[BlueSky]

Being There

Watching the attacks on Kerry and the glorification of Bush reminds me of something Dole said in his speech to the Republican convention eight years ago. It was "demeaning to the nation," Dole argued, to be governed by people "who never grew up, never did anything real, never sacrificed, never suffered and never learned."

You tell me which of this year's presidential candidates that statement best describes.

[Shaddim]

Originally posted by Bluesky:

You tell me which of this year's presidential candidates that statement best describes.

This guy?

[BlueSky]

Originally posted by MacNStein:


This guy?

Not the bunny, the chimp.

[itai195]

Eh, but Dole is such an opportunist. I'm not sure he really believes anything he says.

[Lerkfish]

to the thread title (but not the nonsense in the thread so far)

I'm still baffled why Bush continues to "run on" 9/11.
---It doesn't display foresight, since he pretty much ignored warnings leading up to it.
---It doesn't display his ability to "keep america safe", since it was an attack on US soil.
---It doesn't display his sound judgement in addressing the threat, because he diverted resources earmarked for the actual search for the terrorist leader to an unrelated country
---It doesn't display his resolve to find those responsible, because less than a year after 9/11 Bush said he doesn't care if he finds Bin Ladin, that he's not important.
---It doesn't display his concern for the families of victims of 9/11, many of whom are offended that their loved ones are being used as a campaign chip.


At best, 9/11 was being benignly asleep at the wheel and the US being sucker-punched.
At worst, 9/11 was an avoidable tragedy, that either through design or sheer incompetence was allowed to happen.

so...again....why does Bush make it the cornerstone of the convention?

Would Napoleon (had he survived), would hold future rallies at Waterloo?

[BlueSky]

Originally posted by Lerkfish:
to the thread title (but not the nonsense in the thread so far)

I'm still baffled why Bush continues to "run on" 9/11.
[...]
so...again....why does Bush make it the cornerstone of the convention?

I wouldn't try too hard to understand it; there's nothing esoteric or deep about Bush and his actions or thinking. He's making it the cornerstone of the convention because it's all about APPEARANCE. It's all about him standing next to that fireman at ground zero and uttering inanities into a bullhorn. And most importantly, because he can't use the "Mission Accomplished" photo opportunity from the aircraft carrier because it's been ridiculed ad infinitum since the day it happened.

And lastly, because he would like to present the appearance that he's protectin' us from the tara-ists and that he's made the world/USA a whole lot safer...in spite of the fact that he single-handedly recruited and united millions of brand spankin' new terrorists against the US. Quite the Uniter he is.

From the article I linked to: "But isn't a president supposed to, um, do things? Isn't it a bit strange to praise a man's leadership not for doing something, but for maintaining a certain appearance?"

[Dakar]

Originally posted by itai195:
Eh, but Dole is such an opportunist. I'm not sure he really believes anything he says.

Sounds more and more like Kerry...

[itai195]

Originally posted by Dakar:
Sounds more and more like Kerry...

Sounds like any politician. But Dole seems revered for some reason.

[Dakar]

Originally posted by itai195:
Sounds like any politician. But Dole seems revered for some reason.

His war record, physical ailments, and advanced age, no doubt.

[Shaddim]

Originally posted by Dakar:
His war record, physical ailments, and advanced age, no doubt.

Yeah, and the Viagra commercials make him more personable. (I'm only partially kidding.)

[itai195]

Originally posted by Dakar:
His war record, physical ailments, and advanced age, no doubt.

Don't see many people picking on him for his first purple heart, though

At least he apologized for his comments about Kerry, that earned him some points.