CNN is doing a "countdown" to June 30th Iraqi transfer. Bush is giving...

[patricia92243]

several speeches before June 30th.

All this will lead to the feeling that June 30th is the end of our participation in Iraq. THE PRESS WILL NO LONGER GIVE IT FULL COVERAGE.

Don't mistake what I'm saying: Sure, there will be short statements on what's happening - death count on back pages of newspapers, TV news barely mentioning them. BUT THE END OF MAJOR COVERAGE.

I've posted this same thing (more or less) and people have responded that no, this can't happen. Don't underestimate the Republicans and their power over the media. I'll be overjoyed if I'm wrong - but unfortunately, I don't think I am. :(

[lil-petunia]

1. Ah yes

A six pack of Bush Lite. What our country really needs. Like an beltway enema, one which purges the inner bowels of the Senate and White House.

I listened to the speech, I've read the transcript, (more clearly than Boy George) and I find that I am hungry. Too little substance, too mcuh prior substance abuse. Of the 5 pooints he made, none had any specificity, except, that no matter how we paint it, our troop be in control, that, and contrary to all facts and figures, the vast mojority of the Iraqi people what us there. Yeah.

[bryant69]

2. It's possible

But with teh campaign going on, I would think they'd have to worry about Kerry asking the obvious questions. Plus they may not be able to keep a reign on the media; if something big happens over there, the desire to have a scoop and to make money at the expense of the competition may cause them to break ranks.

I suspect President Bush is going to use this to deflect debate questions from him to the Iraqi people.

Moderator "President Bush many have criticized your Iraq plan as having been under planned and timed more to fit American political realities other than those on the ground. How do you respond to such complaints?"

President Bush "Well, I just don't understand why people don't have more faith in the Iraqi people. We've turned the government over to them and I can tell you they are governing up a storm. These peopled lived under the thumb of Saddam Hussein with his torture chambers and rape rooms. Today those torture chambers are closed. Those rape rooms have been destroyed. So let's give the Iraqi people the time and the security to rebuild their government."

See how that works? He never has to answer questions about his own abilities (or lack thereof).

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Ripley]

6. Do you write his flash cards?

That was pretty dead on.

As for the media dropping the Iraq story...I get that feeling too, because when the Boy King announced "Mission Accomplished" the coverage went from round the clock to hourly updates.

However, since the death toll has been climbing and abuses are coming out, they're spending more time on it again. They can't help themselves..if there is a lot of death and destruction...they'll have to cover it for the money.

But it also is up to the Democrats (all of them) to do what the Repukes do all the time....blastfax info to media and harp on this one issue. Stay on point and the message gets through.

[beyurslf]

9. Are you an inflitrator? Tell us... you write his speeches don't you?

[jmowreader]

11. Once. Just once.

If a reporter would just one time do this...

President Bush "Well, I just don't understand why people don't have more faith in the Iraqi people. We've turned the government over to them and I can tell you they are governing up a storm. These people lived under the thumb of Saddam Hussein with his torture chambers and rape rooms. Today those torture chambers are closed. Those rape rooms have been destroyed. So let's give the Iraqi people the time and the security to rebuild their government."

Moderator "Well, I just don't understand why you can't answer a fucking question. You do this shit every Goddam time someone asks you a tough question--you give some little speech that has nothing to do with the question you were asked. So let me tell you what happened in Iraq. You decided to hold an unjustified, unnecessary, illegal war because Saddam Hussein was getting ready to accept Euros for his oil. You got 800 brave American soldiers killed because you sent them to a war the fucking last Commandant of the Marine Corps told you not to launch, you sent them with the wrong vehicles and you jobbed out all your combat service support to a private contractor who decided staying alive was more important than fulfilling the contracts it signed. You did tell them that in wars people shoot at you, right? Or you would have if you hadn't been AWOL from the Texas National Guard.

Now listen close, numb-nuts: We have taken your golf clubs from your house. Your wife gave them to us. The American people want to know why you got 800 troops killed by going to war before you had enough soldiers and materiel in theater, and enough support from friendly nations. If you answer any question other than that one, we are going to put your golf clubs on the ground and run over them with a bulldozer. Now talk.

[w4rma]

3. I think ShrubCo put out this "transfer" policy to buy themselves some time

In fact, I think that all they are doing is trying to buy time (at the expense of our soldiers lives, any potential success in Iraq, Iraqis lives and American taxpayer's resources) until the election in America.

I'm not sure they even care about what is going on in Iraq, beyond the election here in America. They sure don't seem to care about what is going on in Afghanistan.

I think their idea of success in Iraq is whether Republicans win in November.

[Ripley]

7. You're right on the "don't care part."

I was shocked to hear the first soldier to die in combat in Afghanistan the other day by an RPG attack was a Marine from my city. He had come home a few months ago after being in Iraq for a year. Then he was deployed to lead a unit in Afghan and died weeks after going back. This was big news here, but I didn't even hear it on TV news.

Afghanistan...the forgotten war.

[Webster Green]

4. Hey CNN!......Count this down!.......

239 days and 3 hours till the chimp is on the Greyhound to Crawford, and CNN media whores can cut away from Kerry's inauguration to cover Kobe, or the King of Pop, or whatever!

[Jacobin]

5. Hadn't thought of that

They might try it. Move the daily killings and bombings to page 6, along with the Israeli/Palestinian stuff.

Just a couple more people killed in the M.E. Nothing to see here. Always has been this way. Too bad. Nothing can be done about it.

Oh wait, who's playing this Saturday <flip to sports page>

[wtmusic]

8. With 130,000 soldiers over there

it's going to be awful hard to ignore

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. And then it'll be 129,998...

129,992
129,990
129,983
etc.

No way does war coverage disappear.