Comments on: “I would confess I’m no expert on Iraq.” http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:18:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jericho http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1441822 Jericho Sat, 13 Jan 2007 11:14:39 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1441822 What world amI living in. Is up down? Is left right? It seems to me you need the smart people on top. So why do we have these people on top who ADMIT THEIR OWN STUPIDITY?! What happened to accountability? Have we forgotten the meaning? Have we lost the last man on earth who understood such a lengthy word? You see, what should happen is this, soon as someone with power over others fesses up that he's a fool, he should be fired and punished for the grave dangers he brought upon his fellowmen. What world amI living in. Is up down? Is left right? It seems to me you need the smart people on top. So why do we have these people on top who ADMIT THEIR OWN STUPIDITY?! What happened to accountability? Have we forgotten the meaning? Have we lost the last man on earth who understood such a lengthy word? You see, what should happen is this, soon as someone with power over others fesses up that he’s a fool, he should be fired and punished for the grave dangers he brought upon his fellowmen.

]]> By: Lora http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1440168 Lora Sat, 13 Jan 2007 03:49:07 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1440168 Knowledge is not a criterion for high office in this cuntry. Comment by Briseadh na Faire But lack of knowledge is. Knowledge is not a criterion for high office in this cuntry.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire

But lack of knowledge is.

]]> By: Robert Gates is sort of scary « Later On http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1439550 Robert Gates is sort of scary « Later On Sat, 13 Jan 2007 00:57:55 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1439550 [...] Posted in Bush Administration at 5:00 pm by LeisureGuy Maybe it’s the Age of the Incompetence. From ThinkProgress: “I would confess I’m no expert on Iraq.” – Defense Secretary Robert Gates, during congressional hearings yesterday. “Later, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was ‘no expert on military matters.‘” [...] [...] Posted in Bush Administration at 5:00 pm by LeisureGuy Maybe it’s the Age of the Incompetence. From ThinkProgress: “I would confess I’m no expert on Iraq.” – Defense Secretary Robert Gates, during congressional hearings yesterday. “Later, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was ‘no expert on military matters.‘” [...]

]]> By: Marie http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1438641 Marie Fri, 12 Jan 2007 22:11:46 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1438641 Well. Gates has certainly got my confidence!! Another well placed Bushista. Helluva job. Well. Gates has certainly got my confidence!!
Another well placed Bushista. Helluva job.

]]> By: RUCerious http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1438477 RUCerious Fri, 12 Jan 2007 21:22:12 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1438477 He's already doin a heckuva job, Bobbie! He’s already doin a heckuva job, Bobbie!

]]> By: Mikey http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1438360 Mikey Fri, 12 Jan 2007 20:39:53 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1438360 <em>"As many as a dozen Republican senators could jump ship on the plan". </em> Do you think Bush considered this when he asked for dems and repubs to work together? I'm loving this. “As many as a dozen Republican senators could jump ship on the plan”.

Do you think Bush considered this when he asked for dems and repubs to work together? I’m loving this.

]]> By: hellinabucket http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1438356 hellinabucket Fri, 12 Jan 2007 20:37:43 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1438356 Usually, this would be the red flag, deal breaker, the warning sign during the interview process. "Sure I like to work with people, what's so hard sunni, shia don't they all look a like?" Usually, this would be the red flag, deal breaker, the warning sign during the interview process. “Sure I like to work with people, what’s so hard sunni, shia don’t they all look a like?”

]]> By: cynical ex-hippie http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1438264 cynical ex-hippie Fri, 12 Jan 2007 20:11:17 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1438264 At least the new military commander in Iraq is an expert on Vietnam. At least the new military commander in Iraq is an expert on Vietnam.

]]> By: ignorance http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1438236 ignorance Fri, 12 Jan 2007 20:00:33 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1438236 "Rah rah ree, kick 'em in the knee. Rah rah ras, kicka 'em in dee ass,!" said Gates to the panel. Go team! “Rah rah ree, kick ‘em in the knee. Rah rah ras, kicka ‘em in dee ass,!” said Gates to the panel. Go team!

]]> By: Earthling http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437796 Earthling Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:34:54 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437796 I don't know about anyone here, but speaking for myself, I never got a job I was unqualified for. I don’t know about anyone here, but speaking for myself, I never got a job I was unqualified for.

]]> By: clueless http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437794 clueless Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:34:37 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437794 He was one of the members of the Iraq Study Group, remember? How can he possibly say he doesn't really know that much about Iraq? He was one of the members of the Iraq Study Group, remember? How can he possibly say he doesn’t really know that much about Iraq?

]]> By: tom baker http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437779 tom baker Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:30:14 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437779 If I declare myself a Republican, can I have a 300,000 dollar a year job that doesn't require as much work as it does golf, and be absolved from any responsibility from anything, and quit after 6 months with a generous severance package? Where can I sign up for that? When did bullshit arrangements like that become "the American way of life" in government and the private sector? Why do so many dumb, average people think they have to let that go on just to maintain their own seedy standards of living?? How low has the public's self-esteem sunk, that they should feel so very, very un-equal to other citizens?? HFS!! If I declare myself a Republican, can I have a 300,000 dollar a year job that doesn’t require as much work as it does golf, and be absolved from any responsibility from anything, and quit after 6 months with a generous severance package? Where can I sign up for that? When did bullshit arrangements like that become “the American way of life” in government and the private sector? Why do so many dumb, average people think they have to let that go on just to maintain their own seedy standards of living?? How low has the public’s self-esteem sunk, that they should feel so very, very un-equal to other citizens?? HFS!!

]]> By: mindtonic http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437742 mindtonic Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:21:21 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437742 <strong>Hey, at least he was honest...</strong> Hey, at least he was honest…

]]> By: Evil Spaniard http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437552 Evil Spaniard Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:47:47 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437552 I play a lot of wargames in my comp, can I have half the pay of Mister Gates being his counselor? I play a lot of wargames in my comp, can I have half the pay of Mister Gates being his counselor?

]]> By: kevkev http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437517 kevkev Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:44:42 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437517 He is another soldier for the Bush Crime Family. Poppy is the Don, and Dubya is Alfredo. He is another soldier for the Bush Crime Family.
Poppy is the Don, and Dubya is Alfredo.

]]> By: Gregor Samsa http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437468 Gregor Samsa Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:37:49 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437468 Is anyone in this administration an expert in anything besides staying on the president's good side and making money under the table? Is there? Is anyone in this administration an expert in anything besides staying on the president’s good side and making money under the table?

Is there?

]]> By: JaneESchneider http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437403 JaneESchneider Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:28:31 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437403 He is an expert on Iran. Capisce? Comment by Dumb_Fox — January 12, 2007 @ 11:35 am Based on that, I don't know whether to be slightly relieved, or just plain terrified. On the one hand, if he's an expert on Iran, he may be able to at least provide good information and opinion to the administration; on the second hand, it seems all too clear that Bush is about to attack Iran, or to do his best to provoke Iran to attack us. We have to stop this NOW. I hope that the march in Washington on the 27th is not too late. He is an expert on Iran.
Capisce?
Comment by Dumb_Fox — January 12, 2007 @ 11:35 am

Based on that, I don’t know whether to be slightly relieved, or just plain terrified. On the one hand, if he’s an expert on Iran, he may be able to at least provide good information and opinion to the administration; on the second hand, it seems all too clear that Bush is about to attack Iran, or to do his best to provoke Iran to attack us.

We have to stop this NOW. I hope that the march in Washington on the 27th is not too late.

]]> By: Bluestocking http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437344 Bluestocking Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:17:02 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437344 Actually, now that I think about it, I can see that there actually is method to the madness of appointing Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense despite the fact that he's "no expert on military matters". It's a very twisted and self-absorbed method -- but it is a method nonetheless. It's by no means a secret to anyone who's observed Bush with a halfway critical eye over the last five-odd years that he has little or no patience or tolerance for people who tell him anything he doesn't want to hear. That's the very reason why the situation in Iraq is in the mess that it is...because Bush didn't want to listen to the experts who told him to put more troops on the ground right from the start. There's never a particularly good time to put someone in that post who apparently intends to learn the job by the seat of his pants, but one of the worst times to do that is when you're in the middle of a war! One would be inclined to think that a better choice than Gates for Secretary of Defense would be someone who's more of an expert on Iraq and about military matters -- surely there must be someone...? Or is there? Perhaps the $250,000 question is...is it really likely that Bush would see eye-to-eye with someone like that? Odds are that he wouldn't -- especially considering that most of the people who should know are saying that Bush's proposed surge (escalation, augmentation, whatever) is a bad idea. Actually, now that I think about it, I can see that there actually is method to the madness of appointing Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense despite the fact that he’s “no expert on military matters”. It’s a very twisted and self-absorbed method — but it is a method nonetheless.

It’s by no means a secret to anyone who’s observed Bush with a halfway critical eye over the last five-odd years that he has little or no patience or tolerance for people who tell him anything he doesn’t want to hear. That’s the very reason why the situation in Iraq is in the mess that it is…because Bush didn’t want to listen to the experts who told him to put more troops on the ground right from the start. There’s never a particularly good time to put someone in that post who apparently intends to learn the job by the seat of his pants, but one of the worst times to do that is when you’re in the middle of a war! One would be inclined to think that a better choice than Gates for Secretary of Defense would be someone who’s more of an expert on Iraq and about military matters — surely there must be someone…?

Or is there?

Perhaps the $250,000 question is…is it really likely that Bush would see eye-to-eye with someone like that? Odds are that he wouldn’t — especially considering that most of the people who should know are saying that Bush’s proposed surge (escalation, augmentation, whatever) is a bad idea.

]]> By: DallasNE http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437321 DallasNE Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:13:00 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437321 That is why he got the job. That, and nobody else would take it -- with the possible exception of Mike "heckava job" Brown. On another subject, just take a look at Bush's job approval numbes at Rasmussen's daily tracking poll. Hint, he is down 9% in the 2 days since the speech that was supposed to turn things around. http://rasmussenreports.com/Bush_Job_Approval.htm That is why he got the job. That, and nobody else would take it — with the possible exception of Mike “heckava job” Brown.

On another subject, just take a look at Bush’s job approval numbes at Rasmussen’s daily tracking poll. Hint, he is down 9% in the 2 days since the speech that was supposed to turn things around.

http://rasmussenreports.com/Bush_Job_Approval.htm

]]> By: Jake http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/comment-page-1/#comment-1437259 Jake Fri, 12 Jan 2007 18:00:13 +0000 http://thinkprogress.org/2007/01/12/i-would-confess-im-no-expert-on-iraq/#comment-1437259 I still can't get over the fact that 95 senators approved this guy. I still can’t get over the fact that 95 senators approved this guy.

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