As I peruse the dkos reaction to Rove, I'm astonished by what seems like incredible naivity on the part of an audience that really should be wiser than to think his outragious comments are an accident.
To my mind, it's obvious that this is a classic Rove lesson in how image shaping and rhetorical positioning really works. Instead of whining about how this is another example of what a meanie Rove is, I think we should take it as a textbook example of how to bait your enemies into supporting your policies.
It goes like this:
-Republicans start feeling serious heat for Gitmo/Abu abuses and general incompetence in Iraq.
-Chief strategist Rove decides to make outragious claim that Dems were and are, essentially, limp panty waists when it comes to 911 and terrorists.
Slip up by Rove?
I don't think so. Here's how this one plays out:
-Well known Dems, thinking they are being "tough", express outrage, demand apology THAT THEY WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER, GET.
FLIP IT
-Rove and Limbaugh/Fox noise machine tells Dems to screw off and stands by Rove's outragious remarks.
-Tired/sleepy/ignorant swing-voter types only see Repub tough-guy image reinforced by steadfast Rove and united Repubs. Wimpy Dem image reinforced by stupid request for an "apology(wha, wha wha...) that they will never get.
NOW HERE'S THE WORST PART:
-TO COMPENSATE FOR WIMP ACCUSATION, MANY Dems FALL RIGHT INTO THE TRAP AND FEEL THEY MUST REITERATE THEIR "TOUGHER-THAN-THOU" SUPPORT FOR THIS DISASTEROUS WAR. (Recall that this is exactly how the Patriot Act got passed).
BOTTOM LINE:
- Just when Dems should be roundly CONDEMNING the war and fanning the public's growing distaste for it, Rove gets them to reiterate their SUPPORT for the damn debacle.
-Master strategist changes national discussion from "bad war" to "are the Dems really wimps."
ROUND GOES TO REPUBS. HANDS-DOWN.
Contrast this with Durbin's approach which was to apologise and cry like a baby when the Rove/Fox/Limbaugh Axis jumped his shit for about 2 seconds.
Any wonder why these guys keep beating us?
What's your take? Answer the poll, and recommend this so it can stick around long enough to get some votes.
