Nothing new in that, either. I read a book (The Second Oldest Profession, IIRC) that put forth the thesis that intelligence, historically, has been largely useless since the leaders would either heed it or ignore it relative to their own prejudices and predispositions. Classic example was Sorkin (sp?), the spy’s spy. A Soviet agent who burrowed into a position of trust in Tokyo, he sacrificed his life in order to relay information to Stalin about the impending German invasion. Information which Stalin ignored.
There was no point in interviews where the questions are from an intimidating figure, the responders are handpicked, and the answers are scripted. But I would love to see an Edward R. Murrow or a Clete Roberts at work with individual “boots on the ground” soldiers and marines whose identities are concealed.
I ran across this in an interview with Pulitzer Prize winning war correspondent Chris Hedges:
These comments were made just before the war in Iraq actually began. Hedges had had fifteen years experience as a war correspondent.
I guess comparing Dubya to Clinton is pretty inevitable since they served back to back, so to speak, but they really are a study in contrasts. There was plenty about Clinton I didn’t like: for all his formidable brightness, the guy didn’t have much of a center. He (and his wife) skated too close to sleaziness, no matter how they rationalized it. Politics is the art of compromise as much as anything else and if Clinton compromised and slithered his way around a lot of things, he still did pretty well by the country and the world.
If Clinton absorbed peoples’ input like a demented sponge, Dubya operates from the direct opposite approach. He seems entirely directed by a conviction of inner rightness that rejects the very concept of listening, much less compromise. Anybody who doesn’t share his exact same convictions and conclusions is wrong, wrong, wrong and evil whether intentionally or not. He’s the Cotton Mather of politics. Everything is measured by what he feels to be right so he operates from a deliberately–and dangerously–closed system.
Referent the OP, I don’t fault him for scripted nonsense because, unfortunately, that’s been standard for a long time US politics. I wonder why the media consents to be such shameless lapdogs for the process but that’s another rant. Dubya’s dishing out self-serving shit for his own purposes but he’s just polished the art form.
I entirely agree that the presentation of the candidates is relevant, and that the inconsistency and hypocrisy is well worth attacking. The loathesome dog-and-pony show portraying Bush’s heroic domestic dental visits being more patrotic than Kerry’s overseas combat was just another reason to hate the political machine.
That’s different from whether the issue they’re flip-flopping over is an important one. I still hold the opinion that the actual qualifications of “did he serve or didn’t he?” and “did he do drugs or didn’t he?” weren’t any more important for one candidate than for the other, in my opinion. We’ve had wartime presidents before who didn’t have to wave the bloody shirt.
You are thinking of Richard Sorge:
I always thought that that was it for Sorge, but some of his efforts succeeded:
You call that “polished”?
Yeh, if that’s polished I’d hate to see rough. I’ve tried to avoid watching Bush 43 speak since he grates on my nerves but I did watch the clip linked above. It was mindboggling – what a fumble-mouthed spewer of inanities! Didn’t anyone rehearse HIM beforehand? And if they did, what the hell would he be like in an unscripted situation without any earjack for his handlers to whisper directions to him?
That clip was a hideous embarrassment. How can anyone watch that and not conclude the man is a dolt?
Rune:
President Bush is not fat.
Not exactly. We are simply pointing out the hypocrisy of the right. If it was so important then (Clinton), why is not important now? I am sorry, but the Right made it an issue first and has now demonstrated their idiocy by backing off and actually attacking a military service person in the last election (Kerry). I just cannot fathom how any oxygen breathing homo sapien could exist and not see this.
Clinton never said he “loathed the military.” That’s a completely bullshit quote.
Screw it. If they can say Clinton loathed the miltiary, I can claim Bush said he hates America. He sure acts like he does at any rate.
“You can’t polish a turd, Beavis.”
Oh, and by that I mean, I agree.
“Heh heh heh heh”
“Huh huh huh huh”.
In fairness, he DID say, “Fuck you, Mr. Cheney.” Gotta show the respect 
I’m no fan of Bush, and I wish his press secretary would at least answer questions or provide the information requested instead of just bullshit. As for Bush personally, he is never in front of any person who is not under a strict agreement to be very respectful, even during debates. And since at this late date we are stuck with him until 09, I don’t really have a problem with that. Imagine how bad he would be without preparation, or in front of a hostile audience. It would be a disaster. People would think the US was run by an incomptent idiot even more than they do now. It would invite even our friends taking advantage of us. Is the guy a shallow idiot (I’m in full Rumsfeld mode now)? Yes. But you operate your government with the President you have, not the President you want.
In all honesty, I think this is like suggesting you’d get wetter if you were to get out of the hotel pool and dive in the ocean.
I’m certainly not on the Left; however, I recognize the simple fact that military service has exactly zero to do with qualification for the Presidency.
To the poster who made the comment about “respect due to a real military officer” or words to that effect: The Constitution has the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces; that makes him the top person in those forces, regardless of prior military service or lack thereof.
I really wish people would learn what the Constitution says.
Thanks for the link Monty…but I can hear the “Hate-Bush-He’s an ninconpoop etc” wailers say the **Stars and Stripes ** was scripted :rolleyes: