This is what I absolutely could not stand about the Bush administration. They would let the media paint them badly at every turn with no pushback whatsoever. On and on for years.
No “war room”, narrative control, spokespeople who were worth a damn, nothing.
It was very frustrating to watch Bush 43 stay quiet after the unmerited criticism by the Press.
I agree with your assessment of the tone-deaf Bush Administration. They simply refused to fight for American ideals in the public square and let American down by paving the way for the Kenyan.
Exactly! To this day I don't understand the failure of the Republican Party to recognize they are playing in the dirtiest game known to man with a rulebook that changes at the whim and convenience of the enemy. If they knew they would have taken every measure to not only defend themselves, but to mount an offensive against it. That they didn't smarts of ignorance and naivety. The RATs must have been besides themselves laughing at the incompetence. Soetoro even knew and has used the Bush Administration as their whipping boy ever since.
“This is what I absolutely could not stand about the Bush administration. They would let the media paint them badly at every turn with no pushback whatsoever. On and on for years.”
Bush would not use the bully pulpit. His public relations staff and press secretaries were inept at managing any story. If the administration really believed the city was in danger and the state/local government was not taking necessary action to save lives, Bush could have publicly called for the governor to evacuate or he could have sent “Brownie” out to give a news conference imploring local leaders to take action. Instead, Bush chose to work quietly behind the scenes with Democrats playing politics instead of taking care of the public. He allowed them to set him up to take the blame.
Exactly the opposite of what Trump is doing.
Exactly.
They would let the media paint them badly at every turn with no pushback whatsoever. On and on for years.
...
That was all part of the strategy of letting the Democrats and GOPe grow the government. W didn’t use any vetoes either.