http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3244620.stm

Threw me for a loop when I opened the BBC News page and saw that.

While I find it nice that he made an appearance to boost the morale of the troops, I am kinda disturbed by what I see (I know I am biased against him) as another political grandstanding stunt like the Aircraft carrier deal.

Not really a political debate topic...but it is a political news story.


MrS

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I would've welcomed him with both arms. GW was giving up (partial) his thanksgiving with his family, to spend it with the troops who were not going to going to be with their family this thanksgiving. Anything to boost the morale of the soldiers in these crazy times is good in my book.

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It's just a publicity stunt

Couldn't you say all of politics is a publicity stunt? Elected officials making decisions they think will make their constituents the most happy while calling the most attention to themselves.

Anyway...I think his move was cool as hell. As stated on a news program I saw, this wasn't an unprecidented event. FDR did it many times during the war. I think it was a great way to boost morale along with showing his commitment to Iraq and showing he has the guts to fly right into the heart of it all. (The president landing in Baghdad airport takes some balls IMHO)

You may laugh when I say this, but I think one thing GW has going for him with the next election is that he has proven himself a leader, if nothing less.

I do agree that it helps to boost morale. However, it has been known that over the past couple months his approval rating has dropped. He needed to do something like this to get them back up. Besides, PM Blair already took the time to visit troops in Basra awhile ago, so why couldn't Bush?

FYI, the third year of a presidency always has the lowest approval ratings, regardless of what the President does. The ~%50-54 level is actually quite good, and higher than Clinton's was in the third and seventh years of his presidency.

There's a natural rebound at the end of the year, and then people start aligning for the presidential election. If the economy continues to grow at the pace it currently is, he'll be in the mid-60's by the end of February.

Bush is cool!

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quote:

Originally posted by imokruok FYI, the third year of a presidency always has the lowest approval ratings, regardless of what the President does. The ~%50-54 level is actually quite good, and higher than Clinton's was in the third and seventh years of his presidency. There's a natural rebound at the end of the year, and then people start aligning for the presidential election. If the economy continues to grow at the pace it currently is, he'll be in the mid-60's by the end of February.

I don't think of those trends because they tend to be false sometimes. I mean, at the beginning of the war, Bush's approval rating was higher than his first two years, so you can't make the assumption that all presidents' third year have low approval ratings.

i dont think it was an attempt to boost morale as much as it was for a popularity increase (however little it may be) for the upcoming elections.

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I think it's awesome how he went over to see the troops! ^_^
Flotser,I agree.Bush is cool.^_^

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Most of the Muslims who were interviewed by reporters in Iraq took it as an insult that he didn't stay longer to receive their hospitality (the ones who supported him). Hospitality is very important in their culture.

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quote:

Originally posted by DaveSaenz Most of the Muslims who were interviewed by reporters in Iraq took it as an insult that he didn't stay longer to receive their hospitality (the ones who supported him). Hospitality is very important in their culture.

Bush is a busy man. He has a million places he has to be.. I think we should all just be happy that he went to go see the troops.^_^

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