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The 'Big Lie' on Bush's Nightstand

By Kir Slevin, AlterNet. Posted August 23, 2005.


The idea that the President reads anything at all -- much less scholarly tomes -- shows how much contempt his handlers have for the public.
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So this summer, the President is reading Salt: A World History. That is, when he gets done with Alexander II: The Last Great Tsar. Or maybe he's first reading The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History. I'm not sure of the order, but I am surprised. Not even I, a bona fide Ph.D. nerd addicted to books with footnotes, read tomes like this on vacation. My 400-page summer books are by Lisa Scottoline.

So am I impressed? Well, not really. Apparently the media was not either; of major papers, only the L.A. Times covered the booklist as straight news. Makes you wonder if the mainstream outlets are catching on, finally, and that they saw the administration's attempt to portray Bush as an intellectual as what it was: a big lie, the deliberate seeding of misinformation.

It's not the first or only "big lie," of course, to come out of this administration. When you google "big lie" you get 500,000 results, and if you refine your search with "Bush" and "Iraq," you get 110,000 results. Nearly a quarter of recent discourse about the "big lie" concerns Bush's Iraq fiasco, and surely a few tens of thousands more also cover Bush administration lies about global warming, private Social Security accounts, the deficit, James "Jeff Gannon" Guckert, Valerie Plame, Terry Schiavo, Intelligent Design, and just about every other issue that has come before it. (And, yes, some of the discourse accuses liberals of using varieties of the "big lie" to attack Bush -- in particular labeling the truthful accusation that Bush has been deceptive as a "big lie" itself!)

The L.A. Times piece, by Warren Vieth, is a pretty good demonstration of how the media swallows administration pap. The book choices are parsed for what they say about the president's interests. Salt was once a fought-over resource, like oil! Alexander II was a "transformational" leader! Interviews with the lucky authors (surely being on the Prez's night table is good for a bump in sales) not only fill in content but reveal that two of the three are rabid Bush opponents. Vieth quotes one praising the White House for objectivity, saying "They don't seem to do any research about the writers when they pick the books," but he fails to underline the obvious: The books are chosen by the White House to imbue Bush's macho reputation with just a tingle of profundity.

The history of the "big lie" is a sordid one, and there's not much consensus about its effect on a culture. The first mention of the term is in Hitler's Mein Kampf (1925), where he both analyzes the technique and complains that those who wish to discredit him have spread lies about his policies. "[I]n the big lie, there is always a certain force of credibility," he wrote. The masses "more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods."

Bush's known big lies -- about a 9/11-Iraq connection, a Saddam Hussein-bin Laden connection, the presence of WMDs, Iraqi attempts to acquire uranium, and on and on -- continue to be referenced by the administration and conveyed to the public by an uncritical media. This fulfills Hitler's prediction, that "Even though the facts ... may be brought clearly to their minds, they [the public] will continue to think that there may be some other explanation." As Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's propaganda minister, is reported to have proposed, "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually believe it."


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Kir Slevin is a retired academic who writes about media and politics.

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A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING
Posted by: Taurus on Aug 23, 2005 3:53 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Now the President has been heard saying he's reading Elmore Leonard. I doubt he'd even read mysteries. He is deeply incurious, and I heard this directly from a Texan who used to converse with him on a regular basis years ago: he was shocked by how little Bush knew and how little he was interested in.
For a further gloss, read Justin Frank's brilliant BUSH ON THE COUCH, which makes plain that someone with as much anxiety as Bush has could not possibly let go enough to read. No, he's on the run from himself and reality.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

» RE: A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING Posted by: helenwheels
» look at us! Posted by: Juzridn
» as much anxiety as Bush has Posted by: Olympiada
» Maybe he is lazy Posted by: Olympiada
Skull&Bones
Posted by: nietgal on Aug 23, 2005 4:02 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Great opportunity to add what I wanted to post along these lines.

Ever since the presidential campaign I've always wanted to know all about the secret goings on in initiating in skull&bones. One huge difference between this "war" and WWII is that frats didn't really matter in college. When I went to G.W.U., college was serious business in 1946-50. Frats weren't that important. The returning G.I.'s were the majority and there were no high jinks. It was wonderful.

I read the report of infra-red filming of the initiating of skull&bones folks. The environment wasn't that different than the complaints about how the USA treats prisoners-of-war. So if the both Bush and Kerry conducted together an interview on the complete subject of skull&bones, maybe there might be some additional information about the characteristics of terrorism.

After all terrorism is based upon big lies about history in the first place.

Take the whole subject of "religion" for example.

I've spent years doing my own research: This is what the latest info told me: Do you think the President's readings can help tell me where I'm wrong? Especially since he is the spokesperson for "In God We Trust" (which is probably unConstitutional on our currency?).

Christianity is based upon the Vulgate
a Latin translation of the Septuagint
a Greek translation of the Torah.

In addition can the President explain why the Koran mentions Torah 16 times?

The Koran is the basic instrument of the current Iraqi constitutional efforts. All the lawyers there refer only to the Koran???

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» RE: Skull&Bones Posted by: mim
» RE: Skull&Bones Posted by: nietgal
Fascinating, frightening perspective
Posted by: Steve on Aug 23, 2005 4:07 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Too much of what Mr. Slevin says makes sense to me… Too many of us seem to be lead by the nose by this administration and the media, sitting in awe of this man based on inflated/embellished/exaggerated actions, while others of us are rolling our eyes at another story that will make his lackeys swoon.

Similarly, Dubya and his minions hopping on the patriot and “unfinished business” bandwagon… And that we must honor the troops that have died by completing the job we started… And attacking the likes of Cindy Sheehan for seeing things differently is a similar way they lead on the public…

The troops that have died are honorable… They are heroes… They died for their country, doing what their leaders asked of them… There is no question we need, and will always need men and women who will do so… The issue here is that their leaders were less than honorable, and less than honest in painting the situation that sent these men and women to their deaths. Like “uncurious george”, and unlike Cindy Sheehan, so many parents of these fallen heroes rest in the patriotic cradle that this less than honorable administration is providing for them – Not bothering to question why their children died or whether it was for a truly noble cause… That our fearless leader, or the parents who are in lockstep with him and his administration, are willing to throw an endless number of men and women into this situation seems unconscionable to me…

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English as a second language
Posted by: paulaH on Aug 23, 2005 4:09 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Anyone that is as well read as they are trying portray Emperor George would not mangle the English language as much as he does. I know a people for which English is a second language who speak it better than Bush.

And, please, the history of SALT?

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» RE: nglish as a second language Posted by: churchofone
Mr slevin are you an intellectual?
Posted by: flatulence on Aug 23, 2005 4:26 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Ignorant people dont annoy me as much ignorant people trying to pass themselves off as intellectuals.
You make repeated references to Hitler in your article. In Germany , at the time the Nazis were in power , people who spoke in dissention of the government were lined up and shot. They were executed in massive numbers. Now since in your pseudo-intellectual ramblings you made references comparing Bush to Hitler, I ask you. Where are all the dead liberals? If Bush were really like Hitler, wouldnt he murder liberals who repeatedly speak out against his administration?
Wouldnt there be mass gravesites filled with the bodies of government dissenters? I know that I will get a lot of hateful responses for this post because liberals hate people who disagree with them. They also only believe in free speech if you agree with them. So go ahead. Fire away at me. Prove that everything that Ive said is true all you liberal pseudo-intellectuals.
Oh and Ill leave you with a quote " If pacifists men dont believe in fighting for their freedom, then they will only have their freedom if real men are there to maintain it for them"

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» How these nimrods think: Posted by: nickptar
» terrorists should get therapy Posted by: Olympiada
The Big Lie
Posted by: kgs1947 on Aug 23, 2005 4:37 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The public and media have been played as fools. And, that is very accurate. We are fools and the lies go on. We have no leadership in society, religion, politics, civil rights, gay rights, environmental rights. And, when such a vacuum is present, it is so easy for the Big Lie to step right in. Our country is in deep trouble. Denial is so deep we are smoothering in it.

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» RE: The Big Lie Posted by: SJR505
Bush's Library
Posted by: Tom Degan on Aug 23, 2005 5:09 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The attempt on the administration's part of trying to portray a hideous moron like George W. Bush as a heavy weight intellectual is a scream! During the campaign of 2000, there was a photo of Dubya in the library of his ranch in Texas. Examining the photo I focused on the titles on the shelf: Romance novels, mysterys - absolutely nothing of substance - no doubt it was Laura's collection. I can't help but think back, with growing nostalgia, on a statesman like Daniel Patrick Moynahan who, during his lifetime, wrote more books than Bush ever even read.
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

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» RE: Bush's Library Posted by: helenwheels
» RE: Bush's Library Posted by: drmeow
» RE: Bush's Library Posted by: Basenjis
» RE: Bush's Library Posted by: Scott
terryp33
Posted by: terryp33 on Aug 23, 2005 5:19 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Great article! When I first learned that W's summer reading list included "Alexander II: The Last Great Tsar," I thought, "yeah, right!" Of course it was a ruse designed to make the small-minded connect him with a great emperor. Obviously no one bothered to tell him or his spinmeisters that Alexander was the most liberal of the tsars. Nicknamed "The Great Reformer," he was responsible for a host of social improvements, the greatest of which was the emancipation of Russia's serfs. Even more salient, perhaps, is how Alexander met his end: Alexander was assassinated by a political dissident- proof positive that W's "executive librarians" failed to give proper scrutiny to this assuredly fictitious reading list.

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» RE: terryp33 Posted by: jobie1kno
& his summer viewing is.....
Posted by: garyoke on Aug 23, 2005 5:30 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Queer Eye For The Texas Guy.
(tell me another one)

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HMMMMMMMM
Posted by: commonMan on Aug 23, 2005 5:33 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"asked the title of his first favorite book, Bush responded, 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar', a book published after he graduated from college"

This may be an insight to the kind of literature Bush has been reading since graduation.

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» RE: HMMMMMMMM Posted by: ConnecttheDots
» RE: HMMMMMMMM Posted by: RayP
Very Hungry Caterpillar
Posted by: kww355 on Aug 23, 2005 5:39 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I have no doubt that Dubya's favorite book is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".

And I'll bet he moves his lips when he reads it !!!!!

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» RE: Very Hungry Caterpillar Posted by: Basenjis
Bush the intellectual?
Posted by: mim on Aug 23, 2005 5:52 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
OK, so GWB spent his entire career in national politics running on anti-intellectualism. He wanted the public to believe he was a regular guy, and even cultivated a fake Texas twang to prove it. Now he wants the public to believe he does read books, and big, serious ones at that! He wants to have it both ways.

And thank you, Kir Slevin, for pointing out that GWB said that Jesus was his favorite political philosopher. That really shows up the statement in all its silliness. For while one can conceivably make the case for Jesus as an ethicist, he seems to have left political philosophy to mere mortals. GWB could have mentioned Edmund Burke, John Locke, Friedrich Hayek, or any one of a number of theorists who are well thought of by conservatives. But do "regular guys" read those writers? Nooooooo.

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» that's just plain old sicko Posted by: Olympiada
What Bush is really reading...
Posted by: endless on Aug 23, 2005 5:54 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Anybody catch these great ones on Real Time with Bill Maher? They're even better with the dust jackets they printed up but anyway here's the list:


So, President Bush is down there in the ranch >. But I notice they printed in the paper what – that he doesn't read – the books that he is reading. They said he took three books with him to the ranch, and they were:

The Great Influenza , the epic story of the deadliest plague in history. Have you read that one, Chris?

ROCK: Oh yesterday. [laughter]
CONWAY : The cliff notes.
MAHER: Also, get this, The History of Salt . [laughter] People tell me this is actually a fascinating book. The History of Salt , very important.

And Alexander the II, The Great Czar . That's what he's reading. Yeah, right. Here's what he's... we got a hold of the books he's actually really reading. [laughter] [applause]

Men Who Leak, and the Women Who Love Them . [applause] That's what he's reading.

Tuesdays With Cheney . [laughter]

The Joy of Cooking Intelligence . [laughter]

Men Are From Mars, Let's Invade Venus . [laughter] [applause]

And of course, Hooked on Phonics .

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All Very Good Points
Posted by: nakis on Aug 23, 2005 5:56 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Sans flatulence. You should find out what liberals are really about not the swear word definition you seem to attribute to the mindset.

I found the last part of the article most telling.

""History tells us that, over the short term, the Big Lie usually works. Over the long term, though, the damage it does -- both to those who use it, and to the society on which it is inflicted -- is incalculable."

They know this. Yet these people who claim to be for the people (I know it is another part of the lie) purposefully use it to harm the people. The people don't matter to them. We are only sources of labor (including cannon fodder) and while our democracy still exists (even as it is), votes.

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» RE: All Very Good Points Posted by: nakis
The truth of the matter is.....
Posted by: garyoke on Aug 23, 2005 6:05 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...."that I read whatever the hell Rove tells me to".

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"Fought-over resources" are "strategic resources"
Posted by: P.E.A.C.E. on Aug 23, 2005 6:07 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Before any world leader can claim to be well-read, two pieces of writing can be considered foundational to the evolution of human governance. To resolve the dangerously inequitable distribution of critical resources, that has led to wars in Iraq, militarism in South America, and a domestic civil war in the United States lasting several generations, induced scarcity of the world's most useful agricultural resource must be ended while there is still time to reverse Global Broiling.

In Executive Order 12919 (1994), President William J. Clinton identified several commodities as "strategic resources" to be made available by "essential civilian demand." One of the resources he named is "hemp," also known as "Cannabis." (1)

Cannabis was, and still is, a "fought-over resource," according to author Jack Herer, in his classic study of the Cannabis plant, entitled "The Emperor Wears No Clothes"

"...the primary reason for the War of 1812 (fought by America against Great Britain) was access to Russian cannabis hemp. Russian hemp was also the principal reason that Napoleon (our 1812 ally) and his "Continental Systems" allies invaded Russia in 1812."
(2)

In spite of Clinton's extraordinary valuation of hemp as a strategic food resource, Cannabis is still prohibited in the counter-productive, anti-Constitutional "war on herbs" that BushCo. (and the United Nations) continues to wage on behalf of the petroleum, timber and pharmaceutical industries. Regardless of the exceptional nutritional value of hemp, neither the U.S. government nor the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization have recognized the exceptional nutritional value of Cannabis seed.

In fact, biological warfare using soil-borne fungi (mycoherbicides) to eradicate 'marijuana' has recently been re-introduced by drug war dinosaurs, obsessed with eradication of Cannabis, even as its true value is becoming more widely known.

Until President Bush reads Herer's book and E.O. 12919, then "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" will remain the pinnacle of his cultural, ecological and intellectual evolution.

1. For details regrading Executive Order 12919
see http://formalcomplaint.blogspot.com/

2. "The Emperor Wears No Clothes"
see www.jackherer.com/chapter01.html

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» The Emperor Wears No Clothes Posted by: WhatNow?
» RE: Caterpillar Posted by: kww355
» RE: The Emperor Wears No Clothes Posted by: ConnecttheDots
Judging Bush's intellectual adequacy
Posted by: Rattlesby on Aug 23, 2005 6:15 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Kir Slevin is not doing us any favors with his smarmy, arrogant refusal to admit that Bush has an IQ and might possibly be able to read - and understand - what he is reading. Slevin sneeringly assumes that there is no way that Bush read the book about salt. Well, it is a surprisingly fascinting book, a fairly easy read, and perfectly fine for the beach or the ranch. I would not be at all surprised to learn that he has indeed read it.
Judging Bush's intellectual adequacy is impossible. But does Slevin really think that Bush is stupid? What a dangerous assumption. The fact is, Bush could be in command of every fact that we could wish him to have. And we could wish him to have complete independence of thought when it comes to interpreting those facts. But Bush simply does not care! People, he is going for what he wants, because he thinks - no, he knows - he can get away with it. Facts and reflecting upon them would just get in his way.
As Cindy Sheehan has said about the new anti-war activism going on in Crawford, "The pro-peace side has gotten off their apathetic butts to be warriors for peace and justice." I agree with Ms. Sheehan and I say that it is about time!We should know the enemy and hold him accountable. So far, Bush is in the lead. ("Heh-heh") Action on our parts, with respect for Bush's willingness to do bad things for bad reasons is what is needed here. He is not stupid. He is BAD. Let's be smart, not superior.

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RE: Judging Bush's intellectual adequacy
Posted by: commonMan on Aug 23, 2005 6:24 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yeah Bush is the mental giant that makes statments like "terrorists want to hurt the American people and so do we". Freudian slip?

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Summer reading
Posted by: mim on Aug 23, 2005 6:26 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
While I appreciate most of your comments, Dr. Slevin, I take exception to your dismissal of anyone who doesn't equate summer reading or vacation reading with light reading. I don't. The book I am currently reading is George Marsden's Fundamentalism and American Culture, about the rise of fundamentalism between 1870 and 1925, and while it may not be Ludwig Wittgenstein, it's not Lisa Scottoline either. In fact, it's heavily endnoted and chock-full of nuance.

(I'm sorry; try as I might, I can't turn off the italics.)

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» RE: Summer reading Posted by: helenwheels
Bush's reading list
Posted by: earthmother on Aug 23, 2005 6:28 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What is in his bathroom? Victoria's Secret catalog? Look, this guy doesn't even READ! O.k.? He LOOKS AT THE PICTURES!

"I don't read things people hand to me!" Dubya said that and you bet it is true! BECAUSE HE CAN'T! I think it happened like this: When he was a boy he decided that this learning to read stuff was too hard for someone born of ROYALTY and so he decided he would keep peons around to read FOR him! He has hired readers who read to him what Turd Blossom sends as reading material. They just want us to believe he CAN read because even THEY are beginning to be embarassed by the twit.

But don't misunderstand. I am not saying he is STUPID. There is smart and then there is canny. He is CANNY... and sociopathic. Seriously. And not learning to read is just an example of his sociopathic arrogance.

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» RE: Bush's reading list Posted by: chinasdad
» RE: Bush's reading list Posted by: helenwheels
» RE: Bush's reading list Posted by: nakis
Road dirt is just plain dirt
Posted by: packofwolves on Aug 23, 2005 6:41 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bush's intelligence equals that of road dirt and he reads as much as dirt does too, I'm sure. He also doesn't read very well and his speaches are monotonous ramblings that are broken in places that are unnatural and so obviously being read for maybe the second time - he surely reads his speaches before he makes them, doesn't he? Wouldn't it be hilarous if his speach writers decided to play a trick on him and write the truth for once. Bush would get up there to read his speach and recite the truth for once. The sad thing is, he wouldn't even know what was happening, he'd just be reciting the words he can barely read without even comprehending their meaning.

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» RE: oad dirt is just plain dirt Posted by: packofwolves
golldennugget
Posted by: goldennugget on Aug 23, 2005 6:45 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Your title - you did it to yourself - says a great deal.
Did or pres. or his children serve their country faithfully? Why isn't Karl Rove OUT? How many of our military die on the flight out of Iraq, at receiving hospitals or after returning to USA hospitals, and more importantly - are THEY counted among the dead? Are they counted?
?

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We have been FRAMED by Bush lies. There is no Liberal Media. It's called Fascism.
Posted by: lc on Aug 23, 2005 6:59 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There is no liberal media. The mainstream media rolled over and played lap dog for the Bush propaganda machine. The only Liberal left on TV is John Steward and only because he is a comedy news show. Politically Incorrect Bill Maher was fired and they cancelled Phil Donahue's top ranked TV show. Too many people lost their jobs for merely showing up at Bush rallies with a T-shirt proclaiming a contrary sentiment or the person asked Bush a question not desired.

The way to suppress opposition to lies is to keep repeating the lie to drown out the truth while killing any messengers. Bush is a dyslexic liar imprinted with an attitude of always getting his way no matter what. We have been FRAMED by the best propaganda machine ever incorporated, the Republican Party. The Democratic Party could not compete at that level with the corporate and power elite and finished second. That leaves the rest of us in last place and the country all screwed up because both parties put money and power first and the needs of the citizens always take second place. It's all about the lies, stupid! We have been lied to, deceived, misled, manipulated and coerced into false political support for unpopular Bush Administration policies. We have been FRAMED to death.
Sincerely,
Ron Linker

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Barbara
Posted by: Barbara on Aug 23, 2005 7:16 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I suggest that whenever someone like Flatulence writes such an ignorant comment, that we just ignore it. Don't try to argue with idiots. They don't look beyond the Bush/corporate media for their information anyway. Because,...as I said,..they are idiots. You can't reason with a drunk,...or an idiot. So just ignore them.

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» RE: Barbara Posted by: Shehova
» RE: Barbara Posted by: flatulence3
NamVeT
Posted by: NamVeT on Aug 23, 2005 7:42 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Has anyone ever read Uncle John's Supremely Satisfying Bathroom Reader 14th edition? Look on page 245 for "Bushisms" quotes from the Idiot Himself.
Things like "families is where our nation finds hope,, where wings take dream." Or " What I am against is quotas. I am against hard quotas, quotas they basically delineate based upon whatever. However they delineate, quotas, I think vulcanize society." One of his best is "I would have to ask the questioner. I haven't had a chance to ask the questioners the question they've been questioning." And just one more "The California crunch really is the result of not enough power-generating plants and then not enough power to power the power of generation plants."
And this is the President of the United States!!! Are we even sure he read My Pet Goat?
Heaven help give us the strength to unite and IMPEACH this fucking idiot.

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» RE: NamVeT Posted by: flatulence3
» RE: NamVeT Posted by: nonaste
THIS SITE NEEDS AN IGNORE BUTTON
Posted by: kww355 on Aug 23, 2005 7:54 AM   
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Barbara, I have pleaded for an "ignore button" on this site so we could just identify the idiots and "mute" them. My pleadings have come to naught.

There are some conservative posters on this site that don't "flame" and sincerely want a dialogue with us. I WELCOME THEM !!! I am not close-minded. But "flatulence", "alludra" and their ilk do nothing but rant and name-call and consequently are a waste of space on these boards. If we were all able to "put them on ignore" electronically, maybe they'd get bored, leave us alone, and go back to reading their copies of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar".

Honest and thoughtful debate with the other side? You betcha!

Flaming and ranting? "fuggeddaboutit" !!!

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bad idea
Posted by: karyse on Aug 23, 2005 8:59 AM   
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No, I would never recommend "ignore" as an option. We must read the comments and send them to anyone who is of that ilk. Sometimes the best way to recognize that one's position is illogical, irrational, or otherwise bogus is to see it presented. In my classrooms I always encouraged the speaker not only to speak their rot, but to attempt to support it through the questions of others. Free speech, which is in short supply these days since both sides attempt to squash the other, is the foundation of recognition and political action. America has been dumbed down -- it isn't just Bush who doesn't read any thing of substance. B.S in -- B.S. out.

The Bushoisie are no different than the bourgeoisie of any era and the job of the State has always been to act as a barrier between the have's and the have nots. (Read Louis Althusser's "Legitimation Crisis.") Dubya has persuaded us that he is an incompetent, rather than an intentionally self-serving slob with delusions of granduer. It is an ingenious ploy and has always had the accumulation of wealth at its core.

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» RE: bad idea Posted by: Shehova
» RE: bad idea Posted by: ccbite
Arrogant v dumb
Posted by: maggie on Aug 23, 2005 9:48 AM   
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I think w can read. I don't think he's dumb, but I do think he is a spoiled, rich, frat-boy, from a priveleged family and is colosally arrogant, which makes him seem down-right stupid.

We need to remember that during the debates of his first(!) (successful !!) presidential bid, he was asked what he thought about Al Queda. I was teaching high school social studies at the time. All of my teenage students knew who Al Queda was. Bush's smirking reply in a presidential debate: I don't really know. What are they, a rock group?

Call it whatever you like: stupidity, arrogance, mean-spiritedness. It doesn't matter. He has caused the deaths of thousands and thousands of people, all for the benefit of his fellow-privileged frat boys. He needs to go!
There is no room for him in America.

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"Pat, the Bushy"
Posted by: monkeywrench on Aug 23, 2005 9:50 AM   
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A few comments about the article:

As an Angelino, I am saddened that only the LA Times swallowed whole the garbage about Bush's reading list and supposed intellect. My only defense is that the LA Times isn't really an L.A. paper, as it is owned in common (and absentia) with the Chicago Tribune.

If you want an impactful image of the bravery and intellect of our Commander in Chief, go back and review his reaction in that school in Florida when he was told of the second plane hitting the WTC. I have never in my life seen a face so blank, empty and confused. And it stayed that way for at least ten minutes, as he went on to read "Pat, the Bunny" while our nation was under attack.

(Any time you hear Bush say anything that isn't stupid or garbled, fire up your scanners and listern in on his wireless earprompter.)

Oh, and it is entirely possible that the books mentioned are, in fact, on a night stand in the presidential bedroom –– but they are on Laura's side. She just shows George the pictures.

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» RE: "Pat, the Bushy" Posted by: monkeywrench
» RE: "Pat, the Bushy" Posted by: monkeywrench
Our eye on the ball
Posted by: gramps on Aug 23, 2005 10:50 AM   
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Discussing Bush's I.Q. or even getting rid of him will not change the reality that the megacorporations are firmly in control in Washington. If Kerry had been elected we would still have gone to war with Iraq. Concentrating on the easy target,(Dubya) we lose sight of the fact that the 500 billion given to Halliburton, Northrup, General Dynamics, and the other corporate merchants of death have saturated Washington with lobbyists and the majorityof our legislators are on the take.

This is not to negate the importance of Cindy Sheehan but the broader progressive movement must recognize that the coming mid-term election is of critical importance. It is likely that the most egregious Republicans will lose, but we should concentrate the major portion of our invective on the Wall Street predators who have installed these hapless sociopaths.

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» RE: Our eye on the ball Posted by: ghoster
» RE: Our eye on the ball Posted by: nakis
» RE: Our eye on the ball Posted by: heliosweb
The Latest Big Lie
Posted by: laime22 on Aug 23, 2005 11:13 AM   
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President Bush, in his latest speech, uses the fatality count in Iraq as a motivating point to continue the war. The media emabrace this as a positive sign that he is publically acknowledging the cost of the war.
What is the logic in this? By this sreasoning, our motivation for staying in Iraq will increase as the death toll rises. 'We owe it to them' will have more meaning when that number reaches 2000 or 3000 or beyond. The White House is now using its own failures to defend continuing on the same path.
This is a dumbfounding manipulation by the administations's spin doctors.
When will the press wake up and truly examine what is going on ?

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» RE: The Latest Big Lie Posted by: Swatopluk
the deliberate seeding of misinformation.
Posted by: Olympiada on Aug 23, 2005 12:39 PM   
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Now if you want to talk about evil, this is evil, the deliberate seeding of misinformation. Lord have mercy!
Having spent the last 5.5 years in a religious cult that did not want to discuss politics, having married into, and out of a fundamentalist family, having grown up in a progressive family, I am deeply profoundly disturbed .
I am thankful I have discovered AlterNet. It is hard to get back into the political stream after being out of it for so long, but I am doing it, and things are sick.

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» cemetary, excuse me seminary Posted by: Olympiada
Night time reading
Posted by: ntisuzi on Aug 23, 2005 1:12 PM   
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We all know that he does not read. I thought that Laura was going to read to him every night. These are good bedtime stories for a sadist, especially the Pandemic of 1917 and 1918.

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babylon
Posted by: caliente on Aug 23, 2005 3:22 PM   
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Recently I was reminded that in the early days of empire, Cyrus or his son Darius, I think it was, decided to have a record made of all the peoples/lands he had conquered. Back in the day, leaders did not read, it was the underlings who had this power. So it was that the history of empire was first recorded on stone in all the known languages of the day. The benefit of this poly-written record was that it made possible the translation of cuneiform and other early languages as one translation opened the next.

I guess Dumbya just took a page (so to speak) from the past. Why bother to read when there are so many others who do it well and can just tell him what they would like him to know?

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We do know he reads about goats
Posted by: eatherfor on Aug 23, 2005 4:34 PM   
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This dolt can barely string two coherant sentences together, and the same goes for much of his base. While people were jumping to their deaths, as the twin towers burned (then subsequently brought down by controlled demolition), this hillbilly read about a goat, which was I am sure an intellectual stretch for him as well.

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Recommended reading for understanding present Iraq policy
Posted by: flanigan on Aug 23, 2005 5:10 PM   
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May I recommend Machiavelli's The Prince, particularly interesting are Chapters V--How one should govern cities or principalities that, before being conquered, used to live under their own laws; also Chapter VI--New principalities acquired by one's own arms and ability; Chapter VII--New principalities acquired through the power of others and their favor. Perhaps you might come to the conclusion that I have: The U.S. is pursuing a policy of perceived failure, i.e, we have no exit strategy because we do not intend to leave. Arguing that we have not developed a real plan only underscores our impotence as anti-warriors. Understand that we will destroy the village to hold it; destroy the people because they will destroy us if we allow them to exist. We do not intend to retreat--we intend to conquer. Period.

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Cal
Posted by: claw on Aug 23, 2005 7:15 PM   
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I hope EVERYONE who has commented on this article is planning to be in Washington, D.C. in the streets on Sept. 24. I have my seat on the bus from rural upstate New York. I hope to see you all there.

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» RE: Cal Posted by: Tom Degan
Whats Up?
Posted by: banyon100 on Aug 23, 2005 9:13 PM   
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Do a search at Amazon.com for "Alexander II: The Last Great Tsar"
All 3 books show up in the search results plus the book about Alexander II is not even coming out until October.

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» RE: Whats Up? Posted by: Scott
Seuss-isms...
Posted by: kelly.nickell on Aug 23, 2005 10:08 PM   
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I have been pouring through everything I could find to understand the Shrub...

Low and behold, I gave up on the tough stuff and went directly to whut brung me:

ON FACING UP TO ADVERSITY (from a man that thought phonics more useful than looking at pictures in the processs of learning to read)

I learned there are troubles
of more than one kind.
Some come from ahead
And some come from behind.

But I've bought a big bat.
I'm all ready, you see.
Now my troubles are going
To have troubles with me!


Many thanks to Dr. Seuss; I'm finding it easier to stumble my way through the intellect of Arbusto

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Stop the American-Israeli nexus
Posted by: ecofascist on Aug 24, 2005 5:34 AM   
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Americans must realize that Israel plays a big part in this war on terror and how the Jewish lobby influences foreign policy(it has been for a long time now).

The so called "freedom" is a sham and American democracy, or whatever they promote world over is nonsense. Who wants to consume and pollute like Americans anyways?

I say screw the liberals and conservatives and look at Third Front alternatives. There are better parties in the US than the democracts and republicans. Vote Ralph Nader in the next election and hope that America will be safer in the coming years.
Btw, on the Cindy Sheehan thing, her son died for Israel and Zionist causes not for America.

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Sorry to post a joke, but....
Posted by: Ratmonster Spook on Aug 24, 2005 8:52 AM   
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I heard that the George W. Bush Library burned to the ground the other day. That's too bad. He was almost done coloring his second book.

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Naive
Posted by: grazer on Aug 24, 2005 3:37 PM   
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I detest Bush but this column is amazingly presumptuous. I read it a second time looking for the author's actual evidence for his claim. He should have written something satirical if he lacks actual evidence.

Gaddis has reported his conversation with Bush and was himself quite shocked by the depth of the president's inquiry. Do you assume Gaddis is an idiot too for not recognizing he was being scammed?

This kind of thing directly feeds the right-wing propaganda machine's depiction of liberals as monolithic thinkers. The disturbing thing is that Slevin's contentions are amazingly naive. He seems to assume that someone cannot read such work and at the same time pursue Bush's thoughtless agendas.

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» RE: Naive Posted by: LMNOP
Bush reads?
Posted by: wannabersc on Aug 24, 2005 8:23 PM   
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Didn't realize he COULD read. Certainly can't put words together.

An IQ of 91,... good Christ.

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» RE: Bush reads? Posted by: nonaste
"Stick it up their behinds" day
Posted by: RayP on Aug 27, 2005 4:15 AM   
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IT HAS BEEN CALCULATED THAT IF EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA DID NOT PURCHASE A DROP OF GASOLINE FOR ONE DAY, AND ALL DID THIS AT THE SAME TIME, THE OIL COMPANIES WOULD CHOKE ON THEIR STOCKPILES. AT THE SAME TIME IT WOULD HIT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY WITH A NET LOSS OF OVER 4.6 BILLION DOLLARS WHICH AFFECTS THE BOTTOM LINES OF THE OIL COMPANIES. THEREFORE SEPTEMBER 1st HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED "STICK IT UP THEIR BEHIND " DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THESE TWO NATIONS SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF GASOLINE THAT DAY.

THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT. WAITING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND CONTROL THE PRICES IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REDUCTION AND CONTROL IN PRICES THAT THE ARAB NATIONS PROMISED TWO WEEKS AGO?

REMEMBER ONE THING, NOT ONLY IS THE PRICE OF GASOLINE GOING UP BUT AT THE SAME TIME AIRLINES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES, TRUCKING COMPANIES ARE FORCED TO RAISE THEIR PRICES WHICH EFFECTS PRICES ON EVERYTHING THAT IS SHIPPED. THINGS LIKE FOOD, CLOTHING, BUILDING MATERIALS, MEDICAL SUPPLIES ETC. WHO PAYS IN THE END? WE DO!

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IF THEY DON'T GET THE MESSAGE AFTER ONE DAY, WE WILL DO IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. SO DO YOUR PART AND SPREAD THE WORD. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND MAKE SEPTEMBER 1ST A DAY THAT THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA SAY "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"

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» RE: "Stick it up their behinds" day Posted by: flatulence10
Price Gouging at the Pump
Posted by: rangerjim on Aug 30, 2005 6:05 AM   
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It seems that the high prices of gas are going to push more and more people to acts of violence. As for the driveoffs, they should start carrying a loaded gun with them. It is time to resist the rampant price gouging, by armed means, if necessary. Unless the administration starts doing something about it, then it is time that we the people took up arms and declare war, not only on the Bush Administration, but the speculators at the commodities exchanges and the oil companies as well. Perhaps of either the New York or Chicago Mercantile Exchange got a dose of a certain little 1995 incident in the nation's heartland, the greedy speculators will get the message. If it is war these money grubbin maggots want, war they shall get.

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flatulence, I have to ask you !!!
Posted by: lyle-tate on Sep 1, 2005 3:40 PM   
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Dude, it's one thing to support someone. But are you really that mindless of a follower that you cannot even admit that Dubya made SOME or at least ONE MISTAKE(s). Yes, I'm an independent who voted for Clinton back when. But Lord knows he was'nt perfect !!! And I'm not talking about his BJ's in the Oval Office - That had absolutely NO impact on the American people or national security. But this Iraq War, now that's one of the biggest dissasters/Mistakes in American History. Please give me SOME hope that this country is not totally FUCKED and admit to me that Dubya made SOME mistakes. Think about it dude (No, I mean REALLY think about it). If you can't see ANY wrong in what has taken place during this administration then you are a ignorant, close -minded fool who votes for a party no matter how destructive their actions are. And not a person who votes for/supports a principle. It never ceases to amaze me how people will continue to vote against their own self interests. And that's exactly what you are doing, if you don't realize it now, I hope that you and other idiots like you realize it in the near future or this beautiful county of ours will literally be destroyed.

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You are what you read
Posted by: reason on Sep 1, 2005 6:06 PM   
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Salt: A World History. Alexander II: The Last Great Tsar. The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History.

I have always been told that you can tell a lot about a person by what they read and write.

Maybe the fact they are in his room means we better stock up on salt, gether every home remedy for the flu we can find and prepare to deal with a wanna be Tsar.

Stock up on garlic, echinae and flu medications.

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