Bush Seeks to Calm Anxieties About Iraq

[TomClash]

By JENNIFER LOVEN, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 8 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - Facing growing pressure to bring troops home from Iraq, President Bush is launching a public relations campaign to try to calm anxieties about the war.

Bush scheduled a major address for June 28, the one-year anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty from the U.S.-led coalition to Iraqis. Four days before that, he will meet at the White House with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, who heads the transitional government chosen after January elections.

The president also plans a series of radio addresses and appearances outside Washington. He will emphasize the importance of democracy in Iraq and elsewhere when he meets with fellow world leaders in Gleneagles, Scotland, in July, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

The president's campaign comes as the U.S. death toll in Iraq has climbed above 1,700. A relentless wave of suicide bombings, kidnappings and beheadings has killed at least 1,070 just since al-Jaafari's government was announced April 28.

"The president recognizes that this is a concern that's on the minds of the American people," McClellan said. "That's why he's going to sharpen his focus, spending more time talking about the progress that's being made on the ground — there's significant progress that has been made in a short period of time — the dangers that remain and that lie ahead, as well as our strategy for victory in Iraq."



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050616/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush

[TomClash]

1. I'll start

Calm this - :puke:

[Skittles]

16. ALLOW ME TO JOIN YOU TOM

:puke:

[xray s]

2. Progress my ass!

They can't even keep the highway to the airport secure!

Bush is a jackass.

[clydefrand]

3. Can't wait to hear what lies come from his smirking lips!

[BeHereNow]

15. "Free-to-be Dumb"is ON the march!

"We are spreading liberty to dead civilians in Iraq!"
"They hate us for our free-to-be-dumb about the
controlled demolition of the World Trade Center."
Everything is hunky-dory as we hide our war profits
in the Caymen Islands and off-shore accounts!
Now shut up, 'cause who cares what you think?

BHN

[katty]

24. Too Late bush-Talk about what?! You can't even spit

out a five word sentence properly! as for Iraq: Where is this Democracy? ETA on it???!!!

[ElectroPrincess]

4. I gave it my one star vote of approval = Headline Whores!

[Sanity Claws]

5. Well that should end the Social Security tour

I think this new PR campaign will have as much success as the social security road show.

[Blue Belle]

20. That was my thought.

We all saw how well the "bambooselpaloosa" tour went - everytime he opened his mouth about Social Security his numbers went down. Now our taxes are going to fund the red state road trip of even more "Town Hall" meetings for him to preach his "we're turning a corner... we're making progress in Iraq" diatribe to hand picked crowds of loyalists (dear GAWD, I hope there are TONS of protesters outside those halls). I think we should dub it the "Ignore what you see on TV" tour.

If he thinks his approval numbers are bad now... just wait. His numbers are going to tank even more.

[truthisfreedom]

6. heeheehee. hey bushie, why doncha go back out on the road? hee-hee-hee!

that'll help your ratings. nothing like getting down close with the people so they can see exactly what you're like in person!

[Lorien]

7. "spending more time talking about the progress that's being made on

the ground.." in other words; spewing more lies to mislead the American people into allowing more death and Treasury raids for profit.

[BeHereNow]

8. The Chimperor has no clothes...

just how long did he expect to parade aound
squawking about "free-to-be-dumb is in the marsh swamp"
and "Mission Accomplished," before the American people
were sickened by the sight his naked chimp ass and said so?

BHN

[Jawja]

9. Now WHY would the public

believe him, after he scammed us into this war??

That's the talking point we must hammer:

The Downing Street evidence proves that he lied to us to go to war... why should we believe anything he says?


:mad: :eyes:

[LynnTheDem]

10. Let's see; bush LIED, tens of thousands DIED, and every day are DYING,

the situation is WORSE by the day for us & for the people of Iraq, the Iraqis hate our guts and they were BETTER OFF UNDER HUSSEIN.

TWO YEARS LATER and we've made their lives -those we have't killed or maimed- WORSE.

Gee, nothing to worry about here.

[TomClash]

43. So what?

the Crime Family and its minions prospered. Iraqis and working/middle class Americans are dying, not them.

[LynnTheDem]

44. And it's the working/middle class Americans bush is trying to "calm".

We'll see if Americans are really as stupid as bush assumes them to be.

[Kelvin Mace]

11. Don't worry about calming us

try calming the insurgents!

Prick!

[katty]

25. Yea,don't bother to calm us down...give Karl the prozac

give him a whole bottle

[DoYouEverWonder]

12. Maybe he should take a stroll down

the middle of downtown Baghdad and then he can tell us how great everything is there.

But how the fuck does he know what is going on in Iraq? He's too afraid to go there. Chickenshit, chickenhawk.

[kliljedahl]

23. I just would like him to drive from the airport into the city.

Chickenshit Motherfucker



Keith’s Barbeque Central

[Cha]

36. Way to Barbeque

his ass, kliljedahl!

[deutsey]

13. That's leadership: he launches a friggin' PR campaign

Hey, Bush: Go market toilet paper on Madison Avenue, asshole. You've got plenty of shit spilling out everywhere, you'd more than qualify.

[Demeter]

45. Excellent PHotoThere!

Tells it like it really is!

[AlCzervik]

14. oh yes if any is comforting is the mangled words of Bush

or the words that his speech writer penned for him that he mangles. Too late dumbass, the genie is out of the bottle.

[Miss Chybil]

17. You can't PR away disaster. It's like prescribing asprin for cancer. nt

[nittygritty]

18. must be something going around....

I, too, suddenly feel, ugh.....

:puke:

[sundancekid]

19. prance your way through THAT platform, cover-up fly-boy!!

This is a clear case of lies, tax, and memotapes!

[depakid]

21. The more he opens his mouth, the better-

His lies are getting old- and even Repulicans are suffering from Bush fatigue.

[katty]

26. bush PR script: yada, yada, yada

[Straight Shooter]

31. Add to that: blah, blah, blah, blah, blah

Little Boots and his Pack of Lies.

[IndianaGreen]

I hope this PR campaign falls as flat as the one on Social Security reform

"... spending more time talking about the progress that's being made on the ground — there's significant progress that has been made in a short period of time — the dangers that remain and that lie ahead, as well as our strategy for victory in Iraq."

The only progress in Iraq is on the part of the resistance fighters. As to Bush's "strategy," it was all based on the delusional belief that Iraqis would meet a Christian crusading army with singing and dancing in the streets. Not even the band showed up!

[MichiganVote]

22. The new more "sensitive" Bush Powell keeps yammering about

Well guess what moron? People are now achieveing more of a balance re: 911 and you won't change that progression. Its the driving force behind the moderates and they've had enough of the military drama.

[katty]

27. Powell, just relax on your boat-let bush hang in the wind!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

28. what happened to the less talk more action?

where's the swagger? where are the posters in Texas and, ya think, Tennessee? C'mon where's the old not lisnin to focus groups cowboy? C'mon I want the old chimp back!

[Crunchy Frog]

29. All the PR in the world

isn't going to make over 1700 soldiers come back to life, or make blown off limbs magically sprout back. Sorry, you just can't make propaganda into reality, but why don't you try convincing thousands of people that their family members aren't really dead.:grr:

[harlinnchi]

30. To whom will he talk?

Will it be a GOP only audience? If not, could he stand the protest heat? If so, would he consider his responsibility to address the issue properly discharged?

[TomClash]

41. Of course

It will be the happy smiley blond aryans that he has at every rally.

[Erika]

32. He chose one bloody Iraqi day for PR announcement

See www.icasualties.org for the last 24 hours figures. It looks like five marines, one sailor, and one soldier were killed as well as countless innocent Iraqis. Pipelines still being attacked, etc., ad nuaseum.

[TomClash]

40. HIs reply would be something like

"they were great heroes who sacrificed for America" as if he had nothing to do with it.

[PunkPop]

33. Didn't a PR campaign get us into this mess in the first place? nt

[cliss]

34. Now, visualize Bush at the White House.

Bush is tired. He's had a long, frustrating spring with no progress on the Social Security Guillotine Plan. The public just didn't go for it. In fact, the more he went out there, the more the public hated his idea.

Bush's PR people were getting desperate towards the end. They knew they had a Loser on their hands: they tried everything, subtle psychological colors, subtle imaging, canned laughter, rigged audiences, phony question-and-answer sessions.

At this late hour, Bush just wants to go home and kick back with a few Bud's. He's already mentally checked out, and now he's pissed.

PR Advisor: Mr. Bush, you need to hold a press conference.

Bush: (terse) I know.

Advisor: (cheerful) We've got a series of speeches planned. We've going to focus on the "Bright Side of the War". We're going to bring in some more Saddam victims. They'll be great testimonials....remember?

Bush: (really irritated, now) How long did you say this would take? I don't have all summer. What's my ratings at now.....?

Advisor: uh... 51, I think. Yes, it's looking better.....(nervous)

Bush: (pacing the floor) Do you think they'll go for it? I mean, how can we convince the public things are really improving?

Advisor: Oh, don't worry, sir. We've got some before-and-after photos of Iraq we're going to show. It's Called "Operation Face-Lift". We're going to show schools, and the fledgling government, how things are really improving over there.

Bush: (wonders if the PR department can pull it off) Well, if anybody can pull it off, it's you guys.

[Cha]

35. You mean bushit is going to DROP

his scam on stealing American's SS and going on a circus tour of MORE LIES on Iraq?

harold ford jr..eat your heart out!

[Jade Fox]

37. Oh that'll probably work.....snicker

Just as the DSM is breaking big. Brilliant move. :eyes:

[Beetwasher]

38. It'll Be As Successful As His Idiotic SS Tour

The worst possible thing they can do is put him in front of camera's more. The more people that see this dimwitted, slob, the more that realize he's worse than a two bit snake oil or used car salesman.

[Malva Zebrina]

39. send Laura out

she , in all her intricate knowledge and wisdom of world affairs and foreign policy, will fix it all up for you.

It will be really, really fun making all those policy speeches, when she does not know a damn thing about that which she speaks. She thinks photo ops, and smiling at space, is politics.

[RalphReedsWreckedEm]

42. TOO LATE!

Hey Hey, GWB, How many dead kids did you refuse to see?

[Dirty Hippie]

46. I'm reminded of Nixon's "I'm not a crook" speech. n/t

[Moderator]

47. kick

[brooklynite]

48. White House Plans Iraq PR Pitch

...snip...

In the weeks ahead, aides say the president will deliver a series of speeches designed to reassure the public about Iraqi progress. Officials say Bush is concerned that Americans are worried about Iraq and impatient to get U.S. troops home.

"The president recognizes that this is a concern that's on the minds of the American people and that's why he is going to sharpen his focus, spending more time talking about the progress that's being made on the ground," McClellan said.

Among the planned events, Bush has scheduled a major address for June 28, the one-year anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty from the U.S.-led coalition to Iraqis. Next week, he meets with Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, elected in January and chosen by fellow lawmakers to lead the transitional government.

Bush is also scheduling a series of radio addresses and appearances outside Washington and plans to emphasize the importance of democracy in Iraq and elsewhere when he meets with fellow world leaders in Gleneagles, Scotland, in July, McClellan said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,159847,00.html
- - -
Given his success at talking about Social Security, maybe Bush should just keep his mouth shut.

[meganmonkey]

49. Ha!

Good luck with that!

:rofl:

[BlueEyedSon]

50. Great! More lies = more high crimes!

[Renew Deal]

51. The more he talks

The more people hate his guts. Have fun. :hi:

[grumpy old fart]

52. Please barnstorm the country, oh please, oh please, oh please.......

[Arkansas Granny]

59. Even if he barnstorms the country

the only people he will talk to are his supporters. He, quite obviously, will not talk to anyone with a different viewpoint than the one he's trying to shove down our throats.

[grumpy old fart]

64. Yes, but anti war protests in each city=crowds=media=pressure

Nothing brings out crowds like War and Death. This would be a Major push for us....

[Rex_Goodheart]

53. Good!

Every time Bush speaks his poll numbers drop.

[Beetwasher]

54. The Sweet Smell of Flop Sweat and Desperation

Yeah, put monkey boy out there again in front of some hand picked crowds to push his obvious lies and propoganda while he's at 42% approval. That oughta work! :eyes: Karl Rove a genius? I don't think so.

[liberal N proud]

55. And the propaganda spills forth

What a bunch of B.S.
Maybe we will be lucky and only FAUX will cover it. FAT CHANCE!

[Avalux]

56. I guess his SS tour is officially on hold -

now it's full swing propoganda mode about Iraq. As you said, if talking up his SS plan is any indicator of success, let him keep talking. :popcorn:

[freedom_to_read]

57. Is that guy ever actually in the WH?

Seems to me he spends most of his time talking to pre-selected crowds about his stupid SS plans.

He's the "infomercial president" -- AS SEEN ON TV! -- all pitch and no substance.

[underpants]

58. Is "Spinal Tap" going to open for him?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1862132

[tk2kewl]

60. he should be dogged by protesters eveywhere he goes

[janx]

61. "the importance of democracy in Iraq and elsewhere"

THAT'S going to go over well...

He has been injecting the "and elsewhere" part into his speeches of late and seems perfectly happy to let people know just how crazy he is with this crusade. I can't imagine anything worse for the American people to hear at this point.

He has officially lost it. He is crazy, and the people enabling him are crazy as well, and they must be stopped.

[TahitiNut]

62. He's been on the "campaign trail" for over 5 years.

Since he's totally useless as a chief executive ("Sign here, George." - Cheney), worse than useless when prancing around with a stuffed codpiece, and his presence in the West Wing just pisses off the staffers, he's been on tour in front of screened and filtered sycophantic ass-kissing audiences since the beginning of 2000.

It helps distract Amurika to turn the press corps into groupies for the perpetual Crock Concert.

[Javaman]

63. More promoting of the propaganda...

be prepared for more none answer answers.

[Supersedeas]

65. Democracy at gunpoint is so imPORTant...and oil exPORTs are too

[janx]

66. kick

[habitual]

67. in front of their face

if people could only read what is sitting right there in front of their face. McClellan himself is quoted in this article saying:

"That's why he's going to sharpen his focus, spending more time talking about the progress that's being made on the ground ..."

His solution to the problems in Iraq: If I say they aren't there enough, the people in America will belive me. I'll just say it more often now.

[Roland99]

68. The Sheep are waking up, time for another dose of Propaganda!

http://www.conjur.com/blog/2005/06/17/the-sheep-are-waking-up-time-for-another-dose-of-propaganda/

President Propagandist and the Secretary of (Lying to the) State are planning a PR blitz to spread the WH line on the new colonialism (spreading “democracy” to Iraq).

The White House said Bush planned to deliver a speech this month on the importance of the U.S. mission, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pledged to work harder to explain the administration’s objectives.

“I’m going to, like I think all members of the administration, perhaps try to do more to get out to the public to talk about what it is we are trying to achieve and what it is we are achieving,” Rice said at a news conference. “So I would say this is not going to be an American enterprise for the long term.”

The setbacks have triggered growing concern at the Pentagon, where a senior general said he was worried about declining public support.

“It is concerning that our public isn’t as supportive as perhaps they once were,” said Marine Lt. Gen. James T. Conway, director of operations for the Pentagon’s Joint Staff. “We’d like, I believe, to try to reverse those figures and start the trend back the other direction. Because it’s extremely important to the soldier and the Marine, the airman and the sailor over there, to know that their country’s behind them.”

I take great umbrage with that last line by Gen. Conway. I truly support our troops over there. I know someone currently serving in Afghanistan who’s due to come home in August. I want nothing more than for him to remain safe and come home alive and in one piece. I know people who’ve served in Iraq who are disgusted with why the U.S. is there. I know veterans from WWII, the Korean War, and Gulf War I who are disgusted with President Propagandist. It’s sickening to see military commanders toe political ideology in the name of keeping their command. Best to remain silent than to sell one’s soul to the Rove, himself.

The Iraqi experiment in the new colonialism will surely fail unless Iraq is setup not as a true democracy but, rather, a puppet, pro-U.S. state. President Propagandist is repeating mistakes that were made in Central America in the 1980s (that are coming unraveled as evidenced by Chavez in Venezuela.)

Iraq was never about the WMDs nor about liberating the people from a brutal leader. It was always about increasing the consumer market for American companies and opening access to the raping of additional natural resources for American companies. Iraq’s long been a country that took pride in its nationalized industries. There will be a permanent insurgency when everything is privatized.

Waging war for purely ideological and capitalistics ideals is wrong on so many levels. I do revel in watching the rest of America slowly wake up from its apathetic slumber. Rep. Conyers’ forum yesterday to start the process toward impeachment hearings for this administration is the greatest action taken to restore our country to the democratic ideals it purports to follow.

[warrens]

69. Who ya going to believe? Me or your lying eyes? nt

[truth2power]

70. Uh....sovereignty?

"Bush scheduled a major address for June 28, the one-year anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty from the U.S.-led coalition to Iraqis."

We never transferred sovereignty. Jennifer Loven needs to do some research.

And if anyone has a link to the boatload of laws that Paul Bremer passed before hi-tailing it out of Iraq, please post it. I lost my copy. Thanks.

[Spazito]

71. LOL, translation: We are committed to lying more effectively

and catapult the propaganda ever higher.

[VegasWolf]

72. This is too easy. Just announce we're getting the hell out of that

sinkhole of death and dismemberment.