Monday, November 24, 2008
|
|
When the Worst Defense Is No Defense
|
|
Posted by:
Carol Platt Liebau at
11:00 PM
|
Howard Kurtz writes of the difficulties encountered by White House press secretary Dana Perino, who "tried to follow [President Bush]'s orders not to defend him from the verbal assaults of the campaign to succeed him," as Kurtx puts it.
How difficult has Ms. Perino's job been? One can only imagine. But it's worth taking note of President Bush's insistence that he not be defended.
It seems clear that, at some point, President Bush made the decision that he wasn't going to worry about his popularity numbers -- he would do what he believed to be right, and wait for the verdict of history. I'm grateful for the President's tenacity when it comes to Iraq and fighting the war on terror more generally -- and I believe that history will treat him kindly, on the whole, as it has Harry Truman (who was similarly despised upon leaving office).
But there's a problem when a President simply refuses to engage -- not perhaps for himself, but certainly for other members of his party. The President's willingness to serve as a punching bag shows real strength of character on his part, but it also allowed Democrats to damage the Republican brand -- and do much more harm than if the President had allowed legitimate defenses of his policies and his record to be made.
In the public mind, silence is too often equated with assent. And so when The White House has remained silent in the face of vicious and often dishonest criticism, voters -- who do, after all, have other things to do than follow every twist and turn in government and politics -- have reasonably assumed that the criticisms have merit. In turn, that has hurt not just the President, but the entire GOP.
Again, this isn't to join in the gang pile-on of the President. But it is a lesson to his successors: If they care about the long-term success of their party, they'll defend themselves and their records, whether they want to or not.
|
|
|
I think he did the right thing. MSM wouldnt have covered it or twisted his words anyway. He served as quite the punching bag, and took it with dignity. Obama would have gotten in regardless, GWB new that, and McCain would never have supported him anyway. Obama will show everyone what they are missing by voting in the Dems again, and I dont understand what everyone else was doing during the Clinton years but I dont remember it being so great |
|
this post is by far your best work recently......
You are really on to something here........
I never thought of this angle, but upon reflection, this may be THE BIGGEST REASON why the Republican Party took such a shellacking in 2006 & 2008.......
Anyone, who has done their research on this financial meltdown, knows it lies at the feet of the Democrats through CRA 1977, Dem-championed subprime mortgages and subsequent coverups by Democratic Senators and Representatives......
Wondered why GWB, McCain & other Republicans did not go before the American people and lay out, step-by-step, the timeline and sequence of how our economy imploded........
They were simply ........GUTLESS!!!!!
Now we, the American people, WILL pay the price for this bad judgment/cowardice.......
After we fire all that were guilty of these timid acts, they can try out for the Serta "counting sheep" team.....
|
|
is whether the period we're now well into will be known as "The Bush Recession," "The Bush Depression," or "The Great Bush Depression."
I suppose it depends somewhat on the findings of the upcoming Bush/Cheney War Crimes Commission. Everyone thinks that Kerry should run it, but I'm pulling for Spitzer; he's much more ruthless. |
|
It is regretable that he is not a glib fellow.
Substance does not always come adorned.
Had the President been willing to call out his detractors on their perfidy and their motives he'd have been better off but he would not have been George Bush Jr.
What made him the class act and the resolute plow horse was his character.
We have had his protection and stewardship. History will respect him. |
|
It will be the GREAT OBAMA DEPRESSION.......
on Jan. 20, he owns it........ |
|
FOLKS, AMERICA’S CALLING AND COUNTING ON YOU –
PLEASE WRITE TO JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS TODAY! It’s not too late!
HIS FAX NUMBER IS LISTED BELOW:
Hey folks don't you think arguing about "obama policies" is a bit presumptuous?
HE'S NOT EVEN PROVED THAT HE'S A NATURAL BORN U.S. CITIZEN! And the truth is HE CAN'T because he was BORN IN KENYA and he doesn't have a certificate of LIVE BIRTH for the State of Hawaii, only a "certification" for FILE purposes only and of which would not even allow a person to get a drivers license.
Here’s Chief Justice Clarence Thomas’ fax# 202-479-2971 write him TODAY - if you don't know what to say, use the letter below as a sample.
http://moniquemonicat.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/%E2%80%A2-si gn-obama-petition/
|
|
THIS JUST IN: the 25% of people who believe Bush is doing a good job no longer includes George W. Bush.
IN A RELATED ITEM, it was learned today that "Obama" is "Hoover" spelled backwards in Kenyan, and W. is the love child of Barbara Bush and FDR. (Or Prescott Bush and Eleanor Roosevelt, take your pick).
NEWS FLASH: Monique was born in a galaxy far, far away where deep purple is the color of the sky.
|
|
How difficult has the President's job been?
Why don't you people on the Neo-Con right ask how difficult has it been for the citizens of this country to live under this President?
This failed President has ruined our economy, destroyed our international standing and (worst of all) 4,204 of our soldiers are dead in a war that has made us less safe.
And you worry about how difficult the President's job has been? |
|
Very good point. And, I believe, delivered in a respectful, thoughtful spirit.
|
|
I am interested in hearing how the mortgage crisis is the President's fault. Please enlighten me.
|
|
Perfect. The Head of the Party refuses to stand up to his domestic enemies. Then we nominate a loser with no coattails. Stupid Party indeed. Thanks for all the help, party leaders.
The Dem/libs never stop and that's why they win. They actually believe in what they say and fight for every inch of ground. Not so the Repubs. |
|
|
I've noticed this for about 5 years now. Bush frustrates the cr^p out of his supporters because he's mum. I think it is arrogant of him to assume that everyone will know what he's thinking and what he stands for just because he thinks he's right. For all of Clinton's jackassery, at least he put on a show and we knew all about him. |
|
|
did you go through your fortune that you earned under Billy Jeff? grow up. take responsibility for your life. |
|
I don't think it's "big" of Bush to allow himself and his party to be lied about and bashed without responding, it is lazy. It does not show strength of character, it shows a lack of desire to correct the record and stand beside your friends. Over and over Bush has allowed his friends to hang out to dry when he could have come to their defense and fought back against the wolves. Conversely, he has praised the Democrats endlessly and helped them hide their destructive actions. It should be a lesson to everyone that his attempts at a "new tone" (kissing up to Democrats) does not result in love and reconciliation, it results in a huge opening for the opposition to score. They have only become more vicious as Bush has become more passive.
It helps no one in this country to leave them in the dark about how this financial crisis began-the social engineering policies of the Democrats. As they say, if you don't learn from the past, you are bound to repeat it. Let's face it, Bush has been a gigantic disappointment, and yes, a failure. |
|
|
Then the Dims would like him, huh? |
|
|
|