:: NEWS COCKTAIL aka BlahBlahBlog ::
"Everything is being compressed into tiny tablets. You take a little pill of news every day - 23 minutes - and that's supposed to be enough." -Walter Cronkite, RE TV news. The Web has changed that for many, however, and here is an extra dose for your daily news cocktail. This prescription tends to include surveillance and now war-related links, along with the occasional pop culture junk and whatever else seizes my attention as I scan online news sites.:: 9.29.2004 ::
:: RE Dubya ::
FYC (for your consideration) --
from today's inbox clutter:
Dear BushRecall.org Supporter,
President Bush's handlers have ferociously negotiated every last detail of formats for the presidential debates. Their extreme attention to detail isn't a product of Bush's subpar debate skills. On the contrary, he's quite good - especially when the format doesn't allow for suitable follow-up from an opponent or moderator to refute all his super-spun answers. By now, we all know that President Bush can do nothing if not stick to a script with the best of them.
But President Bush's script hasn't included real answers to real problems facing real Americans - and it's time to demand them from him. With that in mind here's a handy primer to use for scoring the debates while watching from home. It's an easy game to play, but the total score might make soccer look like a high scoring affair. Here's how it works: When President Bush does any of the following, add one point.
-- Acknowledges the true extent of the mess in Iraq.
-- Acknowledges that the "Mission Accomplished" banner and "Bring 'em on" comment were big mistakes.
-- Presents a plan to fix the mess in Iraq.
-- Explains how his current troop rotation program is sustainable, despite GAO estimates.
-- Presents a plan for dealing with North Korea.
-- Explains how Halliburton rose from the 22nd-largest military contractor in 2000 to seventh in 2003.
-- Explains why we haven't found the source of the Valerie Plame leak.
-- Explains why we haven't found Osama bin Laden.
-- Mentions Osama bin Laden.
-- Offers a full explanation for the WMD argument.
-- Offers a full apology for the WMD argument (this is worth double).
-- Offers a full apology for Abu Ghraib.
-- Unveils a plan for rebuilding America's stature and respect throughout the world.
Sounds easy enough, doesn't it? Well, here's a second list: Whenever President Bush does any of these things, subtract one point:
-- Uses the phrase "stay the course."
-- Bad-mouths our traditional allies (bonus points if he specifically mentions France).
-- Calls John Kerry a flip-flopper.
-- Calls his opponents weak.
-- Mentions "the lessons of September the 11th"
-- Talks of supporting the troops without mentioning shortages of armored Humvees, clean water and body armor.
-- Uses the phrase "Coalition of the Willing."
-- Utters any of the following: thugs, assassins, madman.
That's it, now you have a ready-made guide to the debate proceedings for tomorrow night. As you can see, you'll probably end up in red numbers - just like the Bush budget.
Above all else, remember this: George W. Bush is the incumbent, so it's up to him to answer all of the public's questions about his failed policies. He hasn't so far - here's guessing he won't tomorrow night, either.
We'll be back to you on Friday with our post-debate analysis.
Sincerely,
Mike Lux
President, BushRecall.org
Paid for by the Fair and Balanced PAC, BushRecall.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee.
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posted by me
:: 9:31:00 PM [+] ::
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