Monthly Archives: October 2004

Saturday is ‘Suprise Day’?

Posted on October 22, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

Here's a story you won't see in your newspaper. Pandagon speculates in Just A Day Off In Crawford:

Just A Day Off In Crawford: Bush is going to be taking a day of rest in Crawford on Saturday? With the election 10 fingers and two toes away? I mean, I know we're stupid, but exactly how dumb do they think we are?

So what's the surprise gonna be, folks? Bush going to fight a lion? Going to personally snap a drugged Osama bin-laden's neck in an arena duel, a la Gladiator? Parachute into Iraq? In the end, it all goes back to something Jon Stewart said:

I don't think Bush is stupid. I think we're stupid, because otherwise he wouldn't talk to us the way he does.

That's the operative dynamic of this election, a healthy disrespect for the wisdom and judgment of the American people. And to that, all I can say is Digby's right, we need to convince the press of our intelligence before Bush snaps on the flightsuit, tapes down the codpiece, and slingshots into a warzone.

Update: Well, you may see it in your online newspaper.

Posted in Politics: US: 2004 Election | 4 Comments

Reality Is Not an Option Indefinitely

Posted on October 22, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

Here's news from a study of the differing perceptions of Bush and Kerry supporters, conducted by the Program on International Policy Attitudes and Knowledge Networks, based on polls conducted in September and October:

Even after the final report of Charles Duelfer to Congress saying that Iraq did not have a significant WMD program, 72% of Bush supporters continue to believe that Iraq had actual WMD (47%) or a major program for developing them (25%). Fifty-six percent assume that most experts believe Iraq had actual WMD and 57% also assume, incorrectly, that Duelfer concluded Iraq had at least a major WMD program. Kerry supporters hold opposite beliefs on all these points.

Similarly, 75% of Bush supporters continue to believe that Iraq was providing substantial support to al Qaeda, and 63% believe that clear evidence of this support has been found. Sixty percent of Bush supporters assume that this is also the conclusion of most experts, and 55% assume, incorrectly, that this was the conclusion of the 9/11 Commission. Here again, large majorities of Kerry supporters have exactly opposite perceptions.

I don't find persistent (willful?) voter ignorance very cheerful. On the other hand, I suppose this opens a window for some good advertising.

Posted in Politics: US | 2 Comments

Yet Another UM Blogger

Posted on October 22, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

All the UM bloggers this year have attitude. “Tortious Interference” concludes his (I bet the author is male) first post at the Legal Twilight Zone with, “I hate spel checker. Not using it.” Meanwhile, I wish I would remember to use it…

Posted in U.Miami | Comments Off on Yet Another UM Blogger

Florida Ground Game

Posted on October 21, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

The local Kerry-Edwards office is full of energetic retired people during the weekday; more young folks on the weekend. Seems this is part of a widespread Florida trend: John Kerry's Senior Brigade.

Posted in Florida | Comments Off on Florida Ground Game

Tinfoil (It’s a Vital Nutrient Edition)

Posted on October 21, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

What amazes me about the Bush Bulge story is how totally ineptly the White House has dealt with this thing. It would have been so easy to kill this rumor dead: bring on the doctors to say he's healthy, the Secret Service to say there's no electronic device, etc.

Instead, the White House brings out … the White House tailor. Never mind that Georges de Paris (!) looks like he moonlights at Hogwarts, the “bulge” he points to in this picture looks like a little ridge—the sort I get on my suits when I hunch up, not a box.

Furthermore, as you can see in this nice recap of the Bush bulge issue, a somewhat similar bulge appears inside Bush's t-shirt!

Posted in Politics: Tinfoil | 13 Comments

Worth 1000 Votes

Posted on October 20, 2004 by Michael Froomkin

First Draft has been running a series of Kerry pictures. I was especially struck by this one:

If you object to the picture, please click on it.

Posted in Blogs | 1 Comment