How much will the administration be hurt by the torture episode?

[coloradodem2005]

Well, they take pot shots at Kerry and then another round of scandals bombards this administration. The way things have been going, Kerry may not need to sink the administration because they seem to be sinking themselves.


On another note, how can they have the audacity to attack Kerry's war record when Bush got his dad to send him to the national guard and Cheney got a lot of deferments? How can they attack Kerry for voting down the $87 billion when Bush cut their combat pay, cut their health benefits and didn't provide the soldiers with adequate protection to begin with? Bush has reached a level of hypocricy unmatched by anybody.

[Eric J in MN]

1. this hasn't affected Bush's poll numbers (nt)

nt

[skooooo]

4. actually I think it has..

...doesn't the new gallup poll show some downward slides for Bush?

[Donkeyboy75]

2. As long as they find a scapegoat and offer a few

insincere apologies, the * admin will be fine. And that's what's going to happen.

:mad:

[Gildor Inglorion]

3. Not much...

the idiots who have always supported the chimp will continue to do so. It's HARD to defeat an incumbent president (even an unelected one). Kerry is in grave danger of becoming Bob Dole: a war hero who ran a good campaign, but......

[skooooo]

6. pshaw!

Bush is out! Kerry is no "Bob Dole", and you are writing him off much too early, to the point of being ridiculous!

[SlavesandBulldozers]

9. I agree with Gildor

not much at all. If these people were going to awaken, they would have already done so. They are asleep and don't wish to be woken up under any circumstances, nor will they.

[TexasMexican]

5. alot

[skooooo]

7. I think so too -- this has been a "stunner".

I don't think it's even sunk in like it will over the next few weeks.

[PATRICK]

8. Raw fear

judging from Bush's belated apology. If Bush can only appeal to people with their heads in the sand then he doesn't need to spend a nickel to win. He had better save it for his legal defense.

Still, America, the glorious free press that is the model of the world is still so completely out of touch with the WORLD, is incredibly out of step. I hope it is only a temporary lag and the brakes applied by the subservient court media are giving out.

[Martin Eden]

10. It's going to hurt our troops

a lot more than it's going to hurt Bush.

Anti-American rage was bad already, but this will paint a bigger target on the back of every American who comes within range of the legions of terrorists being recruited by Bush's folly.

The deteriorating situation in Iraq may hurt Bush's chances for a 2nd term, but there are plenty of bozos to vote for Bush no matter how many flag-draped coffins come home.

[Kazak]

12. Not to mention...

I wouldn't be that surprised if we faced stateside retribution for this one, would you?

:scared:

[Martin Eden]

20. No doubt they want to strike stateside

The typical response to this is that they have always wanted to attack Americans where they live. But what must be understood is that the larger the terrorist network becomes and the more support it has, the more likely such an attack will succeed.

What has to be dispelled is the notion that the "war on terror" can be won by sending our troops to invade and occupy Islamic countries. This is a losing strategy because it results in more enemies who cannot be defeated by sending in troops and gunships.

[rwheeler31]

16. Who are the so called Bush voters?

Is it all about money?

[Martin Eden]

21. If it was all about the money

Bush would lose in a landslide.

There aren't enough millionaire votes in this country to swing a national election, so Rove & Co. rely on persuading the God-fearing masses that Bush represents their values and interests.

The vast majority of these people don't realize they're voting against their own economic interests, and that Bush's war in the long run will make us all less safe, less prosperous, and more divided than ever as a nation.

[beyurslf]

11. We're fooling ourselves if we think this or any scandal will

make the election a cake walk.

I live in the middle of republican-ville (Kansas) and people at work still defend Bush. They would vote for him if we had video of him torturing Iraqis.

Our best bet to win is getting out vote out in higher numbers than theirs. I think most people already have decided who they will vote for. I don't trust anyone who is swayed from week to week. I would rather find people who say I like Kerry or I hate Bush and then make sure they vote.

[coloradodem2005]

15. Sadly, you are right.

We can win and this cannot be good for Bush at all. But we will still have to fight for our future here.

[WFF]

13. The aspect of this that may hurt Bush is

that he knew about this several months ago but tried to hide it. The Red Cross was telling us about it, but if the pictures hadn't come out, nobody would have known about it. Bush even said that he didn't know anything about it until he saw the photos in the news (wait, I thought he didn't read or watch the news!). If we make a big deal about him lying about when he knew about it and trying to cover it up, that could have some legs.

[Oddman]

14. It doesn't matter

What matters is that the Democrats get off their lazy asses and vote this election!!!! Fer Christ sakes we had a 50% turn out last election. Forget the undecided, get the DEMOCRATS to vote!!!! Geez . . .

[natrat]

17. it may not matter

as the election process really seems to be rigged this time (i will vote)

[FDRrocks]

18. From what I gather from the Reich Wing radio around here

Many of the hard line Bush supporters love the torture. "They all want to kill us anyway". The same people that want to start a race war and all you know.

I would guess this wouldn't affect the average moderate, as Bush is distancing himself far from this. And truthfully the only culpability he has in it is that he started the war, which the moderates have already adjusted to and the polls, I would guess, pretty much reflect.

[Blue_Roses]

19. It's the swing voters that

matter when votes come in...and they are not impressed at all by the latest polls coming out