NYT: When An Explosive Charge Is Not Handled w/ Care(Cheney's "hit again")

[DeepModem Mom]

POLITICAL MEMO
When an Explosive Charge Is Not Handled With Care
By ADAM NAGOURNEY

Published: September 9, 2004


WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 - Vice President Dick Cheney's assertion that the nation was more likely to "get hit again" by terrorists if John Kerry was elected was one of the toughest attacks launched in a presidential election in 40 years.

But Mr. Cheney's latest assault on Mr. Kerry, which startled Democrats and Republicans alike, raised a central question even in this notably ferocious presidential campaign: Is it possible for a candidate to go too far, and alienate the very voters he is trying to court?

In one sign that the answer to that question may be yes, Mr. Cheney's aides were quick to say that he had not meant to be quite so direct in his remarks in Des Moines on Tuesday when he said: "The danger is that we'll get hit again and we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating." A review of the videotape of his appearance in Des Moines suggests that his remark was spontaneous and unscripted. There was some, though not much, cringing in Republican circles at the image of Mr. Cheney on television, characteristically unsmiling, describing a Kerry presidency in such apocalyptic terms.

But what Mr. Cheney said was, if a bit stark, in line with the not-so-subliminal message of Mr. Bush's nominating convention, and what the Mr. Cheney has said more delicately before: that the nation would be safer from a terrorist attack if it returned Mr. Bush to office. If Mr. Cheney's aides were walking back his remark in the hours after he made it, they were only walking so far....


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/09/politics/campaign/09memo.html

[dbt]

1. I call Bullshit on "the aides."

Mr. Chee-knee had not meant to be quite so direct in his remarks? That would be--what?--the FIRST time that the Snarling Reptile has not said EXACTLY what he meant to say.

The Dick is in charge of throwing great slabs of red meat to The Base, telling them exactly what they want to hear. And a good part of playing to The Base consists of scaring the bejesus out of everyone else.

In this case, it's Mission Accomplished.

:freak:
dbt

[Florida_Geek]

2. So if I understand this IF we get hit before the election

it is ALL BUSHIES fault......

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. This opens up 9/11 for scruteny

Now is the time to air the footage of the Chimp sitting like a rock in the classroom, doing nothing. This is the time to ask why fighter jets weren't up and intercepting the planes. This is the time to hammer home the fact that Chimp was given a memo about the danger but did nothing about it.

[RC]

5. And is the time to remind people that

this administration was handed a complete study of what to do about about terrorism by the real president, Al Gore in January of 2001. This information was shelved while chenney commissioned his own study that basically said the same thing.

[nyhuskyfan]

14. Cheney's Commission never met once

Before 9/11, anyway. I think they may have had some preliminary plans on maybe soemday having an organizational meeting to discuss possible themes that the commission might one day discuss once if and when it was ever formed.

[Hamlette]

16. more importantly regarding 9/11

if the terrorists hit countries where they do not like who was elected, why did they hit 8 months after Bush was elected?

[goclark]

18. The "911 Goat Tape" is the most damaging of all!

All the Rethugs will tell you," I didn't see F911."
or
" He was just collecting his thoughts.

Well if they didn;t see F 911 (I really think they did) then we need to keep hammering in to them in paid ads on CNN and MSNBC and CBS and ABC and NBC.

My favorite version is with the side by side images.
I'll try to find the link.It's here.

[Bake]

4. Solution: Televise F 9/11 the night before the election!

Let's see the bastards come back from THAT one!

Of course, the networks will never allow that to happen, even though they could charge megabucks for advertising.

Bake

[skooooo]

6. Thanks for reminding me..

...I gotta get my order to Amazon in for F 911.

[noonwitch]

11. HBO might be willing

CBS/NBC/ABC would be too afraid of backlash and hate mail.

HBO has the most violent and "obscene" shows on tv, and people are flocking to subscribe and watch "The Sopranos" and other shows (my current fave is "Deadwood"). They are all about controversy, or they wouldn't have hired Bill Maher.

[xchrom]

7. let's see, when we are attacked with the repukes in charge

we are safer, do i understand that correctly?

[acmavm]

9. Apparently you're refusing to get with the program. The bush* admin

is saying that 9/11 was Clinton's fault, and the next attack will be Kerry's fault.

They're just victims of the evil democrats.

[ahimsa]

19. Not exactly

9/11 happened because we voted for Gore. :eyes:

[The Zanti Regent]

8. WHO sat on HIS ASS reading MY PET GOAT when MY uncle was in a tower?

WHO sat on HIS ASS for SEVEN MINUTES and DID NOTHING?

[luaneryder]

10. Terrorists can just put their feet up and relax

They don't have to waste resources to make another attack on the US. The US government is doing their work for them by using scare tactics to keep the population scared witless. Hello Dick...9/11 happened on YOUR and Dimson's watch and you did nothing about it!

[Rambis]

12. Vote Bush or Die!

Crash cart must know with 100% metaphysical certitude we are not going to get attacked? I wonder how he knows this? HMMMMMMMM?

[Plaid Adder]

13. So...9/11 WASN'T devastating? n/t

[henslee]

15. When do aides/employees of the campaign of hate who have a shred

of conscience defect? How can you defend these chumps at every turn and look yourself in the mirror? Don't answer. I know. They are as twisted and vile as the kommandant.

[Soloflecks]

17. He meant exactly what he said!

Especially if it wasn't scripted! How dare he threaten us if we don't vote for *!!! Dick, take your criminal extortion to a Federal prison cell or more appropriately Gitmo! Treasonous terrorist bastard!

[The_Casual_Observer]

20. Who is going to investigate this claim made by this ass?

This is one hell of a serious claim. What the hell is he talking about? Does he have some information about an attack? or why else would the (responsible??) VP of the USA make a claim like this????