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DEMOCRATS UNDONE BY "TOP GUN" BUSH
Tribune Media Services ^ | May 7, 2003 | Matthewt Miller

Posted on 05/07/2003 8:56:02 PM PDT by Howlin

Every so often you come across evidence that a political party is losing its mind. Something like that is happening to Democrats over President Bush's fabulous "top gun" photo-op aboard the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln. It's a case study in how Bush and Karl Rove have left so many Democrats undone.

Rep. Henry Waxman of California has asked the General Accounting Office to provide a full accounting of the landing's costs, since the event had "clear political overtones." Sen. Robert Byrd, who, as longtime appropriations czar, is in no position to throw stones over dubious uses of taxpayer money, lashed out at Bush instead for "flamboyant showmanship," saying the White House had no business using the carrier "as an advertising backdrop" for the president's speech. Democratic staffers are working overtime to gin up media interest in the "scandal."

Let's be clear. Yes, Bush manipulated the timing of the Iraqi showdown to suit his purposes in last year's midterm elections. And yes, he's now hoping to put America's military success to his political advantage. But for all that, Bush's decision to take out Saddam was the right thing to do. And as for the news that Bush is now trying to use the result to help himself - well, do we really have to trot out the old Casablanca line about being shocked to find there's gambling going on here?

For foes of Bush's domestic agenda, like myself, the worst part of these Democratic attacks is how ineffective and tone deaf they are. The party's most idiotic argument (it's hard to find a gentler word that's also accurate) is that in staging this event, Bush showed disrespect for the troops, because he delayed their return to their families by an extra day after a 10-month deployment.

Isn't it obvious even to Democrats that, if you took a vote of the sailors on board, they'd have unanimously hailed the idea of a visit from their commander in chief to deliver the thanks of a grateful nation? It's a moment they'll cherish for the rest of their lives and tell their grandchildren about. Democrats, inspired perhaps by the trial lawyers who bankroll the party, are acting as if these troops are good prospects for a class-action suit.

The cost was puny anyway. Early Democratic salvos complained that the photo-op cost at least $100,000, as if we should be outraged. Reality check, please. Fifty million dollars for Kenneth Starr's investigation was an outrage; $100,000 to land on deck and welcome troops returning from war is patriotic pageantry.

Earth to Democrats: There is nothing wrong with a little patriotic pageantry. And the costs of presidential movements are always extraordinary. When a president changes where he eats a meal one afternoon, taxpayers probably drop $100,000. You know what? We give the head of the free world a budget for that.

Democrats, of course, know this. Which helps explain why as I write this I've already received fresh e-mails from a Democratic press office raising the cost estimate for Top-Gun-Gate to $1 million. Bet they'll get it to $10 million before week's end.

I know, I know - this is politics. GOP operatives routinely toted up the cost of Bill Clinton's trips to New York City and the man-hours lost to Manhattan gridlock in the service of Hillary's ambition. The right wing never tires of trotting out the size and cost of Clinton's entourage when he traveled abroad. Both sides perennially engage in this irrelevant nitpicking - like so many other depressing aspects of public life, this seems to be a political law of nature.

But this latest episode shows how demoralizing life in the minority must be. Henry Waxman is admired even by Republicans for having done more over his career to extend health coverage to poor and near-poor Americans than perhaps anyone in the country.

Now look: Ten years after Newt Gingrich's earthquake, poor Henry is sniping guerrilla-style over political sideshows. How depressing must that be?

This is no time for Democrats to go bonkers over the small stuff. If this is what they consider smart politics, it'll be a long wait until 2008.


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abrahamlincoln; bush; democrats; topgun
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To: Humidston
(Keep it up Rats. You guys are asking for big trouble and you're going to end up with it smeared all over your faces and sticking to your shoes!)

Hey Now!!!! Don't give them rats any advice!!!
Shhhhhhh!
101 posted on 05/07/2003 10:58:03 PM PDT by Wake Up America
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To: Wake Up America
Clinton NEEDS addulation. Without it, he dies a little.
102 posted on 05/07/2003 10:58:26 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: texasbluebell
Smug Elvis-like smile on B.J's face.... He always looked like he was laughing at us for being such suckers, didn't he? The saddest part is, he probably was!

All he ever cared about was sex and power. He had his chance and he blew it because he couldn't control his ego.
103 posted on 05/07/2003 11:00:49 PM PDT by Humidston (Do not remove this tag under penalty of law)
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To: Howlin
"Rep. Henry Waxman of California has asked the General Accounting Office to provide a full accounting of the landing's costs, since the event had "clear political overtones."

Did you get to see Hannity & Colmes tonight? Hannity claimed that there were several Democrat Congresscritters who were also flown out to the aircraft carrier. I think Mr. Waxman should have GAO figure up their total while he's at it!

104 posted on 05/07/2003 11:03:09 PM PDT by mass55th
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To: Humidston

Many times I thought he looked like he was drunk.
105 posted on 05/07/2003 11:03:32 PM PDT by Wake Up America
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To: nopardons
Yes, back then the Today Show was not really a "news program". IIRC, they seemed to gear towards women. They had a little news and a lot of cooking, etc. My mother watched it every day, and I guess that's why I continued to watch it after I was grown. However, "Pesky" Katie Couric turned me off...real fast.

As for the nightly news programs, you nailed it! There was always bias! LOL

106 posted on 05/07/2003 11:04:21 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (Never have so many been so wrong about so much.)
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To: Wake Up America
Either drunk or zoned out on some drug or another....

But always smirking.
107 posted on 05/07/2003 11:06:04 PM PDT by Humidston (Do not remove this tag under penalty of law)
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To: mass55th
and President Bush got off the carrier befor it docked!

Clinton would have stayed on the thing and made a big deal out of himself.
108 posted on 05/07/2003 11:06:06 PM PDT by Wake Up America
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To: texasbluebell
Thanks for another telling pic.

If Clinton loathed the military, that's nothing compared to how the military feels about him.

109 posted on 05/07/2003 11:10:04 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (Never have so many been so wrong about so much.)
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To: dixiechick2000
The ONLY reason, that I or anyone else in my family EVER watched TODAY, way back when, was to see J. Fred Muggs, the chimp. Since I never much cred for the show, I NEVER watched it much and certainly NEVER watched it as an adult. Besides, once my daughter was old enough to dress herself and my husband fed & took her to school, I stopped getting up early enough to even catch a part of the show. LOL
110 posted on 05/07/2003 11:19:57 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: Humidston
All he ever cared about was sex and power. He had his chance and he blew it because he couldn't control his ego.

And I will never ever forgive him for saying that "no one ever had as much fun as I did" while being president. Pig.

111 posted on 05/07/2003 11:28:38 PM PDT by texasbluebell
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To: nopardons
"...once my daughter was old enough to dress herself and my husband fed & took her to school, I stopped getting up early enough to even catch a part of the show. LOL"

LOLOL! You are one lucky lady!

It was a habit from my childhood, and was really nothing more than comfortable background noise as I was trying to wake up enough to fix breakfast for my daughter and husband.

It was only when my daughter was grown, and hubby was on a trip, that I actually watched the sucker!

Then, I turned it off!

It was a dry 4 years until FNC started. I have watched it from Day 1, and haven't looked back.

112 posted on 05/07/2003 11:30:54 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (Never have so many been so wrong about so much.)
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To: dixiechick2000
Yes, I am " lucky ". I just laid out eveyone's clothes, got a " morning " kiss good bye ( I woke up for that; however, even THAT stopped, when she went off to boarding school !, and had a nice " lie in ".

My kiddo is also an adult now. Isn't it a nice change ? She watches " FOX & FRIENDS " ; I am asleep, so don't. LOL

It took FOREVER, for our cable to get FNC ( and believe me, I and my husband bugged them almost weekly...for years!), but we finally got it a few years back. Now, that is almost all I ever watch. LOL

113 posted on 05/07/2003 11:41:30 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: Howlin
Democrats, of course, know this. Which helps explain why as I write this I've already received fresh e-mails from a Democratic press office raising the cost estimate for Top-Gun-Gate to $1 million. Bet they'll get it to $10 million before week's end.

If they are going to throw an amount out there, then why does Waxman need an investigation done at the cost to taxpayers?

114 posted on 05/07/2003 11:47:39 PM PDT by Mo1 (I'm a monthly Donor .. You can be one too!)
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To: Howlin
Bump and ChipsAhoy! ;)
115 posted on 05/08/2003 12:30:08 AM PDT by JustPiper (If we are deemed 'far right wingers', does that make them 'left side wrongers'?)
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To: SirChas
Remember the "photo op" of Clinton at Normandy when a small U.S. flag just happened to be on the ground and he placed it back on the grave?

It's even worse than it sounds. The flag had already been placed on the grave, and Clinton ordered a flunky to go and kick it over so he could be seen replacing it. It bears repeating: Bill Clinton, may he roast in hell, ordered that the flag flying over the grave of a dead American soldier be kicked into the mud so that he could win political advantage by propping it back up.

He is the worst and most evil president this country has ever had. Everything and everyone connected to this white-trash son of a whore is a disgrace.

-ccm

116 posted on 05/08/2003 12:30:41 AM PDT by ccmay
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To: Howlin
Showmanship or statesmanship? Maybe a little or a lot of both. I'm sure the photo op people on Bush's staff were having wide awake wet dreams but it was also known that Bush was going to make a speech about the victory in Iraq. Though I cannot judge Bush's true intent of his heart but I'm sure the question went though his mind, Presidential or one of the guys/gals? He chose Commander in Chief - one of them. After all this wasn't going to be a speech to those just on the Lincoln but to all servicepeople and to the nation and world. So on goes the flight suit and away he goes. I honestly think Bush wanted to personally and genuinely thank all the "warriors" as possible for a job very well done.

But the kicker for me is that the crew of the Lincoln were genuinely "outspoken" in their admiration and love for the Commander in Chief and as President. They loved it. Their CIC was in a flight suit and not a business suit. Actually I don't think it would have mattered a great deal but it to me it just goes to the mind set of President Bush, CIC.
117 posted on 05/08/2003 12:39:12 AM PDT by jwh_Denver
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To: texasbluebell

I wish I could play "Caption this Photo".

First, everyone has the "I'm here to avoid KP duty" look. Those that aren't outright disgusted are staring intently at the EXIT sign. Bill looks like he's got something sticky on his hands and is wiping it off. Finally, the guy just up and to the right of the guy wiping ... er ... shaking Bill's hand is looking at his own hand with that GhostBuster's "He slimed me!" look. LOL.

118 posted on 05/08/2003 1:36:10 AM PDT by DeltaZulu
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To: Mo1
George H.W. Bush went to a Naval base to give a speech on the birthday of the Navy. While there, he was suprised with the appearance of a restored WWII bomber of the type he flew in battle. A very touching moment and a salute for a man whose long government career might be ending (I think this was 1988). The Dems were all over the papers the next day moaning about this "campaign ad".
119 posted on 05/08/2003 1:37:35 AM PDT by DmBarch
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To: Howlin
Thanks for the ping :)
120 posted on 05/08/2003 1:55:29 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
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