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June 23, 2004

Ask Not For Whom the Cowbell Tolls; It Tolls for John Kerry

The booming economy is forcing Democrats to attempt to better balance their message between "specious claims" and "total fucking bullshit":

...Democrats are edging away from their charges that President Bush is presiding over a "jobless recovery," which has been a staple of their campaign rhetoric. That argument is giving way to the line of attack that working America is suffering a "middle-class squeeze."

Certainly the new version of the economic debate is harder for Democrats to win. Voters are less likely to turn out an incumbent if they see the economy broadly improving, even if they still have some specific pocketbook complaints.

The changed terrain increasingly has Bush advisers comparing their candidate to Bill Clinton, a politician they're usually loath to invoke. Mr. Clinton launched his 1996 re-election campaign amid doubts about the strength of the economy, but by that November, voters were widely persuaded a solid boom was under way.

The Kerry strategy "is similar to what Bob Dole tried to do in 1996," says Bush campaign strategist Matthew Dowd, referring to Mr. Clinton's Republican challenger. "At first Dole thought he was going to run on the economy, but when it started turning strong, he switched his message to 'middle-class squeeze.' " By November, Mr. Dole was left to wonder on the stump, "where's the outrage?" as he pulled just 41% of the vote.

...

The current reality is a mixed picture. Forecasters expect the economy to grow by 4.7% this year, according to a survey by Blue Chip Economic Indicators, the fastest pace since Ronald Reagan won re-election in a landslide in 1984. Employers have created 1.2 million jobs since August, and the unemployment rate is 5.6%, down from a peak during Mr. Bush's term, last year, of 6.3%.

...

Yesterday, a statistical duel broke out between the two campaigns, with Bush aides releasing a two-page "policy memo" comparing the U.S. economy in 1996 and 2004, purporting to show that conditions were about as good as they were during Mr. Clinton's re-election bid. The list showed numbers like short-term job growth about comparable, while the Bush era registered more money spent at restaurants, per capita, and more passengers taking cruises. Four hours later, the Kerry campaign shot back with its own data page accusing their rivals of "misleading statistics" and slower wage growth and faster tuition growth under Mr. Bush than Mr. Clinton.

A USAToday editorial, meanwhile, calls "shenanigans" on Kerry's "Middle-Class Misery Index":

Kerry's downbeat economic talk may be inevitable for a candidate challenging an incumbent's record in the wake of a recession. But as the economy blooms, his index's credibility is wilting...

By talking down the economy, Kerry may hope to pick up votes in economically struggling states where the November election may be decided. But in doing so, he risks sounding out of touch with millions of Americans who see signs of an improving economy — and want a president with a sunnier outlook. The recent death of former president Ronald Reagan recalls just how powerful an optimistic message can be.

Exaggerating the nation's economic misery is not wise policy or politics. The nation is looking for an upbeat problem-solver, not a gloomy naysayer.

And a tangible political upshot to all this is Kerry's frighteningly small lead over Bush in New Jersey, 46-40, despite Al Gore's 16 point margin in 2000. Furthermore 54% of New Jerseyans think the Iraq War was wrong. So why isn't Kerry doing better in New Jersey?

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that New Jersey is one of the states doing best under The Bush Boom.

New Jersey could be a leading indicator of what the rest of the nation will be feeling come November. And that doesn't bode well for John Kerry.

Here's a small factory-refurbished cowbell I was able to get at a discount price:

Update: This guy's worth reading, too:

Forgive me while I leak information vital to our national security: The economy is kicking butt.

I assume this must be closely guarded information because you have to go deep undercover to find it in The New York Times or The Washington Post.

posted by Ace at 04:18 PM

Comments

Football ain't never gonna be played the same way again, the way these people move the goalposts on a daily basis.

Posted by: Brian B on June 23, 2004 04:49 PM

I think Kerry is thisclose to falling back on Al Gore-style class warfare. When all else fails, just run on the simple, "I'll take THEIR money away and give it to you" campaign.

At least it's honest.

Posted by: Scout on June 23, 2004 05:00 PM

Wish I still had the article, but NJ just raised taxes on "millionaires" (which they define as people earning more than $500,000/year - go figure). NJ now ranks as one of the highest taxing states. Also, despite the "shitty economy", they just upped their annual budget to the tune of approximately $13 BILLION. I'll go back and try to find that article, either way, maybe Jersey-ites are a getting sick of their Dem leadership.

Posted by: fat kid on June 24, 2004 02:01 PM

Fat Kid,

Thanks for the info. I read that stuff, too, but thanks for reminding me. McGreevey really is taxing until their eyeballs bleed.

Posted by: Smitty on June 24, 2004 02:36 PM

And, by the way, I'll be adding you to my blogroll shortly.

I just keep delaying it because I have a bunch of people I need to add, and it's really such a pain in the ass.

Posted by: Smitty on June 24, 2004 02:47 PM

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In response to someone asking why the video tape doesn't show Tyler Robinson's face (PS, it does, but it's crappy video so it's blurry):

Candace Owens
@RealCandaceO

Because as I demonstrated on my show, there were MANY young men that all woke up and decided to dress in Maroon shirts and light shorts on the day of the Charlie's assassination.

The footage can be any one of these young men and in my opinion is likely multiple of them.

If Tyler Robinson's defense would like to contact me-- I'd be happy to supply them the folder of the maroon boys that I began archiving when I noticed the bizarre fashion trend.

I have thus far ID'd two of them, but will focus on IDing the rest of them when I am back on air.

I have maintained that the Feds had multiple decoy maroon boys on the ground that day. Without a clear image, they certainly cannot declare it is Tyler Robinson which is why all the Zionist influencers are hoping they can simply hypnotize the public into trusting blurry images and videos.

For such an "open and shut case" they have thus far provided ZERO evidence of anything outside of a criminal government conspiracy, the likes of which hasn't been seen since the JFK assassination.

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Blake Neff
@BlakeSNeff

BREAKING: Lance Twiggs says that Robinson admitted to him in-person on Sept. 11 that the message he had sent the night before (presumably, messages sent while he was trying to retrieve his rifle the night of Sept 10) was true. He says Robinson told him "He wishes he hadn't done it."

Fenix Ammunition
@FenixAmmunition

Photos of the ammunition recovered from Tyler Robinson.

Remington headstamp on the case and despite the somewhat low resolution on the photo you can see the somewhat blunted nature of the projectile's tip.

This is a Remington Cor-Lokt soft point round. It's SPECIFICALLY designed to deform, slow down, and prevent an exit wound. Available at literally every single gun store and sporting goods store that sells ammunition.

In fact, 16 out of the 17 .30-06 varieties manufactured by Remington use some type of expanding, deforming, or fragmenting bullet. Only ONE of their products uses a full metal jacket projectile that could/would be expected to leave an exit wound.

Here's a clip of them sitting in my desk.

This has been the most easily debunked claim of their entire web of lies and it's really mind blowing considering this is exactly what you would choose for an assassination.

But yeah, definitely keep getting all your information from the DEI hire and the Portland pizza boy. I'm sure they know more about this than I do.

Post here, showing Tyler Robinson's ammunition, matching this guy's own box. And it is an expanding-tip hollow-point round.

Boy these Internet Experts (TM) sure do get a lot of things wrong.

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She is doing poorly...she is in the hospital and is having a tough go of it. She would love to hear from you folks, so anyone who would like to contact her is welcome to her address! Please contact Bluebell at moroncookbook@gmail.com for her contact info. (I expect her local post office to be furious with us!)
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