Senate GOP plans Iraq PR blitz

[sabra]

http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/010406/iraq.html

Senate GOP plans Iraq PR blitz


Senate Republicans are planning to launch a concerted effort to recast the debate on the Iraq war, seeking to build on the successful public relations offensive that President Bush unleashed at the end of last year.

After the White House’s aggressive response to war critics led to higher poll numbers for the president, congressional Republicans — who had prodded Bush to be more vocal — are looking to fight their own aggressive campaign.

GOP officials are aware of public polling showing that Bush’s December statements have started to shift the political winds, stemming mounting opposition to the war. But a leadership aide said that the public relations push was planned independently of polling measuring the public response to Bush’s effort.

...

A GOP aide working on the Republicans’ project said that senators are expected to highlight the soldiers’ stories when they return to work this year, most likely in speeches during periods of “morning business” in the Senate chamber. At press time, however, it was unclear how much time in January would be devoted to morning business or whether most of the discussion would have to be postponed until February, when Congress begins its work in earnest.

[Catch22Dem]

1. Ok boys, break out the turd polisher

Sorry, ain't gonna work.

[Frances]

2. I think that the Dems best response should be

that we should elect these soldiers to Congress (most of the soldiers running for Congress are running as Dems)!

[onehandle]

3. Fuck the GOP and their "let's keep killing our boys" campaign.

The jig is up, dumbasses.

[stillcool]

4. Ear Protectors...

and a pair of those large wading boots needed in any Republican vicinity.

[wtmusic]

5. If it wasn't for all those dead bodies coming home

we'd have ourselves a hell of a war, now wouldn't we?

[grytpype]

6. The more time they waste trying to prop up the Iraq debacle

the less damage they can do elsewhere.

All Iraq, all the time is fine with me!

[brentspeak]

7. Exploiting soldiers for political purposes

Business as usual for the GOP.

[librechik]

8. whatever they're smoking

I wish I had some...

[badgervan]

10. Bounce?

bush's numbers went up 4 to 6%, with a margin of error of 3 to 4%. This is a "bounce" up in popularity?
Yeah, just keep telling us how "successful" this fiasco of a war has been, and continues to be. If it gets much more "successful", we will have another draft any day now. Idiots - and usually idiots who never served in the armed forces of their country themselves. I have zero respect for these clowns - and the same amount of trust that we will get the truth from them. Any truth.

[pinto]

9. I think it's all they've got, politically, and expect them to play it up.

The Republican mix of pandering to xenophobic fears, denigrating domestic review, including Congressional oversight, as treason and manipulating the military - with it's personal losses - for a political agenda has worked before. They know that. They'll go with what has worked, however marginal or immoral, imo.

Their domestic agenda, while in tatters, remains off the front page. I doubt they'd want to resurrect the Social Security/Medicare drug plan nightmare, tax cuts and the deficit, the once touted Republican ethical standards, or the actual financial cost of the occupation of Iraq on a national stage.

They'll go with the flag and platitudes, I suspect. Their options are getting limited.

I'd like to be wrong on their PR campaign. I'd love to hear their answer to the loss of our Iraq fiasco, a response to the culture of corruption in the Republican leadership and a real discussion about our domestic issues. But I won't hold my breath....