Bush*s adoring local crowds may not be so local - LTTE

[Cassandra]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/20/opinion/l20bush.html

"To the Editor:

"Before Friendly Audiences on the Trail, a Looser, Livelier Bush Appears" (White House Letter, Sept. 13) mentions the policing of dissent at events, but does not mention the campaign's pre-emptive invitation process.

Through a misplaced phone call, we were invited to pick up tickets for a convention-week appearance in Michigan. The invitation was nearly rescinded when we said we were neither registered Republicans nor likely supporters of the president. We were granted nontransferable tickets only after a campaign supervisor sensed that her colleague's "grilling" (his word) might appear, well, undemocratic. This grilling session sought a loyalty oath.

We're still on the presidential guest list; President Bush himself calls to urge us to use the absentee ballot his campaign secured, and we're invited to attend events 200 miles away. These "rapturous" crowds are not only vetted but, apparently, willing to travel.

Jennifer Wenzel
Joseph Slaughter
Ypsilanti, Mich., Sept. 16, 2004"

Interesting....

[randr]

1. I am suspicious of the "absentee ballot" offer.

Are the repugs collecting AB's at events?
Will this created an unusually large absentee turnout that could effectively hide any ballot stuffing?

[CornField]

2. It is quite interesting

The Bush camp isn't sending out the absentee ballots themselves, but rather an absentee ballot request form -- complete with several anti-Kerry brochures and flyers.

[GimmeDANEger]

3. perhaps they want people to vote now

because they know Kerry has something big for October.