I Am Utterly Despondent Over *'s Iraq Theatrics

[bobd]

I fear that this one gesture will be the tipping point past which * re-connects with wavering white males and so-called independents. The media is ga-ga over this farce of a visit. The messages from the whore centers will get much more syrupy and orgasmic as the weekend approaches cultminating in a literal ejactulation of praise and wonder on the sunday talk shows. Even Democratic senators will be stepping all over themselves to praise *'s holy visit as an act of courage and daring-do. It won't be pretty and it won't be easy to take.

I feel in my gut that this changes everything. The sheeple are just beginning to pay attention to the dawning political season and, for many, this stunt will be their initial waking image: "Our President is indeed a cool guy. Our President is indeed brave and true. Our President risked his life to visit our troops." And yada yada yada yada .....

Counter that with Dashle, and Biden, and Zell Miller, and all the rest of the regular cast of mealy-mouthed spinless Dems who, mark my words, will end up praising the piss-ant poseur, and what do you have? You have the very real makings of a blowout landslide for fascism and all that is transparently un-american gaining unambiguous approval in November of 2004.

This is the worst I've felt in my entire life on this shithole of a planet in this shithole of a country. I can't image what I'll feel like in early November 2004. I can't imagine feeling worse than I do right now but I've got to prepare myself for something I dread and fear to the very depth of my soul: The final and irrevokable loss of our democracy to fascism.

What the fuck have we become? In the final analysis it was all just so much sand sifting through our fingers. Just so much sand.

[Maple]

1. The same ga-ga

occurred over the aircraft carrier stunt.

Look how that backfired.

[TruthIsAll]

2. Maybe this will cheer you up.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[bobd]

6. Yes, I saw those stats

Again, I fear that this stunt will be the tipping point reversing many of those stats. This feels big to me. This feels like it's the beginning of the end for us.

[sandnsea]

3. It's his job

I'm glad he went. The troops deserve it. Besides, he kind of had to do something with Hillary in Afghanistan, at least that's what I heard around here yesterday. This is no big deal, we should be glad our troops got at least a little bit of the attention they deserve.

[NJCher]

4. you are being utterly ridiculous

This is one day, one PR stunt. It in no way, shape or form could possibly have that much influence over the vote that takes place a little less than a year from now.

This was not a defining moment. Get a grip!




Cher

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dreissig]

27. Defining Moment

Politically speaking, Bush has to keep his distance from Iraq. If he wakes up the dummies, they may realize that we didn't have to go into Iraq, it was Bush's choice to do that. That's the reason he won't go to funerals.

As you say, this was not a defining moment for Bush. In fact, he's back pedaling away as fast as he can from such a defining moment.

[Randi_Listener]

5. Forgotten...

...this will be forgotten like the other theatrics. This will blow over and no one will care about these political stunts.

[Another Bill C.]

7. He had to sneak in

I think the fact that he had to sneak in and out of Iraq speaks volumes. His victory parade through Baghdad to the cheers of the adoring Iraqi hordes doesn't seem very probable any more.

[oasis]

10. Sneak in and out of London as well....Backdoor Bush.

[dreissig]

21. Backdoor Bush

Backdoor Bush ... sounds promising. Comes and goes in the dead of the night. Sneakier 'n Santa Claus or the Great Pumpkin. Deadlier, faster, more elusive than an A-Team sniper ...

[forgethell]

14. All it takes is

one asshole fundie Muslim fanatic to blow away the Preident of the United States, if they knew he was coming. do you want that? Regardless of my own low opinion of Bush, he IS the President of the United States, and, as Americans, we cannot afford to let such an assault upon our nation go unpunished. If he was killed over there, well there would be hell to pay.

[bobd]

15. Which assault is that?

Are you saying that 9/11 is justification for the Iraq invasion? Iraq had NOTHING to do with 9/11. The entire Iraq war is illegal, immoral, and was started under wholly false pretenses.

[Maple]

17. Hell to pay...how?

You mean you'd bomb and invade them?

Assault on YOUR nation?

Who invaded who?

[roughsatori]

29. An assault on the man who stole the Presidency

while he was sneaking into Iraq for PR reasons? Iraq, the country he invaded, and now occupies, and justified that invasion with lies that cost American Soldiers and Iraqi civilian lives could hardly be considered an assault on "our nation."

I give no one respect just because their family was wealthy and connected enough to steal a title for their AWOL-Chimp child.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

30. When was he elected president?...

...Oh, that's right...the Supreme Court elected him, didn't they?

I feel so much better now. NOT!!

NEWSFLASH:

You're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy.

Herr Coke-n-Smoke and his NeoCon Junta are treasonous bastards that installed a Fascist style of government in December 2000.

They deserve whatever they get.

[Kat 333]

33. This is what amazes me ...

Does he really think that anyone with a few active brain cells will see this as anything but an attempt to avoid, at all costs, the fate of the soldiers he has NO problem sacrificing the lives of daily. After all - this AWOL, unelected, moron's safety is sooooo much more important than theirs ? If I had a kid, husband or other family member over there I would be even more furious. Sneaky son of a bitch.

[G_j]

8. I don't think it's so easy to re-connect

when you've broken someone's trust, and that has happened with many.

[Adjoran]

9. "changes everything?"

Don't smoke it if you can't handle it, dude!

It changes nothing.

It was a smart political move, true, but we knew we were up against professionals, didn't we?

Sorry if I overreact, but I'm looking at an uphill battle next year. I can't deal very well with my compatriots getting depressed over every good one the other guys come up with, because they are just getting warmed up.

[juajen]

11. This visit does not upset me

I'm not sure why you are so despondent. I'm glad he visited the troops. They sure needed to feel that he cared. If he provided any comfort to any of our brave troops, I am glad.

I do not see this as improving his ratings that much. After all, most of the people in this country will see the opportunistic * taking advantage by publicising this in the way he did. They will also still have the knowledge that he hasn't been kind to troops wounded or the families of troops killed over here. Trying to cut benefits where he could possibly get away with it, and campaigning all the time, will not be offset by a quick and secure visit to the Baghdad Airport.

My, you are really down. I will say again, dems feel real sympathy for those troops and anything that will cheer them up is, in Martha Stewart lingo, a good thing. After all, he's bound to get it right at least once in three years. IMHO, however, this does not add up to a major coup on his part.

[Pastiche423]

12. Is his scam

all over the television or something? Why all the hangdog posts?

[frogbison]

16. Regularly scheduled broadcast

interrupted to report this tripe! Used to be, when a news bulletin broke into a program already on, it was actually important.

Come to think of it, given W's poor record on supporting the military, maybe it is big news...

[JustJoe]

13. More "Jelly Legs" ...

Must be too much cranberry sauce...

[AP]

18. It just proves that the only way to beat Bush is to run someone MORE

likeable.

Nobody's gonna beat Bush by saying he's bad, even though he's very bad. Remember when Gore walked up to him on stage at that debate. Bush ended up coming off really well. He made a joke about it. Gore came across as an ass.

It takes so little for Bush to come across as personable and nice.

And he's able to turn attacks on him as reflecting poorly on the attacker.

I swear, the only way to beat him is to run someon MORE personable, who seems MORE decent, and who seems nicer to hang out with.

If Bush is going to go out and serve soup to soldiers in Iraq, then the Democratic nominee better go out and... (actually, I'm not going to give this advice out for free...if any of the campaigns are reading this, feel free to PM me and I'll tell you where to send the check).

[maggrwaggr]

19. what's so courageous about sneaking, in the dark, into

an airport hangar, saying a few scripted words to a bunch of hand-picked fresh soldiers, then running away before anybody knows you're there.

I don't see how anyone can call this "courageous".

I think most people will see this as the stunt that it is.

[AP]

20. It makes it look like he took a personal risk just to spend some time with

the troops.

[Pastiche423]

23. It had to be in the dark

Look what happened when he did it in broad daylight.

Rove learned a lesson?

[nofurylike]

22. humbly i offer

i saw it too, bobd.

same.

sending you the calm another, and those on your thread here, just sent to me. it is what we have to do now.

keep on


thanks all!

peace

[girl gone mad]

25. I don't think it will matter in the end.

Yes, he had to do something or risk llooking more callous enjoying a Thanksgiving feast while the soldiers are eating MRIs away from their loved ones and meanwhile Hilary was giving up her Thanksgiving.

But, come on, how much of a difference will this 2 1/2 hour tour make in people's minds? It looked too much like a publicity stunt. I would have thought he would seek to draw attention away from Iraq.

[fizzana]

26. It will all depend on what happens next in Iraq

Right now Iraq could go either way. The resistance might run out of steam as the U.S. clamps down or it could get worse as more and more Iraqi's become thoroughly disillusioned with the U.S.'s efforts.

Considering how they've bungled virtually everything since except for the initial invasion, chances are they will screw up a lot more.

If that happens his little trip will be forgotten. After his 'Mission Accomplished' stunt I thought it was all over.

A lot can happen in a year.

[pink_poodle]

28. It looks like they were trying "make good" after the England disaster.....

last week. However, it is being seen as a PR stunt. Believe me. Those who are fooled, are fools anyway and always have been. Others like us who wised up ages ago.....well, it just looks like they are desperate.......

[scarface2004]

31. makes me..

want to not vote for him more than ever...just a stupid stunt..and those soldiers must be morons!! what the hell are they cheering about..getting to kill some more poor iraqis!!

[AndyTiedye]

34. I Couldn't Want to Not Vote For Him Any More Than I Do...

...but we'll all end up voting for him like it or not
unless we can do something about the Diebold Republican Electing Machinez.

[incapsulated]

32. I don't understand...

all the hysteria and hair-pulling over this little stunt.

It will be forgotten in a week, or when the next dozen soldiers are killed over there. His little visit isn't changing the mess that is this occupation, nobody is coming home because of it, and that's the only "news" Americans want to hear about Iraq. It means nothing but a few days of a good photo-op on CNN.

Calm down.

[cliss]

35. Bobd, don't worry!

Remember 'Mission Accomplished'? There was an 'orgasmic' event if I ever saw one. And remember what ultimately happened to that expensive "frosting"? He's the man of the hour, with thousands of troops there to cheer him on as he proclaims (prematurely) that our job in Iraq is now finished.

That was a huge blow for him. They were going to use that one as his most effective re-election campaign photo-op until it turned on him. It ultimately returned to haunt him, a mere 3 weeks ago, as he was caught in his most blatant lie yet. He refused to take any responsibility for it, and instead was made to look like a fool. I saw a photo of him right before he 'fled' to Crawford to hide over the weekend, and he looked wasted.

There are so many forces in this world, just waiting for the chance to nail this guy. Don't worry. Sure, he can look good for the moment. But don't forget, and he certainly doesn't for even a second; having the majority of 6 billion people on this earth against you is quite an accomplishment.

[RummyTheDummy]

36. Look on the bright side.....

He could have done it next November.

[Name removed]

37. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[proud patriot]

38. You got to have faith

I believe Citizens will not buy this B.S. political
pr stunt. I mean come 2.whatever hours on the ground .

I just don't Believe Americans will fall for it .

[jobendorfer]

39. what worries me more is the blowback in Iraq over this

I'm afraid a lot of Iraqis will see Bush crowing and
posturing at the Baghdad airport, and see it as a taunt:
I can go to Saddam Hussein airport, but Saddam Hussein
can't. While Bush is sleeping in safety at the white
house, it'll be our kids dodging the car bombs, rocket-
propelled grenades, and mortar fire this stunt provokes.

To say nothing of the risks of President flying into a
wildly unstable war zone.(*)

J.

(*)OK, Roosevelt did it twice, but that was for meetings with
Churchill and Stalin on the war strategy, not an in-and-out
photo op.

[joanski01]

40. bush* wouldn't know what

to do at a war strategy meeting. All he is there for is to get his picture taken and raise money. This was a stupid stunt and a waste of taxpayer money.

[NicRic]

41. Who got rto be one of the lucky 600 ?

Iam not sure of the exact amount of inlisted men and women we have over there ? Iam sure its in the hundreds of thousands, Iam curious who decided which 600 inlisted recieved the honor of attending this obvious publicity stunt ? He will visit them when they are still alive ,but showing respect for the fallen ,by being at the air force base to honor even one of the fallen,would have made a much bigger impression on me .Can I turn on one T.V. station on without having to see this propaganda stunt being touted as a great and brave visit! Iam so disgusted as this white house bends and twist public opinion at will with the help of the corperate media. Excuse me while I go throw up !!!

[Minstrel Boy]

42. This will be the enduring image of Bush in Baghdad:

[kcordell]

43. No It's Not

America is not a "shit hole of a country."

[TahitiNut]

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[BootinUp]

45. What I do when * depresses me

I love to watch the so-called Smackdown video where Clark pounces on the fox news talking head for questioning his patriotism. It just fires me up when Clark says "I am not afraid to say what's right and what's wrong with this country..."

This is going to be a tough fight...Rove is a brilliant political tactician and uses whatever dirty tricks he can to win, but I am confident when more people are introduced to Clark through ads and other coverage that they will see he is the real thing. He is the anti-Shrub.

There will always be people who continue to support Bush no matter what happens, but the polls show his support is weakening, we just need to have the best candidate go head to head with him and I think the tide will turn! Hang in there.