Bush is back to talking about sex slavery. What is really going on?

[The Night Owl]

Is there a connection between recent allegations of child rape at Abu Ghraib prison and President Bush's recent remarks about sex slavery?

By highlighting the plight of children forced into prostitution, Bushco risks drawing more attention to Seymour Hersh's allegations of atrocities committed against children at Abu Ghraib. Why would Bushco risk drawing more attention to atrocities committed against children at Abu Ghraib?

I feel as though Bushco is employing some kind of strategy to deal with Seymour Hersh's most recent explosive allegations, but that strategy seems counterintuitive to me.

Any theories as to what is going on here?

[Spinzonner]

1. Presidential Wet Dreams

[aquart]

3. Very likely.

The rumor was he would drive into Mexico for sex with very young Mexican prostitutes.

[stickdog]

2. Well, baseball steroids and the Mars Express never got any traction ...

[TrogL]

4. He's showing his age and upbringing

"sex slavery" is a meme that resonates with older folks. It used to be "white sex slavery" and was a big thing in the South. Dubya is trying to twist this for his own purposes.

[rucky]

5. Neil n/t

[charlyvi]

6. It's called switch the subject and maybe no one will notice.

God, how stupid does he think we are? Not to be dismissive of those who have gone through this, but when did the sex slavery emergency wash across America? Huh? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Maat]

9. What kind of monster could hurt a child?

I was a social worker for seven years, and should know something about it....but you are talking about an out-of-control atmosphere in which violent behavior is the norm.

What kind of leadership did we have over there! These guys have shamed everyone beyond belief! And I heard some colonel told soldiers there at Abu Graib to deny that he was there. Or some general. There are all kinds of rumors.

What kind of group atmosphere was tolerated there? Where was the one person with a conscience who would have stopped cruelty to a child?

[Arianrhod]

12. Precisely.

Every time some major revelation about the atrocities committed by this administration crosses the pages of the media, * tries desperately to change the subject. It worked very well early on, but lately his distractions don't seem to garner much attention--except for the increasing number of papers finally willing to point out that these are, in fact, distractions.

[Melodybe]

7. Innoculation

To me it looks like an innoculation ploy. Bush did not support signing this sex slavery treaty until this year (after the Abu Ghraib stuff started to come to light). Endorsing this gives Bush a way to say "my administration opposes what happened to those children in abu ghraib" and point to support of this treaty as proof, even though it is a distinct issue.

[Cat Atomic]

8. I think it's just more of that patented Rovian stupidity.

It's another bumbling PR move from the "genius" that gave us the Bush amnesty plan and the trip to Mars.

I agree with your suggestion that one subject might segue into the other, and that it's really not a very bright move. But then, these guys aren't very bright.

What's it *designed* to do? Who knows? Maybe Rove thinks it's a way for Bush to appeal to women voters. I really can't decipher what these morons are thinking anymore. They seem to be on another planet.

[Maat]

10. I agree with that.

I guess my point is that he is distracting some from what we should be worried about right now.

[physioex]

14. The Gay Marriage Ammendment would be a prime example..EOM

[Hekate]

11. Pre-emptive display of "compassion"

Or as he pronounces it, "com-pay-shun." If there's any link at all (and, knowing him there usually is) this would be it.

He's compassionate. The perps were just a few bad apples. It was a frat-like prank that got out of hand. Those kids looked older than they were (always a good strategy to blame a young rape victim for looking "old enough"). But Bush himself -- he's compassionate. The American people are good people; good, strong people with compassion. This never happened.

Hekate

[merh]

13. Rove and the admin are losing it. They know that their numbers are

low in Florida, that they could be losing it, so in order to garner the favor of the Floridian voters, he goes there and talks about issues that he has been told are close to their heart.

He doesn't realize how he has set himself up for quite a fall from grace by talking about his issue. Rove is too shaken up by the tailspin of the campaign and the Plame investigation, his judgment is wackier than normal (which is normally pretty damned wacky) and he just wants the weed that would be king to regain his footing in Florida. (imho)

[DeepModem Mom]

15. I've always wondered if it's a rare issue that Bush himself...

brings to the table, and they let him talk about it. Sort of like the State of the Union when he talked about -- was it drugs in sports?

[gatorboy]

16. Sex slavery? Don't let Neil Bush find out! n/t

[Jose Diablo]

17. IMHO it is signaling to Senate and Congress

I think many of the senators and representative got caught-up in shall we say some 'minor indiscretions' in the 90's with Moon sponsored sex rings operated in DC.

This is Bu$h's gentle reminder that the neocons have the goods on many of our representatives and they better behave or some anonymous sources will be contacting the news.

This is the only thing I can think of that would explain BFEE's hold on Congress.

Edit for clairity

[The Night Owl]

22. So, Bush's use of the term "sex slavery" is code for...

Everyone stay the course because I know where the bodies are buried.

I don't know if I buy that, but the theory is interesting.

[Don_G]

18. Pure Distraction

He has no record of accomplishment to run on so he's manufacturing non-issues and running a negative campaign against Kerry.

[tblue37]

19. Perseveration

That's what they call it when someone with certain kinds of learning disabilities gets hold of an idea and can't let go of it, especially when the idea manifests itself in constant verbal repetition.

Shortly after the torture pics first came out, Bush was still prattling on about Saddam's "rape rooms and torture rooms," even though those remarks inevitably drew attention to the Abu Ghraib torture scandal.

I don't think Rove tells him to say these things. I think they are a verbal tic. He can't stop saying them, and in fact probably uses them the way a teenager uses "like" or "uh," as verbal filler when he needs time to figure out what he is going to say next.

His public performances always consist entirely of a few well-worn, carefully memorized, prefab ideas and phrases, and he can't stop using all of the same ones, even when the time has passed when they could be safely used. In fact, it is probably because he to put so much time and effort into memorizing them that he can't stop saying them.

[JNelson6563]

20. Interestingly, all the operatives suffer same

Funny how all right wing operative seem to suffer from this same affliction.

I'll tell you what it is, it's contrived. It's manipulation of the masses. It's bullshit.

Just watch sometime. The minute some shit hits ths fan the operatives fan out, they get on TV, the radio, in the paper, on their computers and in front of large, live crowds and start spouting the exact same talking points. Short sound bytes that are exact duplicates. You see it fed to the "reporters" in "WH statements" so, after the "fair and balanced" live discussion that makes up the news shows, you get another serving of rethug mantra when they give you your news update.

It's all so orchestrated it would be laughable that so many buy into it if it were not so tragic. Needless to say, I disagree with your diagnosis.

Julie

[newyawker99]

21. Hi tblue37!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: