This thread is just Bush bashingFollow

Ok, because I skipped most of the talk here as being pointless left vs. right, with nothing new being added to Bush not doing his job, this is what I got from the last quotations:

paulsol the Righteous wrote:

President Bush said (June 9th) in answer to THIS question.

Quote:

Q Thank you. You've just told us that you and President Bush have just returned from your G8 summit. Now, the outcomes that have been stated on the many issues that you discussed -- climate, development, and the missile shield -- now, are those real -- is that real progress, or not? And the deadline for the Kosovo independence --

His answer was

Quote:

In terms of the deadline, there needs to be one. This needs to come -- this needs to happen. Now it's time, in our judgment, to move the Ahtisaari plan. There's been a series of delays. You might remember there was a moment when something was happening, and they said, no, we need a little more time to try to work through a U.N. Security Council resolution. And our view is that time is up.

The next day he was asked

Quote:

Q Thank you, Mr. President. Yesterday you called for a deadline for U.N. action on Kosovo. When would you like that deadline set? And are you at all concerned that taking that type of a stance is going to further inflame U.S. relations with Russia? And is there any chance that you're going to sign on to the Russian missile defense proposal?

His answer was

Quote:

PRESIDENT BUSH: Thanks. A couple of points on that. First of all, I don't think I called for a deadline. I thought I said, time -- I did? What exactly did I say? I said, "deadline"? Okay, yes, then I meant what I said.

There. That wasnt so difficult now, was it?

Clarification please. How can Bush be in two places at the same time? There's a typo, but who's is it?

And when you read the full transcript, you find (shocker) that Bush didn't "call for a deadline". He was asked about one by a reporter and responded to the question. Deadline wasn't his word. It was the reporters word. You'll note that other then as a reference to the reporters question (on the subject of a "deadline"), he doesn't actually use the word when describing what he wants and why.


The second question is a semantic one. You can clearly see where he starts to say "timeline", thinking that's what he'd said the day before. Interestingly enough, the NY Times left that portion out, leaving it to the reader to assume that he didn't remember what he talked about the day before, when in fact he was simply unsure of the exact *word* that had been used.


Yup. Spin. It's an irrelevant exchange. Actually, looking at the transcript there are a handful of other much more significant quotes one could have pulled if one actually wanted to report on the exchange. But instead the NY Times chose to quote the one that could be made to make Bush look the worst. Surprised? Not really...

Bush said



Sounds a lot like he's calling for a 'deadline' to me.

Poor guy never even had a chance to change the wording even if he wanted to. I imagine expecting him to remember the following day that he had used the term "deadline" is a bit much to ask.

Seriously, without any spin required, it's pretty plain to see he's not qualified to use the language.

Really? Because I read it like he couldn't hear the question very well, and than had it reiterated that he was being asked about a deadline. Then he answered the question using the same term, and then the next day he either tried to backtrack or he honestly forgot what had been his position the day before. Either way, if John Kerry had pulled some **** like this he probably would've been called all manner of names.

Its like picking a scab. I just cant help it sometimes.

That, and its slow at work.....

First off, you (just like the NY Times) left out a step. He didn't hear it well. Had it repeated, then he answered a *different* part of the question, then he came back to the deadline portion and repeated the same word. It's the fact that there's another answer in between the two that explains his use of the word. He didn't come up with it on his own. Bush talked about Kosovo earlier in the same discussion. He didn't mention a deadline. If his intent was to unveil one as part of US strategy/policy, that would have been the time to do it.

The reporters job description does not include setting US foreign policy. Asking a question and getting the president to repeat the same word you used (in this case "deadline") does not mean that this magically makes the deadline official policy. It just means that the president repeated the same word you used. It's pretty clear in this exchange that the reporter is *trying* to nail Bush down by using that specific term. Bush really shouldn't have fallen for it, but it's the kind of reporter trick that tends to work when you've got someone who's been traveling a lot and talking alot and is at the tail end of yet another one of those long talks.

Secondly, he wasn't backtracking on "his position". He didn't remember which word had been used the day before. Remember, this was not in the prepared portion of the event. It was Q&A. Most reporters realize that you can't put too much weight in the specific semantics used in those sessions (for exactly this reason). Even the NY Times doesn't usually stoop low enough to make a big deal out of it. But I suppose they couldn't help getting a laugh at Bush's expense in this case.

Whatever. It's a silly semantic slip up. It's obvious that he simply didn't remember which word had been used. To anyone not totally caught up in "nailing" Bush for something.



You aren't seriously comparing this to Kerry's gaff are you? They're worlds apart.

What a dumbass. Thanks for the transcript links.

Bush = teh phail

After he started off so good (better than average even)...even if it ended in 2k3, he had a good run for a bit.

Your argument is clearly a hollow semantic argument. When someone says "the time is up", that is, by definition, a deadline. Don't try to pull evasive maneuvers by questioning his understanding of some reporter's question. He was asked about a deadline, he said there needs to be one. "The time is up" were *his* words. The fact that he doesn't understand what he said the day before is downright idiotic. You're the one spinning here, gbaji. I'd think you were a political writer for the GOP, but you've mentioned before what your current profession is (not that I can remember myself). Your personal ideals and rhetoric are unimaginably convoluted...that, or you're just a highly elaborate and persistent troll.

I read somewhere that someone stole Bush's watch during a handshaking session with the crowd. Will try to find pics/story


Edit:Clickey!

Edited, Jun 13th 2007 1:03pm by Bertuz

Yet another proof that racism and prejudices are the cause of all good things in life.

Everything is liberal bias, according to gbaji.

Even the *****.

It's a bit like religiuos fanatics that bring everything back to God. Except that in this case, it's liberals.

Oh well, God, liberals, same difference I guess...