A Tale of Two Speeches | Bush in NJ, Kerry in FL

[nostamj]

A Tale of Two Speeches | Bush in NJ, Kerry in FL

It was the best of crowds, it was the worst of crowds, it was a message of aspirations, it was a message of fears, it was an occasion of light, it was an occasion of darkness...

I was able to watch most of the two major speeches today.

GWB in New Jersey gave what was billed as a 'major policy address' on the "War On Terror." It was the ugliest political event I've ever seen. Of course, no new ideas on fighting 'terror' were expressed. It was the same stump speech we've heard dozens of times before. A message of relentless fear and promises of further aggression. Revenge. The specter of 9/11 was exploited relentlessly. The message was clear: Fear Kerry. Trust me.

The cameras, once again, did not show the audience. Bush has changed his tactics in one major way. He no longer delivers lines expected to bring derisive laughter from him loyalty oath crowds. Now, he goes for boos. And frighteningly Nazi-esque chants and cheers. The anger was palpable. Bush was pleased and empowered by the virulent hatred he drew from the crowd.

It seems, to me, that Bush no longer believes that enough people will vote FOR him. He message now is to demonize Kerry so that enough will vote AGAINST him. "You're either with me, or you're against fighting terror. You're either with me or you want another 9/11 attack.

The message was clear: Fear Kerry. Trust me. But, most important, Fear Kerry.

In the Florida sun, John Kerry gave a speech filled with hope and specifics. Certainly, he criticized the policies of the Bush administration and the performance of the President. But the responses he received were warm and hopeful. Bush was never booed. And, unlike Bush, when Kerry had a criticism, he also had a new policy. A new plan. A forward-looking message. He let the spotlight pass over the failures of the Bush administration, but never lingered there.

While Bush desperately clung to the imagery and horror of 9/11, Kerry looked forward and told his audience where he wanted to take the country.

While Bush snarled and shouted through an all-too familiar litany of lies and distortion with only a new level of mean-spiritedness, Kerry laid out a vision for a new direction for everything from real health care to a real strategy for fighting terrorism.

Bush, blinded by arrogance (and ignorance?) exhorted his hand-picked crowd (assuming it wasn't just a 'hate track') to allow him to continue with more of the same failed policies. (As if another 1,000 US deaths or another 10,000 Iraqi deaths will finally avenge 9/11 to his satisfaction.)

Kerry said: Enough.

I agree with Kerry. (And, Bush followers scare me.)

[rocktivity]

1. The Bush campaign created a monster, all right

But it wasn't Scary Kerry.

:headbang:
rocknation

[nostamj]

4. i really think there's a REASON

we haven't seen the * audience for the last two "major" speeches....

ugly and hateful. how many is THAT going to 'swing'

[Lilli]

2. Nicely said!

Hope you caught Gore today too. He was wonderful.

[nostamj]

3. thanks and yes, I did catch Gore

but, it didn't fit into the compare/contrast thing I was going for with this post.

he was excellent and if anyone reading this missed it, catch it on c-span late tonight or from the archive!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Quite eloquent

I nominated it for the home page.

[nostamj]

6. wow. thanks...

but I don't think it's going to last very long.

glad somebody (well a few) appreciated the effort... <sigh>

[RevCheesehead]

36. me, too. Very well written!

[zbdent]

7. Thought of a new caption for your "Et tu, barney?" pic

"Gee, Ann, you do it almost as well as Fox News, . . ."

[nostamj]

9. thanks BUT...

the image of Barney pissing on *'s leg doesn't DISGUST me as much as the image of Man Coulter going down on....

uh, er..... OMG... :puke:

[rocktivity]

46. I once complained to a web site

That their message board server went down more often than Ann Coulter at a Republican fundrasing event!

:headbang:
rocknation

[nostamj]

47. LOL

thanks for the early AM smile! :hi:

[nostamj]

8. damn...

this place is too busy. if only I'd used the subject line:

Gallup Poll Says Mary Cheney Is Behind Kerry Lawn Sign Thefts!

[cthrumatrix]

10. that pretty much sums up the campaign...awol has shit to run on

[nostamj]

11. hate, fear and ignorance....

all he EVER had to 'run' on...

[Supersedeas]

31. hate fear ignorance arrogance and unaccountability

[nostamj]

32. yes, but...

they aren't RUNNING on the unaccountability thing.....

[nostamj]

12. well...

maybe i'll repost in GD...

[nostamj]

13. .

[Doohickie]

14. I like your contrast

...between light and dark. An older guy from my church, also a Democrat, was admiring the back of my car-- Kerry-Edwards, Texas Democrat, etc. He asked why I didn't say anything bad about Bush on the back of my car. I told him that this election is about the light, not the darkness. He told me he liked the way I thought.

HOPE IS ON THE WAY!

Tally ho!

[nostamj]

64. sorry I missed you last night. great little story

and GREAT attitude too. (I can't always be quite that generous!)

[KittyWampus]

15. Nominated For Homepage... This Is Stunningly Beautiful

very powerful.

Hope people read it.

[nostamj]

17. omg. thanks to you (and Paul) for your responses

makes me feel a *little* better about the self-serving kick from page three...

there *was* such a difference (light/dark) watching both of these speeches (and the rallies around them) back-to-back.

how dismal (and desperate) must an *incumbant* be to have a message of "vote against him" rather then 'vote for ME'

[KittyWampus]

20. Put Mary Cheney's Name In The Thread Title

you'll get boatloads of posts.

:eyes:

[nostamj]

21. "New Poll Shows Mary Cheney Guilty of Kerry Lawn Sign Thefts"

I tried that!

;-)

thanks...

[BillZBubb]

16. Good summary.

It will be interesting to see which approach prevails on election day.

[nostamj]

22. Kerry is making more and MORE people motivated

to vote FOR him.

i have to believe that hope will trump hate. i just have to.

[jefferson_dem]

18. I totally agree with your analysis. Chimp and his crowd of witch-burners

are downright scary. I was listening to that rant on radio and the tone, the crowd reactions, was wicked beyond belief.

I am truly concerned about how these sick freaks will handle defeat after we win on Nov. 2.

[nostamj]

19. I think we HAVE to be concerned...

that audience was just frightening. referring to Nazi rallies is hardly a stretch if you heard it...

and, I mostly listened as well (can't stand the sight of *) and, as I say, they did NOT show the audience.

but, didn't it SOUND ugly? mean? even, THREATENING?

I'm biased, but, did the Kerry rally sound UGLY?

[Gloria]

23. KICK.....wonderful!

I watched the Kerry rally--what they LET me watch before cutting it off...
No, it wasn't ugly. It was intelligent, caring, and in "reality."

I fear for our country, that so many actually could still follow Bush...What does that say about this country?????

[nostamj]

27. thank you Gloria...

respect your feedback.

and yes, the response of *'s crowd... just chilling. such HATE. I mean, we HATE * here, but we retain *some* sense of humor.

there was NO sense of humor. just HATE. <shiver, really!>

[rog]

24. ...kick...

Thanks for this great post.

I just read the transcript of Bush's speech. VERY frightening vibe from the "audience." And Bush ... no words.

.rog.

[Lerkfish]

26. kick to a great post!

:kick:

:pals:

[nostamj]

30. thanks LF!

it's a swift current! <glug glug>

[nostamj]

29. a belated 'welcome' to DU rog

I can't imagine a transcript conveying the HATE that was expressed by that crowd, that, MOB.

it was ugly. UGLY.

if you get a chance to actually HEAR, even a bit of it, it is very very frightening.

[Robbien]

25. Exactly!

Bush is all darkness and fear. Kerry rallys are full of energy and hope.

You say it much better than I though nostamj. Thanks

[nostamj]

28. ya know... you should be REQUIRED

to watch BOTH speeches before you vote.

esp. anyone with children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, godchildren...

whose future do you want for THEM?

<shudder>

[Lorien]

33. Oh, we booed a few times here in Florida today

but we didn't boo Bush*, we booed his policies. Kerry didn't attack the man, just his actions.

[nostamj]

34. you subj scared me for a minute....

i heard *most* of the Kerry event and was sure i didn't hear ANYTHING like the raw HATRED in the * rally.

heard that Leni R. rose from the dead and decked in CNN cameraman to get the footage actuallly....

[Lorien]

41. There was no hatred at the Kerry rally

everything seemed very good natured (even the boos). It was an extremely positive crowd!

[pfitz59]

35. GOP "Platform of Fear"......

Only thing they have to stand on! WAR! TERROR! FEAR! Sad thing, many are buying it! The Freepers where I work are frothing at the mouth! They want to kill more "ragheads" and "gooks" (and "whiny liberals")! (Go see "Team America: World Police" to get the low down.) Half the nation is turning really, really ugly! The hatred, fear and anger are palpable! No matter who wins the election, the nation will remain divided. We are at a crossroads. Bush* wins, the downhill slide becomes a juggernaut. Kerry wins we all have to work extra hard to put Democracy back on its pedestal.

[Lugnut]

37. I missed Al's speech

But I printed out the transcript to read. I'm hoping to get a chance to watch the video stream tomorrow.

I caught some of GWB's litany of same old, same old. Once again his "major" address was nothing more than his tired schtik. Honestly, nost, I can watch only so much of him before I get a headache. I agree with your assessment of the crowd.

I managed to see a lot of John Kerry's speech this afternoon. He "gets it". He truly understands what is going on out here in reality world. This country needs John Kerry to clean up the mess GWB and his enablers have made of everything they've touched.


Edited for typing errors.

[nostamj]

43. you'll love Gore's speech

and special bonus, no flipping the page every other sentence! did the entire, long, detailed address w/o a note.

b/c have to have notes to get past 'good morning' without stepping on their tongues. i mean, we KNOW they're scripted, but... they need to READ the script?

lame!

[Philostopher]

38. FUD.

Fear Uncertainty Death.

It's been the GOP's mantra, one way or another, since the Reagan years. You'll never convince me they really thought the USSR was as big a threat as their military budgets indicated. No f*cking way. They knew everything in the USSR was ready to fall in on itself. They knew there was no 'red menace' -- and it's been the same ever since. The menace they invoked in people's minds and hearts was all they really needed. There didn't need to be a real menace behind the Iron Curtain (whether there was or not); all there really had to be was fear in us.

Republicans thrive on a fearing populace. So do all totalitarians.

Thanks for 'going in,' though -- I can't bring myself to watch the Naked Emperor anymore, I couldn't even watch the debates. I might be able to bring myself to watch the asshole make a concession speech, but if it happens it'll be the last time I want to see his creepy face, or hear his fake populist bullshit and his fake southwestern accent. I've known people who had that accent for real, he doesn't even deserve to use it.

[kimchi]

39. Awesome post, Nostamj!

I was looking for a link and a byline!

Bush followers scare me too. I want to hear this for myself. Especially since Koch on the DS said "See, it's the liberals that boo!" (paraphrased) So I'm wondering if it isn't just a "pre-emptive attack" on the booing meme, or at least a hint that those in the know are aware of it. Maybe Koch is completely on the Dark Side now, secret handshake and everything!

[nostamj]

42. if you can stand listening to cable news...

they've been playing clips of it, BOOS and all...

as for Koch, he's a sad old man. made all the more SAD for his repuke pandering now. he did some horrid 'play nice with the repubs' TV ads before the convention too. yuk.

[crispini]

40. Yay, very good post!

thanks!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

44. This was really, really good.

Thanks!

[nostamj]

45. thank you!

for helping keeping it alive on this very busy board!

it was sent to buzzflash too... we'll see...

[IdaBriggs]

48. Well said. nt

[nostamj]

49. thanks Ida!

much appreciated! respect your opinion...

[IdaBriggs]

66. One of the nicest compliments I've ever received!

Thank you! (Did I mention I nominated you for the home page?) :) Best, Ida

[nostamj]

67. did you notice that there were NO posting to the DU Blog

today??

thanks for the nom. actually, I got quite a few but... the Admins ar AWOL today....

[Tansy_Gold]

50. Excellent essay -- and a kick from Phoenix

Glad, too, to see in one of your posts a reference to Leni Riefenstahl. For over four years, I've offered comparisons (and few contrasts) between the booshies and the NSDAP as a political instrument.

I rarely watch tv at all. Last night, however, I wanted to catch The Daily Show, then did some channel surfing while working on a project that didn't demand mental focus. I ended up watching most of Gore's speech on C-SPAN before heading for bed. It was only this morning that I recalled a phrase I had heard last night, which I am pretty certain came from Gore's speech -- but it could also have slipped out of Jon Stewart, too!

In something he said, he used the phrase "will to power," spoken slowly and with emphasis: he wanted the audience to take note. I don't know that much about either Neitzsche or Riefenstahl, but I strongly suspect there is a clear and present link between "Will to Power" and "Triumph of the Will."

You do good work, sir. :thumbsup:


Tansy Gold, tipping her hat (even if it is made of Reynolds Wrap!)

[nostamj]

51. the transcript for Gore's speech is posted somewhere

so you could check on the context of that quote. I *vaguely* remember it too. but, was more focused on the */Kerry stuff.

and, THANKS T_G for the feedback and :thumbsup:

this was one of those things that just poured out and I've had some really nice responses from DUers I greatly respect...

[Sideways]

53. My 3 Year Old Said "Bush is an idiot man and MEAN......"

She thought he looked like a hungry dog when we saw him on TV yesterday. Out of the mouths of babes. Hey nostamj you bring up a point and one that I have been wondering about for the past few weeks...Does the Dauphin Dork even speak live anymore? You mentioned a "hate track" and in some of the pictures I've seen recently Bush looks like hes been photshopped into the scene. Thanks for a great analysis.

[nostamj]

58. "out of the mouths of babes" INDEED!

funny, and funny/sad. yo george! you're scaring the CHILDREN!

about the 'speaking live' thing. dunno. just thought it VERY odd that no crowd shots were shown in the last two 'major policy speeches' VERY ODD.

maybe they're afraid to show the guns and applause/boo signs???

[skygazer]

52. Very nicely stated

The Bush rallies are getting more and more disturbing. The other day, i copied the 14 Defining Characteristics of Fascism - extremely upsetting and the Bush rallies fit right into them.

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

Those are just the few that immediately leap to mind when watching him rally the hate filled masses.

[nostamj]

54. I didn't really see the IMAGERY until this morning...

as I was mostly just listening during the 'speech'

that was one GRIM and SCARY eagle graphic they were using...

totally agree with your observations! I've been saying all they've got is HATE, FEAR and IGNORANCE for a long time.

and, sadly, a Kerry win will NOT instantly remove this cancer from our society....

[Tansy_Gold]

62. "The March of Folly" is another bit of interesting/depressing

reading these days. I had originally read it before my politically aware days -- it was historical research, not political, that I was interested in -- so I picked it up a couple nights ago when I couldn't get to sleep and ended up even more unable to get to sleep!

p. 3-4 --

"To qualify as folly for this inquiry, the policy adopted must meet three criteria: it must have been perceived as counter-productive in its own time, not merely by hindsight. This is important, because all policy is determined by the mores of its age. 'Nothing is more unfair,' as an English historian has well said, 'than to judge men of the past by the ideas of the present. Whatever may be said of morality, political wisdom is certainly ambulatory.' To avoid judging by present-day values, we must take the opinion of the time and investigate only those episodes whose injury to self interest was recognized by contemporaries.

"Secondly a feasible alternative course of action must have been available. To remove the problem from personality, a third criterion must be that the policy in question should be that of a group, not an individual ruler, and should persist beyond any one political lifetime. Misgovernment by a single sovereign or tyrant is too frequent and too individual to be worth a generalized inquiry. Collective government or a succession of rulers in the same office, as in the case of the Renaissance popes, raises a more significant problem."

p. 7 --

"Wooden-headedness, the source of self-deception, is a factor that plays a remarkably large role in government. It consists in assessing a situation in terms of preconceived fixed notions while ignoring or rejecting any contrary signs. It is acting according to wish while not allowing oneself to be deflected by the facts. It is epitomized in a historian's statement about Philip II of Spain, the surpassing wooden-head of all soveriengs: 'No experience of failure of his policy could shake his belief in its essential excellence.'"

Author Barbara Tuchman died in 1989. I'm sure if she had the chance to update "The March of Folly: from Troy to Vietnam," she would replace Philip II with George II.

[nostamj]

63. "Wooden-headedness" how true

as for "Folly" well, this is 'Fatal Folly' and so sad...

this line could be about the boyking (and sounds EXACTLY like what Gore was speaking about yesterday:

'No experience of failure of his policy could shake his belief in its essential excellence.'


sounds like an interesting read though.

[gulfcoastliberal]

55. He's at it again!

CNN just showed some snarls and boos.

[nostamj]

61. i ain't listening to him again, period.

suffered through all three debates and the hate-fest yesterday.

the only thing I want to hear from him now is his concession speech!

[SammyWinstonJack]

56. Very well said!

I have to believe that most Americans can see the contrast you so eloquently have written of. It is so obvious, light and dark. If bush* could defend even a little of his policies, he wouldn't need to be so hateful, he wouldn't need to incite fear to his hand-picked crowds. But of course he can't and I think more and more Americans will begin to see through his messages of hate and fear, if they don't already. :-)

[nostamj]

59. that's the stunning thing

for an incumbent to have NOTHING, NOTHING but hate and fear to run on.

how any thinking person, especially if they're parents, grandparents etc. can look at the record of this man and honestly say:

"Yes, I want four more years of this!"

it boggles the mind.

[K8-EEE]

57. Same With The Sign-Stealing, The Vote Shredding

I even saw a guy on FR call the riping up of Dem voter registration in NV "civil disobedience." They will do anything...ANTHING....they are Nazis.

[nostamj]

60. desperation, pure and simple

and I'm SO sure that freeper would say the same thing if it was repuke registrations that were being torn up...

they look at their 'leader' and see nothing, so they just attack. they don't really want to vote for *, just against LIBERALS now...

you've noticed that the new * ads are all "Kerry and the LIBERALS in congress"

we have them scared. they should be!

[nostamj]

65. thanks for all the great feedback on this little piece

it really raised my spirits on a very down day. :loveya:

[nostamj]

68. homepage! thanks for the nominations!

great way to start the morning!! :bounce:

[vetwife]

69. Insanity versus sanity ! What a great post !

We had Old dick the Snarl crying about Nukes in the county as well.
Do they really think they can scare sane people that this bunch is speaking truth in any fashion? Kerry brings hope to a troubled land and Bush brings us a Troubled land ! Great post Jeff ! Worded beautifully !

[nostamj]

70. thanks amanda!

sometimes it just comes together...

Kerry brings hope to a troubled land and Bush brings us a Troubled land !

great line!

[shivaji]

71. Who is writing Bush*'s speeches? Goebbels?

[tomfodw]

72. Meanwhile, hacks like David Brooks & William Safire call Kerry...

...the mindless attack-dog trying to scare people.

[nostamj]

73. ya know.... I saw just the TITLE of safile's column

and couldn't even think about reading it.

while they ARE shameless, they have been enabled by a 'media' that never challenged their lies.

they've gotten away with SO much, they don't even think about it anymore.

if you're going to tell a lie... FUCK... tell 20 lies, tell 50 lies and while they're fact-checking... tell MORE lies.

and when they expose A lie... LIE about the lie and tell 20 more lies....

this is super-sized nasty politics.

[IceOwl]

74. TWO MINUTES HATE!

... will now commence.

[nostamj]

75. ???

whatever....