# Armstrong Williams: A Quarter Million Dollar Bush Spokesman **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 7, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602 "2005-01-07T17:33:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/61 "2005-01-09T03:38:24Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Not according to Brutus. > > Whatever Bushco does. From lying, to torture, to misrepresentation is ok by him. Likely the new [new deathsquads too](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=5&u=/nm/20050109/ts_nm/iraq_squads_report_dc). ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/62 "2005-01-09T03:58:04Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > Just curious, but do you think investigations _should_ happen? Were laws broken? > [@Squink](#): > > Likely the new [new deathsquads too](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=578&e=5&u=/nm/20050109/ts_nm/iraq_squads_report_dc). A bit in slow in forming the teams, but I like the idea. Such tactics are how COIN campaigns should be fought, you know. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/63 "2005-01-09T04:09:56Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > A bit in slow in forming the teams, but I like the idea. Such tactics are how COIN campaigns should be fought, you know. Yeah, but if they can’t even figure out how to pick out the _right_ teenage boys to rape, do you really wanna trust 'em to get all Mossad in downtown Baghdad? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/64 "2005-01-09T04:22:00Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > Your next impassioned defense of the No Child Left Behind Act is going to be viewed with a very jaundiced eye from this precinct. I would never launch an impassioned defence of No Child Left Behind. But you gotta admit, it DOES show that Bush is strong on education. (_Ka-ching!_) ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/65 "2005-01-09T04:26:30Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Besides, as a mere poster on a message board, all I was able to rate was an in-ground swimming pool. Thanks, Army Corps of Engineers. 😃 Oh, man, I bet it has a waterslide and maybe even one of the multi-level waterfall dealies. Not that I’m envious. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/66 "2005-01-09T04:34:24Z")
> [@black455](#): > > Yeah, but if they can’t even figure out how to pick out the _right_ teenage boys to rape, do you really wanna trust 'em to get all Mossad in downtown Baghdad? I’m sure that there will be wacky hijinks and capers as we relearn certain capabilities, but better late than never. What’s plan B? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/67 "2005-01-09T04:54:55Z")
> [@Brutus](#): > > I’m sure that there will be wacky hijinks and capers as we relearn certain capabilities, but better late than never. What’s plan B? Oh, yeah, El Salvador, a proud chapter in U.S. history alrighty. I just don’t know if the U.S. spooks are gonna be able to get it up for this one, given that there’ll be no nuns to rape and kill. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/68 "2005-01-09T05:24:21Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > I just don’t know if the U.S. spooks are gonna be able to get it up for this one, given that there’ll be no nuns to rape and kill. Not so fast **EC** , [Iraq’s got nunnerys](http://www.zindamagazine.com/html/archives/2002/11.11.02/index.php): > [@](#): > > On a recent morning (nov 2002) in Mosul, 352 kilometers north of Baghdad, the inhabitants of a nunnery woke up to find a statue of the Virgin Mary shrouded in Muslim veils. ---
**Author:** ![ArrMatey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrmatey/32/3522_2.png) [@ArrMatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArrMatey)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/69 "2005-01-09T19:32:40Z")
Wait, wait… We’re going to train locals to be assassins and send 'em out? Greaaaaat. That’s -never- come back to bite us later. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/70 "2005-01-09T20:26:38Z")
Doesn’t anyone wonder why we are hearing about this? Why would be made public? ---
**Author:** ![ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ZombiesAteMyBrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZombiesAteMyBrain)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/71 "2005-01-10T00:10:20Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > **Reeder** , I know you’re trying to project a tone of wise world-weariness and pitying condescension, but going on about “Bushco” makes you sound about 11 years old. I took it as a sort of shorthand for Bush & Co. - meaning Bush and his slimy conniving cohorts. Quicker than writing all their names. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/72 "2005-01-10T01:08:50Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > Americans elected Bush and his cohorts (I’ll just call 'em “Bushco” for short) KNOWING that they were into torturing prisoners. A little thing like bribing pundits with taxpayer money? A mere trifle. “A mere trifle”? O.K. I’ll assume that in future, any sleazy act by the current Administration that falls short of condoning torture is not worthy of your consideration. Might impede your post count, though. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/73 "2005-01-10T01:29:19Z")
> [@Reeder](#): > > Doesn’t anyone wonder why we are hearing about this? Why would be made public? Because USAToday filed a freedom of information request, and got an answer. What’s your take on it? ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/74 "2005-01-10T02:08:56Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Because USAToday filed a freedom of information request, and got an answer. > > What’s your take on it? That for some odd reason, they wanted us and the rest of the world to know. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/75 "2005-01-10T03:31:27Z")
That settles it. We need a “Twilight Zone” smilie to accomodate the conspiracy freaks. ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/76 "2005-01-10T08:21:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I don’t see any reason that the government can’t pay for ads to encourage acceptance of the law… but the ads should clearly identify that they are paid for by the government. The failure to do that here is simply wrong, and a clear ethical breach. Doesn’t it in the very least make you a little uncomfortable that the government is taking you money, and then using that money in order to tell you how to vote on a partisan program? It’s one thing to advocate for this or that public health issue. But to use taxpayer dollars to sell a partisan program: THAT doesn’t violate any conservative principle of limited government? ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602/77 "2005-01-10T14:47:36Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Doesn’t it in the very least make you a little uncomfortable that the government is taking you money, and then using that money in order to tell you how to vote on a partisan program? It’s one thing to advocate for this or that public health issue. But to use taxpayer dollars to sell a partisan program: THAT doesn’t violate any conservative principle of limited government? But it’s not a partisan program, it’s for the _children_. Fer god’s sake, man, look at the _name_. Do you want to leave children behind? **Apos** , why do you hate the children of America? Why do you hate America? -Joe [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/armstrong-williams-a-quarter-million-dollar-bush-spokesman/283602.md?page=3)