Flogging Iraq in Utah

Speaking yesterday in Salt Lake, Bush demonstrated his administration's famed strategy of governance by campaigning. Amid fierce attacks by Cheney and Rumsfeld accusing critics of being terrorist-sympathizers and crypto-Nazis, the president is employing some good cop/bad cop stumping. He makes nice, referring to war critics as "sincere and patriotic" (but wrong), while leaving the smears to his underlings. But it was all talking points: fighting them there, freedom on the march, plan for victory, etc.

And listening to some interviews with Bush boosters after one of his speeches, I was amazed at their uncanny ability to repeat talking points-- with absolute conviction-- in spite of the illogic and total lack of meaning. "We'll only lose if Americans lose the will to fight." "We have to fight them there so we aren't fighting them here." No reasons for supporting the war were given, just statements of unwavering loyalty.

But it wasn't all a red-state lovefest, even in "red" Utah. The mayor of Salt Lake City spoke at a rally yesterday and gave Bush both rhetorical barrels. (With video.)

During a rally held in Salt Lake City yesterday, thousands cheered Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson as he blasted George Bush as a "dishonest, war-mongering, human-rights-violating president." (. . .)

"A patriot does not tell people who are intensely concerned about their country to just sit down and be quiet; to refrain from speaking out in the name of politeness or for the sake of being a good host; to show slavish, blind obedience and deference to a dishonest, war-mongering, human-rights-violating president," Mayor Anderson told the crowd, estimated by organizers to number between 4,000 and 5,000.