Bush Losing Some Mystique of Presidency {Guardian}

[bobthedrummer]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,1282,-3862919,00.html

[readmylips]

1. Littlel Mouse Ralph Reed....

GOP strategist Ralph Reed.

'He added that Bush is well situated to simultaneously wear the two hats of president and politician because this year's campaign issues so closely track the themes of his presidency - strengthening the economy, protecting the homeland and fighting terrorism.

``You'd be hard-pressed to find a time when the two messages were more seamless (SHAMELESS) and mutually reinforcing (DECEIVING),'' Reed said.

I'm glad the bushies have that cracker-Reed and failed pancake flipper-Bauer, in the forefront. They both want to be Napoleon.

[0007]

5. Ralph and Gary are desperate attempts to rally the Christians base

diehards that are turning against junior. I love it!!

[onehandle]

2. Some?

WASHINGTON - Springtime is creeping up on Washington and flowers are starting to bloom, but there will be no luxury of a Rose Garden strategy for President Bush this season.

With the election still nearly eight months away, Bush has surrendered some of the mystique of the presidency to take on a very public role as candidate for re-election.

snip...

Many think the president had no choice but to shift into an overtly political role early, given his deteriorating poll numbers, the speedy selection of a Democratic presidential candidate and continuing public concern about the state of the economy.

snip...

"And so, off you go," said presidential scholar Calvin Mackenzie of Colby College in Maine. "It's a trade-off. You're not going to look as presidential. You're going to be down in the gutter slinging mud.

snip...

...Democratic consultant Paul Begala, a former chief political adviser to President Clinton, said Bush has turned himself into "politician in chief," giving up one of his greatest assets - the mystique and power of incumbency.

Begala called Bush's appearance last month on NBC's "Meet the Press," in which he had to defend his National Guard service record during Vietnam, "a gift to the Democratic Party. He didn't look 10 feet tall. He didn't look unbeatable."

snip...

Kerry, for his part, has helped lure Bush into the fight by spending millions over the past six months on ads critical of the president and his policies.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/politics/8189530.htm

[rocktivity]

3. Bush's mystique lay in his mainstream media insultation

Thanks to a mainstream media paid off with favorable ownership legislation, Bush never had to fear that anything he did would be questioned. But between the public anger over the "Dean scream" coverage and Kerry refusing to retract his "liars and crooks" remark, the mainstream media suddenly finds its credibility in the same hole that Bush's is. That's why they've been peeling off lately--if they spin themselves to the point that people start tuning THEM out, they AND Bush lose!

:headbang:
rocknation

[bobthedrummer]

4. Good point, rocknation.

It is starting to change, the way the mainstream US media has kowtowed to Bush is changing.

[damnraddem]

10. I think there was another dynamic in media change:

the active debate among the Democratic candidates, including Dean's early challenges to Dubya, had the media covering Democrats for months, the reporters spending endless time listening to Democratic arguments. I think that some of what Dems said stuck, and perhaps struck a chord -- and it was news that was engaging the public, so selling ads for the media.

[dArKeR]

6. The Mystique was unjustly, unethically created by the Media Whores.

And an independent investigation should be conducted into the Racketeering between the Republicans and the Corporate Lying Media.

[grannylib]

7. I agree completely...the right wing controlled media are complicit in

creating this image by the three year honeymoon/free pass they granted to Chimpy, his handlers, their minions and their campaign contributors. The media marginalized the Democratic candidates that they deemed unelectable, virtually denying solid information to the voters, and they keep presenting this picture of 'leadership' by Chimpy in the days following 9/11...he did NOTHING that would not have been done by any other president; it's all a sham...he has no leadership abilities...
If it were not for his daddy's rich friends who have bailed him out of every business venture he brought to ruin, he'd be nobody...

[Judi Lynn]

8. Bush did himself some damage!

Begala called Bush's appearance last month on NBC's ``Meet the Press,'' in which he had to defend his National Guard service record during Vietnam, ``a gift to the Democratic Party. He didn't look 10 feet tall. He didn't look unbeatable.''

This would have been priceless. What a horrible show to have missed.

[bobthedrummer]

9. His "credibility gap" widens everytime he says something.

[bobthedrummer]

11. He is The War President, make no mistake about that mystique.

He is following PNAC in that regard.
The Crusader/War President, with quite a credibility gap.
A liar, and history will prove him to be a war criminal and profiteer IMO.

:puke::argh: