I prefer not to think of the president as stupid.
I prefer to think of him of as heartless and evil.
But not stupid. He understands what’s going on.
I prefer not to think of the president as stupid.
I prefer to think of him of as heartless and evil.
But not stupid. He understands what’s going on.
Point B does not necessarily follow from Point A, Rick. Yes, it is spin, DUH. That says absolutely zero about whether or not Bush knows the realities he’s spinning. It is my contention, based on widely acknowledged facts about how and from whom Bush gets his information, that the information comes to him pre-spun. We have absolutely no reason or evidence to believe it is otherwise.
Well, one thing is for sure (in my mind) - Bush doesn’t understand how to choose handlers that can coach him on the finer points of the debate process. To parphrase Carlson Tucker, “Listening to Bush speak is like watching a drunk man cross an icy street.” His inability to convince us that he understands what he’s up against just might be his downfall in this election.
Cringing in Texas
Spinning isn’t something that just anyone can do. I’m with Stoid on this point. I see no evidence that Dub can produce any Original Spin.
Any day now he’ll get around to reading the breifing that said Al Queada is planning on attcacking the US.
I’d probably prefer to think that, too. It’s a little reassuring to think there is some order to what happens, that someone’s interests are being served. To quote some Doper or other, the conspiracy theorists are the only people in this country who think we have a effective, functioning government.
My motto, however, is “Never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence.” In Bush’s case, that’s just about everything.
Now Rove and Cheney…that’s another matter. That’s evil.
<Sigh.> I suppose we should be greatful that they haven’t found someone smart to do their bidding, and that someone is around to keep Georgie away from anything too important, like, say, The Button.
Oh, yeah, and regarding this:
You don’t think Bush did the coaching himself, do you? Bush sees Mr. Allawi doing what he thinks every strong, decisive, courageous leader should do: whatever Karl and Dick tell him to!
Ok, that was a nice rant, but seriously–I wasn’t able to watch the debate live (I will watch it, though) but I heard about half of it rebroadcast on the radio today. Bush, of course, kept accusing Kerry of flip-flopping, etc. The way he did this (and the things he said this in response to led me to the conclusion that Bush honestly doesn’t understand how anyone could have a nuanced position. His world is so incredibly black-and-white that when Kerry says he agreed with Bush’s goal but not his method or priorities, Bush actually thinks that’s a flip-flop! If he’s not 100% in agreement or 100% opposed, he must be inconsistant! (Incredible!)
Good Christ! Enough with the fucking polls!!
My point exactly. Bush cannot be said to be on a “steady course, polls-wise, to win re-election.”
There is nothing steady about the goddam polls.
I think it’s ridiculous to say that virtually all negaitive information about Iraq (or the economy, or most anything else, for that matter) is being withheld and/or hidden from Dubya. As Johnathan Chance says, the process simply doesn’t allow it. He is getting competently prepared news summaries, and intelligence briefs. I can’t say whether he reads them or understands them, but they surely make it onto his desk.
He is simply ignoring those items which are inconvenient. He is making incredibly stupid decisions, or allowing them to be made in his name. What’s worse, once he makes a choice, he is unwilling to reverse himself even after overwhelming evidence that the wrong choice was made. The only times he reverses himself are when his own party threatens rebellion and the Republican House or Senate leadership steps out publicly against him.
Let’s see if there are any reversals after this one:
Speaking of intelligence, Bush mentioned several times during the debate that Kerry received the same information Bush had on various topics. My only response when he said that was “good god, I hope not.” With the levels of decision required from the head of the Executive Branch, I would sincerely hope Bush is more competently informed than any random person in the Legislative Branch.
Kerry is not receiving classified briefings merely because he is a Senator. He is receiving classified briefings prepared for him by the Bush administration because he is the other major party candidate.
From here:
So what has it been, 2 months?