The "real" George story

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...go straight to the source to get the truth.

Sorry, but that is a commentary piece - not a news piece. The so-called meat of the story is hearsay. No source is named. Still, it's better than what was referenced before.

To be fair though, I'm willing to give this topic another try.

Let's keep it on the high road, please.

-Dave
 
People who drink large amounts of alcohol suffer from it. The brain shrinks in proportion to the long term amount consumed. And panic attacks are one symptom which may account for all the sputtering along with his peevishness. No excuse for ineptness or evil, just an armchair stab at analysis.
 
Fine, let's go with this one. Still says the same thing.

When a recent visitor asked him what assurance he could give about his successor in 2009, President Bush replied, "we'll fix it so he'll be locked in." The visitor left perplexed and wondered whether that might mean the U.S. would be in a wider war in the region by then. In any event, it didn't sound like twilight time for Mr. Bush.
A Texan friend of longstanding called on him recently and confided to his Washington hosts that Mr. Bush had said three times, bringing a clenched fist to his chest, "I'm the president." Reminding visiting political opponents of this would be normal, but the close friend said he was a taken aback a bit as he had never before seen Mr. Bush in this mode.


So why's he acting like that? Is it some deep-rooted problem? Medication? The stress of the job?
 
We already beat the alert thing to death, so here's another one from a credible source; Josh Bolten in reference to Dan Bartlett:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070601...resignation;_ylt=Aq7tpdb1HripG4nAuug.0dcD5gcF
He is known as someone who has Bush's ear, one of few people who can give the president bad news or tease him about wearing a brown suit disliked by the White House staff and nicknamed Big Brown.

"He can talk to the president in a candid way, in sort of a family way, that almost nobody else can," White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten told The Associated Press. "He can talk to him about Big Brown, he can joke with him.

That sound normal to you?
 
"That sound normal to you?"

That actually sounds like a lot of powerful people, Slash.

Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon were both well known for the absolutely towering rages they could go into when presented with bad news.

Bill Clinton wasn't exactly equanimous in similar situations.

My former father-in-law, a sitting judge when I knew him, could be a real freakshow when it came to getting bad news. And God forbid if you try to joke with "your honor." That's right, I HAD to call him "your honor." If he was feeling like letting his hair down, I could occasionally call him... Judge.

But, let's talk about you for a second...

I can't figure out whether you're desperate, or simply obsessed (but neither is good).

Over the last couple of months you've been seizing on anything and everything in a effort to 'prove' your contention that Bush is a multitude of negative things, from insane to criminal to alcoholic to whatever.

You come in here screeching about some new "proof" when it's nothing more than gossip sheet bull**** being passed off as 'news'.

You do realize that this obsessive behavior of yours puts you on the same level as what you're claiming about Bush, right?
 
The only thing I know is that here in Texas he was a pretty good governor and had the respect of both parties and a bi partisan effort in doing things. Bob Bullock a Democrat and the speaker and Bush worked well together. He went to Washington and he was liked a changed person. I voted for him the first time around as President. The second time I could not do so because he was a different person to me.
 
"He was like a changed person."

I'd be scared as hell if he WASN'T a changed person.

You really think you'd be the same person you were as governor of a state of 25 million when you're now leading a nation of 300 million?

Let's take a quick look at a few of the 'minor' things that might have caused George Bush to 'change' from that Texas good'ol'boy...

September 11

War in Afghanistan

War in Iraq

Being president of 50 diverse states, instead of governor of one.


I think it's the height of unrealistic expectations to expect the office of President NOT to change anyone.
 
Mike,
I'd be more than happy to discuss myself and my motivations via PM. But I'd like to leave this thread about him.

LBJ...directed the Vietnam war from his toilet from what I've heard. Yeah, I sure as heck wouldn't call *that* normal either. I don't recall such examples from Clinton or Nixon (which doesn't mean they don't exist).
 
Everyones personality quirks (and everyone has them) are magnified by exposure in the white house.

Suppose I was president..you would be calling me crazy when it gets reported that I do my Silence of the Lambs Dance? Even if I was a great president...

Thus: The economy is great, we are at peace and on TFL, there would be threads that Presdient WA is a Danger to World Peace since he rips off his clothes and dances naked in the Oval office, neh?

Ya want to critisize Dubya, focus on job performance, not on whether he signals staff with one of those siren whistle rings whist wearing a propellor beanie.

I personally prefer my public figures to have open quirks.


WildandihaveapropellorbeanieAlaska
 
WA,
Ahh...many would fuss about that, but I wouldn't be one of 'em. Your cracker jack box whistle, tuckin' it back, and propeller beanie wouldn't be personality quirks that would interfere with your job, unlike being unapproachable with bad news.

Reminds me of that Lew Black bit about Dubya being like a semi-trained bear with handlers (For God's sake, get the meat! He's in the audience, biting Democrats!)
Too close to the truth to really be funny anymore...

GoSlashwellmaybethetuckinitbackthingeww27
 
+1 on Wild's post. This is just another bash-the-President article.

Oh, how quickly the folks (who formerly screamed about the "politics of personal destruction") have forgotten......:D
 
Not bashing...just analysis.

Bush suffers from dumbness, not smart, makes stupid mistakes, and I voted for him the first time. I edge him out for being smart because I did learn my lesson and did not vote for him again. So, I am smarter than the President of the United States. Kinda scary, yes!:eek:
 
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Join Date: 11-26-2004
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,691

We already beat the alert thing to death, so here's another one from a credible source; Josh Bolten in reference to Dan Bartlett:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070601/...nAuug.0dcD5gcF
Quote:
He is known as someone who has Bush's ear, one of few people who can give the president bad news or tease him about wearing a brown suit disliked by the White House staff and nicknamed Big Brown.

"He can talk to the president in a candid way, in sort of a family way, that almost nobody else can," White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten told The Associated Press. "He can talk to him about Big Brown, he can joke with him.
That sound normal to you?

Actually, yes. The whole point of the statement was that this guy was closer to the Pres than the rest of the staff - a true friend. I would say that is as normal as it gets. Take it out of context if you like, but it is very obvious to any reasonable person that was the intended message.
 
Neither one of the above articles were Bush-bashing. A couple of quotes were pulled from articles a questioned in a negative light. The first (The Washington Times) wasn't negative. At the most, there was a visitor that wasn't bright enough to figure out what the Pres meant. The 2nd article (the Yahoo link) was actually a factual, yet flattering, story about Dan Bartlett and the Pres. But you can take nearly ANY paragraph and pull a line out to make the author appear to be saying something else. For instance - Here is a quote from GoSlash27 coming to the defense of the president, "We already beat the alert thing to death"
 
oldironman,
And my point is that IMO a "normal" response would be receptiveness to bad news from anybody on my staff, not just those I consider "close friends". I would want that bad news. Heck, I couldn't function without it!
It's part of the job; there *should* be disagreement, different options to be weighed, and information (good and bad) presented to influence decisions (always with the understanding that the final decision is the President's).
That's what leadership is all about, and throwing tantrums in response to unhappy news is not, IMO, a healthy way to run a country, an effective leadership trait, or indicative of a healthy personality.

As always...that's just me ;)
 
Hey its my opinion which I am entitled too....you don't even have to agree with it. I don't have to agree with yours.

I exercised my opinion by not voting for him a second time based on my perception of his job performance as President.

I believe he was wrong in Invading Iraq. If any good has been done in Iraq it is the result of the military people and not the administration. This administration says that it supports the troops. When I was deployed overseas my first taste of that support was an attempt to cut separation pay and imminent danger pay. Luckily Congress had the cajones to stand up to him and say no. Next he tried to gut the VA Home Loan program by only allowing veterans not on active duty to make it a one shot deal at the behest of those who wanted to make a few more dollars on the backs of veterans. Not to mention the constant underfunding of the Veterans Administration since he has taken office. He has put more money into the VA but that increase is short of what was needed. the VA had to go with its hat in its hand to request more funding one year. The debacles over lack of body armor and vehicle armor. he talks a good game when he says support of the troops during service and after their service but he doesn't walk the walk.

I will agree that President Bush has taken a change in course with firing Rumsfeld and the hiring of Gates. Also with his appointment of General Lute to oversee the war and report directly to him. Some changes he should have made a while ago. To me he has been like the ball in a pinball machine when it comes to the war in Iraq. I supported invading Iraq based on what he told us. It appears that he was wrong in why he started that war and has admitted those failures only after they were revealed. Like I said I gave him a failing grade after his first term and voted for somebody else.

As far as the economy its good for some not so good for others. I would rate it as a mixed bag. I do most of the shopping for the household and have watched the prices for basic goods increase and increase over again. I don't think those who work and are on the lower end of the economic scale would share your enthusiasm for the economy.

Then that immigration bill he supports stinks to high heaven. Hopefully the buzzards are circling over it right now.
 
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