"Good job, Prime Minister"and the Bush campaign is back on track

[JoFerret]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uselections2004/story/0,13918,1194384,00.html

Downing Street is pleased with the Rose Garden double act but only Ariel Sharon left the White House with a broad smile, report Paul Harris in Washington and Kamal Ahmed in London

Sunday April 18, 2004
The Observer

The press conference in the Rose Garden of the White House went perfectly.....President George Bush patted him on the elbow. 'Good job, Prime Minister,' he said quietly and then: 'Well done.'
Blair had indeed done a good job for Bush. Standing at the President's right hand after a two-hour meeting, Blair faced the world's television cameras. He gave an eloquent and impassioned defence of the two men's war in Iraq. It was the sort of performance Bush had sought to give earlier in the week on a live broadcast on American prime-time television. But Bush's fumbling display had fallen flat. Blair now provided the right tone and sense of a steady hand in a sea of troubles.

It was exactly what Bush needed. But his worries were not solely the prospect of Iraq spinning out of control. Nor was his message just for the people of Iraq, or European allies smarting from the run-up to war, or the outraged Arab world. In fact, Bush's concerns were far closer to home: his re-election.

Bush's campaign has got off to a rocky start. Top Republicans have been stunned by the crisis-hit beginning to what was expected to be one of the best-run, best-funded campaigns in recent memory.... .

The Rose Garden press conference was designed to change all that. ....
<big snip>
One pollster has estimated that swinging just 10 per cent of Jewish votes could win the entire state of Ohio....

<more>

[aquart]

1. Nonsense.

[JoFerret]

6. The Jewish vote?

?

[Prodemsouth]

13. Yes, the Jewish vote, there is one, and the Republicans have been doing

better with Jewish voters. I see it in the Jewish business and neighborhoods I have been in recently. Check the 2002 mid term results also. He must think that his strategy with Sharon and not condemning the killing of a Hamas leader will help. He must have some reason for thinking that this will work; with Bush it is all about politics despite what he says.

[Fovea]

15. I think that the blowback from this may

not play to Bush's favor.

How many times can you whack a
bomb with a stick before it blows up in
your face.

Israel has racheted the intifada to a new level,
and it is going to be very difficult to put this back in the bottle.

[JoFerret]

19. Yes ...but

that only shows you have to have resolve and stand firm against terra. It's a self-fulfilling policies.

[robbedvoter]

2. Me thinks they are overestimating the effects a little

Who cares in the US about that UK furriner?

[Noon_Blue_Apples]

3. think any jingoistic american gives a shit what poodle thinks?

um, no

[yardwork]

4. Exactly. Everyone who cares what the rest of the world thinks

already wants Chimpy out of office.

The Guardian has been consistently pro-Chimpers.

[DemoTex]

12. Eh? Not the Guardian I read.

.

[JoFerret]

20. What universe are you in?

Ever see the Steve Bell cartoons? Here's one for you. And this article is not pro-Chimp at all. Quite the reverse. The Guardian is consistently on target with watching the cynical right wing shenanigans of BushCo. Their headline for the press conference included the the word drivel for example and contained a reference to the three monkeys.

Blair plays quite well in the US with those who like Bush but are made uneasy by his extremism and inarticulate posing.Blair is a nice civil cover.

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. Sometimes you have to distinguish between The Observer and The Guardian

The Observer, the Sunday newspaper, was only bought by The Guardian group a few years ago - before that, they were completely separate. In the UK, Monday to Saturday, and Sunday, newspapers are generally associated, but usually have largely different journalists and editors.

The Observer is generally a more centralist paper than The Guardian, which is liberal. On Iraq, the Observer editorials were generally pro-war, while the Guardian's were anti. Steve Bell draws for The Guardian, not the Observer. If you think an editorial stance could be involved, always consider the day of publication.

Having said that, I'd never characterise The Observer as pro-chimp; sometimes pro-Blair, yes. They believe in international agreements like Kyoto.

[Briar]

23. Steve Bell often contradicts the Guardian editorial position

He's wonderful, and at least the Guardian prints him, but it is New Labour to its fingertips. The number of pro-Bliar articles (by people like Kettle and Aronowich <can't spell that!>) and leaders started to go up after Howard became leader of the Tories, and will only increase the nearer the election comes. Though it will avoid promoting Bush, the Guardian will tend to support Bliar even when Bliar supports Bush policies because of this party loyalty.

[JoFerret]

7. Ah but they love him for his smoothie defense of Bush

...he puts the acceptable face on the unacceptable for some people who don't trust Bush. but the article is actually about the effect on the VOTE - the Jewish vote in swing states in particular. It's about ISRAEL, not Blair.

[mulethree]

5. Good doggy Tony, now fetch

no Cherie , only one cheek. Two cheek kissing is too "french'

[powergirl]

8. The Republicans have to import someone from England

who can actually speak English to speak for the president. I used to really like Blair until this Iraq crap started. I am so disappointed. :(

[0007]

17. Hopefully change is blowing in the wind

[FlemingsGhost]

9. Bushit!

Both Tony and Junior know they're in deep trouble...

[bvar22]

10. Look at ME!! Look at MEEEEE!!!

I are a WAR PRESIDENT, and I got me a poodle dog that speeks good engkish....Wheee... Terra...Terra...evilduers....war president.....my poodle dog did good! Dontcha like the way my poodle dog splains everything?

[Prodemsouth]

11. No truth to the rumor that Tony Blair was seen humping the President's

leg after the Rose Garden Conference

[flaminbats]

14. Tony Blair...is he the intellectual Zell Miller?

Had he been in power during the Revolution, Tony would of been attacking Tom Paine and Jefferson as terrorists..while Shrub faithfully went along by attacking Native American cells. :crazy:

[T_i_B]

Tony Blair's a tory!

he wears a tory hat.
And when he sees a hospital,
he says "I'm bombing that!"

[T_i_B]

Tony Blair's a tory!

he wears a tory hat.
And when he sees a hospital,
he says "I'm bombing that!"

[T_i_B]

Tony Blair's a tory!

he wears a tory hat.
And when he sees a hospital,
he says "I'm bombing that!"

[T_i_B]

16. Tony Blair's a tory!

he wears a tory hat.
And when he sees a hospital,
he says "I'm bombing that!"

[Tellurian]

18. What Re-election?

Bush lost the popular vote by 500,000 votes and is a court appointed president...maybe he should be campaigning for REAPPOINTMENT-

His elect-ability is at an all time, new, low ebb.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

21. Breaking...

Blair to testify with Cheney before 9-11 Commission instead of Chimp.