The made-for-TV landing and attire Bush wore have made some question if Bush had additional motives last week when he went and thanked the troops aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln and declared an end to major fighting in Iraq. It’s been accused that Bush used this opportunity to jump-start his reelection process, using the armed forces as a massive prop for campaign photos. White house spokesman Ari Fleischer has said these allegations are clearly false. We’ll find out in the coming months when we see whether or not Bush uses the military video/photos as an election tool.
UTD:
Of course the photos will be used during the campaign. That's a no brainer. So will the photo of Bush at the WTC with the megaphone in his hand. What I fail to see is what anyone thinks is wrong with that.
If the trip did not involve in any way the discharge of his duties as commander in chief, people might have a legitimate beef. What some complain about is simply that the administration was so good in orchestrating this event and presenting such powerful positive imagery for the President, the military and our country. Well, duh.
A person would have to be totally out of touch with reality to argue that the visit (done as it was) did not considerably rally the morale and pride of the troops, the military and much of the American public. I know a few people who have been in the anti-Bush camp since the 2000 election campaign who have even admitted to me that they thought that event was absolutely terrific, that they were so proud of our military and thought that visit was one of the best expressions of thanks that any president has ever made to the military. They have even gone so far as to say that they were never prouder or more supportive of Bush than that day. They still may not vote for him but congratulate him on this event.
I think he didn't go far enough, the young un aint got no balls, his dad would have parachuted in with an army knife between his teeth. Junior views reading an auto-cue as mortal combat.
Another "Shock and Awe" performance by the president. Did they end up releasing the final cost of what was spent to pull that stunt, I've heard it was only slightly higher than a helicopter landing. What’s that mean a few thousand extra or a few hundred thousand? But what does spending money mean to this administration anyway?
This article cites a claim from Democrats on the House of Representatives appropriations committee that the visit to the carrier cost $1m. i am not interested in where else this money could have been spent, or anything else potentially argumentative - but just wondering whether that $1m figure is accurate? Seems a bit exaggerated to me.
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*Originally posted by Thap: *
I think he didn't go far enough, the young un aint got no balls, his dad would have parachuted in with an army knife between his teeth. Junior views reading an auto-cue as mortal combat.
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:D