Posted on 08/04/2003 10:23:12 AM PDT by PhiKapMom
With the President in Crawford and the Congress adjourned for the August recess, we are going to change Countdown for the next week to provide you information from White House including In Focus reports that started last Thursday with Iraq at
These Reports will give you a perspective of where the President stands on the various issues and allow you to defend the President from attacks that are coming from the Democrats and their friends in the media. Today we are using The White House Weekly Review to give you an overview of the President's past week along with other members of his Administration.
Please keep calling talk radio and sending your letters to the editor of your local newspapers using these In Focus Reports as background! The link below is a great resource to use to find media outlets across the Country!
During his 2003 State of the Union Address, the President outlined progress in the war on terrorism and announced new initiatives in the fight. Since September 11, America has:
* Disrupted terrorist networks, removed key leaders, and arrested more than 3,000 terrorists in many countries.
Created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our citizens, intensified security at our borders and ports of entry and posted more than 50,000 federal screeners in airports.
*The President also outlined initiatives to defend the safety of our people and the hopes of mankind by confronting the international HIV/AIDS Pandemic, guarding against bio-terrorism through Project BioShield, improving intelligence capabilities through the Terrorist Threat Integration Center and disarming Saddam Husein.
September 17, 2002
The great struggles of the twentieth century between liberty and totalitarianism ended with a decisive victory for the forces of freedom—and a single sustainable model for national success: freedom, democracy, and free enterprise. In the twenty-first century, only nations that share a commitment to protecting basic human rights and guaranteeing political and economic freedom will be able to unleash the potential of their people and assure their future prosperity. People everywhere want to be able to speak freely; choose who will govern them; worship as they please; educate their children—male and female; own property; and enjoy the benefits of their labor. These values of freedom are right and true for every person, in every society—and the duty of protecting these values against their enemies is the common calling of freedom-loving people across the globe and across the ages.
Today, the United States enjoys a position of unparalleled military strength and great economic and political influence. In keeping with our heritage and principles, we do not use our strength to press for unilateral advantage.We seek instead to create a balance of power that favors human freedom: conditions in which all nations and all societies can choose for themselves the rewards and challenges of political and economic liberty. In a world that is safe, people will be able to make their own lives better.We will defend the peace by fighting terrorists and tyrants.We will preserve the peace by building good relations among the great powers. We will extend the peace by encouraging free and open societies on every continent.
Defending our Nation against its enemies is the first and fundamental commitment of the Federal Government. Today, that task has changed dramatically. Enemies in the past needed great armies and great industrial capabilities to endanger America. Now, shadowy networks of individuals can bring great chaos and suffering to our shores for less than it costs to purchase a single tank. Terrorists are organized to penetrate open societies and to turn the power of modern technologies against us.
Click Here for Reminder of Introduction and the Report Contents
Shortly after his inauguration, President Bush called for a review of all U.S. military capabilities setting the goal of how best to achieve the necessary transformation to meet the new challenges of the 21st Century.
Over the past year, the Secretary of Defense has led efforts to transform the way U.S. military forces defend the country while also addressing long-standing management problems at DoD. The terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, underscored the urgency of Secretary Rumsfeld's effort.
The new security environment requires a military force that is balanced to counter both conventional and unconventional threats and is armed with strong intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities. Even so, intelligence gaps will persist, so innovation must be factored into our defense planning and response.
The future, both near- and long-term, presents numerous challenges and great opportunity. When President Bush took office, he inherited a defense program that needed to be strengthened.
As a percentage of the nation's gross domestic product, defense expenditures had shrunk to 2.8 percent. Inadequate funding strained both equipment and people. Recognizing these deficiencies, President Bush provided significant increased resources for defense in 2002.
Much remains to be done. In a post-Cold War world, where freedom and democracy remain imperiled, this budget lays the groundwork for a sustained, long-term investment in the nation's security. The United States must strengthen its defense posture to protect the nation's interests and to assure its lead role in global affairs.
A war on terrorism has begun, and while there has been success in achieving specific military objectives, the shape and dimension of the subsequent phases of the campaign will remain a work in progress for some time to come. The President's 2003 Budget for DoD and the intelligence community reflects the Administration's strong commitment to winning the war on terrorism, sustaining current military readiness, transforming the way the nation defends itself, and enhancing American intelligence capabilities.
To address these needs the President's Budget proposes $369 billion in 2003 for DoD and an additional $10 billion, if needed, to fight the war on terrorism.
President Bush understands the importance of conveying America's message to the world. The Office of Global Communications (OGC) was formed in 2002 to coordinate strategic communications overseas that integrate the President's themes and truthfully depict America and Administration policies. Since better coordination of our international communications helps convey the truth about America and the goals we share with people everywhere, the President authorized OGC by Executive Order to communicate American policies and values -- with greater clarity and through dialogue with emerging voices around the globe.
The Office of Global Communications
OGC advises the President and his key representatives on the strategic direction and themes that the United States Government uses to reach foreign audiences. The Office assists in the development of communications that disseminate truthful, accurate, and effective messages about the American people and their government. With State Department Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs remaining at the frontlines of international communications, Global Communications coordinates the work of many agencies and Americans to convey a few simple but powerful messages. These messages are intended to prevent misunderstanding and conflict, build support for and among United States coalition partners, and better inform international audiences.
Countering propaganda and disinformation is an important role for the OGC. In January 2003, OGC produced Apparatus of Lies, a collection on the use of propaganda by Saddam Hussein and his regime. This volume was written to counter misinformation about America, the coalition, and Western intentions in Iraq. This collection helped undermine the use of these distortions during the liberation of Iraq.
In addition, Global Communications helps our government inform audiences about positive news stories . Iraqi children, the women of Afghanistan, the President's HIV/AIDS initiative and Millennium Challenge Account, and freedom in Iraq. Other efforts include telling the stories of torture and brutality in Saddam's Iraq and updates on the liberation of the Iraqi people.
OGC works closely with the communications office of the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and coordinates with public affairs operations at the State and Defense departments, USAID, Justice and Treasury departments, the U.S. military, and America's coalition partners.
America's Message to the World
"This is America's agenda in the world. From the defeat of terror, to the alleviation of disease and hunger, to the spread of human liberty, we welcome and we need the help, advice and wisdom of friends and allies."
-- President George W. Bush, May 31, 2003
The Office assists the President in communicating his message to the world -- dignity, peace and freedom for all people, everywhere. The "non-negotiable demands of human dignity" and the National Security Strategy's focus on peace and freedom are US Government policy, but they are also universal aspirations. As such, they provide a framework for more listening and greater dialogue around the globe, and a framework in which OGC coordinates initiatives on behalf of the President.
As the President says, we value the dignity of all human life. Family, learning and generosity, both here at home and around the world, are central to prosperity and peace for all. Meanwhile, for security's sake, we seek to defend, preserve and extend the peace.
The President's strategy makes clear that peace is defended by fighting terror and tyranny. Peace is preserved with good relations among great powers. And peace is extended by encouraging free and open societies.
And America must always stand for freedom. As the President plainly states, freedom is God's gift to every single person. Freedom is also the one true model for national success. Different circumstances require different methods -- we help societies so they can choose for themselves the rewards of political and economic freedom.
The President's Initiatives
The President understands that reaching global audiences -- especially people who are open to the truth but unsure or critical of some aspects of America -- will take many years, but we must begin to make a difference now. OGC coordination efforts focus on 1) daily messages, 2) communications planning, and 3) long-term strategy.
1) OGC produces The Global Messenger, a one-page fact sheet sent world-wide to disseminate key points and daily activities on global issues. OGC leads a daily conference call of Administration leaders to coordinate near-term and mid-range communications planning. The office also works closely with the State and Defense Departments to ensure rapid response to allegations and rumors in the war on terror, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Road Map, HIV/AIDS, and the Millennium Challenge Account.
2) OGC helps develop and coordinate mid-range themes and events to support Presidential initiatives, such as his drive for Congressional and U.N. support for disarming Saddam Hussein. OGC has coordinated efforts to reveal the disinformation and propaganda of the Iraqi regime. Working closely with the Pentagon and all relevant agencies, OGC facilitates and coordinates the organization of teams of communicators to be sent proactively to foreign or domestic areas of high global interest and media attention. For example, one such team was stationed in Doha, Qatar during the liberation of Iraq and moved to Baghdad after, and another group worked with the international media in Kabul, Afghanistan for the Loya Jirga. These efforts underscore the ongoing US and coalition commitments to fostering freedom and the non-negotiable demands of human dignity.
3) OGC coordinates government-wide efforts to convey America's message to the world by improving communications about US humanitarian and pro-democracy efforts. Drawing on the President's outreach to Arab and Muslim audiences, OGC is working closely with the State Department to increase our interaction with existing pan-Arab news media. Also, the Office is encouraging efforts to reach Muslim audiences directly via US-supported broadcasting, exchanges, and new products.
Please visit the White House website on National Security to read about:
Weapons of Mass Destruction (PDF) -- National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction
Rebuilding Afghanistan with Fact Sheet
Africa -- African Growth and Opportunity
Helping Developing Nations -- A New Compact for Development
These are just a few of the links that deal with National Security. Please visit the White House site for National Security to read more about the President and his Administration initiatives on National Security along with speeches made by the President on this issue!
They have far too little understanding of the real world. they do not know it takes a majority to gain political power. And if they do recognize the need for a majority they have no clue about how to garner a majority.
There are two majorities... a leftist majority and a rightist majority. The left majority extends from the left to just to the right of center. The right majority extends from the right to just left of center. Any candidate who does not get one of those two majorities loses and can effect no influence on anything. The leftist majority when in power will tend to do more leftist things that right. The right majority when in power will tend to do more rightist things than left. But the left will do a few rightist things and the right will do a few leftist things. It is all about gettinng a majority.
The political spectrum is divided into four segments. They are the left, the right, the center, and the registered but don't usually vote groups. The Perot voters of 92 and 96 came out of the "Usually don't vote group." Don't believe me? In 1988 eighty nine plus million people voted for president. But in 1992 with Perot on the ballot about 104 plus million people voted. Perot got 19 million votes in 1992 and about 15 million of them were from the "Didn't vote in 1988 group" In 1996 Perot only got 9 million votes. Perot got half of what he got in 1992... And guess what? Only 95 million people voted. Nine million people who voted for Perot in 1992 did not vote in 1996 and Perot got 9 million fewer votes. That is not a coincidence.
How many times do the fringe people have to tell us they can see no no difference between the Democrats and the Republicans before we believe them? Believe them. They are telling you the truth. We had a perfect example of the fringes seeing no difference in 2000. The left fringe voted for Nader because Gore was not Green enough for them. They saw no difference between Bush and Gore on environmental issues..so they voted for Nader. But what would have happened if Nader had not run? Many of them would not have voted at all. But those that did would have split their votes evenly between Dubya and Gore. When they say their is no difference they mean they can see no difference and they split their votes.
The fringes are just not important to the political process at all as long as they are ignored. That is, they are only impoatant when one of the major parties and its workers try to woo them. It is a hopeless task. Green as Gore is not enough to get the fringes on the left, and conservative as Dubya is not enough to get the fringe on the right. We need to remember that fact. If a major candidates changed his positions to appeal to fringe voters, it woud costs at least 10 centrists votes for every fringe vote he got. He would lose some of his base too. Going after fringes costs elections.
In any national election there is no need to even consider the fringe voters. Some of them will vote but they have no bearing on the outcome. The voters that do decide elections are Centrists. Centrists decide all elections. They sometimes vote for the left and sometimes vote for the right and whomever they vote for wins.
Centrists are not ideological. That is a provable assumption. If they held a leftist political philosophy they would be part of the left. And If they held a rightist political philosophy they would be part of the right. But they go from one political philosophey to the other.. often in the same election. They will vote for Dubya for President and vote for a left wing senator in the same election. When centrists are questioned many will tell you they vote for the "MAN" not the party. That is another way of saying they vote for the person they like. To many Centrists likability is a major factor in choosing a candidate for whom to vote. For the remainder of the center, the deciding factor is "What's in it for me."
For much of the 20th century Democrats won the "What's in it for me." voters. Reagan taught us how to win that group by selling the conservative agenda so it has a very effective "What's in it for me." component.
Reagan did not sell the philosophy of low taxes much at all. Reagan made a direct appeal to the "What's in it for me." group by saying "I will let you keep more of your own money." "I will get the government off your back!" is another appeal to the same group of centrists.
I will cut marginal tax rates and reduce government regulations does not have an appeal to the center. That is an ideological argument and has no effect on the center. One needs the center to win and the campaign has to appeal to them.
If a candidate can hold his base,(Fringes are not part of the base), and get most of the likability centrists and some of the "What's in it for me!" group, that candidate will win the election.
Looking back on 2000, Dubya got his base, and nearly all the likability votes. But Gore got nearly all the "Whats in it for me." voters.
It is important to note that to win, a Republicans candidate has to get some voters who are to the left of center.. just as Bill Clinton had to get some to the right of center to win as a Democrat.
Fringers believe that those in the center can be make into ideological people. They need to get a clue. About one third of the people who vote are not ideological. No amount of persuasion will make them ideological. It takes over half the non ideological voters to win. The party and candidates that go after the non ideological with effective non ideological persuasion techinques will always win.
In 2004 it looks like the Democrats have forgotten everything Bill Clinton taught them. And that is a very good thing for our side.
The house is a little bit different, but we could use an additional 10 firebreathers/bombthrowers on the right.
Political reality dictates that we will never elect more than a few right-wing idealouges. So my question to you is how do we elect a few?
Worth repeating.
I've seen Howard Dean doing the talk shows lately. He looks awful and sounds worse.
We dare not allow a liberal the opportunity to name the next justices to the Supreme Court of the United States...or any federal bench for that matter!
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