I am tired of hearing how hard it will be to beat bush*.

[rwork]

I think the media whores believe if they keep repeating it long enough, it will come true. If you ask a bush* supporter to name one thing bush* has done for the country,they might say he is protecting the American people. The truth is he did not protect the American people. He had information about terrorist's flying planes into buildings and chose not to use it because it came from the "terrible" Clinton administration.

[diplomats]

1. Actually, beating an incumbent is never easy

however, the defeats of Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Poppy Bush prove it does happen with some regularity, at least in recent decades.

[Boom_cha]

2. I agree that Bush is definitely beatable

But let's look at the facts:

1) He has the incumbency advantage
2) He'll have a huge money advantage
3) He has a stenographic press corps at his disposal
4) Rove undoubtedly has some dirty tricks up his sleeves
5) If all else fails, he has the "LIHOP/MIHOP again" option

The Dem nominee, whoever he is, will be the underdog. Not to say that he won't win--I believe he definitely can--but it will be a steep uphill battle.

[BlueState]

16. The money and the fact that he has no republican opposition...

... is huge. The money for starters is record breaking, this is something the likes of which we have never seen. He can be using campaign funds boosting his own image while the Dems battle it out. The Democratic candidate will then leave the convention broke and Bush will still have a huge war chest.

[gratuitous]

3. That's because you're not the target audience for that meme

See, not everything broadcast by the popular media is meant for folks who are paying attention and who follow events. In fact, darned little of it is. So, when commentator after commentator talks about how "unbeatable" Lil George is, it's to set up the "inevitability" factor in the minds of those who aren't like you and me.

Right now, it's how popular and invulnerable Lil George is, and that will be the message pretty much through the end of the year. At the beginning of the primary season, when a Democratic front-runner comes out of the pack (If Lil George is so "unbeatable," why is everyone and his sister lining up to take a shot at this guy in 2004? That question won't be addressed), there will be approximately two weeks of earnest sighing that the Democrats "have to run somebody in 2004."

As soon as that front-runner starts turning his attention from the nomination to Lil George, the message will be some subtle variation of "what kind of creep/traitor/unAmerican would dare to unseat the Great George W. Bush," to plant in the public mind the idea that Lil George must be president because he must be president. The campaign will then devolve further (if such a thing is possible) into endless perorations about the Democratic nominee's unfitness for public office, record of personal failure, and total lack of competence for the noble and daunting job of running the country. Naturally, all of these allegations will be far more true of Lil George, but that will never be mentioned.

So, sit back, pop some popcorn, and enjoy the show. We'll have Jeb ready for 2008 by then.

Or, get out there, work for the candidate of your choice, then work for the Democratic nominee if your candidate doesn't win, register voters and get them to the polls. The whole Republican program is designed to depress voter turnout. We can go a long way towards foiling them by getting more people to the polls.

[bryant69]

12. Let me ask this question

I'm curious--but it seems like it would be terrible business for the networks to emphasize the strength of President Bush. I admit they have overlooked some stories in the past. But obviously an election can be big money to a network, particularly if it looks close. If it's a blowout for President Bush, nobody will pay attention to the election--they'll assume its in the bag. This means low ratings for the Network coverage. It also seems that I'v seen a number of stories about how divided this country is.

Of course the openly conservative Media (Rush Limbaugh and consservative Columnists) have different priorities and they will try to portray it as a blow out as much as possible.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[gratuitous]

19. Well, business is business for the networks

And as much of a ratings bonanza as a competitive presidential campaign might be, the networks are looking down the line. The FCC is promulgating media consolidation rules that nobody except the Big Boys want, and as long as Bush stays in power, they have the chance to put an iron grip on their stranglehold for the foreseeable future, which will put far more money into their pockets for a much longer time than any campaign, which will be over in any event 15 months from now. They're looking at the long term ravaging of the American consumer, and election 2004 is small potatoes compared to the wealth and riches they're lusting after.

[Bombtrack]

4. Yours is a minority opinion

not necessarily a wrong opinion, but saying how hard it will be is the paractical truth. And unfortunatly the frontrunners Dean and Kerry will make it even harder to do as well as Gore did.

Hopefully Graham, or much better yet Edwards, can pick up some numbers from Leibermans faltering campaign, or undecided voters

There is nothing wrong with NOT living in an echo chamber

If there is one wrong opinion I see alot here is that this or that candidate would "trounce Bush" or is "unbeatable".

It will be a close election, even if we run a much stronger campaign than Gore did.

[grytpype]

5. That's what the Repugs do, they declare victory in advance...

... and hope that demoralizes you so much you stay home on Election Day.

The truth is, Bush is finished. He lost the election in 2000, and since then he's been the worst president in history. His re-elect numbers are very low. That's the number to look at, not "support."

And just wait until the 3d I.D. comes home and tells all their friends and neighbors how fucked up the occupation of Iraq is and how much they hate Bush for it.

[stewert]

6. Me Too..........

It's all propaganda, less than 48% said they would vote for Bush in 2004.

Political experts say any time an incumbent slips below 50% re-elect numbers
he is in trouble.

The media is trying to make people believe Bush is un-beatable, it's ridiculous.

[Jim Sagle]

7. Relax, guys. It's in the bag for Dean.

He'll slice through his Dem opponents like a hot knife through melted butter, then he'll run through w like crap through a goose.

And no, this is NOT sarcasm.

People have had a BELLYFUL of the media. They won't be paying ATTENTION to the media's inevitability shtick.

[BlueState]

18. With all due respect

I don't think anything is in the bag for anyone. Not the nomination and certainly not the general election.

The republicans fight dirty and they have tons of money. The media is in their pockets and while you and I have certainly had "bellyfull of the media" I am not confident that my fellow Americans will see through them.

[Stuckinthebush]

8. Let the media continue to say this

It will have the effect of energizing those against Bush and depressing those for Bush.

If I am a luke-warm Bush supporter and think that he will win in a landslide, why do I need to bust my butt to get to the polls to vote?

But, if I am semi-scared of Bush, and I hear the he will probably win, then I am going to bust my butt to vote.

[Randi_Listener]

9. The media and repukes....

....have their heads in the sand.

[pansypoo53219]

10. what in hell

is the chimp doing in this picture????
what a man of dignity.

[Randi_Listener]

11. Trying to get out of his car.

And nearly falling on his ass like a Chevy Chase SNL skit.

[caledesi]

13. Thank you RW! Finally, someone said what it really true...

* is very beatable. Look at the shape of this country and tell me why he should have a second term?

[jiacinto]

14. It will be hard to beat Bush

To say anything else is to not live in reality.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. Some People On This Board

constantly confuse the emperical and the normative and consequently live in a fantasy world.

"We must take man as he is and not the way we want him to be"

-Edmund Burke

When people violate this principal they do it at their peril.

[Cha]

17. I "tired of it", too! And everytime someone says it I

point out some facts! :kick:

[Emboldened Chimp]

20. Bush is beatable

Though he has the money and no opposition, all a smart Dem would have to do is run against *'s record. All the money in the world will not mask the absolutely dreadful record this guy has.

[jfkennedy]

21. Cheney even was making a deal with them

It is strange that the democrats are not jumping all over Cheney was
negotiating with the terrorists to score on a big oil deal, even when most of the world knew they were some of the most dangerous terrorists ever and that right after Cheney was talking to them they blew up the World Trade Center on 9/11. And Cheney even ordered the FBI chief in charge to stop investigating international terrorism. Read some of the following expose of the White House cover-up from a story on Alternet.

"Or was it that Enron and the White House were working closely with the Taliban – including Osama bin Laden – up to weeks before the Sept. 11 attack? Was a deal in Afghanistan part of a desperate last-ditch "end run" to bail out Enron? Here's a tip for Congressional investigators and federal prosecutors: Start by looking at the India deal. Closely. "

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=12525