August 9
Surging oil prices, disappointing jobs data and a seemingly stalled economic recovery, together with more fierce fighting in Iraq dominate the political agenda at the moment, as the candidates stump the country, trying to be just regular folks.
President Bush will be joined by John McCain on a sweep through the Florida panhandle - by all accounts his fifteenth campaign visit to the state - this time targeting primarily military families, for which the Kerry team is geared up to respond.
The Boston Globe reports that at some Bush functions, people are being asked to sign pledges of support for the President in order to get a ticket. The campaign says it's to keep away anyone who might want to disrupt the event.
Interesting piece by political analyst Rhodes Cook on the decline of party identification and how it plays out in a seemingly more polarised environment.
Finally, despite some vehement criticism of the 'Vote for Change' Tour (according to the New York Daily News: "The Dixie Chicks are on this new tour, too. But even if they weren't, the participants know they will be ridiculed by conservatives and Republicans as clueless, elitist celebrity leftists who must hate America"), Ron Brownstein in the LA Times gets what Bruce Springsteen was talking about, and makes the connection between The Boss and John McCain:
"If anyone can set the McCain standard for the entertainers, retired generals, business leaders and assorted other combatants rushing into the campaign trenches, it might be rock icon Bruce Springsteen..."
"...Springsteen, probably more than anyone else on the tour, has the capacity to help remind Americans on both sides that the differences between Bush and Kerry are policy disagreements, not moral failings."
"In an interview, Springsteen said he wanted to show "respect for the office of the presidency," even while making clear his disagreements over the nation's direction. If he can hold to that standard, and encourage others toward it, Springsteen will perform an even greater service for the country than for Kerry."
Surging oil prices, disappointing jobs data and a seemingly stalled economic recovery, together with more fierce fighting in Iraq dominate the political agenda at the moment, as the candidates stump the country, trying to be just regular folks.
President Bush will be joined by John McCain on a sweep through the Florida panhandle - by all accounts his fifteenth campaign visit to the state - this time targeting primarily military families, for which the Kerry team is geared up to respond.
The Boston Globe reports that at some Bush functions, people are being asked to sign pledges of support for the President in order to get a ticket. The campaign says it's to keep away anyone who might want to disrupt the event.
Interesting piece by political analyst Rhodes Cook on the decline of party identification and how it plays out in a seemingly more polarised environment.
Finally, despite some vehement criticism of the 'Vote for Change' Tour (according to the New York Daily News: "The Dixie Chicks are on this new tour, too. But even if they weren't, the participants know they will be ridiculed by conservatives and Republicans as clueless, elitist celebrity leftists who must hate America"), Ron Brownstein in the LA Times gets what Bruce Springsteen was talking about, and makes the connection between The Boss and John McCain:
"If anyone can set the McCain standard for the entertainers, retired generals, business leaders and assorted other combatants rushing into the campaign trenches, it might be rock icon Bruce Springsteen..."
"...Springsteen, probably more than anyone else on the tour, has the capacity to help remind Americans on both sides that the differences between Bush and Kerry are policy disagreements, not moral failings."
"In an interview, Springsteen said he wanted to show "respect for the office of the presidency," even while making clear his disagreements over the nation's direction. If he can hold to that standard, and encourage others toward it, Springsteen will perform an even greater service for the country than for Kerry."
posted by Steve at 11:02 PM
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