Posted on 01/30/2002 3:57:32 AM PST by PJ-Comix
Peter Jennings pressed to see if any focus group members thought President Bush did "badly" in his speech and, during a segment with Democratic consultant Paul Begala and Republican consultant Haley Barbour, tossed a softball to Begala but a tough question to Barbour about how Republicans can win his fall "without being tripped up on Enron, having it called a 'Bush recession' and carrying the potential burden of a budget deficit?"
Following comments by members of Florida focus group, Michele Norris summarized: "Overall, the President seemed to get high marks. Most people said that they heard what they needed to hear, but as always, the proof is in not just the talk, but, as they say, the walk, what the President actually does and if he's able to actually work with Congress."
Jennings then engaged Norris: "Michele, I wonder if I could impose on you and your cameraman to ask two questions for a show of hands, though I must say I admire your 'walk the walk and talk the talk' suggestion there....How many people thought the President deserves his more than 80 percent approval rating? [entire group raises hands]...Does anybody there tonight think the President did badly?" [no hands]
Later, he asked Begala not about Democratic weaknesses but about how Democrats could deal with Bush's strength: "How do the Democrats, in this election year, run against a man as popular as George Bush and win on the issues?"
But in his first question to Barbour, Jennings listed supposed GOP trouble spots: "How do the Republicans now run in this election year, without being tripped up on Enron, having it called a 'Bush recession' and carrying the potential burden of a budget deficit?"
Another thing I would love to see is to use word 'controversial' when talking about any dem proposal.
They should not put any emphasis on the thing, no justification, if asked why they are using these words, just say 'this is my opinion'. Unfortunately reps on talk show circuit have no spine to do it.
Peter Jennings quoting President Bush after his "Let's Roll" speech.
But what IS relevant, I think, is the specific angle they're trying to take now. I heard it on the NPR commentary last night, and on NPR's "Marketplace" program this morning: "Mr. Bush is really hamstrung with this Enron thing. He keeps trying to ignore it but it's not going away."
My fervent hope is that if the Dems DO press it, it's going to blow up in their faces, and that it comes to light that this was the inevitable result of the Clinton years.
I can read as well as you can.My mistake.
I think you're right. This is a big story, but it IS going to go away, and, frankly, I just don't think that Bush or Cheney did anything wrong. Both seem to be very moral, ethical men and I think they wouldn't put themselves in a position that jeopardizes their goals.
Enron is the result of Clinton, no doubt about it. I think the better story is the $18 million McAuliffe made off HIS now-defunct company/stock. Where's the press on that?
My fervent hope is that if the Dems DO press it, it's going to blow up in their faces, and that it comes to light that this was the inevitable result of the Clinton years.
What does "deserve" have to do with anything?
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