Bush To Terrorists: ‘Do Not Be Joyful’ Over Midterm Election Results
Bush To Terrorists: ‘Do Not Be Joyful’ Over Midterm Election Results
Before the election, President Bush said on the campaign trail that if opponents of his Iraq policy were victorious, “the terrorists win and America loses.”
During his press conference earlier today, Bush returned to the same extreme rhetoric. Addressing “our enemies,” Bush said “do not be joyful” over the election results, or view them as evidence of America’s “lack of will.” Watch it:
Moments before his comments to “our enemies,” Bush claimed, “The message yesterday was clear: The American people want their leaders in Washington to set aside partisan differences.” Apparently the message wasn’t clear enough.
Full transcript:
To our enemies, do not be joyful. Do not confuse the workings of our democracies with a lack of will. Our nation is committed to bringing you to justice. Liberty and democracy are the source of America’s strength and liberty and democracy will lift up the hopes and desires of those you are trying to destroy.
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A uniter, not a divider.
What a profile in courage!
November 8th, 2006 at 2:20 pmHe doesn’t have to worry about that.
The terrorists are crying in their beer over this many of their biggest supporters getting voted out of office in the USA!
They know that Democrats will actually come after them, not just use them for political advantage. They know this from experience.
-
November 8th, 2006 at 2:21 pmAin’t nobody gonna break my stride, ain’t nobody gonna hold me down
OH NO
I gots ta keep on mooovin!
Congrats America!
November 8th, 2006 at 2:21 pmThe stifled quacking of a lame duck.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:21 pmNow that the Dems have control of the house and hopefully the senate, we can begin blaiming the failure of our Iraq policy on them!
We were SO CLOSE to victory! We would have won!
November 8th, 2006 at 2:23 pmI am a little confused. On CNN.com. They show in the Senate there are 50 Dem, 49 Repubs. 0 Ind, with VA to be decided. Aren’t Sanders and Lieberman Independants? That would mean 48-Dem, 49-Repub, 2-Ind so far….right? I am not raining on the parade because I think this election was great but can anyone explain this to me?
November 8th, 2006 at 2:26 pmOff Topic
Has anyone monitored what Limballs, O’lily and Faux news are saying this morning.
Hannity and the others should be a good laugh for today.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:27 pmHe’s the terrorist… what is the point of sayign something like that other than to keep people afraid..
sorry Dub the people aint buyign your sh!t anymore
November 8th, 2006 at 2:27 pmThere are a few Neocons who are asking for feedback today. Here were their predictions;
Mark Noonan, Blogs for Bush
I’ve been talking big about how well we’re going to do and my faith, shaken from time to time, never failed. Now it is to be put to the acid test - we shall know within 24 hours of this writing if I’ve been whistling past the graveyard, or have been realistic in my predictions. I’m standing by my words: the GOP gains seats in both Houses. [11/7/06]
Karl Rove, White House adviser
I’m looking at all of these [races] and adding them up. I add up to a Republican Senate and Republican House. You may end up with a different math but you are entitled to your math and I’m entitled to the math. [10/24/06]
Michael Novak, National Review
The Left is going to lose - big - because they have nothing noble, nothing beautiful, nothing real, nothing true, with which to lead. They are the merchants of illusion. And a significant majority of Americans, although not all, see through them. In a democratic election, however, it only takes a small majority to win. And the upcoming election of 2006 is not likely to be all that close. The Democrats piqued too soon. Just watch. [6/15/06]
Kathryn Jean Lopez, National Review
I’m putting my money on Republicans miraculously (not totally deservingly, but it’s not about deserving it) keeping the House and the Senate, painfully narrowly. [11/7/06] expand post »
Barron’s magazine
Our analysis — based on a race-by-race examination of campaign-finance data — suggests that the GOP will hang on to both chambers, at least nominally. We expect the Republican majority in the House to fall by eight seats, to 224 of the chamber’s 435. At the very worst, our analysis suggests, the party’s loss could be as large as 14 seats, leaving a one-seat majority. [10/23/06]
Vice President Dick Cheney
I think we’re going to do reasonably well. And I think we’ll hold the Senate, and I also think we got a good shot at holding the House. [10/17/06]
Jonah Goldberg, National Review
House: Dems +17 (whatever that math means).
Senate: R 53 - D 47.
Steele wins, Corker wins, Webb-Allen won’t be decided until recounts are finished, at which point Allen wins very narrowly. Chafee comes very close. [11/7/06]
Feel free to send them a thank you note for their “wisdom”
CON IDEALOGUES - RIP
November 8th, 2006 at 2:28 pm#2 Which is?
November 8th, 2006 at 2:29 pmThe Emperor is sounding so much like a sick lame unfit for duty kind of a duck.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:29 pmprob the most truth hes spoken. now the dems could move this country to start fighting the war against the terrorist instead of iraq
November 8th, 2006 at 2:30 pmHas anyone heard….RUMSFELD RESIGNS!! It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood
November 8th, 2006 at 2:31 pmhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6q780vKSfY&eurl=
November 8th, 2006 at 2:31 pm#6 - There are two (I) Senators who historiclly caucas with Democrats .Webb gives them majority regardless of Cheney’s vote.
Dems have won both houses.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:32 pmno one is listening to him anymore…remember bush,’lie to me once… aaa…..your to lame to know the rest of it…
November 8th, 2006 at 2:32 pmand then there were two…..lame duck and one who shoots ducks
November 8th, 2006 at 2:33 pm#14,
November 8th, 2006 at 2:35 pmWhile I agree that Sanders does but that Joe makes me wonder. Anyway time to dance on the grave of the worst Congress ever. I was just commenting on the shabby info on CNN.
How in the hell would Punky Brewster know anything about what would cause “joy” for the “terrorists” - It’s disgusting to see little Dubbie spinning like a gator with his jaws in a rotting hog carcass trying to make it sound like this election was his victory. Lying, cynical weasels, those Republicans - too bad even more of them didn’t get the boot yesterday.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:36 pmI think that maybe Pelosi and Reid should give Bush a number of chances to see if he will work well with others before they immediately launch into aggressive investigations of his numerous constitutional crimes. This is “strike one.”
Tracy, nice job of playing dumb. I’ve noticed it’s not too much of a stretch for you. First, Dems have been saying for a long time that they would pay more attention to bin Laden in Afganistan and possibly commit many more special forces there to actually try to catch al Qaeda bigshots. Second, when Clinton was in charge, his justice department actually went after the people who committed the first WTC bombing. They caught, indicted, convicted and imprisoned all those possible. Clinton also tried to kill bin Laden with cruise missles. Bush has actually never tried that hard to catch or kill bin Laden.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:40 pmI’m sorry, I meant to post that he imprisoned all those responsible.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:42 pmWhat the ***!!!???
If the opponents of the Iraq policy win, then America looses…. but wont lose??
You stupid chimp. You can’t have it both ways.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:42 pmI really didn’t think Bush actually believed the terrorists would rejoice over a democratic victory…then I watched him speak this morning.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:42 pmI’m imagining yesterday’s mandate from the American people has reduced the number of actual and potential enemies by about half…..
November 8th, 2006 at 2:42 pmGee, Chimpy, are you reminding your criminal gang that you can still get things done through signing statements and the established “laws” your puppets in the 109th Congress passed for you?
November 8th, 2006 at 2:42 pmBush has actually never tried that hard to catch or kill bin Laden.
Comment by Bluedog49
I actually heard from someone that Bush just doesn’t think about him that much. But that came dumbass so take it as it is.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:43 pm“to our ennemies”
Yeah, we all know how much the AlQaeda, jihad types look forward to watching Pres Bush’s speeches on CNN.
This is a sad, transparent ploy to remember his base that the terrorists want Democrats “to win”.
Pres Bush, stop peddling lies.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:43 pmhe was referring to rumsfeld’s resignation, not the midterm election results.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:43 pmResign Herr Bush and report to the Hague to be tried for war crimes!
November 8th, 2006 at 2:44 pmThe only people not happy about the Democrats revenge are the Republicans, the Bush White House, and the terrorists.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:44 pmIn my previous post
This is a sad, transparent ploy to remember his base that the terrorists want Democrats “to winâ€.
should read
This is a sad, transparent ploy to remind his base that the terrorists want Democrats “to winâ€.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:45 pmI was going to post these as the trolls popped up; but I find I don’t have the time, so I’ll just put these here:
You guys are gonna be spitting teeth on Nov 7th if current trends continue. The Fat Lady ain’t sung yet, but not even the DNC thinks it can win the Senate - and the House is no longer looking like a shoo-in. John in London
BREAKING NEWS……replay of 2004, DEMS OUT EARLY ON DIRTY EXIT POLLS, ONLY TO BE DEFEATED!
Comment by Jon Carry — November 7, 2006 @ 7:08 pm
The Elephants will be here to pick up the pieces after the Dems break everything.
Comment by Hoping for a late night surge — November 7, 2006 @ 8:42 pm
So sorry moonbats
It’s all an illusion you are iflicting upon yourselves. This happened in the last what, three elections now?
Yay yay we’re winning….we lost.
Damn that Karl Rove!! Let’s call blacks inept and drop the race card!! Let’s try recounts in all the dem areas only! Lie, cheat and steal if we must! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LOL
Comment by drew — November 7, 2006 @ 7:35 pm
CNN loved to revel in Republican defeat. I am sorry that Maryland and Virginia will most likely disappoint CNN and the other talking heads. Look for Steele to be sent to Washington.
Comment by Tim — November 7, 2006 @ 8:00 pm
YOU won’t win. You can’t win. It’s not meant to be.
Democrats across the county will contemplating suicide this time tomorrow. I’ll be there to cheer you on.
Comment by Surprise….. — November 7, 2006 @ 12:44 pm
So if Junior is down by only 3 points in exit polling, that means WE WIN. So don’t go calling us self-destructive or anything. It ain’t over ’til the fat lady concedes.
Comment by Rick — November 7, 2006 @ 6:23 pm
Nobody gave away more secrets the Slick-Willy. Here comes the Republican come-back. Get ready for tomorrow. Have all your excuses lined up.
They stole the election again!
Its a Bush plot!
We were disenfranchised!
Comment by Happy Guy — November 6, 2006 @ 10:15 am
Jesus’ will shall prevail November 7, 2006. Amen.
Comment by Daryll —
I have just completed the voting process this morning. What a glorious day in Jesus. I know that genuine morals will remain in our government tomorrow night (thank God).
Comment by Daryll — November 7, 2006 @ 9:31 am
I don’t believe it. The gay male is just attempting to attack Christians. Mr. Hagaard is a God fearing man. Just another ploy created by liberals, but Jesus’ will shall prevail November 7, 2006.
Comment by Daryll
I can’t wait for Election Day!
Comment by Citizen+Dad
Jim Webb is a lying hypocrite, and now he’s been exposed as a creep. George Allen will be re-elected - you can take that to the bank.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:47 pmComment by Citizen+Dad — October 27, 2006 @ 3:02 pm
The terrorists are terrified that Dems will be in control. They were counting on repugs continuing with their distration in Iraq.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:47 pmto the most honarable donald rumsfeld,
you can resign as secretary of defense, but, you can not resign from being a war-criminal. your time will come…perhaps in germany, perhaps in the hague, perhaps in the usa.
have a long life and spend every day of it looking over your shoulder for the supboenas…
November 8th, 2006 at 2:48 pmThank you barfly! You have further made my day!
November 8th, 2006 at 2:49 pmAnd don’t forget Jason:
Hey, don’t take my word for it, keep doing what you are doing, and keep losing elections, issues and supporters.
Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler
I predict the Dem will lose by at least 4 percent. Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler
Have you prepared your rants for your losses on Nov. 7? Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler — October 26, 2006 @ 3:28 pm
Well, it’s been fun, but it is time to go get lunch …Peace and Love
PS See you here the day after the election, so that I can praise Schumer and Emanuel for making gains for Clintonistas, while crushing Lamont and Webb - poor progs will never learn. Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler —October 26, 2006 @ 10:32 am
It is now looking like Dems won’t even come close to taking the house, and it will be Schumer’s ugly face the blame. Progs will then have the opportunity to force Schumer / Emanuel out of power once and for all, and promote their own field of candidates for the 2008 presidential race. Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler —October 30, 2006 @ 10:03 am
You are already destroyed, you just don’t know it yet …Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler — October 30, 2006 @ 10:18 am
I will be here on the morning after the election, and you can tell me all about how America is waking up then, ok? Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler — October 30, 2006 @ 10:25 am
I will be here the morning after the election, in which the Dems fail to even take the House, and we can then talk about how progs can push out Schumer and Emanuel in lieu of candidates who better match progressive policies. Too much of a stretch for you to plan ahead?
Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler — October 30, 2006 @ 10:36 am
Those who orchestrate your movement have led you off a cliff, enjoy the fall.
Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler — October 30, 2006 @ 3:37 pm
I don’t waste time with poll It must be frustrating for you to be so adamant about something, yet the voters in the general election vote for the other guys. Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler — October 30, 2006
I will see you here on the morning after the election. Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler — October 30, 2006 @ 4:01 pm
As I stated yesterday, John Kerry’s apology puts the blame of offense from his statements on the soldiers and their families, and not on himself. Yet another opportunity lost to clear up the issue, and it WILL hurt Dems in this year’s midterm elections.
Other than John Kerry, only Howard Dean has ever killed his presidential aspirations with a single utterance (yee-haw). He now has NO chance at being his party’s nominee in 2008 or ever. Comment by Jason+M.+Hendler
I read your words, yet don’t get that overconfident vibe that was present even as recently as the Busby race. Could Pavlovian negative reinforcement finally gotten through? Do you now see that not only are you fighting a losing cause, but are causing it to lose? I will be here on the morning of Nov. 8 to comfort you after you yet again slam into that brick wall. Comment by Jason M. Hendler
November 8th, 2006 at 2:50 pmThe joyful sound you hear, Your Most Exceptional Discrepancy, is the sound of honest, respectful and ethical humans the world over taking a deep breath of fresh air.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:51 pm#23 Correct, Jake B, ThinkProgress has either misunderstood the President or is deliberately mischaracterizing his remarks. President Bush was saying that despite the political differences and the campaign rhetoric, Republicans and Democrats are united in wanting to defend America; that the terrorist should not mistake campaign differences about strategy and tactics with a lack of unity on that central topic of the need to keep America safe.
The President’s meaning is so clear and obvious that one cannot help but believe that ThinkProgress is being deliberately obtuse in mischaracterizing his words.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:51 pmBush: World’s worst Christian terrorist
Good frocking grief. This insane mass murdering butcher is utterly without any redeeming values. His Christianity shines through every time he opens his fu*ken Christian terrorist yap.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:53 pmOsama was likely thinking this morning - holy cr*p, the US government may turn competent when Pelosi becomes Speaker.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:53 pmBarfly - excellent anthology to the trolls :)
November 8th, 2006 at 2:53 pmFunny that Bush never said that Dems wanted to defend America before today.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:54 pmbarfly, that’s sooo evil.
Exeley, In all due respect (I’m honestly not baiting you), that’s the spin I hear too.
Mind you, IMO, all politicians spin things, but GW Bush doesn’t exactly have a good track record of working with other people, even members of his own party that are in power.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:57 pmBush can go fly a kite in any southern South American country of his choosing…
Off topic: I got up too early this morning, but I heard that the Dems will have a thirty-plus majority in our House of Representatives and that Dems were leading in the two remaining (now one! Chalk up the great Jim Webb victory in Virginia!) Senate seats, leading to Dem control of that formerly august body. At 11:30 AM, PDT, I started my internet visit with FoXNews.com to see how and what they might be spinning re: the Democratic landslide, and behold, “Rumsfeld Resigns!” Gee, and it isn’t even April Fools’ Day… Will Rummy be opening a new beachhead in Paraguay in hopes of making a secure rats’ nest for the Bush gang? Oops, sorry, since Paraguay is “landlocked,” there couldn’t be a true beachhead, it would have to be a riparian beachhead.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:57 pmCheers.
Thanks, barfly! Good stuff.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:58 pmEx, you should seriously GO AWAY.
BEFORE today, all Shrub could do was blame the Dems for NOT protecting America, dumbass. But now that his ass has been handed to him, he is the King of Flip-Flops.
Shoe, meet the other foot.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:58 pmBarfly, You didn’t post my rather prescient comments of October 2, 2006:
This disgusting incident is SO going to turn off the base of the party, keeping so many religious conservatives home on Election Day, that it is not even a question any more — The GOP loses both houses of Congress…and deservedly so …
Comment by Exley — October 2, 2006 @ 3:49 pm
Ya gotta admit, Barfly…I am good….I am VERY good!
November 8th, 2006 at 2:58 pm#38: I seem to remember the Repubs’ view of John Kerry’s recent remarks. Therefore, I don’t care how you “interpret” Bush’s remarks today, I know what I heard. Bush is dividing the country, despite the citizens having spoken against his policies.
November 8th, 2006 at 2:59 pmThe terrorists better watch out Dubya is still commander in chief!
And he doesn’t CARE where OSAMS IS!!
LMAO!!!
November 8th, 2006 at 2:59 pmIn answer to Mr. Hendlers’ favorite catch phrase recently of “I will be here the morning after…”
November 8th, 2006 at 3:00 pmMay I offer you this information: There is a pill for that now….. (take two, they’re small…)
Next shoe to drop is Cheney might resign in a few days claiming failing health condition. He and Rummy are “Brokeback Mountain” partners, so they cannot live apart. Announce your love openly guys and good luck!
November 8th, 2006 at 3:00 pmIs it Dec 25th ?
Did Christmas come early ?
November 8th, 2006 at 3:02 pmYou morons have used so much of your idiot GOP ‘reality based’ spin-crap the people don’t trust Bush nor what he says. He has flipped flopped soi much he’s worse than a lame duck, he’s made himself a moot duck.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:02 pmThanks guys, it was weeks of cut-and-pasting, and letting them play out their ropes.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:02 pmExley like John Kerry’s comments about Bush?
November 8th, 2006 at 3:04 pmBarfly,
Excellent…
I guess I am waiting for the trolls to turn on themselves now.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:05 pmYa gotta admit, Barfly…I am good….I am VERY good!
Comment by Exley
Except when it comes to history, and the truth - eh, 0-7?
November 8th, 2006 at 3:05 pmI want Wesley Clark to be the new Sec. of Defense. Bush said his choice is Robert Gates. The dems run the Senate now and will decide who to confirm or not. Bush needs to understand that today everything has changed. He will no longer get his boys to fill the positions.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:05 pmEx - I don’t think you can blame anyone for declining to take a big hit off “the president”’s spin-pipe today, but thanks just the same for offering to hold the lighter - that’s very kind of you.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:05 pmAt not accepting blame and helping the amoral GOP into power maybe!!
November 8th, 2006 at 3:06 pmWhere is that biggot MarkGlense? Is he one of those “new marines” being brought up on charges? God I hope so! Killing in the name of God people make me puke.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:06 pmExlax is trying to help bush keep his crack pipe lit thru mouth to ass resuscitation. That’s Roves Job Exley.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:10 pm38. Bush is playing the last hand he has and is trying to show the world he’s still in control and tough. Nobody on the Democratic side had been saying they would be weak on terrorist, that was another fear tactic by the republicans. Bush needed to get this out now before he looses control of what the US message will soon be.
That was his last gasp because you will soon be hearing a more bipartisan approach to the rest of the world, including dealing with terrorists, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and the distinctions between them. No more bunching them up into one ball of fear.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:10 pmSpeaking of Rumpty (got Dumpty) and his waddlin’ widdle buddy, anyone know how the widdle Fuddy did on his widdle hunting twip? Wonder how many wring-neck pheasants he thaw…..
November 8th, 2006 at 3:11 pmMaybe thomeone thould go looking for him, he might have swipped and fell and bwoke hith noggin……
Actually I’m waiting for that Idiot I-RIGHT-I to show up.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:11 pm#50.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:11 pmdid you just equate Jason with sex?
Impossible, I tell ya, impossible!
Bush doesn’t know how to be President, he was duped by the neo-con crazy Christians. Now he’s decided to listen to normal people.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:12 pmEven Jason might end up getting laid now with a normal government in place.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:13 pmAlong with losing perhaps half of the actual and potential enemies to the USA as a result of the regime change yesterday….
November 8th, 2006 at 3:17 pmwe’ll probably lose about half the trolls as well.
Can’t imagine KKKarl will keep on cutting their paychecks now that they have failed him…………
I thought I-Right-I ran his super-sized pickup over the edge of a canyon and the guns in the rack behind his head cracked his skull and knocked some sense into him…
November 8th, 2006 at 3:22 pmoh…wait…. well….. maybe he did turn into Exley…….
#59 Awww, c’mon, Barfly….Ya gotta admit I knocked that political prediction outta the ballpark! Come on! Say it…”You were right, Exley.” Come on…Just say it. You can do it!
November 8th, 2006 at 3:24 pmThis was not so much a victory for liberals as a victory for America.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:24 pmThere were millions of Americans that sent a simple message.
The Republican leadership, both in the Administration and Congress, has failed the country.
They have run up record deficits to promote an illegal occupation, spent all the goodwill we had after 9/11 and more by invading and occupying Iraq. No more.
We will extend a welcome hand in crafting bi-partisan legislation to move the country forward, but understand one thing.
The direction forward is not the direction you were taking us.
That comment was classic Bush — pretend to be conciliatory and then discount all previous comments with a nasty, partisan one.
Funny how the television media covering his press conference didn’t pick up on it.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:26 pmHuh. Does he really think that the terrorists listen to him?
November 8th, 2006 at 3:29 pmBarfly….Ya gotta admit I knocked that political prediction outta the ballpark! Come on! Say it…â€You were right, Exley.†Come on…Just say it. You can do it!
Comment by Exley
Quit torturing yourself in public Exley..it’s pathetic to have to watch.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:33 pmWhere’s Daryll? Did he show up for work this morning, or is he nursing the worst hangover of his short, pathetic life.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:35 pmI betcha he never tied one on at ORU!
#76
OK. You are officially 1-7.
Happy?
November 8th, 2006 at 3:37 pmLast I heard he had found some meth and was looking thru the phone book for a massage
November 8th, 2006 at 3:38 pmIs that Smirk gone from Arbustos face yet?
November 8th, 2006 at 3:41 pm#85….Yeah, I guess….I kinda liked “0-7″ though….Had sort of a James Bond-vibe to it.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:46 pm“The message yesterday was clear: The American people want their leaders in Washington to set aside partisan differences”…
“especially now that the Democrats have subpoena power and I have blood all over my hands.”
November 8th, 2006 at 3:57 pmPresident Bush was saying that despite the political differences and the campaign rhetoric, Republicans and Democrats are united in wanting to defend America;
Comment by Exley — November 8, 2006 @ 2:51 pm
Except that is, during election years.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:58 pmPresident Bush was saying that despite the political differences and the campaign rhetoric, Republicans and Democrats are united in wanting to defend America;
Comment by Exley — November 8, 2006 @ 2:51 pm
Except, that is, during election years.
November 8th, 2006 at 3:58 pmScrew the terrorists (they are probably sad), Americans are happier (except for the neocon jobbers and their sympathisers).
November 8th, 2006 at 3:59 pmwhat a complete and total prick. how dare he.
November 8th, 2006 at 4:03 pmhe really believes his own bullshit doesn’t he?
to throw it out there like that, the big kool kids klub idea that democrats want the terrorists to win. this man will go down as the worst president of all time. and he deserves it. this is by far the worst thing i have ever heard him say.
He not only mis-speaks himself, he mis-hears as well. That’s ok. The volume can now be turned up.
November 8th, 2006 at 4:05 pmInvestigate
Impeach
Incarcerate
Impound…
November 8th, 2006 at 4:06 pm#94
remember ‘you’re either with us or against us’. if you are against the war then you are with the terrorists.
well folks he’s setting everyone up for his grand military commissions act.
November 8th, 2006 at 4:09 pmi won’t be surprised when folks just disappear across the pacific into one of his blacksites.
One word: IMPEACH.
November 8th, 2006 at 4:11 pm#96
that would be nice. one, pelosi says that is not going to happen.
but what is even worse the supreme court is NOT going to allow this to happen. it’s stacked for a reason. none of these peckerwoods is going to see a day behind bars for crimes against humanity.
November 8th, 2006 at 4:12 pm#86. Dog_named_Boo, that is hilarious. Congratulations, progs. I thought it was about 50/50 that Dems would take the House and Republicans would keep the Senate by a couple. Republicans got their clocks cleaned in this election. I am curious (not Haggard curious, just curious)? Is there anyone out there that still believes our system doesn’t work?
November 8th, 2006 at 4:14 pmBi*ches (Bush/Cheney)…
…better have my money!…
November 8th, 2006 at 4:33 pmWhat happened to “If the Democrats win, the terrorists win and America Looses”.
Was he lying then? Or was there really no basis whatsoever for that remark and he was just playing to his base? I guess they weren’t listening.
America wins when we all participate and infused with fear.
November 8th, 2006 at 4:53 pmBluedog49. I was already to dismantle your posting of Exley’s point by point but it all boils down to ignorance. Exley has posted some thought provoking ideas and has shown some decency in some postings today but this reminds of the ignorance and fear that was/is being spewed by his kind.
I wouldn’t bunch all republicans in with this, unlike Exley’s bunching liberals together.
Now is the time to put the Democrats to the fire and work together to work thru the issues of the day.
November 8th, 2006 at 5:11 pm#104, 106 BlueDog49, HellinaBucket,
If you go back to August 18 and look at the postings that came afterward you will see that that posting you cite was falsely attributed to me. That was a name-jacking. I never wrote that and said so at the time. I asked ThinkProgress to take that false posting down. A
November 8th, 2006 at 5:19 pmIn fact, here is what I wrote on August 19, 2006 at 1:54 am:
NOTE: Post # 34 has been falsely attributed to me. I did NOT write that post. Someone has misrepresented himself or herself and posted material under my name. This “copy cat†poster has also submitted this material under my screen name on numerous other threads this evening. I would ask that the managers of “ThinkProgress.org†remove those postings or, at the very least, remove my name from them. When I registered on this site and created a screen name for myself, I provided my e-mail address, thus, the identification of the impostor should be readily ascertainable. Thank you.
Comment by Exley — August 19, 2006 @ 1:54 am
November 8th, 2006 at 5:22 pmIt’s obvious Bush is now intent on helping destroy his own standing in posterity, (basically because he has no idea how to lead anything above a mayors office) - if it could get any lower……
November 8th, 2006 at 5:22 pmBush needs a new speechwriter, or a new brain, given these would make no difference, we need to fast forward 2 years.
November 8th, 2006 at 5:26 pmOh, I see. Exley has been falsly accused of posting something he says he didn’t post. Well, I certainly hope Exley doesn’t get a reputation as a hater based on false info. Wouldn’t want false smears and accusations to improperly and unfairly paint a picture of someone’s character after all. That just wouldn’t be right, would it Exley.
November 8th, 2006 at 5:45 pm#111 BlueDog, I am simply pointing out that the posting you cited was falsely attributed to me, was a name-jacking, and that I pointed that out at the time. See posting #108.
November 8th, 2006 at 5:49 pmNovember 8th, 2006
Friends,
You did it! We did it! The impossible has happened: A majority of Americans have soundly and forcefully removed Bush’s party from control of the House of Representatives. And, sometime today perhaps, we may learn that the same miracle has happened in the Senate. Whatever the outcome, the American people have made two things crystal clear: End this war, and stop Mr. Bush from doing any more damage to this country we love. That is what this election was about. Nothing else. Just that. And it’s a message that has sent shock waves throughout Washington — and a note of hope around this troubled world.
Now the real work begins. Unless we stay on top of these Democrats to do the right thing, they will do what they’ve always done: Screw it up. Big Time. They helped Bush start this war, and now they should make amends.
But let’s take a day to rejoice and revel in a rare victory for our side — the side that doesn’t believe in unprovoked invasions of other countries. This is your day, my friends. You have worked hard for it. I can’t tell you how proud I am to count all of you as part of the greater American mainstream we now occupy. Thank you for all the time you gave this week to get out the vote. Some of you have been at this since the large demonstrations of February 2003 when we tried to stop the war before it started. Only 10-20% of the country agreed with us at that time. Remember how lonely that was? Some people were even booed! Now, 60% of the country agrees with our position. They are us and we are them. What a nice, strange, hopeful feeling.
A woman, for the first time in our history, will be Speaker of the House. The attempt to ban all abortion in the conservative state of South Dakota was defeated. Laws to raise the minimum wage were passed. Democrats were elected to fill Tom DeLay’s and Mark Foley’s seats. Detroit’s John Conyers, Jr. is going to be the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. The Democratic governor of Michigan beat the CEO from Amway. The little township next to where I live in Michigan voted Democratic for the first time since… ever. And on and on and on. The good news will continue throughout today. Let’s enjoy it. Savor it. And use it to get Congress to finally listen to the majority.
If you want to do one thing today, send an email or a letter to both of your senators and your member of Congress and tell them, in no uncertain terms, what this election means: End the war — and don’t let George W. Bush get away with any more of his bright ideas.
Congratulations, again! Now let’s go find a spine for the Dems to do the job we’ve sent them there to do.
Yours in victory (for once!),
Michael Moore
November 8th, 2006 at 6:08 pmmmflint@aol.com
http://www.michaelmoore.com
What’s Larry Flynt got to say about all this?
November 8th, 2006 at 6:23 pmHe’s got a lotta nerve, to say he is our friend.
November 8th, 2006 at 6:42 pmWhen we were down, he just stood there grinnin’!
#20
“First, Dems have been saying for a long time that they would pay more attention to bin Laden in Afganistan and possibly commit many more special forces there to actually try to catch al Qaeda bigshots.”
Clinton said the he would bring to justice those responsible for all of the other subsuquent terrorist attacks the al Qaeda was responsible for thru out the 1990s….he failed. BTW why do you think that the Dems would actually follow thru on their BS hot air?
“Bush has actually never tried that hard to catch or kill bin Laden.”
Right now thousands of troops looking for him. You are going to compare Clinton’s ONE real attempt to kill bin Laden to Bush’s invasion of Afghanistan that led to the removal of the Taliban as the ruling party, and the now non existance of al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan thanks to U.S. troops? Some how I don’t think that Pelosi or Reid will even begin to bring up the subject now. You are very funny and entertaining.
November 8th, 2006 at 6:51 pmTracy - did someone forget to tell you that “you lose”?
November 8th, 2006 at 6:59 pmThat dumb f__k looked pee oh’d to the max today on the tube. He looked like he was having a truly bad day. Saawweeeet!!!
November 8th, 2006 at 7:59 pmTo Tracy, “Put the kool-aid down! Step away from the bowl! Pinhead…”
November 8th, 2006 at 8:02 pmBush and his Republican Oil and War Profiteering Monopolist Party can’t help using the word “terror.” Bush and his accomplices are well aware of the investigations the Dems plan to execute in 07 and it has Republicans completely terrified.
November 8th, 2006 at 9:51 pmSeems okay to me. Bush and his cronies have been equating Democrats with terrorist-loving twerps for years. It’s only appropriate that he should temper that gratuitous b.s. with a lame rhetorical antidote. Seems the least he could do. Seems to me that he’s been telling terrorist that a Democatic victory would be a victory for the terrorists. That was, of course, a lie. We all know that. But, as we also all know, not everyone knows that.
November 8th, 2006 at 9:56 pmBush finally did the right thing. He has shown the world how democracy works. You have a corrupt, inept, incompentant government and you simply vote them out of office. I’ll bet the average Iranian is wishing they could get rid of their uber-conservative mullahs just like we did. Way to go Bush! I now see the brilliance of your legacy that will be discovered generations from now.
November 8th, 2006 at 11:54 pm#117 Right now thousands of troops looking for him. You are going to compare Clinton’s ONE real attempt to kill bin Laden to Bush’s invasion of Afghanistan that led to the removal of the Taliban as the ruling party, and the now non existance(SIC) of al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan thanks to U.S. troops? … You are very funny and entertaining.
Comment by Tracy
#117 Tracy,
November 9th, 2006 at 1:39 amThere has been no shortage of reports out of Afghanistan that the Taliban have made a comeback in several parts of the country, and apparently you never heard of how the US was close to capturing bin Ladin at Tora Borah early into the war but left the job to local warlords who let him escape. You are very funny, too, but in your usual arrogance not particularly entertaining.
#125 And we must not forget that Afghanistan is having record poppy crops. All the heroin produced is sold in Europe and the USA, and the money financing the return of the Taliban and the power of the warlords that keep the government planted by the USA and allies locked in the capital. I figure that a lot of people died by overdose can be added to the USA casualties in the wars. And the losses added by the crimes perpetrated by them and the incarceration of some, added to the military spending accounting.
November 9th, 2006 at 8:20 amTo all the f***ing pugs out there, GO SUCK. You almost force-converted us to faschism. You filthy nazis. Go back under the rock you slithered from. Liberals prevailed by being vigilant and aware of the nasty tricks the gansters are known to pull in order to steal our democracy and treasury. Its almost dawn in America but we’re still in jeapordy, as long as the madman in the WH still has his hand over the button that’ll incinerate us all. We need to roll back all that the evil triumvarate of B/C/R has managed to impose on us during their time with the rubber-stamp, disgraceful 109th congress. But it will take time to wash this awful taste from our mouths and begin the recovery of our country. To those whose lives have been ripped apart by this axis of evil men, please understand that we had a cout in 2000 which went unchallenged and led to further entrenchment of the evil-doers. BUT, we the common American have awakened to their tricks and responded. HELP IS ON THE WAY.
November 9th, 2006 at 8:24 amMaybe I should use The Google on The Internets to access The Earth Thingy and see if I can find my ass with both hands. Rummy, oh Rummy, where are you now? You’ll be with me foreve— oh shit! we lost the election? Rummy get out NOW! Quick, sign me up for an alcohol rehab session in case that Nancy Bi-atch starts coming after me.
November 9th, 2006 at 11:49 amLove
George
“#125 And we must not forget that Afghanistan is having record poppy crops. All the heroin produced is sold in Europe and the USA, and the money financing the return of the Taliban and the power of the warlords that keep the government planted by the USA and allies locked in the capital.”
And who do you think is using all of this heroine in the US? I’ll bet you that 99.999% of the junkies in this country would vote for the liberal so don’t give me this crap about not stopping the heroine production. How about getting the liberal junkies to quite using it and decreased production would take care of itself.
November 9th, 2006 at 12:11 pmI am an Islamic terrorist and let me assure you this democrat party sweep is better than 72 virgins who never get headaches. Thanks America.
November 9th, 2006 at 12:20 pmA man with no heart, a man not fit to run a convenience store or the Sporting Goods section of a Wal-Mart, has done mortal damage to our standing in the world, destroyed habeas corpus, the very bedrock principle of our legal system, sanctioned torture, done his worst to destroy what’s left of the environment, made millions of thinking Americans ashamed of themselves, even the ones who never voted for the swaggering phoney in the first place. Now the tiny little brainless man will hunker down and blame ANYTHING that happens, or doesn’t happen, in the next two years on the democrats “in power.” You can see it all coming; it’s the tiny frightened little man’s M.O. Dems much impeach the little bastard. They must impeach Bush for his phoney cassus beli, the highest crime a sitting President can commit. They must impeach Bush and Cheney in order to redeem the nation’s soul. If they assuage this little peckerwood, they show themselves to be approving of all the damage he has done. IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY! It’s the RIGHT thing to do, and probably the only thing that can give the country back the ethical source of its greatest mojo: the sense of inhabiting the moral high ground.
November 9th, 2006 at 1:21 pmFor this nation to ever again claim the ethical footing that re-establishes the moral high ground, Bush needs to be impeached, along with Cheney and the fired Rummy. These geniuses engineered a phoney cassus belli, the highest crime statesmen can commit. The dems went along with most of it, but they can at least lamely claim that georgie said he had more secret info. , being as he was on double secret probation from all his hot homoerotic man-on-man love in the Yalie Tomb. (Speaking of which. . . Bye bye Santorum, now you can leather out and live the life you’ve been dreaming of)
November 9th, 2006 at 1:28 pmI’m for impeachment, and everyone I speak with is for impeachment. Why aren’t we hearing more about impeachment? I think the investigations have to be done by Congress first. Then we can impeach him and his second, Cheney. We can put teaching back in the schools, money back in the treasury, the soldiers back home and honor back in our nation’s name. Bush is the cancer, and impeachment is the cure.
November 9th, 2006 at 2:11 pm#129 Nah, junkies become Republican Presidents.
November 9th, 2006 at 2:26 pm#129, no I’m pretty sure Rush Limbaugh voted republican.
November 9th, 2006 at 4:43 pm#134
November 9th, 2006 at 5:02 pmAnd Right-wing talk show hosts.
#124
“I hate to TELL you this, but the Iranian president was ELECTED DEMOCRATICALLY!!”
Is the before or after they (the ruling religious leaders) eliminated all of the opposition candidates off the ballot?
“What you’re CONFUSED about is the MULLAHS hold the same role as the SUPREME COURT.”
Which is why Ahmadinejad wasn’t elected democratically. BTW when you break election laws the way they did in Florida in 2000, someone has to call BS.
November 10th, 2006 at 3:18 pm#125
The fact the you equate a comeback in certain parts of Afghanistan by the Taliban as them returning to power as the ruling party leads me to believe that you don’t know that Afghanistan has a goverment. Yes you too are entertaining.
November 10th, 2006 at 3:22 pm#126
What would you suggest to help their economy?
November 10th, 2006 at 3:23 pm#129
That would be the junkies (conservative also) in Europe….if their is such a thing.
November 10th, 2006 at 3:25 pmThe fact the you equate a comeback in certain parts of Afghanistan by the Taliban as them returning to power as the ruling party leads me to believe that you don’t know that Afghanistan has a goverment. Yes you too are entertaining.
Comment by Tracy
I am quite aware that there is supposed to be a government in Afghanistan. What I wrote about the Taliban making a comeback in several parts of the country (and I know this not only from the media but also from people who have been there) means that the government is not in control in those areas. Sorry that you are too dense to understand that.
November 10th, 2006 at 6:39 pmThe joke below is a bit old (I passed it around last year), but since my cousin in Texas (a former Republican) sent it to me in the past week, I would like to share it with those who haven’t seen it. And to Tracy and other trolls, it pretty much describes how the Bush administration (non)functions.
Question: How many members of the Bush Administration are needed to change a light bulb?
Answer: TEN.
1. One to deny that a light bulb needs to be changed;
2. One to attack the patriotism of anyone who says the light bulb needs to be changed;
3. One to blame Clinton for burning out the light bulb;
4. One to tell the nations of the world that they are either for changing the light bulb or for eternal darkness;
5. One to give a billion dollar no-bid contract to Halliburton for a new light bulb;
6. One to arrange a photograph of Bush, dressed as a janitor and standing on a step ladder under the banner “Bulb Accomplished” ;
7. One administration insider to resign and in detail reveal how Bush was literally “in the dark” the whole time;
8. Another one to viciously smear #7;
9. One surrogate to campaign on TV and at rallies on how George Bush has had a strong light bulb-changing policy all along;
10. And finally, one to confuse Americans about the difference between screwing in a light bulb and screwing the country.
And after all is said and done, no one will notice that they never actually managed to change the light bulb.
Pass this on. Help cure Mad Cowboy Disease
November 10th, 2006 at 7:18 pm#139 You can’t imagine better production than heroin by yourself?
November 10th, 2006 at 9:08 pm#140 Then you and me have an understanding: only a junkie bozo can be conservative.
November 10th, 2006 at 9:09 pm#141
“…means that the government is not in control in those areas.”
That doesn’t mean that the Taliban is back in control of those areas either nor Afghanistan as a whole. I know it’s wishful thinking on your part but it’s not true that the Taliban are back in control.
November 13th, 2006 at 5:15 pm#144
Considering the conservative to liberal ratio in Europe is probably 20:80
November 13th, 2006 at 5:19 pmand the Europe constitutes the majority of heroin used by Afghan producers if stands to reason the the majority of the users are probably liberal. Nice try.
#143
Do you have a REAL suggestion other then what heroin you use?
November 13th, 2006 at 5:20 pmJokes 1 and 2:
Q: How many liberals does it take to change a light Bulb?
A: At least ten, as they will need to have a discussion about whether or not the light bulb exists. Even if they can agree upon the existence of the light bulb they still may not change it to keep from alienating those who might use other forms of light.
Q:How many liberals does it take to change a light bulb?
A:None. Liberals wouldn’t actually change the light bulb, but they would show compassion for it by talking a lot about how terrible it is in the dark and more funding is needed to improve dim, 60 watt bulbs up to bright and productive 100 watt bulbs.
November 13th, 2006 at 5:24 pmThat doesn’t mean that the Taliban is back in control of those areas either nor Afghanistan as a whole. I know it’s wishful thinking on your part but it’s not true that the Taliban are back in control.
Comment by Tracy
Tracy,
November 14th, 2006 at 6:54 amIt takes you three days, and that’s the best answer you can produce? What evidence do you have that the Taliban is not controlling certain areas of Afghanistan? There have been plenty of reports saying otherwise. And no, you definitely don’t know what my wishful thinking is, especially when you’ve never met me. Your neo-CON knee-jerk reaction to tell everyone who doesn’t agree with Bush policy that they are with the terrorists or supporting the Taliban is so trite. If you used your brains a little, you might have noticed that the majority of American voters are no longer falling for such empty hackneyed rhetoric, even if that flavor of kool-aid is still popular in the part of Texas where you live.
Ps. Tracy,
November 14th, 2006 at 7:03 amIn reality, I very recently changed a light bulb all by myself.
#149
I am so sorry if I didn’t jump right back in an reply…I have much more important things to do than to cruise this blog. In fact doing so is about last on my list right after petting my dog.
“What evidence do you have that the Taliban is not controlling certain areas of Afghanistan? There have been plenty of reports saying otherwise.”
Provide them then and we don’t want speculation but REAL evidence that the Taliban today runs certain provinces.
“And no, you definitely don’t know what my wishful thinking is, especially when you’ve never met me.”
Your comments sure speak clearly about what you THINK you know about the situation is over there.
November 14th, 2006 at 5:29 pm#150
Good for you eventhough that one you installed will probably go out again in less than a year and even if it was one of those expensive ones….by 2008 at least.
November 14th, 2006 at 5:33 pmTracy
November 14th, 2006 at 6:28 pmIf I told you I saw a program on CNN where the reporters could no longer go into certain areas of Afghanistan, because they’ve gotten too dangerous, or that I read about the comeback of the Taliban in the “New York Times” or the “International Herald Tribune,” you would undoubtedly dismiss this as “liberal media propaganda.” I’ve already written that I’ve heard the same from people who’ve been there; this includes American, Japanese and Australian scholars and journalists. Sorry, but I do not feel obligated to name them individually.
You, in the meantime, have provided no source for your bold statement,” it’s not true that the Taliban are back in control.” And you DEFINITELY do not know what my “wishful thinking.” It really is extremely stupid to try to tell a professional woman that she wishes for the Taliban to be back in control. But you neo-CONs still can’t get over the fact that the world is not all black and white and that being against Bush policy doesn’t mean a person supports Al Qaeda or the Taliban.
As for the lightbulb, my husband purchased it, so I don’t know the price; it didn’t look like an expensive one. If it burns out too soon, it would probably be a defective product. But then I’m sure you neo-CONs don’t ever recognize corporate responsiblity.
And, finally, Tracy, if you really want to impress people here with how “clever” you are, learn to spell English. Sorry, but I have a natural prejudice against people who act like know-it-alls without actually knowing the difference between “there” and “their” or “then” and “than,” among your other many, many spelling errors.
Now I’ve wasted enough on my time on you and will go feed my cats.
Ps. Tracy,
November 14th, 2006 at 7:17 pmIt has been widely reported, including here, which you obviously read sometimes, that the CIA office devoted to tracking Osama bin Laden was closed earlier this year. Sorry, but such moves hardly sound like one of an administration serious about finding this man.
#153
“If I told you I saw a program on CNN where the reporters could no longer go into certain areas of Afghanistan, because they’ve gotten too dangerous”
I have read these types of articles and there isn’t mention of the OLD Taliban “running things” in those provinces like they did before 2001. In fact calling those insurgents the “Taliban” is a stretch. Yes it’s true that it’s dangerous because of their presence, which the insurgency in Afghanistan, is now a mix of other tribal elements, and no one even knows where the old leaders are. It’s like a bunch of roaming gangs more than a political entity.
“As for the lightbulb, my husband purchased it, so I don’t know the price; it didn’t look like an expensive one.”
I understand, I thought you were referring this “replacing a lightbulb” with the 2006 election….I was. I am sure you get my meaning….right?
“It really is extremely stupid to try to tell a professional woman that she wishes for the Taliban to be back in control.”
Then don’t pass off speculation as fact. This “control” situation in those southern provinces are in flux with the continued clashed between NATO and insurgents and nothing is a sure thing.
“But you neo-CONs still can’t get over the fact that the world is not all black and white and that being against Bush policy doesn’t mean a person supports Al Qaeda or the Taliban”
And what part of Bush’s policy in Afghanistan are you against exactly? Where is your criticism of NATO’s policy of having a defensive posture rather than an offensive one?
“But then I’m sure you neo-CONs don’t ever recognize corporate responsiblity.”
There are light bulbs today at Lowes or Home Depot that last five years, but liberals don’t ever recognize that high quaility products aren’t cheap.
“Sorry, but I have a natural prejudice against people who act like know-it-alls without actually knowing the difference between…”
And I don’t care how other people spell in a blog, as long as their point is clear; however, your poor grammer and sentence structure is something I won’t hold against you. Example: starting a sentence with and, or missing commas after words, ect…
“Now I’ve wasted enough on my time on you and will go feed my cats.”
Do all liberals have cats?
November 14th, 2006 at 7:34 pm#154
“It has been widely reported, including here, which you obviously read sometimes, that the CIA office devoted to tracking Osama bin Laden was closed earlier this year.”
I am sure that Osama appreciates that information being leaked. BTW how do you know that another covert operation or office hasn’t replaced it? It is my sincere wish the you or I never know about it’s existance, because if you or I know, then Osama knows. That wouldn’t upset you would it? Or would you feel that it is your right to know about covert CIA or military operations?
November 14th, 2006 at 7:39 pmIt is my sincere wish the you or I never know about it’s(SIC; “it’s” is the contraction of “it is) existance(SIC), because if you or I know, then Osama knows. That wouldn’t upset you(comma required) would it?
Comment by Tracy
A: Stop putting thoughts, which I don’t have, into my head. It’s a bad habit of yours.
Do all liberals have cats?
Comment by Tracy
A: I can’t speak for all liberals. Nancy and Ronald Reagan had both cats and dogs. I know some liberals with both, as well. I also know liberals without any pets.
There are light bulbs today at Lowes or Home Depot that last five years, but liberals don’t ever recognize that high quaility products aren’t cheap
Comment by Tracy
A: I don’t live near a Lowes or Home Depot, however we usually buy the slightly higher priced, longer-lasting bulbs at the store closest to our house.
How would you ever know that liberals don’t recognize that high-quality products aren’t cheap? Have you ever asked one?
however, your poor grammer(SIC) and sentence structure is(SIC–the subject is plural) something I won’t hold against you. Example: starting a sentence with and, or missing commas after words, ect(SIC)…
Comment by Tracy
A: You’re definitely in no position to hold anything related to grammar against anyone.
November 14th, 2006 at 8:06 pmTo Tracy,
Below is an excerpt of a column describing what kind of quality your “conservative” administration is willing to pay billions for.
November 3, 2006
Op-Ed Columnist
As Bechtel Goes
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Bechtel, the giant engineering company, is leaving Iraq. Its mission — to rebuild power, water and sewage plants — wasn’t accomplished: Baghdad received less than six hours a day of electricity last month, and much of Iraq’s population lives with untreated sewage and without clean water. But Bechtel, having received $2.3 billion of taxpayers’ money and having lost the lives of 52 employees, has come to the end of its last government contract.
As Bechtel goes, so goes the whole reconstruction effort. Whatever our leaders may say about their determination to stay the course complete the mission, when it comes to rebuilding Iraq they’ve already cut and run. The $21 billion allocated for reconstruction over the last three years has been spent, much of it on security rather than its intended purpose, and there’s no more money in the pipeline.
The failure of reconstruction in Iraq raises three questions. First, how much did that failure contribute to the overall failure of the war? Second, how was it that America, the great can-do nation, in this case couldn’t and didn’t? Finally, if we’ve given up on rebuilding Iraq, what are our troops dying for?
There’s no definitive way to answer the first question. You can make a good case that the invasion of Iraq was doomed no matter what, because we never had enough military manpower to provide security. But the lack of electricity and clean water did a lot to dissipate any initial good will the Iraqis may have felt toward the occupation. And Iraqis are well aware that the billions squandered by American contractors included a lot of Iraqi oil revenue as well as U.S. taxpayers’ dollars.
Consider the symbolism of Iraq’s new police academy, which Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, has called “the most essential civil security project in the country.†It was built at a cost of $75 million by Parsons Corporation, which received a total of about $1 billion for Iraq reconstruction projects. But the academy was so badly built that feces and urine leak from the ceilings in the student barracks.
Think about it. We want the Iraqis to stand up so we can stand down. But if they do stand up, we’ll dump excrement on their heads.
As for how this could have happened, that’s easy: major contractors believed, correctly, that their political connections insulated them from accountability. Halliburton and other companies with huge Iraq contracts were basically in the same position as Donald Rumsfeld: they were so closely identified with President Bush and, especially, Vice President Cheney that firing or even disciplining them would have been seen as an admission of personal failure on the part of top elected officials.
November 14th, 2006 at 9:41 pm#157
“A: Stop putting thoughts, which I don’t have, into my head. It’s a bad habit of yours.”
Putting thoughts into your head? I was just asking you to think and answer a question, which you didn’t do. Again would it upset you if you didn’t know about a convert CIA and/or military operation that replaced the one that was shut down?
“A: I can’t speak for all liberals. Nancy and Ronald Reagan had both cats and dogs. I know some liberals with both, as well. I also know liberals without any pets.”
Cool, because I also have a cat ( 10 year old female calico).
“How would you ever know that liberals don’t recognize that high-quality products aren’t cheap? Have you ever asked one?”
As an architect and having done government funded architecture (i.e. public housing), I can say this with the utmost certainty….they low ball the quality products that go into their projects ALL of the time. BTW you didn’t get my replacing a light bulb reference to the 2006 election?
“A: You’re definitely in no position to hold anything related to grammar against anyone. ”
I know and so since yours is so poor you are in no position to call others out on their spelling.
November 15th, 2006 at 10:11 am#158
“The $21 billion allocated for reconstruction over the last three years has been spent, much of it on security rather than its intended purpose, and there’s no more money in the pipeline.”
This is the only part in Krugman’s article the gets the context of the reconstruction right. The security problem. If you can’t maintain security even the best firm can’t deliver on their reconstruction projects, so his criticism of the reconstruction effort is bogus.
“You can make a good case that the invasion of Iraq was doomed no matter what, because we never had enough military manpower to provide security.”
Those who keep saying that manpower shortage is the reason for the continued insurgency are saying that after the fact. No on knows if more troops on the ground would have squashed the insurgency. The Soviets sent thousands more troops into Afghanistan in the 1980s and they were repelled. The comment about the Iraqi’s standing up so we can stand down is exactly right (aside from Krugman’s BS insult). The only way the blood shed will stop at this point, is when the Iraqi’s decided to take responsibility for their own country.
November 15th, 2006 at 10:27 amTracy,
November 15th, 2006 at 8:19 pmBy admitting that the situation in Afghanistan is “in flux,” you have unwittingly admitted that the central government is not always in control of the country. I provided my sources for my statements; you still haven’t. And please don’t expect me to believe Tracy, the guy who has undoubtedly never been to Afghanistan and can’t even spell “grammar” correctly, over a Japanese scholar who has been there many times and speaks the two most commonly used Afghani languages as well as Arabic, and the chair of the Political Science department of an Ivy League college who has done field work over there, etc.
As for my grammar, the only “error” you have been able to cite is the use of “and” to start a sentence. I have worked as an editor and am also a published writer. I would not use “and” or even contractions like “can’t” or “wouldn’t” in formal writing, but this is acceptable in conversational writing like this on a blog. As for missing commas, you havent cited any specific cases; and if you really want to go into it, I could cite dozens of cases in your writing. I spared you that, except for one time, and only concentrated on your spelling and grammar–a word you didn’t even know how to spell until yesterday. To give one example: “I know(requires comma or semi-colon) and so(makes no sense here) since yours is so poor( (comma required) you are in no position to call others out on their spelling.”
As for the war in Afghanistan, I have, in fact, not criticized the current administration for going there. I have criticized it for invading Iraq, a country that had nothing to do with 9/11 and didn’t have WMDs, instead of getting the job done in Afghanistan. I realize that people like you want to blame everything on Clinton; but the fact is that during his administration the culprits behind the first attack on the WTC were caught, and so was McVeigh, the man responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing.
And incidentally, although you have learned from me how to spell “grammar,” I see that you still don’t know the difference between the plural and the possessive form, such as “The only way the blood shed (”bloodshed” is one word) will stop at this point,(cmma not required) is when the Iraqi’s (SIC–plural form is “Iraqis;” Iraqi’s” is possesive as in “that Iraq’s car”) decided(past tense here is incorrent) to take responsibility for their own country. ”
Sorry, Tracy, but I have no more time to give you grammar and spelling lessons.
#162
“By admitting that the situation in Afghanistan is “in flux,†you have unwittingly admitted that the central government is not always in control of the country.”
I never said that that the central Afghan government has in control of those southern provinces recently.
“I provided my sources for my statements; you still haven’t.”
You sources don’t prove the the Taliban control ANY of those provinces.
http://www.jamestown.org/ terrorism/ news/ article.php?articleid=2370110
Since you don’t know anything about warfare…when a war is going on control of territory shifts daily.
“And please don’t expect me to believe Trac