More on the reax to Bush's speech Tuesday (perhaps more properly termed "yet another preselected-audience townhall meeting to which unbelievers were not admitted entrance." From the Guardian:
Though one poll showed that the speech drew the smallest audience of any Bush presidential appearance, another poll by Gallup found that it may have served its purpose in bolstering the resolve of viewers, at least temporarily.
Of an estimated 23 million who watched, 54% thought the US was winning the war, compared with 44% before the speech. But only 23% were registered Democrats - and the boost the president received was weak compared with the upsurge following similar set-piece speeches in the past.
The address was also savaged abroad. A Labour MP, Lynne Jones, said any attempt to suggest that it was a response to the September 11 attacks was "absolute nonsense".
"What they have ensured, in invading Iraq, is they have actually promoted al-Qaida's involvement in other countries, including Iraq."
Though WaPo suggests that Team Bush has carefully calibrated their war communications strategy with a bevy of public opinion experts and pollsters, you've got to wonder just what they think the meaning of "careful" is. Apparently, success in political communications for this team means one thing and one thing only: stoking the base. The rest of us be damned. |
