Advantage Bush

[kstewart33]

Before we go getting so confident of a Kerry victory in November, read this. Clift is an ardent Kerry supporter and a political columnist for Newsweek. She makes some excellent points. Read the whole thing.

Link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5625195/site/newsweek/

[bluestateguy]

1. Her point is basically this

Bush has the presidency and the government (and a loyal, lapdog Congress), where Kerry does not.

[freetobegay]

2. Sorry I disagree with her

Bush cannot control the economy, the polls show the majority of Americans care more about the economy right now than terrorism.

The economy seems to be falling apart, the jobs aren't there, unemployment has run out for many people.

People are more worried about putting food on the table than having their house blown up!

Just my two cents.

[Deja Q]

9. Precisely... what's left to defend if people can't live decent livlihoods?

Bush* and his other corporate traitors never counted on that.

[lancdem]

3. She did make some interesting points

but I don't necessarily agree with her, beyond Bush's obvious institutional advantages. The terrorism issue is not the advantage to Bush it used to be. Also, a president who shakes things up by appointing a new VP (which isn't going to happen) is an incumbent who's in trouble.

[Gregorian]

4. Here's a similar article

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/comment/story/0,14259,1278643,00.html


I continue to fall back on the old idea that the American people get what they deserve. One can only get so disturbed by all of this game playing that is going on.

[TNMOM]

5. Clift is NOT an ardent supporter. That's a joke, right?

They always put her on the left side of the panel on pundit shows, but she a moderate, at best.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. She seems pretty pro-Kerry in this web chat

I especially like:

Cave Creek, AZ: Has John Kerry ever held a job that wasn't part of government? And if he has, what was it and for how long.

Eleanor Clift: Serving in Vietnam was a government job. So was assistant district attorney in Massachusetts, a job he held at a very young age. Then lieutenant governor and senator. I suppose his critics will say he lacks the well-rounded background of George W. Bush who ran an oil company into the ground and fronted for a baseball team before running for governor of Texas.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5506220/site/newsweek/

[salin]

7. I have always found her to be pretty

good defending liberal points/positions and not falling into the pundicracy giggle fest of tittering over the most recent drudge items that are meant to marginalize democrats (eg Kerry looks "French", or Al Gore gained weight, etc.)

[cidliz2004]

8. She is right on with her points

but the public is also becoming savvy to the ways of Bush manipulations. Proof this week in that the terror threats were viewed with dubiousness and outright suspiciousness. It may have actually backfired on Bush.

The economy is pretty much out of Bush's reach at this point

The terrorist hit or non hit is debateable both ways, without another hit, he can say that we are more safe, but the economic situation is more front and center, if we are hit (God forbid), then depending on when, where and how will determine how it is going to affect the voter.

The main problem is the CONTROL that this administration has on the media and THAT is the big problem.