TV ads score big in Bush turnaround

[NeoConsSuck]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/nation/president/2004-03-29-bush-ads_x.htm

A week of hearings on Capitol Hill and criticism from a former counterterrorism aide have eroded President Bush's poll standing on fighting terrorism. But that's nothing compared to the damage that Bush's campaign ads may have done to Democratic candidate John Kerry.

A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll shows a remarkable turnaround in 17 battleground states where polls and historic trends indicate the race will be close, and where the Bush campaign has aired TV ads. Those ads say Bush has provided "steady leadership in times of change" while portraying Kerry as a tax-hiking, flip-flopping liberal.

[mouse7]

1. I say we start the "Bush is an alien lizard." ads immediately

If the American people buy the ridiculous notion that Bush provides "steady leadership," they'll believe ads that say "Don't vote for Bush, he is an alien lizard."

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. From part of the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

published in 1984:

It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see..."
"You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?"
"No", said Ford, who by this time was a little more rational and coherent than he had been, having finally had the coffee forced down him, "nothing so simple. "Nothing anything like so straightforward. On its world, the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards rule the people."
"Odd", said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."
"I did", said Ford. "It is."
"So", said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't the people get rid of the lizards?"
"It honestly doesn't occur to them", said Ford.
"They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates to the government they want."
"You mean they actually vote for the lizards?"
"Oh yes", said Ford with a shrug, "of course."
"But", said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"
"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard," said Ford, "the wrong lizard might get in. Got any gin?" - Douglas Adams

[Athame]

38. I've GOT to reread that book!

and the Alien Lizard ad might work, too. At least it would show we have a sense of humor. ;)

[The Backlash Cometh]

22. "President Bush wears thongs under his custom-made suits"

That will grab 'um.

[R Hickey]

2. The power of advertising is greater than any scandal.

I've seen Bush ad dozens of times here in Wisconsin, and hardly any Kerry ads. Advertising is more powerful than previously thought, more powerful than reality, to a nation of sheep.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. And the power of money --

"The Bush campaign...has begun defining Kerry before he has defined himself. In the states where the ads have run, Kerry's unfavorable rating has risen 16 points since mid-February. In the other states, it's up just five points. The margin of error for each group of states is +/{ndash}5 percentage points....

Some Democratic analysts say Kerry's decision to take a week of vacation, while hard to begrudge after a grueling primary campaign, meant that Bush's ads went largely unanswered. So far, the Bush campaign has spent more than $20 million on the ads, which began airing March 4.

The Kerry campaign has spent more than $2 million on ads; the liberal Media Fund has spent more than $5 million...."

[mouse7]

5. I disgree...Kerry defined himself thourogh the primary races

Kerry spent a lot of time defining himself in the primary season. Those positives didn't just evaporate.

It's as simple as this, Democrats will not be able to match Bush spending dollar for dollar from now until November. We were going to have to take some hits here and there at times where the reThugs just outspend the hell out of us. At least it happened in a period where someone (Clarke) was damaging Dumbya.

It could have been a lot worse.

[Muddleoftheroad]

27. Kerry also defined himself by years in the Senate

and they will use every vote he ever made against him.

[trogdor]

61. So the ideal candidate is somebody with no experience...

...lots of name-recognition, more than 6 feet tall, and preferably from the southeastern US. Is Shaq 35 yet? He'd be perfect. The worst the GOoPers would have on him is that he couldn't shoot three free throws out of ten after more than a decade in the NBA.

Dude, we have to run with what we got. We knew from day one that the Bushies would pull this shit. We just gotta answer it, if not on TV, than at the water-coolers. Let's get to work.

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

64. They will lie about every vote he ever made

and then use it against him. I've already seen it a number of times. Kerry voted to cut military budget, voted 500 times to raise taxes, etc...

[Bandit]

72. Then we should use every vote he cast for him.

:shrug: We must articulate the difference between what we stand for and what the fascists stand for.

[GCP]

17. We have to donate everything we can to the Kerry campaign

Whatever we can afford whenever we can.

IT'S JUST THAT IMPORTANT

[bushisanidiot]

35. Kerry's Best Ad is The 9/11 Special Commission, V. Plame, The computer

break in by the repuke aids, the lack of WMD in Iraq, etc.

This is the year that president shitferbrains is finally getting called on his lies. All of those lies will warrant investigations which will all be bad press. I expect AWOL to have a very bad year press-wise except for on Faux "news" and his own personal ads which is costing the repukes big $$$$.

Kerry's best defense is to laugh at Pres. AWOL as often as possible from now through Nov. We have a clown for a president and Kerry should point that out every chance he gets.

[calimary]

54. Unfortunately, this is WRONG.

We've had the best possible Kerry ads on TV through the ENTIRETY of last week - the All-Clarke-All-the-Time stuff - and look how much good it did? And by all accounts, the Clarke stuff was DAMNING. And look what good it did. Nothing. Those nice, warm-fuzzy campaign commercials for bush lulled everybody back to sleep. LOOK AT THE POLLS.

[Paradise]

48. yes, you are so right,

IT'S JUST THAT IMPORTANT!
We've got to give till it :hurts:.

[drhilarius]

4. I've said it before

and I'll say it again: in this society the spectacle is the reality. Commercials create a "life deficit", in that the life you see in the ads is life as it should be, "reality", and your life is the fraud, the unreal thing. With the bush ads he is selling the life as it should be, the consumer perceives their life as unreal, full of fear, imperfect, and so they buy in. Bush's ads are effective not because they are crafting an image, but rather because they are creating a "reality".

[Layman]

45. Oxymoronic: Truth In Advertising

N/T

[saigon68]

26. nation of sheep

Soon to send their children off to the "slaughter" around the world--to prop up corporate profits for the ruling class.

[Mari333]

37. Yes, the draft will wake them up

if nothing else does.
www.bushdraft.com
thats the only thing I can imagine will.
if Bush steals it again, then we have to watch more kids die every day, as Bush tries to implement the rest of PNAC. or he goes down in flames in office like Nixon, as more people wake up.
People who dont think for themselves must think we have a standing army, and we dont. 75% of reservists and guard wont be signing back up.
for PNAC wars, they will require a lot more bodies.
http://www.bringthemhomenow.com
bring my kid home now.

[murielm99]

41. Mari, I just sent your bushdraft page to my son,

who is 22. He thinks I am nuts to worry about this.

[robbedvoter]

7. 1. The turnaround, the ads = BS! 2 Kerry is MIA

Ads, schmads - where is he - taking a stand on Clarke, 9.11? is he hoping to win this by hiding? :-(

[leftchick]

8. he is having surgery...

tomorrow... :(

[robbedvoter]

11. Elective surgery

I wish him the best (my life may depend on him) - but why now?

[JI7]

19. because better to do it early in the campaign then closer to elections

[leftchick]

21. yesterday on the NPR day to day program...

The two speakers were addressing the Kerry/Clarke/bush* issue. They both felt it was good timing for Kerry to step back, have his surgery and stay out of the Clarke/WH assualt that is going on. I hope they are right!

[emulatorloo]

24. You have not been paying attention - Read the news and DU

Go back over threads the last few days or visit yahoo - I read several reuters and AP stories which I don't have bookmarked. But you will find them if you go there.

But heere are some links for you courtesy of a post by nothingshocksmeanymore
-----------------------------------
Kerry Blasts White House on Clarke

http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1742302&nav=4QcHLqwt
-----------------------------------------
Kerry urges Rice to testify publicly to 9/11 panel

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3557373&thesection=news&thesubsection=world
--------------------------------------------------
Kerry criticizes Bush administration of 'character assassination'

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/election2004/8293403.htm

On Edit grammar

[Le Taz Hot]

29. He was in California

yesterday (Sacramento and San Diego) fundraising. California: The politician's ATM.

[R Hickey]

9. If Democrats are to be out spent then we need "asymmetrical" ads

Should we focus our ads on debunking their ads, so that every time someone sees their ads, they think of ours?

Jon Stewart's 'news' clips would be an excellent source of concepts and material. Especially those clips where they show WH talking points being parroted by several Bush spokesmen, and that SOTU clip where Bush ends one whopper with "in Africa."

Bush must be painted as the liar he is, but it must be done truthfully and with humor.

The only way to beat these Republicans is by mocking them.

"The WH is the home of the Whopper," would be a good theme.

[theHandpuppet]

10. Well, this pretty much sums up...

.. the sorry state of our democracy, doesn't it? He who has the most commercials, wins.

This, combined with Kerry's snail-pace start from the blocks, is exactly the scenario that concerned me most.

[Athame]

40. But Kerry was slow off the block in the primary, too

I would never have thought a year ago that Kerry would be the nominee. He's been through a few campaigns. I don't fully trust Kerry (though I will vote for him, of course) but I do think he knows what he is doing.

[xchrom]

12. calling andy warhol

this is just too pop culture for words.
hello? is this thing on? sometimes you just can't believe your eyes -- bush ads work?

[dbt]

13. A little good news, DUers.

Here in the very Buckle of the Bible Belt, Kerry ads (both the official sort and others like the ones from moveon.org) have, in recent weeks, been airing at roughly 2:1 over the bu$h ads.

I would have thought that the Gawd-fearing, Righteous local TV stations would have refused to air anything that knocked Glorious Leader, but I reckon Money Talks. Especially in a state further impoverished by bu$h's "economic" (ROTFLMAO) policies.

Fingers crossed,
:crazy:
dbt

[Malva Zebrina]

14. there ya go---a manufactured man via ads persuades the people

and further , persuades the people that Kerry is, horroro of horros, a tax raising liberal! That meme is now set--watch. I also thought Kerry was slow out of the gate--Dean had energy--Kerry lacks it, it seems. He is a good man-I am not saying he is not, but his basic personality just lacks that energy, it seems to me-He lacks the super duper propaganda firms that Bush has hired.

[theHandpuppet]

18. Yep, I agree -- which is why we need a VP nom NOW

Kerry could use the help of an energetic VP nominee right NOW. Bush has Cheney and other of his mis-administration lackeys criss-crossing the country to stump for him. Damn.

[JI7]

20. a vp now can't help to counter the ads

kerry already has others campaigning and defending him. but it's the tv ads which come on when people are watching other shows which have nothing to do with politics that are the problem. kerry doesn't have nearly the amount of money bush has to counter them. and if kerry picks a vp they will just start attacking the vp in those ads.

[0007]

15. I'd like to know where these stupid people are cuz I've never met

anyone who likes junior. Or anyone who could be influenced by a tv ad.

[drhilarius]

16. You've seen them.

Ever see a guy buy an SUV because (implicitly) if he doesn't own one he's less than his neighbor. Or the people who actually believe debeers when they say a diamond=love. They're out there.

[Jacobin]

46. Get out much?

You must live in a more enlightened part of the country, cause these freaks are the majority where I live, unfortunately

[wabeewoman]

49. I tend to agree 007

I know they are 'out there' but I really think the people who vote are paying attention right now. We are being convinced by stories that polls say the public is being convinced by ads. I think the bush dislike runs deep and wide and no ads are going to change that.

[okieinpain]

70. and that's what frighten's me. I haven't met any bush lovers either

a couple of guy's that I could have sworn were bush lovers where talking about franken getting a radio show, and how happy they were. freaked me out, so if these two don't like bush, then how is he getting above 50%. something doesn't smell right.

[surfermaw]

23. You must be watching CNN

Other polls show Kerry in the lead, the only polls that had him trailing were CNN...aren't they the station that brought Dean down.The person on CNN that helps the democrats has been Lou Dobb, in the last 6 months.

[Merlin]

25. It's incredible to me that the Kerry people could have been so stupid.

Bush has virtually screamed from the rooftop his mantra that the critically important thing in any campaign is to not let your opponent define you, and conversely to define your opponent.

For Kerry to permit Bush to pull this vital initial imprint on the sheeple is unforgivable.

I'm telling you, fellow Democrats, we must keep pressure on the Kerry people to run a decent campaign, because I have seen it happen all too many times before that our party's "professionals" completely drop the ball.

Shame on you, Kerry campaign operatives! This is reminiscent of Dukakis!

[Muddleoftheroad]

28. Other than showing your disdain for ordinary voters

With the term "sheeple" what do you suggest he do?

[Tommy_Douglas]

53. What I would do...

Is maintain a positive message. Display Kerry as a man who fought for his country and then came home and fought for the troops. Display him as a man with a plan for a better future. One that creates jobs, protects the environment, improves schools and hospitals. Improve relations with the rest of the world and bring them into the fold to help Iraq become that shining beacon of democracy in the Middle East.

Have a plan, give people hope. And they'll vote for you.

[Merlin]

59. If you don't think ordinary voters are Sheeple, you're smoking a pipe.

If you think most people are ACTUALLY paying attention to the Clark thing, the Iraq reports, world opinion, and all that other complicated, brain intense stuff, you really do need to confine your comments to areas in which you have proven experience.

I can demonstrate to you a million ways before Sunday that the American people are sheep, easily mislead, easily propagandized, easily induced to vote against their own best interests. Every now and again they get it right. But that's usually by accident.

We cannot depend on the wisdom of American voters. We've got to propagandize on a par with our enemies. It's not just the smart thing to do. It's the only way to win.

That the Kerry people have failed to realize this early on puts them in the exact same category as:
-Gore
-Dukakis
-Mondale
-Carter
-McGovern
-Humphrey

Recognize a pattern there?

[okieinpain]

73. no joke, these same folks can tell you every person that's

tried out for american idol, but would have a hard time with anything to do with world events.

[TankLV]

69. I don't have "disdain" for these "sheeple" - I have the utmost "contempt".

Even when presented with solid evidence, over and over again, they CHOOSE to believe a lie.

They are SHEEPLE.

They are beneath contempt.

They are helping to destroy the country I once knew.

I will never be sorry for using a correct and apt term to define these morons.

[okieinpain]

71. oh sorry, but I have to agree with merlin, there are some serious

sheep out there.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

30. Relax...Kerry has some pretty experienced people working for him...

...both inside his campaign team as well as OUTSIDE of his campaign team. If the best Junior can do is pull even or a little ahead with his current ad campaign, let's see what happens when Kerry starts firing with both barrels on a variety of topics.

With Kerry's background, and what most people are starting to discover about Junior, it is going to be very difficult for any of this early stuff to define Kerry.

[calimary]

55. Unfortunately, I think it already has.

Kerry has an uphill swim now, to push against thoughts that have already been planted. DAMN IT ALL TO HELL! We've GOT TO BUY TV TIME. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY OUT. SHIT. IF RICHARD CLARKE CAN'T DO IT, WE'RE SUNK.

[Merlin]

60. Horsefeathers!

If Kerry can fall so far behind so quickly despite an intense barrage of negative press from every quarter, there is absolutely no hope other than to blitz the enemy the same way they are blitzing us--only better.

IMO, Kerry should be looking to raise MORE money than Bush. He could do it if he tried.

We can't win this with anything other than heavy artillery.

Unfortunately the critical initial positioning battle has already been won by the Bushies. Kerry is in a hole he didn't have to be in if he'd have been answering Bush ad for ad over the past few weeks.

[scarface2004]

31. yeah yeah...

more right wing propaganda from the nazi smear machine...wait till november you efffing assholes!!

[snippy]

32. We need ads attacking and destroying Bush's credibility.

Bush is the most compulsive and incessant liar in the history of American politics.

There is no subject so somber, serious, or shallow that Bush will not lie about it. The only other option is not to lie. And that is something Bush can not do.

These points need to be made and emphasized over and over and over again.

Ridiculing Bush for his compulsive and incessant lying needs to become common, especially among Americans who do not follow politics.

Bush says that John McCain has an illegitimate Negro daughter and Richard Clarke had complete access to Bush and Rice which proves that Clarke was out of the loop which is Clinton's fault even though everyone except Bush himself knows where he was during his Alabama National Guard service which was after he volunteered to go to Viet Nam but before he was no longer required to take a flight physical and around the same time that God told Bush to smite Saddam which is Clinton's fault because the 60 lines of embryonic stem cells prove that republican science is better than sound science but the Bush administration did not illegally reveal the identity of a covert CIA operative which resulted in 2,000,000 new jobs being created because democrats support terrorism and are not good Americans just as the Jews were not good Germans which is Clinton's fault and the White House is cooperating with the 9/11 commission since the dental xrays prove that Bush did not ignore either the repeated warnings of the dangers of al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden or the August 6 2001 intelligence briefing specifically warning of the upcoming 9/11 attacks because the mission of the United States is to bring freedom to every single person in the world which will cut the deficit in half if you do not count those parts of the deficit which will increase under Bush which is Clinton's fault but the boxes from China were labeled "Made in USA" which resulted in 2,600,000 new jobs being created even though the $400 billion decorative medicare turkey was not labeled $550 billion which proves that government spending under Bush has gone down if you do not count the increased government spending under Bush which is Clinton's fault and Bush's plane to Baghdad was spotted because before Saddam bought the uranium and became an urgent but not an imminent threat which is Clinton's fault Bush had no plans on his desk to invade Iraq since the aircraft carrier was too far offshore for the Navy to make a large enough banner to describe the WMD we have found in Iraq some of which Saddam was giving to Osama for following Saddam's plans and using Iraqi hijackers on 9/11 which is Clinton's fault but everyone who pays income taxes got a tax cut which created 3,000,000 new jobs and allowed Iraqi oil revenue to pay for the cost of the reconstruction of Iraq after the invasion by a small number of troops who would be greeted with floral program related activities except for the dead and wounded troops who are brought home secretly which is Clinton's fault since Bush is the one who hugs the mothers and the widows and the wives and the kids and that is why Bush who is responsible for good economic numbers but not bad economic numbers which is Clinton's fault wrote the poem that he did not write blaming Laura for dropping the dog.

Ask the media to ask Bush how much of this is true.

FIRE THE LIAR

[Ganja Ninja]

33. I see these polls as what they are, just another * campaign ad.....

telling the people what they think. In other words if you don't reach the same conclusion as the story then you aren't keeping up with the crowd.

I really wish these polls could be documented. I'm betting most are just fakes.

[Q]

34. Is this the same media...

...that helped Republicans character assassinate Clinton and Gore and lied about election fraud in 2000 and 9-11?

- You're a sucker if you believe any poll done by anyone associated with the American corporate media.

[AlinPA]

36. Where I live, there seems to be a Bush* ad every 10 minutes,

or more-bashing Kerry. We have been watching TV a lot lately, basketball and news.

[murielm99]

44. If they are bashing Kerry this early it could have the opposite effect for

them. People get sick of negative campaigning, too. This could hurt them. Also, the media keeps telling us how big shrub's war cheat is. He has so much more money than Kerry! Some people don't like that, either. They favor the little guy or the underdog.

[Malva Zebrina]

39. I saw one with Karen Huges featured as the star!

[emulatorloo]

42. Kerry Positive Ads on Here in Iowa - "Fought for America"

I've seen it several times - during MTP, News, etc

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0322.html

BTW, Rasmussen has Kerry 51% Bush 41% in Iowa

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Iowa%20March%2025.htm

Have also seen moveon negative Bush ads.

[catmandu57]

43. I live in one of the "key battleground states"

Usually when the smirk*'s commercial comes on I'll either mute the sound or change the channel. Yesterday though, I was interested in just what they were going to run, after all the Clarke interview and the contradicta testamony controversy.
So, I made it a point to watch for the chimp*'s message, Know what? No freakin commercial.
What does that mean? Are they busy brewing up some new lies?, Are they shaking over this new scandal?
The 911 commercial has quietly gone away, if this new story keeps getting the traction it has, smirk* is exposed but good for the lying moron that he is.
What has been playing, is a New Kerry ad, an ad from the labor unions, and I'm waiting for a new Move On ad as well.
We need to reach deep into our pockets right now, give to whomever is riding the chimp*'s ass hardest. They've been stunned and are falling on the ropes we need to press hard and keep them there.
Thursday, when the eagle shits, the very first thing that gets done is the bank card coming out to give what I can to Move On, and Kerry.

[calimary]

56. THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL WORK.

I'm right behind ya, freddie...

[Earth_First]

47. "Honey, the television is telling me to vote Bush again..."

n/t

[catmandu57]

58. Then quit watching the fucking tv

make up your own mind, think for yourself and let that damn idiot tube collect dust.

[Triple H]

50. People are falling for that crap?

If they are, then they deserve Dubya back in for another four years. My God...this whole country is made up of a flock of sheep.

Kerry 2004. :thumbsup:

[calimary]

57. Yeah, maybe they do, but WE DON'T!

Their idiocy and denial will condemn the whole lot of us. I don't want to drown on THEIR sinking ship!!!!

[demdave]

51. You can't blame the voting machines for this.

This is where the election is won or lost, in the media during the months before the election. People that once were going to vote for you, but now are questioning that decision, are the hardest to get back. Kerry needs to stop reacting to Bush's ads and quit letting the ad's define him. Kerry needs positive ads about his policies. Flip it around and make them respond to him.

P.S. Remember to keep that lame excuse about rigged voting machines handy....just in case.

[calimary]

52. No - we have to give whatever we can afford to Kerry.

HE HAS TO BE ABLE TO BUY TV TIME! HAS TO! PLEASE! I'M SOBBING/BEGGING...

[Snivi Yllom]

62. There is a new one out about gasoline prices that uses humor

It's a hit ad but it's subtle and addresses voters in their wallets. I think it looks like some of the funnier moveon ads.

[kurtyboy]

63. Not bad for Kerry---

* spent $25 Million in the last three weeks for a few measley points in tthe polls, while Kerry spent $2m. Kerry is raising about a million per day, and should have over $100 million in the bank by the convention. How long can * withstand outspending his opponent 12:1 for a five or six point bump? And just wait for the other shoe(s) to drop on a variety of issues---The Flynt book (abortion bought by * for underage girl), Plamegate, 9-11, AWOL, etc.

Americans are seeing body-punch after body-punch thrown at the incumbent. We don't need the knockout right now, we just need to continue to make him exhaust his resources. Kerry's campaign will be fine.

[yellowcanine]

65. The Clarke fall out hasn't hit the fan yet.

Last week hasn't fully registered yet and the worst is yet to come. The anti-Kerry ads have been running for several weeks. The race is still about Bush, not Kerry. Clarke's book, Rice's testimony, high gas prices and maybe gas lines this summer, more scandals such as the Valerie Plame affair, continued unrest in Iraq, continuing terror attacks around the world, sluggish job growth, the 9/11 Commission report in June by time of the GOP convention in September Bush may be down so far that he will actually get a negative bounce - particularly if he tries to exploit the WTC site to gain political support.

[Democat]

66. This article is another chance for the media to amplify Bush's advertising

These article love to repeat right wing talking points over and over again.

Almost every time Bush launches a new ad, much of the media runs front page articles explaining exactly what the ad says, and then repeating that message over and over again - as if it was a fact.

[nolabels]

67. Mostly it sounds like trumped up B.S.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/Presidential_Tracking_Poll.htm

[tableturner]

68. Kerry sleeps while Bush defines him....

Yes, that has happened. And don't rely on Kerry's "experienced" help. What experience? Experience laying down for McGovern, Mondale, Dukakis, Gore, et al. Last week I saw a quote of Bob Shrum, one of the top guys in the Kerry campaign and also of most of his predecessors. Shrum, reacting to criticism similar to what is in this thread, said something to the effect that people are crazy if advertising this early will put Kerry far behind. He said that there is plenty of time to beat back Bush's message and get Kerry's out.

That is the problem. We now are having to beat back having Kerry defined by Bush. That never should have happened. This was a huge blunder. It can be overcome, but this hole should never have been one from which Kerry needed to overcome.

Kerry needs BOTH to answer the Bush lies AND to mount a ferocious attack NOW on Bush with simple true facts that would devastate him if they were drummed into the public's perception.

On edit: Why repeat the same mistakes? If one does in the future that which caused a bad effect in the past, the future will look like the past. Why use people like Shrum, and the other people who laid down for Bush 1, Bush 2, Reagan, and on and on? Kerry needs new, aggressive people who will fight back, attack, and put Bush on the defensive. We had him right where we wanted him, damn it! And they have halfway let him get away.