Bush going to Crawford - then Iraq? Block that publicity stunt now!

[scottxyz]

Some blogs are trying to figure out why Bush is taking a precious day off from his campaign, to visit the ranch at Crawford on Saturday. They think the "October surprise" might turn out to be an act of desperation - a surprise flight from Crawford to Iraq to pose as "commander-in-chief" in front of the troops.

We can´t let Bush get away with this kind of stunt again! We´re not gonna let the media have orgasms over Bush´s phoney "manliness" again!

Oh Please (via Digby)
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2004_10_17_digbysblog_archive.html#109837934860111365

So, I see (via Atrios) that Junior is taking a day off on Saturday.

Sure he is. In the fight of his life, ten days before the election, he's taking a precious day away from the campaign trail.

How much do you want to bet he's being measured for a new military costume as we speak?

My only question is whether it will be Kabul or Baghdad.

And if the braindead press corpse handle this as anything but a cheap, taxpayer financed stunt we should raise holy hell. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to let them know now that any October Surprise like this is not a "surprise" it's an act of sheer desperation and if they don't cover this with the skepticism and derision it deserves they can never call themselves anything but whores.

It's called working the refs folks. If this thing happens, the press needs to have our take on it firmly implanted in their minds before they start their bizarre, erotic fantasizing about the manly preznit.


Will the media be Rove´s patsy again? (via Digby)
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2004_10_17_digbysblog_archive.html#109814105837813562

I wrote sometime back about the possibility of Bush parachuting into Baghdad on the eve of the election, but it was, you know, a joke. If he tries a stunt like that this time, I have a feeling that it will be remembered as the most desperate act an incumbent president has ever taken. The press corpse, unfortunately, would probably enjoy the theatre of the thing. They like nothing more than pretending that the lil' preznit is some kind of action hero.

They cannot be allowed at this point to go along with such a thing. If they have even the tiniest shred of self-respect left, they would have to reject such a blatant ploy. To that end, I might think of sending this hilarious link to various members of the press corpse to remind them of what dewy-eyed little debutantes they were at the sight of Commander Codpiece in that oh-so-snug jumpsuit:

MATTHEWS: Let's go to this sub--what happened to this week, which was to me was astounding as a student of politics, like all of us. Lights, camera, action. This week the president landed the best photo of in a very long time. Other great visuals: Ronald Reagan at the D-Day cemetery in Normandy, Bill Clinton on horseback in Wyoming. Nothing compared to this, I've got to say.

Katty, for visual, the president of the United States arriving in an F-18, looking like he flew it in himself. The GIs, the women on--onboard that ship loved this guy.

Ms. KAY: He looked great. Look, I'm not a Bush man. I mean, he doesn't do it for me personally, especially not when he's in a suit, but he arrived there...

MATTHEWS: No one would call you a Bush man, by the way.

Ms. KAY: ...he arrived there in his flight suit, in a jumpsuit. He should wear that all the time. Why doesn't he do all his campaign speeches in that jumpsuit? He just looks so great.

MATTHEWS: I want him to wa--I want to see him debate somebody like John Kerry or Lieberman or somebody wearing that jumpsuit.

Mr. DOBBS: Well, it was just--I can't think of any, any stunt by the White House--and I'll call it a stunt--that has come close. I mean, this is not only a home run; the ball is still flying out beyond the park.

MATTHEWS: Well, you know what, it was like throwing that strike in Yankee Stadium a while back after 9/11. It's not a stunt if it works and it's real. And I felt the faces of those guys--I thought most of our guys were looking up like they were looking at Bob Hope and John Wayne combined on that ship.

Mr. GIGOT: The reason it works is because of--the reason it works is because Bush looks authentic and he felt that he--you could feel the connection with the troops. He looked like he was sincere. People trust him. That's what he has going for him.

MATTHEWS: Fareed, you're watching that from--say you were over in the Middle East watching the president of the United States on this humongous aircraft carrier. It looks like it could take down Syria just one boat, right, and the president of the United States is pointing a finger and saying, `You people with the weapons of mass destruction, you people backing terrorism, look out. We're coming.' Do you think that picture mattered over there?

Mr. ZAKARIA: Oh yeah. Look, this is a part of the war where we have not--we've allowed a lot of states to do some very nasty stuff, traffic with nasty people and nasty material, and I think it's time to tell them, you know what, `You're going to be help accountable for this.'

MATTHEWS: Well, it was a powerful statement and picture as well.

[high density]

1. Going to Iraq?

Bahahah, I hope he brings a Sinclair Broadcast Group "news" crew with him.

[Stephanie]

2. Tell him to remember to stuff a sock in it.

If he's going to try that tired stunt again.

[Kierkegaard]

3. He's too much of a coward to go into Iraq.

Unless they build a hollywood stage for him to use as a backdrop, that won't happen. Kabul sounds like a possibility. Right after the 'elections' have been held, why not show up and take credit for it?

[Raster]

4. From Plaid Adder's column yesterday...

" The cessation of hostilities in Iraq would be nice; but it doesn't look as if the "Bad People" are planning to cooperate. The suggestion that Bush might make an eleventh-hour surprise visit to the troops in Baghdad is intriguing, but in the end I have to say I don't think it's realistic. First of all, Rove has already done that once, and clearly did not get very good bang for his buck. Second, the fact that there are now attacks taking place inside the Green Zone suggests that they cannot guarantee Bush's safety over there, and third, I think that after what our soldiers in Iraq have been through, the only way Rove could put together a backdrop of happy cheering soldiers for Bush to pose against would be to issue military uniforms to the members of the campaign staff. And even they would probably come out looking kind of glum.

[scottxyz]

10. Good point from The Plain Adder about safety in Baghdad´s Green Zone

I´ve heard that Bush millions on security in his hotel in places like London and New York. He does seem like the type who would be afraid to go to Iraq.

[Texas_Dem]

5. Been there done that. Too risky too since the terrorists will know

he is coming.

[naufragus]

6. maybe they need to dry him out a bit

he has been on a "3-day drunk" for the past week

[Zero Gravitas]

7. campaignin' is hard, hard work

the preznit needs his rest. Going to Iraq would be a waste of time, it won't get him a single extra vote.

[DrWeird]

8. Wouldn't that look great great?

Bush going to Iraq, which sparks a major uprising, and Bush evacuates with his tail between his legs while leaving all the troops behind to cover his ass.

[Rick Myers]

9. I want to see him ride in a parade in downtown Baghdad

See if the locals throw flowers!!!

[MsTryska]

11. Has he actually physically set foot in Iraq yet?

I think that's something that should be on JFKs list, first thing

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. Happy to see him go there. US citizens are already pissed

about the amount of money and attention being spent on that shitty place. I say go there.

[loyalsister]

13. Rove is has definitely done his homework

This was very effective for Dr. Goebbels in getting people to go along with a plan for world domination.
Let me be clear before anyone criticizes me! The comparison I am making is one of propagandistic technique, and the power grabbing idea. It takes getting people to go along with sacrifice, and they seem to accomplished that with some people.
They have been able to distract people from economic problems with terror warnings and war propaganda.
It works something like : "The soldiers are making the real sacrifice for the good of the USA (there hasn't been an attack on American soil despite all the warnings!), who am I to complain about not having a job?" Allowing a lot of casualties might not have been an accident.
These guys are masters!
Putting * in a soldier suit in Iraq might make some people believe he's serious about this "hard work." It has potential to be transposed mentally with the "regular guy" thing.
"He's going to the front lines, by god!"
Whether it works or not, remains to be seen. I think who it work on will depend on education level to some extent.
Take a look at some WWII books and pictures of Mr. H's attire. This is nothing new.

[Malva Zebrina]

14. My prediction

he is going to appear in a hunting outfit and go hunting quail with a dog and a few companions, to try to outdo Kerry. I would not put i past him to don the same exact outfit as Kerry. Laura will try to get rid of her dirty, hair sprayed helmet hair look, in favor of the more relaxed and natural style of THK. He already has shed the stupid looking dorky, checkered shirt in favor of the more "presidential" looking shirt and tie, because Kerry always appears neat looking and in a suit, usually, and looks presidential.

I also think these forays into Crawford are a chance to swill down his favorite alcoholic beverage more than a few times.

[grumpy old fart]

15. Just alcohol?

Maybe he's slipping off to get his medication right.....

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

16. Let him make a stump speech in downtown Sadr City or Fallujah

on a nice raised podium where he can head-bob to his heart's content and repeat his "bring 'em on" line. After all, the cakewalk of Iraq isn't dangerous and it isn't a place where there could possibly be any US casualties.