Bush's Soc. Sec. Tour

[Dhalgren]

I don't quite understand how Bush can say he is going around the country promoting his ideas on scraping the Social Security System, when he only addresses hand picked crowds of robotic supporters. He can't sway the minds of people who do not agree with him if those people are not there to be swayed. What is his real purpose in holding these Bush-bot blowjob sessions? If the only people he ever talks to are in total agreement with him, how does he change the minds of those who aren't, but cannot attend?

[Skidmore]

1. I don't understand why Dems aren't

raising a HUGE stink about citizens being excluded from these meetings who don't belong to the Republican party.

[Inland]

2. Nothing sways people more than swayed people.

It's a fact. The Bushite robots are convinced, and because they are convinced, they are convincing to many.

That being said, this isn't an issue like Iraq, where nobody knows shit other than what the government tells them. Nobody has to defer to bush's expertise when it comes to a domestic program and their own retirement. So for every person who sees a picture of Bushites on tv being convinced also gets an earful from somebody in their church or workplace who thinks it's garbage. He can't control opinion by declaring that the CIA told him in a top secret briefing that the SS program needs to be reformed, leave the details to him.

[bryant69]

3. I think the theory is that he will make local TV

Maybe. And hopes to create the illusion that the American people are behind his program.

"I understand that some of the Democratic Senators are worried that my proposals won't actually fix Social Security. Well I have a message for those Senators. The American people are with me. I've been out among them, and they know that my plan is great. And they are going to exact a heavy penalty against any senator who fails to go along with my plan."

Oh, and is there a source on these being handpicked crowds, by any chance?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Dhalgren]

7. Yeah, I read an article (can't find it now)

that said admittance to one of Bush's S.S. meetings was by invitation only. You had to have a ticket to get in.

[FourStarDemocrat]

9. Here's a Wash. Post link

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28120-2005Mar11.html?sub=AR

[Dhalgren]

10. Thanks!

I was having trouble getting the link for some reason. This is a pertinent snippet from the article:


"Access to the president's events is controlled to ensure that the audiences will be friendly to his cause. Attendance is by invitation only, and tickets are dispensed by Republican lawmakers, state party organizations, business associations and conservative advocacy groups. . . . "

[pansypoo53219]

4. teevee

propaganda of all supportive crowds accentuates that his ideas are good. pure machiavelli.
just appearances. no need to be right.

[quinnox]

5. Just wait for the Gallup poll in a few weeks (or sooner)

Amazingly, it will show the public all of a sudden loves Bush's idea. What a turnaround! Another Bush triumph. Gallup will prove to be once again, a loyal Bush ally.

[gratuitous]

6. Bamboozlepalooza, baby!

Big (well, at least those in the tight camera focus) adoring (well, at least those directly behind der fuehrer) crowds whilst Stupidhead mugs in front of one of his patented banners makes for a compelling image. Sure, he's talking nonsense, but it's the pictures that are supposed to be the story.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be working very well, and Stupidhead's negatives keep going up on this issue. He's about 12 days into his projected 60 day tour, but like his aborted weekly chats about Iraq, I predict this whole nonstarting PR idea will get shitcanned before the equinox.

Bush likes to talk about hard work; he doesn't like doing any.

[underpants]

8. My question:Doesn't he have something better to do?

The love to promote as the LEADER but it appears to me that he is continuing to do what he always has-campaign (and usually raise money). Does he actually have a role in the government? 60 days? I thought there was a terrible terrorist threat out there and he is zipping back and forth to events everyday?

[Village Idiot]

11. No offense....but are you really this naive?

It's rather OBVIOUS....There does not a day go by without CNN/FOX/MSNBC/ABC/CBS showing large, happy crowds adoringly applauding Shrubby's SS plan. Amerika LOVES Shrubby and his brilliant SS plan....Don't you watch the "news?"
;)

[Inland]

13. I'll buy that--the president's day is news, even if its Groundhog Day

The same speech, the same subject, the same crowd.


It's a twenty four hour news cycle.

The cable TV, moreover, can't be bothered to do what print media does--note changes in Bush's speech from day to day and mine it for clues. Cable does it live, a direct pipeline into the brain of the TV watcher. Then it disappears, without comment, into the memory hole.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. This was in the Chicago Tribune this morning.

The Democrats had better turn up the heat and fast. The repukes are not going to let this go. Democrats need to start traveling around right behind the idiot. They should hold town hall meetings at EVERY venue the idiot speaks at and rebut everything he says. FOLLOW HIM AROUND THE COUNTRY! They should get a copy of his schedule and plan to meet in the same within days of his propaganda tour.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0503140217mar14,1,2052254.story?coll=chi-news-hed&ctrack=2&cset=true

Business, RNC lend hand to Bush blitz
Aggressive efforts to guide opinion trends on Social Security raise concerns over `information-sharing'

By Mark Silva
Washington Bureau
Published March 14, 2005


<snip>An internal Republican National Committee memo shows that during a recent congressional recess, when lawmakers returned home to test public sentiment on Bush's Social Security plans, the committee booked staff and "surrogates"--local speakers lined up to speak on the president's behalf--for national television interviews while party staffers participated in nearly 50 local and national radio interviews.

At the same time, the memo shows, Progress for America's troops made 7,098 contacts with constituents in targeted districts, participated in 38 radio shows, hired public relations professionals in 20 states with plans to expand to 25, and "generated" 18 published letters to the editor on Social Security.

CoMPASS forces made more than 250,000 telephone contacts in 11 targeted districts, the memo details, participated in 41 interviews with local media, placed 200 calls to talk radio shows, "mobilized" 3,100 advocates to attend town hall meetings with members of Congress, "drove attendance" at 50 town-hall meetings and placed opinion pieces in the newspapers of 10 "local markets."<snip>


<snip>"We are seeing a steady stream of covert propaganda being churned out by the Bush administration," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), who is seeking investigations of the administration's media techniques.. "You would think they would pull back their efforts, but they are moving ahead with outrageous propaganda tactics on Social Security."<snip>