Yep, I think the plan is to appear to go softer than the public wants, figuring the 'rats will leap on it with loud complaints that he isn't going after Saddam. Then they have cut themselves off from future complaining when he does.
I think that's a possibility. Bush struck me as having learned the lesson taught by the parable of the old bull and the young bull (see post 24). He's not thrown off by the bashers and second-guessers.
Then they have cut themselves off from future complaining when he does.
One can never cut off Democrat complaining.
For example, in almost the same breath, they complain that (1) Bush knew all about 9/11 ahead of time but didn't tell us for political gain, and (2) knows nothing about current terrorist threats and is just making the latest warnings up for political gain.
But more likely you meant that when such complaining occurred, Bush's current talk might reduce the affectiveness of that complaining. Could be.
Speak softly and carry a big stick.