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The President's Tin Ear
The Washington Times ^ | March 10, 2006 | Barry Casselma

Posted on 03/10/2006 5:08:46 AM PST by ReleaseTheHounds

Once again, President Bush's popularity has gone down, this time to near its previous bottom. His friends and supporters are dismayed, especially since the economic and other news is not that bad. It is certainly not as bad as it has been, or as it might be. The intensity and duration of this unpopularity is not unique. Harry Truman, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton aroused similar emotions. Only Nixon did not recover from this after his presidency (although his foreign policy skill has been vindicated). What did Presidents Truman, Reagan and Clinton have in common? They were good communicators, and they had an ear for what the American public thought and felt (although they often went against what political pundits told them was what Americans thought and felt). The worst thing an American politician can have is a tin ear.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: communicator; ports; rove
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To: XJarhead

>>...false statements like "the UAE will be managing six ports". >>>>... I'm not sure it is possible to reach people who intentionally remain ignorant of the facts<<

Regardless of who did or didn't do their homework, it is interesting to me that the President evidently didn't think it important to communicate to the American people in any effective way why this deal should go through.

That might have been a step in the right direction.


101 posted on 03/10/2006 8:21:20 PM PST by SerpentDove (The internet is big. "Oprah" big.)
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To: Do not dub me shapka broham

>>This crap might work on mind-numbed, brain-washed, maggot-ridden hippies-who's only experience with this subject is sleepwalking through a lecture by some Occidentalist, Arabist nitwit like John Esposito or Juan Cole-but it's not going to work with real Americans.<<

Nicely done. I love it when you spank the left like that.


102 posted on 03/10/2006 8:25:19 PM PST by SerpentDove (The internet is big. "Oprah" big.)
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To: MNJohnnie; Paul Ross; ohioWfan; unseen
Well Done Whiners. We have been asking you to quit the blind subservience. You did not. There are THREE branches of government.
The ONE issue the Republicans had the edge on was National Security. You said Republicans, not conservatives. We conservatives are sick and tired of Republicans dragging out a WOT, WOD, and NO coherent border policy. Get it?
The level of rabid ignorance and hysteria We are sick and tired of being called ignorant, hysterical, racist, bigot, and everything else. MNJohnnie, you are alienating conservatives from the Republican party more effectively with condescending diatribes such as this, than even the Socialist party could envision.
The Whiners have all thrown that away by rabidly regurgitating the Democrats PR Port Talking Points. Once again, this is winning people over to the conservative wing of the Republican party at an alarming rate. NOT you FREAKING DOLT. You have singlehandedly destroyed a lot of good will amongst American conservatives during the last two days. Go suck up to your UAE and Saudi handlers.
103 posted on 03/10/2006 8:28:05 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever (Political troglodyte with a partisan axe to grind)
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To: verity

I think the majority depend on Leno and Letterman for their "news."


104 posted on 03/10/2006 8:33:41 PM PST by lonestar (Me, too--Weinie)
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To: Borax Queen

Agreed.

With his open border policy, and his senseless Harriet Miers fiasco - which was neither understood nor defended to this good day, by any but a scant few rabid Bushbots - --

he took a tremendous amount of his credibility, wadded it up, and threw it on the garbage heap.

And then he is insulted when we don't trust him blindly?

Go figure...


105 posted on 03/10/2006 8:35:53 PM PST by SerpentDove (The internet is big. "Oprah" big.)
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To: mrsmith
Of course from now on the anti-moslem bigotry that's grown in the "conservative" blogosphere should be factored in by politicos.

So I can't be anti moslem?! Why not? I am not prejudiced against the religion. I am just biased against those among them who want to kill us. If you don't like it, too bad. I am still a Freeper, and I am going to continue to post my opinion. And, A LOT of Freepers agree with me!!

106 posted on 03/10/2006 8:40:13 PM PST by ExtremeUnction
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To: Iwo Jima; MNJohnnie
[ But that's probably your goal -- to disrupt Free Republic and counteract its efforts to preserve the Republic. ]

Ouch!... its a terrible thing to get uppity on Free Republic..
A disrupter!.. I've considered that.. about a few people..
MNJohnnie would be wise to consider your words..
They are wise words..

Already Bush is hanging by a thread on my republican list..
As a are few other "hangers".. Will get around to the irish pennants soon..
Any kind of "bot" makes me rethink their botulism..

107 posted on 03/10/2006 8:40:39 PM PST by hosepipe (CAUTION: This propaganda is laced with hyperbole..)
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To: ExtremeUnction
I am just biased against those among them who want to kill us. If you don't like it, too bad. I am still a Freeper, and I am going to continue to post my opinion. And, A LOT of Freepers agree with me!!

I agree. One of a lot.

108 posted on 03/10/2006 8:46:17 PM PST by ARealMothersSonForever (Political troglodyte with a partisan axe to grind)
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To: ClaireSolt
"Otherwise, we need realistic, doable plans."

Putting a zipper on the border is a realistic, doable plan. Most of the estimates I've seen are a drop-in-the bucket compared to current social costs. We've got our private bits exposed right now. I think we'd be smart to consider a 'zipper'. A gold card, or any other form of appeasement is more like trying to stop the wind by employing a fan blowing in the same direction. The last amnesty bill seriously accelerated the problem, as will the Gold Card.

109 posted on 03/10/2006 9:30:53 PM PST by CowboyJay (Rough Riders! Tancredo '08)
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To: mrsmith
""Conservative and patriotic" only means bigot in the NYTimes newbie."

So now... the NY Slimes is the arbiter and of conservatism?

110 posted on 03/10/2006 9:38:01 PM PST by CowboyJay (Rough Riders! Tancredo '08)
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To: mrsmith
"Not even most Moslems are our enemy"

Are you a Muslim, then?

Are you bigoted against Christians and Jews?

Have you read the Quran? Anyone who subscribes to the words on those pages (or espouses the Islamic faith) are the mortal enemies of all those who do not. Some are more patient than others, but they are all enemies of what America holds dear.

111 posted on 03/10/2006 9:45:05 PM PST by CowboyJay (Rough Riders! Tancredo '08)
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To: ARealMothersSonForever; MNJohnnie
Why did you ping me to this bizarre and unsettling rant?

Trying to prove you are not in the grip of hysteria? LOL!

(Please leave me out of this attack of yours on MNJohnnie, OK? I'm not in this fight).

The thing I have said repeatedly, and truthfully, is that the FACTS support the ports deal, and only emotions oppose it.

That remains unchanged after seeing your emotional rant here. I prefer to deal with reason, but thanks anyway.....

112 posted on 03/10/2006 10:06:43 PM PST by ohioWfan (PROUD Mom of an Iraq War VET! THANKS, son!!!!)
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To: MamaB

Were you ever one?



Were I ever one what?


113 posted on 03/10/2006 10:06:58 PM PST by trubluolyguy (Islam, Religion of Peace and they'll kill you to prove it.)
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To: trubluolyguy; MamaB

Ummmmm..........a REPUBLICAN. A very fair question, considering the number of imposters on this forum.


114 posted on 03/10/2006 10:13:53 PM PST by ohioWfan (PROUD Mom of an Iraq War VET! THANKS, son!!!!)
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To: CowboyJay

IOne you close off the border, you still have the problem of processing eleven million people. That's a daunting task.


115 posted on 03/11/2006 12:34:55 AM PST by ClaireSolt (.)
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To: MNJohnnie
Whiners? Why is Bush Jr. stealing and squandering so much American taxpayer money? What the hell justifies his stupid "free pills for greedy geezers" vote-buying scam? Why'd he try to put his bootblack on the Supreme Court? Why has the Republican Party revealed itself to be just another claque of greedy, power-mad politicians?

Put down the KoolAid and start to realize it's more than whining - it's exhaustion with both Big Stupid Government parties. Our country needs a good political enema, top to bottom.

116 posted on 03/11/2006 12:47:13 AM PST by Hank Rearden (Never allow anyone who could only get a government "job" attempt to tell you how to run your life.)
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To: Hank Rearden
I see the Whine All The Time Choir is going to keep whining until they elect as many Democrats as possible this fall. Talk about chopping your nose off to spite your face! But that right it isn't about the facts, it is about "Getting even with Bush" because the Whiners are mad.
117 posted on 03/11/2006 1:40:34 AM PST by MNJohnnie (Professional Journalism- the Buggy Whip makers of the 21st century)
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To: ClaireSolt
"IOne you close off the border, you still have the problem of processing eleven million people. That's a daunting task."

Sure is. No easy way around that one. ;)

Offering legal status without closing the borders first will only exasperate the problem, though. We need to get the border sealed-up first, and then we can worry about deciding who gets to stay and who has to go home, and how to get people documented.

We went through this same issue back in the 80's, and the results of the decisions made then have been disasterous all the way around. I, for one, refuse to accept any type of legal status extended to criminals until we address the root-cause of the problem, and get the border sealed.

IMHO - We don't need anymore short-term fixes. The way we've been going about this for the last 30 years isn't right for anyone in this country (legal immigrants, citizens, or companies who only hire legal employees) trying to play by the rules.

Me to US Gov't:

"No more half-stepping this drill. Get it right this time, or we'll pull you out of formation, and we'll give your spot to someone who'll do the job you're too lazy to do!"

118 posted on 03/11/2006 1:51:50 AM PST by CowboyJay (Rough Riders! Tancredo '08)
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To: lonestar

Frightening thought, isn't it?


119 posted on 03/11/2006 5:04:07 AM PST by verity (The MSM is comprised of useless eaters)
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To: ReleaseTheHounds

>President's "tin tongue" because of his inability or unwillingness to go on the communication offensive to support his policies.<

Inability. I cannot listen to him anymore, he's such an embarassment.


120 posted on 03/11/2006 5:11:36 AM PST by jaime1959
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