Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120 ... 241-249 next last
To: Howlin
Excellent post. I will spring that on liberal friends, to shut them up as I always do.

Where is that research from?

81 posted on 05/07/2003 10:29:59 PM PDT by dead
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: texasbluebell
LOL! Great pic!

Clinton is the only one smiling! heheh

82 posted on 05/07/2003 10:32:09 PM PDT by dixiechick2000 (Never have so many been so wrong about so much.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: texasbluebell
The way we got Clinton in the first place was that Mr Perrow ...I can't remember how to spell his name.

But anyway [Perrow] took alot of the votes away from Bush.

Clinton only got something like 43 percent of the vote.



83 posted on 05/07/2003 10:33:00 PM PDT by Wake Up America
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: texasbluebell
Hey isn't that a 'bomber jacket' Clinton has on???
84 posted on 05/07/2003 10:34:32 PM PDT by Wake Up America
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: NotJustAnotherPrettyFace
Ok, Congressman Waxman. If you want to start down this path, why don't we total up the costs of all those trips of King Billy Jeff I?!

Yes.....which he used to sell us out......

85 posted on 05/07/2003 10:36:05 PM PDT by LaineyDee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: nopardons
I agree with you he is pompous. Both my Husband and myself are getting tired of his rudeness to guests.
86 posted on 05/07/2003 10:36:09 PM PDT by Wake Up America
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
Excerp from POST 46:

This is JUST the AIR FORCE SUPPORT COST of Clinton Lame Duck Trip>

Meanwhile, Air Force Times also pegged the cost at $50 million [3/27/00], implying this figure reflects Air Force costs alone. The article also identifies the numbers and types of aircraft dedicated to the trip: 14 C-17 Globemaster IIIs; 12 C-5 Galaxys, 3 C-141 Starlifters; and 2 C-130 Hercules. In addition, 7 KC-10 Extenders and 39 KC-135 Stratotankers were to deploy. The return mission was to require the same types and numbers of assets with some exceptions, but to include an additional 10 Galaxys and 3 more Stratotankers.

87 posted on 05/07/2003 10:36:59 PM PDT by agincourt1415 (Our President Looks Great in a Flight Suit!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 44 | View Replies]

To: Wake Up America
Yes, a bomber jacket, and I'm on the wrong computer to get to a better pic of it that I have saved. With a smug elvis-like smile on his face. I'll try to find it tomorrow.

I really like this one too. link to photo of xlinton shaking hands with some of the troops (a lot of grim faces there, but maybe it's just me...

88 posted on 05/07/2003 10:42:01 PM PDT by texasbluebell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: Wake Up America
Oh you're quite right.

Perot took away a lot of votes from Bush Sr.

Yes, xlinton only got 43% of the vote and if Perot hadn't been carrying on his grudge match with GHWB, we wouldn't have had to suffer for 8 years with this bozo.
89 posted on 05/07/2003 10:43:56 PM PDT by texasbluebell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: nutmeg
bump
90 posted on 05/07/2003 10:45:54 PM PDT by nutmeg (USA: Land of the Free - Thanks to the Brave)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: texasbluebell
Clinton [AND HIS WIFE] must have been green with envy
watching how the troops just loved President Bush on the
visit to their ship!

I'll bet they [clintons] just hate him.



91 posted on 05/07/2003 10:46:47 PM PDT by Wake Up America
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: Wake Up America
Clinton [AND HIS WIFE] must have been green with envy

Yes, and call me mean-spirited, but I love any day that brings them misery. It's my only consolation where they're concerned.

92 posted on 05/07/2003 10:48:48 PM PDT by texasbluebell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 91 | View Replies]

To: dixiechick2000
Well, to be fair AND factual , Dave Garaway ( the TODAY SHOW ) had " pap" and " fluff " ; but then, that was NOT, strictly speaking, a " NEWS SHOW ", in the '50s. :-)

The " nightly news ", from the late '40s onwards, until around 1980, NEVER had " pap " / " fluff ". Biais ? Yes! that's always been in every form of news media, from the beginnings of our nation. But then, that's a different topic. LOL

93 posted on 05/07/2003 10:49:00 PM PDT by nopardons
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 79 | View Replies]

To: Wake Up America
He's dreadful and I almost NEVER watch him and I most assuredly do NOT listen to his radio show; not EVER...especially because he's on opposite Sean Hannity, where I live. LOL
94 posted on 05/07/2003 10:51:18 PM PDT by nopardons
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: texasbluebell
I got a chuckle out of that!
95 posted on 05/07/2003 10:51:28 PM PDT by Wake Up America
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: texasbluebell
Nope; not " just " you ! They look both grim and irritateed...some look disgusted too.
96 posted on 05/07/2003 10:53:03 PM PDT by nopardons
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: nopardons
Yes except for the dark guy. He likes Clinton.
97 posted on 05/07/2003 10:54:08 PM PDT by Wake Up America
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 96 | View Replies]

To: Howlin
Thanks for the ping, Howlin.

Unbelievable stuff! This is so stupid that even Chris Matthews laughed out loud at Henry Nostrilitis Waxman - who was a guest and who was trying desperately to explain his *outrage* at Bush's waste of *our* taxpayers' dollars.

If it wasn't so insane, it'd be funny!!

(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!)
98 posted on 05/07/2003 10:56:06 PM PDT by Humidston (Do not remove this tag under penalty of law)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: nopardons
and Clinton likes him.
99 posted on 05/07/2003 10:56:08 PM PDT by Wake Up America
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 96 | View Replies]

To: Wake Up America
Yep.
100 posted on 05/07/2003 10:56:44 PM PDT by nopardons
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 61-8081-100101-120 ... 241-249 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson