Excerpts from Washington Post 8/17/04
Earlier this month, President Bush was almost done with a speech to a group of minority journalists when he dropped a rather startling proposal."We actually misnamed the war on terror," he said. "It ought to be the Struggle Against Ideological Extremists Who Do Not Believe in Free Societies Who Happen to Use Terror as a Weapon to Try to Shake the Conscience of the Free World."
Or, if you prefer to abbreviate, SAIEWDNBIFSWHTUTAAWTTTSTCOTFW.
Speaking [at the same] meeting of minority journalists in Washington on Aug. 6, President Bush said:
"I cut the taxes on everybody. I didn't cut them. The Congress cut them. I asked them to cut them." (Ron Edmonds -- AP)
Bush, in the brief but forceful way he summed up his candidacy in Davenport, Iowa:
"We stand for things."
Bush offered a curious wish for his audience in Oregon:
"I hope you leave here and walk out and say, 'What did he say?'"
Bush in discussion of Iran policy last week:
"As you know, we don't have relationships with Iran. I mean, that's -- ever since the late '70s, we have no contacts with them, and we've totally sanctioned them. In other words, there's no sanctions -- you can't -- we're out of sanctions."
In that same session, Bush might have listeners worried about their civil liberties when he ran into plural trouble:
"Let me put it to you bluntly," he ventured. "In a changing world, we want more people to have control over your own life."
Bush could be heard joking about an attempted ax murder of Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and his wife:
"He wakes up one night and an ax-wielding group of men tried to hatchet him to death, or ax him to death. I guess, you don't hatchet somebody with an ax. And you don't ax them with a hatchet. He wakes up, the glint of the blade coming at him, and he gets cut badly, escapes. The guy hit his wife, who never recovered, really."
Discrimination?
"I knew this was going to be an issue in our country, that there would be people that say, 'There goes a Muslim-looking person.'"
Immigration reform?
"I have talked about it lately. I talked about it this winter."
War?
"I wish I wasn't the war president. Who in the heck wants to be a war president? I don't."
Sure you don't.
Posted by Maria at August 19, 2004 12:50 PMMaria,
I have come to realize many things. I have read countless Bushism and have come to the conclusion about his role in the GOP agenda.
Like it or not, we are in a society where the majority lack common sense. Even intelligence is wanning. I truly beleive the majority of GOP supporters know exactly what they are doing and exactly why they put such an imbicile up for people to vote for. Because he mirrors what most people in this country are. I will give him the creidt that he is a down to earth even likable guy. He is the type of guy that probably would be awsome to hang out with dirnking beers and fishing or playing cards with. Most of all I am sure if even you or I met him, he would make us feel very comfortable because he is not an overbearing guy. I actually like seeing him in one on one interviews. He has a genuine smile and seems like a very warm person. I honestly beleive in him when he says he thinks he is doing the right thing. I admire his faith and beleive in most of what he says as being sincere.
However....
These are not traits that make a good leader and president. But, these are the traits I think most people voted on. One of the things I heard come out of a lot of peoples mouths in 2000 when asked who they would vote for and why was "Well, Gore is so boring and Bush seems more fun" or "Bush is better looking than Gore..." It bothered me that so many voters based their vote on vanity rather than platform. One person I know said (after the fact) "had I known Bush was so anti-ebvironment, than I wouldn't have voted for him" to which I asked "Well, why DID you vote for him" the reply "Because I thought he was funnier than Gore..."
This brings up a very deep conflict in me and kind of goes against the heart and soul of democracy - should voters have to pass some sort of test before they are allowed to vote? In 2000, we saw how much each vote rally counted and being able to vote gives you much power - power that should not be wielded based on whether someone hair is better than they other guys hair (yes, this happened in 96 when someone voted for clinton instead of dole). It is also no a partisan thing.
Back to my point though - the GOP is very sly and slick. They are slicker than the Dems because IMO, the dems usually put a candidate who has a balanced ideal of their party's stance, where the Repugs put a candidate who can just win votes based on, well, baseless things. They realize the president himself really is a figure head. The real power lies within the cabinet - this is what makes this Administration so dangerous and not maniacal. Not only do they have a candidate people like (again, mostly based on baseless things) but also a president who is easily manipulated. So, in a sense, Geoff/Gordon, Mad Mikey, etc. is right. Bush didn't lie nor did he mislead. They are correct. He didn't do any of that. He truly beleived in everything he stated - because he was manipulated. His cabinet knew exactly what the deal was. Cheney knew what the deal was. They had an agenda and they were/are hell bent on seeing it through. And people like Geoff/Gordon? Smart people - they know what the deal is too - cater to the stupidity of this country and the country will cater to them so they can push their sick agenda so they can continue to build the wealth and power.
After all, anyone with a half of brain can see what a dolt Bush is and realizes that if he were left alone to do his job, he would fail miserably. Oh wait, he already has!
Posted by: Nunya at August 19, 2004 02:44 PMNunya,
O/T
I have a question for you and it's off topic. You said that you used to work for a vet. I'm taking my dog in tomorrow because he's bleeding from his penis. I think it's happening when he urinates but I'm not sure. You said that the skunk remedy I used could make him sick. That was 6 weeks ago. Could it take six weeks to make him sick or do you think it's something else? Like bladder infection or kidney stones?
Any ideas?
Posted by: Rosemary the Queen of All Evil at August 19, 2004 09:36 PMSorry for the OT Maria but I didn't know where else to ask Nunya a serious question that he may actually see it and respond.
Posted by: Rosemary the Queen of All Evil at August 19, 2004 09:37 PMDon't worry about it Rosemary. It's cool. This isn't exactly a sensitive thread ;o)
Posted by: Maria at August 20, 2004 12:46 AMRose,
I doubt it has anything to do with the skunk remedy - if that were to make him sick, it would have taken less time. It is possibe it is a uti of some sort. Take him to the vet, tell the vet you did give that skunk remedy so he knows the history, but again, I doubt that is the cause of the problem.
Posted by: nunya at August 20, 2004 07:45 AMThanks. We went to the vet. He took some tests and gave us an antibiotic just in case. The vet feels strongly that the dog has Cancer . We'll know by Monday. The vet doesn't think Buttons is going to survive based on the volume of bleeding he's worried that Buttons will bleed to death in a week. If it's bad we'll be putting him down. I'm so bummed.
Posted by: Rosemary the Queen of All Evil at August 20, 2004 10:19 AMWow Rose. I'm really sorry to hear about your friend Buttons. That's heartbreaking. All the best.
Posted by: Maria at August 20, 2004 11:02 AMRose,
I do not know where you live or how old your dog is - but if you live near a university that specializes in veterinary medicine, take the dog there. Or, look for a vet that specializes in the area of cancer. You will want a second opinion. Regular vets are like family doctors. They generalize. You would want a specialist for your ownb health.
Basically, it may be an operable cancer. Sometimes, it could be benign. Either way, it will cause bleeding and the dog could bleed to death, so the sooner you get him to a sepcialist the better. If it is a benign tumor in the bladder, it can be removed.
Rose, wanted to drop a line here due to the nature...thoughts with you and Buttons. Dog bless.
Posted by: donna at August 20, 2004 09:57 PMThanks everyone.
We are evaluating all of our options. Our number one priority is to what is best for our baby. Dean and I got the him a month after we married - 9 years ago. He has been a part of our life since we began it together. My son has known him for his entire life. We are simply heartbroken.
We won't make any rash decisions but we promised ourselves that we wouldn't be selfish and prolong his suffering. He is in a lot of pain and after we get the results from all of his tests and the ultrasound, we will decide what to do. I watched my dad slowly die of Cancer and I wouldn't wish that on anyone, let alone someone that I love with all my heart.
Posted by: Rosemary the Queen of All Evil at August 21, 2004 10:13 AM