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Why Bush's Stupidity Is a Threat

By Matthew Yglesias, The American Prospect. Posted August 2, 2006.


The president's ignorance, on display for the world to see, would be hilarious if it weren't so dangerous.
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"We discussed a lot of issues. The Prime Minister has laid out a comprehensive plan. That's what leaders do. They see problems, they address problems, and they lay out a plan to solve the problems. The Prime Minister understands he's got challenges and he's identified priorities."
-- President George W. Bush, joint press availability with Nouri al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq, July 25, 2006
The truly shocking thing about that bizarre statement is that it wasn't even in response to a question. Those were Bush's opening remarks. He did, one assumes, actually meet with Maliki. And they must have talked about something. But Bush doesn't seem to have been listening. Instead, he sounds like a college kid bullshitting in section because he didn't do the assigned reading. "We talked about security in Baghdad," Bush observed, delving into specifics. "No question the terrorists and extremists are brutal."

No question.

This sort of display would be embarrassing were it not so frightening.

Two days later, with Tony Blair standing at the adjacent podium, things went from bad to worse. One is used to hearing Bush say things that aren't true. He appears, however, from the look on his face and from the baffling nature of the untruths he uttered, to have lapsed from dishonesty into confusion. (Sheer boredom may have sent him tumbling to new depths of ignorance.) "There's a lot of suffering in the Palestinian territory," Bush mused, "because militant Hamas is trying to stop the advance of democracy."

It is? Has Bush forgotten that Hamas came to power as a result of elections that he insisted the Palestinian Authority hold? I happen to think the White House made the right call on the question of Palestinian elections -- even in retrospect, even knowing that Hamas won -- though many observers think his policy has merely backfired. Rather than defend the policy, however, Bush seems to have forgotten all about it. He returned to the theme later in the press conference: "One reason why the Palestinians still suffer is because there are militants who refuse to accept a Palestinian state based upon democratic principles."

That's absurd. The president appears to be totally unfamiliar with what is perhaps the single most-discussed topic in international politics. Nothing gets people disagreeing quite like the subject of how to apportion blame for the Palestinian peoples' considerable suffering. But absolutely nobody blames Arab militants opposed to democratic principles. Terrorists opposed to Israel's very existence? Sure. Israeli intransigence? Why not. But only someone paying no attention whatsoever would subscribe to Bush's theory.

We have, meanwhile, policies that match the intellectual cesspool of the president's rhetoric. In its statements, the White House has consistently adhered to the view that the root cause of the troubles between Israel and Lebanon is Syrian and Iranian support for Hezbollah. Thanks to the dinner roll incident at the G-8 meeting, we know this is Bush's sincere view. "You see," Bush famously explained to Blair, "the irony is what they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it's all over." He further elaborated: "I felt like telling Kofi to call, to get on the phone to Assad and make something happen."

There's something of a cliché going around about Bush talking loudly while failing to brandish a stick, but in truth he's mumbling indistinctly while Israeli bombs pummel Lebanon.

If Syria is the real problem here, then, not to put too fine a point on it, someone needs to take some action of some kind related to Syria. After all, why would Syria tell Hezbollah to stop doing this shit? What combination of threats and inducements is Syria supposed to offer Hezbollah to get it to stop? And why would Syria offer them anyway? What's Kofi Annan supposed to do about this? If Bush wants to make Syria do something, he needs to do something to make it happen. Either offer Syria something, or threaten Syria somehow, or some combination of the two. The same goes for Iran. In case Bush hasn't noticed, the regimes in Damascus and Tehran aren't run by kind people looking to help the world out of the goodness of their hearts. Nor has the administration's habit of vaguely suggesting we'd like to overthrow their governments rendered either nation more likely to help us or our Israeli friends out of a jam.

There's a temptation to call this combination of inflammatory tough-guy rhetoric and feckless inaction "the worst of both worlds," but in truth the war policy being advocated by the right's more fevered voices would actually be worse than Bush's embarrassing, illogical paralysis. The real problem is that the risk of a wider regional war involving the United States remains. And if that risk becomes a reality, our country will be led into it by a president who doesn't seem to grasp what's happening.

This article is available on The American Prospect. Copyright 2006, The American Prospect.

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Matthew Yglesias is a staff writer at The American Prospect.

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Our President Is An Idiot. Go on! Say it!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Tom Degan on Aug 2, 2006 2:31 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
You know, I'm really loving this. For years it was only hinted at. No one wanted to come out and admit it. Now they are writing full articles on the subject: The president of the United States of America is a moron.

The truth shall set you free.

But here is something else that we have yet to admit: He is a reflection of us! WEEDA PEOPLE sent this idiot to the White House. Yeah, yeah, I know this is AlterNet and that I'm preaching to the choir and that he really stole those two elections and that most Americans really didn't vote for him. But the fact is that so huge a segment of the American electorate are so dumbed-down with respect to affairs of state that - twice - a drepressingly large number of them really believed, in their heart of hearts, that sending this corrupt, hideous, half-witted frat boy to the White House was a neat idea! If it wasn't a majority, it was a very significant minority. Extremely significant! Is it any wonder that we are the laughingstock of the planet?

As a nation, we've got to perform a mass mea culpa. We've got to stand up and admit that we made the worse electoral mistake in our history or since the German people foolishly put Adolf Hitler in power in 1933.

All of the readers of this invaluable website....What the heck would we do without AlterNet?....should forward this article to our stubborn freinds, family members and neighbors who only supprt the First Fool out of force of habit. They'll come around - or at least most of them will - I really belive that. If they turned around with regard to Richard Nixon, theyll turn on George W. Bush. Isn't it interesting? When compared to Bush, Nixon is starting to look better and better, isn't he? I mean, for all his faults, Tricky Dick had one of the greatest minds of any president (with the possible exception of Woodrow Wilson) of the twentieth century. No one ever accused the Trickster of having the IQ of a half-eaten box of MilkDuds.

To quote that great philosopher, Stan Freberg, "Wake up, Cratchett! It's later than you think"! Good advise, America.

Pray for peace.

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
The Daily Rant

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

» Why so bold, Tom? Posted by: HeroesAll
» RE: Why so bold, Tom? Posted by: Tom Degan
» RE: Why so bold, Tom? Posted by: churchofone
» RE: Why so bold, Tom? Posted by: ConnecttheDots
» RE: Why so bold, Tom? Posted by: Alinville
» RE: Why so bold, Tom? Posted by: HeroesAll
» RE: Why so bold, Tom? sickofsleaze Posted by: ladybug1@carrollsweb.com
» Laura's Vegetable. Posted by: aussidawg
» RE: Laura's Vegetable. sickofsleaze Posted by: ladybug1@carrollsweb.com
» RE: Laura's Vegetable. Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» RE: Bush is too a moron Posted by: marklar
» RE: WhuThe?!? Posted by: dennyduke@earthlink.net
» It's not over yet! Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» RE: It's not over yet! Posted by: ladybug1@carrollsweb.com
» RE: It's not over yet! Posted by: aussidawg
» Why? WhuThe?!? Posted by: Steve Adair
» You are absolutely right! Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» White?!? Posted by: Steve Adair
» WhuThe?!? Posted by: Steve Adair
» Wadayasay? Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» RE: Whaddayasay? Posted by: Steve Adair
» RE: Whaddayasay? Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» THE THRILL IS GONE Posted by: LMNOP
» Yup, Nelson, BC Posted by: Loopylafae
» EMBARASSED AND ASHAMED Posted by: JayBee
» Ranting can ruin your vision! Posted by: Conservasaurus
» RE: anting can ruin your vision! Posted by: Conservasaurus
» RE: anting can ruin your vision! Posted by: Conservasaurus
» RE: anting can ruin your vision! sickofsleaze Posted by: ladybug1@carrollsweb.com
» GET A CLUE Posted by: LMNOP
» RE: anting can ruin your vision! Posted by: blitzmesser
» RE: anting can ruin your vision! Posted by: Conservasaurus
» Idiots Posted by: polariso
» RE: Plagarizer Posted by: ccbite
» Click your heals twice! Posted by: Conservasaurus
» LOSER DITTO HEADS AGAIN Posted by: LMNOP
» Be Gone says Master! Posted by: Conservasaurus
» RE: LOSER DITTO HEADS AGAIN Posted by: polariso
My favourite comment here
[Report this comment]
Posted by: HeroesAll on Aug 2, 2006 3:19 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Nor has the administration's habit of vaguely suggesting we'd like to overthrow their governments rendered either nation more likely to help us or our Israeli friends out of a jam.

Well, golly gee, whydja say that?!? You meanta say folks might not like us if we wanna bomb their countries? Damn, some people are just ferkin' backward and anti-democracteric. Parbly even turr'sts too. Bet they got them slanty eyes and turbans and walk aroun' wearin' leopard skins n' all.

Sigh. The sad truth is that some people really don't understand this basic principle of international relations. Mainly people who have little experience of the outside world, and have never had war on their soil, like citizens of the US and Australia.

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

» You said the N-word!!!!! Posted by: Lizmv
» RE: You said the N-word!!!!! sickofsleaze Posted by: ladybug1@carrollsweb.com
» Jesus is coming! Allelelujah! Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» RE: Jesus is coming! Allelelujah! sickofsleaze Posted by: ladybug1@carrollsweb.com
George
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Abushite on Aug 2, 2006 3:37 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Another George who was challenged mentally was a problem to
his own country besides the USA. This George has the distinction of being a problem to the whole world, evidenced failure to comprehend that he is dangerously incompetent, a mind that is that sick normally invites sympathy and understanding. When that mind is oblivious to death and suffering that he promotes in the world, then surely it shoud be incarcerated in an institution for long term treatment.

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

» RE: Bush is mentally disturbed Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» RE: Bush is menatlly disturbed Posted by: sheena2u
» RE: George III and George too Posted by: aislinnluv
» RE: George III and George too Posted by: aussidawg
» RE: George III and George too sickofsleaze Posted by: ladybug1@carrollsweb.com
Remember from Farenheit 9/11?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: adp3d on Aug 2, 2006 4:09 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"There's a lot of suffering in the Palestinian territory, because militant Hamas is trying to stop the advance of democracy."
"...now, watch this drive!"

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

» Democracy Posted by: Lauren
» Excuse me????????????? Posted by: Diecash1
Curious George
[Report this comment]
Posted by: michaeltwatson on Aug 2, 2006 4:24 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Curious George--The name of the childrens' book character had some meaning. It meant that the more you listened and wanted to learn, the more you could learn. That George was funny and clever, but ours is not. He has consistently followed the pattern of taking a position based upon a "gut" feel, a knowledge gained from "looking into someone's eyes" or from some communion with God (which I certainly don't blame him for wanting to do, especially since his own hardware is improperly wired). Since he won't read a paper or ask for the true facts from anyone, where could he possibly gain the knowledge necessary to design or implement a plan that would work on any policy issue. When he gets what he wants, it is always proven to be wrong. When he doesn't get what he wants, it is only because everyone realizes, much more readily than he, that what he wants to do won't work.
At the same time as he was decrying the fact that no one would "make Hezbollah" stop their "shit," he was still speaking to healthcare workers about how we need to "stop frivolous lawsuits" by placing a cap on damages in cases against doctors and hospitals. This is his desire, in spite of the news, which everyone but he has heard, that 1.5 million people are injured each year as a result of medication errors, and 190,000 people are killed each year as a result of hospital mistakes. Whose lawsuits are the frivolous ones?
A person with no intellectual curiosity does not want to know the facts. Someone recently pointed out that anyone with an ounce of curiosity about the world, with a lifelong Platinum card paid for by daddy Bush, would have at least bought a trip to Europe just for kicks. Instead, he used the plastic to buy a Texas baseball team and a Texas ranch where he could use his chainsaw. Those things may, in some people'e books, make him a likable guy. They don't suggest the type of mind that should be put in charge of the peace process in the middle east. Michael Townes Watson, author of America's Tunnel Vision--How Insurance Companies' Propaganda Is Corrupting Medicine and Law. www.StopMedicalError.com.

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» RE: Curious George Posted by: sheena2u
» RE: Curious George Posted by: Joycelyn
Be less serious!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: colinmeister on Aug 2, 2006 4:33 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Just laugh at the idiot who is president of the USA. If we get nothing else for our tax dollars, at least we can have a laugh.

If the USA falls apart and flounders, who cares? We can always go and live somewhere else. A country is only a piece of land to live in for a while anyway.

Colin, a foreigner living in the USA for the time being.

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

» RE: Be less serious! Posted by: michaeltwatson
» RE: Be less serious! Posted by: vkobaya
» RE: Be less serious! Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» RE: Be less serious! Posted by: sheena2u
» RE: Be less serious! Posted by: truthinator
» RE: Be less serious! Posted by: Mary Eman
» RE: Be less serious! Posted by: colinmeister
» Too serious to be funny Posted by: Jeanne
The intelligence of . . .
[Report this comment]
Posted by: goldennugget on Aug 2, 2006 4:34 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I've always thought shrub's intelligence matched that of too-long masticated chewing gum.

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

» RE: The intelligence of . . . Posted by: tedbohne
what's happening
[Report this comment]
Posted by: rsaxto on Aug 2, 2006 4:47 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What's happening is that the Bushies are winging it all the way from now to the inevitable collapse of their silly, short lived empire. The comedy of stupidity will forever be with us.

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Evil dumbass - what elese can one say about him
[Report this comment]
Posted by: marklar on Aug 2, 2006 4:59 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Great article by a great writer.
It's obvious to everyone, right wing or left, or middle, that if Bush were a guy you worked with on a loading dock, stocking shelves in a supermarket, delivering packages for UPS, or in an office situation, he would be called a fucking moron by almost everyone. That is of course, if he could even hold a job for more than a week with his 3- second memory and his mentally retarded stuttering-like syllabic brain fart pronunciations that disitnguish him as a mental midget from compared to every person in the room. It takes him five minutes to get through simple vocabyalerry in a five word sentence.
When a guy has to continuously reinforce that idea that "I understand" issues, or as Ari Fleisher, Scotty (Jim Gannons butt baby) and Tony Snowjob always say, "The president understands blah" it's obvious that he has problems.
Supermarket manager to George: "George, here your list of items to stock. Start with isle four, household goods." George says, " I understand toilet tissue. You see, the Charmin all get shevled together, heh heh. The white, then the pink, some of it's got PERfume. It's not peanut butter. Ice cream goes in the freezer. Uh, Scott tissue. It's there too. Right next to, uh, uh, then we clock out and go on BREAK. Yousee."
What a fucking dolt Bush is. Every American should be ashamed of him.

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» PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY Posted by: JayBee
A typo?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Kiartyn Deiney on Aug 2, 2006 5:01 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"In case Bush hasn't noticed, the regimes in Damascus and Tehran aren't run by kind people looking to help the world out of the goodness of their hearts."

Ahem, 'scuse me, but shouldn't that read:

In case Bush hasn't noticed, the regimes in Damascus, Tehran AND WASHINGTON aren't run by kind people looking to help the world out of the goodness of their hearts.

Just sayin'...

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Who is more dumb...?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: ShrubtheWarcriminal on Aug 2, 2006 5:04 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Yes Shrub may be an imbecile, but what does that make the 28% or so that still apparently think he is the second coming?

And what about the people that still sign up to fight this war?

And the generals that still think we are winning this war?

And the hold the course crowd?

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

» RE: Who is more dumb...? Posted by: JSquercia
» RE: Who is more dumb...? Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» Dumb and dumberer Posted by: Lloyd Drako
» RE: Dumb and dumberer Posted by: sheena2u
» RE: Dumb and dumberer Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» RE: Who is more dumb...? Posted by: blitzmesser
» RE: Who is more dumb...? Posted by: mythbuster
Lebanon like New Orleans?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: ProgressiveManiac on Aug 2, 2006 5:32 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Somehow the U.S. involvement with Lebanon reminds me of the rescue operations after Katrina (Oh dear, how sad! Maybe if we just ignore it, while saying how concerned we are, maybe the problem will just go away).

Is this supidity of leadership? Or is this just the natural response of a political philosophy that honors small, inactive government? Is it just the notion that benign neglect is the proper way for government to behave? Is it the notion that government can do no good (so let's prove that claim by doing no good)?

Does the answer matter? Either way, the United States is acting irresponsibly and in a way that will seriously harm it for a long time to come. In this respect, it matters little now whether the elections of 2000 and 2004 were stolen. The rest of the world is looking at the bankrupt foreign and domestic policies of the United States and just shaking their collective heads.

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» I can't judge those people Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» RE: I can't judge those people Posted by: polariso
» Nice bigotry coldeye! Posted by: WhuThe?!?
He was not elected. There was a coup.
[Report this comment]
Posted by: greentime on Aug 2, 2006 5:33 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The planet is dying.
(We should have been in full out emergency mode about this over a decade ago)

Peace is more elusive.
(we should have had a department of Peace a decade ago - if not sooner)

Instead of ending our addiction to oil, we are getting ready to drill for more.
(we easily could have had wind and solar up and running in major applications over a decade ago)

What did we do about these issues? Instead of taking to the streets when Bush and his cronies stole the election with the help of lies and deception and outright theft, we rolled over and snoozed our way to 2006.

Things are not looking good are they?

Which political leader is leading on the environment right now?
Al Gore.
Has he been tempered and has he grown from his experience?
Yes, he has become all the better for it. Have you seen his film "An Inconvenient Truth"?
No? Do you care about the planet? What is your reason for not seeing his film?

The people of this country elected Al Gore.

We elected him despite his following bad spin meisters advice to be dogmatic and repetitive. We elected him even though he was not perfect. How perfect is Bush? We elected him despite Clinton's betrayal of him and Clinton's betrayal of all of us, we elected him because on many levels, we knew he was the right person for the job.

THINK where we would be now if Al Gore and not Bush had been president. THINK on environmental issues first and foremost because let's admit this fully and out loud... we are dependent on a living planet in order for us to live. Our planet is in deep serious trouble.

No planet, no economy. No planet, no culture. No planet, no children, no creatures, no baseball, no superbowl, no world cup soccer, no swimming, no eating, no water, no food, no tv, no internet, no nothing.
What activity or precious part of life can I call out to make us impeach Bush and get us to move to where we should be?

Al Gore IS leading. He is one person doing all he can to make us realize the time to wake up and start the process to save the planet is now. People, what more do we want from a leader in this time? Get out of your chair and get behind this man. Connect with the people who are moving in the direction we need to go to save the earth.
Make a choice! Make it happen.

Bush's greed and stupidity IS dangerous.
We are in peril. Our planet is in peril. Bush was not elected by us. The world thinks we are stupid and dangerous because we sit and do nothing about this coup of false leadership while this madman makes more and more chaos. Are we stupid and dangerous? Is it okay with us that the world thinks we are?
It's time to move in a new direction.

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» President Al Posted by: Lloyd Drako
» Movie Producer Al Posted by: coldeye
» RE: President Al Posted by: Lauren
» Gore is not evil Posted by: WhuThe?!?
» Big Fat Loser Hypocrite Al Posted by: coldeye
» RE: President Al Posted by: 1984NOW!!!
» Tell you what Posted by: russianblue1
» Bush won, Gore (and Kerry) lost Posted by: Lloyd Drako
That "tough-guy rhetoric and feckless inaction"
[Report this comment]
Posted by: owlbear1 on Aug 2, 2006 5:38 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
is making a lot of his base a LOT of money...

If Georgie stops "looking" incompetent he might end being held responsible.

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The planet....
[Report this comment]
Posted by: ilsewdm on Aug 2, 2006 5:51 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
...will be just fine. It has survived much worse than humanity. It's demise will come from the sun, and not for a loooong time. It's us humans who need to worry.
Bush and his ilk are helping the planet rather than hurting it. The sooner we depart, the quicker the planet will be able to heal itself.
Bush is evil. What's worse, I'm afraid his brother is the next in line. Evil with a brain?

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» RE: The planet.... Posted by: FedererFan
» RE: The planet.... Posted by: tedbohne
» RE: The planet.... Posted by: NowYogi
» RE: The planet.... Posted by: 1984NOW!!!
» RE: The planet.... Posted by: polariso
» RE: The planet.... Posted by: 1984NOW!!!
» RE: The planet.... Posted by: polariso
» RE: The planet.... Posted by: 1984NOW!!!
sickofsleaze
[Report this comment]
Posted by: ladybug1@carrollsweb.com on Aug 2, 2006 5:56 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bush's latest ASS-ISM has me shaking my head and asking " Is Bush's War mongering or Word mongering more dangerous?

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» RE: sickofsleaze Posted by: marklar
Are you waging me?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: douglashoyt on Aug 2, 2006 6:15 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The Bush Presidency has become like Monty Pythons "The Life of Brian."

The crowd of common people are laughing.

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» Sounds like a Posted by: russianblue1
Liberals Lucked Out with Bush
[Report this comment]
Posted by: coldeye on Aug 2, 2006 6:19 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
the article reiterates something everyone could see since 2000: George Bush has limited analytic ability and poor diciton. It is unclear what that means in terms of his intellignence. but assume he is of "average" intelligence. If a President, who is not just a CEO but a national spokesperson sounds as if he has limited thoughts, people believe he is not intelligent. In a world where the US leadership is compared with that of other nations, that is a legitimate problem.

What intrigues me is what will the Bush haters do if an articulate conservative, perhaps even a more consistent conservative than the big spending, pro-illegal immigrant Bush is elected in 2008? For example, a McCain, Allen or Romney? Or if Hilary is elected and follows a moderate conservative course on say foreign policy and domestic spending?

Simply calling the future President a dope won't do. Criticism will have to include solid alternatives to a genuine conservative program that would have been clearly explained.

Part of Bush's problems is that he has hybrid programs that lack internal consistency, like medicare prescriptions and No Child Left Behind. Part of the problem is that he can't explain core actions like Iraq clearly-for example, there are reasons for intervention in Iraq that had nothing to do with WMD.

While I personally think the negatives of intervetion outweighed the positives, given Sadaam's past behavior and the still unresolved conclusion of the 91 War, it was rational to at least consider resumption of hostilities of Iraq.

Bush failed however to clearly point the seriousness of the situation without resort to a far fetched scenario of nuclear attack on the US. (BTW, why did liberals claim to believe this ridiculous scenario? There was no evidence even before the lack of WMD was confirmed after the invasion. The Kerrys and Clintons were as dumb if not dumber than Bush!) Liberals unloaded on Bush for "lying" but not on Hilary or Kerry for supporting a far-fetched scenario for initiation of major hostilities.

Thus, will the lack of inarticulate expression and the articulateness of future Presidents be a problem for Bush's critics who have had an easy time in swatting at the admittedly silly things he says from time to time?

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» In answer... Posted by: Drclaw
» Curious Lloyd Posted by: Lloyd Drako
» you bet, Lloyd Posted by: coldeye
tedbohne
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Posted by: tedbohne on Aug 2, 2006 7:06 AM   
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If you think this mess is funny, perhaps medication or lockup, or both would be in order for you.

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tedbohne
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Posted by: tedbohne on Aug 2, 2006 7:11 AM   
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SaaAAAAY!! That's insulting a fine wad of old gum!!!

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corrupt, hideous, half-witted frat boy to the White House was a neat idea!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: hapibeli on Aug 2, 2006 7:22 AM   
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I just love it! I've been saying that since first I realized that he WOULD be crowned king. More due to the fecklessness of the Dems after Gore won the vote, than to the Repubs. If the gutless had stood up and fought for the American people, we'd be watching a different national and world scene today. Sometimes you gotta quit worrying about your fucking image, and stand up and go blow to blow with the forces of greed and evil, and that would be the Republican Party.

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Stupidity and Ignorance
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Posted by: yogistein on Aug 2, 2006 7:25 AM   
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If you're going to throw stones at this stupid AND ignorant moron, then get your definitions correct: ignorance is if you don't know something. Stupidity is when you know something is bad but do it anyway.

For the author--and AlterNet--to mix up the two can be either.

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» RE: Stupidity and Ignorance Posted by: LeeAnnG
» RE: Stupidity and Ignorance Posted by: ConnecttheDots
» RE: Stupidity and Ignorance Posted by: marklar
am i mistaken or
[Report this comment]
Posted by: aislinnluv on Aug 2, 2006 7:29 AM   
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is iraq becoming more deadly already than vietnam was? i could have sworn i saw someonw write that... maybe it's just my liberal-addled brain. yeah, that's it.

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» RE: am i mistaken or Posted by: polariso
Carny Man Bait and Switch
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Posted by: vkobaya on Aug 2, 2006 7:36 AM   
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While we laugh at this idiot, and are so preoccupied with his gaffs, we are distracted from the real issues. It's like the carny man telling you to follow the pea under the shells. He even lets you see when he switches the pea a couple times, but he has also switched when you didn't see. It is a distraction to make you think you caught him. While we're distracted by his idiotic mistakes, we forget the real issues and neocons have won issue after issue while we were laughing and thinking we were superior.

There are trillions of dollars missing, not millions, not billions. The official count of our soldiers dead in Iraq is 2,570, but that is also a distraction, another 1,000 or 2,000 died not as a direct, immediate result of enemy fire and thus aren't official. And we also fail to count the 40,000 or so that are maimed, crippled or mentally damaged beyond repair and the 100,000 that are suffering Gulf War Syndrome and denied treatment or recognition. That is to say nothing of the quarter million innocent Iraqi citizens who had nothing to do with 9/11 or any other of Bush's lies. How many more Iraqi are permanently injured, crippled or mentally destroyed. Here in this country, our schools are devastated, our roads are falling apart, we don't have electricity, New York's water is polluted with disease organisms (what about the water elsewhere in the nation).

The neocons are playing a very sophisticated distraction game and, Bush, the organ grinder's monkey, is only one level. Another is Fundamentalist Right Wing church and their hate crusade. There are other levels too, such as Cheney's hateful behavior distracting us from the other hand embezzing billions from contracts that should be feeding, clothing, arming and providing safe, armored transportation for our troops, as well as of gutted veteran's care, medical care, etc.

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» Prez not dumb: the left is Posted by: Bobsays
» RE: Prez not dumb: the left is Posted by: sheena2u
» RE: Carny Man Bait and Switch Posted by: sheena2u
» RE: Carny Man Bait and Switch Posted by: jsfortier
Lost Opportunity for Dipolmatic Resolve
[Report this comment]
Posted by: freerain on Aug 2, 2006 7:45 AM   
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You article was sadly humorous--embarrassing even--that the "Leader of Democracy" couldn't see the opportunity for diplomatic solutions with Palestine when they behaved in a democratic fashion.

I take issue with your comments:

"Has Bush forgotten that Hamas came to power as a result of elections that he insisted the Palestinian Authority hold? I happen to think the White House made the right call on the question of Palestinian elections -- even in retrospect, even knowing that Hamas won "

Is memory or educational history failing you? Do you not know that ALL governments came to power through some action of terrorism against others and that Israel is the product of Jewish "terrorism" on the world stage?

Hamas is a legitimate government, even though it came to power under infamous means. If the political stage honored the ideals of democracy, they could have courted peace and prosperity for the Palestinian people and negotiated terms both Israel and Palestine could "live with."

Now Hezbollah in Lebanon is behaving no worse than Israel who has been flexing her military (terror) power over that region for most of this last year--first giving back the Gaza strip, then bombing the Palestinian feces out of it. Apparently for Israel and some Hebrews, Peace negotiations are not an option.

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» You found a Lost Tribe? Posted by: coldeye
» RE: You found a Lost Tribe? Posted by: symcokid
sickofsleaze
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Posted by: ladybug1@carrollsweb.com on Aug 2, 2006 8:46 AM   
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A poster above called Bush the laughing stock of the world. Used to be, now the world is no longer laughing, friends and present foes see Bush as an out of control madman and wonder at our stupidity for not ousting him and doing as so many Alternet posters are suggesting, a long stay in the federal lockup.

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» RE: sickofsleaze Posted by: outsidea
» RE: sickofsleaze Posted by: babs
A wolf in sheep skin!!
[Report this comment]
Posted by: FastEddy on Aug 2, 2006 10:33 AM   
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"In case Bush hasn't noticed, the regimes in Damascus and Tehran aren't run by kind people looking to help the world out of the goodness of their hearts. Nor has the administration's habit of vaguely suggesting we'd like to overthrow their governments rendered either nation more likely to help us or our Israeli friends out of a jam."

These comments in your article certainly makes out who you actually are!! A neocon!! Trying to fool the mass again!! American (people of alternet too) are too dumb (stupid, moron and put other synonyms here) to uncover the ploy these neocons are hatching!!

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Pres. Bush's intelligence
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Posted by: drappleby on Aug 2, 2006 11:16 AM   
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Since George Bush was governor of Texas people have been calling him stupid, ignorant, moron, etc. I realise that it is good for frustrated people to blow off steam but what does it really accomplish in furthering agendas? Does it attract anyone to opposing politicians? Does it make you want to run out and vote for Gore or Kerry? It sounds like two little kids each saying "your mother is ugly, no, your mother is even uglier." I believe that what attracts people is a positve, exciting agenda and a vision of what we could be and where we could go (like John Kennedy). This country has immense, overwhelming problems that at least need addressing and answers, like peak oil, the $ 50 trillion of entitlements that the politicians have promised people that is being dumped on our children and grandchildren, We need billions of dollars every day for our government deficits and trade imbalance, our manufacturing base is being sent to China (how do you compete with those wages?), many service jobs are being sent to India. We have military in over 100 countries around the world, rebuilding New Orleans, Illegal immigration, Avian Flu, the housing market is crashing (which tends to take the banking sector down with it), healthcare is getting unaffordable, Medicare is going bankrupt, a recession is on the horizon,etc, etc. So while it's fun to sit around calling Bush stupid, making jokes about Hillary's thighs, Paula Jones big nose, etc. it's a waste of time and effort. I think the American public needs to turn off the T.V., stopping thinking about Brad and Jen and Paris Hilton, etc. I think the people would be receptive to a leader who had some answers (they probably wont like the 'medicine' that's needed) and could give a vision of what we need to start doing NOW if we want our children to have any kind of standard of living and future.

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» RE: Pres. Bush's intelligence Posted by: drappleby
Democracy is useless If this is Who we get for leaders
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Posted by: eyeman on Aug 2, 2006 11:36 AM   
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They market this democracy as the best political system we will ever have. But because the public is misinformed or uninformed by the media, this democracy will not work anywhere - not here and not in Iraq.

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Bush's stupidity is NOT a threat
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Posted by: xbj on Aug 2, 2006 12:09 PM   
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Dubyah is not, never has been, and never will be President.

The real "President" of the US is the Triumvirate of Cheney, Bush41, and Rumsfeld. With Rove as VP.

The only threat is that Dubyah's stupidity is a far too covenient cover for anything stupid or desperate the Triumvirate might pull, like call China's nuclear protection hand (which is NOT a bluff) and going ahead with the nuking of Iran at the blackmail (over 9-11 complicity) command of Israel.

China's holding five aces, and is not bluffing; nuke Iran and it will be the very last thing that the United States of Amerika will ever do.

Dubyah's stupidity will be a piss-poor excuse for the irrevocable and absolute suicide of the US against the combined nuclear and non-conventional arsenals of China and Russia.

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sickofsleaze
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Posted by: ladybug1@carrollsweb.com on Aug 2, 2006 12:18 PM   
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Of course Bush's ignorance is a threat, not only to us here in the US but to the whole world. When Bush stole the White House the Koreas were working out a solution to their division, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic were on the verge of a settlement, Israel and the Palestinians were working out a peace plan ( does anyone else think Arafat was murdered?), there were a few little "brushfire" wars in Africa, the world was probably as stable as any time in history, we had an unprecedented national surplus and then came the fool frat boy cheerleading idiot and BANG! Peace did not fit into the BUSH CHENEY RUMSFELD scheme of things and Bush started destablizing the world in the first debate. THE ONLY TIME IN WHICH THE FIRST FAILURE HAS SUCCEEDED!!!!!!!!!!

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» boring liberals Posted by: coldeye
» RE: boring liberals Posted by: polariso
» RE: boring liberals Posted by: krose
» and.. Posted by: coldeye
» RE: boring liberals Posted by: polariso
George Bush is NOT dumb
[Report this comment]
Posted by: Reader11722 on Aug 2, 2006 12:47 PM   
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President Bush is devious. He STOLE 2 elections from Democrats. If he's dumb than what are they?? The Democrats didn't even raise the issue. President Bush and his ilk allowed/participated in 9/11, and the Dems are silent. Who's dumber, the leader or the followers? President Bush curbed our rights with the Patriot Act and the Dems passed it without reading it. Who's dumber? The President changes the Constitution by caging peaceful protestors, banning books like "America Deceived" by E.A. Blayre III, stealing private lands and illegally wire-tapping civilians. The Democrats stood up against none of it. Who's dumber?
Last link (before Google Books is shut down by Bush):
America Deceived - Book

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» RE: George Bush is NOT dumb Posted by: polariso
» The man in the moon saw it all!!! Posted by: Conservasaurus
what does he mean, "a threat"?
[Report this comment]
Posted by: aurora2484 on Aug 2, 2006 3:01 PM   
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for several hundred thousand people it has been a death sentence.

for one nation it has meant endless devastation.

for the inmates of guantanamo, torture and other insanity

and then there's the economy, constitutional rights, the environment, ad infinitum

the "threat" was years ago.
it is something else again, now.

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Should have already happened!!
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Posted by: jonsympson on Aug 2, 2006 4:14 PM   
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Hey folks and you too alternet-
the time for blogging and posting is long over. None of this insanity will end until the powers that be in DC (and, yes I am also refering to all the lobbies and pacs) are physically removed and banned from ever coming back. That means that we all have to get off our collective assess and actually DO SOMETHING like, instead of typing, get in a vehicle and go to DC en mass and take back what's left of this country. I'm willing and able to go- I'll even drive!!!!!

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» RE: Should have already happened!! Posted by: Conservasaurus
You Should See Him In Person
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Posted by: sofla100 on Aug 2, 2006 4:55 PM   
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If you think GW is just an idiot on TV, you should see him in person. I just attended a speech he gave. Even a conservative friend of mine said afterwards, "my God what an idiot." He looks 10 times worse in person than even on the TV. It's very frightening and I cannot imagine what other countries must think of us. As for him really being kind of smart but its in disguise, I disagree on that, however, I do believe he is extremely ruthless and its this ruthlessness and viciousness that propels him forward.

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re: Jeb
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Posted by: rollo on Aug 2, 2006 5:45 PM   
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The idea that Bush, fucking up at his job in every way, can earnestly recommend his own brother as a successor is ridiculous. I could see it on a pizza box:

"You've tried the worst, now stay the course!"

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» RE: re: Jeb Posted by: aurora2484
Bush is Just a figurehead
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Posted by: Ian B. on Aug 2, 2006 5:46 PM   
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Like Reagan, Bush was chosen by Republicans for his affable, non-threatening persona as a figurehead for an agenda that would otherwise be unacceptable to the American public. He is supposed to be the embodiment of the common man that everybody can relate to and have a beer with. Bush may be an idiot, but that hardly matters. He is not the real power that is in control and neither was Reagan. His so-called incompetence is a great cover for Conservatives who can claim that it is not Conservatism that has failed, but rather that it has been failed. We, on the left, make a great mistake by focusing on Bush's apparent ignorance and stupidity. Think about it. After all, has he not achieved some major Conservative goals like the stacking of the Supreme Court and the federal Judiciary? Furthered the goal of corporate deregulation in media and the energy industries as well as bankruptcy reform and tax cuts for the wealthy? Has he not implemented the PNAC and created a state of permanent war and instituted the Patriot act? Bush may be incompetent, but the forces behind him are steadily and competently implementing their agenda of starving government to strip out social spending, dismantle public education and shred the Constitution. These folks aren't incompetent or stupid, they're out to prove government doesn't work by gumming up the works.

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Don't like the Message???
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Posted by: sofla100 on Aug 2, 2006 5:56 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I will improve my grammar if you improve your spelling. The point in blogging is to communicate a message, an important idea or set of ideas. It's an old trick when you don't like the message to criticize the source or the medium.

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Bush the Bumbler
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Posted by: sofla100 on Aug 2, 2006 6:03 PM   
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The idiocy of Bush is actually supported by some on the right who view it as something "folksy," or that it shows, he is "like the common man." For them, it's also a contrast with Clinton who was the "intellectual." I think it goes wihtout saying, however, that intelligence and a basic grasp of the facts should be a requisite for any public servant, let alone the President. We need our President to at least show a good capability to analyze the facts and make good decisions, to see some who need to make excuses or apologies for him is really sad.

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You've Fallen Right Into the Trap
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Posted by: autocraticforcefeed on Aug 2, 2006 6:41 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Bush may be challenged in terms of communication, but I would by no means classify him as an idiot. He's a spectacularly talented enabler of the system that put him in power, and he's paying them back in kind for keeping him there.

It's very convenient to assume the President's visually apparent lack of book smarts translates to a lack of street smarts, but he sure has street smarts- K Street smarts, that is. Bush knows exactly what he is doing as do all of the rest of them.

A major criticism by the left (and I realize this article comes from a conservative perspective) by middle America and the Hannitys of the world is that they are stuck-up smartypants. It's a brilliant strategy to identify the ivy league bush-leaguer as a country bumpkin who believes in simple values, simple politics, etc. because liberals will look like snobs exalting themselves above the president's intelligence level in their criticisms. And middle America will yell "hey! He's just a good ol' boy like me! Leave him alone. He's doing a damn fine job."

In this case, we're left with the liberals being duped into concentrating on the stupidity of a single man as being the major cause of his dubious national and global policies, rather than viewing such policies as the deliberate tyrannical intentions of a cabal of power-hungry corporate opportunists. Is it pure chance that Bush's unquestioned "vision" overlaps almost entirely with the free market fantasies of the world's largest and most monied institutions be they financial, federal, national, defense, energy, or religious?

The quote at the top of this article says nothing about Bush's intelligence. It simply proves that he is elusive and has nothing but contempt for the media and the people of his country. Bush, in his view, told the reporter all he needed to know. The rest was for the boys club, the elite group of gods and generals who control things.

Of course, the president discussed other things with al-Maliki. How could they not? Like how they were going to ensure that the oil will keep running and how quickly al-Maliki will be assasinated if he forms some kind of axis with Iran. You know, boy talk.

We're living in a world where genocide happens regularly (like every couple of years) and those with the power to stop it express no interest in doing so or actively block attempts to do so. Bush could give as little a shit as humanly possible about America or Iraq or China or any other country full of potential collateral damage. Bush is simply a vessel through which the western psychoses of modern capitalism travels. Like something out of a Phillip K. Dick novel, Bush is a simulacrum, a hologram on TV. Bush is 100% image construction, which is why we have to dig to find out what's actually going on in this country and the rest of the world. He may have once been an idiot, but now he is much more; the definer of truth, the man of visions, and we're all collectively hallucinating with him...

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Angelina
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Posted by: Alinville on Aug 2, 2006 6:45 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
How about, "Dumb as a bag of hair?"

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RIGHT-WING PAID PROPAGANDIST "TROLLS"
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Posted by: krose on Aug 2, 2006 7:06 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
ARE PROPAGATING OUR SITE LIKE FLEAS.

PAY THEM NO HEED.

THEY WOULD LOVE TO DISTORT OUR MESSAGE.

WHAT THEY LIVE FOR IS ATTENTION.

DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY.

PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO THEM, IN ANY WAY.

NO POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, & THEY WILL WITHER & DIE.

THEN WE WILL BE VICTORIOUS!

THANK YOU "ALTER-NET" FRIENDS.

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» Troll attack Posted by: Conservasaurus
We need to hold an off year election
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Posted by: mom'z the word on Aug 3, 2006 12:31 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The article was true of course. Bush is making a fool of himself and making America look very foolish. Now I wonder about the democratic process here in America. Why must we endure and tolerate this belligerence? Bush is an embarrassment to us all.

In England they have an impromptu election called a vote of confidence. When an elected official behaves in a manner unbecoming to the office they hold an election. It is a vote of confidence. The results are final. If he loses the vote he is out of office. Unlike America that allows their elected officials to serve out their term no matter how awful they become. If we held a vote of confidence election today Bush would be out.

I do not know who is more foolish. Is it Bush or we the people for putting up with this for so long? People are dying because of ignorance and incompetence. How stupid are we? Do we end this insanity with a vote of confidence? Or twiddle our thumbs and whine about it some more?

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Alternet: please create a counterpoint article for this one
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Posted by: anniedine on Aug 3, 2006 11:25 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
And use the comment posted by "autocraticforcefeed" on Aug 2, "You've Fallen Right Into the Trap."

It is the perfect counterpoint to the original post by Matthew Yglesias because it so accurately sums up the opposite view of what GWB is actually doing in his spoken statements and demeanor. This is an extremely important point to consider: is GWB actually that simple, small-minded, and incurious or is this all a stage play for the masses (to comfort, entertain, or create maddened distraction, as the case may be)?

If this highly managed projection of the folksy everyman worked for Reagan so well that they brought the tactic around again, what's to stop them from continuing the tactic ad infinitum now that they have a way to rig all elections? This is a major problem to consider and work on, rather than the fairly useless (but oh-so feel-good) pondering of whether GWB is actually a dimwitted frat boy clomping around in presidential shoes far too big for him.

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Rethink this
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Posted by: Burton on Aug 5, 2006 12:20 AM   
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It's easy enough to call "W" stupid. But he did beat the brains out of the entire left in 2004. The "Anyone But Bush" campaign, which had most of the left behind it, from Medea Benjamin to Howard Zinn, tanked miserably.

Of course, "W" could just be the front man and the real brains behind the scenes are pulling the strings. Regardless, if the left continues to underestimate the current crew in the White House, it will lose again in 2008...and 2012...and 2016...

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A moron, yes. President? No.
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Posted by: VannaLaRoche on Aug 5, 2006 7:30 AM   
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Cheney's no dummy.

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THE GOOD OIL DAYS
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Posted by: cognitorex on Aug 5, 2006 7:31 AM   
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President Bush softly sings.

I Miss Arafat in the Springtime,
I miss Sadaam in the fall,
Lebanon‘s a mess, it‘s in splinters,
I Had No Idea at All.

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Dubya's stupidity
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Posted by: sidewinder on Aug 5, 2006 3:02 PM   
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How can one accuse dubya of being stupid? There's no doubt that he's intellectually challenged but, after all, look what he's accomplished with what few brains he has. He IS the president of the U. S. you know. How many of US can say as much?

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» Incorrect Posted by: sil3nced
» RE: Dubya's stupidity Posted by: ProgressiveManiac
About time someone said, good job
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Posted by: sil3nced on Aug 5, 2006 6:27 PM   
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Bravo, nicely said. Bush is an idiot i am supprised he got relected. He cheated on both elections. He got relected becasue everyone in the United States were scared and he used it. He has been using Americas fear to drive the war and get things he wants done.

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darby1936
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Posted by: darby1936 on Aug 5, 2006 6:43 PM   
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Hopefully even Bush and the neocons recognize $200 a barrel oil.

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ECLECTICIST , S. JIM RODDIGUEZ
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Posted by: SJR505 on Aug 6, 2006 4:45 AM   
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WE HAVE A SAYING IN TEXAS THAT SAYS : " ...MAMA
RAISED FAT BOYS, NOT DUMB BOYS..." THANK GOD BUSH "SILVERFOOT" 43 IS NOT A "TEJANO(TEXAN), NEVER HAS OR WILL BE ONE REARDLESS HOW MANY BOOTS, RANCHES, ETC HE BUYS...HE WAS BORN IN NEW HAVEN, CT, AND EASTERNER...WHAT SHOULD BE CLEAR FOR THE MEDIA IS THAT BUSH 43 THROWS OUT BUNDLES OF 'TURD BLOSSOM" STATEMENTS THAT SEEM INCREDULOUS, BUT IS A PLOY, A SMOKESCREEN, AND THE MEDIA FALLS FOR IT...AND,IT WORKS, SO MEDIA BEWARE...INCIDENTALLY, I AM NOT AND WILL NEVER BE A BUSH 43 SUPPORTER...AND,
AS MANY OF YOU HAVE OBSERVED, READ AND SENSED MY DISLIKE OF GEORGE W. BUSH , AKA- BUSH 43, HIS POLICIES, HIS CHARACTER, HIS DISDAIN FOR “RULE OF LAW”, HIS “DECLARATION OF WAR” ON IRAQ, AND HIS UNCONTROLLING SPENDING OF OUR ASSETS, SECURITY, AND THE SELLING OF OUR NATION’S SOVEREIGNTY AND CREDIBILTY … THEREFORE , I AM COMPELLED TO SHARE WITH YOU MY THOUGHTS, RESEARCHED ARTICLES, ETC TO ADVOCATE THE CENSURE AND SUBSEQUENT “IMPEACHMENT” OF BUSH 43… THESE THOUGHTS AND EXCERPTS ARE SET FORTH BELOW.

WAR . BUSH 43 FORGOT THE TENETS OF WAR THEORY BEFORE GOING TO IRAQ…

TENETS OF JUST WAR THEORY
• Cause must be just, often limited to self-defense or to redress injury. Scholars dispute whether preemptive or preventive war can be a just cause.
• Public declaration by a lawful authority.
• No ulterior motives. War must be pursued with right intention - justice - not self-aggrandizement or vengeance
• Reasonable probability of success.
• More good done than harm.
• Use of force only as last resort.
• Avoid harming noncombatants.
• Proportionality - use of the least destructive force possible.
• Intention to restore a just peace.


ARROGANT MISMANGEMENT OF ELECTED POSITION. BUSH 43 BELIEVES HE KNOWS ALL, AND SEES ALL AS DEMONSTRATED IN HIS SPEECHES…

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." -- George Bush, "President Participates in Social Security Conversation in New York," May 24, 2005.

BUDGET FUNDING : WAR VS PEOPLE PROGRAMS. HE USED HIS POSITION TO WAYLAY THE IMPORTANT BUDGET ITEMS FOR SSA, POOR PEOPLE WELFARE, EDUCATION, HEALTH FOR THE USE OF THE WAR MACHINE…PRESIDENT EISENHOWER HAD IT RIGHT…

"Every gun that is made, every warship that is launched, every rocket that is fired signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those that are cold and not clothed." -President Dwight Eisenhower

ELECTION VS IMPEACMENT. BUSH 43 GOT ELECTED DUE TO THE REPUBLICAN SUPREME COURT’S DECISIONS FROM THE FLORIDA ( GOV. JEB BUSH’S STATE) ELECTION DEBACLE, NOT BY THE AMERICAN VOTERS… THE ELECTION RESULTS BEG THE QUESTION OF WHY WAS HE ELECTED, AND, IS A SIMILAR QUESTION RAISED ABOUT TRICKY DICK NIXON:

"By the time Richard Milhous Nixon goes on trial in the Senate, the only real reason for trying him will be to understand how he ever became president of the United States at all ... and the real defendant, at that point, will be the American Political System." -- Hunter S. Thompson, 1973.

MOREOVER, THERE ARE MORE REASONS, ARTICLES I CAN CITE, BUT MY INTEREST IS TO EXPOSE BUSH 43 OF WHAT HE HAS DEMONSTRATED AND ADVOCATED…IT DOES APPEAR TO ME THAT HIS PRESIDENT’S LEGACY WILL SURPASS PRESIDENT HERBERT HOOVER DURING THE 1930’S DEPRESSION…THE CURSE ON THE BUSH FAMILY BEGINS LONG BEFORE 2001 AS THE AN ARTICLE BY STEPHEN PIZZO IN 1992 OF THE “BUSH BROTHERS, AKA – BRUISE BROTHERS…AND AFTER REVIEWING AND READING THIS EXPOSE., THEN YOU WILL GRASP OF WHAT BUSH 43 REALLY STANDS FOR AND DESIRES…


S…JIM…RODRIGUEZ+++ECLECTICIST SEEKER+++

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Why He's a Danger
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Posted by: Ian MacLeod on Aug 6, 2006 1:25 PM   
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I should think the answer to the title of this piece would be axiomatic. Take a religious fringe-fanatic and alkie with the IQ of a mentally challenged carrot who thinks morals are a kind of mushroom (if he even knows that), ethics are someone else's rules that have no bearing on him, who has all the empathy and compassion of a Tasmanian devil, isolate him from the peons so he doesn't have a clue about how they live (and couldn't care less about how or even IF) and put him in charge of the most wealthy country - with the most powerful arsenal - on the planet. Surround him with other fanatics who long for the End of the World as advisors. Then bend over, put your head between your legs - well, you know the drill.

What's to worry?

Ian

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Crazy like a fox
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Posted by: albrechtkrausse on Aug 6, 2006 2:16 PM   
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You must understand that the majority of the American people are fools. Thusly Bush becomes popular by appealing to their natures. This is an unfortunate off-spring of our, somewhat, democratic system that all politicans need to pander to the peasantry in order to get elected. This is why so many of them seem like complete dolts. Actually most of them, Bush included, are very clever and use their office to make money for themselves and their crony. To do this they need to gain the support of the illiterate masses, so they act stupidly in public, drink too much, make commericals, kiss ugly babies, etc.

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Stupidity and Power
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Posted by: ProgressiveManiac on Aug 7, 2006 6:17 AM   
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Whether BushJunior is as dumb as he seems or is really brilliant and just acting dumb is not really very important. What is really important is that his every action is extremely damaging to our country.

But the problem is not just BushJunior. The problem is not even primarily BushJunior. The problem is that our government is broken.

Ours is a government that was designed to have checks and ballances. The three centers of government (four if you count the press) are supposed to act as checks against each-other and that is no longer happening. An out-of-control president is supposed to be checked by congressional oversight, but in this case the REPUBLICAN President is given a blank check by the REPUBLICAN Congress. The Judiciary is supposed to provide an additional check, but the REPUBLICAN Judiciary gives it a wave. The press is supposed to keep an eye on this, but our REPUBLICAN owned press gives it a wink and a nod.

This year we have an opportunity to put at least a small amout of balance back into the system, but too many REPUBLICAN Senators and Representatives will be re-elected by voters who are thinking locally. A Congress critter with some seniority may indeed be able to deliver a few crumbs for the state or district, but electing these REPUBLICAN again keeps the REPUBLICAN in total control of our government and eliminates that checks and keeps our government broken.

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» RE: Stupidity and Power Posted by: albrechtkrausse
» RE: Stupidity and Power Posted by: ProgressiveManiac
IT'S NOT THE AVERAGE "STUPIDITY."
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Posted by: krose on Aug 9, 2006 5:56 AM   
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IT'S BRAIN DAMAGE FROM DRUGS & ALCOHOL.

THAT WILL DO IT, EVERY TIME.

IT'S CALLED KORSAKOFF'S SYNDROME.

THE BRAIN TURNS TO "JELLY!"

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Bush is not Stupid
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Posted by: Dadster3 on Aug 9, 2006 11:05 AM   
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Geedubya is ignorant certainly, but that's worlds away from being stupid.

He is ruthless, remorseless and any number of other adjectives we might use to describe malevolence, but George Bush is anything but stupid. By continuing to beat the "stupid" drum we are gravely underestimating him and those behind him.

The real threat is that through Bush the neo-cons want to fundamentally change (1) the way this country governs itself and (2) how it will behave towards the rest of the world as the most powerful nation on the globe.

That is the message that needs to be hammered home, not that he's a cartoon charactature of buffoonery.

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» RE: Bush is not Stupid Posted by: krose
Bibs
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Posted by: Bibs on Aug 11, 2006 2:02 PM   
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Below average

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Posted by: morata on Jan 16, 2007 3:24 PM   
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