He obviously knew we would react like that. And was counting on it. So all this freaking out helps Bush.
But how does it help Bush ?
It's a puzzle I don't know all the answers to. Rove is a devious, cunning, souless SOB who always plans 3 moves ahead. All I can see right now, based on right wings and freepi comments on the web is:
- It negates the seriousness of Amnesty International charges. By reich comments so far, Rove's and AI statements were both "hyperbole".
- It tries to shame liberals and moderates into being hawkish (on torture ?), by grossly exaggerating and distorting any calls for reason and rule of law as "sissy stuff"
- It tries to rewrite history. Truth is Republicans were not only asleep at the wheel BEFORE the attack, but were conpletely paralyzed after it. Bush's 7 minutes daze, followed by a reading of My Pet Goat proves the falsehood of Rove's comments.
- It distracts people from the DSM charges
Update [2005-6-24 14:33:55 by lawnorder]: Anothe Kossack speculates on
Rove's motive: Karl Rove triggered this 'Dems are Traitors' Bushit because he wanted to distract everybody from the Senate Armed Forces Committee testimony yesterday
SAFC testimony
This testimony really jumped out at me. American forces are losing 'about a battalion per month' to death and casualties according to testimony yesterday. Please NOTE: This was an attrition rate, NOT a deathtoll.. link
Best response ? My Pet Goat
IMHO the best response is the 7 minutes Bush just stood there on 9/11. It concentrates in 3 words how utterly unprepared Republicans were for it, how they froze when it happened and their dazed and confused response after... Add to it the DSM and we can nail them for not only not being prepared, but for also abandoning the 9/11 victims!