Govna Dubya is going to be in Niles, MI this Friday. There is a possibility that his staff is setting up a meeting with some former educators from the service program I participated in, meaning I could meet the Shrub this Friday.
If the opportunity arises, I would like to ask him a question. I would like to ask him who the prime minister of _________ is. And the country I want is the one that he screwed up several months ago. Does anyone remember this? Does anyone know the country in question?
My advice is never to try and trap someone with a question you don’t know the answer to. In this case, you’re not even sure of the question. Move on.
I’d ask him a substantive question. My recommendation:
“China declares that its tired of dealing with the Taiwan issue and is going to send 200,000 troops across the Strait of Formosa to bolster its claims. What’s your response to that, Governor?”
You aren’t trying to trap him and he still has to answer a foreign policy question.
And he is thus free to reply…given the circumstances and ddetails of that scenario I would meet with my military advisors and determine the surest course of action to secure an acceptable solution for all.
You cant trap him with that, its a possible not a given.
As far as the question concerning the name of the leader that you cant remember…thats just pathetic.
-SS
I knew I was going to run into this. The difference, however, is the fact that I’m not running for president, a position I expect to be held by someone who knows these things.
And I didn’t say I didn’t know the answer. I didn’t know the QUESTION. Now, if I had placed this in IMHO, I would have no problem with people questioning my motives or giving my advice. However, I am not, and feel I am quite capable to hold my own counsel on whether or not to ask this question.
I believe Vietnam was one of the countries he didn’t know the name of the ruler, as well as Zaire (or some other African nation).
A lucky guess got Shrub to answer China’s ruler correctly.
[sub](an attempt to get this moved to IMHO or the Pit lies beneath)[/sub]
Anyway, I’d ask him if he’d go to Iraq and finish the work his father never completed.
Or, if he’s afraid that a Bush Jr. presidency would be compared to his father’s, and whether that would be fair or not.
Y’know, anything to reveal him as half the man his father is.
One country was Pakistan. Though I don’t know if what’s-his-name is actually P.M. or President or whatever. He took over militarily and might still just call himself “General”, pending a return to civilian rule.
Bush was also asked for the name of the president of Chechnya, the president of Taiwan, and…something else. Indonesia? There were four…
http://www.themaneater.com/1999/11/09/news/prez.html
To be fair, those names are ridiculous. And I would imagine that there are few in Washington who recognize those names, let alone be able to pronounce them.
Mods, please close.
Ask him if it’s true that “W” stands for women. 
I disagree strongly. The likeliest places for international conflicts to arise in the next 4 years are precisely the ones listed. Didn’t you know about India and Pakistan rattling their nuclear sabers? Isn’t the threat to Taiwan one of the greatest worries a US President would have?
If a President Bush were to be able to use the tool he’s most proud of, his personal charm, wouldn’t he at least have to know the friggin’ NAMES of the people he’d be dealing with?
About there being “few in Washington who recognize those names” - just because YOU don’t know them doesn’t mean others don’t, especially if it’s their damn JOB as well as their interest and passion.
Bush’s ignorance worries me, and so does yours.
Ask him who the head of state of Canada is.
Ask him about the Iran Contra Affair, and if he thinks Clinton’s blow job from Lewinsky was worse than selling arms to a hostile nation.
[hijack] George W. is sometimes referred to as Shrub (viz. Montfort), the idea being that the ex-president’s son doesn’t approach the stature of a full-fledged bush. Is there any reason for supposing a shrub is smaller than a bush? I am inclined to think the opposite: in my Audubon field guide, tall things like hawthorns are referred to as shrubs; to call them bushes would be to underrate them, I think.[/hijack]
Are you trying to tell me that if you saw the name “Atal Bihari Vajpayee”, you would immediately think “Oh, that’s the prime minister of India!” At NO point did I even refer to not being knowledgeable of the potential nuclear crisis Pakistan. I am FULLY aware of the danger in that region. Do NOT lecture me on that subject.
I think its quite obvious from my OP that I am not a fan of George W. Bush. Or were you not aware that referring to him as “Shrub” is hardly flattery? Now, if you’ll kindly step out of my thread that I’ve requested to be closed…
Since you asked, yes, I do recognize Vajpayee’s name. It’s not a secret.
Apparently I completely missed the sarcasm in your tone, and I must apologize. I thought you were excusing Bush’s willful lack of knowledge of something important. I too am hardly a fan of his, and I hope that’s apparent. Peace?
FWIW, I think Molly Ivins of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram gets credit for the nickname Shrub, but Ann Richards may have made it famous in her campaign against him.
If I may, other questions you might ask him that have been asked before, to see if he gives the same answer, could be:
What was your favorite childhood book? Earlier, he has said it was “The Hungry Little Caterpillar”, which was written the year after he left college (fill in yor own punchline).
What did Karla Faye Tucker tell you before she was executed? Earlier, Tucker Carlson reported in an interview that Bush used a high-pitched voice and said “Please don’t kill me!”
Or you could ask him to give just one example of the “youthful mistakes (he) may or may not have made”, and what he’s learned from it.
Sheesh, he gets me more worried the more I write. I’d better stop.
fuggedditboudit!
Shrub’s advisors have decided to put W in the ol’ cocoon till election day.
There will be no spontaneous questions permitted, nor will the mad clone of Bush Sr. and Dan Quayle be answering any.
With the election wrapped up, W will do nothing out of the script to make him look - well, like he truly is.
He’ll be busy with last minute campaigning in Gore states - that’s how far in front he truly is and secretly planning with the arch conservatives in Congress to pass their joint agenda within the first six months of his administration.
You will see:
Abortion rights restricted.
Gun rights expanded - by restricting rights of states and localities to regulate gun sales. Federal penalties for criminal use of guns will be expanded but just like Clinton, W will realize (he knows already) that enforcing these laws is impractical.
U.S. troops unilaterally withdrawn from the Balkans - followed soon by the other NATO troops - followed then by a Milosevich resurgence.
An HMO authored “patient bill of rights”
A pharmaceutical industry authored bill protecting monopoly power - i.e. high drug prices pay for r&d.
Opening of “wilderness” areas for mineral and oil exploration.
A law allowing the local phone company to increase charges to ISPs. (in Congress now).
A law granting credit subsidies to the cable monopolies to provide local channel access (in Congress now).
At least one conservative Supreme Court justice stepping down.
His tax cut implemented - barring a economic downturn - everyone gets his/her “share”.
Ending the EPA’s new restrictions on utility power plant emissions - then downsizing EPA bigtime as the states can do it better.
Opening the debate on Social Security “reform” - in the end, before midterm elections, W will implement Gore’s plan as a bipartisan compromise.
Archer’s flat tax will pass (with W’s blessing) at least one house.
Full funding for the Stars Wars missle defense system - it still won’t work but hey you gotta invest.
Like Gore, raising military pay, but also initiating a huge new weapons buying program to build “readiness”.
Laying the groundwork for tort liability “reform” making it much more difficult to sue corporations.
Ending “don’t ask - don’t tell” policy, replaced by Gays Rause! (Gays are still welcome at the GOP convention and country club - if they behave.)
A push on Dad’s pet projects: a mission to Mars and making PR the 51st state. (Both quietly dropped after Dad’s death.)
Absolutely no action on campaign finance reform - McCain rebuilds the Reform party - marches off to the dustbin of history.
Rollback of minimum wage law and family medical leave act to exempt small businesses.
Eliminating the inheritance tax or death tax depending on your newspeak.
Elevating Ken Star to the Federal Appeals Court - others also handsomely rewarded.
Like Clinton, staying out of President…er Chairman Greenspan’s way.
(Hey some of these I support myself!)
Anyway, the failure of the Gore campaign to control this election, to make Bush’s right wing agenda the issue, will astound people for years. What Hillary did with moderate Rick Lazio is what Gore needed to due with W but just like Anne Richards, Gore vastly underestimated both Bush and the hundreds of millions that that GOP has “collected” for Bush’s coron…er…inauguration.
Ask him who is the current Prime Minister of the United States.
It doesn’t take a genius to be President. I fail to see the importance of that. That is what advisors are for. Do you think Clinton knew who those leaders were in early 1992? I highly doubt it. I’d rather have a simple man who knows the difference between right and wrong(No controlling legal authority?) instead of someone who says “Oral Sex isn’t sex” and “that depends on what the meaning of the word is is”. Being a good leader doesn’t require knowledge of technical details. This is just pure arrogance because a bunch of “know it alls” aren’t going to be President and are jealous. God forbid someone less intelligent than you achieve a higher status in life. Go back to Star Trek and Dungeons and Dragons.
I would ask him, “Why does Al Gore keep telling lies?”.
Closed at the OP’s request.