Strategy for beating Bush

[jeter]

I don't think we should rely too much on this Africa story since the scandal is so much bigger than one line in a state-of-the-union address. It's about Bush blatanly lying to get us into war and there are many different stories we can use against him. This Niger story seems to have been absorbed by the American people. Now we should go after Bush on the Saddam/Al Quada "alleged" connection. Then we should go after Cheney's energy commission, etc. A new issue every week, until by the end of this year - or summer - everyone thinks Bush is a lying scum.

We should start a page marking all the different lies told by this administration (especially about the war in Iraq).

Contribute.

[caribmon]

1. He speaks for himself

A free, peaceful Zimbabwe has got the capacity to deliver a lot of goods and services which are needed on this continent in order to help aleve suffering.
-- Confusing "alleviate" with "Aleve" brand pain reliever, Pretoria, South Africa, Jul. 9, 2003

I'm not -- not any intention of second-guessing his tactics. We share the same outcome.
-- On South African President Thabo Mbeki, with whom Dubya apparently shares an outcome (?), Pretoria, South Africa, Jul. 9, 2003

There's no doubt in my mind that when it's all said and done the facts will show the world the truth. There's going to be, you know, a lot of attempts to try to rewrite history, and I can understand that. But I'm absolutely confident in the decision I made.
-- Dubya trying to deflect criticism about the lack of WMD in Iraq, and the veracity of information he and his administration presented as fact in the build up to war, Pretoria, South Africa, Jul. 9, 2003

REPORTER: Do you still believe they were trying to buy nuclear materials in Africa?
DUBYA: Right now?
REPORTER: No, were they? The statement you made --
DUBYA: One thing is for certain, he's not trying to buy anything right now.
-- A typically smarmy response to a serious question (note the subtle shift from "they" to "he"), which he used to avoid acknowledging the fact that Iraq wasn't trying to buy nuclear materials in Africa at any time in recent history (although Dubya cited the alleged nuclear shopping spree as a justification for war in his State of the Union address), Pretoria, South Africa, Jul. 9, 2003

We've made that commitment. I've said it clearly more than one time. Like yesterday in Senegal, for example. So nothing has changed from about 12 hours ago on that question.
-- So, apparently Dubya will only field a question once, and after that, he'll be irritated from having to go back and repeat himself, even if he's in a different country answering questions from a different reporter, Pretoria, South Africa, Jul. 9, 2003

I had the opportunity to go out to Goree Island and talk about what slavery meant to America. It's very interesting when you think about it, the slaves who left here to go to America, because of their steadfast and their religion and their belief in freedom, helped change America. America is what it is today because of what went on in the past.
-- I know he's trying to be profound or something here, but he's considerably more "something" than profound (slavery is "interesting" and people have "steadfast"), Dakar, Senegal, Jul. 8, 2003

It is -- it seems like to me a fantastic opportunity for the country to make sure that the desires of this country are met, and that is every child become a good reader.
-- On education, Landover, Maryland, Jul. 7, 2003

I don't know if the people in the State of Maryland know this, I know the Governor does -- the teachers here and the program here uses a strategy, what they call a Center for Improving Readiness for Children, Learning and Education, C.I.R.C.L.E., which is a model program.
-- I don't know if Dubya knows this, but C.I.R.C.L.E. stands for "Center for Improving Readiness of Children for Learning and Education", Landover, Maryland, Jul. 7, 2003

Now, there are governors around the state and the country that that have said, look, give us the flexibility to be able to dovetail the Head Start program into our preschool programs so that all students -- so we have a better control over whether or not the students are given the skills necessary so that when hold us to account we can achieve that which we want to achieve, which is excellence in the classroom.
-- On education, Landover, Maryland, Jul. 7, 2003

I appreciate the desire for flexibility, I support the governor's desire for flexibility so long as, one, federal monies going to the states are used only for Head Start. In other words, what we really don't want to do is say we're going to focus on Head Start, the Head Start money goes for, you know, the prison complex -- I know that won't happen with Governor Ehrlich, but there needs to be a guarantee that the federal money spent on Head Start, only go to Head Start. Secondly, states and local governments must put money into the program, which would lock in the Head Start money for Head Start. So, the flexibility given to the State would not allow the state's budget flexibility. Governors ought to have that flexibility to hope that Congress will provide that flexibility so that when the accountability systems kick in, fully kick in, that a governor can truthfully say, well, I've had the tools necessary to make sure the Head Start program fits into an overall comprehensive plan for literacy and math for every child in the state of Maryland, in Governor Ehrlich's case.
-- Making a crystal-clear case for his new Head Start funding initiative, Landover, Maryland, Jul. 7, 2003

And the research -- I see some of my friends from the National Research Council, the National Institutions of Child Health who are here.
-- Dubya's "friends" are from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Landover, Maryland, Jul. 7, 2003

And then we'll be going to Goree Island, where I'll be giving a speech about race, race in the world, race as it relates to Africa and America. And we're in the process of writing it. I can't give you any highlights of the speech yet because I, frankly, haven't seen it.
-- Dubya demonstrating his level of policy involvement when it comes to worldwide race relations, Washington, D.C., Jul. 3, 2003

I'll be carrying a message to the African people that, first, America cares about the future of Africa. It's in our national interests that Africa become a prosperous place. It's in our interest that people will continue to fight terror together. It's in our interest that when we find suffering, we deal with it.
-- Looks like Dubya will win the hearts and minds of Africans with his unambiguous message of: "America wants to help you because it serves our purposes", Washington, D.C., Jul. 3, 2003

He is a leader, he is one of the leaders of -- every time we meet at, like, the G8, President Wad is one of the representatives of the African nations, because he believes in the principles of NEPAD and he is a good fellow.
-- Well said, Dubya, Washington, D.C., Jul. 3, 2003

And, anyway, no, listen, let me speak specifically to Nigeria. I have got good relations with President Obasanjo. Every time we have visited it has been a very cordial, up-front way.
-- Washington, D.C., Jul. 3, 2003

When you think about the continent of Africa, you think about leadership, you think about President Mbeki. He's taking strong positions along with President Obasanjo, and providing troops -- the South African.
-- By adding "the South African", Dubya is presumably clarifying which country's president has committed troops. In this context, Dubya would be "the American". Washington, D.C., Jul. 3, 2003

[Iverson]

2. good start

You are correct not to rely on the Africa story alone. Too few people give a damn about Africa, and in any case the strategy must be multi-part.

Maybe the single most important piece of a strategy will be to resist a stance of accomodation. Democrats simply will not win by saying "me too" to ruthlessness.

Also, securing the integrity of the process will be crucial. Republicans have already gotten away with electoral fraud in 2000. Good strategies do not overcome fraud. If this can't be done, then the minimal alternative would be to bring the issue to the fore. Quietly peeping about and hoping they won't do it again (on the premise that discussing democracy will alienate voting soccer moms) is simply wishful thinking.

So to summarize: actual opposition and actual democracy are minimum necessary conditions.