CNN is hammering Bush about his AWOL now too. Jeez

[NNN0LHI]

I can't hardly believe it. The Cafferty guy just read some letters from people who wrote in and they were blistering.

Don

[SpiralHawk]

1. yes

"I think the American people--I hope the American--I don't think, let me--I hope the American people trust me."
- George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 18, 2002

[Art_from_Ark]

2. For those of us without CNN

could you provide a few tidbits from these letters?

[NNN0LHI]

4. The consensus seemed to be that this should have not be an issue...

...but when Junior jumped in the flight suit to land on the aircraft carrier like some kind of hero that all changed. Bush made an issue of his guard service or lack there of and now it is open season. Bet Rove is regretting that photo op now.

Don

[alcuno]

5. "Everything changed after 9/11."

How many times have I heard some Republican utter these words? Feed them back to them on the National Guard issue, "Everything changed after 9/11."

[420montana]

3. I have written

6 letters to the editor asking to get to the "bottom" of this in our state papers, give it legs!

[KharmaTrain]

6. It's The "Next Big Thing", Don

The media's finger's in the air...they want blood...they want another Election 2000 and worse. The more polarized and energized the electorate (their audience) is, the more people watch and the ratings go up. This is what Faux has done that hasn't been missed in the exec suites at CNN, MSGOP and the major networks.

This regime has finally over-reached to a point where it can't manipulate the news or the media. The focus groups and "audience" consultants (Frank Lutzs without the the Huge ego) saw that supporting this regime = patriotism = ratings. This was the Faux model. Now their "polling" is showing a change. Watch Faux's numbers to either stagnate or even fall in the near future...their halcyon days are about to end.

I can't put a finger on which issue has started this, or if this has been a growing groundswell that I've tried to ignore, but the increased scrutiny of this regime is starting to appear more frequent and pointed. The LTEs, calls to talk shows, polls (remember CNN is polling not only candidates but their own performance in their coverage of the primaries) and other "indicators" are showing that dissent is turning into the "next big thing"...that people will flock to.

Creating controversy and playing on the divisiveness of the elections has been a chestnut of the media outlets since the Bedrock Times...what I see ahead is a good "circulation" war between Murdoch, Time/Warner, Viacom, GE, Disney & Clear Channel.

[underpants]

7. Not to get off subject but the media backlash started on Thanksgiving IMHO

I started to notice then that the press started to actually toughen up and started calling W on his BS and particularly the war.

I think this started because W (Rove) picked only certain reporters "that they could trust" and basically established a ranking/caste system amongst the WH press. Those "left behind" (sorry) did not appreciate it.

This was a huge mistake, W enjoyed not only a lack of reporting on his past and history in 2000 but almost guffawing praise. The sold his lines and lies (See:Gore said he invented internet) as he had befriended them and yucked it up with them while Gore never did that with his press corp.

I'm telling you that trip to Iraq really pissed off some of the press and the fact that they haven't "Killed this snake" that is AWOL is proof.

Smartly the Dems are not throwing logs on this fire but just some brush to keep it going.

[KharmaTrain]

9. I'd Say The Wilson Article...

IMHO this shook up the beltway press gang as the game started to get real serious. Some started to see the "dark side" of this regime for the first time (Tweety being one) that either they ignored or actually didn't think existed.

Yes, Rove has played favorites...the pet names was an early tip-off on that (Karen Hughes at work there)...and special access/leaks...enough to keep everyone happy. The word being "access"...and how having it helps one's career while being on the "outs" (Ashley Banfield) means a 11pm newsgig in Boise. What the Wilson scandal has done is shown that those who played ball all along can and will be cast overboard if they cross with this regime...no matter how nice they've been. It's what have you done for me, lately.

Regading Rush...yes, his credibility is all but shot. And I expect the real fall of Mr. Limbaugh to happen when an indictment is issued and the counts are made public. Right now he and his stations/network are playing for time...as long as he makes headlines (and he still is) he's gonna have stations wanting to have his show...but once the worm turns, watch him get the Dr. Laura banishment to broadcast Siberia. Prediction: a year from now he'll still be on the air but with half his current affiliates carrying his show live every afternoon (they'll play out their contracts).

Now the fun is watching who is gonna be the next Rush...a great future thread...Lots of wannabes...revving their engines...O'Reilly, Hannity, Tony Snow, Michael Raygun... Stay tuned.

[JPace]

12. This feeding frenzy by the press is wonderful....

bet Rove wishes for the good old days when
all he had to complain about was the press
was not printing enough good news about what
was going on in Iraq.

[Terwilliger]

14. 3 things

the Turkey surprise in Baghdad where Bush tried to manipulate those events, the story about Paul O'Neill and his subsequent treatment by the admin., and finally the Kay report

All of these things are starting to weigh on Bush, and that crapfest on MTP was pathetic.

[CheshireCat]

17. The excesses of Haliburton is another reason

IMHO.

Haliburton's behavior after receiving no-bid contracts has opened eyes.

They are robbing the taxpayers blind and not providing for our troops.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

15. code pink's Pink Slip stunt

you lied, you're fired.

i think this got a lot of coverage and maybe started our fellow
citizens thinking.

[cally]

16. Good point

I agree that many thought they had access and realized that all their whoredom wasn't enough. There was a slight change in reporting then.

The other big event is the Democratic primaries. Our message is being covered somewhat. I know that this will change once we pick a nominee and the the attack begins, but I can enjoy this surge for a few weeks.

[NNN0LHI]

8. I think losing their mouthpiece Rush to drug/credibility problems...

...at such a crucial time really hurt them bad. More so than people realize yet.

Don

[Cat Atomic]

18. I think the tipping point was immigration.

When Bush started talking about his immigration plans, he pissed off the only people still praising him- his base.

I think he just became so widely unliked by the populace at that point, that it was impossible to spin it. The press couldn't keep calling him "incredibly popular" when practically everyone hated him.

Also, I think alot of his supporters became willing criticize him on other issues (like the Iraq invasion and the PATRIOT Act), after the immigration issue had sort of broken the ice.

[Champion Jack]

10. Kick

:bounce: :kick:

[lovedems]

11. Well, if you look at Helen Thomas, this administration has not been

media friendly. If you want to stay in the WH press pool, you had to be willing to follow the rules. You had to ask the easy questions. I am not taking the heat off the press because they have done a lousy job these last 3 years but now that we are in an election year, the door has finally opened just a little bit.

I also think these on-line polls done by CNN, MSNBC, et.al. are done for the benefit of the organization. Do you notice that when the chimps poll numbers are high, it is a love fest. The lower he goes in the polls, the more negative his coverage becomes. Am I crazy?

[Hamlette]

13. no, you are exactly right

polls go down for Bush, press is critical of him. To sell more.

I think it started with the $87B. That's when the republicans in my office went silent (Instead of telling me how great Bush was all the time.) and the press started to report the news.