MSNBC: Bush's "On The Ropes" Strategy

Bush's On The Ropes Strategy

WASHINGTON – The last time things looked this bleak politically for George W. Bush was in early 2000, the night he was blindsided by Sen. John McCain in the New Hampshire primary.

At that moment, Bush came this close to blowing the Republican nomination. But instead of falling apart (as I had seen many another candidacy do in New Hampshire under similar circumstances), Bush and his team found their focus, unified their message and beat McCain later that spring by stealing his themes and savaging him personally -- especially among Christian conservatives who form the base of the party.

It was tough, disciplined and vicious stuff.

Now, nearly six years later, the president finds himself in another political crisis: his Supreme Court nominee is being laughed off the field; the conservative movement is showing signs of age; GOP candidates aren’t eager to appear with him on the campaign trail; the war in Iraq continues to cost lives and money; and top aides (and even his own vice president) are in the gunsights of a special prosecutor.

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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9826245/

Do you think that's really smart?

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against them for voting for these idiots. If they now also buy into an attempt to swiftboat Fitz, that's strike 3.

Maybe that's our hook. Repubs, you screwed up twice, don't buy it a third time.

....I mean it was this administration who chose Fitzgerald and they've never said anything bad about him before. So all of a sudden, when it looks bad for their side, they start to slime him?

Would anyone even believe them at this point?

so that no matter how bad he comes off, all the opponents or alternatives are worse. It also helps distract.

In 2000 he won through dirty tricks against Gore and McCain and has only done it again for the past six years.

the CIA. They are playing for keeps and will see to it that Fitz has whatever he needs to get the job done. If he can't, they'll come in behind him and clean up the mess.

is that Bush has installed Goss to head the CIA, and key people, I believe have left as a result.

I suspect even those who have left will be happy to contribute to any effort to damage him.

Probably wouldn't have even made it to governor.

And yet the party runs on "moral values".

:puke:

Suppose it'll reach from Rove's prison cell to the oval office?

bushco would have no tactics at all! :hi:

Smearing McCain with an outrageous whisper campaigns worked in a state loaded with Christian conservatives.

But personal attacks are same strategy that is leading up to indictments. It's fighting fire with gasoline.

Is just as phony as B###. He sucks also!!!!!!!!!!

Here's Howie's take on bush's race-baiting in 2000:

"It was tough, disciplined and vicious stuff."

Typical of bush worshipers - they think only the stupid, little people play by the rules of decency. They *admire* those who think nothing of lying and cheating to advance themselves because...well...because "that's the way it works in the real world." They think like the character in The Godfather who said, "behind every successful business there lies a crime."

OK, Howie. What's bush gonna say next? That anyone who opposes him on any issue has an illegitimate black child living in their home? How about that any military person who opposes him faked their injuries? How about playing the patriotism card that worked so well in the past?

Sorry, but I'm fresh out of the other "tough, disciplined and vicious" tactics that make Mr * so admired throughout the world.

for another Reichstag fire...or maybe Canadian insurgents will cross the border and take over a radio station.
That is the Bush model...I just hope the American people recognize who their real enemies are this time.

Can he work as well with his brain under indictment?

To some degree? If the mob can put out hits on people from behind bars, isn't it naive to think Karl Rove can't?

into compliance. They know nothing else. Of course they will try both now, and I think it will be ugly. There are many ways the repugs can get vicious. The only entity that will be able to shut bushco down is the rest of the repug party and yes maybe the cia.
All the other checks and balances are gone.

Really how does the SC example fit here?

They have been trying for two years to say what was done was no big deal (and the keep on saying it). And as far as savaging Fitz personally - they may try but there isn't anything to savage he's a diligent professional investigating a case nothing more or less. what must drive them all the Press whores mad is he doesn't leak which means they have to try and think - which makes their little heads hurt.

And of course howard the duck fineman does the washington insider of assuming that it is only politics and nothing else. *'s troubles are not the result of Plame investigation - this is coming at the end of a long long series of crass mistakes, blunders and displays of callous incompetence (Social Security, Iraq, Katrina, nominating little Ms. brown nose for the supreme court) that set this group of thugs on a downward course that none of the tricks they've tried have altered. Face it, if * had not already been shown to be a clueless self absorbed ape Plamegate wouldn't be getting the play it is.

And even if it fades like a fog in the morning sun, the other million pound shit hammers that have smashed our boy in the face for the last few months are still doing their job - and let's not forget there is another investigation about all that lobbying, The price of oil is over 60 bucks a barrel and the weathers getting cold, men and women and children are still dying in Iraq, the economy is getting worse (it wasn't very good before but the storms have kicked it in the nuts) and * doesn't seem have a single idea of what to do about any of it except to give money to Halliburton.

None of this is going to go away even if they accuse Fitz of having had a black baby.

but the Rove flying monkeys sure will.

Sadly for them it won't stop Fitz.

administration will stop at nothing to change the subject and to get the flags waving again and a bullhorn in the dirty slime's hands.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have 'Delay'_ed "it" until their ratings are swimmin' down the gutter... and sinkin' faster than the Titanic...

Yep. They sure do "NO" la game is over.

On the other hand, distracting with illegal invasions is another robber-baron... but they 'hesitate' because they don't know how many voters from the 58%-slice who are now saying the Iraq invasion was a 'mistake' would swing back and 'fall' for their pack of lies this time again... They 'heard' it's "risky" so being the true chickenhawks they've always been...