got whacked on the Sopranos. (Speaking of which, less than six hours til showtime... never comes soon enough for me...)


25 posted on 05/07/2006 3:20:59 PM PDT by Nick5
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To: redgirlinabluestate

That was how we rehearsed it.

You are the big one for "polemics". I'm always told it makes people with low IQs have headaches.

By the way, do you have any asprin?


26 posted on 05/07/2006 3:22:05 PM PDT by CBart95
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To: Nick5

*** Love FDR or hate FDR, he managed to provide leadership, in a difficult time, beyond his political base.***

FDR didn't have the leftist media to contend with. There was a draft. There wasn't a man on the street over the age of 18 who could hold his head up if he wasn't in uniform. The movies were patriotic and encouraged people to back their president. There was rationing which brought home the need to win the war. You COULDN'T buy gas unless you had ration tickets and they were mighty sparing. There was a cartoon which showed only two cars driving down a long road. One driver yelled, "hi, Doc, and the other driver responded with, "Hi Reverend." Nobody needed any more explanation about WHY they each knew what the other was.

There was food rationing, and shoe rationing, and......etc. etc. And the movie stars held bond rallies. And schools played the Star Spangled Banner, and urged their students to pray for peace.

EVERY home was affected.

Try that NOW, with the liberal/socialist media.


27 posted on 05/07/2006 3:23:15 PM PDT by kitkat (The first step down to hell is to deny the existence of evil.)
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To: KJC1

***t drives the left nutzo that President Bush has a good sense of humor, even after taking potshot after potshot. I think this author is full of dung and trying to paint Bush out to be angry and uptight because they wish he wasn't so likable and humorous***

Ohhhh, THAT gets to the heart of it nicely. Thank you.


28 posted on 05/07/2006 3:25:17 PM PDT by kitkat (The first step down to hell is to deny the existence of evil.)
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To: redgirlinabluestate

I have a more simple solution: Become a conservative and enforce the law on the border; become ruthless with the media and call them out like the morons they are; stand up for conservative principles and act as if you're not ashamed of them; and, most of all, defend your own positions and quit acting like everything is some back-door deal! Then, you, and Republicans for years to come, will win repeatedly. For once, the bi-polar talk show host, Mike Savage, has it right.


29 posted on 05/07/2006 3:25:43 PM PDT by rodeocowboy (Vote Constitution Party in 2006 to send a message to the Republican Party for 2008!)
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To: redgirlinabluestate

Fred Barnes:

He's too smart. He out thinks the President for a living.

He's really the Infamous "SKUNK" at the President's picnic.

With FB around you don't need terminal cancer...he brings it with him.


30 posted on 05/07/2006 3:26:10 PM PDT by CBart95
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To: CBart95

Your post 21, LOVE IT.


31 posted on 05/07/2006 3:27:51 PM PDT by kitkat (The first step down to hell is to deny the existence of evil.)
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To: Nick5
Cheney equals big corporate/oil money equals massive profits for his friends equals high gas prices equals the real reason for going to war in Iraq.

So maybe, just in terms of giving the President the support he needs to be able to stand up and LEAD, Cheney does have to go.

Your first quote is exactly what the DUmmies are saying about President Bush. Also, I've seen many Liberal sites wanting to impeach Cheney first...they are terrified of that man.

32 posted on 05/07/2006 3:28:45 PM PDT by Krodg
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To: CBart95

I guess I should have been more obvious. To me, Bush does just the right amount of smiling. I specifically remember when Bush and others got cute searching for WMDs around the WH and the leftist media didn't think that was very funny. He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Personally, I think Tony Snow should become the Smiler in Chief and Bush should remain (and become even more) serious about the tough topics at hand.


33 posted on 05/07/2006 3:31:21 PM PDT by redgirlinabluestate
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To: redgirlinabluestate
My point was that I think Bush needs just the opposite of what he was suggesting to get his MOJO back.

I agree :)

34 posted on 05/07/2006 3:32:06 PM PDT by Mordacious
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To: kitkat

You just keep bringing JOY to all this... as you always seem to do.

Your faith and trust in our Leaders and our higher power is a terrific model of what being a "True American" is all about.

'Course that's just my opinion.


35 posted on 05/07/2006 3:35:43 PM PDT by CBart95
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To: kitkat

But FDR was himself a leftist and a socialist. And Hollywood before Pearl Harbor was initially reluctant to make patriotic movies because the German market was so important to them, and FDR worked them hard to get them to change their tune. He did what it took to get the job done. Yes, the media is an obstacle. And I don't think our President is doing enough to fight that. It's not about his policies. It's about a specific talent that may be less important than policies in a perfect world but it's not a perfect world and if you let the fault for your inability to lead a criticial mass of the population on your enemies, even if that's true, then you are not showing leadership. I know I'll be crucified for saying this. But I only say this because I want us to win.


36 posted on 05/07/2006 3:50:38 PM PDT by Nick5
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To: Lakeshark

Is there a reason why you are on topic?

;0)


37 posted on 05/07/2006 3:56:23 PM PDT by Mo1 (DEMOCRATS: A CULTURE OF TREASON)
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To: Mo1

Amen.


38 posted on 05/07/2006 3:57:31 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Ditter
and then this guy complains he doesn't smile enough

Any day we'll be reading about "if only Bush would get some new clothes."

39 posted on 05/07/2006 3:59:49 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Flyer

LOL!


40 posted on 05/07/2006 4:00:18 PM PDT by Howlin
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