Bush's rallies follow a tight script ... and tickets required

September 5, 2004

By G. Robert Hillman The Dallas Morning News

BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio — "Tickets. ... Tickets in hand. ... Have your tickets ready."

Tickets. Tickets. Tickets.

For this "Ask President Bush" campaign forum Saturday near Cleveland, you needed one — red, yellow or blue.

A volunteer explained the caste system this way:

Red — VIP, up front and personal with the president.

Yellow — semi-VIP, further back and not so personal.

Blue — everyone else, way back.

Whether it's this sort of question-and-answer session in a high school gym with an audience of a few thousand, or a big rally of many thousands in a minor league ballpark, the Bush campaign runs on tickets. And they are carefully doled out by Republican Party bigwigs and campaign staff to build just the right kind of crowd.

The Democratic operatives running challenger John Kerry's campaign build crowds, too, but not quite like this. Some of their events are ticketed. But many of their larger rallies are more open and diverse.

"We do not ask for political affiliations," said Kerry campaign spokesman Phil Singer.

In the Bush camp, officials offer several explanations for their tight control.

For starters, they say, there are just too many people who want to see the president. Also, the campaign wants to reward its top supporters and volunteers, who Bush likes to say "fertilize the grass roots." And they readily acknowledge that they want to keep protesters out.

"Certainly, people who are likely to disrupt events, we don't want to come to the events," said campaign manager Ken Mehlman.

And usually, they don't. They don't get tickets; they don't get in. The president is rarely interrupted by hecklers, as Kerry sometimes is. Police and Bush campaign staff are quite vigilant.

On Saturday, for instance, the press buses in the president's mile-long bus-capade arriving in Broadview Heights were diverted to an out-of-the-way church parking lot when police confused reporters and TV crews with demonstrators who were expected to arrive by bus.

It was but a brief diversion, though. As soon as police realized their error, the press buses were promptly escorted to Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, where Bush would be taking questions.

Inside, like the outside perimeter extending around the school for miles, nothing was left to chance.

The campaign advance teams had transformed the gym into a well-appointed, well-lighted theater-in-the-round that would suit any TV producer. And as the crowd began to build, campaign aides directed the red-ticket holders this way, the yellow holders that way and the blue ones like Bob Heinly to the back, up in the bleachers.

It was a sellout.

"People that have worked or volunteered or done something for the party in the past, they have tickets available, and they call and ask if you're interested," said

Heinly, a medical clinic worker from nearby North Royalton. "My wife is always interested."

He was too far back for a question, though. They all went to the VIPs up in the red zone. In all, the president entertained a couple of handfuls of questions, none of them exactly hardballs.

The first questioner offered him a "real Navy salute," and he returned it. Another asked him what sort of legacy he wished to leave, and he replied, "Peace." And another asked if he really liked broccoli, which his father proudly announced that he despised when he was president.

"It's OK. I'm not nearly as turned off by it as my dad is," Bush said, drawing a good laugh. "I kind of like the top of the broccoli. I don't like the stalk itself.

"Not that good," he declared.





Comments? Opinions?



Cat

No surprises here,(for me anyway).  The bush handlers are accomplished at smokescreen.

Of course the Bushies want to control the audiance to prevent all those nasty hecklers from getting in.  Free speech?  What's that?  Democracy?  For the rich and the rest of us can go... what Chaney said to Leahy.

Of course the Bushies want to control the audiance to prevent all those nasty hecklers from getting in.  Free speech?  What's that?  Democracy?  For the rich and the rest of us can go... what Chaney said to Leahy.


They wouldn't want ot put georgie in the position of having to answer an unscripted question.
There are only so many times you can merely shrug your shoulders before people begin to
wonder.

As I said on the Censorship thread, Bush is too deeply and widely hated to risk an open public event.  We are witnessing a fascist takeover, and what fascists always do is create faux-populist events to make Il Duce look like a really loved and popular guy.  Most folks in the country side fear and despise the fascist leader, but they know they had best not say so too loud.
If Bush gets his way, they will be able to do away with these ticketed and orchestrated events because nobody will DARE express disapproval of the leader.  Under Mussolini, public events were opened with the singing of patriotic songs.  Goons stood up front looking for people wearing expressions of disapproval.  These people were taken outside and beaten up.

They wouldn't want ot put georgie in the position of having to answer an unscripted question.
There are only so many times you can merely shrug your shoulders before people begin to
wonder.


I note that there are sometimes hecklers at Kerry events, and sometimes tough or negative questions too.  Kerry at least can think on his feet and has command of the language and a large vocabulary.

I note that there are sometimes hecklers at Kerry events, and sometimes tough or negative questions too.  Kerry at least can think on his feet and has command of the language and a large vocabulary.


Kerrys answer to hecklers "Bring 'em on"
bushies answer to hecklers, don't allow them within 500 yards, shuffle any out as quickly as
possible, arrange a visit from the FBI.

Censorship at its worst.

But, what I don't understand is how complecent people have been over obvious things such as this!

Tanya

Actually, the Democrats do not do this, that is right.  They just do not let people in at all who oppose their views.

In the 1990's, Clinton had one of those "Town Hall Meetings" in Los Angeles about the health care system he proposed.  Myself and 2 other Veterans who opposed it tried to attend to make out views known.  All 3 of us were refused admittance.

I tried to go to a few other such meetings held by the Democratically controlled LA City Council, and had similar results.  Most notably, one was a meeting reguarding a gasoline tax.  Another was reguarding an increase in the tax on cigarettes.  I opposed both measures, and tried to attend the meetings to speak my oposition.  I was not let into the door to either hearing.  I did make it into one hearing reguarding the passing of a waiting period and thumbprint requirement for purchasing ammunition, but I was not allowed to speak.

Plus don't forget, there is more then likely a security issue here also.  If just anybody was allowed close to the President, it would make attempted assasination much easier.  I am sure that Clinton's security did a similar thing.  To me, keeping the general public back is just common sense in this day and age.

Actually, the Democrats do not do this, that is right.  They just do not let people in at all who oppose their views.

In the 1990's, Clinton had one of those "Town Hall Meetings" in Los Angeles about the health care system he proposed.  Myself and 2 other Veterans who opposed it tried to attend to make out views known.  All 3 of us were refused admittance.

I tried to go to a few other such meetings held by the Democratically controlled LA City Council, and had similar results.  Most notably, one was a meeting reguarding a gasoline tax.  Another was reguarding an increase in the tax on cigarettes.  I opposed both measures, and tried to attend the meetings to speak my oposition.  I was not let into the door to either hearing.  I did make it into one hearing reguarding the passing of a waiting period and thumbprint requirement for purchasing ammunition, but I was not allowed to speak.

Plus don't forget, there is more then likely a security issue here also.  If just anybody was allowed close to the President, it would make attempted assasination much easier.  I am sure that Clinton's security did a similar thing.  To me, keeping the general public back is just common sense in this day and age.


Clearly there are security issues, which can be solved without excluding people.  I remember a whistle stop by Goldwater's running mate (who's name I forget - former UN ambassador If memory serves) in my home town in New Jersey - he spoke from the back of a train.  NO crowd control that I noticed, although I'm sure the Sec Serv was in the crowd.  I think its just that Bush is afraid of tough questions.  Wish the media would focus a second's attention on the protesters.

Wish the media would focus a second's attention on the protesters.


I had to laugh at this remark. A LOT. Whenever I watch the news concerning the candidates, all I see is protestors b*tching about this, that, or the other. I'm surprised the DNC and the RNC got any coverage at all what with all the nutcases running around chanting BS while the cameras rolled and the reporters salivated.

I have seen this displayed countless times, not just concerning the stupidity going on now. Attention for the protestors, indeed. ::)

I had to laugh at this remark. A LOT. Whenever I watch the news concerning the candidates, all I see is protestors b*tching about this, that, or the other. I'm surprised the DNC and the RNC got any coverage at all what with all the nutcases running around chanting BS while the cameras rolled and the reporters salivated.


You ought to go for an internship at Fox News.  Maybe after you pay your dues behind the scenes, you could get on the air, but only if you're a hottie.  All women on the Fox News airstaff must be hotties.
Now, who specifically are the "nutcases," and why is what they've got to say "BS"?

You ought to go for an internship at Fox News.  Maybe after you pay your dues behind the scenes, you could get on the air, but only if you're a hottie.  All women on the Fox News airstaff must be hotties.
Now, who specifically are the "nutcases," and why is what they've got to say "BS"?


What the hell does Fox news have to do with anything and why should I care about them?

The "nutcases" I'm talking about are the ones you see out there getting violent, defying the police, and generally causing mayhem. They spout "BS" about how the candidate they hate is bad, how said candidate doesn't know what he's talking about, is full of cr*p, etc. They're the "nutcases" I'm talking about. Now that I think about it, Don Carlos is right. Protestors DON'T get enough coverage. The wacked out freaks who don't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground get it all.

By the way Maxwell, I'm sorry if you took offense to my nutcase reference. ::)

What the hell does Fox news have to do with anything and why should I care about them?

The "nutcases" I'm talking about are the ones you see out there getting violent, defying the police, and generally causing mayhem. They spout "BS" about how the candidate they hate is bad, how said candidate doesn't know what he's talking about, is full of cr*p, etc. They're the "nutcases" I'm talking about. Now that I think about it, Don Carlos is right. Protestors DON'T get enough coverage. The wacked out freaks who don't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground get it all.

By the way Maxwell, I'm sorry if you took offense to my nutcase reference. ::)

I didn't take offense to "nutcase."  The thing is, nothing you've said so far indicates the protesters are at all "nutty."  By all available figures, Bush has been a "bad" president, and that's being generous.  He doesn't know what he's talking about, and he is full of "cr*p."   The only thing resembling mayhem that I could see was an isolated incident of a cop getting beaten up.  Sports fans are much more dangerous than those protesters. 

If you watch the corporate-sponsored media analysis, you will not get the truth about Dumbya's disaster.  On "Hardball," for instance, they just had right-winger Jack Kemp, right-winger-posing-as-moderate Mike Barnicle, and Bush-apologist-Democrat strategist Dee Dee Myers.  None of the talk was about Bush's record and why or why not Bush deserves a second term.  It was all about what an aloof and elitist snob Kerry is, what a lame-o candidate Kerry is, how the Democrats are wrong if they think this, that, and the other thing, and how Bush is a clear, lucid speaker who everybody loves.

The reason I mentioned Fox, Jessica, is your opinion sounds as if you have no point of view beyond the big business media.

ALL COMMERCIAL TELEVISION IS A PUPPET OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!

Clearly there are security issues, which can be solved without excluding people.  I remember a whistle stop by Goldwater's running mate (who's name I forget - former UN ambassador If memory serves) in my home town in New Jersey - he spoke from the back of a train.  NO crowd control that I noticed, although I'm sure the Sec Serv was in the crowd.  I think its just that Bush is afraid of tough questions.  Wish the media would focus a second's attention on the protesters.


That was a long time ago.  Once George Wallace was shot, the Secret Service started to provide security for all serious Presidential candidates.  I doubt that any serious candidate could get away with that now once the primarys start.

I didn't take offense to "nutcase."  The thing is, nothing you've said so far indicates the protesters are at all "nutty." 

You don't consider an unruly mob "nutty"?

By all available figures, Bush has been a "bad" president, and that's being generous.  He doesn't know what he's talking about, and he is full of "cr*p."

Not disputing the fact that Bush has effectively screwed up a great nation. The full of cr*p can be said about Kerry as well.

The only thing resembling mayhem that I could see was an isolated incident of a cop getting beaten up.  Sports fans are much more dangerous than those protesters.

Just wait. It will get worse.
 
If you watch the corporate-sponsored media analysis, you will not get the truth about Dumbya's disaster.

We all know he's a dip. I don't need corporate sponsored media to tell me that.

 On "Hardball," for instance, they just had right-winger Jack Kemp, right-winger-posing-as-moderate Mike Barnicle, and Bush-apologist-Democrat strategist Dee Dee Myers.

Who?

None of the talk was about Bush's record and why or why not Bush deserves a second term.  It was all about what an aloof and elitist snob Kerry is, what a lame-o candidate Kerry is, how the Democrats are wrong if they think this, that, and the other thing,

Of course if it's right wing, they're not going to speak ill of Emperor Bush. And Kerry does strike me as somewhat of a snob. As for Kerry being a lame-o candidate, that can be disputed. He knows how to suck up to people, despite the snobby exterior.

and how Bush is a clear, lucid speaker who everybody loves.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

The reason I mentioned Fox, Jessica, is your opinion sounds as if you have no point of view beyond the big business media.

How so? I made it clear that I despise both candidates for reasons I won't get into right now. I doubt I'll even vote because either way we'll get stuck with a loser who will screw up the country even more.


ALL COMMERCIAL TELEVISION IS A PUPPET OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY!!!


What a sweeping judgment.

Let me set this straight. I don't like Bush. I don't like Kerry. I don't believe anything anyone tells me about either candidate. I form my own opinions on these fools and all they stand for. I might not be educated and experienced like most of you, but I do have my own opinion. I'm sorry if you do not like that, but it would be nice if you'd respect it like I try to respect all of your opinions.

I have enjoyed arguing with you. Unfortunately, this is where I stop because no matter what I say or do, you will find fault with it.

You don't consider an unruly mob "nutty"?
There were a few bad apples, but the protesters in general were quite civil, considering the well-founded rage.  The right wing is also acknowledging the fiscal policy of the last four years is a disaster.  There's no denying it.  However, they blame congress (and Congress needs to take much of the blame), but they're giving Bush a pass.  I know some conservatives are going to vote for Kerry, but I have yet to see any right-wing pundits say they'll do so.
Pat Buchanan is leading a charge against Bush's foreign policy, which is also a travesty.  Buchanan would sooner eat ground glass than vote for a Democrat, though.

Not disputing the fact that Bush has effectively screwed up a great nation. The full of cr*p can be said about Kerry as well.
I despair of Kerry's lack of charisma and failure to put forth an aggressive plan.  I've been saying for months all Kerry has to do is attack Bush with the truth.  Bush has been one of our worst presidents in history on both domestic and foreign matters.  His tax policy indefensible when the truth is told, he has done more damage to our international standing than most Americans can grasp, and he has handed over our environmental policy to the major polluters.  I could go on, but I don't want to get all wound up in it, especially on the subjects of jobs, labor rights, civil rights, and education.  I hate George W. Bush, and I don't use the word casually.



Just wait. It will get worse.
Even if Kerry gets elected, it will get worse before it gets better.  Many problems will continue to get worse even if Kerry were re-elected in 2008, AND Democrats won back both houses of Congress.
If Bush gets in again, we are looking at a disaster of millenial proportions.  I'm talking the sacking of Rome in 410, that level of disaster!
 

Let me set this straight. I don't like Bush. I don't like Kerry. I don't believe anything anyone tells me about either candidate. I form my own opinions on these fools and all they stand for. I might not be educated and experienced like most of you, but I do have my own opinion. I'm sorry if you do not like that, but it would be nice if you'd respect it like I try to respect all of your opinions.

I have enjoyed arguing with you. Unfortunately, this is where I stop because no matter what I say or do, you will find fault with it.

I'm sorry I made assumptions.  I'm just very edgy these days.  This whole campaign is giving me an ulcer.  I feel like two-thirds of my fellow Americans are either clueless or deceived.  Watching the polls indicate more people favoring Dumbya is like watching more people say, "Hey let's go run inside that burning building!"  I scratch my head in disbelief.  How can it be that more than half the electorate would even think of voting for this idiot?  How can people be so gullible, so sightless?

And I hate to give Zell Miller credit for anything, but Kerry seems to be giving us a "bowl of mush."  "W stands for Wrong," is that the best he can come up with?  That @ssh()le totally trashed our country in a matter of 40 months and Kerry's giving us Sesame Street?
http://oaks.nvg.org/emscrim.gif

So forgive me, I don't mean to be such a p-r-i-c-k!

h.


I despair of Kerry's lack of charisma .

Even if Kerry gets elected, it will get worse before it gets better.  Many problems will continue to get worse even if Kerry were re-elected in 2008, AND Democrats won back both houses of Congress.
If Bush gets in again, we are looking at a disaster of millenial proportions.  I'm talking the sacking of Rome in 410, that level of disaster!



I despair of the fact that people vote for charisma leaving the policy wonks at home.  When your dealing
with policy it's not always fun to have a wonk around, but the wonk is the one that get's things done right.
(Hey, I kinda like that "the wonk is the one that gets things done".... big pat on my back :)

And it will be a disaster to "just plain folk" if he wins.  If he and his friends win, we lose. :-\\

I despair of the fact that people vote for charisma leaving the policy wonks at home.  When your dealing
with policy it's not always fun to have a wonk around, but the wonk is the one that get's things done right.
(Hey, I kinda like that "the wonk is the one that gets things done".... big pat on my back :)

And it will be a disaster to "just plain folk" if he wins.  If he and his friends win, we lose. :-\\

I despair the fact the fact that anyone thinks Dumbya has any charisma.  Actually, I do think Kerry has a kind of charisma, but it's not the kind of charisma primitive-minded people respond to.  Democrats have not learned to be vicious on the campaign trail, and now more than ever they need to be.  Mind you, a lot of the vicious things Republicans bludgeon the opposition with are lies and distortions.
Fr'instance, Walter Mondale's infmamous statement that he would raise taxes.  The pundits still point to that as suicidal.  What Mondale said was, "I will raise your taxes, and Mr. Reagan will raise your taxes.  Mr. Reagan won't tell you, I just did."
In essence, Mondale was saying the money's gotta come from somewhere.  He just failed to be both pithy and specific.  The Reagan Administration did raise taxes.  They raised payroll taxes to compensate for the revenue lost by cutting taxes for the rich.  This was part of the "Reaganomics" plan from the start.  Unfortunately, the increase in payroll taxes didn't compensate for the gigantic loss of revenue in conjunction with the tripling of defense spending, and America had already gone from the biggest lender nation in the world to the biggest debtor nation when Reagan was running for his second term. 
Oh, and Mondale did point the doubling of the national debt on several occasions, but Mr. and Mrs. America showed they preferred Reagan's "Well, I can't help it, there you go again!," to sane, responsible fiscal policy.
So Mondale wasn't lying, but it didn't matter, because Mondale came off as worried, wimpy, and wonky.
::)