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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: Mo1
I think if he'd come out with a "secure the border first" proposition and veto a few spending bills things would improve dramatically. What do you all think?

I think I am getting sick of every dang thread being about the border ..

Probably because it IS the most important issue facing this country and W is doing a piss-poor job of enforcing the laws against ILLEGAL immigration.

20 million ILLEGAL immigrants BREAKING the law is just the beginning. When do you think this should be an important factor from your perspective? When we have 300,000,000?

61 posted on 05/07/2006 5:06:09 PM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: Nick5

The Left already whines that Bush isn't flagellating himself enough over all the deaths in Iraq. I do agree that he should do better PR and possibly tell his security teams to calm down and stop clogging up the roads whereever he goes. The last thing any Bush hater wants to do is kill him and make him a martyr. No conservative ever tried to kill Clinton.


62 posted on 05/07/2006 5:48:01 PM PDT by Democratshavenobrains
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To: redgirlinabluestate
Better idea.....tell the entire Dhimmicrat party to FOAD!

(Even if it doesn't bring a smile to GW's lips, it will to mine! ;'}
63 posted on 05/07/2006 6:19:47 PM PDT by rockrr (Never argue with a man who buys ammo in bulk...)
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To: Cobra64; Mo1
Probably because it IS the most important issue facing this country

In the mind of a morbid few it is.

Congrats on hijacking another thread that should have had nothing to do with immigration.

64 posted on 05/07/2006 6:42:45 PM PDT by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: Mordacious; redgirlinabluestate
>> ... Bush hasn't tapped his office for all it offers in ways ... hedonistic.

> Translation: Dude, find yourself a cigar and invite a plump thong-wearer with little sense and even less self-respect into the oval office for some executive dictation...

Hey, I don't smoke cigars, and am not into senseless, plump dictation-takers. But what's wrong with thong-wearers?

Seriously, even the appearance of hanky-panky would play into the hands of the President's enemies, one of whom was seen the other day with a sign, "Will somebody please give Bush a bl*wjob so we can impeach him?"

Sure, it's a funny line, but the precedent has been set: all Presidential sex scandals will result in impeachment from now on. Unfortunately. (They shouldn't, IMO, unless the sex actually compromised national security or something. Private dalliance has a 200-year history at the White House, and it's mostly none of our business.)

That said, I'm perfectly happy with George's unwavering devotion to Laura. She's a totally classy lady, and I can't imagine he'd ever betray her. Even for a thong-wearer.

65 posted on 05/07/2006 7:54:45 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: Mo1

Many of us are sick of it. No thread is safe from one of the trolls turning it into an immigration thread.


66 posted on 05/07/2006 8:00:37 PM PDT by BlueAngel
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To: Lakeshark; Mo1

Actually it is a part of the issue. Some people need to think three dimesnionally. Immigration is one kernal of a three dimensional matrix. Some us feel that this one is more important than most others. From a strictly personal perspective at this nanosecond, I could care less. Where I live, I'm insulated from the issue. Thirty years from now, when this issue hits critical mass, I'll be dead. But my children won't.


67 posted on 05/07/2006 8:08:59 PM PDT by Cobra64 (All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
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To: dayglored
Hey, I don't smoke cigars, and am not into senseless, plump dictation-takers. But what's wrong with thong-wearers?

Nothing, but there are certain items of clothing that don't necessarily flatter big girls.

68 posted on 05/07/2006 8:27:01 PM PDT by Mordacious
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To: Ditter
The media beats on President Bush every day all day long including throwing rotten fruit at him and then this guy complains he doesn't smile enough.

And when he does smile, they rage at him for his "smirk."

69 posted on 05/07/2006 8:29:59 PM PDT by CFC__VRWC
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To: MOgirl
(She is the only lib I still talk to, I view it as a science experiment, viewing how stupid a human can be before they forget to breathe...)

Well then, put her in the back of the fridge, and see if she gets green and fuzzy by October.

< ]B^)

70 posted on 05/07/2006 8:41:39 PM PDT by Erasmus ("Peace on you!" -- Imam Adman)
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To: Mordacious
>> ...But what's wrong with thong-wearers?

> Nothing, but there are certain items of clothing that don't necessarily flatter big girls.

That's true... and somewhere I have a picture or two to prove it, but I don't think it's wise to post those on FR unless I want to get banned for causing general blindness amongst the populace... (and no they're not of me; I'm the wrong gender to wear thongs).

In any case, IMO Monica wasn't "plump" when she and BJ were playing hide-the-salami. She was an overall well-proportioned young woman. Just not one of these skinny, no, make that "emaciated", fashion models. She wasn't anywhere near "rubenesque", which is still considered beautiful, if over-ample.

Lemme put it this way -- I'd rather have to look at a picture of Monica in a thong, than Hillary in a thong.

71 posted on 05/07/2006 8:51:56 PM PDT by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: Nick5
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.

So let me make sure I understand this. The president dumps Cheney and suddenly, miraculously, he will be able to LEAD due to a groundswell of support from the left? What is in the water out there? Considering where you live and work I'm not at all surprised this is what you hear. It's also a bunch of crap. The tapeworm is there because they want it there. It gives them something to rail against. It's the righteous hate that keeps them warm at night.

The president would have all the support he needs if he would start listening to and stop pissing off (or is it on?) the base.

72 posted on 05/07/2006 8:53:26 PM PDT by ItsForTheChildren
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To: ItsForTheChildren

Well there must be something in the water where you are, too, if you think a closer connection to the base is what he needs. Maybe it's just a great big SNAFU and there's no way out of it...


73 posted on 05/07/2006 11:14:20 PM PDT by Nick5
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To: Cobra64; Lakeshark
Probably because it IS the most important issue facing this country and W is doing a piss-poor job of enforcing the laws against ILLEGAL immigration

I realize it is an important issue .. but by hijacking practically every thread ... well y'all are turning many folks off

74 posted on 05/08/2006 12:27:12 AM PDT by Mo1 (DEMOCRATS: A CULTURE OF TREASON)
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