[TomGuy]

I'm sick of hearing Bush/Rice were 'the biggest losers" in the U.N. ceasefire deal. If the GOP had an effective PR machine,

Therein lies the problem, however. And it has been an ongoing problem for the Bush 2 Presidency. Team Clinton got out in front of every issue. Team Bush has had to be dragged into defending his policies and decisions again and again; but by then, the perceptions have been cemented in the public's mind.

That big if has been posed and discussed many times in many threads on FR. Many have wondered why it existed. Even the current Press Sec tsk-ed in wonderment in his previous talk-show-host life at the Administration's lack of PR. It has improved some, but it is still woefully lacking.

[mainepatsfan]

Yup. They may not like it but PR is a big part of the game.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Therein lies the problem, however. And it has been an ongoing problem for the Bush 2 Presidency. Team Clinton got out in front of every issue. Team Bush has had to be dragged into defending his policies and decisions again and again; but by then, the perceptions have been cemented in the public's mind.

I used to think so to but have come to the conclusion that it wouldn't have mattered. The story would have simply shifted from Bush's failed policies to Bush's attempt to convince the public that his failed policies aren't failures.

My bigger problem with Bush and Conservatives in general is how they allow the Moderate Pubbies and Libs to use terms like "the rich", "the middle class", "working families", "torture", and the list goes on and on, without demanding a definition.

The biggest problem the Pubbies have is allowing Dems to frame the debate with incorrect assumptions (the rich will hold on to their "tax cut", Muslim crazy a$$ fundamentalists would never work with secularists, etc, etc) and undefined terms like the ones listed above.

The Conservatives must today begin to reestablish the parameters and retake the language. Challenge the assumptions, their "fact" and seriously questions the analysis, which is usually just about as shallow as standing water after a summer shower.

[OldFriend]

The media must denigrate Dr. Rice.....in order to make her heinous seem more viable as a presidential candidate.

[Alas Babylon!]

Tom I think part of that problem is the acquiescence of the driveby media. They not only let Clinton get in front of an issue, they ASSISTED him in doing so. For President Bush, they've been muffling or just not reporting his speeches, comments, defenders' comments, etc. The appearance then is Bush isn't defending himself, whereas in reality he is, but the media is just not letting you or I hear it.

[malia]

team clinton's PR machine IS the DBM!!!