# Will the Decider show any contrition today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 8, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562 "2006-11-08T15:43:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/21 "2006-11-08T18:13:20Z")
Bush’s press conference is positively belligerent. The action itself might be a sign of contrition, but there’s not a bit of it in his words. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/22 "2006-11-08T18:16:05Z")
Care to elaborate? ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/23 "2006-11-08T18:16:31Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Rumsfeld to step down!!! Does that count as contrition? Maybe he’s just afraid of being subpeoned. [/QUOTE] I’d enjoy that quite a bit, but I have a hard time seeing how he’d be busted down _that_ low. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/24 "2006-11-08T18:17:53Z")
For the first time in… hell, as long as I can remember, probably ever, I’m looking forward to Bush’s speech this afternoon. I want to see the fear in his eyes. I mean, he’s got to be scared. All of a sudden, his “mandate” is gone. He doesn’t get to be “The Decider” any longer. He won’t be getting rubber stamps for whatever his friends and/or last night’s nachos tell him to put into policy. All of a sudden, he may actually have to pay for everything he’s done lo these last six years. All of a sudden, he’ll actually have to deal with people who don’t agree with him, rather than dismissing them as “terrorist lovers”. Hey, maybe he’ll even learn how to pronounce “nuclear” correctly. Probably not, though. I’m betting he didn’t get much sleep at all, last night. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/25 "2006-11-08T18:23:20Z")
[QUOTE=BobLibDem] I think Bush’s performance will improve. Had the Republicans held, he would have had 2 more years of Congress rubber-stamping his every whim. [/QUOTE] In recent months, they were not doing that. But now he can’t even rely on a bare-bones majority. Bush sure sounds uncomfortable this afternoon. ---
**Author:** ![want2know](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@want2know](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/want2know)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/26 "2006-11-08T18:25:22Z")
IMHO, he’s trying to come off as strong and resolute, but he only sounds angry and frustrated. Is everyone else loving this as much as I am? ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/27 "2006-11-08T18:29:05Z")
[QUOTE=Loopydude] Care to elaborate? [/QUOTE] I don’t know that words can do it justice. He’s impatient, cutting people off to answer their questions. His voice is rising at the end of each sentence. He was practically spitting his words when he was talking about Rumsfeld. He just looks and sounds angry and exasperated. More like a petulant 21 year old than a president. I’m sure it’ll be available on the internets soon - it’s something to see rather than read. > [@want2know](#): > > Is everyone else loving this as much as I am? Not everyone, I’m sure. I certainly am, though. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/28 "2006-11-08T18:30:18Z")
[QUOTE=want2know] Is everyone else loving this as much as I am? [/QUOTE] I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a Bush press conference before. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/29 "2006-11-08T18:36:37Z")
What was that joke he made that made the press room go “ooooh?” Bush said something like “Obviously I worked harder on this campaign than [somebody] did.” Was he kidding about Cheney? ---
**Author:** ![SanibelMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@SanibelMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanibelMan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/30 "2006-11-08T18:39:30Z")
Did he get bleeped? I was walking the dog, but my wife was watching and said at one point they bleeped something out. Was that just a technical glitch on NBC’s part? ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/31 "2006-11-08T18:44:53Z")
[QUOTE=Enginerd] I’m sure it’ll be available on the internets soon - it’s something to see rather than read. [/QUOTE] I have a hard time watching the guy, so thanks for the summary! ---
**Author:** ![Tazmanian\_Devil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cc9497/32.png) [@Tazmanian\_Devil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tazmanian_Devil)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/32 "2006-11-08T18:46:12Z")
[QUOTE=SanibelMan] Did he get bleeped? I was walking the dog, but my wife was watching and said at one point they bleeped something out. Was that just a technical glitch on NBC’s part? [/QUOTE] Nope. I work for a CBS affiliate, and they had the bleep too. I think it was him quoting something Cheney said, which included a questionable word. If someone has better information, please enlighten me. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/33 "2006-11-08T18:50:47Z")
[QUOTE=Lightnin’] All of a sudden, he’ll actually have to deal with people who don’t agree ith him, rather than dismissing them as “terrorist lovers”. [/QUOTE] I about choked when he claimed that he had come to Washington with the intention to have a less divisive attitude in government and that he had made “some” progress although it was disappointing that he had not made more. Talk about delusional; he was divisive and confrontational from his first week in office. I can’t figure out whether he is truly deluded or simply a liar who can outperform Reagan and Clinton at that task. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2006, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/34 "2006-11-08T18:54:05Z")
Firing Cheney was a good move. He started off ok by congratulating the Democrats and saying “I share some responsibility,” but then he never said exactly what his responsibility was, he nitpicked the results, he made noise about bipartisanship but became testy and irritable everytime he was asked what he would be willing to compromise on. He made it clear that he still wants to “stay the course” in Iraq. Other than an immigration bill, I don’t know what he’s going to be able to work with Pelosi on. I still get the strong impression that his definition of “bipartisanship” means “the democrats doing whatever I say.” ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/35 "2006-11-08T18:58:01Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Firing Cheney was a good move. [/QUOTE] I almost had a heart attack. Maybe a mod could fix this? ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/36 "2006-11-08T18:58:55Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Firing Cheney was a good move. [/QUOTE] Oh shweet jeebus, don’t tease me like that. You mean Rumsfeld, right? ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/37 "2006-11-08T19:00:41Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Firing Cheney was a good move. [/QUOTE] Whaaa? ---
**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:** [November 8, 2006, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/38 "2006-11-08T19:01:21Z")
Sorry. Freudian slip. I meant Rummy, of course. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/39 "2006-11-08T19:38:31Z")
[QUOTE=Loopydude] Rumsfeld may also wind up landing some cushy job in a think tank or something like the World Bank very soon, and that would make the gesture seem a bit less contrite than it could have. [/QUOTE] Don’t forget book deals ( with the book bought in bulk by the Republican Party itself if nobody else wants it ), and speaking tours to conservative audiences ( "and if the liberals hadn’t forced me out, Iraq wouldn’t have dissolved into chaos like it did it 2007 ! "). I expect he’ll make out like the bandit he is. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562/40 "2006-11-08T19:53:58Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Firing Cheney was a good move. [/QUOTE] Well, it would be a good move, before appointing a moderate Republican untarnished by the mess (McCain perhaps), then resignining himself. (Well, I can dream, can’t I?) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-the-decider-show-any-contrition-today/379562.md?page=3)