Tuesday, November 08, 2005

The Common Man

From today's WP in regards to President Bush campaigning for candidate Jerry kilgore:

"The thing I like about this fella is he's from Virginia and he grew up on a farm," Bush continued. "That means he's a down-to-earth person. He doesn't have a lot of fancy airs, a person who knows how the common man thinks."

So, what is more pressing on Kilgore's mind? Making it home from work in time to catch The Simpsons on FOX, or how much he really thinks 'My Name is Earl' has a good premise, and hopes it catches on to the mainstream to get picked up for next season.

Isn't it great how Bush characterized American leaders based on pre-Monroe doctrine characteristics? In a time of horizontal intergration, Bush is trying his damndest to insulate the US from external influences.

3 comments:

Eric Z said...

You are complaining about politicians trying to characterize leaders? Like Bush invented this trick?

What were Republicans called (and still called now) when they dare suggest that federal spending should be slowed or dropped?

Baby-killer
Woman-hater
Racist

are some of the nicer names.

So please, your complaints are nothing new.

By the way, it looks like Kaine will win in Virginia - congratulations, I believe, in seeing your candidate win.

RRD said...

So you agree Bush's approach is hackneyed?

You must not have been paying attention to the details of the Virginia election (why would you), it was Kaine who was the proponent of raising taxes, while Kilgore had numerous spending plans, but no plans to raise additional funding.

The Virginia election turned into a referendum on Bush, which is apparent, based on all results.

Eric Z said...

Hackneyed is not the right word, but it is political.

I mean, Bush is trying to paint his guy in a favorable light to people that could be considered swing voters.

What's wrong with that? That's politics. Every side does it.

No, I didn't follow the election too closely, but I do disagree that this is a big referendum on Bush. Two points, from what I heard:

1) Kilgore did not to take the no-tax pledge. A mistake.
2) Did he (Kilgore) really release a commercial saying that Kaine wouldn't execute Hitler? Too much over the top, no?

And it's not like this is a change; Virginia already has a moderate Dem. governor. Whether Kaine is mderate or not is to be seen, and I don't know one way or the other.