The "Bush Haters" Rhetoric - Positing A Theory

[ProfessorGAC]

Something occurred to me yesterday while driving back from the north suburbs. Just wanted to throw it out and see what others think.

We've all been hearing an obviously concerted effort on the part of the Repubs and the right wing pundits about "Bush Hating". They've never seen such hatred, blah blah blah. We've all heard it, yes?

Well, i think i know why this has become a talking point and political strategy.

Now, you folks know i don't think much of conservatives, since i think they are 2 dimensional thinkers with no concept of future consequences and no regard for them either. But, everyone of them isn't stupid, (some are, of course) but shortsighted.

That being said, it occurs to me that one of the smarter ones has decided that the beginning of the 2004 campaign required turning Bush into a victim. Why?

Well, THEY'VE GOT NOTHING ELSE! Since we never got OBL, Georgie can't be a hero in the war on terrorism. Since Iraq is a "slog" by the admission of their hero, Donnie boy, they've got no leverage on how successful they've been in ridding the world of trouble. Geez, they can't even rid Iraq of the people killing our own soldiers.

They can't run on an ineffective military anymore, because that not only would make them look like poor civilian leaders of that agency, but would remind folks that this is the CLINTON military. Very bad, indeed!

They can't run on the economy. They can't run on tax cuts, because that would open the door for attacks on the deficits and the 13% per year increase in discretionary spending. (5.4 times the average of the 8 Clinton years.) With job losses going up again this week, the nonsense news of last week (3rd quarter growth) has been shown to be false.

Consumer confidence remains at 20 year lows and consumer spending has been flat for 7 quarters.

No prescription drug plan! No enhancements to Medicare! Enormous deficits. Congress fighting about 4 judges, instead of working on any of this other stuff, and Georgie's supposed to be in charge. He can't even run his own party.

So, they've got nothing and they KNOW IT! The only hope is to create sympathy for Georgie. He was dealt a tough hand, and now the left all hates him for trying to do the right thing. (Insert sobs, here!)

So, i've concluded that this concerted effort we've been seeing and hearing is THE political campaign strategy. They've got nothing else and this is their brilliant decision.

Well, i've got another idea for them. Admit you made a mistake, get a real grown up to run in the primaries against wittle Georgie, and let's have a real election with two real candidates. But, of course, that's would be too logical for such shallow thinkers.
The Professor

[linazelle]

1. "Brilliant decision"?

NOT.

I don't see Bush hating as a bad thing as has been said here and in other places by liberals. In fact, it's an invitation to explain why hating Bush is justified.

Just yesterday, a CON said something on a board like "you liberals have nothing to do but complain" about Bush. I said basically Bush hands us the ammo for complaints and listed a barrage of his lies and deceptions.

Their petty name calling is an invitation to explain and justify our positions. I welcome those invites.

[ProfessorGAC]

4. You're Agreeing With Me, Completely

My "brilliant decision" was meant derisively.
The Professor

[SemperEadem]

40. Know how to shut them up about Bush being a victim?

Tell them Clinton took it like a man when no one dared defend him

[Bronco69]

2. I think you're on to something...

On Crossfire I keep hearing Bob No Facts and Sucker Charlatan talk about all of the Bush Bashing, and I sit there and think "You guys were on an 8 year cock hunt when Clinton was in office, and you have the gall to complain about Bush Bashing?" I think you're right, he's going for the "have sympathy for me cause I'm a victim routine."

[mhr]

3. Interesting Political Analysis

One might be able to turn this on them by throwing their own victimhood rhetoric against the poor and disenfranchised back at them.

Better yet, claim they are using the Bill Clinton defense.

I did not have .... Er, I mean I did not plan to mess things up so badly.

She tempted .... Er, I mean they just didn't cooperate with my plan.

It's their fault not mine!

[RapidCreek]

5. I HATE BUSH

because he hates me. For once the Rethuglicans are correct. Why should I not hate him? He is a feckless boob. A moron. An evil swindling blowhard AWOL coward.

So what's the problem? He steals my money, fucks me out of insurance, sends my kid off to fight and die as a mercenary for his cronies. Creates a terrorist threat, of which the world has never known. Loves fetuses and hates the mothers whose wombs they grow inside of....etc.etc.etc.

Yep I hate him. Any asshole who suggests hating him is wrong...I hate as well. I'll be more than happy to explain, in detail, why, on both counts.

Grown ups don't tolerate spoiled, nasty, evil people. They point their finger at them, call them what they are, stomp them into a greasy spot and make an example of them.

RC

[homelandpunk]

32. "Any asshole who suggests hating him is wrong...I hate as well."

Doubly.
...quite right.

[Homer12]

6. I always like to throw back that the Right

During the 1990's not only started but trailblazed "President Hating" and "Ideology Bashing".

The Right in the 1990's were the modern inovators of hatefull poltical rhetoric.

Then they'll answer that it was okay for them becuase they had valid points.

Then you ask why, "our" points about Bush are not valid.

That will be the End of the discussion.

[linazelle]

7. They are truth haters

NYAH NYAH NYAH NYAH NYAH

(I know, it's elementary but if we have to fight fire with fire, then that's an appropriate name for them.)

[kentuck]

8. I think that might be the end result....

and the Repubs are smart enough to take political advantage of it...

[ProfessorGAC]

9. It Would Seem That Politics. . .

. . .is the extent of their ability to show their "smarts". It's certainly not showing in their ideas or their execution.
The Professor

[tom_paine]

13. ProfessorGAC, I agree 100% with your assertions

It is a meme which, if collectively the Imperial Subjects of Amerika had any historical memory (they have less and less every day, trending towards Orwell's prophetic predictions) could not survive, like so many of the demonstrably incorrect or hypocritical Bushevik memes.

But the Mighty Wurlitzer will play it's poisonous tune, as Orwell predicted, and people will lull and forget.

The Party-Loyal Right-Wing Sub-Media has proven it's ability to spin memes into "conventional wisdom" without refernce to the past.

The REAL QUESTION is: How can this be stopped \before the descent into Orwell's worst nightmares are complete...

[ProfessorGAC]

14. I Can Only Posit The Theory, Tom

Alas, i have no answers as to how to counter the assault. As long as the media is complicit, any strategy, no matter how deeply born in desperation, has a chance to succeed.
The Professor

[sangh0]

21. I suggest ridicule as a response

Every time someone whines about Bush* being a victim of hatred, I will reply "Awww, poor widdle Bushie* can't take it when he's not wuved by evwyone! Maybe you should go to the White House and give him a nice big hug and some milk and some cookies"

The fascists responses when they are caught red-handed is to distract by placing blame on their critics. Usually, Clinton is used. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be fooled into defending ourselves, which takes us off the attack. Every ridiculous accusation they make should be met with another attack on their whiney misleader. Put them on the defensive

[JHB]

10. True for some, but I don't think most are that calculating...

... I think many are just arrogant double-standard hypocrites who are too self-centered to put the shoe on the other foot.

[ProfessorGAC]

11. I Don't Disagree, But. . .

. . .my point was that one of the more clever ones has actually developed this as a campaign strategy. And, the reason why i believe that, is because, it is all they have. They've got nothing else to run on next year. Better make Georgie look like the put upon victim now, before it's too late.

Certainly i think most of the are as you describe. However, those very characteristics might make a cynical, but not stupid, political operative come up with this strategy. That doesn't make that person a nice guy, but it does make sense that this could be a campaign strategy. No?
The Professor

[ninkasi]

15. I think you're right.

Actually, the rightwing seems to use the "victim" ploy quite often. Look at the hysteria the fundies show over things like that lunatic judge Roy Moore and the Ten Commandments. They act as though adhering to the Constitution is somehow going to destroy Christianity.

Gay rights? Forget it...they are the victims of some secret, dangerous "Gay Agenda"; they are quite expert at playing victims when it suits their purposes. As you pointed out, he's got nothing else to run on, so even though the rightwing controls all three branches of government and the press, they'll try to spin him into "poor little George."

[SemperEadem]

38. Bush, on his own merits, needs to be separated from the

idolatrous triggers used by the right wing to deflect the American people's attention from the truth about Bush and just exactly where he's dropped our country off while he's resided in that office, ugly as it may be, hard as it will be for them to take.

He is serving mammon---plain and simple, using terms the right wing ought to be understanding right about now. Unless they pick and choose what tenets of their faith to believe based upon convenient access to mammon and photo ops.

The truth will set them free. And it's on our side. :D


Idolatrous: Given to blind or excessive devotion to something: “The religiosity of the group is self-righteous and idolatrous. It perceives no virtue in its opponents and magnifies its own” (Christopher Lasch). www.dictionary.com

[nostamj]

12. on a broader level, it's not about Who Hates Bush

it's about WHO BUSH HATES

which is pretty much the entire planet outside of his corporate-elite .1%

I've long thought that we must educate a percentage of those that blindly follow *'s propaganda and show them how much bush* policies demonstrate an UTTER CONTEMPT for the average american citizen/worker.

BUSH
HATES
YOU

on edit: duum tiepo

[ProfessorGAC]

16. No Doubt About That

The problem is, that the first shots have already been fired. They are using the Bush Hatred mantra because they can't run on anything else.

If they run on the issues, it would be easy to show the public exactly what you describe.

This is why, although born out of desperation, this is not a stupid strategy because it allowed them to fire the first salvo. It doesn't speak well of Georgie's record of course, but if the strategy works, they will be able to blame someone else for his failures.
The Professor

[supernova]

17. If this is true,

do you think they'll have to abandon their stance of inevitability and sheer hubris? The fake confindence that has been there since the selection?

[ProfessorGAC]

19. No. They Wouldn't Have To

They can still be arrogant and cocksure. They aren't admitting any defeat or mistakes by doing this. That's why they have to do it. They've got nothing else. There are no successes on which to run. So, they change nothing in demeanor and make Georgie look like the poor put-upon political giant in waiting. "He'd been doing great things if these people didn't hate him."

I'm not saying this strategy will work. But, when one is desperate, one takes desperate measures. The "thinkers" in that crowd (and i use that term loosely) probably figure it's their only chance to stave off defeat.

The Professor

[Bandit]

24. You are quite correct I believe

and if the 2000 election is any indication of things to come it will be successful. Bush* had absolutly nothing to run on in 2000 and somehow got to be president. He ran against eight years of peace and prosperity and succeeded. All we can do is try and get the message out that it's all built on lies. We have nothing else to run on ourselves. Granted we supposedly have the issues on our side but we keep losing elections so I'm not even sure about that. Do people Really want universal health care? I'm not sure. Do people Really want social security? I'm not sure. It is becoming apparent to me all the people really want is a winning team. They really don't care about issues. If that is the case what really do we have to run on? We certainly have not been winners lately.

[supernova]

25. Well, you can hardly look like a good victim

w/o a dose of humility. You have to be sympathetic to the jury and all that.

I'm not disagree with you, I just think this angle would be a tough slog.

And how can we use that to our eventual candidate's advantage?

[ProfessorGAC]

27. Point Taken

I just think that if it's all you've got, it's all you've got. Remember, he did the "humble foreign policy", "uniter not divider", "compassionate conservative" thing before.

He can't use those lies again. There's now proof they were falsehoods. So, changing back to that image is a loser as well.

Maybe it's wishful thinking on my part, but i really believe this is all they have. If i'm right, he's toast.
The Professor

[Iverson]

18. on the right track

I certainly agree with the thrust of your comments. However, to say that the pose of victim is all Bush has is too easy.

I would argue that the "Bush hating" complaint is just one element of an overall propaganda strategy. Clearly, they have tried other things, one of which is now backfiring: the top gun hero in front of the Mission Accomplished sign.

His handlers aren't stupid enough to rely on one thing alone.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Only One Objection

You're talking tactics, i'm talking strategy.

They have nothing else to run on. The entire 3 years has been a dismal failure on all fronts. The smarter ones in the crowd (like being the smartest rhesus monkey, i would guess) have figured this out.

Sure, there are other tactical measures that can be taken, but if he isn't set up as the "hated Georgie, bane of the left" now, he's toast and they know it.

It's their only chance.
The Professor

[Iverson]

23. hmmmm

I guess I'm talking both strategy and tactics. In addition to hated Gerogie, bane of the left, he will also be trotted out as war hero Georgie, economic saviour Georgie, family values Georgie, and any number of other preposterous lies.

You and I and our colleagues will see through all of them, but Mr. and Mrs. Middle America are less likely to do so. The smartest monkeys are vastly outnumbered by the more impressionable sort. These different poses will pick up some votes along the way.

Therefore, I think that your analysis identifies probably the most effective strategy, but not the only one.

[ProfessorGAC]

26. That's Where We Differ, I Guess

I really think this is a way to talk about something else in the campaign other than "war hero", "terror fighter", "economic savior" because unless miracle happens, all those things will be torn to shreds by whomever the Dem candidate is. (Assuming an appropriate set of guts.)

So, now i get your point. They might try it, but i honestly think that even they believe that "Idiot King as Victim" is all they have.
The Professor

[Bandit]

29. Yes they always come out with the meme "If we hadn't done so and so"

"We would be much worse off." If we didn't give huge tax cuts for the rich the economy would really be bad. If we hadn't attacked Iraq we would really have suffered just look at what happened on 9-11. If we hadn't of outlawed "partial birth abortion" horrible things would occur. They predict the future with certainty and accept no other scenerio. People will accept their lies easily just as they have for the last decade. It's all part of their plan. Bush* being maligned fits well into their plans. Poor poor Bush* who has been saving America from the evils that would have befallen us if he wasn't there. Easy to figure their strategy but hard to counter.

[many a good man]

22. Sympathy and Congeniality

and an action plan.

They will portray Dems as whining complainers and deny repeatedly that we have any plans to fix what's wrong. They will play up his congeniality in forums like last week's talk show on jobs in South Carolina, in which he seemed very appealing.

Amazingly, at least 53% DON'T hate Bush. They may be so turned off by negative rhetoric that they'll vote for him even though they don't think he's doing a very good job. This is serious.

The right wing troops are very disciplined. They may even play down the usual morality issues and other wedge issues because they've done so much for them during the legislative sessions. At least they've tried to do much against the "powerful" liberal enemies.

The nominee will be in a very tough position: how to express outrage without turning off the clueless. Bush has used the "Big Lie" strategy. The more outrageous his policies, the more the people seem to think its all normal.

We have to be simple, reasoned, and appeal to emotions. That's a tough combination to pull off. It leads me to believe that the messenger will be more important than the message.

[kodi]

28. hate is irrational. democrats hate, democrats are irrational. understand?

death by simile.

[ProfessorGAC]

30. Death By Syllogism

Syllogistic thinking is the root of neoconservative public relations. They count on the less thoughtful among us to buy into such flimsy logic (or lack thereof).

So, you're correct in that this is the way they think.
The Professor

[kodi]

31. always mix up the two, thanks doc.

but the point is made, guilt by association is the easiest with which to smear.

[SemperEadem]

41. Look at how Gore reacted during his run for office

with regards to Clinton... Clinton was a pox in 2000. Over a blow job the likes of which most of his accusers were getting at the same time, too, in the very same kind of set up. Anyone who came within 10 feet of Clinton got offal thrown on them, too. He was avoided like the plague.

[BeFree]

33. Write on...

It's about all they've got that we can see. But the puppetteers are all hidden, now aren't they?

Couldn't help but thinking of this old term:
"Endangered White Males"
If that wasn't a 'poor victim' bunch a BS....
Yeah. * , is a victim alright. His own. Hari Kari & Bonzai, you M#*&^$%#@.

[nannygoat]

34. You're probably right, Prof. Repukes don't have much else where * is

concerned. Here are my all-time favorite responses to the "* hating" spin:

IVINS: Bush-haters
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2003/09/272297.shtml

Why we hate Bush
http://www.uexpress.com/tedrall/index.html?uc_full_date=20030923

TRASHING BUSH-BASHING (PART 1)! Doonesbury had Bill O’Reilly disturbed. So he pimped a prime RNC spin-point:
http://dailyhowler.com/dh092403.shtml

TRASHING BUSH-BASHING (PART 2)! Byron York knew the pleasing new spin: Bush critics must just be nutty:
http://dailyhowler.com/dh092503.shtml

TRASHING BUSH-BASHING (PART 3)! York searched Google to find Bush-hatred. With Clinton, it was right on TV:
http://dailyhowler.com/dh092603.shtml

I hate republicans
http://www.ericblumrich.com/ihr.html

[catzies]

39. That "I Hate Repulicans" flash video is another gem by the great

Eric Blumrich.

Big ol' :thumbsup:

[Lisa]

35. I think you're onto something too ... remember the 2000 campaign

They actually made Bush seem so helpless and incompetent, it was like watching a play put on by second-graders ... people ended up pulling for him not to screw up!

And any attempt to ask critical questions, as Gore did, was treated like "picking on the handicapped". (Ironically, the trend in our society towards sympathizing with and protecting individuals who have emotional/mental difficulties, or substance abuse problems, was started by liberals! Conservatives of Dubya's type still have the underlying assumption that if you're sick/poor/underprivileged, it's your own fault because God must have it in for you.)

It's kind of like the situation in the workplace where someone who may not be very nice, and isn't that competent, gets punished ... and people leap to his defense (because everyone's heard of cases where the innocent were made to suffer). If the GOP plays up the "nice/stupid" stereotype for Bush, it's harder for us to give him the slamming he deserves. We may have to pull out the "more in sorrow than in anger" approach. Anything that comes across as meanspirited "picking on the dumb guy" is going to be played up to the hilt by the White House.

Rather than saying Bush is stupid, I tend to say things like: "He's got a Yale degree and a Harvard MBA. He's as smart as I am, probably smarter -- and certainly has had far more exposure to etiquette and diplomacy. Why shouldn't we expect the very best from him? In fact, you're insulting Mr. Bush, if you assume he's a dumb hick. That's so unkind!"

[SemperEadem]

43. God's mad at Rush, then...

" (Ironically, the trend in our society towards sympathizing with and protecting individuals who have emotional/mental difficulties, or substance abuse problems, was started by liberals! Conservatives of Dubya's type still have the underlying assumption that if you're sick/poor/underprivileged, it's your own fault because God must have it in for you.)"

And by Rush's own reasoning, it's his own damn fault that he's sick... God don't like ugly!!!

Can someone please hit Rush in the teeth with his own words?

[HFishbine]

36. Agreed!

And America loves an underdog. I was thinking the same thing last night. Bush is by no means done just because his re-elect numbers are down. For all the reasons you mention and because we love the story of the hero who gets knocked down and against all odds, fights back for the come-from-behind victory, I'm not taking anything for granted until Nov. 3, 2004.

[quaker bill]

37. It is a classic.

When you cannot win a case on the facts, blame the accusers of persecution. You see it everyday in criminal courts with the sort of notion,"my client may have done the crime, but the accusers violated his civil rights". I work enforcing civil law. I generally get "yes my client did wrong, but your staff were so rude to him".

Bush may not be able to run the country, but his critics are just so "rude" to him. Surely, we don't want these "rude" people running the country.

They need to run on what they have, and although lame, this may be their best (most emotionally appealing) case for their supporters.

[Zomby Woof]

42. one thing I've noticed

EVERY time I see a letter to the editor decrying "Bush-haters" and how horrible we liberals are for hating our god-chosen wonderful president, they ALWAYS take a dig at Clinton. Their utter inability to see the folly and hypocrisy of their ways still makes my jaw drop.

[Just Me]

44. Maybe it would be best,...

,...to call it as you see it,...

Instead of bashing out with anger/hatred,...calmly put the poignant question to these people:

Are you saying you are a victim?
You are saying you are a victim, right?
So, you are a victim.
You are a powerless victim.
A victim.
The Republican victims.

Well, we better get some leadership that can tackle the tough issues instead of falling victim to them!!!

[Just Me]

45. I've been imagining,...

,...counter-mantras for two days,...