Bush Guard records
U.S. District Judge Harold Baer Jr. handed down an order late
Wednesday in New York for the Defense Department to hand over
President Bush’s records. The order is the result of an Associated
Press lawsuit that has already led to the disclosure of previously
unreleased flight logs from Bush's days piloting F-102A fighters and
other jets.
Pentagon officials told the judge that they plan to have their search
complete by Monday. Baer ordered the Pentagon to hand over the records
to the AP by Sept. 24 and provide a written statement by Sept. 29
detailing the search for more records.
Kerry records
While President Bush has authorized the release of all his records
Sen. John Kerry has still refused to do so.
White House responds to memos flap
The Washington Times reports on that the White House yesterday
slammed CBS anchorman Dan Rather for offering President Bush campaign
advice and for relying on the "feelings" of a Bush critic to impugn
his military record.
Scott McClellan: "CBS has now acknowledged that the crux of their
story may have been based of forged documents," he told reporters
aboard Air Force One.
And regarding Dan Rather’s snotty “answer
the questions” snort to the President, McClellan said: "It's always
best for journalists to stick to reporting the facts and not try to
dispense campaign advice," Mr. McClellan said.
And what about Rather’s attempt to hide behind the skirts of the
86-year-old former secretary of the now deceased supposed author of
the memos? When Rather asked the aged Marian Knox if Bush received
preferential treatment in the National Guard, she replied, “I feel
that he did."
McClelland: "So now some are looking at
feelings and not the facts. We don't have to rely on the feelings of a
nice woman who has firmly stated her opposition to the president."
According to the Times article:
White House aides were furious that Mr. Rather did not disclose to
viewers that Mrs. Knox told the Dallas Morning News that she opposed
the president's re-election, calling him "unfit for office" and
"selected, not elected." Bush advisers were also incredulous that Mr.
Rather gave such credence to a woman who openly admitted that much of
what she was telling the newsman was "conjecture" and "gossip."
Privately, some Bush advisers said Mr. Rather has become part of the
story and therefore should recuse himself from further coverage. They
suggested a more objective journalist at CBS should begin aggressively
pursuing the question of whether the documents were forged.
To read the entirety of the WashingtonTimes
article,
click here.
2 New Bush-Cheney ads
Today, Bush-Cheney '04 announced the release of the campaign's newest
television advertisement, "Common Sense Vs. Higher Taxes." The
television ad highlights President Bush and Congressional leaders'
plans to grow our economy through a fairer, simpler tax code, lower
health care costs, increased investments in education, more help for
communities and less dependence on foreign oil.
The agenda of the President and Congressional leaders for a more
hopeful America stands in contrast to John Kerry and the liberals'
plans for tax increases that would hurt small businesses, kill jobs
and derail our economy. "Common Sense Vs. Higher Taxes" will begin
airing today on national cable and in select local markets.
State-specific versions of the ad will run in Michigan, Ohio and West
Virginia.
The campaign's newest radio advertisement, "Two Plans," notes the
impact of the agenda of Kerry and his liberal allies for higher taxes
and more bureaucracy on working families and small businesses. "Two
Plans" will begin airing today in select local markets.
Script For television ad "Economy:
Common Sense Vs. Higher Taxes"
President Bush: I'm George W. Bush and I approve this message.
Voice Over: President Bush and our leaders in Congress have a
common sense plan... To grow our economy...
Graphic:
President Bush & Congressional Plan:
Small Business Job Growth
New Skills Through Education
A Fairer, Simpler Tax Code
Voice Over: And create jobs...
So small businesses can expand and hire.
The Liberals in Congress and Kerry's Plan:
Raises taxes on small business.
900,000 small business owners would pay higher tax rates than most
multinational corporations.
Graphic:
Liberals in Congress & Kerry's Plan:
Raises Taxes on 900,000 Small Business Owners
Small Businesses Pay More Taxes Than Big Corporations
Voice Over: Tax increases would hurt jobs, hurt small business
and hurt our economy.
Graphic:
Liberals in Congress and Kerry's Plan:
Higher Taxes
Hurt Our Economy
Script For radio ad "Two Plans"
President Bush: I'm George W Bush and I approve this message.
Voice Over: Paid for By Bush Cheney 04, Inc. and The Republican
National Committee.
Jay
Moccia:
Hi...I'm
Jay Moccia. I'm a law enforcement officer from the Greater Boston area
with a wife and six kids and yea - I know you think my accent is
funny. But I gotta tell you - there are really two different plans out
there for America. John Kerry and his liberal buddies in Congress want
to raise your taxes.
Trust me, I know. This guy's been my Senator down in Washington with
his liberal buddies for 20 years. You small business owners should
look out.
Under their plan small businesses would pay higher tax rates than some
big multinational companies. And that's just wrong.
How are they gonna hire new people?
How are they gonna help build our economy?
And just wait until they get into your healthcare.
Washington has more control than your doctor. Or you.
Sure, we've got problems with healthcare.
But this isn't the solution -- especially when the price tag is 1.5
trillion dollars!
And you know who pays for that?
Us. Higher Taxes.
John Kerry and his liberal buddies in Congress want to make all the
decisions for you, and then stick you with the bill.
New Gallup Poll: Bush by 13
points!
USA Today: The newest Gallup poll, conducted Monday-Wednesday,
shows President Bush has taken a 13-point lead over John Kerry among
likely voters. Bush is at 55% to Kerry’s 42% among likely voters. [LINK
to poll results]
The article says the race has been reshaped since the Republican
Convention:
The boost Bush received from the Republican convention has increased
rather than dissipated, reshaping a race that for months has been
nearly tied. Kerry is facing warnings from Democrats that his campaign
is seriously off-track.
With 46 days until the election, analysts say the proposed
presidential debates offer Kerry his best chance to change the race.
"It doesn't look like the new consultants and strategies of attacks
are the right ones" for Kerry, says Matthew Dowd, chief strategist for
the Bush campaign. Kerry in recent weeks added veterans of the Clinton
White House to his team and began criticizing Bush more sharply on
Iraq and other issues.
Dowd says Kerry at this point would "have to defy history" to defeat a
sitting president.
Another poll, conducted by a Pew Research Center, was taken earlier
(Saturday through Tuesday) shows Bush with only a one-point lead over
Kerry.
Presidential debates have historically shifted public opinion, and
hence how votes are cast and elections won or lost:
In 1980, Ronald Reagan was down 8 points in the Gallup Poll in late
October but won in a landslide after doing well in the only debate
held with President Carter.
Former Gore campaign manager Donna Brazile likens Kerry to the
legendary race horse Seabiscuit: "Sen. Kerry is like Seabiscuit: He
runs better from behind." But others in the Democratic Party "have
begun pushing the panic button," Brazile said.
MoveOn.org ad
The new TV ad by MoveOn.org has former Sen. Bob Dole demanding that
Sen. John Kerry take down the ad. The ad shows defeated American
soldiers:
NARRATOR: "George Bush misled us into war with Iraq, sending
poorly equipped soldiers into battle. He said 'Mission Accomplished,'
yet almost every day more soldiers die."
CHYRON: "Over 1,000 U.S. Soldiers Killed"
NARRATOR: "Going it alone, George Bush has spent $150 billion
dollars, money we need for schools and health care."
CHYRON: "$150 Billion"
NARRATOR: "Now, facing a growing insurgency, he has no real
plan to end the war. George Bush got us into this quagmire. It will
take a new president to get us out. MoveOn PAC is responsible for the
content of this advertisement." C
CHYRON: "Quagmire;" MoveOn PAC Disclaimer
Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign Chairman Gov. Marc Racicot issued the
following statement regarding the MoveOn.Org ad:
"When John Kerry speaks before the National Guard today, he should
apologize for the actions of his surrogates and demand that they take
down their ad depicting a defeated American soldier.
"John Kerry's campaign is rooted in the past, hollow with pessimism,
and preaching defeat to the American people.
"John Kerry's continually shifting positions on Iraq and his sinking
rhetoric of a defeated America send a signal to our allies and our
enemies that America is not willing to finish the job. This attitude
undermines the great progress that the men and women in America's
armed forces have made in the fight against terror around the world.
America expects more from one who aspires to the position of
Commander-in-Chief."
Dole said, "As Chairman of the Bush-Cheney Veterans Coalition, and as
a veteran, I call on John Kerry to demand that MoveOn.org take down
their ad depicting a defeated American soldier. It's one thing to
debate whether we should take the fight to the terrorists, but
depicting an American soldier in effect surrendering in the battle
against the terrorists is beyond the pale. I cannot believe that John
Kerry, who reminds us daily of his Vietnam service, would possibly
approve the disgusting and demoralizing portrayal of American soldiers
fighting for us in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world."
New Kerry ad
Sen. John Kerry has a new ad that focuses on the healthcare issue.
Kerry has proposed a new program that would entail large government
intervention into the health care industry. Kerry’s new ad blames Bush
for higher prescription prices. President Bush signed the first new
law providing drug benefits to seniors this year.
Announcer: George Bush’s health care attack against John Kerry:
not true. The Kerry plan gives doctors and patients the power to make
medical decisions, not insurance company bureaucrats. The Bush record:
A $139 billion giveaway to the drug companies. A record 17 percent
increase in Medicare premiums. Five million more Americans without
health insurance. George W. Bush. Wrong on health care. Wrong for
America.
The
Associated Press is also reporting on a new ad that is to
air next week in battleground states hitting Cheney and Halliburton:
The Kerry campaign said a new ad, "Cheney Halliburton," will air next
week in Oregon and other battleground states to criticize the
administration and its no-bid contracts with the company. The ad
suggests a conflict of interest for Cheney because he collects
deferred benefits from the time he was chief executive of Halliburton,
a multinational company that provides reconstruction and other
services in Iraq.
Black dissent
Traditional Black Democrat groups are not happy with this year’s
efforts to get out the vote. The new 527’s are taking their funding
and doing things their own way. The
Washington Times reports:
Earlier this month, coalition board member Ronald Walters, in a letter
to Mr. Ickes, said the competition and lack of coordination have
bruised some egos in black organizations such as the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Urban
League and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. He also referenced ACT in the
letter and said the two largest Democratic 527 groups are "taking the
black vote for granted."
He said the 527 groups are collecting contributions in the name of
delivering the black vote, something Mr. Walters said they have no
business doing and no knowledge of how to do.
"They have not done what I thought they should be doing, which is
release resources to black voter mobilization organizations," Mr.
Walters said. "They have husbanded the money and are managing and
controlling themselves."
The Media Fund, another 527, announced Monday that it would spend $5
million on an advertising campaign targeting urban and rural blacks in
Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Nevada, Pennsylvania and
Wisconsin.
"Our goal is to reach African-Americans using targeted media outlets,"
said Anne Walker Marchant, who is coordinating the ad buys for the
Media Fund. "The effort is to get the issues in play in the
African-American community using print, radio, cable and the
Internet."
Poll battles
Watching polls has become very confusing. The Gallup poll puts
President Bush up by 13 points. The Pew Center poll has Bush and Kerry
at 46% apiece among registered voters. The Harris poll gives Bush a
statistically insignificant lead, 48% to 47%, among a pool of likely
voters. The margin of error for the Pew Center poll is plus or minus
3.5 percentage points; for the Harris poll, it is 3 percentage points.
If you think that is a problem, there is the aspect of two polls in
Minnesota -- one poll has Bush leading by 2% and the other Bush
trailing by 9%.
It is impossible to judge what is true at this point, but time will
sort it out and we can once again (maybe) rely on this modern
scientific aspect of political campaigning.
CBS’s Andy Rooney: their fake!
The
NY Daily News reports that even CBS’s Andy Rooney believes the
Bush National Guard memo documents are fake:
"I'm surprised at their reluctance to concede they're wrong," Rooney
said, referring to CBS brass.
Despite praising Rather as "a good, honest newsman," Rooney added,
"I'm unsure if they're whistling in the dark instead of apologizing."
Rooney doesn't think the network would try to ease out Rather over the
memo mess, but he added, "It might have an effect on him six months
from now."
Will this flap cost Dan Rather his coveted anchor spot with CBS News?
With their credibility – and ratings – going down the tubes, Rather
still has not retracted his story:
Alex Jones, head of the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and
Public Policy at Harvard, described a recent phone call from Rather:
"He is very much aware that this is his story, his responsibility, and
he's got to sort it out and resolve it."
Jones added, "Journalism is a human activity. If they made a mistake,
they should own up to it, take the bullet and move on."
The article also points out that according to CBS News spokeswoman
Sandy Genelius said there has been no consideration of Rather stepping
down.
Memos source: Bush a ‘Hitler’
Drudge.com is carrying a story from the
HoustonChronicle about the disgruntled National Guard officer,
Bill Burkett, who has been pinpointed as the source of the forged Bush
memos:
Bill Burkett, who has emerged as a possible CBS source for disputed
memos about President Bush's Guard service, has a long history of
making charges against Bush and the Texas National Guard.
But Burkett's allegations have changed over the years, and have been
dismissed as baseless by former Guard colleagues, state legislators
and others.
Even Burkett has admitted some of his allegations are false.
Burkett wrote a long indictment against Bush for a Web site in 2003 in
which he said he personally was ordered to "alter personnel records of
George W. Bush." In that article, Burkett said that when he refused he
was sent to Panama as punishment, where he contracted a disabling
disease.
But when asked about that charge by the Houston Chronicle in February,
Burkett said, "That statement was not accurate, that is overstated."
Burkett, 54, of Baird, Texas, has refused to return calls since the
CBS report on Bush's Guard service ran last week.
On Thursday, the Washington Post and the New York Times named Burkett
as a possible source for documents CBS used that experts have called
fakes. The documents were faxed from a Kinko's in Abilene, the closest
commercial copier to Burkett's home in Baird.
Burkett has also likened Bush to Hitler:
In an article Burkett wrote for the Internet last year he compared
Bush to Hitler and Napoleon as one of "the three small men" who sought
to rule through tyranny. "Three small men who wanted to conquer and
vanquish," Burkett wrote. Burkett confirmed authorship of that article
in the February Chronicle interview.
To read the entirety of the Houston
Chronicle article,
click here.
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