Bush trying to be McCain?

[XASA]

Bush on the Lincoln was a brillant photo op and a great setting for his speech, which was impressive. His recognition of the servicemen and women who make daily sacrifices to protect our country was especially touching. Having said that, I hope people realize that it was an elaborately staged political event that evokes memories of Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of the Will," considered to be the greatest propaganda film ever made, with its shots of cheering uniformed masses and a victorious commander in chief bracing his military for further sacrifices.

[hood]

I saw it as bringing himself to the same level as the military that he was thanking. I can't bring myself to talk negatively of someone who didn't say he was anything that he wasn't, and very accurately told the people of the US where the thanks needed to go. Photo ops like this are important because it shows that the President is behind his troops and won't abandon them like a certain other one.

[papabear]

How many Americans would have grasped the message if it were merely transmitted through newspaper? On the one hand we might lament the fact that so much is done for the sake of getting press coverage in order to prepare for the upcoming election year. Yet, how much "packaging" does the American people need in order to get the right impressions of a person? Whom should we blame? The person responsible for resorting to "style over substance" or the receiver of the message who can only find meaning through style and not substance.

Which is not to say that this is what the President is doing. But this is the way getting votes/support works in America.

[budanski]

Bush Needs To Deliver Like Reagan
(http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vppin023264315may02,0,4053956.column?coll=ny%2Dviewpoints%2Dheadlines)
Ronald Reagan had three sons: Michael, Ron, and George W. Bush. That became clear yesterday when the 43rd president landed on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Why did he do it? Because it looked cool on TV. But while W. might be Reaganesque in style, he has yet to prove that he is Reaganesque in substance.

It's a cliché that Bush 43 models himself more on Reagan than he does on his own father. And why not? The Gipper was a two-termer, while the elder Bush, having mostly inherited the presidency from his popular predecessor, managed to lose the White House after just four years.

One of Reagan's political strengths was that he was always surrounded by imagery that appealed to most Americans. Not everyone in this country likes straight-shootin' and plain-talkin' cowboys, but most do. And so Reagan, born in Illinois, remade himself into a Westerner. By contrast, the elder Bush, who flew combat missions in the Pacific while Reagan was making training movies in Hollywood, was betwixt and between image-wise, a little bit country and too much preppy.

And now the younger Bush, who might have landed on carriers 35 years ago had he not sought refuge in the National Guard, is the one decked out like a combat ace. Poor John McCain. He walked the walk in Vietnam, and now he sits on the sidelines as Bush talks the talk off the coast of California.

There were some differences from Reagan. Whereas Reagan was sunny, Bush was grim last night, even grim reaperish, as he declared, "The war on terror is not over." But either way, Bush has just presided over a military victory and has a rendezvous with re-election in 18 months. Understandably, he wishes to bask in the glory of the armed services. All that was needed was what politicos call a "defining event." That is, something to stamp the image in the public mind: George W. Bush = America Standing Tall.

[hood]

Dem John Kerry who's running for president took no time off by throwing another insult at Bush while he was doing it. It's pretty much come down to "While Bush is walking his dog, our economy is in the toilet!" "While Bush is taking care of Iraq, North Korea is about launch their nukes!" "While Bush is talking with North Korea, Iraq is ... oh.. nevermind."

[Trigger]

I say let 'em keep putting their feet in their mouths. Most people recognize B.S. when they hear it. The Dems' potential candidates seem to be more adept a spewing it. :roll:

[Duke]

I dont understand how you can correlate Bush, McCain and the USS Lincoln. If that is your perception, then its the wrong one the WH attempted to inspire. Coming aboard the Lincoln, the WH wanted to instill a sense that THE CINC is a leader, a great and successful leader, taking us through a difficult time in our history.

[JTFazz]

Tane, with all due respect, I think you are reading too much into it. I think it was just his way to try and get close to the troops in a more personal way. You may be picking up on what media commentators were saying vs. what the real intent was.

It was certainly a stroke of brilliant PR in my opinion. And don't think it wasn't a risky move. I bet the Secret Service pucker factor was 10+

Don't get me wrong, the chances of a favorable outcome were hugely in his favor, but that is risky transportation for the leader of the free world whether its George W. Bush or Alfred E. Neuman.

You would be hard pressed to find a crew member of the Lincoln to think it was anything more than what it was presented to be. If he really wanted to come off as a tough guy, he would have insisted on jumping in the RIO seat of a Tomcat.

[96B]

I'll bet you could eat off of the floor in the heads of that carrier because they are sure to make it spick and span before he came onboard.

I thought the speech really introduced nothing new in a news sense, but its meaning was gargantuan. He did say thanks to all the men and women who worked hard in defending this country and he did make quite an entrance which I thought was really cool. Our military respects and likes Bush so much more than Clinton and its pretty obvious. Of course the event was also a big political endorsement for the elections but I think much more than that it was a thankyou for the military.

[admar2]

If he really wanted to come off as a tough guy, he would have insisted on jumping in the RIO seat of a Tomcat.


actually, didn't I read somewhere that he wanted to backseat a F18, but the secret service insisted he have a agent with him, thus eliminating the possibility of him arriving in a fighter.

or did i just imagine that?

;)

[hood]

yep, one of the network sites mentioned that. they could have done a blue angels formation so the SS guys could stay extra special close. :)

[Chris1]

Can someone enlighten me as to the US senator who came back from Vietnam a few feet shorter?
Saw a thing on TV about im but forgot the name.

[JTFazz]

Well, Tane, I must congratulate you for your response to those who disagreed in a mature fashion. I think this is one of the few threads here that hasn't been reduced to name calling because the original poster responded in kind to the knuckleheads that lowered the average intelligence level by using personal attacks, misinformation and hyperbole.

I, too, am a big McCain fan. I remember, albeit vaguely, when he returned from Vietnam (I was a lot younger then and mostly interested in Hot Wheels and GI Joe). I was disappointed in some of the political discourse that resulted from his and Bush's fight for the GOP nomination in 2000. But such is the risk of adversarial political systems in an open society. I am glad they publicly buried the hatchet and Mr. McCain has been a solid supporter of the administration.

At any rate, he is a man of honor, conviction and principle... a genuine American hero. I still marvel at his ability to emerge from such a long and mentally devastating captivity to accomplish what he has without being committed. But I don't think that reflects one way or another on the historial moments of May 1. I am sure Senator McCain probably earnestly applauds Mr. Bush's actions as an embrace of the very men and women who lay their lives on the lines for our very freedoms. I think Bush has a genuine love and respect for the people of the US military, unlike some of his predecessors, and he wanted to demonstrate that... and if you make a little political hay in the process, all the better.

At any rate, an interesting discussion and interesting points made all around... I personally think he should have made a HALO jump onto the deck of the moving carrier... now that would have been impressive.

rofl

[Seiyuuki]

It is unfortunate...if it wasn't for his health, McCain have the potentials to become a very good president. I pray he run in 2008, but that is very unlikely.

[Chris1]

no, I believe he was either infantry or worked on helicopters, blown up by a grenade lost both his legs and such.