How you bash Bush without bashing Bush

[Plaid Adder]

Based on Monday night, it's easy: you talk about a better alternative, and let everyone at home draw the invidious comparison to what we've got right now.

I mean it's the guy's own fault. His record bashes itself. Carter's speech is a perfect example: "John Kerry showed up." Did he say Bush didn't show up? No, but he doesn't have to. We all know he didn't show up. "America was once a leader in international human rights." Did he say that Bush has racked up the worst human rights record of any American president so far? No, he doesn't have to.

Or take "Strength and wisdom are not opposing values." Did Clinton say Bush hasn't got the wisdom God gave a canteloupe? No, but he doesn't have to, because every damn thing Bush does is sayin' that loud and proud every day God sends.

It must have required some strategy and long-range planning to set this up. This tactic wouldn't have worked without all the time that the candidates spent going to town on Bush in the primaries. Now, they can 'go negative' just by being positive. Bush, on the other hand, is going to have to go negative by going negative, because he doesn't have anything to hold up as a better alternative.

I'm lovin' it,

The Plaid Adder

[imax2268]

1. Well said...

[mstrsplinter326]

2. it def. takes tact to win over people's political opinions

The way things are said is crucial - which is why I prefer text: it can be edited before it's read.

[LTR]

3. I loved the strategy!

I don't recall hearing the word "Bush" once last night.

They said they weren't going to bash Bush, and they turned around and did it in a sly way. It was great!

[samsingh]

4. the truth bashes bush

are they saying we should not speak the truth?

[lovedems]

5. I loved Clinton's remarks

how the republicans NEED a divided country. They NEED to paint the democrats as liberal and out of touch, without values and week! He had multiple one liners that were great, but that one set the stage for what the republicans would do for the next 99 days!

They NEED a divided nation!

[skypilot]

6. "Kerry's not a draft dodging asshole".

Remind you of anyone? I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.:)

[Selwynn]

7. It's not that complicated; its amazing how flamed I got for suggesting

[Paradise]

8. They were GOO-OOD! I'm lovin' it, too! :) n/t

[ElkHunter]

9. David Corn wrote an excellent article about this...

... yesterday in The Nation.

The article can be found at:

http://www.thenation.com/capitalgames/index.mhtml?bid=3&pid=1621

[ewagner]

10. Clinton did a good job

at showing a positive, alternative vision of America. That alone bashes Bush in a very profound way.

Carter also presented competing visions which, in the end, offered us a choice of appealing to our higher angels or appealing to fear.

Well done by all of them I think.

[Aristus]

11. A tactic borrowed from Marcus Antonius by way of Shakespeare.

Brutus told Antony not to inveigh against the assassins of Julius Caesar when addressing the Romans. So Antony didn't. Every time he mentioned the murder, he would turn to Brutus and the conspirators and say, "But Brutus says he (Caesar) was ambitious, and Brutus is an honorable man." By saying that over and over, a classic meme, he got the crowd to understand that he meant the opposite.

[cthrumatrix]

12. the networks are upset they were'nt bashing.... but shoing differences

clever...and they hated it...so they didn't talk about the issues that were raised

[AnnInLa]

13. Jimmy.....a brilliant speech!

I don't know why Carter's speech is not getting very much press this morning? Any ideas?

[Plaid Adder]

14. He got upstaged by Clinton. Otherwise

it would be getting more attention. I thought it was a great speech.

C ya,

The Plaid Adder

[readmylips]

15. Gore, Carter and Clinton....

said the words 'wisdom,' 'wise' and 'unwise.' The public connects the dots...they must be talking about wiseman bush...or wiseguy bush..

The word 'reckless' was used various times. The name bush was mentioned, at least 5 times only.

Little bush and cronies know the democrats have fire-power. If not bush would not be on vacation hiding from the truth. He must be under the bed or shooting at TVs with Saddam's gun. He fel off his trail bike again. What's up georgie...drunk again???

[realFedUp]

16. Pointing out Bush's actions as pResident

is not bashing....just laying out
the facts.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

17. Last night was great, but we need to sustain the intensity

CNN had a real sour grapes comment on Jimmy Carter's speech while they were waiting for Hillary to take the stage. I don't have the exact quote, but this is very close: "They are reacting to his speech as if it came from one of our greatest presidents, and we certainly know that to NOT be the case"...

Well, hell. An 80 year old former president hits the issue dead-center with the precision of a laser surgeon, but all CNN wants to do is "remind" us that he isn't Abraham Lincoln.

Larry King asked Howard Dean three questions in a row that were basically the same question: "Are you disappointed that this isn't all about YOU?" Dean responded NO, King rephrased it twice, and gave up when Dean wouldn't budge.

Also, CNN ran commercials for a special they will be broadcasting in LATE FRIGGING AUGUST on Bush, stuff like "these are the stories you HAVEN'T heard about the man behind the presidency"...hey, how about the stories we HAVE heard. Do a "special" on those...DUI, cocaine abuse, AWOL, Ken Lay, etc etc etc...

RE: MSNBC, I won't even watch Tweety. I've read many of the comments here but I've reached my limit on that grinning whore. I find it easier to watch O'Reilly and Hannity than I do Matthews...and that's sad.

What I got from the convention last night is that the promises of "a united front" and "a focused effort to win the election" are NOT idle bullshit and rhetoric. You're right, the "strategy and long-range planning" were apparent.

[Bandit]

20. Maybe not our greatest president but a Nobel Peace Prize Winner.

He knows a little about Peace and War and foreign relations.

[proud patriot]

18. Yep it's brilliant

:evil grin:

[giant_robot]

19. I was thinking the same thing

as I watched Clinton's speech last night. Perhaps it wasn't "Bush bashing" per se, but either Bush's policies or record were slammed or impugned at every turn.

I do think the comment about Cheney, Bush, and the Big Dog himself avoiding being sent to Viet Nam while Kerry volunteered came pretty close to crossing the line into a "Bush bash", though.

[BurtWorm]

21. Once again, PA, you've expressed my sentiments

exactly. :toast: