How significant is it that Dubya isn't running on the Invasion of Iraq?

[Jacobin]

Fully half of the term of his administration has been involved with the ramp-up to the invasion, brow-beating Congress into voting for it, making speeches about it, looting the treasury for it, alienating the world because of it, bribing some foreign governments to participate. This was more or less the center-piece of this first (and last) term.

The photo-ops with "Mission Accomplished", the aircraft carrier landing, the staged toppling of the Saddam statue in Baghdad were all carefully conducted to make snips for campaign ads. I mean, this is what his presidency is ABOUT. Surely they can't run on the economy. Yeah, they can run on cutting taxes, but (when you factor in offsetting raises in local and state taxes), fewer than 8% of voters actually got one of any significance.

And yet, we see nothing of his Iraq invasion in his ads, or at least I haven't seen him bragging about it.

So, if Iraq is Dubya's piece de resistance, wouldn't it be wise for the opposition to question why he is no longer so proud about it? I realize this question more or less answers itself, but shouldn't the opposition be asking that question?

[NNadir]

1. We are asking that question.

Like all things Bush, his 3 years of planning his next, and last, campaign has been a disaster.

[Jacobin]

2. I was thinking in terms of Kerry campaign ads

Just something subtle, maybe even showing snips of the aircraft carrier landing and mission accomplished boondoggle and asking why in the ad Dubya's not talking about what he did with his entire term in office.

[BOSSHOG]

3. On Crossfire yesterday

Begala asked Charlie Black (rw knucklehead) why we haven't seen any commercials with bush landing on the carrier. Knucklehead said they had lots of ads to roll out. The Senator Kerry advisor who was also on the show said, we have that same video to use in our ads. What a pathetic human being george bush is. I see the man imploding because for the first time in his miserable life he will be held accountable, regardless of his support network.

I'm looking forward to the medicare story coverup exploding.

[Jacobin]

6. That's good to hear

Sounds like Kerry is holding his fire on this until the time is right.

[forgethell]

13. Bush is holding his fire, too.

It is way too early for either side to get confident. and remember, Bush, as President can control the news to a certain extent. Perhaps they will find Osama before long, causing a jump in the polls. Perhaps the Spanish bombings will concentrate people's minds towards the 'war on terror'. Perhaps the economy will take off. Perhaps there might even be something negative in Kerry's background. If so, be sure the Rs will use it.

So, there is a lot of time left for the whole thing to go south.

[NJmaverick]

4. It's sad really

When you consider that the country should be universally demanding bush be impeached after he was caught lying about Iraq. He is fricken lucky that he is able to just not use it in ads.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

5. my feeling

is that Bush is waiting for an attack from Kerry on this issue, so that Bush can posture himself as embattled. Plus, as we all know, Kerry having voted for IWR doesn't give him as much leverage as he needs to truly exploit the Iraq debacle politically. IMHO Kerry needs to re-introduce nuance to the American people. He needs to state specifically why he voted IWR and why, specifically, he regrets it now. Kerry needs, honestly, to approach the discussion of Iraq as Clark approached it - namely, without confusing and interspersing strategic jargon with political jargon. Kerry needs to play opposite of Bush, and play it hard. Bush is the secrecy president, Kerry should be the open president. Bush is the Black and WHite president, Kerry is a candidate for nuance and logic. Bush is the War president who never served in war, Kerry should be the Veteran reluctant to fight. This, to me, is the key to the military swing vote - and likely the presidency.

[Skittles]

14. ther e is NO reasonable excuse for voting for IWR

it's shameful

[Mari333]

7. He doesnt want the world to see that the military grunts and families

hate the lying piece of shit.



http://www.bringthemhomenow.com
http://www.mfso.org

[Jacobin]

8. Mari, I know your stepson is over there.

Do you get the sense from talking to him that a signficant number of the troops will be voting to boot Smirk this fall?

[BOSSHOG]

9. Veterans are up in arms (only covertly)

I can assure you that veterans are a crew which bush does not want to fuck with right now, because of the pain he has inflicted on those still in uniform and those disabled or retired depending on the government to hold up their end of contractual agreements. They (we) won't make much noise but we will ensure we vote.

[Jacobin]

10. I hope they all come home safe and SOON

I've been against this boondoggle from day one.

[Mari333]

12. so have I,ironic isnt it. n/t

[Mari333]

11. He says his whole unit hates Bu$h and so do their families

we all hate that lying bastard and the whole cabal.
http://www.mfso.org
http://www.bringthemhomenow.com
http://www.vaiw.org

[mike_c]

15. yet....

I'll bet "bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq" comes up after the summer "restoration of Iraqi authority," i.e. the installation of a compliant puppet government.

[Cocoa]

16. how long before Bush denies we attacked Iraq?

just states something like "we decided not to invade Iraq." The media probably would not question it, like they didn't make much noise when he said "we found the WMD."

[F.Gordon]

17. The Lies now control the Man

Liar's all fall into this trap eventually.