>>>...consequences of that ill-conceived bit of Rovian strategy.<<<
Rovian strategy, huh? That strategy's probably why we mostly see Bush giving speeches before school children. Not only does he get to look camera-good 'cause he's not using his teleprompter before the kids, but he can take a quick question in and out of the event so as to spin things the way he'd like.
Rovian strategy, huh? Iran, North Korea and--oh, yeah--Iraq. If Bush, in his speech, only had mentioned Iraq, the world press would have given scant attention. But a brand new "Axis Alliance?" Like, wow! Iran, Iraq and North Korea sure seem like odd bedfellows to me. But now the so-called Axis is sure to grab prime news time away from Enron. Can't ya just see 'em at the pre-State of the Union strategy session: OK, what can we say to draw attention away from Enron?
Rovian strategy, huh? Can anyone here spell C-I-V-I-L L-I-B-E-R-T-I-E-S?
Anyway, nuttin' like a shake, rattle and roll war to make a president look good and busy in the grab for primetime headlines. Even Clinton bombed over Monica. Yup! Works every time. And of Democrats, frankly, I think Gore, were he president, would have responded with similar military force to 9/11. After all, given what happened, going after UBL and Omar was the natural right move no matter who was in the presidency.
Interestingly, however, were Gore the president he might forthrightly have put the United States into the late-August World Conference Against Racism held in Durban, South Africa. The Bush Administration initially boycotted the event and even and threatened to withhold funding. Anyone think this could have angered the Muslim world? You bet! Especially with the heat also on with the Palistinian conflict. Who knows, perhaps 9/11 wouldn't have happened if the U.S. were proactive with both the conference and the trouble stewing in the MidEast.
I think Gore would have played chess where Bush plays checkers and has the likes of Karl Rove telling him where to move.
Of course, we got free speech in this country. Don't we? But I dare say it's a Rovian-like version of free speech that keeps Americans from hearing the viewpoints of MIT's Noam Chomsky on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox and the rest. Ever see him on any of those networks? If so, how often? Me thinks the prerequisite question in the next presidential debate should be: Have you read any of Noam Chomsky's work and, if not, would you be willing to do so--whatta ya think of the man?
Oh yeah, Enron! |
