Bush happier than a hog in manure at this time of year....

[kentuck]

The NYTimes is reporting that contrary to the official line that he is too busy taking care of the nation's business, Mr Bush is totally engrossed in the campaign already. This seems to be what he enjoys most about the job. It's almost like a competitive sports event for the illustrious leader...
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http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/11/politics/campaigns/11BUSH.html

<snip>
"It's not a matter of turning everything over to Karl," said one top adviser, who asked not to be named for fear of angering the White House. "Karl is brilliant, but in terms of political strategy, there's no question that the president is intimately engaged. When he comes into a state, he will know exactly what his numbers are, whether people think the country is moving in the right direction, what his approval rating is."

And Mr. Bush kibitzes about the strengths and weaknesses of Howard Dean with advisers who are still anticipating a campaign against the former governor of Vermont, but who have covered their bets by continuing negative research on the entire field of Democratic contenders.

<snip>
Meanwhile, the Bush-Cheney campaign headquarters, in a characterless office park just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Va., is humming like a model of corporate America. In contrast to the Dean headquarters in Burlington, Vt., there are no boxes of stale pizza, crumbled Diet Pepsi cans or volunteers in blue jeans on grungy sofas.

Instead, it feels a lot like the West Wing: fresh flowers, security checks, a big he-man photograph of Mr. Bush with day-old stubble at his Texas ranch, an army of well-dressed staff members. "Generally speaking, people conform to a certain sense of decorum," said Terry Holt, the campaign press secretary, who never wears jeans to the office. "In this campaign, you have a responsibility to represent the president of the United States, and even if it is a campaign, it's important to look that way."

...more

[brainshrub]

1. Is that so?

"When he comes into a state, he will know exactly what his numbers are, whether people think the country is moving in the right direction, what his approval rating is."

Is that so?

Then how do you explain the "free-speech zones" that are carefully crafted to hide dissent from the President.

[Iverson]

2. ... and nearly as appealing. (n/t)

n/t

[Military Brat]

3. But, but, but ... bush IS a hog in manure

Can he be happier than himself? (Itself?)

[greekspeak]

4. Ahhh...remember the heady days of 2000...

Seems back then, BushCo was all about the Shrub being the plain folks, unpolished compassionate moderate uniter. Seems to contrast with their sterile, secretive snooty exclusive 2004 look. Guess Dean is filling the Shrub's shoes with the dead pizza boxes and plain folks approach. <sarcasm on>But surely Bush is still that compassionate moderate....<sarcasm off>...HA

[Q]

5. "...continuing negative research on the entire field..."

- SOP for RWingers. They've understood for a very long time that they can't 'win' on the issues...so they use character assassination instead to weaken their opposition.

- Bush's* rabid followers don't mind as power is all they care about.