SmithAntics

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This column by Howard Fineman is a classic example of how the corporate media attempts to sell Republican Party talking points as “objective” analysis. On the stage of media whoredom, Fineman is cast as a balanced, straight-down-the middle reporter--a real “fair ‘n’ balanced” guy. The sad thing is that legions of Americans fall for attempted Jedi mind tricks such as these:

Most Americans tend to blame the rise of terrorism here on the eight-year Clinton administration. Bush, without having to say much, was able to play the political victim.

As a political analyst, my first thought was: All this [Iraq war] video is bad for Bush, because it makes his Iraq policy look like a failure. I was wrong, of course. He may pay politically for Iraq at some point, but not right now. For now, it’s still rally ’round the commander-in-chief, if for no other reason than to show that we are not Spain.

Bush has a plan and a vision: His goal is to protect the American homeland by spreading democracy (by military force if necessary) to the cockpit of Islamic fundamentalism. This idea strikes many serious people as naïve and grandiose at best, dangerously imperious and counter-productive at worst. But what, precisely, is the better idea? Kerry certainly hasn’t made that clear. “Winning hearts and minds” sounds nice, but how do you do that these days? Relying on the United Nations sounds good, too, except that the U.N. has little real credibility.

Let’s face it, as a people we tend to like simple answers and strong leaders who propound them. That may be especially true in these, the early years of what is likely to be a long, twilight struggle against terrorism.

So far, his strategy has amounted mostly to: Vote for me, I’m not Bush. That’s not enough, especially if Kerry is seen by most voters the way the BC04 ad portrays him: as a flip-flopping manipulative insider.

I see your eyes glazing over.... You're growing weaker....

Now repeat after me:

"The secular Iraqi dictatorship was the cockpit of Islamic fundamentalism"

"Clinton is responsible for 9-11"

"You like simple explanations"

"The U.N. has little real credibility"

"The Spanish government acts in accordance with the will of the Spanish population and is therefore weak."

"Kerry is a a flip-flopping manipulative insider"

“Bush is a strong and resolute Leader”

“These are not the droids you are looking for”

“You will let us board the Millennium Falcon”