BS: GWB Press Conference

Subject: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: GUEST,guest from NW
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 02:02 AM

i'm surprised that with the usual amount of politically oriented threads going on here that no one started one about GWB's performance at his recent press conference (#11. clinton and bush 1 both had over 70 at this point in their terms). is it that his "performance" was so pathetic that it was kind of embarrassing? how could we have allowed a person this incurious, inflexible, uninterested, inarticulate, and arrogant to become president? catch the double non-answer on why he has to have cheney along with for his 9/11 testimony? or the blank look when asked if he could name a mistake he had made and what he may have learned from it? and his rambling, incoherent answers? the guy can just barely remember his "talking points" and has to repeat them incessantly...stay the course...stay the course...stay the... or his admission that he would have attacked iraq even if he had known there were no WMDs? i mean, we debate about this stuff over and over and he just blurts out "yeah, i would have attacked no matter what"!

i could go on, but bottom line is this walking disaster must go in november. and his cabal of war profiteering, thieving, murdering thugs with him.

so anybody think he did just great? by the way, it was revealed in the press today that he lied about the 50 tons of mustard gas on the turkey farm. retracted by the white house staff. there's another bush lie for you dougR to go with the one from the "popular views of the bush admin." thread.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 02:43 AM

What I want to know is who dressed him? He wore a tie with small black and white checks which due to the scanning of the camera shimmered and shone like a rainbow when he moved.

I guess he didn't lie about the intelligence. How can we expect him to understand the technology of Weapons of Mass Destruction when he obviously can't even figure out how to dress for a television camera.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: dianavan
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 02:54 AM

The reason so many voted for him is because the average American thinks its O.K. if you lie. Its only wrong if you get caught and thats why he's being crucified now. If he hadn't been found out, people would still be waving their flags, no matter what.

"incurious, inflexible, uninterested, inarticulate, and arrogant"

Sounds just like a good ol boy to me. One of the guys. He plays this image for all its worth.

"yeah, i would have attacked no matter what"

Thats his confession. What more do you want? Everybody makes a mistake now and then. Don't you believe in the forgiveness of sins? Yes, he is a God fearing sinner just like the rest of us and now he's showing us how humble he really is. :>)

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Amos
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 08:16 AM

DIanavan:

The average American??? Who he??? I certainly don't think it's okay if you lie except to your enemies. And that's the deal with Bush. He acts as though the people aty lartge are antagonists,

Which gradually is coming true!

But don't go swashing around with such a broad brush!

A

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Big Mick
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:07 AM

I have no idea who the average American is. Here we go again.

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:10 AM

The average American is one who is neither 'left' or 'right' and neither liberal nor conservative.

At last weeks count, there were three of them in the US.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Alaska Mike
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 10:59 AM

Shrub sure seemed confident that he would not be losing his job. He probably knows that all the paperless electronic ballot machines across the country are already programed to "help" him out.

Plus he has just barely started spending his $200,000,000. We all have 10,000 TV commercials to watch yet of how he has saved the country, the world, the economy, the environment, democracy, the sanctity of marriage, and done it all under God's directing hand.

By the time the election finally comes around, so many people will be so tired of seeing his brainless face on the tube, they will simply not vote at all. I hope he is ousted in November, but I am not optomistic.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Nerd
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 11:22 AM

I think Bush is pathologically incapable of admitting any mistake or wrongdoing, no matter how small. The lying is one of those things he will never admit.

But the funny thing about lying is that everyone does it. Philosophers and social scientists have come to quite a nuanced understanding of lying which few media outlets seem ever to discuss, and which few people think much about. But everyone has internalized some rules about lying which we use to filter the world around us.

Essentially, lies can either be material or immaterial (that is, they can matter or not matter in a practical sense), and they can be harmful, helpful or neutral. An immaterial lie would be like a President saying "I am wearing green socks" when he is actually wearing black socks. It just doesn't matter.

The reason many liberals and conservatives disagree about Bush and Clinton is not that one side condones lying and the other does not, it's that we have different ideas about the materiality and harmfulness of the lies. Bush's followers think his lies about WMD were HELPFUL rather than harmful, because "Saddam was a mad, mad, mad, mad man" and the lies helped Bush get rid of him. Liberals think Clinton's lies about Monica Lewinsky were IMMATERIAL rather than material, because they don't think his sex life has much bearing on his policy.

In both cases the opposing side disagrees; most liberals think Bush's lies were harmful because they think the war is unnecessary, and many conservatives think that Clinton's lies were material because they think his sex life showed he had no moral fiber and thus was unsuited to be president.

Because deep down we know that everyone sometimes lies, and because we have internalized rules of materiality and harmfulness, arguments about "he lied, she lied" are always really about what they lied about, and the lying itself is never actually the issue. Despite the Clinton-Bashers' mantra of "it's not the sex! He Lied to the American People," it was ALWAYS about the sex. No one would impeach a president just because he said he had green socks on. Smae with Bush, it's not that he lied, it's what he lied about.

Many Americans have some kind of cultural imperative to pretend we never lie, and to act as though lying in itself were always morally reprehensible. So the arguments usually sound feeble: "your guy lied!" "Oh, yeah, well your guy lied about something else!" We're really arguing about the something else, not the lying part.

Interesting about the mustard gas, Guest from NW.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Amos
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 12:25 PM

Nerd:

Very smart analysis, most enjoyable. Thanks,


A

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Don Firth
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 12:42 PM

Nerd, Bravo!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Mark Clark
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 06:26 PM

Nerd, Thanks. You've put your finger right on it.

      - Mark

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 16 Apr 04 - 06:54 PM

They had some extracts from the Press Conference on a comnedy news quiz "Have I got News For You" tonight on the BBC. They didn't need to add any jokes or cracks, the audience was falling about laughing at the man.

I suspect that there are a lot of uncommited Americans who are going to look at Bush and Kerry and say "this Bush is much much funnier than Kerry", and they'll vote for him. Like in "Big Brother" people vote for the one who is likely to do something more entertaining.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: LadyJean
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 01:18 AM

My old friend the Reverend Peacock remarked that she'd seen the press conference. It was announced that Bush and Blair would come out in the rosegarden. She was wondering what the fundamentalists would think when they found out that Bush AND Blair were coming out, And in the White House rose garden!

The Reverend Peacock is Episcopalian. They don't care if you're gay, at least not much.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 02:20 PM

McGrath I seen that Bush performance again on "Have I got news for you", you are right about the audience, they found it hilarious, for anyone in the UK or Ireland it is repeated tonight at 10.30 bbc 2.
And Guest from NW, Bush`s debacle was commented on in an earlier Thread.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 02:26 PM

Guest from NW, try the 9/11 thread for a brilliant link to The Observor [UK] on Bush`s press debacle.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 17 Apr 04 - 04:56 PM

The question is, does the fact that they can see Bush is a buffoon on any way make it less likely that people are going to vote for him in November?

I have a horrible feeling it won't hurt him significantly. It didn't hurt Reagan - though, of course, he did know how to time the delivery of lines off his autocue.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 01:57 PM

I actually heard a Republican Bush fan claim that the press conference showed that Bush is not a deep thinker or introspective. He makes a decision and sticks to it without a lot of navel gazing. He is the man we need in the White House. I know I am missing something here...HELP!

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Peace
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 02:19 PM

Bush couldn't organize a blow job at a convention of pud suckers.

The lies I understand. The thing that really should worry people is that he doesn't know enough to know WHEN he's telling a lie.

We have that difficulty with some elected officials in Canada. Seems Britain too has its share. People keep gettin' conned, and you-know-what floats to the surface.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: dianavan
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 02:50 PM

SINSULL - That is exactly what I am afraid of! He appeals to the common masses. Functionally literate but not a shred of critical consciousness. He's just one of the guys. Could be your next door neighbor. He represents the majority.

Lets just hope the majority can at least see that this "war" is costing a bundle in dollars and in lives. Lets hope that the majority realizes that he is a liar, too.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Amos
Date: 18 Apr 04 - 03:05 PM

Calculations on the Cost of the Iraq War

Analsyis of Bush Falsifications:

"The True Lies of GWB"

"Twenty Lies of GWB"

Bush Lies

Mis-Lead

Harry Browner

Oasis TV

One Thousand Reasons

Lies.Com

Creepier than Nixon

All the President's Lies

David Corn, Author of "The Lies of George W. Bush"

bushin30seconds

Beating about the Bush

The Bush Credibility Gap

Bush Administration Officials' Lies

Regards,

A

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: ard mhacha
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 07:44 AM

Marion McKeone the Sunday Tribunes [Dublin] correspondent in the USA, writing on Bush`s press wind-up, says, "The Bush press conference was possibly the funniest thing to happen in the increasingly grim world of US politics in a very long time.
If Saturday Night Live had dreamed this one up they`d scoop every comedy award going.

Thus far in his short but happy career as President, Bush has managed to take 33 holidays and give 11 press conferences. For reasons that have become increasingly clear.

It may seem obvious, but the first rule of a question and answer session with journalists, even those as notoriously quiescent as the White House hacks, is that you supply some rudimentary answers to the questions, for the record, "eeeh" " well", "see..", aaaahmmmmm" and "I wish youda given me this question ahead of time so I could plan for it", are not acceptable answers.

Also to be avoided at all costs is the, God Made Me Do It respnse,
it is a long time from since a western leader involved God, the last one was Joan of Arc".

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Amos
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 12:20 PM

Look at the numbers; look at the communications; look at the falsifications. You would have to be a pure-dee dumb-ass to be bamboozled by this flapdoodle worthless son-of-a-bitch. How can he fool anyone?

Look at the photos linked recently of children torn up by our munitions in this "God-mandated" war. Give me one funcking break. What you have here is not an inept politician, but a dramatizing and disgusting psycho, spilling the blood of women and children into the sand for personal motives.

A

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: ard mhacha
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 04:23 PM

Amos, Do not be at all surprised when he fools the US electorate once again, in the next election.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 04:49 PM

"I'm glad you asked me that question" is the traditional way to deal with that sort of difficulty. And you then go ahead and answer some question you weren't asked. Tony Blair can do this kind of thing standing in his head (which is more or less what he is doing politically anyway.)

But with Bush it's a whole different game he's playing. By fluffing this one so completely he wins. Not only does he get the vote of people who enjoy watching clowns and don't care too much about politics anyway, he also reassures a lot of people that he's not really a politician, he's a regular guy.

Basically it's Homer Simpson for President. Pretty frightening.

All right, there are some nuts who don't like the thought of Homer Simpson for President, especially when they've seen what that means in action, but they shouldn't be counted as real Americans.

They had a poll here the other day, and most Conservative voters in Britain preferred Kerry to Bush. Unfortunately British Conservative voters don't get to vote in the US elections.

On second thoughts, that is a bit unfair on Homer Simpson. He'd make a much better President. More fundamental dignity.)

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Amos
Date: 19 Apr 04 - 04:56 PM

Dear God, Kevin, what a thought!! I am afraid you're right, though!! :>)



A

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: dianavan
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 12:15 AM

Amos - I totally agree with you. Unfortunately, the "educated" masses in the U.S. have learned only to function as good little consumers. They are the majority. Anyone with a critical consiousness is considered to be a "smarty pants" or "intellectually elite". Add to that a whopping helping of "patriotism" and the "God-fearing" Americans suddenly become "Bushites".

I wish I could be more hopeful.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Metchosin
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 03:21 AM

Amos, I'm inclined to agree with ard mhacha, for the same reason that, most people who have been subjected to a con rarely come forward to admit it. They are too embarassed to acknowledge that they were gullible enough to have been suckered.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: Amos
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 09:23 AM

My fear is not that they won't admit it, but that will consciously seek to repeat it as a way of justifying their error. "It must have been right because see? I'm doing it again!". Nuts but likely, I am afraid.

A

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 11:48 AM

But remember, if people voted the same way they did last time, Bush would be out.

I can't imagine the stormtroopers would have such an easy time disrupting and halting the count this time.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 01:59 PM

I think the impressions from GWB's press conference have now been superceded by Bob Woodward's book "Plan of Attack" and his CBS interview. This is no longer even remotely funny. Follow the related thread.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 02:06 PM

Sorry, I meant this thread.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 07:31 PM

sorry bout the cut & paste but I thought this was worth sharing
http://www.misleader.org/daily_mislead/read.asp?fn=df04142004.html

Bush Contradicts Self At His Own Press Conference


During last night's prime time press conference, President Bush once again claimed that "there was nobody in our government, at least, and I don't think the prior government that could envision flying airplanes into buildings"1. But just minutes later at the same press conference the president proved he was not telling the truth.

Specifically, Bush said the reason he supposedly requested intelligence briefings before 9/11 "had to do with the Genoa G-8 conference I was going to attend" in 2001. Bush was referring to the fact that, prior to that conference, he was warned that "Islamic terrorists might attempt to kill him and other leaders by crashing an airliner into the summit" meetings2.

His statement that "the prior government" had not taken precautions against terrorists using planes as weapons is also contradicted by the facts. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that under President Clinton, "the federal government had on several earlier occasions taken elaborate, secret measures to protect special events from just such an attack"3 after receiving intelligence warnings4.

Subject: RE: BS: GWB Press Conference
From: dianavan
Date: 20 Apr 04 - 11:24 PM

McGrath - Storm troopers will not be necessary because this time the guy who designed the voting machine, is also a Bush supporter. Bush knows he's going to win because the vote is already rigged.

Even if its not rigged, Bush knows how to appeal to the "common" American and Kerry appeals only to Democratic hard liners. At least Nader has guts and he appeals to the Greens and the younger voters as well. Who in their right mind thinks that Kerry will change anything? Kerry is the status quo.

Please tell me how Kerry will change the war in Iraq. Please tell me how he plans to improve health and education. Please tell me how he will improve the economy or decrease unemployment. I want to hear about his problem-solving ability. All I've heard so far is a smooth talking politician.

Believe me, I think Bush is an evil genious who plays to the masses (he learned alot from Hitler) but he has a very strong power base. Its pretty hard to topple this kind govt.

I can't help but wonder what will happen if Bush does win. What then? Will there be rioting in the streets? Will he be overthrown by force? Will he be impeached? Has anyone thought this far ahead or is everyone just saying, "Think positive!"