BS: Bush's press conference last night.

Subject: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 09:51 AM

I thought he did an excellent job. He spoke as though he knew the whole word was watching. He din't talk or act too gung ho. He showed that he and his administration has an excellent handle on the issues. He showed that he had compassion but still acted like the cowboy..... "Smoke 'em out". It gave be hope that things will work out OK.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: mousethief
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 10:30 AM

Didn't hear/see it, but my wife did, and she was very impressed (we both voted for Gore (albeit while holding our noses)). He has done better during this crisis than I would have expected from the image he portrayed during the election. I still disagree with many of his policies and emphases, but as a commander-in-chief he's doing a fine job right now.

alex

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST,Captain America
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 10:44 AM

Damn, two messages in a row that spoke favorably about Bush. That has got to be some sort of a record. Of course, now we can expect about twenty messages from those who ignored the content and focused on his mispronounciation of Arabic terms, brief pauses between words, and southern accented English.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 11:04 AM

In terms of performance, I thought it was adequate, although it's clear that he's not as adept at speaking off-the-cuff as some of his predecessors. I expect his skill at these things will improve with time.

In terms of message, I thought it was very effective. Bush clearly understood that he was being heard all over the world, and certain of his phrases (like his characterization of bin Laden and al Qaeda as "the evil ones") were clearly used more for their effect on foreign ears than on the US.

I agree with Alex -- I voted for Gore, and have my share of disagreements with Bush's domestic policies, but I think he and other members of his administration are doing an outstanding job in responding to this crisis.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 11:36 AM

Sounded good to me, I have to say....

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Justa Picker
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 11:45 AM

Thought he did great, and have been absolutely fascinated watching his transformation from a "boy" into a "man" over the last while. I think he's surprising a lot of skeptics.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: DougR
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 11:59 AM

I never thought I'd see the day! Where in the heck is CarolC, Donuel, kat, Spaw, Kendall, Greg F.,et al? Such unanimity is NOT to be tolerated here on the Mudcat! :>)

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST,DSJ
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:10 PM

I didn't think he was an effective communicator at all. He sounded canned and rehearsed, and kept repeating his prerehearsed remarks over and over again, rather than answer the questions he was asked. But to be fair, that is what all the administration officials do in their press conferences.

Bush was pretty damn stiff, and clearly as uncomfortable with the press conference format as he was during the campaign--I saw no improvement in that regard.

As to content, absolutely nothing new--we'd already heard everything he said from his previous remarks or other administration spokespersons this week.

Yawn.

Why we bother with these shams called presidential press conferences, I'll never know.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: DougR
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:14 PM

Yea! Guest DSJ! You came through for the liberal majority in fine fashion!

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST,DSJ
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:16 PM

Sorry, but I'm not a liberal. Liberals are much too wishy washy and tame for this radical leftist.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:24 PM

Excuse me, is there something wrong with Southern-accented English? Nearly every part of the country has distinctive speech patterns - JFK himself spoke with Massachusetts twang, and LBJ also had a Texas accent. Would you prefer that everyone sound like Stone Phillips or something?

I didn't hear the whole thing - but during the part I did hear, I didn't hear any mispronunciations or long pauses between words. But what do I know - I'm a Southerner too.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: SharonA
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:26 PM

I'm with DSJ. I saw nothing that positively impressed me. I'm especially disturbed by his advice, when asked what the citizenry should do to be prepared for future acts of terrorism, to go on about our lives and trust that the government is on high alert. This is the government that contracted one anthrax vaccine manufacturer for the entire US to produce vaccine that it's not producing because the plant has FDA inspection violations (if the ABC report is to be believed). Trust the government? Not in this country.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: mousethief
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:27 PM

Kim, I think (and this is just a guess) that Captain America was being facetious.

Alex

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:32 PM

The term EVIL DOERS caught my ears. Perhaps I was exposed to comic books at too tender an age because it sounded like a super hero romp. The white house sent up trial balloons regarding a Palistinian State. Margret was the only one to point this out at the end.

I think the administration will explore as many avenues as possible to insure survival of the United States.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:34 PM

Thank you for calling KFC. Would you like Regular or Extra Cranky today? ;-)

Sorry, just a little touchy this week.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Amos
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:40 PM

The suggestion of a Palestinian State would certainly go a long way to balance things in the Middle East, I would think, at first glance. Let's see -- who would we have to displace and ignore this time???

A

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST,Kim C no cookie
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:53 PM

That's another quandary, isn't it? Sometimes you can't give something to one person without taking something away from another. When they don't agree to share it makes things all the more unhappy.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 12:55 PM

Hey thats why Sharon spouted off last week.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: kendall
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 01:13 PM

Sorry Doug, I just got back from England last night and I was in no need of a sleep aid.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 01:38 PM

Performance, yes, that is what we should dwell upon. Forget what was said. Forget the charity he started. Forget that he offered forgiveness and peace to those who have harboured terrorists in the past, including the Taliban. Forget that he doubled the aid to Afghanistan. The performance was the key!!

SharonA Anthrax can be treated quite effectively with medicines available in any U.S. Pharmacy today.

What we should be doing is going on with our lives. Even if the terrorists attack again the odds against it happening to any one person are astronomical. The press is doing thousands of times more damage than bin Laden. But telling people that thier lives are no more dangerous than they were on September 10, doesn't sell airtime.

DougR: DSJ condemned all presidential press conferences. That is in no way a liberal statement or a statement of the majority. You should really read more carefully before you condemn.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Deda
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 01:59 PM

I thought he did well, on both style and substance--and I'm one of those who used to react to his voice as though it were fingernails on a blackboard. I even liked the bit about having each kid in the US earn or donate a buck. I think he's more able to handle the situation decisively than someone much smarter than he is might be. I still think that he's wrong about star wars and about domestic policies, but I'm impressed with how he has risen to the occasion.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: CarolC
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 02:06 PM

DougR, if you can dig up a single post of mine in which I have given an opinion of any speach given by Bush on any subject, please show it to me.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: CarolC
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 02:15 PM

Ok. I believe I did give one opinion. I think I said after one speach, that I felt more comfortable with him prior to hearing the speach.

I don't feel particularly inclined to give any opinions about last night's speach.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: SharonA
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 04:31 PM

Jack says, "Anthrax can be treated quite effectively with medicines available in any U.S. Pharmacy today." True, if it's caught early enough, but a vaccine would protect against contracting anthrax in the first place. But that's another thread.

Anthrax aside, I still don' t trust the government. In fact, that's part and parcel of "going on with my life", since I didn't trust the government before September 11th, either!!

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: robomatic
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 04:41 PM

There already is a Palestinian State. It's called Jordan. They need to move to it and not go after a piece of real estate that would reduce Israel to an almost indefensible perimeter.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Justa Picker
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 04:45 PM

You took the words right out of my mouth, robomatic. (I was going to type them an hour ago, but got side-tracked.)

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Bert
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 04:47 PM

Well, just so's as not to disappoint my friend DougR. I'll say I was not too impressed. I got the impression that the statesman that we had seen for the past month was reverting to his old ways (Who was it named him "The Smirking Dufus"?). It was quite sad to see that side of him start to reappear when he had been so good for a while there.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST,frankie
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 05:39 PM

It seems he took great pains to convince us that we were conducting a type of warfare that was completely new to the world and at the same time labored mightily to convince us that we would definitely win in spite of the fact that we'd never done anything like this before. I believe he mentioned bombing them out of their caves a couple of times. Basically, I think he was just rallying the troops to prop up that modern day colonialism we practice in the Middle East and to "protect America's interests" (my quotes). If we truly want to stop terrorism, at least from the Islamic world, should get the hell out of it. Unfortunately that probably won't happen until we've sucked the last drop of oil out of that region.
Performance-wise he kind of reminded me of his old man during senior's "Halcyon" days. I caught myself shaking my head a few times wondering what the hell he had just said. frankie

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Donuel
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 05:54 PM

We are being groomed to accept the use of tactical nuclear weapons , in case you haven't noticed.

American is being held ransom. If we throw Isreal to the wolves and pull out of the middle east they "may go easy on us". We counter with an arsenal which is not likely to destroy 2 billion muslims.

The arabs (although racist) are strategically like the American revolutionary army against the British. It is not an easy or an assured victory for the Empire.

Opps I forgot we only are going after terrorists.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 06:03 PM

What makes you think we are being "groomed to accept the use of tactical nuclear weapons"?....Against WHO, exactly, & for WHAT precise reason?

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: DougR
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 06:37 PM

Jack Jack Jack. You're a real scolder, aren't you? I wasn't referring to DSJ's comments about presidential press conferences, I was referring to the same tired old criticisms we have heard about Bush since the presidential campaign. Anyway, Jack, me lad, I'm sure DSJ is a big boy or girl and can handle his/her own battles, don't you think? If you didn't pick up on the fact that when I wrote my first post I had tongue firmly planted in cheek, I don't know what to tell you.

Carol: I was referring to the fact that this was the first thread (the beginning posts, at least) that uniformly expressed approval of the president. You may have posted some similar ones, but none come to mind at the moment.

Donuel: "I think the administration will explore all avenues available to ensure survival of the United States." Well, I certainly hope so, don't you?

Kendall, you old curmudgeon, don't complain to me! It's obvious you flew across the pond with one thought in mind: capture the hearts of all the female Mudcatters in Great Britian. It also appears you made a lot of progress. Hell, even the Llamas were fighing over you!

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: CarolC
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 06:44 PM

I guess my point was that I don't usually make comments on this sort of thing, so it doesn't make much sense to me that someone would include my name in a list of people who perhaps do comment on this sort of thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: SeanM
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 09:01 PM

Chalk me in the "not very impressed, and somewhat alarmed by" category.

The moment that perked my ears (besides the Reagan-esque "evil ones" refrain) was the question about whether our commitment to Afghanistan would result in a Vietnam type quagmire. His response was that the lesson learned from Vietnam was to not commit conventional forces to an unconventional war. What worried me was his next sentence - basically stating that this was why we'd commited conventional forces.

Huh?

M

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Troll
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 09:26 PM

He's coming along just fine. He has already surprised a lot of people and I think he'll surprise a whole lot more. He may turn out to be a very effective wartime leader.
Everyone thought the nation was sunk when FDR died but Harry Truman surprised the world with his leadership ability.
I hope Bush can do the same. He's moving in that direction.

troll

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Greg F.
Date: 12 Oct 01 - 09:45 PM

Yup. He went to the bathroom again and didn't piss on his shoes!! AGAIN!!!(loud applause)

He's still the same smirking doofus he was 6 months ago- the U.S. citizenry would "get behind" a dead mackerel if it happened to be president during a national crisis of this type.

Let this circus play out before we start handing out premature awards & laurel wreaths- he hasn't changed his basic positions- particularly on domestic policy- one iota.

Greg

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: DougR
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 12:21 AM

Uh, I don't suppose it ever occured to you that six months ago you might have been wrong, Greg F.?

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: SeanM
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 12:56 AM

Actually, though a bit over the top in my view, Greg F DOES have a point. In times of war, the population generally does come together behind the president. In a situation like this (where a substantial act of aggression led to the attacks), it's to be expected that a large part of the nation (the intelligent as well as the sheep) will flock to the prez.

And six months ago, had Bush asked for the nation to 'get behind him' in the same blind fashion it is today, I'm quite certain he'd not have the same results without the same stimulus. We're a divisive nation at best.

M

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: kendall
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 01:33 AM

Doug, how could anyone help liking you?

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST,DSJ
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 09:56 AM

A few days on, and I'm even more disturbed by my local media's reporting of primary school children being forced to say the pledge of allegiance, and standing in line with fists full of money to put in a big jar "for the children of Afghanistan".

Anyone else having problems with this one?

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: SlowAlan
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 10:56 AM

All of the speeches of Bush, Blair and Australia's goofy drongo PM Howard have sounded both wrong and antiquated. Each of their "tough talking" speeches has, to my eyes, cloaked incompetence and insecurity. Their ridiculous response to the horrific terrorist actions is to start their own terror!

These political gimps have got to realise that plenty of us have evolved beyond the chimpanzee, and we prefer to solve crises by spiritual means..and a bit of "lateral thinking"....eg. Has anyone in America actually asked themseves why they are so hated, and what behaviour they should change in order to rectify this situation?

That would be the best start to the situation. Fighting faceless terror with faceless terror in the hope of attaining peace is (as we used to say in the Anti Vietnam War movement.."like fucking for chastity").

The second thing they should do is to show, by a huge convocation of mullahs, perhaps even buddhists and christian religious leaders, that although America's foreign policy in the Middle East has been arrogant and "evil", to respond in the way of terror against monotheist civilians, especially by suicide, is an abomination in Islam, without Koranic justification, and that the Mullahs who teach this route are wrong, in grievous theological error. This is the correct spiritual approach..first, look for one's own errors, then look for the similarities, not the differences.Everyone makes mistakes, America makes plenty, and Ossama and the terrorist boys have made a very big one indeed. But, remember to put it in perspective, in most weeks in Iraq, five thousand people, mainly women and children are said to die of starvation and disease as a direct result of the western allies foreign policy of blockade.

They must stop the bombing immediately, and pull back all troops, and apologise..then bore them to death with theological argument.That is what would completely pull the rug out from under the terrorists.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 11:24 AM

All of you leftest people just don't get it do you? The United States feeds, cloths, educates, cures of disease, appeases, and puts up with the UN diluting our national sovereinty. This president is trying to fix so much of the incongruent policy of the last 8 yrs as well as the unfortunate influence of leftist liberalistic influences in the house and senate. This is why we are in this mess. You liberal leftist nit wits should just get the hell out of this country and go bang your tamborines and worship Mao, Marx and Zinn with the rest of the worlds under or over (depending on overall nit witery)educated thugs. This country has, the right man on the job, period. If Gore were there with his yahmaca wearing whimpering side kick, we'd be in a world of hurt. Facts are not truth they are only part of the truth, your rapist president billy showed us all that because that's what is, is!

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 11:35 AM

Rich your heart is true and your passion strong but it seems you have overdosed on 8 years of Rush Limbaugh.

Believe me when I tell you we "get it" . We even get you.

BTW we paid our UN dues in a hurry and Bush asked to use UN radar planes over American skies since we are stretched so thin.

I never saw Bush more like a deer in the headlights last night when he responded to the anthrax letter scare tactics.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: kendall
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 01:25 PM

Mister, I'm one of your "liberal nit wits" but, I'll match my knowledge of history with you or any other drum pounding, flag waving, mouth breathing knuckle dragger.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 02:31 PM

Doug Doug Doug,

I am very disappointed that you consider yourself in a battle with anyone. Especially on this forum. Is it a "holy war" with "liberals"? A quest against world government? of which battles do you speak?

And again you reacted to a post without actually reading it? Greg F. Said GWB was a doofus 6 months ago and is still a doofus. Why would that statement prompt him to reconsider? Calm down Doug, Read the posts...... Read them again ... then, start typing.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: DougR
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 03:00 PM

Jack Jack Jack. You just can't resist can you? Who died and made you my official scolder? :>)

DougR

P. S. Kendall: read Jack's posts if you want a reply to your question.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 03:39 PM

When the nicest things said about Bush by the intelligensia in DC is that he is coming along fine or that he has crossed from boyhood to a man before our eyes, I see someone inferior to the position.

That being said let us hear from the alternate universe where the Supreme Court selected Gore for president.

"Heelloo II'm Al Goore. In response to today's merciless attack of monstrous proportions, one which will live in infamy until the end of time, we will be assembling an international and acumenical grand jury tribunal with justices from of every faith and nationality. We will deliver intelligence and informatioon from every agency worldwide and prosecute the criminals responsible. When the indictments are handed down we will then grind them to dust with every conceivable weapon known to man." - sometime during my second term..."

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST,AKRick
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 04:34 PM

I'm always amazed to see that people living in a four dimensional world insist on seeing it in two dimensions ... i.e. leftist/rightist, liberal/conservative, us/them, etc., etc..

Mostly, it seems to be a refusal to look outward from their own closely held beliefs toward the possibility that some information might not conform to their worldview and therefore they might have to actually put a little work into revising it.

An active mind is always changing.

As for Bush/Gore, what a wretched choice to have had to make.

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: kendall
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 07:08 PM

Doug, what question?

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: kendall
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 07:17 PM

Bert, it was I who first called him a "smirking doofus"

Subject: RE: BS: Bush's press conference last night.
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Oct 01 - 10:47 PM

Papa Bush, Baby Bush--no difference between the two.

Not in press conferences, wars, attacks on American civil liberties, obsession with the CIA/secret government and covert action, or the economy.

The Bushes are a despotic American dynasty, just like their Middle Eastern counterpoints.

We are living in an era of politics and economies dominated by American Big Oil interests defending Middle East Big Oil interests.

This has nothing to do with religion, patriotism, or the moral high ground against "terrorism."

Its about power, and going to any perverse lengths of abusing people and the planet to keep it.