Bush: 'Never really thought about' war - no Iran plan

Bush: “I believe that Islam is a great religion that preaches peace. And I believe people who murder the innocent to achieve political objectives aren't religious people."

Does that include you, Mr. President?

quote from Bush: "Well, first of all, I believe in an almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God,’’ he said. “I believe that Islam is a great religion that preaches peace. And I believe people who murder the innocent to achieve political objectives aren't religious people."

It's nice that we have such a narrow-minded "leader of the free world". First, no George, not all religions pray to the same god. What an idiot.

Second, stating that "people who murder the innocent... aren't religious people" is also quite stupid. So he's equating murderers with agnostics and athiests? Did he ever stop to think that these extremists are TOO extreme in their religion - it's not that they're NOT religious, it's that they're TOO religious?

I wonder if he knows just how many people in the world despise him.

The more this man talks, the sicker I become. We are in deep trouble as a nation and it's going to take years, maybe decades to get back on track. I pity the next president that will have to begin the clean-up process. Hopefully it will be Hillary. Women are so much better at cleaning up messes than men.

FORTUNATE SON
"aka George W Bush bio"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3E1Kqps7k-I

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,
Ooh, theyre red, white and blue.
And when the band plays hail to the chief,
Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66706523@N00/1203298061/

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no senators son, son.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no,

Yeah!
Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord, dont they help themselves, oh.
But when the taxman comes to the door,
Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no millionaires son, no.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no.

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,
Ooh, they send you down to war, lord,
And when you ask them, how much should we give?
Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yoh,

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no military son, son.
It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, one.

It aint me, it aint me, I aint no fortunate one, no no no,
It aint me, it aint me, I aint no fortunate son, no no no,

John E - That song always reminds me of "the Decider Guy."

Val - I don't agree with your comment on women being better able to clean up than men. You sexist! Kidding, but I do disagree about Hillary. She would be a terrible choice. (That is just my opinion, of course.)

Well, it's pretty obvious he didn't have a plan for Iraq either, that's why we're in the mess we're in now.

Here's another one going out to the Shrub!
(Just one change. Can you find it, kids!?)

He's a real nowhere man,
Sitting in his nowhere land,
Making all his nowhere plans
For nobody.

Doesn't kave a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like you and me?
Nowhere man, please listen,
You don't know what you're missing,
Nowhere man, the world is at your command.

He's as blind as he can be,
Just sees what he wants to see,
Nowhere man can you see me at all?
Doesn't kave a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like Bruce and John D?

Nowhere man, don't worry,
Take your time, don't hurry,
Leave it all till somebody else
Lends you a hand.

He's a real nowhere man,
Sitting in his nowhere land,
Making all his nowhere plans
For nobody.

John E.

Every time I hear that song, usually when I exercise in the morning, I think of Bush.

During my tour in the AF from '67 to '71 I got to serve on the Honor Guard. We got to bury people. Certainly gave me an interesting perspective when it comes to war.

I can't help but question the sincerity of this President when he talks about consoling the relatives of soldiers that have died. I just see someone going through the motions for his next photo op.

What an incredibly biased headline. "Bush: 'Never really thought about' war -"

Just read what the president ACTUALLY said: "when I campaigned for office I never really thought about the decision to put men and women in harm's way. I never thought that that would happen."

"When I campaigned for office". In 2000. A year prior to the 9/11 attack. At a time when nobody knew of the upcoming attack.

Just when you think the bias can't get any worse, the Swamp sinks further.

This interview is being watched throughout the Arab world?

God help the USA.

Bruce

Do you not remember a thing that was said during the 2000 election. Bush said he was against nation building, Bush was asked about a dozen different wars. Bush had advisors come in and explain the wars to him.

If he didn't think about war then what was he saying? Was he just repeating the talking points someone else put together for him?

How about the new poll that shows one in five Democrats want the U.S. to lose in Iraq. Tells you all you want to know about
this party and its members.

He's as blind as he can be,
Just sees what he wants to see,
Nowhere man can you see me at all?
Doesn't kave a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like Bruce and John D?

Very funny!

Just when you think the bias can't get any worse, the Swamp sinks further.

Posted by: Bruce | October 5, 2007 5:10 PM

Then go away Bruce. You won't be missed.

Thoughts about exit strategies would be good. New law: Congress needs to approve an exit strategy bf approving a particular war.
Question for anyone: Are we technically 'at war'?

I agree with Bruce. The headline entirely misrepresents what Bush said. He said he had not thought about war WHILE HE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT; he did not say that he never thought about war. And the way the headline juxtaposes that thought with "no Iran plan" is also misleading.

The headline takes words Bush spoke out of context and twists them to make him look foolish. That is standard procedure at The Swamp. You guys aren't fooling anyone.

Remember the last positive article about a Republican in Swamp? I think it was
Calvin Coolidge.

Hey Everyone - check out this story - tell me it isn't true?!?!

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=71741

Posted by: C.Morris | October 5, 2007 4:55 PM

Good one C Mo, :o)

Pullin' out the Beatles, well done.

Please, not thinking about war? All that Seymour Hersh has said about this bunch of liars has come true.If bush were serious at all about negotiations, he would go to the table with NO preconditions and really listen and talk. If your son were smoking cigarettes, would you make him stopping a precondition for talking about it? Doesn't work for anyone, especially two hot heads like Iran's and our president. Two bullies shouting accusations across a school yard until one starts a fight against the other...Stupid! Too bad we have such an immature, bratty child in office. Hillary is a much better "man" than he is. Oh, by the way, he is "the decider" and will attack pre-emptively without the agreement of a Congress that can't get it together with a resolution to stop it from happening.What a sorry bunch we have....no guts, no brains, only brawn!! God save America!

Brucie,

He who smelt it dealt it.

"when I campaigned for office I never really thought about the decision to put men and women in harm's way. I never thought that that would happen."

This is what you are sticking up for Bruce? First of all, a candidate to be the President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief, MUST think about things like the possibility of sending kids off to war. That he could even make such a statement, and not be castrated for his sheer stupidity of not having even considered such an obvious potential situation is breathtaking. This is one of those "tells you pretty much everything you need to know" about the President's intellect.

That is, if what he is saying had any element of truth to it, and there is ample evidence to suggest that taking out Saddam Hussein was the number 3 goal of this Administration, after slashing taxes on wealth and capitol and watering down every industrial regulation he could get his hands on.

Let's remember that John D, Terry and Bruce are constantly reminding us how many times President Clinton bombed Iraq and insinuating that Bush's war is only a natural continuation of that hostility. Yet here, Bruce accepts on its face that Bush had never even thought about how to deal with Iraq before he took office.

Its simply a lie. Attacking Iraq has been the essence of NeoConservative philosophy since the end of the first Gulf War. Project for a New American Century very clearly and concisely lays out not only the plan, but also the potential necessity for a "new Pearl Harbor" to catalyse support around the invasion.

Invading Iraq was also not a new idea for Bush after 9/11, as proven by his singular focus on Iraq in his first half dozen National Security Agency meetings (note, that's Iraq, not Afghanistan/ Al Qaeda/ Bin Laden as the Clinton's had told him should be the focus).

Furthermore:
http://www.gnn.tv/articles/article.php?id=761
"Two years before the September 11 attacks, presidential candidate George W. Bush was already talking privately about the political benefits of attacking Iraq, according to his former ghost writer, who held many conversations with then-Texas Governor Bush in preparation for a planned autobiography.

“He was thinking about invading Iraq in 1999,” said author and journalist Mickey Herskowitz. “It was on his mind. He said to me: ‘One of the keys to being seen as a great leader is to be seen as a commander-in-chief.’ And he said, ‘My father had all this political capital built up when he drove the Iraqis out of Kuwait and he wasted it.’ He said, ‘If I have a chance to invade….if I had that much capital, I’m not going to waste it. I’m going to get everything passed that I want to get passed and I’m going to have a successful presidency.”

Herskowitz said that Bush expressed frustration at a lifetime as an underachiever in the shadow of an accomplished father. In aggressive military action, he saw the opportunity to emerge from his father’s shadow. The moment, Herskowitz said, came in the wake of the September 11 attacks. “Suddenly, he’s at 91 percent in the polls, and he’d barely crawled out of the bunker.”

That President Bush and his advisers had Iraq on their minds long before weapons inspectors had finished their work – and long before alleged Iraqi ties with terrorists became a central rationale for war – has been raised elsewhere, including in a book based on recollections of former Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill. However, Herskowitz was in a unique position to hear Bush’s unguarded and unfiltered views on Iraq, war and other matters – well before he became president.

In 1999, Herskowitz struck a deal with the campaign of George W. Bush about a ghost-written autobiography, which was ultimately titled A Charge to Keep : My Journey to the White House, and he and Bush signed a contract in which the two would split the proceeds. The publisher was William Morrow. Herskowitz was given unimpeded access to Bush, and the two met approximately 20 times so Bush could share his thoughts. Herskowitz began working on the book in May, 1999, and says that within two months he had completed and submitted some 10 chapters, with a remaining 4-6 chapters still on his computer. Herskowitz was replaced as Bush’s ghostwriter after Bush’s handlers concluded that the candidate’s views and life experiences were not being cast in a sufficiently positive light.

According to Herskowitz, who has authored more than 30 books, many of them jointly written autobiographies of famous Americans in politics, sports and media (including that of Reagan adviser Michael Deaver), Bush and his advisers were sold on the idea that it was difficult for a president to accomplish an electoral agenda without the record-high approval numbers that accompany successful if modest wars.

The revelations on Bush’s attitude toward Iraq emerged recently during two taped interviews of Herskowitz, which included a discussion of a variety of matters, including his continued closeness with the Bush family, indicated by his subsequent selection to pen an authorized biography of Bush’s grandfather, written and published last year with the assistance and blessing of the Bush family.

Herskowitz also revealed the following:

-In 2003, Bush’s father indicated to him that he disagreed with his son’s invasion of Iraq.

-Bush admitted that he failed to fulfill his Vietnam-era domestic National Guard service obligation, but claimed that he had been “excused.”

-Bush revealed that after he left his Texas National Guard unit in 1972 under murky circumstances, he never piloted a plane again. That casts doubt on the carefully-choreographed moment of Bush emerging in pilot’s garb from a jet on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in 2003 to celebrate “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq. The image, instantly telegraphed around the globe, and subsequent hazy White House statements about his capacity in the cockpit, created the impression that a heroic Bush had played a role in landing the craft.

-Bush described his own business ventures as “floundering” before campaign officials insisted on recasting them in a positive light.

Throughout the interviews for this article and in subsequent conversations, Herskowitz indicated he was conflicted over revealing information provided by a family with which he has longtime connections, and by how his candor could comport with the undefined operating principles of the as-told-to genre. Well after the interviews — in which he expressed consternation that Bush’s true views, experience and basic essence had eluded the American people — Herskowitz communicated growing concern about the consequences for himself of the publication of his remarks, and said that he had been under the impression he would not be quoted by name. However, when conversations began, it was made clear to him that the material was intended for publication and attribution. A tape recorder was present and visible at all times.

Several people who know Herskowitz well addressed his character and the veracity of his recollections. “I don’t know anybody that’s ever said a bad word about Mickey,” said Barry Silverman, a well-known Houston executive and civic figure who worked with him on another book project. An informal survey of Texas journalists turned up uniform confidence that Herskowitz’s account as contained in this article could be considered accurate.

One noted Texas journalist who spoke with Herskowitz about the book in 1999 recalls how the author mentioned to him at the time that Bush had revealed things the campaign found embarrassing and did not want in print. He requested anonymity because of the political climate in the state. “I can’t go near this,” he said.

According to Herskowitz, George W. Bush’s beliefs on Iraq were based in part on a notion dating back to the Reagan White House – ascribed in part to now-vice president Dick Cheney, Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee under Reagan. “Start a small war. Pick a country where there is justification you can jump on, go ahead and invade.”

Bush’s circle of pre-election advisers had a fixation on the political capital that British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher collected from the Falklands War. Said Herskowitz: “They were just absolutely blown away, just enthralled by the scenes of the troops coming back, of the boats, people throwing flowers at [Thatcher] and her getting these standing ovations in Parliament and making these magnificent speeches.”

Republicans, Herskowitz said, felt that Jimmy Carter’s political downfall could be attributed largely to his failure to wage a war. He noted that President Reagan and President Bush’s father himself had (besides the narrowly-focused Gulf War I) successfully waged limited wars against tiny opponents – Grenada and Panama – and gained politically. But there were successful small wars, and then there were quagmires, and apparently George H.W. Bush and his son did not see eye to eye.

“I know [Bush senior] would not admit this now, but he was opposed to it. I asked him if he had talked to W about invading Iraq. “He said, ‘No I haven’t, and I won’t, but Brent [Scowcroft] has.’ Brent would not have talked to him without the old man’s okaying it.” Scowcroft, national security adviser in the elder Bush’s administration, penned a highly publicized warning to George W. Bush about the perils of an invasion.

Herskowitz’s revelations are not the sole indicator of Bush’s pre-election thinking on Iraq. In December 1999, some six months after his talks with Herskowitz, Bush surprised veteran political chroniclers, including the Boston Globe‘s David Nyhan, with his blunt pronouncements about Saddam at a six-way New Hampshire primary event that got little notice: “It was a gaffe-free evening for the rookie front-runner, till he was asked about Saddam’s weapons stash,” wrote Nyhan. ‘I’d take ‘em out,’ [Bush] grinned cavalierly, ‘take out the weapons of mass destruction…I’m surprised he’s still there,” said Bush of the despot who remains in power after losing the Gulf War to Bush Jr.‘s father…It remains to be seen if that offhand declaration of war was just Texas talk, a sort of locker room braggadocio, or whether it was Bush’s first big clinker. “

The notion that President Bush held unrealistic or naïve views about the consequences of war was further advanced recently by a Bush supporter, the evangelist Pat Robertson, who revealed that Bush had told him the Iraq invasion would yield no casualties. In addition, in recent days, high-ranking US military officials have complained that the White House did not provide them with adequate resources for the task at hand.

Herskowitz considers himself a friend of the Bush family, and has been a guest at the family vacation home in Kennebunkport. In the late 1960s, Herskowitz, a longtime Houston Chronicle sports columnist designated President Bush’s father, then-Congressman George HW Bush, to replace him as a guest columnist, and the two have remained close since then. (Herskowitz was suspended briefly in April without pay for reusing material from one of his own columns, about legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden.)

In 1999, when Herskowitz turned in his chapters for Charge to Keep, Bush’s staff expressed displeasure — often over Herskowitz’s use of language provided by Bush himself. In a chapter on the oil business, Herskowitz included Bush’s own words to describe the Texan’s unprofitable business ventures, writing: “the companies were floundering”. “I got a call from one of the campaign lawyers, he was kind of angry, and he said, ‘You’ve got some wrong information.’ I didn’t bother to say, ‘Well you know where it came from.’ [The lawyer] said, ‘We do not consider that the governor struggled or floundered in the oil business. We consider him a successful oilman who started up at least two new businesses.’ “

In the end, campaign officials decided not to go with Herskowitz’s account, and, moreover, demanded everything back. “The lawyer called me and said, ‘Delete it. Shred it. Just do it.’ “

“They took it and [communications director] Karen [Hughes] rewrote it,” he said. A campaign official arrived at his home at seven a.m. on a Monday morning and took his notes and computer files. However, Herskowitz, who is known for his memory of anecdotes from his long history in journalism and book publishing, says he is confident about his recollections.

According to Herskowitz, Bush was reluctant to discuss his time in the Texas Air National Guard – and inconsistent when he did so. Bush, he said, provided conflicting explanations of how he came to bypass a waiting list and obtain a coveted Guard slot as a domestic alternative to being sent to Vietnam. Herskowitz also said that Bush told him that after transferring from his Texas Guard unit two-thirds through his six-year military obligation to work on an Alabama political campaign, he did not attend any Alabama National Guard drills at all, because he was “excused.” This directly contradicts his public statements that he participated in obligatory training with the Alabama National Guard. Bush’s claim to have fulfilled his military duty has been subject to intense scrutiny; he has insisted in the past that he did show up for monthly drills in Alabama – though commanding officers say they never saw him, and no Guardsmen have come forward to accept substantial “rewards” for anyone who can claim to have seen Bush on base.

Herskowitz said he asked Bush if he ever flew a plane again after leaving the Texas Air National Guard in 1972 – which was two years prior to his contractual obligation to fly jets was due to expire. He said Bush told him he never flew any plane – military or civilian – again. That would contradict published accounts in which Bush talks about his days in 1973 working with inner-city children, when he claimed to have taken some of the children up in a plane.

In 2002, three years after he had been pulled off the George W. Bush biography, Herskowitz was asked by Bush’s father to write a book about the current president’s grandfather, Prescott Bush, after getting a message that the senior Bush wanted to see him. “Former President Bush just handed it to me. We were sitting there one day, and I was visiting him there in his office…He said, ‘I wish somebody would do a book about my dad.’ “

“He said to me, ‘I know this has been a disappointing time for you, but it’s amazing how many times something good will come out of it.’ I passed it on to my agent, he jumped all over it. I asked [Bush senior], ‘Would you support it and would you give me access to the rest of family?’ He said yes.”

That book, Duty, Honor, Country: The Life and Legacy of Prescott Bush, was published in 2003 by Routledge. If anything, the book has been criticized for its over-reliance on the Bush family’s perspective and rosy interpretation of events. Herskowitz himself is considered the ultimate “as-told-to” author, lending credibility to his account of what George W. Bush told him. Herskowitz’s other books run the gamut of public figures, and include the memoirs of Reagan aide Deaver, former Texas Governor and Nixon Treasury Secretary John Connally, newsman Dan Rather, astronaut Walter Cunningham, and baseball greats Mickey Mantle and Nolan Ryan.

After Herskowitz was pulled from the Bush book project, the biographer learned that a scenario was being prepared to explain his departure. “I got a phone call from someone in the Bush campaign, confidentially, saying ‘Watch your back.’ “

Reporters covering Bush say that when they inquired as to why Herskowitz was no longer on the project, Hughes intimated that Herskowitz had personal habits that interfered with his writing – a claim Herskowitz said is unfounded. Later, the campaign put out the word that Herskowitz had been removed for missing a deadline. Hughes subsequently finished the book herself – it received largely critical reviews for its self-serving qualities and lack of spontaneity or introspection.

So, said Herskowitz, the best material was left on the cutting room floor, including Bush’s true feelings.

“He told me that as a leader, you can never admit to a mistake,” Herskowitz said. “That was one of the keys to being a leader.”

Research support for this article was provided by the Investigative Fund of The Nation Institute.

Russ Baker is an award-winning independent journalist who has been published in The New York Times, The Nation, Washington Post, The Telegraph (UK), Sydney Morning-Herald, and Der Spiegel, among many others

nisleib,

But you forget; W hit the trifecta.

When I first saw the headline regarding not thinking about war - no Iran Plan... I thought it was referring to not thinking about a potential war with Iran...

But in retrospect you are so right, Bruce. Obviously this was another loony lefty attempt to discredit our Republican President!
Obviously I have a lot of rehabilitation to do to prove my loyalty to The Party.

Posted by: John D | October 5, 2007 6:20 PM

Silva,

So John E or one of his very few very dimwitted friends can pull this prank, but if it's turned around on them, you delete the post... got it.

(Silva's note: Someone posted in John E.'s name who is not John E. I have removed it. Thoise are the sort of pranks we will not accept. Thanks.)

And even more evil speech from republipuke apologists - coultermann was quoted today -
“If we took away women’s right to vote, we’d never have to worry about another Democrat president. It’s kind of a pipe dream, it’s a personal fantasy of mine, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly, at least single women."

She wants to dis-enfranchise half of America. Wow. I can't believe anybody'd fall for this crap. Is coultermann single?

"THE DECIDER GUY SPEAKS"

He may of not wanted to go to war, BUT HE DID!

THE GOOD OL BOYS AT THE RANCH AKA GOLF COURSE got tired of waiting to make that money.

Otherwise Bush is seeking another part of his legacy to come to bare. We just have to wait until he is near any elementary school in America with a SPEECHWRITER ON HAND JUST IN CASE ANOTHER PLANE HITS ANOTHER BUILDING!

OJ TO BUSH, JUST TRY ON THE GLOVE!

"The sleep of reason brings forth monsters."
Goya

And now we have to live with our very own monster because we slept.

"How about the new poll that shows one in five Democrats want the U.S. to lose in Iraq. Tells you all you want to know about
this party and its members.

Posted by: Duncan | October 5, 2007 5:26 PM

Duncan,

One in five Americans would vote for Hitler. So what?

(Silva's note: Someone posted in John E.'s name who is not John E. I have removed it. Thoise are the sort of pranks we will not accept. Thanks.)

Posted by: Anonymous | October 5, 2007 7:09 PM

And yet, the prank post of 6:20 that is clerly not by john D is still here... got it.

D&V,

Do us all a favor and next time just attach the link. Thank you.

He does not know anything.

US President George W Bush has rejected claims his administration uses torture and defended the CIA's methods.
Do you trust President Bush's claim that his administration does not use torture? ------------->

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=645

.

C. Morris,
Off topic, but with the approach of Halloween, I've been thinking about the burning bag of poo metaphor you used last year.

Remember the last positive article about a Republican in Swamp? I think it was
Calvin Coolidge.

Posted by: Alger | October 5, 2007 5:38 PM

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I believe it was "Dewey Defeats Truman"

johnf,

Oh yes, the glory years for me, the flaming bag of poo.

I enjoyed it so much I couldn't stop using it.

Please, go forth and use it as you will.

“I would call that empty propaganda,’’ Bush said. “Evidently there's a lot of gossip in parts of the country -- world that try to scare people about me, personally, or my country, or what we stand for. And that kind of gossip is just what it is -- it's gossip, it's baseless gossip.’’

Posted by Mark Silva on October 5, 2007 4:01 PM | Permalink

Just gossip. Right. President dude...your own people are scared of you!

California Uber Alles
California Uber Alles
Uber Alles California
Uber Alles California

Zen fascists will control you
100% natural
You will jog for the master race
And always wear the happy face

Close your eyes, can't happen here
Big Bro' on white horse is near
The hippies won't come back you say
Mellow out or you will pay
Mellow out or you will pay!

Now it is 1984
Knock-knock at your front door
It's the suede/denim secret police
They have come for your uncool niece

Come quietly to the camp
You'd look nice as a drawstring lamp
Don't you worry, it's only a shower
For your clothes here's a pretty flower.

DIE on organic poison gas
Serpent's egg's already hatched
You will croak, you little clown
When you mess with President Bush
When you mess with President Bush

DUH!!!--Bush's credibility is awfully negligible (See: Bush Knew Saddam Had No WMDs, Salon.com, and Senate Report of Pre-war Intelligence on Iraq--Saddam had no ties to al-Qaeda or international terrorism); once I'd thought our undue invasion of Iraq was all about "us" importing high-grade Iraqi crude oil; then it seemed the plan was to undermine global stability in order to drive the price of oil way up; but now, with a Woman and a Black as Giuliani's opponents, and with Rudy itching to bomb Iran--NOW I'M JUST REAL SCARED!!!

Bush never thought of War..., but when Giuliani met with Britain's P.M. he vowed to take any action necessary to keep Iran from becoming a nuclear power...

Rudy G. seems awfully stressed out these days, but, nevertheless, he should read the Washington Post article titled US Seeks to Halt Western Export of Dual-Use Technology to Iran; Officials Fear Such Equipment Might Aid Tehran's Military Buildup.

Sure thing--what's really quite scary is how the terrorists are reaping approx. $100 Million annually from Iraqi oil smuggling (See: The Guardian Unlimited Special Reports, 12/02/06, Oil Smuggling)

Off subject.

BTW, did anyone see the hilarious smack-down Jon Stewart gave Chris Matthews the other night?

Matthews has put out a book claiming that American politics is a good template for a successful, ethical life!

Stewart literally made laughing stock out of him. (Matthews)

Aung,

Nice one. I'm creeped out...

Our practice of torture does not overturn the legal finding that it is abhorrent.

The fact that the president believes talk about an Iran war plan are baseless will not preclude him from following through with said plans.

I think what's important...is getting to a stage where the candidates don't NEED to go to the Israeli Lobby for support. When you go to someone and ask for their support, you are saying that you will support them back

I know for a fact that Obama does not agree with the wars, or with the actions of the Israeli's, but he's still forced...just like all politicians...to go to AIPAC, the Israeli Lobby, in order to get money/votes. If he doesn't, he will be called an anti-semite, and attacked in the media until he/she loses.

I wish he would just stay home. Every time he speaks he causes problems.
He should stay at home and give interviews to his dogs. At least he makes sense to them.

Saw this post (have no clue what occurred earlier):

Posted by: John D | October 5, 2007 6:20 PM

Silva,

So John E or one of his very few very dimwitted friends can pull this prank, but if it's turned around on them, you delete the post... got it.

(Silva's note: Someone posted in John E.'s name who is not John E. I have removed it. Thoise are the sort of pranks we will not accept. Thanks.)

Posted by: Anonymous | October 5, 2007 7:09 PM

Pretty impossible for ME to post at 6:20 pm (which in the Swamp is Eastern time) so that means Me, who is on the West Coast on business, would have posted that at 3:20. Pretty tough to do when I was setting up a booth at that time and had NO computer access all day Oct 5 until Friday night!!

It's interesting that a Loon would post as me because I hadn't posted anything in over a 24-hour period. You folks miss me that much?
One question Loons, what are you going to do when I'm vacationing in the Caribbean in a couple of months??? It'll be interesting to see how many fake John D posts there will be.

Hey John D,

Instead of whining about John E, how about addressing the task at hand? Bruce? Any rebuttal to your shameless defense of the indefensible? Is it reasonable for a man auditioning to be Commander in Chief to have "never given much thought" to sending our men and women into war? Do yohu REALLY believe this is true despite the enormous evidence to the contrary?

C.Morris,

"BTW, did anyone see the hilarious smack-down Jon Stewart gave Chris Matthews the other night?

Matthews has put out a book claiming that American politics is a good template for a successful, ethical life!"

I felt a little bad for Matthews because Stewart did absolutely mug him and basically called him a fascist and said the book was a recipe for evil.

Stewart is right, of course, and part of me is glad to see someone take Matthews to task, but it was pretty shabby treatment of a guest. Maybe the only reason I feel that way is the kid-glove treatment that politicians usually get from the media, allowing blatantly false statements to percolate without being challenged or cross-examined.

Matthews does have a point though that life in ways is like a campaign. He takes the position that is positive, I agree with Stewart that if life is like a campaign, than all we have is cynicism, negativity, and breaking down your opponents.

Not a recipe for a healthy and happy life, as Mr. Stewart said. Ironic, isn't it, that the best source for news is a "fake news" show??

Voice of America and Fiasco at Persian Service.
There is no need to attack Iran IF the Bush administration pays attention:
Millions of dollars are spent in Persian Service of Voice of America but the end result is nothing but scandalous way of cockamamie management and programming.
It is hard to believe but the Persian Service which supposed to be an organization to convey the policy of the U.S. has become a free platform for hard-line terrorist group of communists who attack the United Sates!
I have the documents in writings to prove that these were done with the full knowledge of the management.
I used to work there and as I said before, I have all the documents in writings.
The manager is a woman called Sheila Gandji who can not read and write Persian. Therefore, in order to hide this shortcoming from the higher management, she has hired an eighty something man called Kambiz Mahmoudi who has a lengthy background as crook and in charlatanism.
You expect a doctor to be in charge of a medical clinic. You expect an engineer to be in charge of an engineering department. You expect a plumber to fix your plumbing.
So why do you expect a person who has no education in Iran and doesn't know the language of that country should be in charge of publicity, literature or politic for such position?
Sheila Gandji falsely pretended and presented herself as educated with background in journalism. These are absolute fabrications. Nobody in Iranian communities inside of the country or outside has any knowledge about her being a journalist, then and now.
Her partner, Kambiz Mahmoudi is a hateful and despicable person whose activities as crook are widely known through out Iran. Can't the U.S. government appoint somebody without such shameful background and baggage?
Don’t think that this is a personal vendetta.
Let me quote you a view from another media:
"The Iran Steering group concluded that much of the anti-American perspective that is broadcast is the result of decisions made by station managers in Washington D.C. and Prague. Sheila Gandji, the manager of Persian service has faced sharp criticism, particularly for her decision to stop VOA shortwave radio program in July, 2006 in order to focus on television broadcasts, which are more susceptible to censorship, since the government regularly confiscates satellites dishes in order to prevent the infiltration of foreign broadcasts."
And this is not the only one. The mismanagement at the Persian Service of Voice of America is the subject of hundreds of web sites and articles in newspapers indicative of disgusts and ridicules in the world about VOA.
The bizarre situation at the Persian Service of Voice of America caused even the Republican Senator Coburn to write a long letter to President Bush about the fiasco there.
It is only in America where the government pays to be insulted. Really, why Voice of America is doing this harm to our nation?

Voice of America and Fiasco at Persian Service.
There is no need to attack Iran IF the Bush administration pays attention:
Millions of dollars are spent in Persian Service of Voice of America but the end result is nothing but scandalous way of cockamamie management and programming.
It is hard to believe but the Persian Service which supposed to be an organization to convey the policy of the U.S. has become a free platform for hard-line terrorist group of communists who attack the United Sates!
I have the documents in writings to prove that these were done with the full knowledge of the management.
I used to work there and as I said before, I have all the documents in writings.
The manager is a woman called Sheila Gandji who can not read and write Persian. Therefore, in order to hide this shortcoming from the higher management, she has hired an eighty something man called Kambiz Mahmoudi who has a lengthy background as crook and in charlatanism.
You expect a doctor to be in charge of a medical clinic. You expect an engineer to be in charge of an engineering department. You expect a plumber to fix your plumbing.
So why do you expect a person who has no education in Iran and doesn't know the language of that country should be in charge of publicity, literature or politic for such position?
Sheila Gandji falsely pretended and presented herself as educated with background in journalism. These are absolute fabrications. Nobody in Iranian communities inside of the country or outside has any knowledge about her being a journalist, then and now.
Her partner, Kambiz Mahmoudi is a hateful and despicable person whose activities as crook are widely known through out Iran. Can't the U.S. government appoint somebody without such shameful background and baggage?
Don’t think that this is a personal vendetta.
Let me quote you a view from another media:
"The Iran Steering group concluded that much of the anti-American perspective that is broadcast is the result of decisions made by station managers in Washington D.C. and Prague. Sheila Gandji, the manager of Persian service has faced sharp criticism, particularly for her decision to stop VOA shortwave radio program in July, 2006 in order to focus on television broadcasts, which are more susceptible to censorship, since the government regularly confiscates satellites dishes in order to prevent the infiltration of foreign broadcasts."
And this is not the only one. The mismanagement at the Persian Service of Voice of America is the subject of hundreds of web sites and articles in newspapers indicative of disgusts and ridicules in the world about VOA.
The bizarre situation at the Persian Service of Voice of America caused even the Republican Senator Coburn to write a long letter to President Bush about the fiasco there.
It is only in America where the government pays to be insulted. Really, why Voice of America is doing this harm to our nation?

From VAL:

“I pity the next president that will have to begin the clean-up process. Hopefully it will be Hillary. Women are so much better at cleaning up messes than men.”

Hillary in 2002 about Iraq:

"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons."

Hillary in 2006 about Iran:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/19/AR2006011903220.html

Hillary in 2007 about Iran:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/19/AR2006011903220.html

One question Loons, what are you going to do when I'm vacationing in the Caribbean in a couple of months??? It'll be interesting to see how many fake John D posts there will be.

Posted by: John D | October 6, 2007 9:38 AM

Will you be vacationing where Limbaugh was caught with a bag of viagra? You devil,you!

Oops, apologies for the repeat link above.

Hillary in 2007 on Iran:

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/02/america/NA-GEN-US-Clinton-Iran.php

"who is on the West Coast on business, would have posted that at 3:20. Pretty tough to do when I was setting up a booth at that time"

Posted by: John D | October 6, 2007 2:14 AM

So John"the Joseph Stalin of Streamwood" D has a new job - selling lemonade in California. Congratulations!

"I felt a little bad for Matthews because Stewart did absolutely mug him and basically called him a fascist and said the book was a recipe for evil."

D&V,

I can't feel sorry for him. Matthews should known that Stewart is not just MSM gimme, automagic interview.

I also think he (CM) acted like some kind of pu$$y when Zell Miller called him out over a simple question. I think he should have said, 'OK Zell, I will meet you in 10 minutes. But remember, just cause you are an old mad don't mean you can't get your ass kicked.'

I'm kinda old (5*) and have been threatened. Why not Zell?

Anyway, I have little sympathy for any of the MSM. Way too eager to please the powers that be.

Oh BC, what a dimwitted fool you are. But then you're probably just jealous that I have a job and a life better than your own.

In regard to Bush not really thinking about putting men and women in a war, why is that so hard to believe? Sorry, but I don't think anyone running for president really thinks about war and putting men and women into harm's way. They know it may happen, but it's not something they dwell on.

He dismissed as “empty propaganda’’ and “baseless gossip’’ rumors in the Arab press that he is planning a strike against Iran this winter.

Watch this lie be brought to light.

In regard to Bush not really thinking about putting men and women in a war, why is that so hard to believe? Sorry, but I don't think anyone running for president really thinks about war and putting men and women into harm's way. They know it may happen, but it's not something they dwell on.

Posted by: John D | October 7, 2007 1:55 AM

First off, if a Democrat (let's say, Barack Obama) said they never thought about sending troops into war while campaigning for president, you would skewer them for their naivete and desire to hug our enemies, there is no doubt about it.

A candidate for President MUST think about that sort of thing, its one of the critical elements of the job, isn't it? Would you go in for an interview to work at a bank and say you'd never really thought about what it meant to lend people money? War is a big part of what government does, unfortunately.

And how about addressing the ample evidence that suggests that this statement is a lie? (and a dumb one at that, as it makes Bush look either stupid for not thinking about it or a liar)

Please tell me that you don't really think that George W Bush NEVER THOUGHT about the issues with Iraq before he took office! And you don't have any problem with that whatsoever? Are you saying he was unaware of the hostilities between our two nations and never considered using force before becoming president?

To me, that's worse than what the EVIDENCE suggests: that Bush wanted Saddam gone long before he became president (PROJECT FOR A NEW AMERICAN CENTURY) and that removing Saddam was foreign policy goal #1.

C.Mo,

Its not so much that I feel sorry for him, it was more that I was shocked to see that kind of confrontation in a book interview. I completely agree that there should be more tough questions, and admire Stewart for asking them.

"Sorry, but I don't think anyone running for president really thinks about war and putting men and women into harm's way." John D

Which is one of the key reasons why people are running away from the GOP and this administration as quick as they can. Leave you in the dust...

Last call for your freedom of speech.
Drink up. Happy hour is now enforced by law.
Don't forget our house special, it's called a Trickie Dickie (Cheney) Screwdriver.
It's got one part Jack Daniels, two parts purple Kool-Aid,
and a jigger of formaldehyde
from the jar with Hitler's brain in it we got in the back storeroom.
Happy trails to you. Happy trails to you.

I am Emperor George Bush
Born again with fascist cravings
Still, you made me president

Human rights will soon go 'way
I am now your Shah today
Now I command all of you
Now you're going to pray in school
I'll make sure they're Christian too

Crawford Texas Uber alles
Uber alles Crawford Texas

Ku Klux Klan will control you
Still you think it's natural
N%gger knockin' for the master race
Still you wear the happy face

You closed your eyes, can't happen here
Donald Rumsfeld is near
Vietnam won't come back you say
Join the army or you will pay

Crawford Texas Uber alles
Uber alles Crawford Texas

Yeah, that's it. Just relax.
Have another drink, few more pretzels, little more MSG.
Turn on those Chicago Bears on your TV.
Lock your doors. Close your mind.
It's time for the two-minute warning.

Welcome to 1984
Are you ready for the third world war?!?
You too will meet the secret police
They'll draft you and they'll jail your niece

You'll go quitely to boot camp
They'll shoot you dead, make you a man
Don't you worry, it's for a cause
Feeding global corporations' claws

Die on our brand new poison gas
Iraq or Afghanistan
Making money for President Bush
And all the friends of President Bush

Crawford Texas Uber alles
Uber alles Crawford Texas

Mr. Silva, You don't mean that Bush refuted the notion.

To refute is to prove something not true. You can't say that -- you'd be taking sides.

You mean rebut.

Actually, I do appreciate the difference between refute and rebut. And, seeing as the president is the one in the position to say whether his administration is planning an attack or not, a denial in this case represents a refutal. If he attacks, then his statement will be shown to be false. But so long as he maintains, and supports, the statement that there is no attack coming, he has refuted the rumor of one. That's my rebuttal, by the way.

Ah, but what about rebutthead, the re-election of a president whom we all know is a ....

Mark and Hollywood,

I remember on some long ago camping trip into the red rock wilderness I happened to enter a top flight US Park Service outhouse, out back of beyond.

There is a particular toilet lid manufacturer that calls itself 'Bemis'.
Some swell, dandy, nar-do-well or otherwise bright bulb whited out part of the M in BEMIS, cleverly leaving only the V thus rendering 'BEVIS' as the toilet lid name!

Imagine my delight!
Even in wilds of Utah BEAVIS rules!

I hope this makes everything clear.