Entrapment by Bush: He plays Democrats for fools, and they always rise to his bait

American Prowler ^ | 01/10/03 | David Hogberg

[Pokey78]

As I was waiting for my flight back to Iowa last Friday I scanned an article in USA Today about the Bush economic stimulus package. It reported that the Presidents' advisers stated the "proposal will likely exclude top-tier taxpayers in an effort to fend off Democratic criticism that his tax programs pander to the rich." As the plane headed for flyover country, I jotted some notes for a possible column on how Bush was engaging in both bad politics and bad policy.

Then on Sunday the Bush Administration released the full details of the plan: $674 billion in tax relief that included eliminating the tax on dividends and reducing income-tax rates for all income-tax payers. So much for excluding the rich. Fortunately, I hadn't written the column as the NFL Playoffs intervened. (Hey, gotta have priorities.) But I was left scratching my head as to why the Bush Administration would hint at placating the Democrats in the first place.

As I thought more about it, it became increasingly apparent that it was part of a strategy that the Bush Administration has employed for some time to put the Democrats in a box. It might be called "entrapment with a twist." It works as follows:

Act Helpless. In this step the Bushies leak stories to the press making the Administration look weak. The Administration may appear as though it lacks focus. Other times it may act as though it's afraid of the opposition. The point is to let the Democrats smell blood in the water. In the case of the economic stimulus package, the Bush Administration acted wary of Democrats' class-warfare rhetoric, and so hinted it might drop tax cuts for top income earners.

Wait for Democrats to Pounce. The appearance of weakness naturally induces the Democrats to attack. And as the Bush Administration surely knows, it will be an attack that pleases the Democrats' base. Over the weekend, prominent Donks turned up the class-warfare rhetoric. The Bush tax cuts would help "the wealthiest Americans" fumed then-impending Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. In an ironic choice of words, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi complained that the Bush plan was a "Trojan Horse to wheel in some tax breaks for the high end that they're so fond of." Trojan Horse indeed.

Spring the Trap. Once the Democrats have committed themselves to a line of attack, the Bush Administration ensnares them by pursuing a policy which forces the Democrats to either anger their base or alienate moderates. In his economic stimulus package, Bush not only has the supply-side tax cuts that please conservatives, he also has items that appeal to moderates, like income-tax cuts for the middle and lower class and "Re-Employment Accounts." Congressional Democrats now face a very unpleasant choice. They can vote against the President's plan thereby voting against the items that please moderate voters. Or they can risk dispiriting their base by voting for a plan that includes tax cuts for the "wealthy." Heads Bush wins, tails Democrats lose.

The "Twist." The twist to this strategy is that the Bush Administration also intends for its appearance of weakness to provoke criticism from the political right as well. For example, last week at the Daily Standard, Fred Barnes griped "Somebody tell the Bush White House that Republicans now control the Senate….Somehow the idea got planted at the White House that a watered-down tax cut, less susceptible to Democratic attacks, would be better politically for the president." It seems to me that this has two important psychological effects. First, seeing the president attacked from the right emboldens the Democrats, making them all the more likely to pounce. Second, when the president actually releases a plan that has plenty of conservative ideas, the right heaves a great sigh of relief, and becomes energized and eager to do battle for Bush. Not surprisingly, in Tuesday's National Review Online Larry Kudlow gushed, "President Bush has surprised everyone with his decision to propose a big-bang economic growth package."

The Bush Administration has used this strategy at least since last year, when it rolled the Democrats on the War Against Iraq. In that instance, the Administration leaked stories that Bush was hesitating about going to war with Iraq. This prompted many on the right to complain; most notably Bill Kristol and Robert Kagan at the Weekly Standard zinged Bush for "Going Wobbly." Sensing an opportunity, the Democrats went on the attack in late summer. Then-Minority Leader Dick Gephardt said the President needed to "make the case to Congress and the people," while Senator Joe Lieberman said Bush must "speak to the American people [and] ask Congress for authorization." They had walked right into it.

Shortly after September 11, Bush made the case in speeches to the American people and in front of the United Nations. He reiterated his support for regime change in Iraq, using force if necessary. He also mollified moderates by giving the United Nations one last chance to deal with Saddam. Support for military action surged to near 70% in most polls. Finally, he asked Congress for a resolution authorizing the use of force. Again, the Democrats were stuck. Either vote against the resolution and alienate moderates, or vote for it and anger their base. The strategy yielded big dividends on election day.

Will the Democrats ever get wise to this? Perhaps. More likely, they will persist in their view that Bush is a dimwit who continues to get lucky. Thus, they will continue to misunderestimate his strategery.


David Hogberg is a research analyst at the Public Interest Institute, an Iowa-based think tank. He also hosts his own website, Cornfield Commentary.

[TLBSHOW]

Shannon Reeves was complaining about Republican politicians speaking at Bob Jones University

Reeves is no good and a race baiter too!

[Shooter 2.5]

I should probably send them an e mail and find out what their problem is. I suspect it's a kneejerk reaction from their support of the dems.

[MeekOneGOP]

Entrapment by Bush:
He plays Democrats for fools,
and they always rise to his bait

Excerpt:

The "Twist." The twist to this strategy is that the Bush Administration also intends for its appearance of weakness to provoke criticism from the political right as well. For example, last week at the Daily Standard, Fred Barnes griped "Somebody tell the Bush White House that Republicans now control the Senate….Somehow the idea got planted at the White House that a watered-down tax cut, less susceptible to Democratic attacks, would be better politically for the president." It seems to me that this has two important psychological effects. First, seeing the president attacked from the right emboldens the Democrats, making them all the more likely to pounce. Second, when the president actually releases a plan that has plenty of conservative ideas, the right heaves a great sigh of relief, and becomes energized and eager to do battle for Bush. Not surprisingly, in Tuesday's National Review Online Larry Kudlow gushed, "President Bush has surprised everyone with his decision to propose a big-bang economic growth package."

The Bush Administration has used this strategy at least since last year, when it rolled the Democrats on the War Against Iraq. In that instance, the Administration leaked stories that Bush was hesitating about going to war with Iraq. This prompted many on the right to complain; most notably Bill Kristol and Robert Kagan at the Weekly Standard zinged Bush for "Going Wobbly." Sensing an opportunity, the Democrats went on the attack in late summer. Then-Minority Leader Dick Gephardt said the President needed to "make the case to Congress and the people," while Senator Joe Lieberman said Bush must "speak to the American people [and] ask Congress for authorization." They had walked right into it.

Shortly after September 11, Bush made the case in speeches to the American people and in front of the United Nations. He reiterated his support for regime change in Iraq, using force if necessary. He also mollified moderates by giving the United Nations one last chance to deal with Saddam. Support for military action surged to near 70% in most polls. Finally, he asked Congress for a resolution authorizing the use of force. Again, the Democrats were stuck. Either vote against the resolution and alienate moderates, or vote for it and anger their base. The strategy yielded big dividends on election day.

Will the Democrats ever get wise to this? Perhaps. More likely, they will persist in their view that Bush is a dimwit who continues to get lucky. Thus, they will continue to misunderestimate his strategery.

---

Great article Pokey. Thanks!...

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[MeekOneGOP]

Entrapment by Bush:
He plays Democrats for fools,
and they always rise to his bait

Excerpt posted in #63. Great article, imho...

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my President Bush ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[Mr. K]

really? you got a link for her site?

Once again, I hope you took my comment as contructive criticism, I love your posts, but find them hard to read

[RooRoobird14]

I agree with your assessment of my senator (GAG), Wait4. Whenever I call McStains's office to complain (once or twice a month), his nasty phone lackey always listens and then responds with "Senator McCain has the highest approval ratings in Arizona that he's ever had,", blah, blah, BLAH.

McStain's arrogance approaches that of Mrs. Rapist's, and he should not be trusted. Ultimately, McStain will blow him himself up the way he did in the 2000 primaries. He's a pygmy midget compared to President Bush, but still deludes himself into thinking he's man enough to whoop President Bush.

[bert]

....The usual RINOs in the senate are energized....

It is early in the game. They have voters to placate too.

I think we should be patient and see how they act in the final minutes of the game. There is a good chance they will still be in the game on our side but wearing slings on the arms that have been twisted nearly off.

[twigs]

...a matter of formality that the UN would go along with Bush's plan. He never was going to leave them out, so the Democrat's attack resulted in the appearance of a major diplomatic coup on Bush's part.

He's also playing another angle brilliantly--his use of Colin Powell. I really didn't like his appointment, but now I'm a believer. Powell really is a moderate and willing to speak his mind--Bellefonte couldn't be more wrong. And he has an active voice in the administration. He is also highly respected among democrats, moderates and internationals. But he's also a loyal soldier; after he has his say, he stands behind his commander-in-chief. I believe he helps mollify opponents who knows he will insure their voice will be heard at the WH. Then look at what the President does. Powell "insisted" that he work through the UN, which Pres. Bush did, and in the process, just happened to reveal its enormous weaknesses, in fact its increasing irrelevance. Gotta love the strategery. What President Bush is doing deserves its own appellation. He's developing a new political path, not to mention the New Tone.

[hobbes1]

I have been saying right from the git go, that this is the most Poltically Brilliant White House, in modern times, possibly ever...

[CaliforniaOkie]

I will never be a member.[of AARP] --- So my husband and I are not alone here in refusing to join that club of selfish, greedy, unAmerican, parasitical...? --- I also refuse to let them add my name to their membership list!

Thank goodness for FR I learned here just what a socialist organization AARP is and therefore didn't join.

[Grammy]

And 2 more here who won't ever join AARP. Their stuff to us goes into the trash unopened.

[ohioWfan]

Heads Bush wins, tails Democrats lose.

Love those odds!

The "Twist." The twist to this strategy is that the Bush Administration also intends for its appearance of weakness to provoke criticism from the political right as well. For example, last week at the Daily Standard, Fred Barnes griped "Somebody tell the Bush White House that Republicans now control the Senate…

The Dims will never learn.....that's clear......but will the critics from the political right ever catch on?

When the conservative pundits were up in arms because Bush was 'caving on tax relief for the wealthy to appease the left,' I seriously wondered if they were ever going to 'get it' about Bush and how he works.

When the actual tax plan came out, I laughed out loud at his brilliance, but I wasn't surprised in the least.

I said it in 2001, and I'll say it again.......when all is said and done, we will see more movement to the right and achievement of Conservative goals with this President than we have with any other in history.

[ohioWfan]

Add us to your list of over 50 folks who will never be old enough to join AARP....

[Grampa Dave]

Great post!

Never play poker or chess with GW unless you are on his side!

[Grampa Dave]

The way GW plays Barnes, Krystol ball and other so called conservatives in the beltway is beautiful.

He makes these guys look more like clowns than even the Rat Bozos. Their fan club here on Free Republic rip their own lips off about once a week. These so called conservatives print some oped bitching about how GW is doing something wrong. It is posted here on FR with the usual clowns here moaning, groaning and bitching about how GW failed us again. A week or so later, the story was wrong and all the bozos set there in the beltway and here with egg on their faces.

Those of us who know GW just set back and let them paint themselves into a corner again while they are recording their own miss lead eagerness to prove GW is wrong again.

It reminds me of Lucy Van Pelt jerking the football away from Charlie Brown. They never learn.

[sweetliberty]

Good article.

[sweetliberty]

" I wish the author hadn't revealed the Stratergery to the Dems that can read."

Look at the bright side...many of them CAN'T read!

[Dog]

You summed it up well GrampaDave...he plays them like a cheap violin....

[sweetliberty]

"That GWB, not very bright is he?"

That is one lie the RATS floated early on that has backfired on them. Thing is, most of them are too dumb themselves to realize it, and to those who do know it doesn't really matter because they know most of their own constituents are dumb enough to believe whatever the RAT leaders tell them to believe.

[Grampa Dave]

These same drugged old hippies in the Rat Party and in the left wing media, did the same with Ronald Reagan.

They called him dumb, a two bit actor, Bonzo's bedtime partner and worse.

That was my first real wakeup call to the Lunatic Left which controlled our media. There was no lie that they would not print or broadcast to try and belittle or smear a good republican.

Now the same old drugged and diseased rats are trying to do the same with President Bush. It is not working any better with GW than it did with President Reagan inspite of over 3 years of calling him dumb, stupid.