Think Progress

The Truman show.

By Faiz Shakir on May 27th, 2006 at 2:52 pm

The Truman show.

President Bush invoked the name of former President Harry Truman 17 times today in his West Point commencement address. “Bush drew parallels between Mr Truman’s Cold War efforts and his own in fighting global terrorism.” One Truman quote that Bush did not invoke today: “I never did give them hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell.”



51 Responses to “The Truman show.”

  1. Jimi says:

    Sad, just sad comparing this, his debacle of a Presidency to Harry Truman’s? Whoooaa


  2. G.W.SuperChrist says:

    What no mention of the “do nothing congress”?


  3. Erroll says:

    Great, great observation. This administration’s entire tenure in office has consisted of one falsehood after another. This global war on terrorism has taken a page from 1984, a war that, in the eyes of the neoconservatives, will seemingly never end. The key factor on this everlasting war on terror is to keep the idea of fear alive in the American people, thereby enabling Bush to ignore what a true war president [FDR] said: “The only thing you have to fear is fear itself”. I am also continually amazed that Bush can give speeches like this at a place like West Point, lecturing the cadets about patriotism, while he himself made sure, through the intercession of his family and friends, that he would never set foot on a field of combat while wearing a military uniform.


  4. Subway Serenade says:

    Al Gore was correct on SNL when he called Bush the Baseball Commisioner.

    50 Ways To Dump The Dubya


  5. Ron says:

    Dewey defeats Truman

    Bush defeats Gore

    Bush cries wolf, but not before 911. Now, he never stops.


  6. Paul says:

    Here is a Truman quote Bush would dare not use.

    Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.
    Harry S Truman, August 8, 1950
    33rd president of US (1884 – 1972)


  7. theroachman says:

    Did Bush mention in his speach that Harry Truman gave the order to nuke Japan?


  8. Gerald Gibson says:

    WELL —HE ALSO DIDNT QUOTE TRUMAN WHEN HE SAID

    “THE BUCK STOPS HERE”

    Comment by ANVILHEAD

    Thats probably because everyone knows he passes the buck at every opportunity… a silver spoon over inflated brat.


  9. Zookeeper says:

    Mr. Bush, you are no Harry S Truman.

    GWB is so inadequate, it’s dangerous.


  10. Paperclip says:

    Truman?

    *Truman brutally punished the Japanese* for suicide bombing Pearl Harbor.

    Whereas *Bush has empowered Al Dawa*, a well known terrorist group which is known to have fathered Hezbollah.

    In 1983, a suicide bomber from *Al Dawa suicide bombed the US Embassy* in Kuwait.

    In 1984, four men from *Al Dawa highjacked* a Kuwait airbus travelling from Kuwait to Pakistan.

    They held the plane for six days.

    During this time, these *four men from Al Dawa shot and killed two Americans*: namely, Mr Charles Hegna and Mr William Stanford.

    Mr Bush and his supporters have inadvertently fathered a burgeoning Islamic republic with extremely close ties to Iran in direct response to the horrific attacks of 9/11.

    Where’s the outrage?


  11. Chris Martin says:

    Sorry if this seems harsh, but Bush cannot compare himself with any previous president.

    I would prefer one thousand Nixons to this idiot. He is by far the worst we have seen. He lacks any scruples, is possibly the least intelligent, and has not only destroyed the American way of life to a certain extent, but has totally disrupted global dynamics. The entire middle east stands at the brink because of this idiot. Iran and China are the great beneficiaries of the GWB era.

    2000 Election ? Never before in the US has a man taken power knowing he does not deserve it. The sheer audacity of this man disturbs me greatly.


  12. katy says:

    zookeeper – you still here?
    i happened on a site this morning, and i thought of you and cyra and sharon:
    http://www.nwprogressive.org/portal/
    Pacific NW Portal – News & Information for Progressives

    i didn’t take the time to read through it, but thought i’d pass it along…


  13. katy says:

    zookeeper – you still here?
    i happened on a site this morning, and i thought of you and cyra and sharon:
    http://www.nwprogressive.org/portal/
    Pacific NW Portal – News & Information for Progressives

    i didn’t take the time to read through it, but thought i’d pass it along…


  14. katy says:

    sorry about the double post, folks…
    i keep getting WordPress windows whenever is click to post or refresh – had a hard time getting here at all…
    anyone else having trouobles?
    judd?

    if it happens again, with this, i’m giving up tonight… may anyway, the dog wants to walk and SNL is on soon…


  15. katy says:

    sorry about the double post, folks…
    i keep getting WordPress windows whenever is click to post or refresh – had a hard time getting here at all…
    anyone else having trouobles?
    judd?

    if it happens again, with this, i’m giving up tonight… may anyway, the dog wants to walk and SNL is on soon…


  16. Paperclip says:

    If Bush is Truman, who is Karzai?

    Afghanistan keen on developing trade, economic ties with Iran

    Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Saturday that Kabul government wishes to develop trade and economic cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

    He told reporters after he was accorded a formal welcome by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the Presidential Office that Iran-Afghan relations enjoyed extensive progress in the past four years.

    President Karzai said that Iran has exercised excellent cooperation with Kabul government on Afghan reconstruction and the people of Afghanistan are thankful for Iranian contribution to the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

    He said that Afghan nation will never forget the hospitality of Iranian nation and government in the past 20 years in hosting Afghan refugees forced to leave home during two series of devastating wars.

    Karzai expressed pleasure that volume of Iranian exports to Afghanistan reached dlrs 500 million and noted that Afghanistan had not been able to boost its exports to Iran yet.

    “Afghanistan is capable of exporting industrial products to Iran, if the two countries develop joint venture industry in Afghanistan,” President Karzai said.

    President Ahmadinejad said at the joint press conference that he wished President Karzai’s visit to Tehran would serve to open a new period of growing relations between Tehran and Kabul.

    He said that the two nations have cultural common ground and strong amity adding that Iran regards progress of Afghanistan as its own and the Islamic Republic of Iran believes that Afghanistan should strive to remedy the damages inflicted by foreign invasion and perpetual war in the country.

    President Ahmadinejad said that the two nations of Iran and Afghanistan share the happiness or sadness of one another.
    “Iranian nation has stood by the Afghans and will do so in future too.”

    He said that Iran is keen on developing cooperation with Afghanistan on agriculture, telecom, modern technology, transport, Information Technology (IT), science and technology, education and culture.
    President Karzai arrived in Tehran on Saturday.


  17. Paperclip says:

    Truman?

    This is so confusing.

    Who is Dr Rice then?

    Who is Karzai and Ahmadinejad?

    “Iran has exercised excellent cooperation with Kabul government on Afghan reconstruction,” Karzai was quoted as saying.

    Rice called Iran a troublemaker and a central banker of terrorism*. She said it was strange even to discuss security guarantees when Ahmadinejad threatens Israel, fosters terrorism in the Middle East and makes violence in southern Iraq.


  18. Red says:

    Only 17 times? Bush is so subtle!


  19. Clyde the Ripper says:

    In my opinion President Truman was the greatest President of my lifetime (since 1933). Undoubtedly the fraud in the White House now is the worst. I could fill the page with 70 years of curses and cusses if I thought it would get rid of the useless bastard (figuratively speaking) but I shall retain my dignity. I will in no way allow anyone to compare President Truman to the useless piece of doggy defication domiciled in the District impersonating a dignitary.

    Click on Clyde!


  20. Bluein Texas says:

    Clyde,
    I would dispute your evaluation of Truman, I personally think that Roosevelt was the best president in the twentieth century. It was Roosevelt that gave hope to an American society that had lost hope as a consequence of the Great Depression. Roosevelt, though he was an elite, had the common mans interests at heart. Roosevelt guided the country throught the majority of World War II, and as a consequence set the stage for the post-war economic growth. Roosevelts legacy is the progressive policies that Bush and his cabal are currently trying to destroy. Roosevelt railed against people like Bush, and those who support him.
    Unlike Roosevelt, bush and his ilk would have us depend on people like Ken Lay for our old age security.
    Roosevelt only went to war as a last resort, and unlike Bush’s war, WWII was a just war, if there is such a thing.

    Paperclip
    Post on topic


  21. Dave in IL says:

    The day George Bush tells the truth, it will be a cold day in hell.


  22. Bush Bites says:

    NICE TRY CHIMP, BUT FORGET IT.

    YOUR LEGACY IS SET.

    YOU’RE NIXON ALL THE WAY.


  23. troll alert says:

    # 24:

    I’m not a Nixon fan,but he is way preferable to G.W.B..
    No contest.


  24. Bluestocking says:

    One Truman quote that Bush did not invoke today: “I never did give them hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell.”

    ******************

    I strongly suspect that this is because Bush appears to have great difficulty telling the truth. To compound the problem, I strongly suspect that the man lies to himself as well — otherwise, I sincerely doubt that he’d be able to sleep at night (yet according to his wife, he reportedly sleeps like a rock). You simply can’t tell other people the truth when you’re lying to yourself…it’s just not possible. You know what they say about some liars — they’ve sold so much snake oil to so many people that not even they know what the real truth is anymore…


  25. Bluein Texas says:

    Sociopaths are not troubled by conscience, therefore they have no problem sleeping.


  26. RS Janes says:

    “I never did give them hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell.”

    Even if Bush had used that Truman quote, you just know he would have botched it: “I never gave anybody hell. I just tortured them until they told me the truth and they thought it was hell. And it was all legal, my top law man up at the Justice Department told me.”


  27. Ho Chi Minh says:

    Bush thinks he’s another Truman? BS! Bush is so evil that he makes Nixon look like Mother Theresa.


  28. troll says:

    It must really suck to know that a man whom you consider so inept in so many ways was bright enough to beat your guy…..twice.


  29. Mash says:

    troll at #29, this is what your man’s legacy will be. Winning elections does not a great President make.


  30. dumbstruck says:

    Bush would have read ANYTHING that was put before him and he would have quoted ANYTHING Truman said without shame and without batting an eye.

    He simply doesn’t care what thinking people think. He’s pandering to the base.


  31. GSD says:

    The Decider is desperately seeking a legacy. This makes Clinton’s efforts to secure peace between Israel and Palestine look positively non-political.

    The Chimp chose Truman because Truman was rated very low in the polls when he left and has gained in stature since.

    But, El Chimpo, the President doesn’t get to choose how his legacy is written. You have to wait. So Chimpster, stop trying to game the playing field. You are in the shits and you’ll stay there for a long time even if you want to compare yourself to Truman, Roosevelt or Lincoln. Try Franklin Pierce you loser.

    -GSD


  32. Lora says:

    I agree with troll alert in #24. I once thought I would never dislike a president more than Nixon, but here he is. Nixon at least had some respect for the environment. Now Dumbya is trying to get rid of almost all environmental protections, including those initiated by the Nixon administration.

    To Troll in #29,
    Nixon was definitely elected twice, and his legacy isn’t so good, is it? As for Bush being “bright enought to beat (our) guy…twice,” the election was hardly a competition of brains, and it is quite dubious that GWB actually won twice–particularly in 2000.


  33. Clyde the Ripper says:

    #21 Bluein Texas

    Would you settle for a tie?

    #30 Mash

    I think “Stealing elections…” would be closer to the truth.

    Click on Clyde for the chimp/chump of the day.


  34. Paperclip says:

    Paperclip
    Post on topic
    Comment by Bluein Texas

    Bluein Texas: Kiss my ass.

    : )


  35. troll alert says:

    # 33 Lora:
    Me likey.

    # 29
    DING DING DING DING
    troll.


  36. Marie says:

    Some great Truman quotes today that Bush obviously skipped over.
    Comparing himself to Truman, the incompetent and dangerously belligerent boy-king inadvertently illustrates their differences.


  37. Marie says:

    #29 It must really suck to know that a man whom you consider so inept in so many ways was bright enough to beat your guy…..twice.
    Using Bush and bright in the same sentence is an oxymoron. He was certainly not elected due to his intelligence — he was (s) elected by cronyism, outright lies, smear campaigning and voter disenfranchisement.
    He has done nothing to be proud of. Under his reign, the US and its people have suffered.


  38. Rebel With A Cause says:

    Georgie Boy, I knew Harry Truman, and you are no Harry Truman!


  39. troll alert says:

    # 38 Marie:

    Mam,you are correct.


  40. Mash says:

    #34 Clyde the Ripper, I stand corrected :)


  41. Zookeeper says:

    #14 – Thanks katy, COOL SITE! I will probably abandon TP now. ;)


  42. katy says:

    #14 – Thanks katy, COOL SITE! I will probably abandon TP now. ;)
    Comment by Zookeeper — May 28, 2006 @ 1:49 pm

    SURELY YOU JEST!!! but, really, is it worthwhile?
    i can’t tell if you’re kidding… except this ;) may be a hint…


  43. Nova16 says:

    It is always good to hear Bush speak in tongues. It is more than one can tolerate when he champions the minimal achievements made in Iraq by the current radical shiite government. He cites with euphoria that by the end of 2007, Iraqi security will be in control of the country. Control of what is the question? After three(3)+years of destruction, thousands of dead civilians and soldiers, others wounded and maimed and nearly $300 billion dollars squandered with no end in sight, the dolt has the inmitigated gall, the audacity and the stupidity to compare himself to Harry S. Truman. This man does not have the qualities, skill, character, and demeanor required for the high office of the presidency. By default, he has no claim in any way shape or form to compare himself with any president, failed or successful.


  44. Stupid Republicans says:

    “I learned some lessons about expressing myself maybe in a little more sophisticated manner, you know,” Bush said softly.

    Stealing the words and ideas of Harry Truman doesn’t make you a sophisticated speaker dumbass!


  45. Stupid Republicans says:

    Paperclip
    Post on topic
    Comment by Bluein Texas

    Bluein Texas: Kiss my ass.

    Yeah, I hate when people try to tell me what to do too.

    Post whatever you want Paperclip. Free speech still exists in this country.


  46. Jiggs Kincaid says:

    After almost eight years in the White House, Truman left Washington in 1953, carrying his own bags and not a cent of the government’s money or anybody else’s.

    When his time to leave comes in two years, will Bush, current net worth, $24 million, want to compare himself yet again to Truman?


  47. OxyCOnservative says:

    The reason Bush and his Bushlngs are now comparing him to Truman is because Truman polled extremely low while he was in office, but polls well now.
    Of course, Bush doesn’t let the polls influence him…….ROTFLMAO!


  48. Zookeeper says:

    #43 – katy, you may assume I am kidding at all times, unless I’m telling a troll to f*ck off. I shall leave only kicking and screaming. ;)

    Can you believe it, I’m missing my hike because it got SNOWED OUT!? Arrrghhh!


  49. Enja says:

    Bush and the Truth can’t be used in the same sentence. It’s an oxy-moron.


  50. Rum and Beer says:

    To #17 I would like to point out one over looked fact in all of this.

    1.) Who supported the taliban after the Russian left and American left?

    It was Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Both of these governments recognized the government of the taliban and gave them support.

    2.)What Nations opposed the Taliban in Afganistan and gave support to the northern alliance that opposed the taliban?

    This was Indian and Iran. In the end India gave Military aid and Iran allowed a large number of refugees in who then sent support to the northern alliance. (It is truly sad that large number of women fled to Iran to get a relatively more freedom.)

    I do not agree with the Afgan Presidents position but in the end who helped to keep the alliance alive… and who only came around when they were convenient allies?

    Rum & Beer the Canadian


  51. big papa says:

    “You WILL believe I’m Harry Truman”

    “You WILL believe I’m Harry Truman”

    “You WILL believe I’m Harry Truman”

    -GW Bush-

    …creating reality the old-fashioned way…

    …repetition of fallacies…



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