# Watch Live Rice defending the Bush Admin... **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 8, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952 "2004-04-08T14:07:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/101 "2004-04-13T18:41:18Z")
> [@rjung](#): > > Or, as the wags would put it, “Number of World Trade Centers destroyed under Bill Clinton’s Presidency: ZERO.” Which would be countered with “Number of times OBL was offered on a silver platter to the Bush administration: ZERO” ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/102 "2004-04-13T19:05:36Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Which would be countered with “Number of times OBL was offered on a silver platter to the Bush administration: ZERO” Oh, God - not _that_ tired urban legend again.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/103 "2004-04-13T19:08:07Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > Which would be countered with “Number of times OBL was offered on a silver platter to the Bush administration: ZERO” **checks to see if this in the Pit** Damn. That’s already been debunked [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=249848). ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/104 "2004-04-13T20:28:55Z")
Actually, I prefer [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=248355&highlight=osama+sudan+clinton) for debunking the “Clinton turned down an offer to receive Osama Bin Laden” myth. ---
**Author:** ![annaplurabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@annaplurabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annaplurabelle)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2004, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/105 "2004-04-13T23:52:08Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > For one, there doesn’t seem to be any shortage of ppl already already taking the shots at the Bush administration on this site. Secondly, I didn’t care for the way the mainstream media made Clarke out to be above reproach, starting with 60 Minutes who had an undisclosed financial interest in Clarke’s book sales. > > As for what/who I choose to pick on/at, sometimes I’m the devil’s advocate, somtimes I’m just the devil. I tend to find more reasons to move against the grain than with, but not on purpose. I’m not a big fan of politics either in the workplace/corporate level or government level. For the most part I find it a revolting and/or embarassing display. Hey, thanks for answering that one (I’m sorry if it was too _Ben-Veniste_, tone-wise 🙂 ). I’ll accept your answer at face value. I think we agree that mainstream media are for the most part a bunch of soulless whores. What I’m interested in is how you personally gauge an individual’s “credibility”, and if (or how) you try to control for partisan impulses (recent appearances aside, I’ve never indulged in partisan politics myself; I’m neither Dem nor GOP. I’m proactive now due to my fervent desire to eliminate the neocon/corruption element that has taken over the GOP. YMMV). I don’t consider Clarke (or anyone) above reproach, but I just don’t see how the points you’ve made so far have any bearing on the truth of his broader points. And don’t forget that the potentially most damaging elements of what he’s saying about the Bush admin is _opinion_, which is out of the bounds of perjury or questionable credibility. Do you really believe he’s just become a democrat shill after 30 years or…??? ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/106 "2004-04-14T00:25:46Z")
Putcher hip waders on. Dubyuh goes live with his **third** primetime press conference since taking office, in 9 minutes. Can’t wait. A lotta White House Press Corps Credentials are riding on this event. Piss off Dubyah? Ask a question not already vetted? Surrender priveledges. This will be an interesting evening of television. Cartooniverse ( who has actually been in the position to have to surrender White House credentials once in his life. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/107 "2004-04-14T14:28:38Z")
> [@Cartooniverse](#): > > Putcher hip waders on. Dubyuh goes live with his **third** primetime press conference since taking office, in 9 minutes. > > Can’t wait. A lotta White House Press Corps Credentials are riding on this event. Piss off Dubyah? Ask a question not already vetted? > > Surrender priveledges. > > This will be an interesting evening of television. > > Cartooniverse ( who has actually been in the position to have to surrender White House credentials once in his life. 🙂 ) To me that steaming load looked like two things: 1. Free airtime, in which to get in front of the American people and show them that vapid smile that so many people seem to find irresistable. 2. Soft-selling the idea of sending more American troops to Iraq. The reference to it being a ‘possibility’ meaning that the plans have already been drawn up and they just need to work up the final numbers. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/108 "2004-04-14T18:16:42Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > 1. Soft-selling the idea of sending more American troops to Iraq. The reference to it being a ‘possibility’ meaning that the plans have already been drawn up and they just need to work up the final numbers. Randi Rhodes was claiming on Air America Radio that the Bush Administration has already allocated another $23 million for armed services recruiting in 2005, specifically earmarked for reinstating a draft by June of next year. Unfortunately, I didn’t catch the details, so I couldn’t check it one way or the other, but I suppose it’s something to mull over… ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/109 "2004-04-15T13:04:26Z")
I am more than a bit shocked that none of the White House Press folks didn’t simply say point blank, > [@](#): > > Yes or No: You are going to push to re-instate the draft in the United States He wouldn’t have answered, of course. Who wants to throw away a re-election bid in April?? :rolleyes: Still, it’d have made for spectacular television to see him blush that hard, at being caught out in the act that- above many others- would likely enrage enough Americans that he would be ousted from office by overwhelming margins. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/110 "2004-04-15T19:40:16Z")
> [@annaplurabelle](#): > > I don’t consider Clarke (or anyone) above reproach, but I just don’t see how the points you’ve made so far have any bearing on the truth of his broader points. And don’t forget that the potentially most damaging elements of what he’s saying about the Bush admin is _opinion_, which is out of the bounds of perjury or questionable credibility. Do you really believe he’s just become a democrat shill after 30 years or…??? Also, has anyone yet refuted (or even solidly rebutted) any of Clarke’s substantive factual claims? Everything I’ve seen, from _The Price of Loyalty_, to the quotes I’ve seen from _Bush At War_, to further info released by the 9/11 Commission, seems to reinforce the accuracy of Clarke’s narrative. But I don’t read _everything_, so there’s something I could’ve missed. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2004, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952/111 "2004-04-15T20:50:39Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Also, has anyone yet refuted (or even solidly rebutted) any of Clarke’s substantive factual claims? [Frist’s attempted rebuttal has fallen apart.](http://www.hillnews.com/news/041404/roberts.aspx) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/watch-live-rice-defending-the-bush-admin/238952.md?page=5)