Politics of Patriot Act Turn Right for Bush - LA Times

[question everything]

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-patriot25apr25,1,3674812.story?coll=la-home-headlines

By Peter Wallsten , Times Staff Writer

April 25, 2004

WASHINGTON — Only months ago, Democrats were targeting the controversial USA Patriot Act as an ideal issue to use in their campaign against President Bush, assailing the law as an intrusion on civil rights. But in a turnabout, the act has suddenly emerged as a cornerstone of Bush's reelection campaign, while Democratic rival Sen. John F. Kerry and others have toned down their criticism.


(snip)

The Patriot Act has been an awkward issue at times for Bush, drawing heat from some in his own conservative base. Critics have included not only the Democratic presidential candidates and the American Civil Liberties Union, but also libertarians, advocates for smaller government and members of the National Rifle Assn.

(snip)

But a series of new polls published last week have led strategists to conclude that the deftly named Patriot Act is a winner for Bush. Those polls also gave the president a lead over Kerry, despite weeks of potentially damaging footage of deadly chaos in Iraq, tough questions about Bush's leadership on terrorism by the Sept. 11 commission and a new book suggesting Bush was intent on invading Iraq far earlier than was initially believed.

(snip)

Experts believe the law will grow in popularity, at least in the short term, as dramatic pictures of bomb blasts in Iraq, Spain and Saudi Arabia heighten fear that an attack could happen in the U.S. again.

(snip)

After Bush used his weekend radio address recently to urge a continuation of the Patriot Act, Kerry issued a written statement listing ideas for "improving" and "fixing" the law by strengthening provisions on money laundering, cracking down on terrorists' assets, improving information-sharing policies and enhancing other sections that specifically target terrorists.

(snip)

[DustMolecule]

1. When did the LA Times hire all of those former Pravda writers?

n/t

[Rex]

2. What we're seeing here folks is a shift in control from the 'people'

to the so-called 'polls'. The hope for the media is that enough people will buy into their lies and then -SNAP- just like that, their fiction becomes our new status quo.

Reality is constructed from images created in our minds that are relative to the information we are most likely to believe as fact.

[NJCher]

3. very astute, Rex

Worthy of a thread all its own.

Are polls the way our political leaders interpreting what "the people" want? If so, why should the nonvoters and the apathetic be included? These people don't care enough to pay attention to the issues, write letters to the editor, form a well-informed opinion and in many cases, vote. They certainly couldn't be bothered to march, like the thousands of women who marched on DC today to protect freedom of choice. So why are politicians making policy based on polls?


Cher

[countmyvote4real]

5. So why are politicians making policy based on polls?

Because that's the way the media does their business. And the mainstream media has been bought, sold or intimidated by Bushco.

That's why I come to DU to get my news and views.

[question everything]

9. And now pubs claim that polls skew results against them

Most polls are telephone polls which exclude cell phones - since the receiver has to pay for the call.

Conservatives claim that many young people - who tend to be conservatives (so they claim) - do not even use land phones and thus polls are skewed toward Democrats...

[DustMolecule]

4. Well, that's my (until now) unsaid point.....

Look at this article with even a SMIDGEN of critical thinking....what a load of b.s.:

But a series of new polls...by whom? WHO will put their name/reputation (and potential lawsuits?) behind it?

have led strategists ...again, same question. Who are these strategists who will put their name/reputations behind this?

is a winner for Bush....ehm, yeah....how many cities (over 100) and states (Alaska I know for sure) and others(?) have passed decrees saying that their law enforcement officials, etc. ARE NOT TO COOPERATE/PARTICIPATE with the patriot act. That is HIGHLY unusual and says a HUGE NO NO NO to the Act. Anyone who sees that as anything else is, well, not playing with a full deck (hence, my question about WHO are these polls/strategists?).

Experts believe the law will grow in popularity...these unnamed 'experts' BELIEVE something, yet don't give any proof or reason why this would be so.

-------------

I hope everyone gets my point about being able to quickly dissect this article for the plain, clear propaganda piece that it is. At least back in the 'good ole days' people knew that Pravda was the propaganda paper, just like people know that the National Enquirer is full of made-up nonsense.

Now people have to realize that the 'made up nonsense' appears anywhere and everywhere.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

7. It's not a winner for Bushler.

[kysrsoze]

8. How many polls do you think are loaded by right-wingers?

I'm sure everytime CNN or FOX puts out a poll, it's loaded - and not with freepers. I'm sure there are people who make a living out of it. Even so, it makes me feel hopeful to know that Kerry is beating Bush by even one point on FOX's latest poll.

[deacon]

6. well, bingo he's the enviromental president too so...

bring on the mercury, the carbon monoxide, nuclear waste and toxic water.

Chance Gardner speaks, even E.F. Hutton listens.