Bush Plans No Rest in Next Month; 2nd Term Agenda Near (finally)

[papau]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/21/politics/campaign/21repubs.html

July 21, 2004
Bush Plans No Rest in Next Month; 2nd Term Agenda Near
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and RICHARD W. STEVENSON

WASHINGTON, July 20 - Seeking to blunt any advantage Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts might enjoy from the Democratic convention, President Bush's campaign has planned a monthlong offensive that will blend criticism of the Democratic ticket with what aides said would be Mr. Bush's first effort to set out a second-term agenda.

Even as Mr. Kerry is being nominated in Boston next week, Vice President Dick Cheney will campaign on the West Coast, signaling the urgency of the White House's drive to stop Mr. Kerry from breaking the deadlock in the race. Republicans are also assembling a squad of elected officials in Boston to offer a running, critical commentary of the Democratic convention as it unfolds.<snip>

Democrats have long questioned the decision by the White House to have a sitting president personally engage an opponent this early in a race, and some said on Tuesday that strategy had backfired. Mr. Bush's aides said that they had no second thoughts about having put Mr. Bush out so strongly. They said Mr. Bush had always intended to use the month between the Democratic convention and the Republican convention, which begins in New York on Aug. 30, to add a discussion of a second-term agenda to his steady diet of attacks on Mr. Kerry.<snip>

[mrboba1]

1. So he picks NOW

to not take a vacation?!?

[yorgatron]

2. boy is he gonna be cranky!

like a 5 year old who hasn't had his nap...