Posted by Mark Silva at 9:18 am CST
In six years in office, President Bush has found a lot of things to be unacceptable – most recently, the situation in Iraq. Sometimes the president has accepted responsibility for the situation, as he has in Iraq, and sometimes he has attempted to hold others accountable for all that is unacceptable.
When he acknowledged, soon after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, that the federal relief effort was "unacceptable,'' the president readily accepted responsibility for fixing it. But some things continue to be "unacceptable,'' in the president's eyes – such as Iran's designs for a nuclear weapon and violence in the Middle East – and these situations remain unresolved. Like the situation in Darfur. And poor schools in many places. From the begiinning, Bush has found problems. For a sampler of all the president has found unacceptable, see these excerpts from remarks since his first year:
"The situation in Iraq is unacceptable to the American people -- and it is unacceptable to me,'' the president said in his televised address to the nation last week. "Our troops in Iraq have fought bravely. They have done everything we have asked them to do. Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.''
That's not all the president has found unacceptable:
On Oct, 29, 2006, in the diplomatic reception room of the White House, following North Korea's test of a nuclear device:
"This was confirmed this morning in conversations I had with leaders of China, and South Korea, Russia, and Japan. We reaffirmed our commitment to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, and all of us agreed that the proclaimed actions taken by North Korea are unacceptable and deserve an immediate response by the United Nations Security Council.''
Oct. 27, 2006, meeting with the secretary general of NATO in the Oval Office, in answer to a reporter's question:
"We must double our effort to work with the international community to persuade the Iranians that there is only isolation from the world if they continue working forward on such a program. And I've read the speculation about that that's what they may be doing, but whether they've doubled it or not, the idea of Iran having a nuclear weapon is unacceptable, and it's unacceptable to the United States and it's unacceptable to nations we're working with in the United Nations to send a common message.''
On April 28, 2006, meeting with advocates for the victims of genocide in Darfur in the Roosevelt Room of the White House:
"I just had an extraordinary conversation with fellow citizens from different faiths, all of who have come to urge our government to continue to focus on saving lives in Sudan. They agree with thousands of our citizens -- hundreds of thousands of our citizens -- that genocide in Sudan is unacceptable.''
On March 20, 2006, in Cleveland, holding out the Iraqi city of Tal Afar as an example of coalition forces restoring order:
"After we removed Saddam Hussein in April 2003, the terrorists began moving into the city. They sought to divide Tal Afar's many ethnic and religious groups, and forged an alliance of convenience with those who benefitted from Saddam's regime and others with their own grievances. They skillfully used propaganda to foment hostility toward the coalition and the new Iraqi government. They exploited a weak economy to recruit young men to their cause. And by September 2004, the terrorists and insurgents had basically seized control of Tal Afar. We recognized the situation was unacceptable. So we launched a military operation against them. After three days of heavy fighting, the terrorists and the insurgents fled the city.
On Jan. 13, 2006, in the East Room of the White House with German Chancellor Angela Merkel:
" The U.N. Security Council is part of the diplomatic process, started by Germany, France, and Great Britain representing the interests of a lot of countries like ourself, which made it abundantly clear to the Iranians that the development of the know-how and our -- a nuclear weapon was unacceptable. And the reason it's unacceptable is because Iran, armed with a nuclear weapon, poses a grave threat to the security of the world.''
On Oct. 22, 2005, in a radio address:
"Our border patrol and immigration agents are doing a fine job, but we still have a problem. Too many illegal immigrants are coming in, and we're capturing many more non-Mexican illegal immigrants than we can send home. And one of the biggest reasons we cannot send them back is that we lack space in our detention facilities to hold them until they are removed. When there's no bed available, non-Mexicans who are caught entering our country illegally are given a slip that tells them to come back for a court appearance. Most never show up. And then they disappear back into the shadows of our communities. This is called "catch-and-release," and it is unacceptable.
On Sept. 3, 2005, in a Rose Garden statement on Hurricane Katrina:
"The magnitude of responding to a crisis over a disaster area that is larger than the size of Great Britain has created tremendous problems that have strained state and local capabilities. The result is that many of our citizens simply are not getting the help they need, especially in New Orleans. And that is unacceptable.
On Feb. 17, 2005, in an East Room press conference:
First, on Iran:
"And so the objective is to solve this issue diplomatically, is to work with friends, like we're doing with France, Europe, and -- I mean, France, Germany, and Great Britain, to continue making it clear to the Iranians that developing a nuclear weapon will be unacceptable.''
Then, on the Middle East:
"Obviously, I'd like to see the Iraqi government continue to make the progress it is making toward providing its own security, as well as begin the process of writing the constitution. We will continue to work with the international community to make it clear that some of the behavior in the Middle East is unacceptable. The development of a nuclear weapon is unacceptable. Harboring terrorists, or providing safe haven for terrorists is unacceptable.''
On July 1, 2003, at a school in Washington, D.C.:
"The District of Columbia needs to improve. Let me just put it bluntly. (Laughter.) There are some great schools in the District and there are some lousy schools in the District. There has been a recent measurement to determine how the District schools do relative to other schools around the country, and 90 -- in grades four and eight, those were the two grades tested, the District of Columbia scored below every single state in the Union in terms of basic skills. And that's unacceptable. It's unacceptable to the Mayor, it's unacceptable to the City Council, it's unacceptable to Peggy, it's unacceptable, most importantly, to the parents. And we need to do something about it.''
On May 8, 2003, in a statement about the blocking of his judicial nominees:
"Miguel Estrada and Priscilla Owen have been waiting two years for an up-or-down vote in the Senate. Both of these nominees are of the highest integrity and character with tremendous legal experience. Both have been unanimously rated "Well Qualified" by the American Bar Association. Each has the support of a majority of Senators, yet votes on their nominations are being blocked by a minority of Senators who are engaged in simultaneous filibusters. These partisan obstructionist tactics are unprecedented, unacceptable, and inconsistent with the Senate's Constitutional responsibility.''
On Sept. 14, 2002, in a radio address before the congressional vote authorizing the use of force in Iraq:
"As the United Nations prepares an effective response to Iraq's defense, I also welcome next week's congressional hearings on the threats Saddam Hussein's brutal regime poses to our country and the entire world. Congress must make it unmistakably clear that when it comes to confronting the growing danger posed by Iraq's efforts to develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction, the status quo is totally unacceptable.
On May 24, 2002, in a joint statement with Russian President Vladimir Putin:
"We reaffirm our unequivocal condemnation of all terrorist acts, considering terrorism and any form of violence an absolutely unacceptable means for achieving political goals. At the same time, recognizing the legitimate right of Israel to fight terrorism, we urge the Israelis and Palestinians to consider carefully the consequences of any actions they may take and to work to create and sustain an environment in which the parties can return to a serious political dialogue.
On June 26, 2002, facing reporters at a G-8 summit in Canada:
QUESTION: "Mr. President, in your speech you made it very clear that the current leadership in Palestinian is not acceptable. If the outcome of the election in January were to result in the reelection of Yasser Arafat, what would be the policy of your government? ''
THE PRESIDENT: "I meant what I said, that there needs to be change. If people are interested in peace, something else has got to happen. We're mired in the situation now where there is terror on the one hand and hopelessness on the other, and that's unacceptable.''
On May 14, 2001, at a forum on crime in Philadelphia:
"Nationally, there were 12,658 murders in 1999, two-thirds of which were shooting deaths. And for every fatal shooting, there were roughly three non-fatal shootings. And, folks, this is unacceptable in America. It's just unacceptable. And we're going to do something about it.
On Feb. 12, 2001, in a tour of Fort Stewart, Georgia:
"You are among the most deployed units in the Army. But you live on a base that has some of the least developed infrastructure. (Applause.) Two-thirds of your barracks need renovation. (Applause.) Some of your workshops are housed in wood buildings built in 1941, buildings that were designed to last 10 years, which are now having their 60th birthday. (Laughter.)
"These problems, from low pay to poor housing, reach across our military and the result is predictable. Frustration is up; morale, in some places, is difficult to sustain; recruitment is harder. This is not the way a great nation should reward courage and idealism. (Applause.) It's ungrateful, it's unwise and, it is unacceptable.'' (Applause)
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Comments
The Bush Administration is unacceptable.
It's amazing how few of the situations that Bush has labelled as "unacceptable", he has actually done anything effective about.
Posted by: Tony | January 15, 2007 10:03 AM
Did anyone notice President Bush dressed like the President of Iran on his interview w/ 60 Minutes? Are you Republicans going to question the Presidents loyalties or do you only say such things when a black Senator whose middle name is Hussein decides to wear a sport coat and dress shirt unbuttoned at the top w/o a tie?
Posted by: jethro | January 15, 2007 10:05 AM
Bush should look at himeself in a mirror. He is what is most unacceptable.
I'm tired of his lies and ignorance and incompetence and studidity.
Why is his approval rating at like 32%?? He is not a good U.S. President by any stretch.
Posted by: Doug R. | January 15, 2007 10:47 AM
President Bush and his team are "unacceptable".
After watching him on 60 minutes and Stephen Hadley on Meet the Press, obviously they are promoting actions which are not going to succeed.
The gutless democrats are not performing any better.
The voters sent a clear message. Clean it up, act as adults and quit lying to the public for political and personal gain.
Posted by: Phil Elliott | January 15, 2007 10:47 AM
Too bad that his finding of things unacceptable never seems to result in anything that is acceptable. The Iraq war is still unacceptable but in reality a disaster; the rest of the Mid-East is in an unacceptable state and only just now has he sent Condoleeza Rice to try and start up a peace process on the Palenstinian question; New Orleans is in a state that is more unacceptable than ever and I could go on and on.
Here is what I find UNACCEPTABLE - this president!
Posted by: Alan W. Mack | January 15, 2007 11:07 AM
Great work in accumulating all of this data.
We now have the fortune and the privilege to have access to information at a level without precedent.
Maybe, just maybe, if people like you can continue to bring facts like this to light, we might just have an opportunity to hold people in power accountable for their words and actions.
Posted by: Garrett | January 15, 2007 11:07 AM
Oh, I love how the ignorant leftists say is Bush who is unacceptable. Really, if anything is unacceptable in this country it is the Loony Ignorant Left. Treasonists, traitors and just plain kooks. The U.S. would be much better off if all the Loony Leftists went elsewhere, say Nicaragua, Venezuala, Cuba, France.
Posted by: John D | January 15, 2007 11:17 AM
But ..... George Walker Bush. That name sounds AMERICAN! You know, like a REAL person instead of those others whose name sounds UN-American. The ones who must be bad.
With a name like that, how could he go wrong?????
Posted by: John | January 15, 2007 11:20 AM
When Bush says "unacceptable" - he really means it. He can not accept the facts presented to him. Denial ain't just a river in Egypt ;-).
Posted by: Sean | January 15, 2007 11:30 AM
It is unacceptable to me that our president is not paying more attention to the Millenium Goals that were created in 2000 to combat such issues as global poverty which costs $19 billion to meet the goal per year. This sum is not payable by just the US but by other countries as well.
Posted by: Marie2 | January 15, 2007 11:40 AM
Bush - "It's all unacceptable"
I tell you what is unacceptable W.,the fact that you are still the President,that's what is unacceptable.
Jr. and Darth should be Impeached and jailed for war crimes etc.
President Pelosi has a nice ring to it!
Eric Zorn is god
God say's that Paulo is an idiot
I agree with god
Posted by: John E. | January 15, 2007 11:45 AM
This one's for you John D.! ("D" must stand for "DUMB")Your President Cowboy is "Unacceptable" for the following:
1. 3,000 of America's Best & Bravest dying in a war based on false pretenses. UNACCEPTABLE!
2. All The ChickenHawks and Cultist Followers of this Adminstration for taking the Tax Cuts for the Wealthy and failing to pay their share for this war.
UNACCEPTABLE!
3. The same ChickenHawks and Cultists Followers for not sending their children and loved ones into this Fiasco of a War.UNACCEPTABLE!
4. The $400 Billion Dollars wasted in a country where everyone hates Americans (Except will take their money while trying to kill you.) UNACCEPTABLE!
5. All the Cultists who listen to Rush Limbaugh and Watch Bill O'Reilly. You are unacceptable.
OK Paulo, JohnD., all you other ChickenHawks! Go listen to Rush and figure out what to say now. You and your Kind are ruining this country.
Posted by: Master of Reality | January 15, 2007 11:50 AM
This one's for you John D.! ("D" must stand for "DUMB")Your President Cowboy is "Unacceptable" for the following:
1. 3,000 of America's Best & Bravest dying in a war based on false pretenses. UNACCEPTABLE!
2. All The ChickenHawks and Cultist Followers of this Adminstration for taking the Tax Cuts for the Wealthy and failing to pay their share for this war.
UNACCEPTABLE!
3. The same ChickenHawks and Cultists Followers for not sending their children and loved ones into this Fiasco of a War.UNACCEPTABLE!
4. The $400 Billion Dollars wasted in a country where everyone hates Americans (Except will take their money while trying to kill you.) UNACCEPTABLE!
5. All the Cultists who listen to Rush Limbaugh and Watch Bill O'Reilly. You are unacceptable.
OK Paulo, JohnD., all you other ChickenHawks! Go listen to Rush and figure out what to say now. You and your Kind are ruining this country.
Posted by: Master of Reality | January 15, 2007 11:51 AM
Oh, I love how the ignorant leftists say is Bush who is unacceptable. Really, if anything is unacceptable in this country it is the Loony Ignorant Left. Treasonists, traitors and just plain kooks. The U.S. would be much better off if all the Loony Leftists went elsewhere, say Nicaragua, Venezuala, Cuba, France.
Posted by: John D | Jan 15, 2007 11:17:43 AM
The loony left is the only major force in this country trying to keep the Equal Rights of all men and women in this country from being erased by right wing paranoia.
Republicans used to be better than Dems because they believed in keeping government out of our lives while Dems wanted to know everything we do so they could tax it. Now Repubs want to know everything we do so they can control us.
Only the loony left and the radical right still care about the Constitution and a little theory called Democracy.
So Mr. John D., why don't you move to a totalitarian country where you can have all your actions dictated to you by your goverenment while we on the loony let try to retain ou Democracy here in America.
Posted by: Why | January 15, 2007 11:55 AM
John D make America Safer the why you want join up and go fight for freedom.
Posted by: Dale Peters | January 15, 2007 11:58 AM
John D, did you forget your meds again?
Glad to know that simply pointing out the truth is now treasonous.
Posted by: Tracy | January 15, 2007 11:58 AM
Oh, I love how the ignorant leftists say is Bush who is unacceptable. Really, if anything is unacceptable in this country it is the Loony Ignorant Left. Treasonists, traitors and just plain kooks. The U.S. would be much better off if all the Loony Leftists went elsewhere, say Nicaragua, Venezuala, Cuba, France.
I wanted to post this again without the authors name under it so that maybe when he read it he would stop and think*****what kind of infantile man would ever write such blather!!!!!
What say ye John D????
Posted by: bill r. | January 15, 2007 12:13 PM
If the Dems had as good an Attack Machine as the Republicans, they could destroy this clown and his record of incompetence and failure.
I wouldn't trust this idiot to haul my garbage.
Posted by: bb | January 15, 2007 12:30 PM
An important example that didn't make it onto this list comes from the president's 9/15/06 press conference. In this instance, Bush went so far as to suggest that even certain thoughts can be unacceptable:
"If there's any comparison between the compassion and decency of the American people and the terrorist tactics of extremists, it's flawed logic. I simply can't accept that. It's unacceptable to think that there's any kind of comparison between the behavior of the United States of America and the action of Islamic extremists who kill innocent women and children to achieve an objective."
Posted by: Roy Eidelson | January 15, 2007 12:33 PM
It is unacceptable that Congress refuses to impeach Bush. His list of crimes and wrong doings is even longer that the list you provided.
Posted by: Hardy Haberman | January 15, 2007 12:38 PM
It is unnacceptable that Bush and Co. still have the control of the media. CBS video of the interview at Camp David has been changed from what was there yesterday. The part where Bush was again linking 911 to the Iraq occupation, has been deleted...
CBS CHANGES THE VIDEO OF CAMP DAVID INTERVIEW
http://mosnas2.blogspot.com/2007/01/blog-post_15.html
Posted by: geezerpower | January 15, 2007 1:17 PM
History lesson for the Ignorant Left:
1. Going into Iraq under false pretenses. Hmmm, why then have Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Tom Daschle, Chuck Schumer, John Kerry, Carl Levin, Teddy "The Mistresses Murderer" Kennedy and a host of other Democrats all spoke and wrote of Iraq's WMD program and the need for regime change since 1998? Bush and Cheney weren't in charge then when the intelligence all said Iraq had WMDs.
2. Tax cuts for the wealthy? Sorry, everyone got tax cuts and the low income wage earners were taken off the federal income tax roles by Bush. In addition, as a percentage, the high income folks pay a larger share of the federal income tax dollars than before Bush. And, gee, it was just reported last week, that corporations paid a record amount in taxes in December and in the first quarter of the fiscal year.
3. Everyone hates America? Hmmm, then why do so many still come here, want our tourism dollars (geez, even Iran is spending money on tourism to attract Americans) and our aide??
4. Chickenhawks??? Tell that to Duncan Hunter, Republican Rep from California, who is vet and his a son currently in Iraq!
5. Us Cultists who listen to Limbaugh or watch O'Reilly? What about you cultists that oogle Michael Moore, Al Franken, Babs Streisand, Snoop Dog and the rest of the loony-bird Left?
Like I said, you guys hate it here so much, leave to a country more your liking. I'm sure Hugo CHavez, Fidel Castrso or whomever is running Cuba right now, Danny Ortega and the nimwits running France would love to have you!!
Posted by: John D | January 15, 2007 1:24 PM
"Bush and Cheney weren't in charge then when the intelligence all said Iraq had WMDs."
However Bush and Cheney were in charge when the UN inspectors got back into Iraq and found NOTHING.
Snoop dog is part of the looney left? Cool!
Posted by: Tony | January 15, 2007 1:41 PM
To Dumb John D. - Nice try but WRONG as usual. Let me correct you as follows:
1. Your President Lone Ranger was the one who went to war in Iraq. Colin Powell tried telling Junior that all WMD capabilities in Iraq were stopped in the first Iraq war. Read "State of Denial". Better to read it than live in it like you are. Just like you Repub Cultists to bring up how pre-historic Democratic politicians also believed in WMD's in Iraq. They also believed that we should have let the U.N. Inspectors finish their jobs and that would have saved this Great Country $400 Billion Dollars and Countless Lives.
2. Your President Lone Ranger admitted in a debate with Al Gore during the first presidential election his lawyers won for him that under his Tax Plan the Top 5% received the actual tax break and shifted the burden of TAX's to the middle class income earners. Once again, nice try.
3. Yeah, Iran is a place I want to go vacation on. Either there or Downtown Baghdad. Tell you what - You go vacation to the Middle East first and report back to everyone on how it is Paradise over there and how they just love Americans there.
4. Chickenhawks = President Bush, Dick "Never met a Draft Deferrment I did not like" Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. The "Brain Trust" of this Iraq War.
5. Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and everyone else on FOX NEws. Everyone that listens to them might as well go join a Right Wing Fanatical Cult while they are at it. I do agree with you on the point that the Far LEft of Hollywood are as moronic as the Far Right.
6. Do you really believe the insane items that you post in your postings? If so - You should be seeking immediate psychiatric help because you are very delusional.
Posted by: MASTER of REALITY | January 15, 2007 1:43 PM
John D, what good has Bush done? And if the 60% or so Americans who find his job poor are of the "loony left," why isn't Michael Moore a billionaire from being oogled so much? And what the heck is a "treasonist"?
Love of America + Disgust at those who are ruining it = Disgust of Bush. Get it?
Posted by: Bat G | January 15, 2007 1:44 PM
Like I said, you guys hate it here so much, leave to a country more your liking. I'm sure Hugo CHavez, Fidel Castrso or whomever is running Cuba right now, Danny Ortega and the nimwits running France would love to have you!!
Posted by: John D | Jan 15, 2007 1:24:34 PM
I hate to stoop to such levels.... but you forced me.....Why don't ya make me na na na na na!
Posted by: bill r. | January 15, 2007 1:52 PM
John D, America love it or leave it was dumb in the 60s & it's dumb now. Bashing the left is the last bastion of a weak mind. So let us begin anew — remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. God bless America.
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | January 15, 2007 1:53 PM
Like I said,you guys hate it here so much,leave to a country more your liking
Posted by John/JD Jan 15,2007 1:24:34 PM
Little Johnny/JD,if you believe we are doing such a noble thing by occupying Iraq then take off your wig,unzip your knee high boots,take off your bra,grab your 15 yr. old son Paulo and join the fight in Iraq.
W. will be Impeached within a year.
That's the Democratic plan for Iraq Little Johnny/JD,and I think it's a good one.
Posted by: John E. | January 15, 2007 2:19 PM
John D,
Why don't you leave the country? and take Robertson, Taggert, Foley, Delay, Rummy, and your ohter friends at Enron and Haliburton. Get a clue. Stop being so divisive. It really sounds like you are working for some political org (it's the same stupid "you are with us or you are a traitor" tactic). To me it seems that your views are that of the minority and if anyone leaves, it should be you. You might want to consider Saudi Arabia, I know your political leaders really respect those guys.
Posted by: Mike H | January 15, 2007 2:30 PM
John D,
Does anyone hold you at night when you cry?
Posted by: jethro | January 15, 2007 2:32 PM
" I do agree with you on the point that the Far LEft of Hollywood are as moronic as the Far Right. "
MoR,
I heard an interview with raging lefty, Clint Eastwood regarding 'Million Dollar Baby', which was being criticized by the RRR as not being family value oriented, or some such nonsense.
He said, 'If you move far enough to the left you meet the same crazies coming at you from the right.
Well put.
Posted by: C.morris | January 15, 2007 2:44 PM
Response to Katrina , Unacceptable!
$9 trillion national debt, Unacceptable!
Reasons for war in Iraq, Unacceptable!
Plan for Social Security, Unacceptable!
Gaslighting the environment, Unacceptable!
Shredding the constitution, Unacceptable!
More tax cuts for the rich, Unacceptable!
Stay the course in Iraq, Unacceptable!
One Bush per billion, Unacceptable!
Thanks Bad Religion.
Posted by: C.morris | January 15, 2007 2:50 PM
Anybody channelling the Coneheads right about now?
UNACCEPTABLE
UNACCEPTABLE
Posted by: Jake | January 15, 2007 2:54 PM
Not impeaching Bush would be unacceptable.
Join the national impeachment march on Washington.
www.marchtoimpeach.com
Posted by: March to Impeach | January 15, 2007 3:04 PM
I'm not sure I understand the purpose of Mark Silva's post today. Perhaps tomorrow Mark could have a post that chronicles the New York Times' inconsistancy on issues such as troop surges, congressional fillibusters, etc.? The post today didn't do much to promote intelligent debate, as you can see from the John D./Everyone Else argument above. Mark - - do you even care to have any non-left readers submit comments or have you finally given up to preaching to the choir?
Posted by: no name | January 15, 2007 3:04 PM
and btw, dick cheney got his deferment from the draft because he had a john d...... really, i'm serious.
i'm a progressive, i served, i've earned the right to bitch.
howz about you john d.?????????
Posted by: zak | January 15, 2007 3:12 PM
John D- "History lesson for the Ignorant Left:
1. Going into Iraq under false pretenses. Hmmm, why then have Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Tom Daschle, Chuck Schumer, John Kerry, Carl Levin, Teddy "The Mistresses Murderer" Kennedy and a host of other Democrats all spoke and wrote of Iraq's WMD program and the need for regime change since 1998? Bush and Cheney weren't in charge then when the intelligence all said Iraq had WMDs."
+++
Answer - Why did Colin Powell and Condi Rice both say in 2001 - prior to 9/11 - that Saddam was not a threat and was well-contained, whether he had WMD or not? Clinton advocated regime change but refused to invade. He advocated material support of insurgent groups within Iraq against Saddam. Saddam was far from an existential threat to the US. The Dems are complicit in the lie.
+++
John D -
"2. Tax cuts for the wealthy? Sorry, everyone got tax cuts"
+++
Answer - I pay more in taxes now than I did in 2001, and I don't make jack. But, I wish the illegal IRS was dismantled.
+++
John D -
"3. Everyone hates America? Hmmm, then why do so many still come here, want our tourism dollars (geez, even Iran is spending money on tourism to attract Americans) and our aide??"
+++
Answer - Who said everyone hates America? Is that projection on your part? You're the paranoid one that thinks everyone hates america and wants to take over. You must really hate it that people in America have the right to question and protest the government here.
+++
John D-
"4. Chickenhawks??? Tell that to Duncan Hunter, Republican Rep from California, who is vet and his a son currently in Iraq!"
+++
Answer - One down, a million to go. Forgot about Dubya, Cheney, Kristol, Wolfowitz, Hastert, Armey, Delay, Frist, Allen, Rove, and on and on. None of them served and most of them dodged.
+++
John D -
"5. Us Cultists who listen to Limbaugh or watch O'Reilly? What about you cultists that oogle Michael Moore, Al Franken, Babs Streisand, Snoop Dog and the rest of the loony-bird Left?"
+++
Answer - I don't really know too many people who listen to these guys. O'Reilly and Limpballs OTOH have 20 million listeners a piece. The "right" loves cults of personality much more than the left. Nobody listens to Steisand or Snoop Dog fer christs sakes. Do they have talk radio shows? Al Franken? He's good for a laugh and that's about it. Michael Moore? That movie is so 2004. He's done. But O'Lielly and Limpboy are still at it, churning out BS day after day and the dittoheads lap it up. Apples and Oranges, friend.
+++
John D - "Like I said, you guys hate it here so much, leave to a country more your liking."
+++
You're apparently the one who hates it here. You have to live in a country with a bunch of crazy people who assume that you're allowed to think on your own and say what you like. They assume that this is a free country. The loons. They should leave if they want to live in a free country, is that what you're saying? Why don't you, John D, move to China, Cuba, or Saudi Arabia, or some place where dissent is not tolerated.
Posted by: Jake | January 15, 2007 3:13 PM
"History lesson for ignorant Right"
It's a pretty long post with some large words... hope you can handle it.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/1/14/121320/750
Posted by: Scott S | January 15, 2007 3:17 PM
I am afraid it is George Bush who is unacceptable. His arrogant attitude on exhibition last night on "60 Minutes" should have persuaded the remaining 29% who believe he is still acceptable.
He likes being the dictator - he will do whatever he wants, regardless that the American public, our allies, members of his own party, the ISG group, military experts, analysts, and nearly everyone with experience have told him he's wrong.
Posted by: Marie | January 15, 2007 3:29 PM
Everyone needs to stop harping on John D. Calling him names and such, people of his kind cannot accept any truth other than theirs. For him theirs is only one answer HIS answer. Only one God HIS God only one way HIS way. Arguing with the likes of narrow mind sycophants is a waste of breath and time. John D, Jr, Cheney, Limbaugh, O'Rielly, Hannity, Coulter to name a few are a breed of the new GOP spawned from an old dead idea FACISM. Mussolini would love the Modern Neo-con GOP. They are practicing facists and make look like an art form. John D, you are a Facist and you make me ill.
Posted by: Paul | January 15, 2007 3:40 PM
Public contrition is the art of appearing responsible while avoiding its consequences. Johnson & Johnson's Tylenol poisoning scare in the 1980's provoked an entire literature about it. MBA's and DBA's earn their degrees describing its methods, purposes, constituents and limits.
"Unacceptable" is a typically elegant CheneyRove invention. It acknowledges public anger, occasionally suggests a culprit, and almost always avoids liability. As used by Mr. Bush, "unacceptable" is a wink to his Base that he understands that we are all sinners, and a nod to his Sponsors that they can expect no change from him. Except perhaps tossing the messenger. Brownie is a classic example. But Katrina's victims's wounds go unsalved.
The label, in fact, reduces a problem to a volley ball. The object is not to fix it - heavens, that might require tax increases or policy changes - but to make sure it's always in the other guys court. Just as it's "Irresponsible" for Democrats to object to Mr. Bush's staying the course, unless - having been ejected from governing and the intelligence process for six years - they magically have a better fix than the guy who made the mess.
The Brits occasionally give public contrition a more substantive meaning. Resignation. It may be the scapegoat that saves many others, but it goes much further than Mr. Bush's empty gestures.
Posted by: mbbsdphil | January 15, 2007 4:28 PM
In 2000 and early 2001 W was talking about Iraq; there was no rationale then, and their isn't one now. In fact, us 'loony libs' we're screaming to the high heavens that Iraq would end up exactly this way, and not only did no one listen, but we were (and still are) called 'traitors, unamerican, uninformed, etc..'
How many Americans and iraqis have died out of sheer stubborness on the part of the Administration? How many more will die (or be maimed for life) before the entire nation (ours) rises up with one voice and says "enough"? Bill Clinton lied, and a dress was stained. It was disrespectful, to be sure, but no one died from it. W lies, and THOUSANDS die.
Some other points:
--Rumsfeld and Cheney were in the white house when Ford was President: remember what happened in Vietnam?? And I seem to recall a great many more troops in vietnam compared to Iraq.
--Before the invasion in '03, we were doing daily flyovers in the no-fly zones in north and south iraq. I've been told by former pilots that missles were launched at them EVERY DAY. Didn't see us going to war then, so why now? (BTW: practically all of them missed, obviously).
The only way to stamp out the violence is to put in another 100,000+ troops, and basically have a soldier on every corner. And even then there'd be violence. We are not an occupier; it's not in our nature. our history is not one of kings and empires, so we don't do that sort of thing. Neither W nor the rest of us have the stomach to do the kinds of things empires do to keep their colonies in line, and that's fine by me. That makes this a great country.
...Moreover, the only way to get that many troops is through a draft, and unless and until every member of Congress and the Administration put their children and grandchildren in the draft, the rest of us would rise up, and it would be ugly like hasn't been seen since 1865... and W would call it 'unacceptable'
Posted by: elliot | January 15, 2007 5:20 PM
That's rich, anyone calling the left "loony" and "ignorant" when right wing nuts have set a new standard for loony and ignorant. Rush of the Anal Cysts - and others like him - have proven themselves the intellectual equivalent of intellectual trailor trash - cheesy and tawdry without hononesty, honor or integrity. BTW, I do not use the word "trailor trash" as an economic designation. The poor are not necessarily ignorant, dishonest or bullies - nor are the wealthy neccessarily honest else Bush would not have lied us into a war and Enron execs would not be in prison.
Posted by: Kathleen | January 15, 2007 5:30 PM
John D,
You're not wearing your minority status very well. Must be tough representing the bottom 1% of the minority 35%. It seems that your intolerance of your pathetic position in life dictates that you should be looking for a new home. France is nice. You should try it out.
Posted by: Bubba | January 15, 2007 5:41 PM
All you clowns that keep blathering lame statements like, "If you don't like the way things are here in the US, move somewhere else". Let me remind you morons of the millions of Americans, including my descendants that have made numerous sacrifices over the relatively brief history of this country to make it the great nation it still is.
I'll be damned if I'm going to leave, or sit quiet while some delusional, bumbling idiot like Bush destroys in 8 years what Americans have live and died for through a couple of centuries to create. Besides, what makes you think there is any place in the world that will be safe from Bush's destructive policies. If he's not leading the way in environmental destruction, he's trying to bring on Armageddon with his war-mongering. Barbara and George H. owe us a huge apology for unleashing W on the world. This is how the singer and poet Jewel weighs in on the matter.
America: Jewel
Walkin' to the corner of Main St., USA
Look at the good people, hear what they gotta say-uh-huh, All right
See a sexy girl with her long black hair
See a preacher-man sporting Abercrombie wear-- uh-huh, all right
Walk into a corner store
Man says, "This is what I'm fighting for"
Chorus: We are living in America
We're giving in America
We're trippin' in America
Everywhere I go, seems like Bush is on T.V.
We shed blood in the name of liberty-- uh-huh-, all right
The circus tents are dead, but the sideshow is doing well
The Osbournes and Anna Nicole are too freaky to tell-- uh-huh, all right
Take the bad with the good
I wanna change it, but I wouldn't leave it if I could
We are trying in America
We're spying in America
Getting high in America
We are laughing in America
We're crying in America
We're dying in America
We are trucking in America
We're f**cking in America
We are lucky in America
We are breaking ground in America
Just another town in America
We are breaking down in America
Take the bad with the good
I wanna change it, but I wouldn't leave it if I could /chorus
We are trying in America
we're spying in America
We're getting high in America
We are getting tan in America
We love spam in America
Polanski's banned from America
Ten million served in America
Have you heard in America
We're crying in America
We're laughing in America
We're living in America
Posted by: dt | January 15, 2007 6:08 PM
"President Bush is Unacceptable!"
Four words that sound so delightful,
they bore repeating (the four letter so-and-so bumbling president).
Yeah! We're so privileged to experience THE WORST president in America's history. Thanks for nothing but grievances Mr. Unacceptable!
Posted by: Paul | January 15, 2007 6:54 PM
Tax cuts for everyone.
One more tax cut and I will be able to afford a tune up.
Posted by: C.morris | January 15, 2007 7:15 PM
If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people — their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties — someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal." JFK.
I don't want to pile on John D but...I think what you should be concerned with is the uncanny simillarity between Bush/McCain and Goldwater/Nixon. The difference being Goldwater did the right thing. Good luck keeping the white house.
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/01_15/b3727026.htm
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | January 15, 2007 8:19 PM
Until I read someone posting "Jewel" lyrics as if they were some revealing text, I couldn't understand why Islamic extremists wanted to kill us all. Now I can't figure out whose side I'm on.
Posted by: Fezzik | January 15, 2007 8:23 PM
John D
Why don't you become an Independent like lieberman, then you won't have to worry about being a "Urrrgph" Republican. You can be everybody's friend, and still kiss Dubya.
BTW...Dubya is an expert on history, he said so in the Camp David interview. He thinks history is a noun though...
Posted by: geezerpower | January 15, 2007 9:45 PM
Lighten-up Fezzik. Profound it isn't, but appropriate for that joke of a president we have, it is.
Posted by: dt | January 15, 2007 10:23 PM
Fezzik, that's what I call levity. Not sure who has less talent Jewel or our current administration. Sorry Jewel!
Posted by: Dunny Rummy | January 15, 2007 11:26 PM
It's shameful and despicable the way the radical right believes that America has some kind of endless amount of "war fodder" for their sham of a war.
The way they act as cheerleaders for Bush and other the liars of the Bush administration is downright pathetic. History will not be kind to them or this president.
Posted by: Wolfy | January 15, 2007 11:33 PM
Hey, The Democrats want us to lose the war and great stars like turn and run Murtha and Pelosi and Dick Turbin and the Drunk Kennedy all have the same plan, Lets run up the white flag. Cliff
Posted by: cliff zeider | January 16, 2007 6:26 AM
Channelling the Coneheads! YES! ...live from Remulak....
Saying something is 'unnacceptable' reminds me of lawyer-babble....then again, since it is unacceptable, Bush just chooses not to accept it - is that solving anything?
This administration can't find two magnets in their pocket - what would be 'acceptable' to Bush? Maybe the 9th Ward in NO and Iraq will just disappear......
Posted by: Andrea | January 16, 2007 8:30 AM
How about George's statement that the Iraqi people owe us a huge debt of gratitude? What an incredibly stupid thing to say! I guess he can't admit the possibility that all those IEDs and sniping attacks on our troops are an indicator that, strangely enough, the Iraqi people are not entirely thrilled with our invasion and occupation of their country.
Boy, after killing only a 100,000 or so Iraqis and torturing only a few hundred people at Abu Ghraib and only destroying a couple towns like Fallujah, you'd think those Iraqis would be more appreciative of our government's efforts to destroy the WMDs or remove Saddam or spread democracy or whatever the heck we're doing over there now.
Posted by: Tom O | January 16, 2007 10:03 AM
good to hear you good american people voicing your opinions - over here in england we were much more vocal from the start but the end result was the same. i fear that george orwells predictions were true and 1984 has been here for some time. too late to go back now, new administrations won't want to give up all this new power they've aquired.
however, john d, we foreigners don't hate americans when we say we hate america. it's an abbreviation. we hate americas meddling across the world with legitimate governments, their initiation of "incidents" so they can declare more wars and their unswerving support for israel. we hate your politicians right now. so i'm happy NOT to live in the u.s but people are people everywhere whether you live in america, the uk, cuba or even iraq.
Posted by: tony b | January 16, 2007 12:27 PM
tony b
We can hear you loud and clear from here. I remember when millions of people stood up in the UK and US to condemn the events leading to the invasion of Iraq. It wouldn't have mattered to the Neocons, if it had been all of the people, they would go to any lengths to make us believe their lies. You folks lost BBC news's comprehensive reporting when David Kelly lost his life, and we lost our freedom by the Patriot Act. Some of us here don't like Tony Blaire either and will be glad to see him go.
I must agree that people are the same everywhere, but politicians are the same everywhere also. Especially when they involve themselves with other peoples business, instead of doing the business of serving the people.
I'm beginning to think that the rule of a King and Queen has a lot of merit. A benevolent dictater that is loved by his people and expected to live in wealth and comfort...Unless he become a despot, whereupon the people can storm the castle and take control demanding that the next ruler in line do a better job.
Posted by: geezerpower | January 16, 2007 9:02 PM
cliff zeider your statement about anyone WANTING to see the USA lose a war is insulting & absurd!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | January 16, 2007 10:34 PM
Rarely is the question asked-Is our President learning?
I suppose the question doesn't even need to be asked, sadly.
Posted by: JollyRoger | January 17, 2007 1:19 AM
quote:
"How about George's statement that the Iraqi people owe us a huge debt of gratitude? What an incredibly stupid thing to say! I guess he can't admit the possibility that all those IEDs and sniping attacks on our troops are an indicator that, strangely enough, the Iraqi people are not entirely thrilled with our invasion and occupation of their country."
It does fill me with wonder that the idiot can say things like that. When I heard that on the telly I laughed my ass off, than I got pissed off, cause I realised it wasn't a sitcom. It's a hell of a note when Dubya is funnier than Steven Colbert, but the subject is as serious as a heaRT ATTACK...ROFLMAO.
It's time to call in the super heros. Remember George Galloway? Well...Maybe he would be the one to interview the shrub, instead of sOme wimp from CBS.
George Galloway has some real cajone's...I laughed my ass of when he stood up for himself on the Oil for Food Scandle , and left the whole bunch of idiotic ideologs gasping, as he sucked the air out of the room. It's history now, and we'll have to leave it up to the decider and educator Arbusto (spanish for shrub aka Buush) to interpret the true meaning of liberate?
imagine whirled peas...G:
Posted by: geezerpower | January 17, 2007 7:51 PM