# Bush admin NOT a failure **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 29, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002 "2006-12-29T17:25:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/1 "2006-12-29T17:25:25Z")
Just a success that hasn’t happened yet. When Fran Townsend, President Bush’s Homeland Security advisor was asked about the failure to catch Osama on [CNN](http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0612/28/sitroom.03.html), her reply was" > [@](#): > > (CNN) HENRY: You know, going back to September 2001, the president said, dead or alive, we’re going to get him. Still don’t have him. I know you are saying there’s successes on the war on terror, and there have been. That’s a failure. > > TOWNSEND: Well, I’m not sure – it’s a success that hasn’t occurred yet. I don’t know that I view that as a failure. Is there really that much of a disconnect to reality in that administration? Are they going to begin claiming that they have success in ending poverty, acne, and death by natural causes? Could I tell my mother that I am a success that hasn’t occurred yet and put to rest her motherly fears? It’s truthiness. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/2 "2006-12-29T17:28:29Z")
It **might** count as a “success that hasn’t occurred yet” – **if** they were even **seriously looking for the bastard!** :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/3 "2006-12-29T17:30:16Z")
I am inundated with financial success that has not occurred yet. Oddly enough, the local tavern on the corner refuses to accept this in lieu of cash. Why do they hate America? ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/4 "2006-12-29T17:37:11Z")
My lack of ability to quit smoking as yet is not a failure on my part. It is simply success that has not yet occurred. Hell, if it’s good enough for the presidental administration, it’s good enough for me! ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/5 "2006-12-29T17:45:33Z")
You know, that sounds like the kind of bullshit that prosperity theology preaches. Speak it and claim it! If you say something enthusiatically enough, with a pumping fist, then by God it happens! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/6 "2006-12-29T18:58:00Z")
Thanks to me, everyone on this board will become an atheist ! At some point in the future. Really. You say that’s unrealistic ? Hey, this is the Bush Era - we _make_ our own reality ! Don’t lounge about in Clintonesque realityism and get with the program ! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/7 "2006-12-29T19:03:42Z")
“A success that hasn’t occured yet.” Brilliant! I’d love to see the video and the expression on Townsend’s face when he said that. Did the audience errupt in laughter? That’s gotta be the funniest thing I’ve heard all month. A success that hasn’t occured yet. I’m not lazy, I just haven’t done all the things I’m going to do yet. I’m not overweight, I just haven’t lost the weight I intend to lose yet. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/8 "2006-12-29T19:04:27Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] I am inundated with financial success that has not occurred yet. Oddly enough, the local tavern on the corner refuses to accept this in lieu of cash. Why do they hate America? [/QUOTE] Contrapuntal: I would like a beer, please. Barkeep: That will be three dollars, please. Contrapuntal: 9/11 changed everything. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/9 "2006-12-29T19:09:48Z")
[QUOTE=pravnik] Contrapuntal: I would like a beer, please. Barkeep: That will be three dollars, please. Contrapuntal: 9/11 changed everything. [/QUOTE] I wish it had changed the price of beer in a bar back to $3. It’s pretty much $4.50 at any place near where I live. Maybe cheaper at happy hour, but $4.50 (or higher) any other time. It pays to know the bartenders, and to tip well… ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/10 "2006-12-29T19:15:43Z")
This sounds like something my mom would say. She’s all into, “creating your own reality,” _a la_ _What the %&@$! Do We Know?_. ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/11 "2006-12-29T19:22:10Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] I wish it had changed the price of beer in a bar back to $3. It’s pretty much $4.50 at any place near where I live. [/QUOTE] Find shittier bars. 🙂 There’s a dive a few blocks away from me that charges $1.25 (recently raised from $1.10) for a draft. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/12 "2006-12-29T19:23:40Z")
But then he’d have to hang out with…well, you know. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/13 "2006-12-29T19:23:44Z")
LMAO! Gotta admit, some of these fuckwits can turn a phrase. I’m not bald like a cueball, it’s just that my hair hasn’t grown back yet! ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/14 "2006-12-29T19:33:31Z")
Circle Talkers R Us ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/15 "2006-12-29T19:45:08Z")
Think of all the wonderful professional applications of this new way of thinking: DOCTOR: Mrs. Smith, your husband is dead. MRS. SMITH: Dead? But he was in to have his tonsils out! I’ll sue! DOCTOR: Did I say dead? No, no. It’s just a resurrection that hasn’t occurred yet. MRS. SMITH: Oh, that’s alright, then. JUDGE: Mr. Williams, the jury has found you guilty of armed robbery. I sentence you to ten years in the state penitentiary. MR. WILLIAMS: What? Ten years? LAWYER: Don’t worry, it’s just an acquittal that hasn’t happened yet. PASSENGERS ON A 757: Ahhhh! The wings have fallen off! We’re all gonna die! Ahhhhh! CAPTAIN (over the loudspeaker): Don’t worry, folks. This isn’t a fiery crash. It’s just a safe landing that hasn’t happened yet. PASSENGERS: Phew! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/16 "2006-12-29T20:20:24Z")
[QUOTE=neutron star] Find shittier bars. 🙂 [/QUOTE] It’s easier to find friendly bartenders. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/17 "2006-12-29T20:47:36Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] It’s easier to find friendly bartenders. 😉 [/QUOTE] Oddly enough, the place I’m talking about _does_ have friendly, and even intelligent, bartenders. The one who’s usually on duty spends most of his time playing chess with the regulars. I’m sure that’s an anomaly, but still - such places do exist. The challenge is finding them (oh, and asking for toilet paper from behind the bar, because they don’t keep it in the bathroom). 😉 ---
**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:** [December 29, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/18 "2006-12-29T20:50:27Z")
Somewhere, Ron Ziegler is smiling. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/19 "2006-12-29T21:02:20Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] Think of all the wonderful professional applications of this new way of thinking: [/QUOTE] From The London Times, April 5, 2008: The Iraqi Government is “not dead, it’s just pining for the fjords,” American President George W. Bush said today. ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002/20 "2006-12-29T21:10:47Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] But then he’d have to hang out with…well, you know. [/QUOTE] Divers? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-admin-not-a-failure/386002.md?page=2)