[nutmeg]

I voted for Bush twice. And I remember how infuriating his 2004 campaign was. Genius Rove and Compassionate George just lay down and took all the trash talk without responding. In fact, it was 8 solid years of maximum wimpitude.

I know, it was maddening. We had a rare chance to ask Genius Rove face-to-face about that during a CPAC event held in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (next to the White House) back around 2005 or so.

My husband asked him why does the Bush administration not fight back vs. the liberal trash talk that gets out via the media every day?

Rove stood there for a few seconds, he looked like a deer in headlights... "What do you mean? We fight back. I don't know what you're talking about." He was incredulous.

Rove referred to some press conferences (always held during the day, when people were working). He fumbled through some other so-called "responses" from the Bush administration vs. the liberal media. It was gibberish, as I remember.

That was about that, next question. We all sat there fuming after his wimpy, inside-the-Beltway, out of touch response.

Ugh, no more Bushes!!

[firebrand]

I agree that no one from the Bush administration ever fought back. One exception:

There was one point shortly after the 2001 inauguration when the lefties began disputing the widespread stories of the Clinton staff trashing the White House or executive office building, going so far as to rip the W keys off the computers. I think it was Rove or maybe Cheney who threatened to make the photos public. Then the creeps finally shut up about that.

Refusing to comment or refute was one tactic to take, as long as you were consistent. Once you start criticizing, then you have to criticize every insult, because if you don’t it looks like you are accepting the ones you don’t criticize. Or it may have just been W cementing his image as a gentleman, or perhaps as someone above the fray.

It was infuriating but I kind of understand it. Those were infuriating times, with the Left in full demonic mode.

[Bigg Red]

Thank you for the ping to your comments. Sad, huh?

Yes, no more Bushes!

Hope all is well with you and your husband (FR name Zelig?), FRiend.

[SE Mom]

It was awful, wasn’t it? They kept acting “like it never even happened “.... arrrgghhh...

Apparently in his book, Rove said that was his biggest mistake...not fighting back.

[rdl6989]

Thanks for the ping, and you’re right, no more Bushes.