Bush rallies the sycophants

Have you listened to the audio from some of these recent Bush rallies? Something odd is going on - the rhythms of Bush's speech, and the crowd's vocal responses, are just weird. They remind me of a TV show in-studio taping more than a political speech.

I first noticed this in the audio of Bush's major policy address that wasn't last week Wednesday. Now, we all know that the Bush rallies are packed with sycophants - some of his speeches have even required signed loyalty oaths to attend. But audience roars of applause, raucous laughter, and torrential boos are intervening routinely and with only the slightest regard for the usual political tropes. If you heard the side-by-side clips from Bush and Kerry rallies on today's Morning Edition, you know what I'm talking about. In the Kerry clip, the usual rhythms of political speech are obeyed, with audience reaction following predictable applause lines. In the Bush clip, on the other hand, Bush says "As a Massachusetts senator for 23 years, my opponent has compiled the record... of a senator from Massachusetts," and the audience laughs (OK, fine). The next line, "During his time there, my opponent voted for tax increases 98 times," then triggers a huge "Booo..." from the audience (Huh?). "98 times," he repeats, and gets another chorus of boos (Wha?). It goes on from there.

Now, I'm not saying that Bush rallies are outfitted with APPLAUSE lights and block-lettered cue cards on 3'x4' poster board, but one has to wonder. In particular, I have strong suspicions about what the pre-Bush "warm-up" speakers and/or ground-level operatives are telling these crowds about the need to be "vocal" and "support the President". If they're not accomplishing this unanimity with cue cards or audience plants, they must be delivering some pretty specific instructions, and I am curious to know what those are.

Anyone been to a Bush rally lately? I would go myself but the last time Bush was sighted in California the trees were blooming in Taxachussets.