What is it about the Republican denial of reality?

by Jerome Armstrong, Wed Nov 01, 2006 at 06:39:50 AM EST

John Kerry says he's sorry, but Tony Snow ignores it and says Kerry must say he's sorry.
Via TP:

This morning on MSNBC, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) apologized for his comments on Monday. "Of course I'm sorry for the botched joke," he said, calling his comments "pretty stupid."

About hour later, Tony Snow said the following on CNBC:

All you have to do is say, I apologize. I said something, it came out wrong, I'm sorry. And instead, what Sen. Kerry has done, is he's tried to whip it into a big thing...

That's exactly what Kerry has said. According to the White House, the story is over.

Update (Chris): The reason Republicans are running with this and denying reality is because they can. They asked us to apoligze, and like good puppies, we did. Now, are we surprised that they want us to apologize more? And what are we going to do in response to Snow's attack--keep apologizing? Wouldn't surprise me if we did. Democrats are once again showing weakness in the face of attack, an eagerness to apologize for calling the right-wing names, and a willingness to close Daou's triangle on themselves. Just look at the latest AP headline:Some Democrats join Republicans in pressing Kerry for apology Game over. So much for showing strength in the face of attack. Once again, we are weak, divided, and grovelling for forgiveness from the unforgiving Republican Noise Machine. The triangle is officially closed on this now. Well done, Democrats. My only remaining hope is that this story goes away quickly.

Tags: Republican fantasy world (all tags)

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

No one gives a shit about this story.

No one. The media are clinging to it like hungry dogs because they literally have nothing else to report that is positive for Bush and they are desperate to fluff him at the moment.

They idea is to keep Kerry front and center. Move on already.

This is a non-issue.

by smacfarl 2006-11-01 06:52AM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

Agreed. It's the least interesting story on every news webpage. Would be a story if he were up for re-election. Someone should put a microphone in front of Jerry Falwell for about ten minutes, let him say something stupid and call it even.

by Cleveland John 2006-11-01 06:58AM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

It's the least interesting story on every news webpage

But interesting or no, it is on every news web page.

What matters is how many times it's repeated, not how interesting it is.

by Silent sound 2006-11-01 12:14PM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

And its not even positive for the Republicans. Its just less negative than reporting that more than a hundred American service men and women died in Iraq because Bush was too lazy to do his homework, and tried to gut out an answer instead.

by BruceMcF 2006-11-01 07:40AM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

Unfortunately, the media is making it into an issue. Kerry apologized and it should be dead... but the GOP is using this as a last ditch effort to tip the vote their direction. A little tremor will send most of these races one way or the other... While I don't think this will be it, Americans have tipped on stupider things. Either way, Kerry should be sent home until after the election... Even with the apology he is going to draw negative attention and the story won't die. Just because we find it stupid and ridiculous doesn't mean others won't. We need him out of the media for the next week, NOW!

by yitbos96bb 2006-11-01 07:49AM | 0 recs

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There's no way THIS story tips anything

No one. No one will change their mind about who they're voting for based on Kerry's comments.

It could be taking something out of the news that could work to our benefit... like the stem cells debate. But, it may also be keeping something out of the news that would hurt us -like the constant coverage of Bush's campaign stops and talking points.

by Cleveland John 2006-11-01 07:55AM | 0 recs

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You are kidding yourself

In case you need reminding, the Democrats' big lead in the polls is due to the amazing coalition of voters behind them right now. Not just liberals, who don't give a damn about this story, but independents and moderates, many of whom voted for Bush over Kerry, but had recently been souring on Bush.

This gaffe by Kerry has the potential to put a dent, even a small one, in the very carefully constructed coalitions backing red-state Dems like Ford and Tester. A tiny swing against these Dems can cost us several races.

by OfficeOfLife 2006-11-01 08:14AM | 0 recs

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Re: There's no way THIS story tips anything

NO... You won't change your vote. To say NO one might contemplate change is stupid. It may be a VERY VERY VERY small amount, but in this close of an election, that may be the difference. I am thinking this would have an effect in the red states more... Look I hope I am wrong, but we NEED to get this out of the CYCLE ASAP and probably should send Kerry home. He DID screw up on this... Yes, he misspoke, but it was still a screw up (much like the I voted for it before I voted against it line). Yes he apologized and yes I forgive him, but right now he is a potential liability and needs to go home for the week. Especially since he is under the misguided idea he can win the 2008 nom again.

by yitbos96bb 2006-11-01 08:14AM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

I don't really care if the reality matches up to the Daou triange hypothesis or not. Kerry said something stupid and needed to close his own rectangle, and good thing he did. This is sorta like the rundown of Dean for Kerry on cable, and blogs are totally left standing on the sidewalk.

by Jerome Armstrong 2006-11-01 06:57AM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

Apologizing graciously and sincerely to soldiers is not apologizing to Republican liars. Making the distinction does not seem that difficult, even for a word-mangler like Kerry. I agree with Jerome that it's good that he did the former and hopefully did not do the latter (I haven't seen his statement on video yet).

Dems need to understand, experience and express what real strength is, not always just "[re]act strong" for the sake of appearing strong. And while the MSM is not the best vehicle for conveying this, if it's expressed clearly and with sincere conviction, it tends to get through to viewers.

A potentially related and very important and timely piece of this "who is strong" and "who is on the side of our soldiers" debate is highlighted by Andrew Sullivan:

While the media is obsessed parsing the ad libs of someone on no ballot this fall, something truly ominous has just happened in Iraq. The commander-in-chief has abandoned an American soldier to the tender mercies of a Shiite militia...

...The U.S. military does not have a tradition of abandoning its own soldiers to foreign militias, or of taking orders from foreign governments. No commander-in-chief who actually walks the walk, rather than swaggering the swagger, would acquiesce to such a thing. The soldier appears to be of Iraqi descent who is married to an Iraqi woman. Who authorized abandoning him to the enemy? Who is really giving the orders to the U.S. military in Iraq? These are real questions about honor and sacrifice and a war that is now careening out of any control. They are not phony questions drummed up by a partisan media machine to appeal to emotions to maintain power.

http://time.blogs.com/daily_dish/2006/11 /abandoning_an_a.html

Dems should be asking that question relentlessly and with passion in the next few days (and beyond). My guess and hope is that, if these questions make it into the nightly news cycle in the next few days, they can shift some votes at the margin and perhaps swing one or more tight races.

The confluence of these two events (the "image" war in the form of Kerry's botched statement, which is at worst clumsy and potentially insulting to some, and the "reality" war, where Bushco's deception, dishonor and ineptitude have cost many thousands of lives--perhaps including the life of this missing soldier--and hundreds of billions of dollars) is potentially a defining final moment in the 06 campaign.

Maybe the netroots can help shine a light on this contrast, so that even the MSM can't miss it.

BTW, Andrew Sullivan has a few closing words about John McCain that speak to the next election cycle:

And where, by the way, is McCain on this? Silent on Cheney's "no-brainer" on waterboarding. Silent recently on Iraq. But vocal - oh, how vocal - on Kerry. It tells you something about what has happened to him. And to America.

by mitchipd 2006-11-01 07:33AM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

REPUBLICAN LIARS: ALL POLITICIANS ARE LIARS, NOT JUST REPUBLICANS....a certain presidential perjurer comes to mind. Quit acting like your party is all high and mighty

by heyhey 2006-11-01 12:46PM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about...

I don't think we look weak, divided and grovelling. This is just Kerry looking like Kerry: an awkward guy who gets mad as hell at Bush. I mean, I thought he was doing more damage when he was talking about surfing--made me cringe. But still. Roll 2004 election all over again. The ruler of the free world (Bush) calling a senator names and saying gems like,"Our soldiers is plenty smart." Red meat for the "Brains! More brains!" zombies who would vote GOP anyway.

Besides, the longer this thing stays up, the more the media will probably turn against Bush for being an opportunist. I mean, what the hell else can they say? Net loss: a few events with Kerry on the stump, but so what? Was John Kerry swinging the big elections all alone? I doubt it. He was doing his part on the stump, but he can do something else on the public dime this week.

I think we look just as strong as we did two days ago. Even stronger by Friday when big media anchors start scrambling to be the first to use the word "landslide."

by Jeffrey Feldman 2006-11-01 07:10AM | 0 recs

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.....what else can they say

Yesterday: Kerry and Bush fight over Kerry's words.

Today: Kerry cancelled joint campaign appearances with several candidates.

Tomorrow: New poll out showing effect of Kerry's commments. (I hope not)

Friday: ....on to something else, I hope.

by Cleveland John 2006-11-01 07:24AM | 0 recs

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Having said that.

I think our best bet would be to close out the weekend with the stem cells debate.

by Cleveland John 2006-11-01 07:26AM | 0 recs

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Re: .....what else can they say

The Republicans would be hoping there's no fall-out in the polls. They are hoping to galvanize their base without catching any negative fallout from independent voters.

by BruceMcF 2006-11-01 07:42AM | 0 recs

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By the weekend

This will be just one of many topics covered by the week-in-review talk shows. The drawbacks are the botched joke itself, the distraction, and now this disappointing turn on Kerry. However, I think there are positives in that it segues with what is actually happening in Iraq.

So yes, there is this unfortunate spin, but it will lead naturally to discussion of the unavoidable events of the last month of the war.

by OH Mark 2006-11-01 07:27AM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

Kerry just let Karl make him his Bitch again. What a putz!

by surfk9 2006-11-01 07:39AM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

Jerome, don't throw in the towel yet on this one, I think there's still time to save it. we should use this as an opporunity to keep Bush's failed Iraq policy front and center. here's a response:

"George Bush wants to play language games in Iraq while thousands of US solidiers have been killed. George Bush should apologize for his failed Iraq policy. George Bush should stop playing politics with our soldiers' lives."

so i think we should turn this story into our advantage with more responses like that.

by Chris G 2006-11-01 07:56AM | 0 recs

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Re: Heres the Reality

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/11/01 /classified-military-brief_n_32999.html

http://www.icasualties.org/oif/default.a spx

by mrJJ 2006-11-01 08:20AM | 0 recs

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I think Kerry probably had to apologize

not because of what he said, but because the media simply won't let this go without getting their pound of flesh. They would continually hound on the story endlessly. Now what are they going to say?

CNN: "Bush reiterated his demand for an appology in several campaign stops today. Kerry has appologized for making what he called 'a botched joke.' White House Spokesman Tony Snow said 'Kerry needs to addres his apology to the brave men and women in Iraq whom he libled with his remarks."

Then what? Ultimately, this isn't going anywhere and doesn't really play into any themes. Does it mean that Democrats are "cut and run"? That theme is played out. It doesn't raise any fears about Al Queda or keeping us safe or raising taxes.

About the only effect of this is to drown everything else out, which is good for Republicans. But, it also drowns out their red-meat cries of "be afraid! Be very afraid! Democrats won't keep you safe!"

Frankly, Bush might have been better off talking about how we haven't had a terrorist attack since 9-11 or something. I wouldn't mention the word "Iraq" if I were him.

by Cugel 2006-11-01 08:40AM | 0 recs

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Kerry should not apologise

He should maintain that the recruiting is so desperate now thanks to Bush's policies that if you have no options, you will be recruited into the military at a bad time when a useless war is being fought because all the current personnel are exhausted. What he said has no bearing on most of the current military.

Democrats should go on the offensive and say that if anyone should apologise, it should be Bush and Cheney. And one should ask Bush why his daughters don't even CONSIDER going into the military right now as the lack of options is obviously not a factor. If a frail teenage woman like Jessica Lynch can get into the military , why not his 20 something well fed daughters.

by Pravin 2006-11-01 09:00AM | 0 recs

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Charlie Cook Says Much Ado About Nothing

Charlie Cook says no one will change their vote b/c of Kerry's comment and I agree. This is mindless chatter for 24-7 TV news that the vast majority of Americans don't even watch or pay attention to. Do 10 million people total watch Fox, CNN and MSNBC combined on any given day?

John Kerry is yesterday's news and the Repubs attempt to make something out of this shows how incredibly desparate they are. This is probably the nail in the coffin for Kerry's already dead 2008 Pres run, though.

by John Mills 2006-11-01 09:11AM | 0 recs

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Re: Charlie Cook Says Much Ado About Nothing

I tend to listen to Cook b/c he is a very good analyst and has been looking at polling data on the 2006 elections closely. He has a pretty good idea of what is driving the electorate and it aint John Kerry's ability to open mouth insert foot.

FWIW - No one at my job is talking about this but they are talking about the mess that Bagdad has become.

by John Mills 2006-11-01 09:14AM | 0 recs

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Re: What is it about the Republican denial of real

My anecdotal evidence is that one guy I know, who should know better, is taking it seriously. It may not chnage his vote. A lot of media here (small town Minnesota)are blasting away with it.

This kind of thing is effective if it persuades a niche 1%,even if most people don't care.

by John Emerson 2006-11-01 09:43AM | 0 recs

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Butch-up

What's weak and spineless are bloggers throwing in the towel when their delicate sensibilities are offended by Dems they ostensably want elected do what they need to do to get elected.

Butch-up. This issue is a loser for the GOP, and their internal polling has finally told them so. Boehner just accepted JFK's apology on behalf of the GOP, and said that he considers the matter closed. Let Snow keep whining about an apology. Please, let him.

by Disputo 2006-11-01 02:24PM | 0 recs

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Re: Star-Gazing

and you would have us make this election about John Kerry? john kerry didn't need to say anything about iraq - we own it because of events in iraq

can you go back to stock-touting or star-gazing or whatever you use to do and leave politics to the professionals (whoever they are ...)?

by jg 2006-11-01 03:02PM | 0 recs