Bush Campaign Manager Warns of Drop

[DrFunkenstein]

NEW YORK - President Bush's solid poll ratings will drop, his re-election campaign manager says, warning Republican activists against complacency in the 2004 race.

"These numbers will come down. We must prepare for an election every bit as close as the 2000 election," Ken Mehlman said in remarks prepared for delivery Saturday to Republican National Committee members.

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Mehlman's speech closed out a four-day RNC meeting punctuated by worries that Bush's political stature has been hurt by the ailing economy, the death toll of U.S. troops in Iraq and questions about the administration's use of shaky intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq.

"Some criticize this war on terror as unilateral or pre-emptive. But didn't September 11 teach us that we cannot wait while threats gather? That we must connect the dots, even if other nations refuse to see the pattern? That pre-empting terrorists before they acquire weapons of mass destruction, before they come to our shores, before they can harm America is the goal?" Mehlman said.

The bulk of his address was devoted to his argument that 2004 is destined to be a close election. The Bush campaign repeatedly makes this point, both to energize GOP activists and to minimize political fallout if his job approval rating declines.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&e=2&u=/ap/republicans

[rapier]

1. not to worry

It might be close if they don't manage to successfullly slime or just kill the candidate if he looks strong, but not to worry. They have the voting machines locked up.

[diplomats]

2. They already HAVE dropped

unless he means they're going to drop more. Notice, his ratings are "solid" now, not "strong." For him to admit the election is going to be close is saying a lot. Wasn't it only a month ago people were claiming 2004 was going to be like 1972 with McGovern? BTW, his admission that the election is going to be competitive is a double-edged sword - it's designed to energize the GOP base but it also should serve to excite Dems because it means we have a real chance!

[diplomats]

3. I just noticed the campaign manager

said the war was to prevent Saddam from developing WMDs, conveniently ignoring the rationale for attacking Iraq is they already HAD WMDS.

[DrFunkenstein]

5. It Also Seems That They Are Going To Set Up France

As an opponent, and try to align them with our candidates. I.e. - France didn't see the need for pre-emption. Neither did (blank). Therefore (blank) = France = surrender cheese.

[Lady Freedom]

8. Let us remeber...

Bush does not care about the diffrents be cause he is a BMD
(Bush of Mass Destruction)

[DrFunkenstein]

4. I Just Hope Hillary Doesn't Change Her Mind!

I got enough problems with the 9 1/2 candidates now!

[Lady Freedom]

9. NO NO NO!

Please change your mind Hillary! You can mop the floor with that idiot(Bush)!

[DrFunkenstein]

11. That's What I'm Afraid Of

Let her wait 'til 2008.

[DrFunkenstein]

6. Compare Quotes

Now:

"Some criticize this war on terror as unilateral or pre-emptive. But didn't September 11 teach us that we cannot wait while threats gather? That we must connect the dots, even if other nations refuse to see the pattern? That pre-empting terrorists BEFORE they acquire weapons of mass destruction, before they come to our shores, before they can harm America is the goal?" Mehlman said.

Then:

"We believe (Saddam) has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons." – Vice President Cheney on March 16, 2003 on "Meet the Press."

"We've learned that Iraq has trained al-Qaeda members in bomb-making and poisons and deadly gases ... Alliance with terrorists could allow the Iraqi regime to attack America without leaving any fingerprints." – President Bush, Oct. 7.

"We have seen intelligence over many months that they have chemical and biological weapons, and that they have dispersed them and that they're weaponized and that, in one case at least, the command and control arrangements have been established." – President Bush, Feb. 8, 2003, in a national radio address.

"Our conservative estimate is that Iraq today has a stockpile of between 100 and 500 tons of chemical weapons agent. That is enough to fill 16,000 battlefield rockets." – Secretary of State Colin Powell, Feb. 5 2003, in remarks to the UN Security Council.

"We know where (Iraq's WMDs) are. They're in the area around Tikrit and Baghdad and east, west, south, and north somewhat." – Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, March 30, 2003, in statements to the press.


I just hope the smoking gun doesn't come in the shape of a nuclear mushroom cloud.

[UrbScotty]

7. "We must prepare for an election every bit as close as the 2000 election."

"Every bit as close?" Nah, Dean will win in a landslide!

[Lady Freedom]

10. OH yeah!

He wont know what hit him!!!! :kick: