Posted by
laura crawford on Thursday, August 02, 2007 1:18:50 PM
If the Democrats would acknowledge the successes of the Bush Administration, it would be something.
Domestic policy successes, foreign policy, even the War on Terror - Democrats downplay,
even fear success. Especially on issues they consider "their own"... the environment, jobs, economy, stem cell research, AIDS relief, the war on terror...
I am continually amazed at how malleable Americans can be. I've seen it in focus groups where Skittle-popping participants sit around a table, field a barrage of questions, and spiral into a vent session about issues they never even thought about before. And there's always a type-A participant who shapes these opinions in as little as 2 hours.
Same with politics. Desperate to win in 2006, the "Angry Democrats" removed a page from the GOP playbook and went positive. No more tantrums, no more ankle-biting. Just a clear, positive message detailing their agenda for America. And the Republicans lost it. Never got it back. Mesmerized by the Democratic leadership and their forced, teeth-gritting smiles, Americans believed this administration had abandoned them not only through "failed" international policy, but domestic as well.
We’ve gotten to a point where Americans no longer associate this administration with success at all. Last week, I visited with a young potential voter who confidently spouted off his latest rant about how this President has been the worst ever and come ’08, it’ll all turn around. Really? I thought to myself. I asked, “have you ever visited
whitehouse.gov to see what the President and his administration has actually accomplished over the last 6 years? Ever been to the Office of Management and Budget site
Expect More to see how all the government agencies are performing? Which by the way, is a self-imposed rating system that the Bush Administration started?" “No,” he said. “I’m not going to any site regulated by the government. Lies. All lies.”
Sigh.
I am calling on all Republicans to reach out to American voters and inform them of the facts. That this administration has in fact, made unprecedented strides internationally and domestically. There are hard-working staffers who are dedicated to fulfilling the goals of Secretary Rice’s
Transformational Diplomacy.
And on the
environment, we are well on track to meet – and currently projected to exceed – The President’s 2002 goal of reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emission intensity by 18% by 2012. And in 2005, greenhouse gas intensity declined much faster than the average decline over the 1990-2005 period.
And on
AIDS relief in Africa, the President has quadrupled funding over the last 6 years, giving 1/4 of all aid to the continent.
“The president is right to say they're doing a quarter of all aid to Africa.” - Bono
And that’s just a few examples of many that I hope all Democrats, Republicans and Independents will keep in mind come election day.
Here’s an ad to kick off this new effort of educating Americans on the tremendous successes of this administration:
"Something" :60 TValso posted at campaignads.org:
"Something" :60 TV