Open Thread

I guess the administration agrees with me that the Dems have no momentum.

The question is: what the hell are we gonna do about it?

6 Comments

Renee in Ohio on August 25, 2007 at 7:02 pm

Just clicked through to see the headline…

White House Senses Recent Political Gains

How does that work? Is it like having one’s “spidey senses” tingling?

Chimpy senses?

As far as “what are we going to do?”, for my own part, probably just whimper softly. Not a very helpful answer, I know, which is why I usually just keep quiet when such questions are asked.

This feeling of burnout has lasted longer than I expected, come to think of it…

billjpa on August 25, 2007 at 7:10 pm

if this is an open thread then try this one– Major trade– chertof to justice and gonzo to the minors!

dada on August 25, 2007 at 7:34 pm

as the pentagon is setting up their war room for the big psyop.

Directed by none other than rummy’s media master J. Dorrance Smith:…a recess appointment, btw.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Shaping the Bush administration’s message on the Iraq war has taken on new fervor, just as anticipation is building for the September progress report from top military advisers.

For the Pentagon, getting out Iraq information will now include a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week Iraq Communications Desk that will pump out data from Baghdad – serving as what could be considered a campaign war room.

According to a memo circulated Thursday and obtained by The Associated Press, Dorrance Smith, assistant defense secretary for public affairs, is looking for personnel for what he called the high-priority effort to distribute Defense Department information on Iraq.

The move – requested by Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England – comes as administration officials are gearing up for a rash of reports on progress in Iraq and recommendations from the military on troop levels going into next year. The key report will come from Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker.

[…]

Less than a year ago, Smith developed plans for teams of people to “develop messages” for the 24-hour news cycle and “correct the record” when news agencies put out what the Pentagon considered inaccurate information.

[…]

Defense officials denied that the program was a propaganda tool or that it was set up to respond to the eroding public support for the war.

via Guardian UK

Looks like the d‘s are about to get out played again, assuming they’re even in the game.

For the record, l haven’t a clue as to what else l, we, or anybody can do to prevent this. It’s truly beyond me at this point.

lTMF’sA

BrendaStewart on August 25, 2007 at 8:03 pm

well, for the general public, as it goes, when the deaths of our ppl and the wounded still come home, that will be the thing that rebuts the pentagon. One of the ppl that died in the helio crash–this past Tuesday– is from an industry here in the town I live in. He and his dad lived in MO. but drove to work here in this town which is only 22 miles to travel. So you see, until this stops entirely the news that comes down the pike from whomever it is is judged by the actual facts that communities are experiencing. It is not just the war, it is the economy and education and health care and just about every damn thing you want to name, under this administration, that will be considered in this election. NO matter, if you are republican or democrat, this is the reality they have to face…day in and day out..with their constituents. So do not let the government get to you at this point on this thing. it is just propaganda and the American ppl are now knowing the difference in all of this. The ppl are so angry and they are about to burst at the seams over all of this.

michaelmt on August 25, 2007 at 8:08 pm

For six years, they’ve created news. Each characterization they’ve tried to promote has been a self-fulfilling prophesy, because they’ve owned the media.

I’m thinking it isn’t going to work this time. First of all, they don’t have the senior military. Other than a few ultra-Christian true believers, there are either the ones who wish they could speak out or the ones that are retired and are speaking out. The leaks in the last week or so are pretty unusual.

But second, and more importantly, I don’t believe there will be an Iraqi government by September 15. If Al Sadr is de-facto Prime Minister, will anyone support sending our kids into the meat grinder? (Yes, I know we are really doing it for the Saudis, but I don’t see Mitch McConnell admitting that.

There are more people upset with Congress for wimping than upset with them for trying to end the war–and the “I don’t know” middle is shrinking. Congress is getting its collective earful this month.

I may agree that the traditional center of the Democratic party has no momentum, but that’s not who’s arming up for the primaries.