Molly Ivins :: Iraq outrage

[nosmokes]

original

I'm sure Gen. Rove decided we couldn't afford to look weak in the face of such provocation given the poll numbers at the time.

Molly Ivins
Creators Syndicate
09.14.04

Iraq outrage
Troops following orders from General Rove, against advice of military officers on ground

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Media watch alert: a curious double distortion in the media mirror, as the situation in Iraq unravels before our eyes. Iraq gets less media play for two reasons -- one an old media fault, and the other political.

As the story gets worse, it also becomes more familiar. We've heard it before, quite a few times, and consequently it doesn't get as much play. "Seven Marines Killed" or "Scores Dead After Violence Spreads in Iraq" would have been HUGE stories a year ago. Now they're just another bad day in Iraq, nothin' new here, no news. Back to the hurricane (which is also becoming unpleasantly old news).

The other factor is the Bush team's decision to drop this misbegotten war down the memory hole. Two parts at play here. The first is Teddy Roosevelt's splendid observation that the presidency is a bully pulpit. It is the single most useful public relations position in the world. When the president calls a press conference to talk about whatever he wants, all hands report for duty. And if the president doesn't mention a certain subject, nor does the veep, nor the secretaries of defense, state, etc., the media have to dig it up on their own, a responsibility at which we have often failed and are steadily getting worse.

The second part is that John Kerry is not in a particularly good position to bring up the subject himself. Through some truly adroit political maneuvering (I am tempted but resolutely resist use of the word genius), every time Kerry opens his mouth about Iraq these days, the Bush camp bursts into a loud, well-trained chorus of "He's changing his position again. Yoo-hoo, flip-flop!"
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more at original
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Molly Ivins is the former editor of the liberal monthly The Texas Observer. She is the bestselling author of several books including Who Let the Dogs In?

(c) 2004 Creators Syndicate

[donco6]

1. Why is it that so many believe that you're not . . .

. . . "fighting the war on terra" unless you're actually blowing people up? Preferably indiscriminately? So many think that that is a good thing in and of itself.

[Dudley_DUright]

2. Whoops, I am slacking off on my job

I thought today's Molly column was one I already posted, but this is definitely new. Thanks for covering for me. :-)

[nosmokes]

3. jeebus, dud, i was wonderin if the cane had gotcha.

looks like ivan is headed straight for my brother in pensacola and then for my pop in montgomery, which is actually where my brother has gone to take refuge.

[Dudley_DUright]

6. I think I told you that I was hiding from Frances in Pensacola

until recently. I hope that Ivan does not make a direct hit on my temporary adopted home (or in Montgomery either!)

[pretzel4gore]

4. kerry should attack the bush media....'nattering nabobs

of negativity' sounds about right ...

[Rowdyboy]

5. Dayum, she's good!

She nails another one

[karlrschneider]

7. Molly rocks, no doubt. I send everything of hers I find to all my email

address booked people (funny how none of the wingers ever reply...)
:eyes: