Countering Bush

So I watched the Bush thing today, in between the Kerry things. Portland. He's changed his stump speech, added to it. With Karen Hughes on board, I think it'll get even more focused. I think we might want to get some good counters to it. Here's what I remember:

Huge applause for spreading freedom around the world. They like seeing themselves as the good Americans saving the world. Of course, it would be totally wrong if Clinton had done it. He told a story about Iraqi's coming to his office who had their hands chopped off. Some guy in Texas paid for them to have prosthesis. "Ain't we great" Never mind the insanity of the idea of spreading freedom at gun point.

NCLB is closing the gap on education. He increased education spending 56%. Huge applause. Never mind Oregon's school report had just been released and 200 schools are now labeled as failing and will have to come up with money for tutors or send kids to different schools.

He passed the healthy forests bill to help with wildfires. People back east (like Kerry) don't understand the devastation of wildfires. Doesn't mention that alot of people back east don't understand what old growth is because they really don't have any and think tree farms are normal. He talked about trees being renewable resources. A healthy forest ought to support wildlife or logging, if done correctly. We don't need tree farms.

Talked about some basketball player, sorry don't follow it. He started a program for kids. Bush used it to push his faith based programs. Again, "ain't we great".

Talked about creating a million new jobs and 5.6% unemployment. Worse job record since Hoover and he's got people applauding him.

Talked about his great prescription drug program. Health care costs and the health savings accounts. And malpractice. Again, applause.

And, of course, tax cuts. Which by the way, Democrats and Olympia Snowe pushed for those family tax credits, tax rebates, and lower income tax cuts in the first place. They were never part of Bush's original proposals.

That's all I remember. But I have to tell you, I didn't see smirky Bush or bumbling Bush today. I really did see a guy people would vote for. I thought one of the men on the stage was going to get up and kiss him. They love him all right, they really think he's doing great things for them.

Many people are beginning to think that because we hold a low opinion of his intellect, or his inclination to work, or his ethical behavior, that he's as good as gone come November. Well, that's far from a done deal.

And remember, he has retained the most skilled, most ruthless propagandists the Free World has ever seen.

We may berate him for his many foibles, but he is a formidable opponent.

So, we mustn't slack off.

--bkl

Many here berate him for being stupid, when I don't think that's the case at all. Is he a genius on the level of Bill Clinton? Not by a long shot. I just think he is lazy and coasted his way through life because of his connections & family.

I'm not stupid, either, but I know if I went on Meet the Press or got interviewed by a gaggle of reporters, I'd likely stumble as well. Bush is just too lazy & too arrogant to work at improving his public speaking abilities.

However, his back is against the wall now, and I expect him to lash out and occassionally be more focused.

Clinton said "Underestimate Bush* at your own peril" Clinton is many things but dummy is not one of them.

He could get up there and advocate an invasion of Canada, and those people would applaud him for it.

That being said, people here are underestimating him, looking at their own wishful-thinking projections and calculations, and setting themselves up for finger pointing should things go bad. You can see it in the whiny tone of some of these posts, "Why doesnt Kerry do this?" and so on.

Fact: No incumbent president in history has lost with an economy performing like this one. Sure, this economy is nothing like it was during most of the Clinton years, but it's good enough so that, based on economic data alone, Bush would win an election ceteris paribus.

Fact: Bush is not a good speaker, and he's obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed, either. But he isn't a total moron, and he has a huge organization of people devoted to covering for his many weaknesses. Yet people here insist on acting as if he's a pushover, all Kerry has to do is this (insert asinine suggestion), and everyone can go home -- election over. Sorry, not that easy. Despite what people here say, Gore was a seasoned politician and a smart man, working with a strong economic wind at his back, but the Bush organization was able to fight him to a virtual standstill. Bush, with the massive resources he has behind him, is not a pushover, people. The sooner you get that through your heads, the better.

This is going to be a tough fight -- I hope. I hope to God -- you have no idea how much -- that Kerry pulls it out, but he has to be considered the underdog at this point. All this stupid infighting, these smirking comments about whom Kerry will pick for what cabinet post "when he wins" are a waste of time. We need to be focusing on getting Kerry and as many Democrats into office as possible -- period; enrgy spent on anything else, including childish whines because the campaign isn't being run exactly the way you think it should be, are a waste of time and energy, and help Bush in the end.

He shouldn't be able to get up there and get support for an invasion of Canada. And his speaking ability isn't appealing to me, but when he's not saying stupid things, his supporters seem to like it because of its simplicity. In a Mark Twain sort of way, without the substance. How can we poke holes in some of Bush's platform? In the psychology of the supporters. What kind of arguments will convince people of Kerry or expose Bush's duplicity.

they also play canned applause.

most also don't hate him. but the ones who love him would do just about anything to help him win. they don't demand bush do this or that. they just get out there themselves and convince people to vote for bush and they make sure those people actually get out on election day to vote. grassroots is a big part of it also with the religious right wing. all they do is tell people bush is a man of god and how he opposes abortion and wants prayer back in schools. they don't even always have to discuss the other policy. the people have no understanding of these issues and how it is hurting them .

Bush is not an intellectual, but he is shrewd & calculating.

He is no policy maker, but he is a politician.

People have been underestimating him, since he first ran for gov in Texas.

He has an ability to stay on message & be really focused. He has also improved in the last week or so. I think he will come out of his convention with a small bump, & we should be prepared.

Some people here think this will be a cakewalk...it will not be...I think it will be a fight to the finish.

I think it is good that Kerry will stay light the next few weeks...between Olympics & RNC, his message will get lost. Also, he will need to go hard from Labor Day onwards.

Also, I wish the Dems would get out there & help out. Kerry is trying to do it all, & he needs some help. Some surrogates are needed, now.

The only problem, the Dems who could be the most passionate, articulate spokespeople for the Kerry campaign -- Gore or Dean, for example -- could also outshine Kerry.

Pick this stump speech apart and start writing letters about how it's all lies. THAT is how we win this thing. NOT by bitching about John Kerry. You all have such great analytical skills. Use them AGAINST Bush. Anybody got anything???

We have to prove him wrong with facts.

and a great post.

Thanks for taking the time.

past his base. I mean, tort reform to cure health care. A prescription benefit that few can use. Faith based ploy to reduce the federal responsibility? Exploiting devestating fires? The economy? Ha! Then the tax cut thing. Even last election folks knew better than to squander the dividend on tax cuts, even for themselves. This time around folks will be even more austere. This doesn't look like anything that would appeal to those undecideds. This is just red meat (herring) for his base.