Bush has lost the "presidential" glow.

[poskonig]

I was looking over at the Bush website, and the changes are symbolic of what is going on in the Republican camp right now. Earlier, the strategy was to sell SpaceShrub as some sort of historic figure. For instance, there are extracts of Bush's speeches in quotes on the top of each section. Pictures of Bush are presented to make him look like some sort of visionary.

Something has changed over the last week and a half as the numbers have dropped. The Republicans and Bush have begun smearing, and that throws away Bush's biggest advantage, the "presidential" quality bestowed to him by 911, the media, and the congressional democrats during that time. Right smack in the middle of the "historic" looking website there is a huge tacky attack video aimed at Mr. Kerry. It creates a sharp dissonance, and I wonder if I'm the only one who is noticing this.

From an impersonal, objective standpoint, I think this hurts the Republicans. It makes Bush look unpresidential and partisan, and this will reinforce the claims that Bush is untrustworthy in the months ahead. This only works to the Democratic advantage. I'm not sure what else the Republicans could do. Do they simply take the attacks? Could they counterattack in a different way?

Regardless of what happens, I'm quite pleased by this development.

[diplomats]

1. They've come to the stark realization

that the only way they can win is to rip apart Kerry. And Kerry knows that. He wasn't born yesterday.

[opihimoimoi]

3. The Pubs attack because the Truth is not in their favor. Blows their cover

Thus they denigrate. Its the same ole story, Make yourself look good by tearing down the opposition.

[bushwakker]

2. A house of cards, tissue of lies

the only thing he really has is the image of the plain spoken everyman - willing to accept responsibility. that myth is being exposed. what's left is not very attrative.

[boobooday]

4. It does present quite a dilemma

When you run out of lies. :-)

http://www.wgoeshome.com

[cryofan]

5. that image of kerry in camoflauge in Nam, and being decorated in uniform

in contrast, Bush-AWOL has ruined the carrier flight suit imagery that Bushco had set up.

And the Iraq lies have ruined the imagery of Bush patrolling through the ruins of WTC 9-11. But they will still try to use those WTC images. But they are holding out to the end to use that....

[Leilani]

6. The press has been on vacation for 3 years

& a few seem to have awakened from their slumber. Avery few of them are researching the AWOL issue, & reporting on some things not too favorable to Bush.

I think Howard Dean gave the Dems a spine, & now some of the press is getting a spine, in response to the Dem primaries, & criticisms of Bush.