LAT's Brownstein: Bush's Political Gain Must Pass Test of TIme

[DeepModem Mom]

Los Angeles Times:


For President Bush, the capture of Saddam Hussein provides a huge short-term political boost. But its long-term impact during the coming campaign year will depend largely on its effect in Iraq....


Some experts believe that having Hussein in custody could cause problems for the Democrats if their presidential nominee is, like current front-runner Howard Dean, defined by opposition to the war....


(Brownstein writes that experts in both parties say it's possible that Bush will be able to run a classic "peace and prosperity" campaign, but adds the following.)


In fact, many uncertainties could still cause trouble. The depth of the recovery remains murky, and job growth remains slow enough that Bush still is on track to become the first president since Herbert Hoover to suffer a net loss of employment during his term.

After inheriting record budget surpluses, he is heading into the election carrying the weight of the largest budget deficits ever. And many of the benefits from the capture of Hussein could erode if violence and unrest persist in Iraq.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-na-pol15dec15,1,6594084.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Saddam's capture could backfire on Bush

because many people are going to want to know why the soldiers aren't coming home now. When the bombings keep up and more soldiers are killed, Americans are going to get more and more impatient.

This is the time for Gen. Clark and the other candidates to state their programs for getting out of Iraq strongly and forcefully.

[dusty64]

2. I can't understand the reasoning

that those who opposed this "war" were wrong. WTF has changed, its not like overthrowing saddam was our objective. They STILL lied about the reasons our soldiers and tens of thousands of civilians have been maimed and died. NOTHING has changed!

[priller]

3. Bush is the PR president

Capturing Saddam, winning the war, passing Medicare bill, tax cuts, all these things have little value to the Bushistas other than the PR they can extract from them, and the votes they can gain from that PR. It doesn't matter that Saddam's capture has little effect for Iraq, it can be spun and spun and spun as a huge "victory" for Bush from now until the election.

[Magleetis]

4. Right

I call it the smokescreen effect. He seems to be able to get this big media frenzy going that makes him look great and powerful. Meanwhile under the radar he is destroying the environment and giving the country away to his rich pals. Saddam was minding his own business in Iraq when we invaded and started killing. Now we have captured the evil dictator. What did he do to us besides purchase our weapons? The capture of Saddam is not good news to me because it is good for Bush* that means it is bad for the US. Here come the smoke machines.

[Gin]

5. The election is 11 months away....look back over the past 11 months..

refelct on what has happened. I beleive he will be defeated.