Bush Sticks to Theme: Security (Shows Campaign Weakness?)

[papau]

The GOP message of the day is “I can't imagine that Al Qaeda is going to be impressed by Kerry's sensitivity” - as they misquote via "partial truth" the Kerry statement

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58009-2004Aug11.html

Bush Sticks to Theme: Security (Shows Campaign Weakness?)
Democrats Say It Shows Campaign Weakness; GOP Aides Disagree

By Dan Balz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 12, 2004; Page A08

ALBUQUERQUE, Aug. 11 -- This was supposed to be the month when President Bush began to outline his domestic agenda for a second term, but as he campaigns in advance of his national convention, his message remains elemental: He is the candidate who will keep the country safe.

With a television ad unveiled Wednesday that summons memories of Sept. 11, 2001, and the passion he exhibits over Iraq at his rallies, Bush continues to make his leadership in the war on terrorism -- and what he calls rival John F. Kerry's equivocation -- the dominant argument in his reelection strategy.

The president's handling of the war on terrorism long was seen as his strongest political attribute. But as fighting continues to flare in Iraq and the report of the independent commission that investigated the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks raises questions about the government's readiness to prevent acts of terrorism, Bush finds himself in a battle with Kerry over national security. <snip>

The campaign's newest TV ad underscores the centrality of terrorism in the president's message. Bush is seen on camera with Laura Bush at his side, and the ad opens with the president saying, "My most solemn duty is to lead our nation to protect our citizens." Then he pivots to the Sept. 11 attacks. "I can't imagine the great agony of a mom or a dad having to make a decision about which child to pick up first on September the 11th," he says. The ad concludes with Bush saying, "We cannot hesitate; we cannot yield. We must do everything in our power to bring an enemy to justice before they hurt us again."

Kerry campaign advisers see Bush's reference to Sept. 11 as a sign of weakness and as an effort to rekindle the support for the president that existed at the time but which has faded in the aftermath of the Iraq invasion. "I think the president and his campaign are floundering and in search of a strategy," Kerry adviser Tad Devine said. <snip>

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/advertising/articles/2004/08/12/national_security_is_bushs_theme/

National security is Bush's theme
Democrats fault ad's 9/11 reference as 'desperation'
By Rick Klein, Globe Staff August 12, 2004

ALBUQUERQUE -- President Bush vowed to bring the nation's "enemies to justice before they hurt us again" in a new television ad launched yesterday as he emphasized his national security credentials on a campaign swing through the Southwest.

In the ad, Bush recalls the imagery of the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in explaining his belief that the nation must be proactive in confronting threats. The ad does not directly mention the war in Iraq -- and, unlike many of Bush's previous ads, it doesn't mention Democratic candidate John F. Kerry, either -- though the reference to Sept. 11 drew criticism from Democrats.

"I can't imagine the great agony of a mom or a dad having to make the decision about which child to pick up first on Sept. the 11th," Bush says in the ad. "We cannot hesitate, we cannot yield, we must do everything in our power to bring an enemy to justice before they hurt us again."

Senator Kerry's campaign called the ad's reference to the terrorist attacks "proof" that the Bush campaign "has reached the point of desperation."

"He can't speak to a single issue voters care about -- not jobs, not health care, not deficits," said Chad Clanton, a Kerry campaign spokesman. "The president has his back against the wall, so now he invokes Sept. 11th in his ads."<snip>

The ABCNote went into melt down today as it kissed GOP ass.

Per the ABCNote: A quote from Senator Kerry from the UNITY conference last week in Washington : "I believe I can fight a more effective, more thoughtful, more strategic, more proactive, more sensitive war on terror that reaches out to other nations and brings them to our side and lives up to American values in history." has Rove Bush/Cheney hitting the air today highlighting, of course, the last phrase “more sensitive war on terror” and with our media ignoring Phil Singer, a Kerry campaign spokesman, who responded: "What Dick Cheney doesn't understand is that arrogance isn't a virtue when our country is in danger. Alienating allies makes it harder to hunt terrorists and bring them to justice. Kerry was saying we shouldn't be arrogant because we are stronger when other countries are working with us to win the war on terror. The Bush Cheney Administration's arrogance led to America bearing nearly 90% of the financial and military burden in Iraq, and to an America

So the message of the day is “I can't imagine that Al Qaeda is going to be impressed by sensitivity”

Meanwhile the "Misleading in Manhattan" campaign led by Democrats is trying to point out the Halliburton stories the media will not run – I wonder why they will not punditize those stories? – and of course while not pushed by the campaign, the new proof the Bush was/is a deserter as shown by the National Guard Documents – and as posted with links at DU – is yet another story that the media will not punditize – and again one wonders why – especially when the ABCNote says that it feels that there is something to the Swift Boat Vet lies.

Then the ABCNote publishes all the reasons Kerry may lose – as faxed to them by the GOP:
Those “national security, character, and judgment cards” (wartime resolve) are augmented by claims that compared to Bush Kerry is not as likeable; Kerry has yet to reduce the “Complex and layered message” to slogans; Kerry projects as less in favor of tough — sometimes pre-emptive — action against terrorist entities; unexpected events like capturing Bin Laden, another terrorist attack, will benefit Bush, if/or when they happen; and the DNC ground game is not yet pulled together. The National Review Online's Jim Geraghty even got a hundred folks to write the ABCNote to claim they voted for Gore but will now vote for Bush - almost all because of “strength”, “moral clarity”, “resolve to stand up”, and other variations on “wartime resolve”.

Time for another shower.

[Inland]

1. Bush doesn't get it.

When Bush started saying "I can't imagine the great agony of a mom or a dad" I thought he was going to say something about the deaths he brought on the military in his Iraq adventure. For Bush to talk about security is right up there with his saying "results matter".

[DrFunkenstein]

2. The Agony Of Which Book He Should Pick Up On Sept. 11th

Like I said in another thread, the Bush campaign is unravelling. They are clearly starting to panic as Bush's numbers slip just like Daddy's.

My two cents: The campaign should kick Bush in the knee with the Tora Bora fiasco, and talk about the strength of the Powell Doctrine vs. the failures of the Rumsfeld Doctrine (war on the cheap). It will only reinforce that Powell is NOT showing up for the GOP convention.

Other than that, just keep pointing out that Bush is running away from his record.

[sundancekid]

4. kudos to you, Dr. -- on multiple threads today you have indeed

brought the kind of vision and sanity we all could use as we push through working our booties off for the rest of this election season; and on a personal note, you've made my morning -- thank you.

Paraphrasing some tested wisdom:

When you have a strong and confident case to make, you argue the facts and stand on your record.

When you have a weak and puppetry case to make, you argue the fears and run away from your record.

I am with you, Doc, let's all keep repeating the mantra:

BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD
BUSH IS RUNNING AWAY FROM HIS RECORD

[Kierkegaard]

3. I suppose the media is just trying to make for a close horse race...

Y'know, elevating the suspence. This is, after all, a big f**king movie, right? In case they haven't noticed, despite all their efforts to pull the wool over the eyes of a watchful public, Bush is still LOSING IN THE POLLS. Imagine what a landslide of support Kerry would have if media were at all impartial... :mad: