Experts: Vigil for fallen son may distract Bush, fan flames of peace drive

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

As Bush passes by, mom stays put
Experts: Vigil for her fallen son may distract the president and help fan the flames of a gathering peace drive

BY CRAIG GORDON
WASHINGTON BUREAU

August 13, 2005

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usmom0813,0,4634923.story?coll=ny-nation-big-pix

For Bush, the Sheehan case poses political risks, analysts say. Ignore a grieving mother, and appear callous. Invite her in, and appear to have caved in to her demands.

Beyond that, analysts say, there also is the risk for Bush that Sheehan is putting a sympathetic face on the death toll in Iraq, emerging on the scene when U.S. public opinion is turning more solidly against the war. Nearly six in 10 Americans in a recent Associated Press poll disapproved Bush's handling of the war.

It doesn't help Bush that the Sheehan story broke shortly after one of the deadliest recent weeks in Iraq. And ultimately, some analysts say, that's Bush's larger problem -- there is little Bush can do to improve public perception of Iraq, especially when he is standing firm against setting any timetable for withdrawal.

"The administration is really prisoner to events here, and to the extent there's bad news, what can the White House say anymore? You can't go on a PR offensive ... if there are more mothers talking about their pain and the loss of their children," said Stu Rothenberg, a Washington political analyst.

[Cha]

1. I like the way he put that..

"As Bush passes by, mom stays put"

Cindy stands firm as bush slithers out of sight.

[Starfury]

2. Rushes to $2 million dollar fundraiser, but ignores Cindy on the way...n/t

[rodeodance]

3. bushco made the wrong move this time (or lack of a move).

[cliss]

4. Notice here, "The administration is really prisoner to

events here". This is what I've felt all along, as soon as the Cindy Sheehan story broke.

Bush and his cronies are helpless against this. They've been checkmated. No matter what he does, he loses. And Cindy Sheehan, on some level, knows this. That's why she's standing firm.

If he goes by and ignores her, he's seen as insensitive, calloused. If he talks to her, he's seen as caving. But talking to her would be the least damaging among all bad options. As usual, he's taking the most damaging route: ignoring her. And he does this at his peril.

As long as the deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan keep increasing, Bush's credibility sinks even further. I really don't see any way he can win this.

[Mountainman]

5. The administration is really prisoner to events here

Some of the best words I've heard in a long time. The administration plays only for short term gain and they have no plan for this either. I bet Rove and Co. have been locked in a situation room for days trying to figure out just what talking points to put in the blast fax noise machine to try and kill the Cindy story.

[complain jane]

6. Yeah the Bush supporters on other boards are in overdrive spin mode.

And it's strange, and it may be wishful thinking, but there's this one belligerent moron on another board who supports Bush and hates liberals and yet, for some reason I get the feeling that he's actually not with Bush on this one.

Which would be an earth-shattering first.