Why the stagecraft of this speech tonight was important [View All]

[scheming daemons]

By graciously calling and mentioning Bush tonight, Obama accomplished a few things....


1. Reminded the American people about Bush in a way that Republicans couldn't accuse him of playing the "blame game". But it reminded the American voter of all the reasons they hated Bush.

2. By being gracious, Obama takes the high road. Any criticism from Republicans will then look twice as bad.


It left Karl Rove with nothing... except to sputter that "Obama shouldn't have given the speech".


There's no nice attack vein the GOP can take here... they spent all day screaming that Bush should get credit... but Obama gave him "credit" in a way that reminded people that Bush took us to war under false pretenses.


It was a brilliant framing. Obama looks Presidential.. highlights a kept promise... and reminds people of all the pain that Bush caused with the Iraq war.


Well done.