nothumb
08-03-2004, 12:52 AM
Ok, so following the 'liberal media' in this year's election, I have been hearing a lot about how John Kerry loves to waffle, and also about how uninspiring he is as a leader. My question is (honestly) does Bush not do the exact same things? Why does he not have a reputation for this? I know a lot of the most kneejerk posters on this board have probably said similar things, but I would appreciate a substantive, restrained response from those who might disagree with me here.
My case: on the waffling front, aside from his more or less automatic deference to the Christian right on any social issue from abortion to AIDS research to gay marriage, has Bush not flip-flopped like a fish out of water to a great extent as well? He bitterly opposed the 9/11 comission, now he's trying to ally himself with their findings. He opposed the idea of a Homeland Security Department, now he tries to use it as an example of his commitment to the war on terror. He attacked Gore's 'fuzzy math' and promised to fight big government spending, but he misrepresents funding for the Iraq conflict and runs up deficits like Newt runs up his credit card at an escort service (ok, cheap shot, sorry).
On the uninspiring front, I will admit that he's gotten better at giving speeches, but I really believe most members of an amateur debate squad would demonstrate more charisma and oratorical skill. On 9/11 he looked like he was about to crap his pants (I mean, I did too, but I'm not the president, and nobody praised my leadership). He has great speech writers and his image managers have painted him as more of a 'regular guy' than his opponents, but what about George W. is regular? That he went to all the same elite private institutions as every other politician? That he owns a major league baseball team, used to run oil companies and has a dad who was a President? The guy is blue-blooded to the core, but people have used his backasswards mannerisms to pretend he is more 'normal' than the rest of us. From what I can tell he's a likable guy and has some people skills, but that doesn't exactly give him trailer park cred, does it?
I want to make it clear that I'm not crying 'foul' here. Kerry is an opportunist, and a political insider, and if he was any more bland and contrived we'd have to give him a Top 40 radio show. The GOP has really succeeded in painting exactly the picture they want to of the last two Democratic presidential candidates. I think Gore took a lot worse of a beating and a lot more cheap shots than Kerry has or will. If the Democrats were as good at this stuff, they'd be slinging mud with the best of 'em (and they do try, the poor little dears).
I guess what I really want to ask is: all you guys who are more to the right, and you're leaning towards Bush, or you just can't bring yourself to vote Democrat, does this guy really inspire you? Is he Reagan caliber? I think he's fascinating, but inspiring and steadfast in his beliefs? No.
If you're about to pop off and respond, "Yes, you little ass, I do think that," ask yourself what you would say about a Democrat who did the same things? Objectively speaking.
I personally would line 'em all up and kick their teeth in, but that might just be me.
NT
My case: on the waffling front, aside from his more or less automatic deference to the Christian right on any social issue from abortion to AIDS research to gay marriage, has Bush not flip-flopped like a fish out of water to a great extent as well? He bitterly opposed the 9/11 comission, now he's trying to ally himself with their findings. He opposed the idea of a Homeland Security Department, now he tries to use it as an example of his commitment to the war on terror. He attacked Gore's 'fuzzy math' and promised to fight big government spending, but he misrepresents funding for the Iraq conflict and runs up deficits like Newt runs up his credit card at an escort service (ok, cheap shot, sorry).
On the uninspiring front, I will admit that he's gotten better at giving speeches, but I really believe most members of an amateur debate squad would demonstrate more charisma and oratorical skill. On 9/11 he looked like he was about to crap his pants (I mean, I did too, but I'm not the president, and nobody praised my leadership). He has great speech writers and his image managers have painted him as more of a 'regular guy' than his opponents, but what about George W. is regular? That he went to all the same elite private institutions as every other politician? That he owns a major league baseball team, used to run oil companies and has a dad who was a President? The guy is blue-blooded to the core, but people have used his backasswards mannerisms to pretend he is more 'normal' than the rest of us. From what I can tell he's a likable guy and has some people skills, but that doesn't exactly give him trailer park cred, does it?
I want to make it clear that I'm not crying 'foul' here. Kerry is an opportunist, and a political insider, and if he was any more bland and contrived we'd have to give him a Top 40 radio show. The GOP has really succeeded in painting exactly the picture they want to of the last two Democratic presidential candidates. I think Gore took a lot worse of a beating and a lot more cheap shots than Kerry has or will. If the Democrats were as good at this stuff, they'd be slinging mud with the best of 'em (and they do try, the poor little dears).
I guess what I really want to ask is: all you guys who are more to the right, and you're leaning towards Bush, or you just can't bring yourself to vote Democrat, does this guy really inspire you? Is he Reagan caliber? I think he's fascinating, but inspiring and steadfast in his beliefs? No.
If you're about to pop off and respond, "Yes, you little ass, I do think that," ask yourself what you would say about a Democrat who did the same things? Objectively speaking.
I personally would line 'em all up and kick their teeth in, but that might just be me.
NT