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Bush: ‘I don’t remember what I was doing in 1981.’»

In an attempt to decipher President Bush’s views on the recent Israeli airstrike inside Syria, NBC White House correspondent David Gregory asked the president at a press conference this morning whether he agreed with Israel’s decision to bomb the Osirak nuclear facility near Baghdad in 1981. Bush responded:

Ah, Dave, you know I don’t remember what I was doing in 1981. I was living in Midland, Texas. I don’t remember my reaction that far back.

Watch it:

Screenshot

To refresh Bush’s memory, in 1981, his twin daughters Barbara and Jenna were born. His father was vice president of the United States. And Bush was struggling as the head of a failing oil exploration company called Arbusto. The Washington Post reports:

Arbusto’s balance sheets showed that at the end of 1981, it had little more than $48,000 in the bank and more than half of all its assets consisted of “accounts receivable,” money owed to it by others. At the same time, the company owed almost $300,000 in bank loans and close to $120,000 to other creditors.

At that time, Bush received an infusion of cash from a number of sources, including from longtime friend James R. Bath who was handling the finances for the bin Laden family.

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74 Responses to “Bush: ‘I don’t remember what I was doing in 1981.’”

  1. Uncle Ho Says:

    Bush can’t remember what he did this morning either.


  2. raynman Says:

    He’s not even trying anymore, is he?


  3. joe cantwell Says:

    yep. that’s “w” for ya.


  4. cha cha cha Says:

    can’t remember? or doesn’t care?


  5. Krazny Says:

    He can’t remember, cause the alcohol, and cocaine are clouding his memory.


  6. joe cantwell Says:

    can’t remember? or doesn’t care?

    Comment by cha cha cha — October 17, 2007 @ 11:41 am

    both. he’s really out of it.


  7. Will Says:

    @5 You beat me to it!


  8. Dumb_Fox Says:

    Shorter Bush: If you can’t remember an event that happened in the past, you can’t give an opinion on it now.


  9. Witch1 Says:

    It’s hard work being a pupett king for heir cheney….


  10. LividLib Says:

    that is one pathetic S.O.B.!
    what an emabarassment to this country.

    to the 28%-ers who still support this sack of manure - ESAD!


  11. Shayne Says:

    On the negative side he said he was looking forward to getting a lot done in the next 15 months. YIKES.


  12. Mr Blifil Says:

    I really don’t recollect what a bunch of Jews may have done in 1981, ’specially since I was coked out of my mind at the time.


  13. PatrioticLiberalChristian Says:

    I’m going to be on Bush’s side just a teeny bit here - I can’t recall the event that Gregory refers to either. No one can recall every world event or all its details.

    On the other hand, Bush still responds like an idiot by saying he does not recall what HE was doing, not the event itself. Of course, this may actually be an unintended truth given the past alcohol and cocaine use allegations.


  14. wijg Says:

    Thanks TP, maybe you could send this to bush to remind him of what he was doing! ;-)


  15. cha cha cha Says:

    “I’m going to be on Bush’s side just a teeny bit here - I can’t recall the event that Gregory refers to either. No one can recall every world event or all its details.”

    but he’s the president. not to mention the fact that there are people who get paid (with our taxes) to remember those things for him or remind him of such events.


  16. barfly Says:

    Watching the news conference, I prayed to the secular gods that someone would ask Bush the simple question,”Since Israel has nuclear weapons, what threat does Iran’s nuclear program represent to them?” MAD (mutually assured destruction) worked as a geo-political strategy, even at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis.


  17. Squegeeboo Says:

    Wait, the Bush twins were born in ‘81, didn’t they just graduate college last year?


  18. tb Says:

    I don’t remember what I was doing in 1981.

    I believe him.


  19. thelonegunman Says:

    i’ll give you a hint of what you were doing in 1981:

    (SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF)
    wow! set up another fat line there darlin’!
    and
    (UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP! Yes bartender, I’ll have another. make it a double too.


  20. j swift Says:

    #18 Priorities Squegeeboo, clubbing comes first.


  21. Hardy Haberman Says:

    Pitiful. What a shame this man is on our country and our people. We must be seen as fools in the eyes of the world.


  22. Wayne Says:

    “I’ve made mistakes.. I haven’t done cocaine during the past seven, no twenty-five years.”
    ~ George W. Bush
    reported by Nancy Gibbs in Time Magazine 08-30 -1999

    might explain some of the memory issues.


  23. j swift Says:

    Oh and the twins I am sure took time off from school to work for the old man’s campaigns. You know, working at nothing all day.


  24. Squegeeboo Says:

    j swift
    Priorities Squegeeboo, clubbing comes first.

    That’s true. But only if it’s baby animals, like seals.


  25. katy Says:

    time flies, squeege… even when you’re NOT having fun…

    they graduated in may 04
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ articles/ A50537-2004May23.html


  26. Witch1 Says:

    The funniest quote of all was ” This is not my first rodeo”, Screaching winey bat shit crazy lunatick that doesen’t even know which end of a horse to feed or scoop and by drive them down loving wife Laura’s comment tried to milk a stud horse at some time in his past….These people are worse than nut cases, pure madness…He has never been in a rodeo unless playing dog and pony with gannon count’s…..Blessings


  27. Wayne Says:

    We must be seen as fools in the eyes of the world.
    Comment by Hardy Haberman — October 17, 2007 @ 12:03 pm

    Especially since he was (s)elected TWICE!!!

    It is still like a nightmare that we cannot wake from.


  28. katy Says:

    oooooooh… bad joke, kid


  29. cha cha cha Says:

    The funniest quote of all was ” This is not my first rodeo”

    especially considering the man’s afraid of horses.


  30. j swift Says:

    “In 1981 I remember how good it felt seeing Ronald Reagan sworn in as President after 4 miserable years of Jimmy Carter.”

    Considering what Bush has done to the Republican party that Reagan built during those years, I would have thought you would be sad and maybe a little bitter.


  31. Your Conscience Says:

    Posters are missing the pathetic and embarrassing dodge attempt here.

    he is mute on the fact North Korea was caught violating the non-proliferation agreement and Syria confirmed it today that is why Israel bombed them.

    Impotent chimpy cannot admit the facts because then he would have to act and he is too impotent to do anything therefore the dodge.


  32. WaltTheMan Says:

    W’s attention span is so short that he could get lost on a Ferris wheel.


  33. Squegeeboo Says:

    katy

    Ah, thanks, 2004 does make more sense.


  34. LividLib Says:

    “Ah, Dave, in 1981 I was getting sh*t-faced on a daily basis because that was the year I failed mizrubly as a businessman. To make matters worse it was also the year the twins were born. You know, Dave, it sucked having to ask Daddy to bail my sorry arse out once again. The bombing of a newkewler facility in Baghdad was the least of my concerns. Next question!”


  35. Wayne Says:

    W’s attention span is so short that he could get lost on a Ferris wheel.
    Comment by WaltTheMan — October 17, 2007 @ 12:10 pm

    But if he gets lost in the bathroom Sen.”Tappy” Craig will still be there to help him find the way. =D


  36. MCMetal Says:

    In 1981 I remember how good it felt seeing Ronald Reagan sworn in as President after 4 miserable years of Jimmy Carter.

    Comment by jdc — October 17, 2007 @ 12:03 pm

    We were then stuck with 8 horseshit years of Ronnie Retard ; the worst president in US history until the Chimpster came along ……


  37. LividLib Says:

    In 1981 I remember how good it felt seeing Ronald Reagan sworn in as President after 4 miserable years of Jimmy Carter.

    Comment by jdc — October 17, 2007 @ 12:03 pm

    1981 - the year of the simpletons.


  38. marlow Says:

    If chimpy can’t remember the episodes of failure in his life he must think he was born yesterday.


  39. missmolly Says:

    Bush doesn’t remember? How very Reaganesque!

    It’s entirely possible that Bush probably didn’t have an opinion on Israel’s bombing the Osirak nuclear facility back then, because he was probably more focused on his own immediate world than on political events — as so many Americans are today. Back in 1981, Bush probably didn’t have any plans to run for president.

    However, he could have worded his response to David Gregory more to that effect instead of the response he gave, which only served to make him look more like a complete idiot.


  40. PatrioticLiberalChristian Says:

    missmolly, what I tried to say in 14, you stated most elegantly in 41 (gotta love the number karma!).


  41. PatrioticLiberalChristian Says:

    remember in Jan of 1981, 66 American hostages held by Iran for 444 days during the Carter Administration were released.

    Ah, yes, what a wonderful **coughIrancontra** coincidence.


  42. RUCerious Says:

    What a total and complete fumbduck.


  43. Ret. Col. Jack Ripper Says:

    jdc: “In 1981 I remember how good it felt seeing Ronald Reagan sworn in as President after 4 miserable years of Jimmy Carter.”

    Yes, it was just GLORIOUS the way Reagan ripped down the solar panels Carter had installed on the Whitehouse and proceeded to ignore all of Carter’s warnings about fossil fuels and promoting renewable energy resources. Energy independence? Nah, we didn’t need that. And Reagan’s largest tax increase in history, in 1983, was simply INSPIRING, especially the way he made sure only working people would pay. And, we were all just GIDDY about how he got 243 Marines killed and then defined the modern term, “cut and run” by leaving Lebanon quickly with our tails between our legs. And, we were all very THANKFUL that Reagan decided the best way to deal with middle-eastern terrorists was to sell them shoulder-mounted heat-seeking missles and use the proceeds to finance a cocaine cartel of terrorists in Central America.

    Yeah, Reagan was just GREAT!


  44. Ret. Col. Jack Ripper Says:

    jdc: “I remember in Jan of 1981, 66 American hostages held by Iran for 444 days during the Carter Administration were released.”

    One of the most despicable and evil dirty tricks ever played out in an American presidential election and this dick is happy as a frickin fascist clam about it. Typical.


  45. missmolly Says:

    Yeah, Reagan was just GREAT!

    Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — October 17, 2007 @ 1:05 pm

    ooo! ooo! You forgot to mention what Ronnie did to the national debt!


  46. LividLib Says:

    it’s fitting that reagan’s name comes up on a post about memory loss.

    ding-dong the ding-dong is dead!


  47. NoOneYouKnow Says:

    “Uh, no Mr. President, I meant do you currently agree with what the Israelis did in 1981. You dumb f@ck.”


  48. Ret. Col. Jack Ripper Says:

    missmolly, there are quite a few things I haven’t mentioned. Reagan was a complete, unmitigated disaster for our country. The mythology and revisionism which has developed around him is simply astounding. When he took office and ushered in the modern libertarian-conservative movement, we were the world’s largest creditor nation. Today, after 27 years of Reagan’s vision, we are the world’s biggest debtor nation.

    He is responsible for the largest tax increase in history, the doubling of the Social Security tax, and, indirectly, the largest redistribution of wealth in the nation’s history, by starting the process which transfered that working class money to the wealthy through income tax decreases. Modern libertarian/conservatives, who constantly rail about redistribution of wealth, somehow missed this one, evidently because the redistribution went up, not down.


  49. SP Biloxi Says:

    Weed + Jack Daniels = Bush’s comments. Enough said.


  50. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    I remember in Jan of 1981, 66 American hostages held by Iran for 444 days during the Carter Administration were released.

    Comment by jdc — October 17, 2007 @ 12:45 pm

    …after Reagan negotiated to prolong their captivity so that they would not be released until he had been inaugurated.

    What a guy.


  51. LividLib Says:

    Weed + Jack Daniels = Bush’s comments. Enough said.

    Comment by SP Biloxi — October 17, 2007 @ 1:22 pm

    things go better with coke!
    SNORT!


  52. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Weed + Jack Daniels = Bush’s comments. Enough said.

    Comment by SP Biloxi — October 17, 2007 @ 1:22 pm

    Weed? I thoght cocaine was the preznit’s DOC.


  53. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    Dammit, LividLib! Your response was much better than mine. I’m ashamed.


  54. LividLib Says:

    beat ya to the punch, rtwl!


  55. LividLib Says:

    I remember in 1981 people started flying the American Flag again and were proud to be Americans.

    I remember in 1981 the malaise era ended with the promise of a brighter, better America.

    Comment by jdc — October 17, 2007 @ 1:29 pm

    hmmmm? i remember being embarassed and ashamed to be an american.
    like i said earlier, year of the simpletons.


  56. alphainfinityomega Says:

    In other words, Bush was almost as big a bum then as he is now.

    ∞


  57. Marcus Aurelius Says:

    Bush and the Republicans (including that freekin’ putz Ronald Reagan) couldn’t manage a popcorn stand. They profit by means of criminality via theft by deception.


  58. RickS Says:

    I remember in Jan of 1981, 66 American hostages held by Iran for 444 days during the Carter Administration were released.

    Comment by jdc

    Carter’s response to Americans being held hostage in Middle East: Operation Eagle Claw.

    Reagan’s response to Americans being held hostage in Middle East:
    Appease Iranians with weapon sales.


  59. Ret. Col. Jack Ripper Says:

    Thanks to jdc, for demonstrating a special form of American mental illness: Reagan Mythology Syndrome (RMS), a belief based purely on narrative completely devoid of historical fact.

    Myth: Reagan cut taxes. Fact: Reagan was responsible for the largest tax increase in history - doubling the Social Security Tax in 1983.

    Myth: Reagan beat the Soviet Union. Fact: Reagan PROLONGED the Cold War by removing Carter’s sanctions and reinstating trade with the Soviet Union that Carter had ended because of their incursion in Afghanistan. If Reagan hadn’t helped them out so much, the Soviet Union would have imploded a good 10 years earlier.

    Myth: Reagan was tough on terrorism. Fact: Reagan traded with terrorists and set the modern standard for “cutting and running” in Lebanon.

    Myth: Reagan was fiscally responsible. Fact: in 7 out of 8 years of his adminsitration, Reagan asked for more descretionary spending than the Democratic congress authorized. Reagan’s policies tripled the national debt.


  60. Ret. Col. Jack Ripper Says:

    Another Reagan myth:

    Reagan stimulated the economy. Fact: Reagan BORROWED more money than all other previous American presidents combined. His economy was the equivalent of running up a nice lifestyle on credit cards and then passing the bill to others for payment.


  61. Ret. Col. Jack Ripper Says:

    jdc, I can’t help but notice that in each of your Reagan-loving posts, you spout platitudes and narrative, but no facts or figures to back up your love-fest. Is your love of Reagan based on anything other than narrative, or do you have any facts to back up your belief that Reagan was great?


  62. texaslady Says:

    If someone bails your company out wouldn’t it be fair to say you would “owe” them a return favor? That was what this item was about. Bin Laden family bailed out Bush over and over, so guess what when the favors were called in at Tora Bora who answered.

    The crap about being that Osama being disenheirited by the family is just that, blood is blood. Bush owes more to Bin Ladens than he does to Americans.


  63. Uncle Ho Says:

    …flying the American flag and proud to be Americans.- comment by jdc @ 1:29 pm

    Flash forward to 2007. People are ashamed to be Americans and the flag is on par with the flag of Nazi Germany. A symbol of aggression and oppression.


  64. texaslady Says:

    #67 - During Carter’s time, we bought a home and it was more like 7.5 or 8%, brick, 3 bedroom, with basement. We had 1 income probably less than $18,000, 3 kids and we all ate well and were able to pay our bills. I also remember being able to save on that income.
    With the wonderful trickle down theory of Regan, Bush and Bush we needed two incomes, and barely was able to save. Trickle down to who ? Maybe contributor friends only.

    Why is it there is only money for the peasants with a Democrat administration ?


  65. SP Biloxi Says:

    #54 and #55:

    Weed is just a test drive for the Clown to get him going in the morning. Coke is his daytime friend and night time company (along with a bag a Cheetos). I think President Cheney got tired of getting a babysitter for Bush.


  66. Doc Rock Says:

    Probably just doing coke (nose variety)and whiskey shots so he wouldn’t remember.


  67. marlow Says:

    I remember in 1981 the “voodoo economics” which was later to impoverish our nation was just getting underway, along with socialist corporate welfare.


  68. MCMetal Says:

    I remember in 1981 people started flying the American Flag again and were proud to be Americans.

    I remember in 1981 the malaise era ended with the promise of a brighter, better America.

    Comment by jdc — October 17, 2007 @ 1:29 pm

    That was courtesy of a certain hockey team , not the crappy actor in the Oval Office


  69. republicans hate facts Says:

    Bin Laden bailed out Bush, that explains why Bush refuses to hold him responsible for 911!


  70. missmolly Says:

    I remember in 1981 people started flying the American Flag again and were proud to be Americans.

    I remember in 1981 the malaise era ended with the promise of a brighter, better America.

    Comment by jdc — October 17, 2007 @ 1:29 pm

    Actually, the flag-flying began in 1979 at the beginning of the hostage crisis. I know that’s getting awfully picky, but that WAS before Reagan was elected. Americans were united (both parties) in their desire to get the hostages released, and we had a lot of support (and American flag-waving) around the world.

    As far as the “malaise era” ending — you made mention of “the promise” of a brighter, better America. Promises always sound nice, but what we got was the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer, energy conservation being thrown aside, government spending reaching unprecedented levels, and an administration that hold the record to this day for number of people indicted and/or convicted.


  71. texaslady Says:

    The point as I see it, was tricks to win the elections started getting dirtier and dirtier. If you remember it has come out that the CIA (Bush Senior’s friends) were able to the delay release of the hostages until shortly after the election. Guess they took a page from tricky Dick. But whatever Bush Senior did, can’t compare with the shame Bush jr has done to the family name.


  72. republicans hate facts Says:

    Liberals are always embarrassed and ashamed to be Americans. Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 17, 2007 @ 4:05 pm

    No, we’re always embarrassed and ashamed for people like you, that are unamerican republicans - and a traitor to American values!

    It’s you who hate America, especially our values, our freedoms, our way of life and our liberalism!

    They struggle with self-loathing because they were fortunate enough to be born, or live in, the greatest nation ever on the face of the planet. Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 17, 2007 @ 4:05 pm

    Projection. You are so self loathing, because you are so undeserving, that you and your friends try to undo the very things that make America great!

    They have more opportunity to succeed in the U.S., are safer, have greater freedoms, and have among the highest standards of living ever known. Yet they still aren’t happy. Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 17, 2007 @ 4:05 pm

    Projection.

    Thankfully, the problem is theirs, and not their countries. And the problem can be corrected. It is called Conservatism. Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 17, 2007 @ 4:05 pm

    You’re correct, the problem is yours, not our country’s, which is why we’re looking forward of voting you out of office - you unamerican pieces of filth!

    I was proud to be an American in 1981, when Ronald Reagan became President and lead us back into greatness after the Carter Malaise of the late 1970’s. Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 17, 2007 @ 4:05 pm

    BAHAHA, you mean the man that threw out the constitution, started the crumbling of our infrastructure, turned us into a debtor nation, and held ‘dirty wars’, funded by illegal drugs and arms? Yeah, greatness indeed!

    Back on topic: I saw the press conference referred to here. President Bush was not involved in politics in 1981, and said so. He was struggling to make a living for his family back then, and said so, and that is born out by the reference in the article to a “failing oil company”. Back then, oil was something around 10 bucks a barrel, and U.S. oil companies were failing all over the country. Big deal. Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 17, 2007 @ 4:05 pm

    So Bush made bad business decisions, and sold his soul to the Bin Ladens so he wouldn’t have to get a real job - that’s what you’re saying?

    That was a quarter century ago. President Bush probably didn’t even know anything about the Isreali attack in question, and why should he if he was running an oil exploration company? Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 17, 2007 @ 4:05 pm

    Blah, Blah, Blah - all boils down to Bush selling his soul to the Bin Ladens!

    I could ask the CEO’s of local oil and gas exploration companies about the recent Isreali bombing of Syrian nuke facilities, and would probably recieve blank stares in response. Not everyone is concerned with international events when those events have no bearing on the business at hand.
    So, the point is?
    Comment by O. Bigfoot — October 17, 2007 @ 4:05 pm

    Yeah, the son of the VP and former director of the CIA just randomly receives a bail out from wealthy Arabs, no big deal! No influence buying there!

    Why do you hate America so much big mouth?


  73. WaltTheMan Says:

    I remember in 1981 having to wait 2 years to buy a home after the Carter Economic Disaster when home interest rates were 17%.

    In 1981 I don’t recall sitting in long lines to buy gas.

    Comment by jdc — October 17, 2007 @ 1:48 pm

    There is a test available now for Alzheimer’s. It is non-invasive, based on a scan of blood factors. It also detects the disease before lesions appear in brain tissue. With proper drug treatment, the effects of the disease can be offset by 10 to 20 years. In your case, you should immediately explore options available for home care or nursing facilities. You can save your spouse from serious financial hardship and severe emotional trauma if you act now.


  74. OleHippieChick Says:

    He was eyeball deep in blow.



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