Time: Raising the Volume

[kskiska]

President Bush was feeling back in the game as Air Force One headed to Cleveland last week. Just that morning, aides had put the final polish on a new speech, in which Bush would make his first full run at what his team calls the economic-isolationist policies of John Kerry. After months of being pounded by the Democratic candidates, "the President was really fired up," says Representative Steven LaTourette of Ohio, who joined Bush for a private pizza lunch in his airborne office. Once considered solidly Republican, Ohio is now up for grabs in the presidential election, thanks to its having lost more than 250,000 jobs in the past three years. But Bush had dived into his internal Ohio polls, and he reassured LaTourette that the water was fine. "My numbers are great," Bush told the Congressman. "I'm going to connect with those people. I do care about them and their situation." To top it all off, Bush had a surprise in store. That afternoon he would finally nominate someone to fill the new job of manufacturing czar, which he had announced in another Ohio speech six months before.

What the President didn't know was that at that moment, Kerry's campaign was planning a surprise of its own. Tipped off by Democrats on Capitol Hill that the appointment was in the works, Kerry's staff had quickly done a LexisNexis search on the proposed nominee, Anthony Raimondo, and discovered that the Nebraska manufacturing executive laid off 75 U.S. workers in 2002 while building a $3 million factory in Beijing. That might make it awkward for him to champion keeping jobs at home. Two hours before the Commerce Department was scheduled to announce Raimondo's nomination last week, the Kerry campaign did it for them. A day later, Raimondo had withdrawn his name from consideration, and Team Kerry was chortling about how difficult it had been for the White House to create even one new job. Sighed an Administration official: "It's clear these guys are pros and they know what they are doing."

(snip)

Many Bush allies are trying to push up the return of the President's longtime aide Karen Hughes from her semi-retirement in Austin, Texas, to restore the balance in Bush's world between Rove's political instincts, which lean toward tending the party's base, and her more "Mom-in-the-kitchen sense of the country," as an adviser described it. "There is a necessary push-pull between the two of them that can't happen on the phone," says a Bush official. Another puts it more darkly: "The longer they wait for her to get back, the less it will matter." On the other hand, Hughes has already been intimately involved in many of Bush's most controversial moves. She helped craft the poorly received State of the Union address, then closely advised on the much criticized campaign ads that used images of 9/11. As the Bush team sorts out its internal mechanics, it will press the advantage of incumbency. Administration sources tell TIME that employees at the Department of Homeland Security have been asked to keep their eyes open for opportunities to pose the President in settings that might highlight the Administration's efforts to make the nation safer. The goal, they are being told, is to provide Bush with one homeland-security photo-op a month.

more…
http://www.time.com/time/election2004/article/0,18471,600858-1,00.html

[rock]

1. Go Team Kerry!

It's nice to be on the side with the sharks.

[brainshrub]

2. I hear you!

Gore would have rolled over and taken a nap.

[Malva Zebrina]

3. they are all delusional

Bush thinks he can simply summon up a win by being "fired up" Karen is way, way off base--people are sick of the mom and pop thing and it will not work when Bush has 560 dead bodies of American troops on his lying soul--apple pie and mom and pop--people are awake now--they know war is not a game and that it is the most serious undertaking any country can undertake--Bush behaves as if he never lied, as if he is a great hero for invading a deleted and delapidated country and killing ten thousand of it's civilians on lies--and Rove is well known for his filthy and dirty ruthlessness--these phonies may have been able to help Bush steal an election in 2000, but I do not think they are capable at all of running a real race without the dirty tricks they and their thugs have used in the past.

Bush has screwed up so much that he has not much left to run on--he doesn't seem to understand that people now see him naked, without his clothes.

It is different this time around--could someone please let the Presidunce know that.

[ablbodyed]

4. Unfortunately....

there are still a terrifyingly large number of people who still support *. How they can is beyond me, but they do nontheless. The mindlessness of the US population is staggering.

[JohnOneillsMemory]

8. Sadly, an indoctrinated TV nation doesn't know anything about Bush*.

Here is my synopsis on the psychology of the US nationalist mindset:

Americans don't know what the Bill of Rights is or why it is an important protection against tyranny.
They don't know history, geography, civics, science, or politics.

Around 50% still think Bush* is trustworthy! Given that everything he's said publicly for years has been a lie, why is this?

Perhaps because Americans have been raised to believe that they:
1) live in a democracy.
2) compete in free markets.
3) share equal opportunity for all.
4) see their government spreading democracy and protecting the innocent around the world.
5) inherited the status of Best in Show Among Humans in 1776, 1945, 1991 and 2003 by winning the Revolutionary War, WWII, and both Iraq Wars I and II.

These are all lies taught to American children in school and then reinforced every day in movies and on TV for the rest of their lives. There is a well defined historical narrative that describes America as the strongest and most virtuous moral force in the world ever. So surely the President of these United States must embody all that is good about our country.

I call this Superman-Jesus-in-a-Cowboy-Hat Syndrome. Ronald Reagan fit this movie-role-as-national-identity perfectly for many Americans who didn't realize that he was a senile figurehead for a cabal of murderers who successfully portrayed the poor as lazy thieves and secretly armed terrorists against foreign governments in the name of democracy and freedom.

Here is how Americans have been led down the path to a Master Race group-think that accepts as both inevitable and just that domestic policy should be eugenics and foreign policy, imperialism:

Ever since the US lost the Vietnam War, the social atmosphere here has been very similar to post-WWI Germany. The hyper-nationalist German people were told in the summer of 1918 that they were winning World War I. But in the fall, they were suddenly informed that they had lost. They were stunned and angry as the victorious Allies raped them economically and their orderly society imploded into chaos. They looked around to find who among them had betrayed them and robbed them of their much-deserved victory over their inferiors. They demonized, assaulted, and killed Jews, labor unionists, socialists, Gypsys, and homosexuals.

The same thing happened in the US after Nixon was disgraced and the Vietnam War was revealed to be a quagmire of atrocities which had also ruined the economy. The Republicans have cleverly exploited this petulant atmosphere of entitlement denied to bring us to where we are today, mired in a culture war against liberals, feminists, blacks, homosexuals, and dangerous Middle Eastern foreigners, pretty much the same targets as the Nazis.
Ever wonder why 'liberal' became a swear word? Now you know. It is the American power structure’s synonym for ‘Jew.’

In fact, there is a name for this late 20th century fascist movement brought into the early 21st century: Dominionism.
It is an alliance between Christian fundamentalists, Cold Warrior Fascists, and the Military Industrial Oil Complex, just like the rise of the German Nazis who, by remarkable coincidence, were also financed and supplied in their day by many US corporations, including George W. Bush's financier grandfather, Prescott Bush.

It all rather makes sense, doesn't it? Military and financial powers work hand in hand to reinforce and protect each other by keeping people starving and fighting each other over worthless things like flags and uniforms. Meanwhile, the powerful swell up like ticks on the blood of the people they fool into doing the fighting and reward them with not much more than parades, plaques, and brass bands.

Some Americans see through this and have evolved past nationalism and racism but lately it seems that a majority have not. And there is an alliance of media corporateers and fascist politicians who are determined to prevent Americans from finding out how this scam works. If you have figured out anything about life in America, consider sharing it with your fellow Americans so we can all evolve a little faster.

[west michigan]

9. powerful insight

You have a point and I'm glad I got to read it.

[Poiuyt]

13. Great post, John

[Joanne98]

16. Hollywood has a lot to do with it

Constant militarism. Always the white-hats fighting to protect the innocent. I can't even watch movies anymore. America would rather believe in Santa Claus then face the truth. You would think their instincts (fight or flight) would go off every once in a while. If they can't think, at least they could feel danger coming. Sheep being led to the slaughter by the "good guys" in white hats, police uniforms, military garb,(add any costume here) You would have thought the priest scandals would have alerted them to the fact that "bad guys wear good guy costumes" but nooooooooo. Back to sleep. zzzzzzzzz

[leftchick]

21. Wow John!

This post is a keeper! Mind if I send it to my faux-news befuddled mom? :)

[JohnOneillsMemory]

27. Thanks and please, teach your parents well! Ah, the old CSNY song....n/t

[tabasco]

22. Indeed, thanks for the post.

I have been considering myself how liberals have been treated like the scapegoat "traitors" of post-WWI Germany. I hope that the great number of Americans who "see though this and have evolved past nationalism and racism" can stop the fascists without another civil war.

[KansDem]

25. Americans are ignorant of their political heritage...

According to the U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment of Education, an astonishing 83% of 12th grade students could not name even four freedoms protected by the First Amendment, which grants us freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of assembly and freedom to petition the government. 75% did not know that the Fifth Amendment protects private property rights.
http://www.cfif.org/htdocs/freedomline/current/quiz_answers.htm

But then, such education interferes with the "Circus" part of "Bread and Circuses..."

--------

Support for the First Amendment Down
At a time when its protections could hardly be more important, a new poll finds that 49 percent of Americans feel the First Amendment provides too many protections.

The Freedom Center's press release also notes that Americans remain ignorant of the protections provided by the First Amendment:

The survey also found, as in previous years, that many Americans are unable to name the five freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. The percentages of those responding who were able to identify individual freedoms:
58% — freedom of speech
18% — freedom of religion
14% — freedom of the press
10% — freedom of assembly/association
2% — freedom of petition

http://www.cheslog.com/craig/parrhesia/archives/week_2002_08_25.html

--------

"State of the First Admendment 2002"
http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=16840

[0007]

6. I love it!!

[SOS]

5. This is outrageous!

From the article:

"...employees at the Department of Homeland Security have been asked to keep their eyes open for opportunities to pose the President..."

DHS employees are FEDERAL employees! They are employed by the People of the United States, not Shrubs campaign.
This is clearly an abuse of the office.

Ps. Nice work on Anthony "Outsource" Raimondo. Go Kerry.

[mediaman007]

12. I'm sure they will help...after he took their union rights away!

Maybe they can have him stand next to blindfolded, illegal combatant at Guantanamo.

[jeanmarc]

17. One more time

"Administration sources tell TIME that employees at the Department of Homeland Security have been asked to keep their eyes open for opportunities to pose the President in settings that might highlight the Administration's efforts to make the nation safer. The goal, they are being told, is to provide Bush with one homeland-security photo-op a month."

WTF? What small men and women we have running this country. Incredibly small men and women. I have seen a good turnaround in the press, something I did expect, as the press loves to tear down at times, and they are doing a great job of tearing down Bush.

He deserves it. He's the worst President we've ever had, and that's with an asterisk, as the dimson isn't even a legitimate President.

[SOS]

23. This really jumped out

Can this be legal? For Bush to enlist federal workers to scout photo-op locations for use in the re-election campaign?
If this is illegal, the Dems need to make an issue of this.

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Kerry and staff: gettin' it done!

[CatWoman]

10. bwahahahahahaha

GO TEAM KERRY!!!

Sighed an Administration official: "It's clear these guys are pros and they know what they are doing."

[seafan]

11. Even Babs 'n Laura 'n Karen are gettin' all flustered!

<snip>

Bush has to answer those within his party who are increasingly question-ing the agility and management of his campaign. Among them, two well-placed sources tell TIME, are Laura and Barbara Bush. "They are paying attention," says a Bush official. The President's mother, in particular, is worried that she has seen this movie before. Says the official: "She does not want to see her family go through a '92 thing again."

<snip>

Many Bush allies are trying to push up the return of the President's longtime aide Karen Hughes from her semi-retirement in Austin, Texas, to restore the balance in Bush's world between Rove's political instincts, which lean toward tending the party's base, and her more "Mom-in-the-kitchen sense of the country," as an adviser described it. "There is a necessary push-pull between the two of them that can't happen on the phone," says a Bush official. Another puts it more darkly: "The longer they wait for her to get back, the less it will matter." On the other hand, Hughes has already been intimately involved in many of Bush's most controversial moves. She helped craft the poorly received State of the Union address, then closely advised on the much criticized campaign ads that used images of 9/11.

</end snip>

When they roll out James Baker, they will be circling the drain. Wait for it.



There are two words that come directly to mind with this article... Bush implosion. We will use the next 8 months to expose and then banish these criminals from our government in November. We will not let up. Let the brilliant, rapid response team of WE THE PEOPLE commence!

[rfkrocks]

14. people get ready there's a train coming!

Dems rock the nation in 04-Yeah nice posts to get the ole optimism flowing!

[joeunderdog]

15. He has overplayed his hand because he's drunk on POWER.

The more Shrub got, the more he wanted and it will be his undoing. Bush is at best a dry drunk--someone who has never owned up for his addiction and continues to blame anyone else he can. He loves power, and this is his substitute addiction, his neverending thirst, his unbridled need. He doesn't recognize it and it will continue to consume him like drugs and booze once did.

He could've slowed up tactfully by not getting rid of OT. But no. He could've taken a softer tone on outsourcing. No way. He could've said that the middle man should get more of the tax break. Forget it. He wanted it all.

His pathological need is winning at all cost and more winning for the sake of winning. Therefore, he only plans for his next win, just like he did with his next drink. Only now, he is starting to realize that he made no long term plan and it's too late to re-invent his past decisions. You can't replace the BMW when you crash this one. When you wreck a country, dad can't buy you a new one.

He's got not control of his life, or our country. Just put your faith in Jesus and let the Marines fall where they may.

And as for me..."Bartender, another round."

[jeanmarc]

18. well said, joeunderdog

Even in the darkest times, Clinton seemed at ease with the power in public. Bush seems threatened by the people. I'm looking forward to his removal. Clinton served two terms. Clinton can do almost anything he wants right now. Bush will have fun thinking about what could have been. Then again, Junior doesn't think much. Maybe since he doesn't read the papers, he can take on a paper route. What a pathetic little man he is.

[dbt]

19. Message: "I do care about them and their situation."

HOT DAMN! Remember how well this sort of quote worked for Poppy back in '92?

:bounce:
dbt

[Buns_of_Fire]

24. Another Truth: The K&K Kombo Kidz are nowhere near invincible

They're out of touch. They're making mistakes -- stupid mistakes. And they've started believing their own press clippings. Bad for them, good for us...

[mac56]

26. "Message: I care."

ROFL!

As the legend has it, a handler wrote those words in the margin of Poppy Bush's speech, hoping he would then elaborate on that theme. Poppy instead read it as written. Looked like a fool with no spontaneous emotion.

[truthisfreedom]

20. hahahaha! karen hughes is COMPLETLEY OUT OF TOUCH!

one homeland-security photo-op a month? he might as well pose by a flushing toilet, watching our hard-earned dollars go down a drain created by the absence of mind in his administration.