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Entrapment by Bush: He plays Democrats for fools, and they always rise to his bait
American Prowler ^ | 01/10/03 | David Hogberg

Posted on 01/09/2003 9:47:06 PM PST by Pokey78

As I was waiting for my flight back to Iowa last Friday I scanned an article in USA Today about the Bush economic stimulus package. It reported that the Presidents' advisers stated the "proposal will likely exclude top-tier taxpayers in an effort to fend off Democratic criticism that his tax programs pander to the rich." As the plane headed for flyover country, I jotted some notes for a possible column on how Bush was engaging in both bad politics and bad policy.

Then on Sunday the Bush Administration released the full details of the plan: $674 billion in tax relief that included eliminating the tax on dividends and reducing income-tax rates for all income-tax payers. So much for excluding the rich. Fortunately, I hadn't written the column as the NFL Playoffs intervened. (Hey, gotta have priorities.) But I was left scratching my head as to why the Bush Administration would hint at placating the Democrats in the first place.

As I thought more about it, it became increasingly apparent that it was part of a strategy that the Bush Administration has employed for some time to put the Democrats in a box. It might be called "entrapment with a twist." It works as follows:

Act Helpless. In this step the Bushies leak stories to the press making the Administration look weak. The Administration may appear as though it lacks focus. Other times it may act as though it's afraid of the opposition. The point is to let the Democrats smell blood in the water. In the case of the economic stimulus package, the Bush Administration acted wary of Democrats' class-warfare rhetoric, and so hinted it might drop tax cuts for top income earners.

Wait for Democrats to Pounce. The appearance of weakness naturally induces the Democrats to attack. And as the Bush Administration surely knows, it will be an attack that pleases the Democrats' base. Over the weekend, prominent Donks turned up the class-warfare rhetoric. The Bush tax cuts would help "the wealthiest Americans" fumed then-impending Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. In an ironic choice of words, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi complained that the Bush plan was a "Trojan Horse to wheel in some tax breaks for the high end that they're so fond of." Trojan Horse indeed.

Spring the Trap. Once the Democrats have committed themselves to a line of attack, the Bush Administration ensnares them by pursuing a policy which forces the Democrats to either anger their base or alienate moderates. In his economic stimulus package, Bush not only has the supply-side tax cuts that please conservatives, he also has items that appeal to moderates, like income-tax cuts for the middle and lower class and "Re-Employment Accounts." Congressional Democrats now face a very unpleasant choice. They can vote against the President's plan thereby voting against the items that please moderate voters. Or they can risk dispiriting their base by voting for a plan that includes tax cuts for the "wealthy." Heads Bush wins, tails Democrats lose.

The "Twist." The twist to this strategy is that the Bush Administration also intends for its appearance of weakness to provoke criticism from the political right as well. For example, last week at the Daily Standard, Fred Barnes griped "Somebody tell the Bush White House that Republicans now control the Senate….Somehow the idea got planted at the White House that a watered-down tax cut, less susceptible to Democratic attacks, would be better politically for the president." It seems to me that this has two important psychological effects. First, seeing the president attacked from the right emboldens the Democrats, making them all the more likely to pounce. Second, when the president actually releases a plan that has plenty of conservative ideas, the right heaves a great sigh of relief, and becomes energized and eager to do battle for Bush. Not surprisingly, in Tuesday's National Review Online Larry Kudlow gushed, "President Bush has surprised everyone with his decision to propose a big-bang economic growth package."

The Bush Administration has used this strategy at least since last year, when it rolled the Democrats on the War Against Iraq. In that instance, the Administration leaked stories that Bush was hesitating about going to war with Iraq. This prompted many on the right to complain; most notably Bill Kristol and Robert Kagan at the Weekly Standard zinged Bush for "Going Wobbly." Sensing an opportunity, the Democrats went on the attack in late summer. Then-Minority Leader Dick Gephardt said the President needed to "make the case to Congress and the people," while Senator Joe Lieberman said Bush must "speak to the American people [and] ask Congress for authorization." They had walked right into it.

Shortly after September 11, Bush made the case in speeches to the American people and in front of the United Nations. He reiterated his support for regime change in Iraq, using force if necessary. He also mollified moderates by giving the United Nations one last chance to deal with Saddam. Support for military action surged to near 70% in most polls. Finally, he asked Congress for a resolution authorizing the use of force. Again, the Democrats were stuck. Either vote against the resolution and alienate moderates, or vote for it and anger their base. The strategy yielded big dividends on election day.

Will the Democrats ever get wise to this? Perhaps. More likely, they will persist in their view that Bush is a dimwit who continues to get lucky. Thus, they will continue to misunderestimate his strategery.


David Hogberg is a research analyst at the Public Interest Institute, an Iowa-based think tank. He also hosts his own website, Cornfield Commentary.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bushdoctrineunfold
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To: Pokey78
He told the RATs not to "misunderestimate" him. LOL
81 posted on 01/10/2003 10:12:35 AM PST by Go Gordon
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To: Grampa Dave
It reminds me of Lucy Van Pelt jerking the football away from Charlie Brown. They never learn.

LOL! I do believe you may be right about this Grampa! We're observing a whole mess of Charlie Browns!

I find myself much less agitated by their rantings, though, from Krystol and Barnes down to the lowliest freeper basher. The more our stealth President 'entraps' them all.....left and right, the more fun it is to watch.

82 posted on 01/10/2003 10:20:06 AM PST by ohioWfan (Bush......confounder, entrapper par excellence)
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To: RooRoobird14
Lol Roo I guess thats why about republicans are lining up to challenge him in the primary, then again when push comes to shove John is usually on board Lincoln Chafee is an entirely different matter.
83 posted on 01/10/2003 10:22:39 AM PST by Leclair10
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To: Dog
Just image the fishing fly below was tied and then cast by the great fly fisher, GW. Then, imagine that the not to bright trout is a rat in politics or the media or a beltway pseudo conservative.

Pictured below is President GW playing with the hooked rats or pseudo beltway conservatives:

The really dumb rats or pseudo beltway conservative don't even wait for GW's flies to hit the water. They eagerly jump out of the water and hook themselves, again and again.

84 posted on 01/10/2003 10:24:10 AM PST by Grampa Dave (Support Free Republic. Become a monthly donor !)
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To: Grampa Dave
It reminds me of Lucy Van Pelt jerking the football away from Charlie Brown. They never learn.

That, sir, is one great analogy.

85 posted on 01/10/2003 10:44:46 AM PST by BOBTHENAILER (Bush/Cheney in 04, plus nine "Right" senators more)
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To: patriciaruth
Not to get off the topic of the thread, but IS THERE an alternative to AARP? Maybe FR can start a conservative organization for those of us over 50! Just a thought. AARP sends me literature all the time. I always send it back with nasty notes you would think they would get the message. I am soon to be 55 by the way......
86 posted on 01/10/2003 10:46:59 AM PST by JimFreedom
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To: orchid
Well ... you make a mistake if you try to lob GW with his dad. They are two very different people. GW is more like his feisty mom, than the appeasing dad. But, that does not mean to imply that I give a rubber stamp to everything he does. But I do believe he is doing now, and will do more later, with his position than most presidents.

And ... I do believe GW's 12 years of experience watching Reagan and his dad interact with Congress, were invaluable to him and I also believe it's the reason he's running rings around the dems.
87 posted on 01/10/2003 10:57:37 AM PST by CyberAnt
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To: N. Theknow
"It would have been even better if he had eliminated the income tax on Social Security benefits which were enacted by the Dems and Toon."

Agreed. But I have to guess Bush is saving this for overall Social Security reform. And with the seniors on his side, the Democrats will wilt like flowers without water. By not raising the Social Security issue at this time, the Dems cannot begin issuing dire warnings and starting their predictable scare tactics. How can the Dems scare seniors when the only change is the elimination of the tax on their dividends?

88 posted on 01/10/2003 11:10:27 AM PST by tom h
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To: ohioWfan
I said it in 2001, and I'll say it again.......when all is said and done, we will see more movement to the right and achievement of Conservative goals with this President than we have with any other in history.

Big...

MEGA Bump

...to that !


89 posted on 01/10/2003 11:44:17 AM PST by MeekOneGOP (Just for grins: http://muffin.eggheads.org/images/funny/dogsmile.jpg)
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To: Pokey78
The democrats are REALLY retarded. After having their b@lls handed to them several times in this administration, you'd think that they should know--DON'T comment on Bush's plan until it's actually unleashed. DUH!!!!!!!!

Gosh I love watching them self destruct.
90 posted on 01/10/2003 11:45:27 AM PST by lawgirl (FREEP Congress--we need Bush's judicial nominees approved!)
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To: patriciaruth
I have been looking at this organization, they seem pretty conservative:

Mission Statement
adopted December 9, 1997

United Seniors Association, Inc. (USA) is the leading conservative seniors' organization dedicated to ensuring the retirement security of all Americans. Since our founding in 1991, USA has fought to protect the interests and values of our members and others concerned about the health, security, and dignity of American seniors.

Working in Washington, DC and at the grassroots level around the country, USA educates and mobilizes seniors who share our philosophy that individual freedom, personal responsibility, a vibrant free enterprise system, traditional values, and a strong national defense are the hallmarks of American liberty and a just society. USA is dedicated to educating and involving our members in the policy-making process because we believe well informed seniors are ultimately their own best representatives.

United Seniors Association is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 1991. With a 1.5 million activists network nationwide, USA is the leading group for citizen activists who want to cut taxes, safegaurd the Social Security Trust Fund, and improve Social Security and Medicare for all generations.



United Seniors Association, Inc.
3900 Jermantown Road #450
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
(Phone) 703 / 359 - 6500
(Phone) 1-800 887 2872
(Fax) 703 / 359 - 6510
(Email) usa@unitedseniors.org

91 posted on 01/10/2003 12:02:24 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Grampa Dave
Nice graphics.
92 posted on 01/10/2003 12:05:27 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Pokey78
Confusion to the enemy!
93 posted on 01/10/2003 12:07:55 PM PST by Arthur Wildfire! March
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To: Pokey78
"Misunderestemate" Bush is what Dembulbs do best.
94 posted on 01/10/2003 12:10:37 PM PST by dalebert
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To: MeeknMing
Thanks for the heads up!
95 posted on 01/10/2003 12:20:10 PM PST by Alamo-Girl
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To: Pokey78
"....democrats ever get wise....?" </I> This article is asking too much of the democrats.
96 posted on 01/10/2003 12:31:12 PM PST by desertcry
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To: Mr. Mojo
All in good time Mojo, all in good time. Patience pays.
97 posted on 01/10/2003 12:33:54 PM PST by desertcry
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To: bybybill
Don't forget the europeans, and our friends in the north.
98 posted on 01/10/2003 12:36:44 PM PST by desertcry
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To: JohnEBoy
Yeah GWB has turned the democrats world upside down. Democrats proposing Tax Cuts good heavens, what have the democrats turned to!
99 posted on 01/10/2003 12:41:30 PM PST by desertcry
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To: JohnHuang2
Strategery ... Bump!

GWB is the Man!

Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!
100 posted on 01/10/2003 1:26:35 PM PST by blackie
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