The Smallness of George W. Bush
Update: Slashdotties (and others) coming via isbushwired.com should know that this item really isn’t about the whole “is Bush wearing a hidden receiver” thing. For stuff on that, see the following more-recent items: Kerry’s pen, Bush’s earpiece and Wiregate!
I think a compelling case can be made that George W. Bush is, in fact, the smallest president in the history of the United States.
Not in terms of physical stature. James Madison is the acknowledged champion in that respect. At 5′ 4″ and about 100 pounds he’d be more likely to be mistaken for a pre-teen female gymnast than the manly leader of the free world, at least in today’s televised political setting.
No, I mean in the sense of moral stature, in the sense people mean when they say that “it takes a big man to admit he’s made a mistake.”
George W. Bush will never make that admission. He will never have that kind of bigness.
The latest incident to highlight this came Thursday, when Bush, asked to comment on the indictment of former Enron chairman Ken Lay, got pissy and stalked away from the podium without answering. (Update: Um, not really, as it turns out. It was Wednesday, and it was more that he left the podium and had the Ken Lay question, to which he didn’t respond, shouted at him as he departed. See update below.)
From Capitol Hill Blue: Angry Bush walks out on media, refuses to answer questions about relationship with Ken Lay. (Update: Again, see below for my own mea culpa re: my poor judgement in being willing to link to and excerpt from the lying fucktards at Capitol Hill Blue.)
A clearly-rattled President George W. Bush walked out of a media briefing Thursday, refusing to answer questions about his close relationship with indicted Enron executive Kenneth Lay, a campaign benefactor Bush nicknamed “Kenny Boy” when the two were up-and-comers in Texas.
The President, visibly upset, stomped off the stage when reporters pressed him about his relationship with Lay and left White House press secretary Scott McClellan to deal with the questions.
Capitol Hill Blue is pretty much just a glorified anti-Bush weblog, so if you’d prefer a more mainstream source for the story, you can go to Telegraph.co.uk (Bush turns his back on Enron questions), or to CNN (White House plays down Bush relationship with Lay).
In honor of my current campaign to immerse myself in US history, you can also dig deeper, into some primary sources. From the post-tantrum press briefing by Scott McClellan:
Q Does the President have anything to say about the unsealing of the indictment against Ken Lay?
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, Bill, I don’t think it’s appropriate for the White House to discuss any specific criminal case. However, I’m more than happy to talk to you about this administration’s commitment to cracking down on wrongdoing. One of the President’s top priorities is to crack down on corporate wrongdoing and strengthen corporate accountability. And we have a record of accomplishment in that area.
This President has worked to go after those wrongdoers and directed his administration to pursue those who are dishonest in the boardroom. The President has made it very clear that we will not tolerate dishonesty in the boardroom.
This administration worked to uncover abuses and scandals in the corporate arena, and certainly the President’s concern is with those workers and other people who have been harmed by corporate wrongdoing. And that’s where his focus will continue to be.
Q But this particular alleged corporate wrongdoer was a personal friend of the President’s, who the President addressed as “Kenny, boy,” who raised a lot of money for the President in the 2000 election cycle, who offered corporate jets to the President for travel in Texas. He did know him well. Does he –
MR. McCLELLAN: Well, you seem to want to be fairly selective there, because let me point out that he was someone who supported Democrats and Republicans, alike, including the President, as you pointed out.
Q Well, is that all the President had to say?
MR. McCLELLAN: That’s how I would describe the relationship, and I think it’s an accurate way to describe the relationship.
Q Does President Bush consider Ken Lay a personal friend? And did the White House have any communication with the Justice Department leading up to the indictment?
MR. McCLELLAN: No. This is a Justice Department matter, and we expect the Justice Department to do their job when it comes to cracking down on corporate wrongdoing. In terms of the question you asked about Mr. Lay, the President has already addressed that, and he described it the way I did, as well.
You can compare this characterization of the Bush-Lay relationship with The Smoking Gun’s collection of correspondence between the two men.
Now, I realize that on some level this is just a big game of “gotcha”, and any politician in Bush’s position would try to avoid being associated with Lay. It’s not the fact of Bush’s avoidance of the Lay tarbaby that I find noteworthy. It’s the manner of his avoidance.
I mean, it should have been easy for him to answer the question with a statement that distanced himself from Lay while not acknowledging any personal wrongdoing, as McClellen basically did on his behalf later on. Politically, that would have made a lot more sense; then this whole story about how Bush refused to answer the question and stalked off would never have happened.
But see, Bush can’t, or won’t, do that. I’m sure there are Bush defenders out there spinning this as a sign of his deep sense of personal loyalty, his willingness to endure political harm rather than say something bad about an old friend. Well, you believe that if you want to. I think it’s just that such a statement would have come too close to an admission of error, something that this president, by virtue of his record-setting lack of moral stature, is simply incapable of doing.
It was easier for him to just walk away, despite the mental gasps of onlookers, answering the underlying question of “can he really be that petty, that vain, that small?” with an emphatic, “yeah, actually, he can.”
The iconic photo of that moment, as shot by the AFP’s Paul J. Richards:
Update: The Capitol Hill Blue story bends things in the interest of crafting a better story. The photo of Bush was made Wednesday, not Thursday, as the CHB piece incorrectly states. The photograph was taken at the conclusion of Bush’s remarks in favor of Senate action on stalled judicial nominees; see White House transcript, video, and audio here: President Bush meets with pending Michigan judicial nominees.
The transcript and video (and audio, presumably, though I didn’t bother to listen) cuts out as Bush concludes his remarks and leaves without taking questions. Presumably reporters did shout one or more Ken Lay questions at that point, which Bush declined to answer.
The Scott McClellan comments were made the next day (Thursday) at the usual White House press briefing, with Bush not present. I thought that was pretty clear when I read the accounts, but my presentation above may have reinforced the misleading language of the CHB piece to imply that McClellan’s cleanup took place at the same venue as Bush’s earlier refusal to answer the Lay questions.
The telegraph.co.uk article linked to above has a significantly more-accurate description of Bush’s action:
Mr Bush walked away from a media briefing, refusing to answer questions about Mr Lay, a close adviser dubbed “Kenny Boy” by the president.
Note also that the CNN piece I linked to talks only about the McClellan comments, and doesn’t mention Bush’s failure to respond to questions about Lay the previous day.
So, to sum up the ways in which the Capitol Hill Blue piece distorted things:
- The briefing at which Bush spoke wasn’t on Thursday, but Wednesday. By itself, not a big deal, but it feeds into the misconception the piece creates that both the Bush actions and the McClellan follow-up happened as part of the same event, rather than as two separate events. Is that important? No, not really. But was it on purpose, as opposed to an innocent accident? Yeah, I think it probably was.
- Bush wasn’t “angry”, “clearly-rattled”, or “visibly upset”, at least not in the portion of the event archived on the White House site. If he became so somewhere between his turning from the podium and the snapping of the AFP photo two steps away, I’d be pretty surprised. To the extent he displayed emotion, it could more reasonably be attibuted to his frustration at the slow pace of Senate confirmation of his judicial nominees.
Bush is still a putz for refusing to answer questions at a press briefing, but that’s not really anything new. Overall, while I stand by my larger point about what the incident says about Bush’s small-minded refusal to acknowledge error, in hindsight, I shouldn’t have linked to or excerpted from the Capitol Hill Blue piece, which is larded with false-to-fact spin in its opening graphs. Sorry about that.
I guess I knew that about Capitol Hill Blue already, given my post-excerpt disclaimer in the original posting. But it’s still a “fool me twice, shame on me” moment. Resolved: no more paying attention to Capitol Hill Blue. Just because I agree with their political position doesn’t mean I have time to waste parsing fact from fiction in the accounts of people willing to consciously mislead.
July 11th, 2004 at 9:24 am
I’m on record in various places as having said that in the wee hours of the morning before the 2005 inauguration (I’m counting on Baby Bush losing, otherwise it will have to wait until ‘09), Ken Lay gets pardoned. Just like Clinton did w/ Marc Rich.
July 11th, 2004 at 12:47 pm
THat’s exactly what I was thinking Rick — “Kenney Boy” will be pardoned and Cheney will get a pardon that excuses him for any wrongdoing while in office, along with anyone else in the administration that needs a “Get Out OF Jail Free” card….
August 23rd, 2004 at 9:10 pm
Why aren’t there any photos of these two guys together? they wrote hundreds of notes to each other. Ken Lay was in the white house at Energy committee mtgs — WHERE ARE THE PICTURES???
Let’s find them & post them
October 6th, 2004 at 1:52 am
Bush may not be able to admit his mistakes but on the bright side he cannot pardon himself.
October 6th, 2004 at 8:54 am
Bushisms the book is now Bushisms the DVD — hosted by comic uber-genius Brian Unger of The Daily Show. The DVD features Al Franken and others commenting on nucular-strength malapropisms from the presidentiary such as:
# “War is a dangerous place.”
# “Karyn is a West Texas girl, just like me.”
# “Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning.”
Check it out at www.bushism.net
October 8th, 2004 at 8:54 am
***** W I R E G A T E *****
October 8th, 2004 at 9:05 am
Shrub may not be able to pardon himself… but what he CAN do is pardon Tricky Dicky and everyone else in the GOP (looks like he’s gonna have to put DeLay on that list too now!) and then resign in favor of said Tricky Dicky at 2 AM before the inauguration, whereupon Rehnquist hurriedly swears Cheney into office long enough for Cheney to perform two official acts: Pardon Shrub, and issue an executive order voiding the Bill of Rights and turning the entire US Government into a Halliburton subsidiary.
(okay, that last is maybe a LITTLE farfetched… but the crossover pardons are an obvious solution, and if I thought of it in five seconds you can bet that Karl had it in 2.5….)
October 8th, 2004 at 3:22 pm
Where is the American media??? Things like this need to be reported to the American people. Again, where is the American media when the topic of such electronic prompting during debate needs to be reported?
October 8th, 2004 at 5:03 pm
The picture of Bush from behind surely shows something under his jacket. I suppose it could also be some part of a bullet proof vest.
I hope we find out.
October 8th, 2004 at 11:57 pm
Sent from the Aloha State –
I am outraged by even the possibility that Dubyah was wired during the
first debate! Most of us regard W an intellectual midget, of
questionable integrity, and worse — BUT THIS IS A FRAUD PERPETUATED
UPON ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS! What will it take to pursue this issue to some conclusion? How do we voice our outrage?
October 9th, 2004 at 8:02 am
Check out carefully the photo of Bush above. Looks like he has another piece of electronics on his lower back…
October 9th, 2004 at 8:17 am
What is it going to take to get the press to do their job? There must be electronics experts or even possibly some “deep throat” type in the Bush camp who knows the truth. Someone need to ask the questions that will get beyond the lies. The American people deserve the truth about this.
October 9th, 2004 at 4:04 pm
While watching numerous clips of The Shrub, including the latest debates, I alway mused over the way his eyes darted and the hurky-jerkey way he phrases his comments. After working in a phych hospital for 13 yrs., I compared his actions to someone who is “hearing voices.” However, I never took it a step farther to consider that it might actually be the case. I think you’re on to something here…or else, he needs to be committed! Maybe both???
October 9th, 2004 at 4:21 pm
Video of a mysterious wire under Bush’s tie. A stillshot of it. And during the first debate, Bush says “let me finish” when he had the green light and no one was interrupting him. Go figure.
October 9th, 2004 at 6:23 pm
Why complain about the media not reporting things embarrassing to the President of the United States — especially unprovable (and therefore readily deniable) allegations. Forget CNN — THE INTERNET is the medium. Politicians can easily manage the talking heads of a few networks — a coalition of the “willing” (bribed and bullied). But how can they manage millions of observers who share their observations? BLOG ON!
October 9th, 2004 at 8:31 pm
Why does it even significantly matter if the President is using some type of device under his jacket? It’s just another “glitch” that Liberals are using against our President to point out his supposed “inept” presidency. It’s childish to fret over such small matters as this. The media should NOT report this because the media is already a corrupt Liberal environment that reporting this would reveal biases. I guarantee if this were Kerry, then the American society would brush it off as a mere bump or safety device!
October 9th, 2004 at 8:53 pm
Milli Vanilli was drummed out of the music business over a lip synching scandal. Lately, I hear Brittney Spears is being accused of similar conduct by none other than Sir Elton John. These are people whose words are relatively meaningless in the scheme of things. For our President to be doing the same in a “live” debate or press conference is a BOMBSHELL!
Use of a teleprompter is a completely different thing. A prepared speech, written on paper or scrolled on a teleprompter is still a prepared speech. No one expects any original thinking to take place. Its just a matter of delivery. (God forbid the President would be bright enough to actually memorize the thing!) But in the context of a debate or press conference, we want to see if the person knows what they are talking about and whether they can think on their feet (or for themselves). Why do you think such a big deal was made of the fact that “no one but [Charlie] knows what questions will be asked?”
If W is wearing a wire and getting prompted by shadowy Karl Rove type figures from off stage, the President is a puppet, nothing more. The clothes have no emperor. It is cheating, plain and simple, and he should be FIRED!
October 10th, 2004 at 1:09 am
Why does it significantly matter if the President is using some type of device under his jacket Amanda? Because the American public has the right to know if their “president” is nothing more than a puppet on strings. The president I believe should be much more intelligent, eloquent, knowledegable, trustworthy and courageous than the average American, yet this president has failed miserably at showing any of those qualities. If it were to come out publicly that the “leader” of the free world was unable to speak his mind coherently, or simply unassisted by one of his lackeys hiding out in a back room, the American people would freak out. To know that the most powerful man in the world can not answer simple direct questions about events that he is supposed to be handling on a day to day basis, and that he is blatently ignorant about his job and duties as commander-in-chief would scare the shit out of most of us. The media has a RESPONSIBILITY to report such a “small” matter. Oh, and watch the Fox news channel for ten minutes and speak about “corrupt” media outlets. This isn’t a liberal or conservative issue, it’s a public issue with serious questions that need to be addressed, period. Maybe Amanda feels happy and safe with a C student that speaks at a sixth grade level running this country, I’m not and I know there are more of you who feel the same way.
October 10th, 2004 at 2:16 am
Amanda should realise that the American media (ie, CNN, ABC etc.) are regarded by the rest of the world as being slightly to the right of Ghengis Khan. How anyone could describe them as “Liberal” is beyond me, particularly given the key role they played in quashing an accurate recount and allowing George W Bonzo to rig the election.
October 10th, 2004 at 6:04 am
what would anyone expect from a dope who bought his way through college with straight C’s– after all, anyone one with minus IQ can be president if he has the right parents and enough money and no integrity or sense of ethics.
October 10th, 2004 at 7:04 am
George Bush is a wireless puppet.
October 10th, 2004 at 7:41 am
I HAVE ALWAYS SAID BUSH IS MUCH TO IGNORANT AND THE MOST UNENTELLIGENT PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF DEVICE TO HELP HIM IN HIS SPEECHES. EVEN WITH THE EARPIECES HE STILL CAN’T GIVE A SPEECH THAT I CAN STAND TO LISTEN TO. BUT THEN AGAIN I AM TOO INTELLIGENT TO BELIEVE ANYTHING HE SAYS.
October 10th, 2004 at 9:04 am
In ’satirist’ Amanda’s brilliant spoof of the morally bottomfeeding ‘vocabulary’ of BUSH apologists, she’s persuaded ‘me’
the ’safety device’ BUSH
October 10th, 2004 at 9:15 am
In liberal ’satirist’ Amanda’s brilliant parody of the morally bottomfeeding ‘vocabulary’ of BUSH apologists, she’s never so droll as when infers the ’safety device’ BUSH would never employ is a BRAIN.
October 10th, 2004 at 10:12 am
This is why the American Society is so corrupt. Because of people like you who have no support for our President. Do you enjoy constantly bashing our leader? Searching for matters to complain about? This entire issue is unbelievable and has no vivid point. And Fox news channel is the only Rebublican-oriented news out there…the rest are Liberal havens…and you’re a fool if you haven’t figured that out.
October 10th, 2004 at 10:57 am
I am truly amazed that there are “Amandas” out there. During this Presidency I have clearly seen the ineptness…I have clearly seen the hidden agendas….the lies and distortions of our dry-drunk president. It is so very apparent to anyone with an IQ greater than that of a box of unflavored gelatin that the power of the presidency is in the hands of someone entirely inappropriate…or at least it should be obvious. It is as if there are those so “desperate” to believe in Bush that they can no longer reason and choose the insanity that Bush is a viable choice. Mass halucination???
October 10th, 2004 at 12:09 pm
Amanda, I guarantee, if you had a brain, you’d be dangerous.
October 10th, 2004 at 12:18 pm
Dear Amanda.It is our duty and right to question authority. The people that hold office are our employ. our taxes pay thier salary. we entrust them with our lives and future. if the jobs too much for them well there is abuot a million people needing a job right now. observing this election has been insulting. bush and his tax cuts are misplaced and buying your vote while increasing debt. nothing is free. nothing. i have grown to see this country grow into a gimme gimme more attitude without wondering where it comes from. the future thats where. a misplaced war. jobs overseas. increase in poverty and healthcare woes. do you think that someone who waves a flag and a bible then preaches freedom only to try and trample the first admendment and divide the people over the very thing that gives them the right to practce what they do. they preach against abortion only to drop bombs on other peoples children based on false claims. they claim a war on terror when it was here all the while in one form or another. the last terrorist act was in oklahoma by an american. did we all live in fear after that? were we made to by our government like we are now? are we reminded day in and day out. you want me to support that. Go take chaneys advice. Go @@## yourself.
October 10th, 2004 at 12:39 pm
Well, here’s the deal as I see it, Kerry must have known about it, and, being confident in his own debating skills, the only consession he needed was a pen! Bravo Kerry!
Bush’s puppet strings are frayed and torn and starting to snap!
Doctored photos my A$$!! I saw it live and assumed it was a protective vest. However, I began to wonder why, with the security at a gathering of that sort, why he would need one??
It must have been a really heavy, clunky,cheapo model because it made him stoop over all night!
Note to lackeys–upgrade to include a zapper to reduce frowns and scowls–
Bye, bye Bushie, the water’s been dumped on you and you are melting, c-ya
October 10th, 2004 at 12:42 pm
If he was wired to sound more intelligent, I hope he got his money back. Couldn’t someone have at least told him about the “internets?” What a doofus.
And I believe the media is neither left nor right, but just a bunch of pandering, scared sons of bitches. Coverage today is so skewed to appear “fair” that at the end of a report you walk away with no useful information at all. Just more questions.
October 10th, 2004 at 1:02 pm
Real mature Dave
October 10th, 2004 at 1:08 pm
Everyday as I go about in my routines my truck carries a Veterns For Kerry Sticker on the back windshield. I am constantly bombarded with how awful and unchristian like to support John Kerry.
Any attempt to get then to really think about the issues appears to be almost hopeless when you are dealing with the mindset of those who have been W’s supporters for any length of time.
It has been my observation during my life that there is and has always been two trains of thought in regards to power in the world. These two groups have been referred to in the past as Hawks or Doves.
The hawks have always believed that the way to command leadership in the world is through military might and crushing if possible anthing that is in oposition to their agendas. The doves on the pther hand have leaned more toward leading the world by example and compassion.
While many of the issues go much deeper than the above short description, the basic differences are as stated.
The Hawks have always been far more agressive and war like and in some cases have have pushed for even stronger actions that the country was taking at a particular time.
The Doves on the other hand have followed the idea of diplomacy and persuasion.
We have been lucky through most of my 65 years to have enough strength in both views to keep an acceptable balance in those thoughts with the exceptions of a few situations.
With the above thoughts in mind think a bit further and remember the sadness and anger that was spreading across this great country of ours right after 9/11. That is exactly the situation and climate that gives even the most extreme of the Hawks more creditability and the opportunity to sieze more power. That is exactly what happened here following 9/11.
Now another key part of that one has to consider is the group of people that surrounds our President. If you do a little research, it won’t take you long to discover, if you do not already know, that group of people subscribe to the thinking of that our country is a ruler of the world rather than leader of the it.
Now with that in mind why does it surprise any of you that they control the direction of this presidency and not W nor the Senate or Congress. So dooes this bit about the ear piece surprise you ? After all W is nothing more than a puppet for the one world order group.
What does surprise me is that they ever choose him as the man for the republican party in the first place given how stupid the man actually is.
What angers me the most is that the coniving group that is runing this country today actually think the American citizen is about as dumb as bees wax. It appears they are right for about 50% of this nation, judging from the percentage of those who are staunch Bush supporters.
My only consolation in regards to those people who are blindly following this lying adminstration is that through the fear they feel since 9/11 has paralized their thinking. Of course this adminstration is certainly building on that fear every chance they get.
I do widsh that some one with the ability to study and prove the prompting during the debates could and would do it quickly.
A concerned citizen,
Popeye
October 10th, 2004 at 1:52 pm
Amanda, if ‘our President’ was prompted during the debate,
would he still be your choice?
October 10th, 2004 at 2:05 pm
I think that if he was “prompted” I would have a tough time choosing him…but given his opposition…I believe that I would vote for Bush regardless.
October 10th, 2004 at 2:14 pm
Did everyone else notice that in the first debate, the source for the image of Bush’s bulging backside, that Kerry and Bush shook hands at very beginning? When Kerry shook Bush’s hand, didn’t he put his left hand on Bush’s back? I tried to find that image on various news websites where I’ve seen it tons of times, but couldn’t find it. If something incriminating was concealed on Bush’s back, it seems Bush would have been very careful not to allow that kind of contact, or that Kerry might have noticed something. Has the Kerry campaign weighed in on the “isbushwired” controversy. Don’t get me wrong; I fully believe Bush is the DUMBEST, most dangerous pres. we’ve ever had and his weird hesitations would certainly lend some weight to the prompting scenario, but just wondering why no one’s talking about the fact that Kerry actually had his hand on the presidential back in question. (Not sticking up for Bush - hate the guy….)
October 10th, 2004 at 3:08 pm
How many times have all of us seen/heard a TV field newsperson talk over his/her newsroom partner? I’ve seen it happen dozens and dozens of times over the years. While the office newsreader is trying to ask a question or say “Hello”, the field correspondent is chattering on, seemingly oblivious to the other speaker.
Well, now we understand why this happens so frequently.
While the field correspondent is being fed his lines via an earphone, he cannot hear the office commentator. He is simply in the habit of talking over the voice in his ear.
This explains why Bush was interrupting the moderator at the debates. He couldn’t discern over whose voice he was speaking. His earphone was very tiny and deeply implanted.
Bush is only half of an evil genius. The evil half.
Laura is probably practicing W’s penmanship and composing his “memoirs” right now.
October 10th, 2004 at 3:15 pm
Maybe I should’ve licensed the phrase, “The ‘W’ stands for 1 Watt”.
But what the hell.
Whoever wants to use it has my permission.
October 10th, 2004 at 3:26 pm
50% of people plan on voting for the crazyest president of america EVER? i hope the polls are wrong! if i was a gambler i would bet that after the elcetion results come in the winner will be kerry by a victory of 99% to 1% for nader and 0% for bush. i think bush is cheating on the polls just like he cheated for the presidency back in 2000. he hasnt done anything good for this country and will never admit a single mistake while being president. well i got news for you bush “nobodys perfect” not even you.
October 10th, 2004 at 5:09 pm
Although not a US citizen (I am brazilian) I would like to offer you my views on the matter (you are welcome to do likewise abt elections and politicians “down here” anytime).
Well, politicians are pretty much the same evywhere: Slimy, greedy and power hungry smooth talking rascals. They all come to you smiling, saying they wanna defend you, take care of you, and that sort of BS.
However, some things abt America today do astound me:
1) You were treacherously attacked, and suffered a horrible trauma in Sept. 11. But, I´ve read the official version of the attack, and it is SO clear that either Bush & Co. were aware of it beforehand (as FDR back in Pearl Harbour) or else there was such a degree of incompetence in ignoring the warnings from the intelligence community, that these people should be impeached for incapacity. (Not to go into the third possibility, that they were involved in it - too horrifying to contemplate, yet scores of such events in world history everywhere…politicians…)
2) Still dazed by that monstruous event, you were blitzkrieged into sacrificing much of your democratic rights, and into approving an unheard of military budget of almost 400 BILLION dollars!!! Not only that, you went right on at war with Iraq and Afghanistan - two tyrannical states which deserved no better than being wiped off the Earth, BUT with no PROVEN connection to whoever attacked WTC.
3) Now, Dubya admits that “Gosh, gee, maybe we were wrong about Iraq´s WMD…but he was an evil guy all the same, so it was the right thing to do…” Doesn´t ANYONE see that your president threw every international convention, and a lot of your country´s credibility through the window? I mean, how can anyone believe in him anymore? What if he starts saying he´s got proof of WMD in Iran?
4) Worse, he´s got all this “oil industry” connections and oily staff…Condy, Cheney etc. so it´s just coincidence that they invaded an oil-rich country..man, the world´s not THAT gullible.
So to sum it up, from here it looks as if your admirable nation (and I say that without any irony, you ARE a great country) has fallen for still another (remember Nixon?) disastrous, deceitful, greedy, self-rightist very rightist…PROFESSIONAL POLITICIAN!
Oh, yes, and what´s this I´ve read that BOTH Bush and Kerry were (are?) part of a…SKULL AND BONES fraternity? GEEEEESSSHHHH! God help you - and us!
Thank you, and I hope I have not offended anyone…just being frank.
October 10th, 2004 at 6:20 pm
I think that I would have “wired” this president, too. He is totally unable to think on his feet, speak or comprehend what is going on around him. How scary…. We must send him back to Crawford, which, incidentally, does not want him, either.
October 10th, 2004 at 6:44 pm
It’s frightening that Bush managed to do such a rotten job of debating even WITH voices feeding him answers. UNLESS - what if the illegal transmitting setup malfunctioned? He wouldn’t have been able to call a halt, or a “recess” while his gear was repaired, because he wasn’t supposed to have it in the first place.
If Shrub did not even try to prepare for the first debate because he knew he had an ace up his sleeve, then the gizmo faded in and out, or was somehow jammed from time to time (wouldn’t it be hilarious if the Kerry team figured out what W was up to and managed to rig an interfering device early on in the evening?) - all of this would easily explain how and why W managed to present himself in an even stupider light than usual. It would explain the long pauses, the stammering to a complete halt, as well as the “let me finish”, and also the times when Shrub looked like he was tottering as if ready to pass out. How pathetic that we are at a spot like this when our nation is at risk of terrorism. How befuddled (brain-dead?) would one have to be to even think there was a comparison between the two candidates?
October 10th, 2004 at 7:53 pm
Wow… people always have plenty to say, not all of it neccesarily of any substance or value, just a matter of picking a topic, especially one with more than one potential slant, valid or otherwise. :) No reflection intended upon the validity of the issue at hand, but rather questioning the validity of any number of other issues that address us each day in the oft venomously two-faced, codependent worlds of media and politics.
Personally, in this country where our freedoms are highly valued enough to come to issue on a daily basis, I’m worried about anyone who wouldn’t want to invest the mental effort to even attempt to examine issues of one’s standard of ethics exercised within our highest levels of authority in this country with a measure of skepticism and a mature effort to resist unsubstantiated bias or pitiable apathy. Apathy or resignation about issues that potentially affect each and every person in an entire country? Yikes… scary.
Reminds me of a lady I know who has personal leanings that tend to fall within the realm of Republicans, yet she votes Democrat… every time, without fail, regardless of the person or issues, nary a thought to why she votes… simply because her husband is Democrat, and her father voted Democrat. *sigh* I don’t care what she votes, I care that she does it without thought, conviction, or purpose. And I care that she’s not the only one out there. :(
Yes, the questions raised against Bush of wires or microphones is an issue about the competency and intellectual capacity of the man that - right or wrong - holds the highest office we have, and besides this, it’s an issue that begs the potentially political-career-killing questions “If they are doing this, why?” and “If there’s nothing wrong with it, why do it in a covert manner?” If this supposedly isn’t an important reflection upon the man and his entourage in regards to the implications about his intelligence, and thereby his right to hold a prestigious and financially lucrative office, why hide it?
A side note about the Hawks and Doves discussion… interesting little thought arose somewhere in the recesses of my head… aren’t various breeds of hawks, as other birds of prey, commonly on the Endangered Species lists? Contrary to the supply of doves, as I’ve heard that pidgeons are essentially the same as doves, and there’s certainly no shortage of pidgeons. Just seems to potentially have an interesting affect if we transfer that detail about actual hawks and doves and apply it to the Hawks and Doves in society. Doves might be the more likely prey, but at least they don’t tend to slaughter each other in the course of their goals. Instead, they may be more likely to invest their energies in quiet but effective contemplation about how the Hawks are faring, and how that might affect the future…. :)
Have a nice day folks… Hawks and Doves and conspiracies and conflict be damned. :)
October 10th, 2004 at 8:17 pm
Amanda, wake up dear. If this was about Kerry, the Republican congress would be meeting in a special session to appoint a special prosecuter to investigate the matter, and if Kerry was at the same time the sitting President, the words “impeachment, impeachment, impeachment” would be flowing from their forked tongues.
TRUTH, HONESTY, INTEGRITY, NOT CHEATING, that’s what it’s all about Amanda. The Idiot Bush claimed he was going to bring integrity back to the White House. Some job Amanda.
Fox news is the furthest thing in the world from ‘news’, it’s Fox propoganda. In addition it’s the right wing conservative media, O’Reilly, Rush, etc. etc. etc. that keep saying that the media is liberal in it’s bias, when the FACT IS that me media is strongly conservative and republican in its’ bias. All of those newspapers and broadcasting companies are owned by right wing conservatives Amanda, just LOOK AT THEIR NAMES AND WHO THEY ARE, that’s not a list of liberal democrats, I’ll guarantee you that.
Your type of blind patriotic follow our leader regardless of anything type of thinking helped keep Hitler in power. It is our duty, our responsibility, as true American patriots to question our leaders, to question the direction they are taking our county, especially when taking it down the road to ruin that the Idiot Bush is traveling on.
Wake up Amanda. There must be a brain in your head. Try using it. That would be more than that born again moron who is currently sitting in the oval office is doing.
October 10th, 2004 at 8:25 pm
You guys are retarded. This is the president of our country if you honestly are that dumb to think he would have to wear something that bulky to get help in the debate you are smokin some good stuff. He has access to the most high tech electronics known to man. If you hate Bush thats fine. But dont waste your time makin stuff up just because John Kerry is worthless. ha ha ha well anyways go watch Team America: World Police coming out Oct. 15th is really funny and if you’re not too much of a die hard democrat u might enjoy it.
October 10th, 2004 at 8:56 pm
No Napen, you’re the retard. What exactly then IS THAT BOX that is obvious to anyone that isn’t completely blind. Is it the battery pack that keeps the Idiot Bush running and running and running???
The most high tech electronics known to man STILL requires the power source to be located on his person.
I’m not a die hard democrat, I am totally independent, and would have no hesitation to vote republican if I agreed with the agenda of the candidate. I voted to Rudi the first time around, not the second, because by that time we who live in NYC where aware of the fact that we were living in somewhat of a police state mentality, but my point is I voted republican and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again.
No one is ‘making up’ those photos napen…… NO ONE.
October 10th, 2004 at 9:01 pm
Actually, Napen, hon, this is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue. It’s not a we’ve-got-nothing-better-to-do-than-hallucinate-conspiracy-theories issue. Truth be told, it’s not even an issue of politics or he-said-she-said.
This is an issue of having and exercising the freedom to question even the highest levels of authority we have, and having the standard American audacity to expect them to answer truthfully and candidly. It’s an issue of “Here’s something that might be of substance, and they keep getting away with explaining everything away, or ho-humming everything with platitudes and ridicule and empty-handed denial, but we still have a right to call em on it and demand real answers.”
Of course, we also have the right to brush off what we see or know, accept and believe whatever we’re told, and laugh hollowly at those who have the courage to hold onto their doubts and question. Somehow though, that option seems so lacking just in the candid definition of it.
It’s as much a Constitutional right to persue the truth, even if we naively want it from the most impotent of our leaders, as it is to toss it all off with a shallow insult and spend one’s evening slugging back a beer and watching something with the depth of “professional wrestling.” :)
Offhand, I’ve found that it takes much more intelligence, and certainly a bigger investment of effort and chutzpah to contemplate, discuss, debate, and persue endless possibilities, especially when armed with suspicious photos, tape recordings, and witness statements, than it takes for the many poo-pooers to sling childish insults.
October 10th, 2004 at 9:03 pm
To you again Napen, just thought I’d add, I also voted for Pataki (a republican) for governor because I thougt he would do a better job than his democratic opponent.
October 10th, 2004 at 9:08 pm
Right on Mary!!!
October 10th, 2004 at 9:20 pm
hahaha get a hobby
October 10th, 2004 at 9:30 pm
Oooooh, wow, what a hefty retort! I sincerely hope that you didn’t incur any internal injuries in the effort that it must have taken to come up with such a deep response…. and it only took you 19 minutes! Wow, I’m ~soooo~ impressed! :D
Now, if you’ll excuse me from this increasingly tenuous pastime… Obviously I’m not the type that often tends to invest an excess of passion on one side of an issue or the other, it’s so much more interesting to observe and contemplate…. life’s so much more interesting with people of both extremes. :)
Anyway, I guess I’ve said all that I have of value for the moment, and I’m just spent from laughing at shallow folks that try to put in their two cents from a trillion dollar deficit! *LOL* Ta ta! :)
October 10th, 2004 at 9:38 pm
I don’t watch TV, gave it up about 3-4 years ago simply because I found the media (TV) a poor substitute for the written word. I also believe that ever advance in human society is preceded by an advance in communication…
I feel a sense of awe to see this discussion flourishing all over the internet. The same discussion, different voices but the same idea.
I will be totally disillusioned by my fellow Americans if George W. Bush is relected on Nov. 2nd. I hope and pray the media remembers their duty, and do their jobs.
October 10th, 2004 at 9:40 pm
I dont waste my time thinking deeply when its not required. I am just amused that you take this so seriously. well go watch team america world police oct 15th :) ps it didnt take me that long to respond i was watching television and just thought id look to see how many goobers had responded to my remarks
October 10th, 2004 at 9:45 pm
If indeed Bush is using a hidden mike to prompt him with facts and names, etc., he is definitely cheating. The RNC should be made to explain what the device is that he had fixed to his back. And, if the RNC or Bush’s staff cannot give a reasonable explanation, the public has no alternative but to believe that Bush was cheating and vote him out of office. This is awful. Something has to be done.
October 10th, 2004 at 10:01 pm
The initial White House response regarding the wireless receiver was that the photograph was obviously photoshop altered by some anti Bush liberal. The validity of that response lasted about three minutes, as long as it took to verify that the same image is on the broadcast videos of the ‘debate’.
The second White House reponse was that it was ‘a fold in the fabric of the suit’, and the validity of that response lasted about as long as it took people to stop laughing at it, and for photo enhancement technology to prove that it was another absurd answer from the White House spokeswoman.
The third White House response was that it was a bullet proof vest, but as they were announcing that ‘answer’ the Bush/Cheney headquarters was stating that he wasn’t wearing a bullet proof vest, or jacket, or whatever. The end of that ‘answer’.
The fourth White House response was quite simpley, ‘there is nothing at all there’. Again, that lasted as long as it took for the laughter to die down, and then a reporter asked for “a serious answer” and after a brief hesitation the reply was that the reporter should get in touch with the Bush/Cheney campaign headquarters.
The presidential spokesman at the White House were apparently running out of ‘answers’ and also were tired of making fools of themselves, and decided that it was time for the Bush/Cheney campaing spin meisters to take a shot at it.
All they (the campain spin meisters) have managed to come up with is ‘the president wasn’t wearing a wireless receiver’, and we are suppose to accept this on blind faith, just the way we accepted the existence of WMD’s, the idea that the Iraqi people would be throwing roses at their ‘liberaters’, the fact that the insurgency was just a few people and that 95% of the population supported us,the bullshit that the prisoner torture was only a handful of isolated instances, that proposal that the oil exports from Iraq would pay for the rebuilding, that totally false statement that Cheney has no on going financial connections with Haliburton when he in reality gets a check every month and has a huge amount of options he can purchase, that propoganda that the war had nothing to do with oil and that the maps of Iraq that Cheney and the oil companies drew up over a year before the invasion really don’t exist, that the insane tax cuts are really for the middle class, that no child is being left behind, and that Jesus loves George.
The time for the good faith acceptance of anything that this administration says about anything is long past. Volumes and volumes and volumes have been written about the lies of this administration, not a great deal has been written about their statements of fact and/or truth.
‘You can fool some of the people all of the time and those are the ones I have to focus on for my re election, not that I was really elected the first time.’ from the thoughts of George W. Bush
October 10th, 2004 at 10:03 pm
Mary certainly can write. Incidentally, she is also right.
Submitted for your consideration: It is the hubris of men like this that hastens their undoing. They weren’t more careful to hide the thing because they didn’t believe they would get caught. Besides, they believe real American patriots would never doubt their President. Not in wartime.
If the internet (or either of them) has contributed to the seizure upon this issue and is able now to provoke a “mainstream press” the truth may yet be known. Keep asking questions. Follow the pattern of denials. The more people there are with any actual knowledge of the facts, the greater the chance someone will eventually confess.
October 10th, 2004 at 10:24 pm
This revelation has to be the most dastardly trick that has ever benn perpetuated by a person who holds the fate of our nation in his hands. Does he expect to have his wires when he negotiates with our opponents?
October 10th, 2004 at 10:31 pm
One last thought because it’s getting late here on the east coast. There is a big problem with the lack of reporting of this matter by the ‘mainstream press’ and I believe it is up to each and every one of us to write to the editors of our newspapers and demand coverage of this entire matter.
There are millions of people in this country that don’t have computers and internet connections and are not even aware of this debate going on. Please people, write to the editors (I’ve written to TheTimes, The Daily News, The Washington Post ) and intend to write to more editors demanding they respond by front page articles, not page a15 next to the classifieds, and by editorials on their part demanding actual answers from the White House on this entire matter.
This is so very important. Also, the radio stations, not one single word on 1010 WINS or other ‘all news’ radio stations about any of this. Send e mails to these radio stations asking them what planet they’re covering the news on. Call their news desks and ask them if they might not be missing some of the news. This entire subject matter should be front page news in every newspaper across the country, and we should demand this to be so.
October 10th, 2004 at 10:34 pm
Well…are we really surprised? With all the dirty tricks in politics and espeically with this administration (who by the way isn’t really our administration). Dishonesty (used to be called lies)….stealing (thieves, robbers)….cheating……over and over but some of the American (North) people just don’t get it. The reason I put North there is because South Americans and other parts of the world wouldn’t be so blind. We have a wonderful country….let’s try to regain our integrity (which Bush has all of it to hear most people tell it) back as a nation. Born again….well I didn’t realize that born again christians lied so much. I think the Bible says no liar will have any part in Heaven…Oh my!!! I can’t believe it says that…..I wonder what it means. Let’s call it as it is…we need as a nation to wake up and see what is really going on around us. I used to be a Republican but I am ashamed of all of this terrible deceit. God help us all as I don’t think anyone else can.
October 10th, 2004 at 11:38 pm
This story has legs but they are short and lame. I have heard the story referenced on CNN and other channels many times today but they don’t show the damning photo. Could it be that FOX who owns that footage has refused to allow it to be seen elsewhere? They have shown other stock shots where the ’square’ is not at all obvious.
There has to be a way to get THE right photo in front of the public.
Pressure FOX……………………write, call, Fax.
Good for us online that we get to see and share whatever we can access among ourselves and our own contacts but the average TV viewer has little choice in what pap they are spoon FED by the media.
Let’s hear it for the INTERNETs………………LOL Maybe he meant to say INTERnuts?
October 10th, 2004 at 11:48 pm
If you study Bush in the debates when he isn’t speaking, it truly looks as if he is distracted by something other than Kerry. One thing the flake has mastered is his infamous don’t-answer-the-question-asked-just-talk tactic. Something as simple as having them ‘inspected’ for such devices right before they go on the platform might be beneficial… I understand he’s the president, (unfortunately) but this is serious if he’s wearing a listening device. I think the fact that “campaign officials declined to discuss it further because they weren’t certain a bulge even existed and do not want to appear to take seriously what they consider a wild accusation” (’Bush aides laugh off wired debate rumor’, Netscape.com homepage October 10, 2004)is confirmation of his cheating ways. PLEASE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO GET OUT AND VOTE SO WE CAN GET HIM OUT!
October 11th, 2004 at 12:40 am
That is buldge at the back of his jacket is definately a wireless backpack reciever for an ear piece. Being a sound engineer for the last 30 years I know em when I see em. The one he was wearing for the 1st debate had to have an additional power supply due to the fact that the 9 volt supply is only good for a about 60 minutes at constant usage. So some wired a 9 volt battery to the reciever unit which was probably attached to his belt. The additional battery could not be placed on the belt because it would cause his pants to fall down so what they did was duct tape it between his shoulder blades. The ear piece was a very small wireless in ear monitor piece. Since they could not use a wired ear piece this in ear monitor’s power supply probably gave up the ghost about 3/4 of the way through the debate. OOPS! They forgot about that. The whole rig must have been uncomfortable to wear a would explain his performance that night. On the second debate they realized that people might catch on so this time they taped the backpack unit between his shoulder blades which is why when his jacket tighten as he leaned forward or put both hand fully extended you see a round outline. Once again it must have been very uncomfortable to wear. The pauses, stops and start’s are the problems with these things. You get so intent listening to the material you forget where you are. It takes alot of practice to adjust to the stupid things. Ask any musician who has switched to in ear monitor’s. It’s the reason that when you go to club and festival concert’s with local groups you still see wedge monitor’s being used. Another drawback to this kind of set up ist that you can have phase cancelling depending on where you stand and the transmitter. So the signal might cut off ocasionally. If any one has a tape of the second debate you might want to scan it and see if at any point in the debate his hand is playing with his ear and then is put in his pocket and then goes back to the ear. If this happened he might of had to switch out the ear piece reciever with a new one as the battery died.
Being a sound engineer I’ve seen alot of stupid stuff like this when working with performers. Wireless would be great if damm things would work like they are supposed to.
Dumb, Dumb and Dumber. What do you expect from a rat brain bunch of idiot’s?
October 11th, 2004 at 12:51 am
Additional note: The picture of him leaving after he get’s pissed off at the Ken Lay question. You can see he’s wearing a belt pack reciever on his belt under his jacket in the middle of his back. These things are so hard to hide. What a joke. I wonder if anybody could scan for the freq’s being used and set up a directional transmitter unit to talk dirty to him. Who know’s maybe the damm thing picks up the Playboy Channel. Can you imagine that? Ohhhhh, AHHHHH, OHHHHH, I’MMMMMM CCCCCCCC… I’ll let you guess the rest.
October 11th, 2004 at 4:52 am
Geez, you Americans! Can’t anybody spell? Small wonder you elected a stupid president.
October 11th, 2004 at 5:03 am
what do you men? what’s wrong with my speling?
October 11th, 2004 at 5:11 am
see, now that’s my point. It isn’t about your “speling” as such, but it’s about the general lack of stamina, thought discipline and the desire to excel in everything people choose to do. It’s about doing it right and getting it right. America used to care, and now has been sliding away from these positions for some time now. Bush is simply a public display of the poor educational system that has been drifting away from the essence of things.
October 11th, 2004 at 5:34 am
All presidents pardon their friends. Peace!
October 11th, 2004 at 6:41 am
You people are crazy! The idea of Bush having a wire to talk to some unkown person is nonsense. The mere suggestion of this shows what type of people you are. I mean seriously your candidate is so awful that you have to resort to the means of attempting to make the Republican candidate look worse. America is a nation that allows many freedoms and yes one of those is freedom of speech, but seriously you guys and girls should work on not saying crap because you are insecure of your own candidate. Kerry has his own faults and one of those is saying anything to get support from the American people. If Kerry gets elected, which isn’t going to happen anyways, you guys will all get a rude and sudden awakening as to who the real Kerry is. Then you will find yourselves standing in a bright light of recognition that you were all wrong and stupid to have ever thought that Bush was anything other then the right person to be the president for the next term.
October 11th, 2004 at 8:07 am
Alex, wake up, have a cup of coffee, and then explain to the rest of us exactly what that OBVIOUS DEVICE taped between the Idiot Bush’s shoulder blades is!!!!!! Is it the battery pack that keeps the moron running, and running and running???
October 11th, 2004 at 8:15 am
C’mon guys, ever thought of the possibility that George W could be innocent and incapable of deception, and that the (in)famous bulge was actually just the bunched-up edge of his diaper?
October 11th, 2004 at 9:12 am
Right on Philip.
The fact is, there is unquestionably something bulging from between his shoulder blades and neither the White House, Bush/Cheney or the RNC has yet to come up with any explanation of what it is, so one has to reach the conclusion that whatever it is must be a bit difficult for them to explain.
Bush supporters who feel that the rest of us are hallucinating and making up conspiracy theories have not yet answered the question. What is the rectangular shaped bulge (and what appears to be a wire extending from it) taped to the Idiot Bush’s back??????????????????????????????????????????
You’re silence on this matter is deafening.
October 11th, 2004 at 9:25 am
Running for President of the United States is NOT just another
game show episode of “You Wanna Be A Millionaire”… there aren’t lifeline phone buddies in presidential debates!
The answer to these important questions are INSIDE you
not in any earpiece!
To Bob Schaeffer… It’s up to you, pal.
Send both candidates through a magnatometer before they
take to podiums at the next debate!
Wendy
October 11th, 2004 at 9:41 am
The big questions is what is going to be done to make sure this does not happen again. Maybe Geroge W. will answer this question.
October 11th, 2004 at 10:40 am
I think that John Kerry should open the next debate and announce that he pledges that he is not wired and challenges Bush to the do the same. I wonder how Bush will respond.
October 11th, 2004 at 11:20 am
In THE SECOND DEBATE, at 28 minutes 24-26 seconds, when the Idiot Bush is saying, “…unmanned vehicles that can send real time messages back ta….” it is quite evident that there is a wire under his tie.
A little while ago, while walking in the streets of NYC, I ran into a friend of mine who is always well informed on the topics of importance in the media, and he had no knowledge what-so-ever that this debate is even going on. He only has internet connections at the university at which he teaches, and depends on the mainstream press for the news.
WE MUST PHONE, E-MAIL, AND SNAIL MAIL LETTERS TO ALL OF THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA OUTLETS ASKING WHY THIS ISN’T BEING REPORTED AS FRONT PAGE NEWS. IS THAT PRESS OF THIS COUNTRY SO UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE ESTABLISHMENT THAT THEY CAN’T EVEN BRING SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT TO LIGHT???
DON’T STAND FOR THIS FAILURE… CONTACT THEM AND FORCE THE ISSUE TO BE REPORTED AS IT SHOULD BE. THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT EVEN THAN CONTINUING THE DISCOURSE ON THE INTERNET.
GET WITH IT… TODAY… RIGHT NOW.
October 11th, 2004 at 11:46 am
If you review the rules for the presidential debates as proposed by the Bush team (posted at http://www.npr.org/documents/2004/2004.debate/debate_memo.pdf )
you note that on page 17 - section 9(vi), it states:
(vi) The camera located at the rear of the stage shall be used only to take shots of the moderator.
Why do you suppose would they write that into the rules????
October 11th, 2004 at 12:29 pm
The problem is that oil is about to peak and debt repayment is required or the dollar slips and house prices collapse in the US. A war is a good distraction from the truth and ‘Terror’ is a smoke screen to real problems with the banking system in the US.
October 11th, 2004 at 12:51 pm
amanda….
You area lemming!
October 11th, 2004 at 12:51 pm
amanda….
You are a lemming!
October 11th, 2004 at 2:28 pm
Anti-corporate and anti-Bush bigots make a lot of hay out of nothing it seems.
October 11th, 2004 at 3:05 pm
There has to be a way to intercept the transmission, or better yet
jam the radio signal he is recieveing. How about transmitting
different information on the same frequecy?
October 11th, 2004 at 3:08 pm
The thing I find disturbing about the whole “bulge” ordeal is this: We have a president that has built a reputation of being such an idiot, that the idea of him using a hidden prompter in a debate is completely believable. How many presidents have we had that such a story would even be conceivable? With GWB, it is not only believable, it is understandable.
October 11th, 2004 at 3:22 pm
No…I’m not a lemming…I’m a Republican. The only reason you guys want the media to cover this issue is because Kerry is such a poor Democratic candidate…that you have to raise his political stature by finding irrelevant reasons to deride President Bush!
October 11th, 2004 at 3:50 pm
I really want to believe, but as yet I am unconvinced by the photographs. For any of the popular media to give this story anything more than a mention would require substantial evidence. If this story panned out to have some substance it would be devastating for the president, particulary this close to the election. I would assume Americans would be outraged, although there are literally hundreds of legitimate reasons to fire the president and his administration, that have had no effect on the polls. I am afraid that the presidents handlers are too smart to try wiring GWB again for the third debate as I believe it would be easy for any of the media to pick up a radio signal with a scanner or shortwave. On the brighter side if there is any truth to this story and GWB goes to the debate sans wire, Wednesdays debate should be a beautiful thing.
October 11th, 2004 at 5:26 pm
Watch the video from the second debate, especially the segment in which Bush is responding to Kerry’s comments on stem cell research. Same square bulge. If it is NOT a device for being fed answers, what is it that it would show up at both debate 1 and debate 2. My guess is it will be gone (moved inside front, or removed altogether) for debate 3. If completely removed, I’m guessing we’ll see a less articulate Bush, and that will speak volumes about whether he was wired in 1 and 2.
October 11th, 2004 at 5:39 pm
I’m glad to see the moderator is cleaning up the “speling” before comments are posted.
October 11th, 2004 at 5:43 pm
Maybe we should have both Kerry and Bush wearing no suits at the last Debates? Leave them with shirts with nothing else, no suits, that way we know for sure Bush is not wearing anything. Why did Bush insisted before the Debates what the Frequency was? And why did the Repulicons insisted on the rules of “no cameras behind their arse?”
Bush with the obvious box shaped on his back in the First Debate is a Fraud. Plain and simple. Bush is like the Energizer Bunny that requires Batteries to keep going. Didn’t you noticed the repetitive words “It is Hard Work….”? He had said it so many times that you get tired of the words “It is Hard Work?”….and yet in the Second Debate, you had to notice he gained 2 pounds on the Front, I don’t know if he is getting Fat or whatever, but obviously after the First Debate, it is the receiver. And did you notice the different Wordings from the First to the Second? They are not the same, Now it is “You can run, but you cannot hide”….and he had repeated it so many times, because he is still listening in his ear piece! See the connection? If you repeat the words, then you would be still listening in the ear piece to say more comments to the Questions. But you had to notice the pauses, the sighs, the pickings of his faces and ears…I don’t care if he has a ear wax in there, but something to ponder about…I would not want a President that is a Fraud all those four years of his Administration, and do we need another four more years of fraudlent attempts???
October 11th, 2004 at 5:51 pm
Bush cannot even read, so what do you expect? He would do anything to win, that is–including all of his debates, but now he is hopelessly losing because his hands are caught in the cookie jar!
October 11th, 2004 at 6:23 pm
Amanda, you’re back to “no think” again, blaming this on Democrats vs. Republicans. In two of the last three New York City mayorial elections I voted Republican, once for Guiliani and once for Bloomberg, in one of the last two New York State elections for governor I voted Republican. I believe in voting for the person I believe to be the best candidate according to the issues that affect me, not according to political affiliation, which seems to be your problem.
Look beyond republicans vs democrats vs independents vs green party and stop being blinded by your idiodic party affiliations. George W. Bush is a complete idiot who can’t even admit to having made one single mistake in the past four years.
Come on now dear, even YOU have to admit that he made at least ONE mistake somewhere along the line, even if you feel the mistake is that he should have dropped more bombs and killed more innocent people, or put our country deeper in debt, or left more children behind by not funding states for education.
In the eyes of many Americans his biggest mistake was becoming President and taking on a job that he’s not mentally capable of performing. I’m not saying that as a Democrat, I’m saying that as a politically independent voter who isn’t blinded by party loyalty. If Bush was a Democrat my conclusions would be the same.
History will certainly judge him as the biggest mental misfit to ever occupy the Oval Office. Even the editor of his home town newspaper in Crawford Texas, a man who backed him for president, and backed him in the decisions he made to go to war in Iraq, has turned against him and is voting for Kerry.
Fortunately for all of us he’s going to be a one term President, and when he is voted out of office the entire world will be cheering and toasting the common sense that has finally taken over in this country of ours. Only twenty two more days and he’ll be packing his presidential souveniers and getting ready to go back to Texas. The reality is that they don’t want him there, either.
October 11th, 2004 at 6:46 pm
If that was true that Bush was indeed wired for the Debates, I would recommend for all of you to go back to 2000 Election and look up the previous Debates to see whether he was wired too. We were not paying attention on pre-2000 Election year but then we caught him cheating by stealing Florida’s votes. We should look at all the Videos on 2000 Election, if there was indeed a bulge, THEN he has a past tendency to cheat, even at his Yale School, trying to maintain “C” Grade while Drunk and addicted.
Gee, I wonder if Bush Administration is going to shut this Website soon, because it his tendency to shut down and shut everyone’s mouth, he is not a believer of Freedom of Speech! He even arrested People who wore Anti-Bush T’shirts! Once a Cheater, will ALWAYS a cheater.
Amanda, I agree with the others, you got to wake up and smell the Coffee, why would you vote Bush regardless? Is that because he is born again Christian that can be allowed to lie and lie because he is capable of forgiveness. Gee, live in the REALITY, not in Fantasy Island like BUSH is thinking of….Bush is constantly out of touch in Reality when it comes to War in Iraq. He don’t know even what is going on down there…and he said in fact “It is even getting better!”
No duh? We need a President who can think for himself, not some piece of device or his Helpers more like Elves Helpers!!! To do all his dirty tricks, and he said “It is Hard work??” I don’t even think he knows what that really means…
October 11th, 2004 at 6:58 pm
I was thinking if Bush was capable of rigging the 2004 Election again just like he did on 2000 Election stealing the Votes in Florida. Bush and Repulicons Party even eliminated the Black Voters and the Voters that was freed from Prision off the Florida Registry. Does that tell you that much? Why would the Republicons Party take their names off the Florida Registry and deny them the Voter’s Rights?!
I tell you why, “It is because Bush wants to ensure his win in Florida- simple as that.”
October 11th, 2004 at 7:06 pm
All Bush supporters should be ashamed of themselves as well as their idiot candidate! Kerry has 10X more balls than W ever will and he can windsurf too. Shrub is a gutless dry drunk and I think he should just get some beer and coke and forget about being the next president and go do what hes best at; being f*&^ed up!
October 11th, 2004 at 7:10 pm
you know what…i really don’t believe that president bush has made any mistakes. Being in Iraq is not a mistake. Or do you people think that Saddam slaughtering thousands of people a day is “ok”? We had a right to go to Iraq. You seem to forget that thousands of Americans died just after Bush was elected. That is why our country has suffered for the past 4 years…not because of Bush. He got handed this mess in America…he didn’t start it.
October 11th, 2004 at 7:14 pm
Amanda,
Do you beleive in the easter bunny and the tooth fairy also?
October 11th, 2004 at 7:22 pm
EVERYONE VOTE FOR KERRY! HE CAN WINDSURF!
October 11th, 2004 at 7:25 pm
WOOHOO! Amanda, thats the smartest thing I ever read. Thanks for your support!
October 11th, 2004 at 7:32 pm
When Iraquis kill Iraquis it is a tragedy. When Iraquis kill Americans it is even worse. Iraquis have killed so many americans lately that I think I’ll flip-flop and say that when Iraquis kill other Iraquis, It’s a “good thing”!
October 11th, 2004 at 7:39 pm
WOOHOO! Johnny, you are the true definition of an american idiot!
October 11th, 2004 at 7:40 pm
Amanda, wake up you are not using your brain (probably your brain is as tiny as a fish brain no wonder) I agree that Sadam is an evil leader so as hundreds in different nations. How come Bush is not invading these countries that have evil dictator?
October 11th, 2004 at 7:50 pm
evil dictators dont like to mess with other evil dictators when they might get their butt whupped
October 11th, 2004 at 8:00 pm
Some day we will all probably look back on these days and laugh while bit*%ing about the high taxes
October 11th, 2004 at 8:09 pm
I’ve had enough of this crap for one night, think I’ll have one more beer and watch fox news for a little while and get really pissed off before I crash so I can get up in time to look for a real job again
October 11th, 2004 at 8:18 pm
Amanda, for the sake of discussion, FORGET ABOUT IRAQ… it is too emotionally charged an issue. Has Bush made any mistakes in anything that he has done that has absolutely nothing to do with Iraq, the war, or terrorists??????
October 11th, 2004 at 8:25 pm
By the way Amanda, it has been proven time and again that Saddam had nothing to do with the thousands of Americans that died on 9/11. NOTHING AT ALL TO DO WITH IT.
But, again, lets forget about Iraq.
Has he made any mistakes about dealing with the economy? how about funding education? how about real prescription drug coverage that doesn’t just make billions for the drug companies? how about creating a few jobs other than those at MacDonalds or Walmart? how about spending the surplus and creating a defecit that your grand children will still be paying for? how about tax cuts for the top 5% and pennies for the rest of us? Anything Amanda???
Any mistakes at all?
October 11th, 2004 at 8:33 pm
Is it just me or does Bush act like the true “Yell Leader” that he really is when he blurts out “My opponent can run, but he can’t hide” I wonder why shrub didnt get on the baseball or basketball team? “Yell Leader”, c’mon people, gimme a break, this is America, we can do better than this. really!
October 11th, 2004 at 10:07 pm
Well, its common knowledge that a great deal of politicians and past Presidents rely on spin doctors to put the squeeze on their opponents.
This is merely taking it one step further, and I am not surprised that Bush, considering the manner in which he has muddled words in past speeches, and his inability to beat Kerry in the previous debate, would cheat to gain points on Kerry.
I have little love for John Kerry, though I must admit that he has more charisma and stage presence than Bush.
I think this stunt, if it is true, shows that Bush is somewhat afraid of Kerry.
Back on the subject at hand - as the grandson AND son of a tailor I think that it is laughable to expect the public to believe that the mysterious rectangular “bulge” was in fact an error by Bush’s tailor, or that it was caused by Bush “hunching”.
A cheap, ill fitting suit could bulge in a similar matter, but this is the President, wearing a custom made suit by one of America’s most respected and sought after tailors.
But whether it is true or not, Bush supporters will claim that this is yet another conspiracy to de-throne Bush, and Kerry supporters will emphatically claim that it WAS a reciever.
October 11th, 2004 at 10:29 pm
What a shame. George Bush has cheated his way through his entire life, yet there are many who would continue to support him and his (Rove’s?) mistaken policies. The “wired Bush” should be enough to convince anyone but the most loyal party members that the man is not fit to do the job. He is simply too much of a light weight.
October 11th, 2004 at 10:58 pm
go bush, you know hes gonna win, you all know it MUWAHHHAHAHHAH, he won fair and square in 2000 and hes gonna win in 04, you liberls and all of your contraband and propaganda are just sore loosers and hard headed, get a life becuse your just gonna be loosers again.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 11th, 2004 at 11:03 pm
I am getting the sneaky suspition that Amanda is the moderator trying to keep the conversation going. Someone with such contrived opinions would never end up on this page nor be interested in opposing views. Amanda apperars to be playing devils advocate.
October 11th, 2004 at 11:33 pm
I work for a telemarketing company taking care of the phone system. The sales department using shadowing ALL THE TIME to help train the new sales employees.
Basically a new employee gets the right person on the line and then rings a bell for a “closer” to come over. The closer plugs in their headphone into a “Y” adapter on the employee’s phone so they can hear the call. Then the closer tells the sales employee what to say and they repeat it right back to the customer.
It’s AMAZING to watch them do this. They become puppets only there are no strings. The technique is so easy and so effective, that I can totally believe this is done to Bush.
I think the only reason why Bush stumbles is because Bush either tries to insert his own words into the dialog or the feeder can’t respond fast enough. Our sales pitch is pretty canned, and the shadow never deviates from the pitch.
October 12th, 2004 at 12:19 am
Bush will win Florida because his brother counts like GW wants him too. Has George W. ever done anything on his own and won fair and square.
October 12th, 2004 at 2:01 am
C’mon folks, from all sides that is. It accomplishes nothing to sling insults, attack chosen posters like Amanda repeatedly, talk pointless trash against this candidate or party or that, and the childish name-calling just tops it! *sigh* I know folks get passionate about things, but all of that behavior simply entrenches people in their positions - whether they’re right or wrong - and it convinces no one since nothing of value can make it through all the static. When our brains set to tune out the clatter, we miss the whispers of reason, and when our minds focus on “hey, he called me a *%$@& !” everything said before and after that disappears into an invisible abyss.
I am definitely NOT a debater kind of person because I lose all internal cohesion in such a potentially hostile atmosphere where such behavior is commonplace, but when a discussion degrades to insults and name-calling, no one listens, and certainly no one is converted, the only people to hear at that point are the people who already share the viewpoint of the screamer of the moment.
Ya know what I do notice that I think is important? Here in the posts, in the “answers” that we get from the candidates, in the stilted and limited news coverage… the people who don’t support Bush or our results in Iraq or other results of this presidency, and people who are firm in at least questioning the strange bulges in George’s expensive wardrobe tend to be making consistently direct statements and asking pointed questions… while the people that wish to back Bush and/or slam Kerry fall into what is quickly becoming a discernible pattern - empty denials, no clear, definitive, verifiable answers to those pointed questions, a series of verbal diversion tactics, name-calling and insults and partisan labeling, and changing the subject with every breath to try to throw the naysayers off balance because there are no acceptable answers that aren’t full of holes. Seems to me that this conspicuous pattern coupled with the original issue of wires and earpieces is something valid to focus some attention and energy on, not wasting it in exchanging empty insults and mud slinging with them, because then nobody’s right and everybody gets dirty.
Love and peace and all that stuff…. now we return you to your regularly scheduled pointless mud slinging. :)
October 12th, 2004 at 2:10 am
lol
October 12th, 2004 at 4:32 am
I am South African and I think the whole world should decide who is president of the US since he is in essence the leader of the entire world and thus far Americans are too close-minded to realise that their president is %@$ing over the whole world in the process.
October 12th, 2004 at 5:02 am
I second the comments of Mary. The true struggle of America right now is how to quit bashing the other side and get down to business. The press likes to zero in on the blurbs of the extreme on either side and leave common sense twisting in the wind. We are being let down by our own want for new news everyday. Running a country is not inventing a brand new quotable quote each day- it’s about a national and international version of paying the water, gas and electric bill, plus working to truly improve things. Ranting and throwing mud is the governmental/household version of domestic violence. We have a dysfunctional press and political system in other words.
October 12th, 2004 at 5:17 am
Odd… the ways the mind works in the wee hours sometimes… I find myself rather steriley debating the many revolting bodily functions and/or bodily fluids that “Anon” could have intended by use of his tactful expletive…. *snicker*
Greetings to our contributing counterpart on the opposite quadrant of our shared planet! (never mind, I get a little peculiar/loopy/”wonky” sometimes when I’ve been up far too long) :)
Regardless of my momentarily questionable state of mind (*giggle*), thank you for some comparitively placid and rational thoughts from beyond our own self-centered borders! You just may have a long overdue and fresh idea, and one that bears some consideration should *they* (the powers that be) ever pull their collective heads from (choose an oriface!) to consider the potential applications of such ideas. :)
Nighty night all (5 am?!?), a few hours later for me than would have been ideal I’m sure, stayed far too caught up in various research pursuits online tonight. Thank goodness I don’t have to be anywhere this morning, but at least I’m sure in a more pleasant state of mind than some of the folks when they’ve been posting in here! Has anyone else been catching a scent of firey brimstone in this place now and then? *hehe* And as someone’s prolly gonna wonder… no, I’m stone sober, just tired enough to be less conversationally scholarly than earlier. Ta ta! :)
October 12th, 2004 at 5:26 am
Well, I’m also a South African, and I believe that the US is actually on the right course believe it or not. The proof, like with the fight against communism will not be seen in the next 2 or 3 years, but in the next 2 or 3 decades.
History will be kinder to Bush than his contemporaries.
October 12th, 2004 at 6:48 am
Anon,
What the heck? The world should not decide who is to be the President of America. That is crazy! I mean that is like saying that America should decide who runs British Parliment or the African tribes. You guys would never stand for that okay. That is just stupid. If the world would like to decide who the president is going to be then you might as well just give yourselves up and become part of the United States of America. Listen to yourself before you say something that senseless.
Now to the rest of you who are saying that this election does not have to consider the war with Iraq or terrorism or anything like that. Well, I don’t understand you and think that you are living in some kind of fairy world because that seems to be one of the major issues that both candidates are debating on in the Presidential debates. I mean everything revovles around whether or not the American People agree that we should have gone into Iraq or not. It is almost one of the deciding factors in who your are going to vote for.
Amanda,
I like your comments. I think that a lot of them are very fair and relevant comments. And if you are the moderator then way to go because you have made things pretty dang interesting. Onward and Forward with your messages!
October 12th, 2004 at 7:02 am
OK. It can’t be his tailor’s fault. He’s not packing. It’s not a receiver for his master’s voice. It’s not his battery pack. It’s not even his on/off switch. But c’m on, debate committee. c’mon republican spokespeople…IT MUST BE SOMETHING! It is obviously there! What is it then?
…or could he just have forgotten to take out the coathanger?
October 12th, 2004 at 7:44 am
Alex, see where you get hostile here? Anon feels this idea, he’s not shoving it down your throat. So why the personal attack and mean words? I’ve had the same idea - since the U.S. impacts the world, we should all vote for the prez. Like all new ideas, it is misperceived and mocked at the beginning. But once an idea catches fire, soon all countries are electing the leader of the world. Think Ancient Rome, where foreigners were given Roman citizenship and allowed access to the Senate and the right to vote. In fact, foreigners became emperors and saved the city from potential destruction.
OK, let’s hear it Alex. Let’s hear from your belligerent side here: dumb, stupid, senseless, insane, etc etc. Got anything intelligent to say besides, oh yes, spouting irrelevant pseudo-parallels?
October 12th, 2004 at 7:47 am
Hey, who is getting hostile now, Charles?
October 12th, 2004 at 8:12 am
Amanda, I suggested forgetting about Iraq and the war and terrorists for a few minutes to try to clear the table and get you to ADMIT THAT GEORGE BUSH HAS MADE AT LEAST ONE MISTAKE IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS OF HIS ‘LEADERSHIP’.
Of course I realize that the war and terrorists are of prime importance, but that seems to be the only thing that the Bushies keep bringing up. You STILL AVOID answering my question… Can you name any mistakes he has made? HE CAN’T!!!
The Idiot Bush was asked in the second debate to name three mistakes he has made, and he can’t come up with anything. This complete inability to review ones actions and admit to even an occasional mistake and then CORRECT IT is an example of the complete weakness of this man. ANYONE holding the office of President of the US for four years HAS TO HAVE COMMITTED A FEW MISTAKES, SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, AND THE INABILITY TO RECOGNIZE THEM AND CORRECT AT LEAST A FEW OF THEM IS A MAJOR CHARACTER FLAW, and that is the problem with Bush, HE IS THE PERSONIFICATION OF A MAJOR CHARACTER FLAW.
T v1LLy, your comments are so foolish and simple minded that they don’t even deserve a response.
As Mary has noted, the Bushies in large numbers resort to name calling and insults in their replies, but never seem to answer serious questions with serious answers. There seems to be a common bond of simple minded fanaticism to many of the Bush supporters.
October 12th, 2004 at 9:10 am
Amanda….the Republican party preys on the ignorance in this country
and you are a prime example!!!!!!!!!!!
October 12th, 2004 at 9:45 am
Can i just say something please. I am Canadian and obviously my opinion will not matter to most, but come on now people!! Bush wants to spread democracy accross the world which is an excellent idea, but there’s just one problem - America hasn’t figured out democray yet. Your 2000 Florida incident is proof of that. People were denied the right to vote. Gore actually won the popular vote, but because a court says stop counting, Bush wins? Thats democracy? I even heard that there will be outside(UN?)observers watching over the US election this year. How are you supposed to promote an idea when you haven’t even perfected it yet? Oh ya, and of course that’s a battery pack!! Everyone in the world can see that, unless you’re a conservative/republican. Bush is an idiot. (Sorry, I had to slip that one in there!!)
October 12th, 2004 at 10:04 am
Hi there,
I am from the “good old! Europe” and the only thing I want to comment on this issue, is that it is a pitty (and quite shocking) that the so called World Leading Nation obviously is not able to make a fair and democratic election. I think, that a country which claims to have the right to judge other countries´ politics and use their financial, intelligence and military power to bring down governments (and you know that USA does that every once in a while…) should first earn this position with own trustfull political leaders and a stable ethical and political situation. How can you spread the word of your way of life, if you deliver so many arguments against it on the other hand?
October 12th, 2004 at 10:42 am
To Ponyboy and Ralph:
HOW RIGHT YOU BOTH ARE. AND THOSE OF US WHO AREN’T BLINDED BY THE IDIOT BUSH AND HIS AGENDA FULLY AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU. DON’T GIVE UP HOPE. THE IDIOT BUSH’S DAYS IN POWER ARE QUICKLY COMING TO AN END, AND HE WON’T BE ABLE TO HAVE MUCH OF AN EFFECT ON THE WORLD WHILE SHOVELING SHIT IN CRAWFORD TEXAS.
THE END OF THE BUSH REGIME IS IN SIGHT. THE LATEST VALID POLLS GIVE KERRY A 3 TO 4 PERCENT EDGE, AND THAT ISN’T COUNTING THE NEWLY REGISTERED VOTERS WHO ARE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR OF KERRY.
AFTER THE NEXT DEBATE THE POLLS WILL BECOME EVEN MORE IN KERRY’S FAVOR. GRANTED THERE IS A FEAR THAT HE IS GOING TO TRY TO STEAL THE ELECTION REGARDLESS OF THE ACTUAL OUTCOME, BUT IF THIS ELECTION ISN’T LEGITIMATE THERE WILL BE A CIVIL UPRISING IN THIS COUNTRY THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MINDS AWAY, AND THE BUSHIES KNOW THAT.
‘YOU CAN FOOL SOME OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME, AND THOSE ARE THE ONES I HAVE TO FOCUS ON TO BE RE ELECTED PRESIDENT, EVEN THOUGH I WASN’T REALLY ELECTED THE FIRST TIME.’ FROM THE THOUGHTS OF GEORGE W. BUSH
October 12th, 2004 at 12:46 pm
On the BBC World show Dateline London this past weekend, Adam Raphael, a former journalist for The Economist, one of the world’s most respected business magazines, reminded viewers that if Bush was running for president in any European country at all, he’d get approximately zero per cent of the vote.
We Brits just look at you Americans in disbelief. If Bush were running to be mayor of a small village here, he’d get no votes - he’s just seen as a totally incompetent idiot. No one as inarticulate as Bush would stand a chance in any municipal election, ever.
If you guys vote for George a second time, unfortunately international opinion will consider all Americans to be as stupid as he is.
October 12th, 2004 at 12:55 pm
NO…Bush has not made any mistakes. There is no such thing as a “mistake” when you’re the leader of this country. When you make an Executive decision…it’s going to have an outcome. It depends upon who you are and what you think for something to be a mistake. Some people might say…”I don’t think that we should be in Iraq because it’s killing innocent people and the President has made a mistake”…and I respect that because that is an opinion. I’m not trying to say whether your opinions are wrong or right. I’m voiceing my opinion because it’s my right. And if you disagree with me…so be it…because EVERY single person in this country deserves the right to be heard.
Now you can think that I’m some devil’s advocate…or some dumb Republican trying to get a rise out of you…but I’m not. You can’t KNOW what you believe in…or what you think…until you’ve heard all sides of an issue. And that’s what I’m doing…because if I was an independent voter who wasn’t sure on who I would be voting for…I would want to hear all sides of an issue. SO…that’s what I’m doing…and I respect every opinion…because there is NO wrong or right; it’s in the eye of the beholder.
October 12th, 2004 at 1:26 pm
Right on EDL. I hope piglet and I didn’t come off as anti-american or anything, because no doubt America is (was?) the greatest place on the planet. If the Canadian government wanted to spread democracy accross the world, I would give them shit too. I would tell them you can’t impose a way of life on people just because it is our way of life. And our democracy is full of errors too. Anyone who watches Lou Dobbs will know that maybe our form of democracy isn’t the best.
In theory, democracy is who shouts the loudest. In the U.S., it’s who has the most money.
Our way of life is slowly deteriorating and yet we in the west want to impose this way of life upon others?
PS - Poor Amanda, you’ve had a rough day!!
October 12th, 2004 at 1:49 pm
damn canadians…we should nuke em’. why is tony blair bush’s budd