<p>FS, you are too young to think you know so much. </p>
<p>Look, listen and learn. Keep an open mind…even up there in Hanover!!! It’s surprising what can happen!</p>
<p>
pffft. And you, as I understand it, are old enough to know better than to post such tripe. Perhaps, you imply, FS will “grow” and become more like you, if only she remains as open-minded as you profess to be. LOL, as you would say. That kid has more going on in her little finger than you have going on in your whole frontal lobe. (Sarcasm is lost on those without endowment in this area, remember?)</p>
<p>And for what it’s worth, UCLAri, you’re right about the Bush PR problem. I think Tony Snow was a great choice that should have been made years ago.</p>
<p>Driver, you’re not even half amusing. You are on ignore.</p>
<p>I don’t blame you, AM. Chicken-s navelgazer.</p>
<p>ZZZZZZZzzzzzz</p>
<p>driver,</p>
<p>“Snowjob,” as Colbert dubbed him, has perhaps the hardest job of any Press Secretary in the past half-century or so. Though the platitude “sinking ship” is thrown around like nobody’s business, Bush’s PR end could be described no more accurately. And while I’m a bit hesitant to say that any election will be interesting in the US-- with around 90% incumbency rates in both houses, “interesting” is not remotely accurate in most cases-- this mid-term election may prove either disastrous or “meh” for the President. </p>
<p>And not only will it be up to Snow to continue resealing everything Bush and Co. have let of Pandora’s Box up until now (that’s 6 years of awful PR let out), but he’ll have to put a positive spin on what will almost certainly prove to be a non-victory at the polls for the GOP.</p>
<p>It’s like trying to keep the Titanic afloat, and all you have is some bubblegum and duct tape. Sure, it could be done, but it’ll take a MacGyver to do it.</p>
<p>You’re making much more of it than I was. Scott McClelland was a terrible choice as press secretary. Snow is obviously much better. And Rumsfeld should have had someone like Pete Williams (and the cadre of generals) giving press briefings from the Pentagon, as was the case under Bush 1 (back when you were in elementary school…you may not remember how well it was done).</p>
<p>Re Colbert and “snowjob”: I guess I just prefer subtler wit. The only time I see the Comedy channel is when my kids are home and watching it, and even they think Colbert is wooden and unimaginative. But to each his own.</p>
<p>driver,</p>
<p>Well, I tend to take the whole “head of state” thing quite seriously, and PR (both domestically and abroad) is key to that position. I’ve heard many who are aligned quite firmly in the “Bush camp-” whatever that means- who have discounted the value of “image.” But, as someone who does IR at least at a fairly sophisticated level (my graduate degree will be in it), I’m forced to recognize the immense value of image in international dealings.</p>
<p>And though I’m a bit young to remember Bush Sr. as a child, I can certainly tell just from reading transcripts and studying IR that he was much more adept at the IR PR game.</p>
<p>Oh, and that’s the point of Colbert. He’s a mockery of the lack of imagination and character that embodies most of the talking heads on the news channels today. I don’t enjoy him as much as I enjoy other shows on CC (I’m a South Park maven, to be sure), but I can see the value in Colbert and why people enjoy him.</p>
<p>
I don’t discount image at all. I just disagree as to the image that should be projected. The European elite panty-waist sophisticates think they’re smarter than Bush, as do their American imitators. The important thing right now is knowing who will kick ass and mean it. I think most of us know who that is, too. The rest of you can go have snacks and playground at the UN.</p>
<p>Ah, but you see that’s where I disagree.</p>
<p>The trick isn’t just showing (knowing?) who will kick ass and mean it. It’s who will kick ass, but outwardly project an image of reluctance to use force. This gives you moral superiority in future dealings, but also the image of a nation who doesn’t take crap.</p>
<p>I certainly am not one who believes that the UNSC has any value other than nominal, but it’s a good way to legitimize your actions in the eyes of the international community. Yes, I know, “but we’re the US, and we don’t have to deal with the petty Euros and their internationalism.” Maybe not, but we have to deal with the PRC, the Ruskies, and the Indians. And maintaining a serious moral superiority worldwide is an important goal, even if it’s hard to quantify and predict. </p>
<p>For the record, I think that Bush is a brilliant politician who plays his game very well. I think he’s a moderately capable statesman, however. Nonetheless, he’s no idiot. Not by a longshot.</p>
<p>It’s nice to agree with you on something. I love what Bolton has been doing in the UN recently btw, and recall with fondness the imbecilic remonstrations posted here on CC by the usual know-it-all suspects. He is kicking serious ass, taking names, and I’ve no doubt that there will be consequences. It’s kind of silly to pretend you’re not the only super-power in the world when you’re dealing with a bunch collectivist theoriticians who couldn’t raise the military means to defeat a major US police department.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Hmm…the states alone couldn’t handle the US, but the EU’s joint spending on military is pretty high. And if Russia ever gets around to joining, that’ll be an interesting balance-of-power.</p>
<p>
As are their other unionized welfare programs!</p>
<p>Hah.</p>
<p>True, true. But I wouldn’t discount the Euros so quickly. All indications of economic strength show the EU as being nothing but strong, and a good source of competition for the US. I, for one, welcome it! The US is at its best when someone threatens its supremacy in something or other, and perhaps this time it’ll be friendly competition instead of a blasted Cold War.</p>
<p>'Sides, we need to save the next Cold War for those evil Chinese bastards in China. :p</p>
<p>UCLari: I’m a conservative republican and I’d like to say that I admire and respect your posts and find your point of view much worth reading.</p>
<p>Driver: I’m also pretty pleased with John Bolton.</p>
<p>zoosermom,</p>
<p>Well, thank you. :)</p>