White House to Sen. Byrd- 'Do It Again, Please' (USS Lincoln Complaining) [Excerpt from The Note]

ABC News ^ | May 8, 2003 | Marc Armbinder

[ewing]

One Democrat moaned yesterday as he watched the cable news programs replay hours of footage of President Bush on the carrier with audio about Democratic complaints.

'Im watching him get high fived and buzz the tower again,' the Democrat said. 'The White House should have thought of this controversy themselves!'

Democratic questions about Bush's jet landing made the front page of USA Today complete with the 'Fly Boy' photo that will have Mike Deaver smiling.

Along these lines, a Senior Administration Official told the ABC Political Unit 'The more time the President talks about defense and security issues, the more he hurts Democrats and reinforces the public's positive perceptions of the Presdient.'

'Do it again, do it again is our message to Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia.'

The Democrats are doing things to make their base happy, but alienating the center of the electorate.

[WaterDragon]

LOL! Republicans in the White House are too smart for the Dimwit simpletons!

[ohioWfan]

Not sure if this is what you're talking about, but here are a few that capture the (lovely) flavor of the moment.......

[eyespysomething]

ROFLMAO!!!

[Becki]

Thank you! I did have another one in mind. He was walking towards a group, with his back to the camera, and they surrounded him with hugs.

I had just come around the corner and saw it on TV. I am not sure even at what point it happened. But I sure would like a picture of it.

Thanks!! Becki

[ewing]

That is some fine vinatge liberal whine there!

[colorado tanker]

I will never forget when my first grade daughter asked me what Presidential kneepads were.

Every time I think the Clinton legacy can't get any worse, I hear another story . . . .

[hchutch]

What do we learn here?

Strategery works. Bush is thinking and getting AHEAD of the PR game, and that is something the Dems have never been forced to deal with from a conservative politician before. Newt never did that, nor did a lot of others. He in essence, has determined that one can take out more flies by using honey as a lure as opposed to vinegar.

This is someone who also has good people backing him up (Rove, Racicot, and others), and he can trust them to stick with a plan. That counts for a lot more than people realize. The Dems are sputtering, and the Republicans would be awell-served to copy Bush's methods.

[ohioWfan]

I don't think those guys know they were part of a 'shameless' photo op, do you??

I think they actually LOVE their CinC, and were PROUD that he flew in to say thanks to them for their sacrifice. :o)

[ewing]

Someone desribed Rove in the last campaign as like Bobby Fisher at chess. (and I am starting to belive them)

He is always thinking 20 moves ahead on the chess board and knows what the potential outcomes will be.

[ohioWfan]

I'll see if I can find that one.......

[ewing]

Exactamoundo, everyone sticks to the game plan and is one the same page, then we win in a landslide.

That is precisely why Dubya hates leaks so much..

[Timesink]

PROOF THIS WORKS:

Despite these obstacles, [Leslie] Stahl maintained that her early years with CBS were positive because they were "a huge learning experience." She had made her share of mistakes as a rookie and had learned from them.

One such mistake occurred when she was covering Ronald Reagan's reelection campaign in 1984. Apparently, Reagan had proposed some budget cuts in federally funded nursing homes and benefits for the handicapped. These cuts were very unpopular, and during re-election time, he wanted very much to improve his image on the issue. So while campaigning, he would engage in activities such as inaugurating new nursing homes and hugging and putting medals around kids at the handicapped Olympics. During these times, he would, of course, invite the press along to get some free publicity.

While covering these events, Stahl was keenly aware of Reagan's ulterior motives. So every time the camera showed Reagan's affected support for nursing homes and the handicapped, Stahl would steadfastly remind her viewers of his budget cuts.

To her surprise, her words did not have much impact on her audience.

In fact, a CBS study found that less than 25 percent of Stahl's audience understood her message while most thought that her piece was a positive news story on Ronald Reagan. It was then that she realized that "when the pictures [such as Reagan hugging a handicapped child] are emotional and powerful and when you are saying something that conflicts with them, the messages aren't married; the pictures will drown out what you say."

The RATS and their henchmen in the national media CANNOT win on this one. EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY SHOW BUSH ON THAT CARRIER, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE WIN FOR OUR SIDE. The words they use underneath the images are completely irrelevant.

[Note: The reason the quoted text is written with such an anti-GOP, anti-Reagan tone is because it's from the MIT student newspaper.]

[ewing]

Just look in the sailors faces, thsoe kind of reactions cant be faked..

[ohioWfan]

The debauched one degraded everyone in this country.....man, woman.....and especially child. (You don't even want to hear what I think would be a fitting punishment for the harm he did to America.....)

That, however, is part of the reason I think many of us are still literally giddy when we see the honor and dignity, courage and downright manliness of THIS President!

[ewing]

Great stuff I bet that 25 percent is much higher now because there are more sports bars, malls and places where people watch television with the sound off.

[arielb]

that's strategery! And W Bush wasn't the first prez to invent new words. Theodore Roosevelt issued an executive order directing the government to adopt 300 reformed spellings. Congress didn't approve but Americans had adopted some of them such as center instead of centre and honor without the u.

[agincourt1415]

Send a freep mail to screen name: rintense

She will send you the link.

[B-bone]

Thanks for the correction. I don't even have to claim ignorance on something like this, it's self-evident.

I knew the record would quickly be set straight--that's why I enjoy Free Republic.

[hchutch]

Take a look at the folks complaining about a lot of the things Bush does. Like CFR, but look at how it got tossed.

[ewing]

You cant argue against the emotional reaction of servicepeople that really love their commander in chief.

There is no positive way for the Dims to spin..