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Base politics Who Would Know Better?By Rick Horowitz "Do you have a minute, Mr. President?" "For you, Karl? Always! C'mon in -- what's goin' on?" "Well, sir, we seem to have a little problem on our hands." "It wasn't my fault." "What wasn't?" "Whatever the problem is -- it wasn't my fault." "Nobody's saying it was your fault, Mr. President. We -- " "See? I told you." "But we figured you ought to be aware of it anyway. Just to avoid difficulties. It's the immigration bill -- you've really got the base ticked off with what you said the other day in that speech."
"Well, that wasn't quite how you phrased it. You said they should 'do what's right for America.'" "And?" "Well, you kind of suggested that by opposing the bill, they weren't doing what's right for America." "So what's the big deal? I always say stuff like that when people disagree with me." "I know. I know. And most of the time, I'm all for it. But this one's a little different." "Because it's immigration?" "Because they're Republicans. We accuse Democrats who disagree with you of not doing what's right for America -- not Republicans. We're not supposed to say that about other Republicans." "But they're wrong!" "They may be wrong -- but they're also your strongest supporters. And frankly, they're about all you've got left at the moment. I'm not sure we can afford to tick them off, especially when you're looking for your legacy." "But how am I -- " "And it wasn't just the 'doing what's right for America' business. You also said they needed to show 'courage.' Like by opposing the bill, they weren't being courageous." "So?" "Well, a lot of them feel they've been pretty courageous already. Sticking with you on Iraq, for instance. They're looking at some of the same polls we are, and they're already scared to death about '08. They figure they're being plenty courageous, and they don't appreciate -- " "Then why are they tryin' to scare folks? Why are -- " "And that's the other thing -- that business about how they're trying to 'rile up people's emotions' and 'frighten our fellow citizens'?" "Yeah?" "I'd want to be real careful there. We're not technically against riling. Or even frightening. If you catch my drift." "That's what I meant -- frightenin' folks is our job!" "Of course it is. But only under the right conditions." "When we do it, it's for a good cause!" "Of course it is." "That doesn't mean they get to do it!" "Of course not. I'm just saying that calling them out like that, especially in public -- it may not be the smartest thing politically." "You sayin' I'm not smart?" "Not at all! I -- " "You're supposed to be my brain, aren't you? That's what everyone always says: 'Bush's brain'! 'Bush's brain!'" "That's just a -- " "So if I'm so dumb, what does that make you?" "I'm not -- " "Answer me that, Mr. Smartypants!" "Sir, I really don't want -- " "See? See?" Posted 6/10/07. Rick
has his ear to the door -- tell your friends!
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Rick Horowitz
