# God, Pat Robertson and GWB **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 20, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286 "2004-10-20T21:52:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/21 "2004-10-21T02:43:34Z")
While I’m NOT inclined to believe Robertson, this is only the latest of several independant sources quoting Bush as saying things along the same line: that everything was all going to work out, he knew in his “gut” that everyones concerns about post-war Iraq were baseless, etc. What this demonstrates is NOT, as some seem to play it, Christian faith. What it displays is unbelievable arrogance. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/22 "2004-10-21T03:09:37Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > I have my doubts about this. I don’t think even Bush is that stupid to think there wouldn’t be any casualties. > > Hasn’t he been saying from the beginning that there would be anyway? But if that’s the case what is Robertson’s motivation for damaging Bush’s re-election chances? I can’t help but think Robertson is sincere in his statements. He might have misheard or something but I can’t see any angle in him making something up. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/23 "2004-10-21T03:16:53Z")
Neither can I. It would have to have been some kind of miscommunication if Bush didn’t really mean it. Stranger things have happened. This is _really_ stretching, but maybe Bush was employing some form of hyperbole. But if that were the case, it would be a sort of heartless thing to say because it would undermine the individuals who died. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/24 "2004-10-21T03:19:20Z")
So the latest in the “anti-family Liberals who want to bring down America by telling lies about our saintly President” (a direct quote from a conservative Christian on another board) is **Pat Robertson**? That would win my “irony in public speech” award for October if it hadn’t already been copped by the President himself with: > [@George W. Bush](#): > > Ted Kennedy is the _conservative_ Senator from Massachusetts. :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/25 "2004-10-21T03:20:35Z")
> [@Talon Karrde](#): > > I have my doubts about this. I don’t think even Bush is that stupid to think there wouldn’t be any casualties. I can fully believe that Bush went into Iraq with a video game mentality, thinking we’d swoop over the country with our smart bombs and be greeted by millions upon millions of grateful Iraqis. No fuss, no muss. What I _can’t_ believe is that the Teresa Kerry non-story is all I’m hearing about on the news this evening. Liberal media, my ass. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/26 "2004-10-21T05:40:30Z")
Geez, who to trust? The inveterate liar, or the delusional liar? I say there’s no better than a 50% chance that Robertson’s story is based on any sort of objective reality. But, hey, anything that hurts Bush is good news in my book. Or, for that matter, anything that hurts Robertson. Talk about win-win! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/27 "2004-10-21T05:42:14Z")
> [@Apos](#): > > Should note that the White House is now calling Pat Robertson a liar. > > [http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/19/robertson.bush.iraq/index.html](http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/10/19/robertson.bush.iraq/index.html) > > They include a pretty weird picture of Bush. George Bush must win the National Arm Wrestling Championship if he wants to win his own big rig… and the heart of his young son. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/28 "2004-10-21T06:11:02Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > I’m kind of amazed to be taking Reverend Robertson’s side in something but “the enemy of my enemy…” and all that. Well, this whole thing is simply filed under the “So insanely stupid even Pat Robertson is left speechless” file. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/29 "2004-10-21T07:44:17Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > George Bush must win the National Arm Wrestling Championship if he wants to win his own big rig… and the heart of his young son. 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/30 "2004-10-21T07:52:52Z")
I was just reading something over at one of the blogs to the effect that Robertson’s quote is _slightly_ out of context, that he may have been referring to casualties suffered _here_, due to terrible poison gas suicide attacks carried about by Saddams AlQ henchpersons. On the other hand, who could possibly care what that mealy mouth lump of ersatz piety thinks, does, or feels. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/31 "2004-10-21T08:26:35Z")
\ “Name a trinity-deity, a double-size, and a half-wit.” _This drive-by brought to you by **Weird With Words** , son of **elucidator** _. ---
**Author:** ![Oy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bc8723/32.png) [@Oy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/32 "2004-10-21T12:32:38Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > True, dat. The only way this could really play worse for Bush is if he got caught in bed with Ralph Reed (America’s only fundamentalist Christian Howdy-Doody impersonator…) What a lovely thought! Can they be smoking crack and reading kiddie porn while they’re at it? Pretty please? ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/33 "2004-10-21T13:24:32Z")
I wonder, what was Robertson saying publically during the push for war? I don’t recall him saying anything against it (or for it for that matter, I don’t generally listen to what he has to say). Has he been consistent, or is he suddenly against it now that it’s turning into pile of shit? ---
**Author:** ![Apos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/838e76/32.png) [@Apos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apos)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/34 "2004-10-21T14:16:17Z")
This apparently isn’t the first time Robertson has told the story: [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5277869/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5277869/) > [@](#): > > CAMPBELL BROWN (Guest host): I want to ask you how you feel about the war in Iraq. And if God is calling this war a disaster, does that mean that he is actually opposed to it? > > PAT ROBERTSON: Well, I don’t think God’s opposed to the war, necessarily, but it was a danger sign. I felt very uneasy about it from the very get-go. Whenever I heard about it, I knew it was going to be trouble. I warned the president. I only met with him once. **I said, You better prepare the American people for some serious casualties. And he said, Oh, no, our troops are, you know, so well protected, we don’t have to worry about that.** Not quite as harsh as Robertson said recently, but basically the same story, and the White House didn’t deny it back then. Robertson doubtless doesn’t see this as hurting Bush’s election chances because God has already told him that Bush will win. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/35 "2004-10-21T14:49:29Z")
Bush is doing what a lot of people do when having that face to face about an issue with soemone who they know is gonna disagree with your plan for that issue. Kind of like the way I hear family members tell other family members just what they want to hear. “no, nope there ain’t gonna be no drinking at that homecoming party Ma” and “Honey, now of course I’ll come straight home after golfing, no one is going to the titty bar afterwards” Pres BUsh might’ve said, “Yes that’s right Pat, our boys ain’t gonna let there be no casualties cept for terrorists, Ya like dead terrorists now don’t ya Reverand?” :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/36 "2004-10-21T15:10:25Z")
I really hope Robertson is lying. Bush has at least a 50 percent chance of continuing being president for a 4 more years, and when Pat Robertson seems more clear-headed that you, that’s REALLY fucking scary. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/37 "2004-10-21T16:07:08Z")
> [@Jonathan Chance](#): > > But if that’s the case what is Robertson’s motivation for damaging Bush’s re-election chances? You said it yourself earlier — live boy/dead girl, and the DNC’s got the photos. ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/38 "2004-10-21T17:45:21Z")
Wonder how long until team Bush begins the smearing? I’m sure a valuable ally like Robertson will be given the chance to back down first, but man, I can’t wait for this steel cage match. ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/39 "2004-10-21T18:09:03Z")
> [@Oy!](#): > > What a lovely thought! Can they be smoking crack and reading kiddie porn while they’re at it? Pretty please? Throw in Bill O’Reilly and a vibrator and we’re golden! I’m inclined to believe Pat Robertson, based on (as Patty O’Furniture said) Bush’s video game mentality of the war. “Shock and Awe”, anyone? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286/40 "2004-10-21T18:18:16Z")
I’m inclined to believe Robertson based purely on his lack of motive. He’s an outspoken Bush supporter with no reason to want to hurt him. Has Bush actually issued a real denial of this or or we just supposed to accept Karen Hughs’ assurances that she’s “certain” he would never say anything like that? Hell, that’s practically confirmation that he said it. Plus it just _sounds_ Bush. That dismissive, arrogant, “don’t-bother-me-with-facts” mentality sounds right on the nose to me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/god-pat-robertson-and-gwb/270286.md?page=3)