What do you think is the CORE argument against Bush's reselection in 2004?

[AP]

I'm just wondering what people think is the best argument against Bush. And I'm thinking in terms of what people think it is that is the worst thing Bush does. My point is that Bush is definitely a threat to the future of America. But why is that? I definitely think all the issues flow down from one, but after reading some posts here today, I'm wondering if I am alone in my opinion about which of these issues is the core issue from which all others flow.

[hippiegranny]

1. can't i vote "all of the above?"

n/t

[AP]

3. No, because I want people to think of this in terms of who

they want to see run for president.

No candidate is going to be able to create a clear, understandable metamessage incorporating ALL these issues. The candidate will need to articulate a message that picks the one important issue from which the rest flow.

Of course now, by saying this, I know people are going to pick the metamessage they think their candidate represents. Nonetheless, people should think hard about this.

[hippiegranny]

14. my question was rhetorical

since i actually did pick one and vote. actually i think the candidate who comes out the most convincingly against monkey boy's foreign and economic policies will have the best chance. these are both huge and affect mostly everyone in one way or another.

[AP]

17. So which one did you pick?

I think the foreign policy flows from a core operating principle of the Bush administration that is encapsulated in one of the choices above adn that the the Dem nominee would do very well if they could articulate their foreign and economic policies within a paradigm that attacks that core Bush principle head on.

[poskonig]

6. "A soldier a day keeps imaginary weapons away."

Oh, that's Bush's "re"-election slogan.

By bad. :silly:

[Sick of Bullshit]

2. How about "We have to remove an incompetent boob

who should never have been given the office in the first place"

[AP]

4. Do you think that if weren't a boob and he did some

of this other stuff, he'd be a passable president?

Isn't there something on this list which is of way more importance than the fact that Bush is a boob and is incompetent?

[Sick of Bullshit]

21. To me, his utter incompetence overrides everything on the list

Because of his incompetence (and conniving), we have all these other problems.

[AP]

23. Like I said below, I think he's doing a great job of transferring

as much wealth and power into the hands of a few wealthy, powerful Republicans as is possible in this smash and grab administration.

[Sick of Bullshit]

32. Oh, absolutely, he's taking us through a time slip

back to pre-1789 France

And this will undoubtedly be one of his most wretched legacies.

But he has committed SO MANY outrageous acts, it is hard to single out just one of them for criticism.

[Sick of Bullshit]

41. OK, after having read your other arguments

I would agree that behind every action of this boob, there is either money, or power, or both, as an ulterior motive.

[mlawson]

5. My suggestion: "That GWB&Co can not be trusted with the power".

We all know where and when he has lied, so I need not list them for us. But our nominee needs to do just that, with documentation. Our guy needs to show how bush has misled the country, both abroad and at home, and do it in such a way that nothing is left to the imagination.

But NOT attack him personally; instead, show the deception as work of his handlers (without whom he couldn't do step one).

[AP]

8. Why? How are they using their power? Are they using power for the sake

of power. Or is there some plan which is patently obvious at this point?

[mlawson]

16. How are they using their power???

I believe we all know the answer to that, here at DU. I don't understand your questions.

[AP]

19. They're using their power to make rich republicans and big

corporations richer and bigger. It's too obvious. Bush is embarking on a plan to transfer as much social wealth and personal wealth up the ladder and into the pockets of the individuals and corporations he think can guarantee republicans power (the media is the one big one). Everything flows from this.

Why have a war? For money. For the kind of publicity he thinks will get him reelected so he can continue to transfer wealth up the ladder.

[mlawson]

24. Yes, but that is nothing new for repukes.

Voters have heard all this before, aimed at Nixon, Ronnie, GWHB, etc. I think that, this time Dems should make the case that the GWB regime is WAAAAY out there, alone, in terms of abuse of power, not only for the upwards redistribution of income, but manipulation of the military, CIA, UN, and US allies to achieve their nefarious goals (that most Americans would disapprove).

[AP]

28. But I think the worst abuse of their power is in the transfer of wealth

to their cronies, whether it's Haliburton in Iraq, or Dick Cheney via a big fat tax cut.

And just because Dems have used it before (like FDR and JFK and Clinton) it doesn't mean we should abandon it now. Hell, it was used by winners. Name me a strategy that has worked better than this one?

[mlawson]

33. No, not abandon it. But supplement it

with the charges of abuse of Constitutional power that bush's handlers used to get us Gulf War II. Charge him with ALL the abuses of power, including income redistribution. But I suspect that the war charge will be far more easy for many voters to appreciate and digest.

[never cry wolf]

30. Not just the war

Social policies, cut social services.

Environmental policies, ease up on restrictions, let the loggers have a field day.

Tax cuts are obvious, but the deficit will result in more social serve cuts.

Patriot Act and Homeland Defense, to make sure the little guys can't wrest power back.

Military build-up, see above.

Energy Policy, F**king written by the corporations, no need for conservation folks, tax breaks for SUVs, waa hoo!!!

Medical plans were to privatise

Prescription plans were to privatise.

I am sure I am missing many and these could be gone into in much greater depth as well but that has been my feeling as well, these guys want IT ALL. Buncha greedy Mo-Fos.

[AP]

7. Not trying to spin the poll, but do people think

we're causing chaos around the world for the hell of it? Do people see which direction the money's flowing thanks to the chaos? Doesn't that overseas aggression fits into a bigger, more significant pattern of behavior?

[poskonig]

9. When people like Daschle and Edwards support it,

the public becomes less critical.

We need more vocal leadership.

[AP]

11. That's what you think. What I think is that if the Dems

run a candidate who can go for the heart of the Bush monster, rather than flail around at the tentacles, way more Americans are going to have something click in their thick skulls about where America is right now, historically speaking, and way more Americans are going to vote for the Democrat. This is what FDR did. He talked to people where they lived, and he gave them historical perspective. And it didn't take anger, or fear to wake Americans up.

[poskonig]

25. I'm just explaining why the public supports the war.

I remember when the war broke out, Gephardt and Lieberman were all over CNN talking about how cool it was.

The average American is thinking, "well, if Democrats AND Republicans support this thing, who the fuck am I to disagree?"

[Beetwasher]

10. GROSS INCOMPETENCE

The levels of which we've never seen before...It's the incompetency stupid!

[AP]

13. I think Bush is highly competant at achieving his primary goal

which is one of the choices above.

[Beetwasher]

39. That may be HIS primary goal

But, whatever his personal primary goal is, it most certainly is not in the best interest of the country. The President should ALWAYS be looking out for the best interest of the country. He doesn't do that, he's the President, that's arguably his job, therefore he's a grossly incompetent president. So, to me anyway, it is an issue of gross incompetence. I didn't see that up there...

[Iverson]

12. You didn't have my favorite reason

He's a f---ing disaster.

[AP]

15. He's a godsend for some, and a disaster for others. I think

your point is addressed in one of the choices above.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

18. 'Are you better off now

then you...blah...blah..blah"

tired, yes
but it applies so well with Chimpy McCokespoon

[leftofthedial]

20. all are relevant points

But the key is 3 million jobs lost

3 million American families with no breadwinner

3 million families being ripped apart

3 million families excommunicated from the American way of life

[AP]

22. Yeah. Why?

Because it seems to be a plan to create more underemployed Americans who will work for lower wages and fewer benefits in non-career jobs, so that some big corporations can make big profits. Don't you think?

[never cry wolf]

36. Exactly

On my drive home last night I listened to talk radio 890, WLS here in Chi. They are 90% RW radio all the time, Ski Anderson one day a week, but late night they have on a Deborah Roe. She is not a loudmouthed dittohead and tries to come across as reasonable and calm but she has been "adjusted." She was talking about jobs last night and said, "if you really feel that you are being abused by your employer or the working conditions are poor, just go find another job."

I screamed at the radio "It's a frikkin buyer's market out there for the employers!!!! No one can afford to quit!!!" People will put up with all sorts of shit these days to keep the paycheck regular and the corporations are lapping it up!!

[AP]

26. I think the answer one choses to this question reveals as much about

themselves as it does about the bush administration.

Nonetheless, I implore everyone to think beyond themselves. Think about what America is like about most people. I don't think most people think twice about American imperialism, and I think the farther people get from 9/11 the lower the fear of future attack falls from the top of their list of concerns (something like 60% of NY'ers think NYC will be attacked again, but they aren't leaving their jobs in NYC -- why?).

[Pepperbelly]

27. Because he is an incompetent wanker who regularly screws the pooch on

all issues. He has a reverse-Midas touch and everything he touches turns to shit.

[AP]

29. He isn't screwing the pooch on the transfer of wealth and power

out of the hands of the middle and working class. He's doing an A1 job at taht. And since that's probably why he was hired, he probably thinks he's batting 1000.

[never cry wolf]

40. Actually in a way he is screwing that up as well.

If his poll numbers keep dropping, mainly due to their failure to "win the peace" he will not get elected. If he and his cabal were not so greedy anting it all so fast and were a bit more subtle in their machinations they could have set themselves up for decades of robbing from the seats of power. I personally believe the dam will break and we will be rid of the guttersnipe.

[UnapologeticLiberal]

31. Is the question which is the most upsetting or most persuasive

Are we voting for the biggest reason WE see for getting rid of Bush, or which reason we think is most likely to resonate with voters? I will hold off on voting until someone clarifies this, because it will effect my vote. Thanks.

[kodi]

34. his stewardship of america has failed

we are farther away from the realization of the america of our ideals than when he came to power.

under bush, america has fallen behind by standing still.

[DinahMoeHum]

35. "It's STILL the economy, stupid!!"

and we need to pound this message:

<If the Republicans are good for the economy, how come so many people aren't working?>


:kick:

[maha]

37. One more

The entire Bush crew is in way over their heads. These chuckleheads would be challenged to run a Wal-Mart, never mind the United States.

[Cocoa]

38. he's a proven failure

and a liar.

We weren't sure about him in 2000,`but we gave him a chance, mainly because we wanted to have a beer with him, and he blew it, and he exposed himself as a liar.

Now we don't care about the beer factor so much.

[rock]

42. That transfer of wealth thingy

Everything else is more or less abstract.

[ThoughtCriminal]

43. Transfer of wealth to the rich is the * agenda

Every other evil flows from that.