Rove strategy: talk about VIETNAM instead of IRAQ

[grasswire]

Despite the masterful moves of the Kerry campaign today, the larger issue remains. The headlines are about Vietnam. Iraq (Bush's blunder) is largely ignored.

Rove wins for now.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

1. I agree. Hopefully Kerry's camp will get the Iraq topic back on track

soon.

They appear to have run a fine campaign so far, so I don't think they're idiots. Keeping fingers crossed.

Iraq invasion is the most important reason to oust Bush and our most potent argument against him.

[fujiyama]

20. Unfortunately

Iraq has been somewhat problematic for Kerry. People started going nuts over his last statement.

IMO, Kerry still needs to do a better job in SUCCINCTLY explaining his vote. His promise of involving other nations may not be enough as well.

Otherwise I think your right. Rove and the media have shifted focus away from Iraq even as the fighting has increased in the last several weeks.

[kikiek]

2. Exactly. And focus on Kerry's role in Vietnam in quick rapid succession

to avoid any questioning of Bush's. That is the big freaking story here! Where the hell was Bush? I cannot believe that he isn't being questioned about his discharge status and lack of records to prove he wasn't awol.

[LoisMustDie]

3. Yeah but

you gotta admit that Vietnam is in the NOW.. Iraq.. well that's old news and that horse has been beaten to death. Vietnam.. We need answers.. we need to know more about that war.. We can't just sweep it under the carpet.. And really.. who knows more about vietnam then rove.. Kerry.... nah.. I'm sure next week Rove will break the story that Kerry wasn't actually ever in vietnam...

[restorefreedom]

4. yup

Don't bother talking about the latest fucking disaster.

Better to character assinate from 30 years ago.

[jimshoes]

5. Not for long though...

Matthews had David Gergen on talking about that very thing. Said that the pubs have blundered badly by trying to force the focus on to Viet Nam and should have instead been talking about current issues. Re: quagmire in Iraq.

[Poiuyt]

9. Gergan said that?

Did Gergan mean that Bush should be talking about Iraq? That doesn't seem right.

[jimshoes]

15. I'm paraphrasing but that was what it sounded like

he was saying. Please watch the replay or check out the transcript to be sure. He seemed a bit off his normal demeanor though.

[Sparkly]

19. He did say the focus on Vietnam is a losing issue for the Chimp

He said this is Kerry's strength, not his weakness, and he thinks Republicans will lose on this particular battle.

[grasswire]

6. I suspect....

...that Rove is smoking a big cigar tonight. Probably will have a big steak and a bottle wine, too.

Every day they don't talk about Iraq is a good day for George!!

[lancdem]

7. But people haven't forgotten Iraq

just because it's not in the news. Also, I love how Kerry talked about "our" service in Vietnam in his speech, meaning him AND Bush. That was intentional.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. As if the obvious paralells between the two don't hurt Bush?

If that's Rove's plan, he's not as bright as we give him credit for.

[DemBones DemBones]

11. He's relying on voters' stupidity. nt

[restorefreedom]

12. Matthews asked Cleland

why the hell aren't we talking about the hundreds dead and thousands of amputees.

HOW is this f-ing regime getting away with this?

[Sparkly]

17. What was great was how Max kept taking it back to Bush*

He made the connection over and over again. This is Bush's technique.

[Inland]

14. Yeah, you beat me to it

In fact, the last thing that Rove wants to do is pretend that Vietnam is still relevant to today's issues, and not just becuse Bush has so little to be personally proud of. The more anyone puts Vietnam next to Iraq, the worse it is for Bush

[Inland]

10. No, it IS about Iraq

The larger issue of Vietnam is the larger issue today: what wars should be fought, who should fight them, and what one should do when it is clear the president has made the wrong decision. That's what is going on. You can't talk about a disasterous quagmire of a war with Kerry fighting and saving lives and Bush staying home without making points on today's issues.

The concept that Rove would be satisfied by a focus on Vietnam is silly.

[snippy]

13. Every democrat in the country needs to include in every public statement

something to the effect that it is easy to understand why Bush and the republican party want to talk about a war that ended 30 years ago rather than the war that is going on right now. If the media asks a Congressman about the price of oil, the Congressman needs to mention that all Bush and the republicans want to focus on is a war that ended 30 years ago. If the local media asks a Congressman about a local issue, the Congressman needs to mention that all Bush and the republicans want to focus on is a war that ended 30 years ago. The democrats also need to get friendly pundits to hammer on this.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

16. This is well stated. You should send it to the Kerry camp. n/t

[blondeatlast]

18. Matthews made that point with Max Cleland.

I was astonished.