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Bush Goes to Baghdad

Aired November 27, 2003 - 16:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, it's not too hard to imagine a clip of the president in that surprise appearance in Baghdad turning up in a TV spot for Bush/Cheney, 2004. Of course, we thought that about the president's arrival on the USS Lincoln last spring, and that has turned up in his opponents' clips. "L.A. Times" political columnist Ron Brownstein is here to talk about photo opportunities and potential backlashes.
Ron, this particular appearance, while I'm sure the White House would reject any political implications, overtones or undertones, has them, doesn't isn't it.

RON BROWNSTEIN, "L.A. TIMES": Sure. First of all, happy Thanksgiving, Miles, and happy Thanksgiving to everybody out there watching.

You know, as you mention, you never know, usually you never know how these things are going to play out. When the president appeared on the Abraham Lincoln back in May, the Democrats were all howling that this was a photo opportunity created by the White House to be in a campaign commercial someday. And as you pointed out, it's been Democrats who have put it on the air first because the events since then haven't played out the way the White House hoped. I do think this, though, is -- today's trip REALLY is a symbol of why Bush's supporters like him so much, and it really is his resolve and his commitment to the things that he believes in. Look, this was a war that was not forced on him by any means. This was a war he chose because he felt it was necessary. He's gambled a lot on it, in terms of our relations with the world and his political future. And what you saw today most clearly was his depth of his own personal commitment to this cause and this direction that he's set the country on.

O'BRIEN: And it speaks to me about what Americans like and want to see in their president. A little presidential chutzpah goes a long way. It's a long way from Jimmy Carter scolding the nation and talking about a national malaise, isn't it?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, yes, President Bush has proved to be a forceful personality, a much more vivid and polarizing personality than his father was as president. He's been -- he's not governed like someone who won a 50/50 split country decision. He has governed like someone who felt that he had a mandate. And whether it's on domestic issues, like tax cuts or his energy plan or Medicare bill that he pushed through Congress last week or on this war and what you saw again today, he's someone who is pushing very hard for his point of view for really significant changes in policy. And again, I think what came through most clearly as I watched him speak today, echoing some of the lines he used the other day in London with Tony Blair, is that he is, indeed, committed to this course for the duration. And that sets up 2004, one of the key elements of that, to be a referendum on the vision of preemptive defense that the president has offered since 9/11.

O'BRIEN: Now all leaders, of course, are a reflection of their times. And great leaders rise to the challenges that come to them. And were it not for 9/11, and this is purely hypothetical thing, what do you think we'd be talking about right now in the Bush presidency?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, without that, I think we would be talking about his struggles, quite frankly, in a very divided country and with a mixed economy. I mean, you know if you go back to the very last polls before 9/11, his approval rating in CNN/Gallup was at, 50 51 percent. I mean, the country was still as divided as it was in the 2000 election. In fact, there was a poll pitting him against Gore for 2004, found the country 48/48 in late august of 2001. The war has obviously transformed his presidency and given it -- the war on terror, has given it a much more focused mission and rationale.

But still, even with all of that, even with the natural unifying tendency of a country in wartime we still see the country very, very divided about his priorities and even his performance on the whole range of issues. Iraq itself has proven to be a very divisive issue in American politics. You see enormous divides now in polling consistently between Republicans and Democrats on whether it was necessary. I think the one thing is clear, is that both sides believe that the troops are doing something important, are sacrificing. And by attaching himself to that that, this can't do anything but help Bush politically.

O'BRIEN: Ron Brownstein, who covers politics for the "L.A. Times." Always a pleasure having you drop by. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

BROWNSTEIN: Thank you, Miles.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired November 27, 2003 - 16:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Now, it's not too hard to imagine a clip of the president in that surprise appearance in Baghdad turning up in a TV spot for Bush/Cheney, 2004. Of course, we thought that about the president's arrival on the USS Lincoln last spring, and that has turned up in his opponents' clips. "L.A. Times" political columnist Ron Brownstein is here to talk about photo opportunities and potential backlashes.
Ron, this particular appearance, while I'm sure the White House would reject any political implications, overtones or undertones, has them, doesn't isn't it.

RON BROWNSTEIN, "L.A. TIMES": Sure. First of all, happy Thanksgiving, Miles, and happy Thanksgiving to everybody out there watching.

You know, as you mention, you never know, usually you never know how these things are going to play out. When the president appeared on the Abraham Lincoln back in May, the Democrats were all howling that this was a photo opportunity created by the White House to be in a campaign commercial someday. And as you pointed out, it's been Democrats who have put it on the air first because the events since then haven't played out the way the White House hoped. I do think this, though, is -- today's trip REALLY is a symbol of why Bush's supporters like him so much, and it really is his resolve and his commitment to the things that he believes in. Look, this was a war that was not forced on him by any means. This was a war he chose because he felt it was necessary. He's gambled a lot on it, in terms of our relations with the world and his political future. And what you saw today most clearly was his depth of his own personal commitment to this cause and this direction that he's set the country on.

O'BRIEN: And it speaks to me about what Americans like and want to see in their president. A little presidential chutzpah goes a long way. It's a long way from Jimmy Carter scolding the nation and talking about a national malaise, isn't it?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, yes, President Bush has proved to be a forceful personality, a much more vivid and polarizing personality than his father was as president. He's been -- he's not governed like someone who won a 50/50 split country decision. He has governed like someone who felt that he had a mandate. And whether it's on domestic issues, like tax cuts or his energy plan or Medicare bill that he pushed through Congress last week or on this war and what you saw again today, he's someone who is pushing very hard for his point of view for really significant changes in policy. And again, I think what came through most clearly as I watched him speak today, echoing some of the lines he used the other day in London with Tony Blair, is that he is, indeed, committed to this course for the duration. And that sets up 2004, one of the key elements of that, to be a referendum on the vision of preemptive defense that the president has offered since 9/11.

O'BRIEN: Now all leaders, of course, are a reflection of their times. And great leaders rise to the challenges that come to them. And were it not for 9/11, and this is purely hypothetical thing, what do you think we'd be talking about right now in the Bush presidency?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, without that, I think we would be talking about his struggles, quite frankly, in a very divided country and with a mixed economy. I mean, you know if you go back to the very last polls before 9/11, his approval rating in CNN/Gallup was at, 50 51 percent. I mean, the country was still as divided as it was in the 2000 election. In fact, there was a poll pitting him against Gore for 2004, found the country 48/48 in late august of 2001. The war has obviously transformed his presidency and given it -- the war on terror, has given it a much more focused mission and rationale.

But still, even with all of that, even with the natural unifying tendency of a country in wartime we still see the country very, very divided about his priorities and even his performance on the whole range of issues. Iraq itself has proven to be a very divisive issue in American politics. You see enormous divides now in polling consistently between Republicans and Democrats on whether it was necessary. I think the one thing is clear, is that both sides believe that the troops are doing something important, are sacrificing. And by attaching himself to that that, this can't do anything but help Bush politically.

O'BRIEN: Ron Brownstein, who covers politics for the "L.A. Times." Always a pleasure having you drop by. Happy Thanksgiving to you.

BROWNSTEIN: Thank you, Miles.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com