BS: Did he really say that?

Subject: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Frankham
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 02:56 PM

"I'm the Commander, see...I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the President...I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation."
               ...George W. Bush to the National Security Council

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Deckman
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 03:20 PM

There is NO surprise here! Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Amos
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 04:11 PM

That's the interesting thing about Bush -- he totally misses the concept!!

A

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Don Firth
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 04:26 PM

Back sometime in the late Seventies or early Eighties I remember a series of interviews that David Frost did with Richard Nixon. I can't recall exactly what Frost's question was at the time, but Nixon's response was, "Well, it couldn't have been illegal. I was the President at the time, and whatever the President does is legal. It's legal because he's the President."

Frost then pointed out to Nixon that what he had just asserted was the "Divine Right of Kings." Nixon responded that he "wouldn't put it quite that way," but as Frost kept probing, it became evident that this was exactly what Nixon meant.

Frost was aghast. And Nixon still didn't get it!

Maybe it's something in the White House water system. . . .

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Deckman
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:13 PM

Don ... I absolutely remember that very interview. It made the hair go up on the back of my neck ... which is the only place it grows today. Very, very scary. Do you suppose these guys, meaning American Presidents, can walk across water without first putting on their Jesus shoes? Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:20 PM

And then we've got Ari Fleisher saying Americans had better be very careful about what they say and do! Sounds like a threat to me!

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:24 PM

Oh, it is a threat, Kat. Most definitely.

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Don Firth
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:28 PM

Some of them seem to think so. There are a few I'd like to see actually try it, say, over the Marianas Trench. . . ?

". . . and he was stompin'!"

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:28 PM

"Maybe it's something in the White House water system. . . . "

In Nixon's case, it was something in his Scotch bottles. Once he'd had his thirty or so nightcaps, he would talk to the presidential portraits. Too bad we don't have those conversations on tape!

It's called the arrogance of power.

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:30 PM

OK, for the second time today, I've sent a post flying by accident. The above was going to read "It's called the arrogance of power. Or is it the power of arrogance?"

Or, never mind...

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Deckman
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:38 PM

... you might also call it ... "the power of the hour!"

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Kim C
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:31 PM

First of all, I would like sound documentation that the statement was actually made. Not because I am a fan of Bush - I did not vote for him - but because when someone is the President, statements that they didn't actually make seem to get attributed to them.

Now. If he did in fact say that, he's wrong. The President owes an explanation to the people when he raises taxes, goes to war, or makes an ass of himself.

And haven't they all done at least one of those things.

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: NicoleC
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:42 PM

Kim:

"I'm the commander, I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the President. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation...."
20 November 2002; interview with Bob Woodward, The Washington Post

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Bobert
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:50 PM

Hey, is anyone surprised at anything Bush says? When asked, since he is unopposed for nomination in the Repub Party, what he's going to do with the $170M that his strong armed folks have collected for him, he said, "You'll see!"

See, he understands fully that the one with the most money wins the election and so he feels immortal. What Dem. can collect that kind of dough and have spend a lot getting thru the primaries? None. Not even close.

Plus, white men love Bush about 85 to 15 and that's alot to overcome.
Yeah, white guys have a way of messin' up lots of stuff...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Kim C
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:55 PM

Thanks Nicole. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 06:58 PM

"...he would talk to the presidential portraits..."

Professor Dumbledore does that. Very interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Deckman
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 07:06 PM

Kim C. I appreciate your question because you are quite right. It's so easy to get into bashing some public figure ... he said this, she said that! And I am not a person that gets off on "bush bashing" as a sport. The Presidency has so much inherent power that it is downright frightening. I, as an American citizen, have to protect my Constitution and my responsibilities. And I like to think that I do that. However, I well remember that David frost interview with then President Richard nixon and just how flumoxed david Frost appeared. Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 07:20 PM

"It's good to be the king."

                  --Mel Brooks

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 07:43 PM

I used Google with the phrase "I'm the commander, I do not need to explain"—in quotes—and it came up with 233 citations.

Here's where the quote was reported in the British newspaper, The Independent. (The Independent credits the Washington Post.) http://argument.independent.co.uk/podium/story.jsp?story=353858

It was also quoted in the Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/la-oe-turley21jul21,0,7942074.story

I agree that it's a good idea to be skeptical about outrageous quotes found on the Internet, but since this one found its way into the official websites of 2 reputable newspapers, I accept it as an accurate quote.

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: GUEST,heric
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 08:03 PM

Bobert your preoccupation with white guys is a bit... I dunno. Old, anyway.

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 06:59 AM

So the concept of "The buck stops here" is now obsolete ?

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: kendall
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 08:59 AM

Nixon was lonely, paranoid and isolated. He could talk to pictures without fear that they would repeat what he said. Sounds logical to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 10:18 AM

It's so reassuring to know that lonely, paranoid, isolated, delusional drunks and dry drunks routinely become leaders of the free world. Gotta love the logic of that.

Subject: RE: BS: Did he really say that?
From: GUEST,garydon986
Date: 01 Aug 03 - 02:47 PM

Bobert I happen to be white and don't really understand your prejudice towards whites. Now if I had said something like that toward blacks. I wonder what your responce to me would be. However at the moment I am willing to accept your appology.

Thankfully    Gary®