Bush Condemns Leaders Who ‘Sit Down At The Table’ And ‘Have Pictures Taken’ With ‘Tyrants’
Bush Condemns Leaders Who ‘Sit Down At The Table’ And ‘Have Pictures Taken’ With ‘Tyrants’
In yesterday’s news conference, President Bush sharply attacked Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) argument that the president “should never fear to negotiate” with America’s enemies. Bush told reporters:
It will send a discouraging message to those who wonder whether America will continue to work for the freedom of prisoners. It will give great status to those who have suppressed human rights and human dignity. […]
Sitting down at the table, having your picture taken with a tyrant such as Raul Castro, for example, lends the status of the office and the status of our country to him. He gains a lot from it by saying, look at me, I’m now recognized by the President of the United States.
Perhaps Bush forgot all the times that he sat down and had his picture taken with leaders of questionable human rights credentials:
(HT: Ezra Klein, The Body Politik, and Cogitamus)
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Do as I say, not as I do?
February 29th, 2008 at 4:15 pmWhat ever Bush says - think the opposite - and you are probably right.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:16 pmtoo easy.
good work. lol.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:17 pmThis looks like it has potential as an advert- if he wants to compare himself to Bush. But, who would want to do that?
February 29th, 2008 at 4:18 pmWith W it is do as I say, not as I do.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:18 pmShaking Hands with Saddam Hussein:
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/
February 29th, 2008 at 4:19 pmi count 5 tyrants
February 29th, 2008 at 4:21 pmJust. Stop. Talking.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:22 pmNo message could ever be as discouraging as those bush already sent the world.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:23 pmYeah, good plan, Chimpy. Don’t talk to tyrants. Just threaten them with military force.
Wait, I just thought of something… what do we do when the tyrants know that our military is bogged down in an overseas quagmire and we can’t back up our threats?
Oh, hell, why worry about that? They’ll never figger it out…
February 29th, 2008 at 4:24 pmIf Raul had some oil on that island, you can bet George would have him over to the “ranch” for some Cuban food, like, tacos…
February 29th, 2008 at 4:25 pmWhat about the shot of him and Dad fishing?
February 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pmOoooo this is fun. Here’s another one -
Bush with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni:
February 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pmhttp://www.america.gov/ st/ washfile-english/ 2007/ October/ 20071030161628WCyeroC0.8364832.html
I was thinking the same thing when he let those words escape from his brain.
What an idiot.
How stupid do you have to be to vote for this guy twice.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:27 pmTP, you forgot the picture of him with the ‘Dick’…Cheney…
February 29th, 2008 at 4:27 pmWait! He said “Tyrants like Raul Castro” What he means is: “Sitting down with tyrants I don’t like is wrong.”
February 29th, 2008 at 4:28 pmOh, but those are OK — they’re OUR tyrants…
snark/off
February 29th, 2008 at 4:29 pmIn the chimp’s world you aren’t a tyrant if you support the U.S. of A.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:30 pmI wonder what the citizens of these countries have to say about their leaders willingly posing with Bush?
February 29th, 2008 at 4:31 pmAnd here’s Bush with Rwandan President Paul Kagame:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BUSHKA.jpg
February 29th, 2008 at 4:31 pmA rare OT for me, but IMO, something you guys ought to see.
http://www.reuters.com/ article/ reutersEdge/ idUSN2737733220080229
Summarized: Retailers: “Don’t save that rebate check! Give it all to MEEE!!!”
Walmart is salivating at the idea that there are free dollars for its pockets this summer.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:32 pmI am shocked that all of those leaders are willing to sully their reputations with the Butcher of the Middle East.
Bush and his pappy must have killed 2 million by now.
-GSD
February 29th, 2008 at 4:32 pmHow can one man be so wrong all of the time? Does he live in “bizzaro world”?
Bush has cozied up to real tyrants like Pakistan’s Musharraf, Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, etc. Heck, he holds hands with Saudi royalty and kisses them on their cheeks. Given the number of people around the globe who have been oppressed and even killed by groups supported by the Saudi royal family.
BTW, it isn’t really fair to call Raul Castro a tyrant. What has he done to merit that adjective?
February 29th, 2008 at 4:34 pmIt would be pure comedy if it weren’t so pathetic and coming from the dude with his finger on the big red button.
No doubt a jab at Obama as a favor to the “straight talking with a twist” McCain.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:38 pmMan, I have never seen anyone with less sense of irony than Dubya!
He has the intelligence of a furbee.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pmGeez, not one single day goes by when this guy does not reach a new boundary in Stupid.
What are comedians going to do when he finally leaves office?
February 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pmTP forgot this photo:
February 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pmhttp://img408.imageshack.us/ img408/ 1418/ bushcheneymapplethorpecqj0.jpg
Also - it’s really telling that Bush’s concept of diplomacy consists of “sitting down” and “taking pictures” and “sending a message.”
February 29th, 2008 at 4:41 pmDiplomacy is not a photo-op, George!
Never do what I do, unless you’re me, then it’s OK.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:41 pmhttp://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB82/
“Shaking Hands with Saddam Hussein,” Iraqi President Saddam Hussein greets Donald Rumsfeld, then special envoy of President Ronald Reagan, in Baghdad on December 20, 1983.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:41 pmYou have a picture of Bush looking in the mirror.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:44 pmAgain, no surprises here — IOIYAR hypocrisy is par for the course with the Bush administration. Even if some people are inclined to question whether Putin, Musharraf, and Abdullah count as tyrants, there can be no question whatsoever with regard to Islam Karimov who’s reported to have had political opponents boiled alive. I think it’s safe to say that Islam Karimov counts as someone who has “suppressed human rights and human dignity” — and not only did Bush sit down and have his picture taken with Karimov, he formed an alliance with Karimov so that we could use an airbase in Uzbekistan for the War In Iraq. Now there’s a savage irony — waging war on one brutal dictator who’s known to use torture on his political enemies by forming an alliance with another brutal dictator who’s known to do the same thing. And then people wonder why nobody trusts us anymore?
If the White House were really made of glass the way a hypocrite’s house is metaphorically said to be in proverb, it would probably have collapsed years ago as a result of all the stones that have been thrown by George W. Bush and his cronies over the last seven years.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pmHe never said he didn’t like it when two tyrants sat down together…
February 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pmMan, I have never seen anyone with less sense of irony than Dubya!
He has the intelligence of a furbee.
Comment by senilebiker — February 29, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
I’m thinking it’s more like a frisbee - just thrown out there, spinning around and around, waiting for some dog (or troll) to catch it. Here, good_golly, get it!
February 29th, 2008 at 4:46 pmComment by toasterhead — February 29, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
Tell that to the troops he uses as a backdrop.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:47 pmOur pet turtle died. My kids weren’t even sad.
Oh, and fcuk you Bubble Boy Dumbya.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:49 pmdid Lincoln cozy-up with tyrants too?
February 29th, 2008 at 4:52 pmI see that Bush has automatically transferred the definition of “tyrant” from Fidel to Raul Castro. What he misses is that when we threaten and punish our enemies, there is no possibility we will ever have anything other than animosity between us. When we sit down and talk to those we consider our enemies, there is the possibility of a meeting of the minds and possible cooperation.
America is tired of having a Bully as the leader of our country. We would like to have a responsible human being as our President who doesn’t threaten and invade before talking.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:52 pm.
Birds of a feather…
Huddle in the same Bush.
.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:53 pmJust. Stop. Talking.
Comment by Keltoi
Are you speaking to Bush or to us? If you are talking about Bush, I agree. He doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. Same goes for McCain.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:53 pmIf Raul had some oil on that island, you can bet George would have him over to the “ranch†for some Cuban food, like, tacos…
Comment by OptimisticMF
No, if Cuba had oil, they would have been next on our “pre-emptive” invasion list.
February 29th, 2008 at 4:54 pm…. “pre-emptive†invasion list.
Comment by bilbobaggins — February 29, 2008 @ 4:54 pm
I believe it is called the “Frredom Export List.”
February 29th, 2008 at 4:58 pm“Freedom”
February 29th, 2008 at 4:59 pmthe guy is so freaking dumb laura has to continuously remind him to breathe.
laura, shut up!
February 29th, 2008 at 5:00 pmDuring that press conference, someone was trying to get Bush to concede that he maybe was too hasty in his original assessment of Putin’s character. Bush, of course, can never admit to error and insisted that it was important to have a good personal relationship with “leaders”, even those you disagree with.
And this lines up with “don’t sit down with tyrants” how, exactly? Of course, he also described himself as a tough guy that can’t be messed with, unlike, well, any Democrat especially a wiry black guy or a broad.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:01 pmWhat Obama said:
“I recall what John F. Kennedy once said: We should never negotiate out of fear, but we should never fear to negotiate.”
Bush does not have the intellect to negotiate and his frustration with that ineptness has given us a weak foreign policy.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:02 pmNice try, but in two of the pictures Bush and the tyrant are standing up, and none of them show a table.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:02 pmBTW, it isn’t really fair to call Raul Castro a tyrant. What has he done to merit that adjective?
Comment by jpopphan — February 29, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
According to my Cuban in-laws, he was the “bad cop” to Fidel’s “good cop.” Raul was in charge of the executions of political opponents after the revolution. Apparently Fidel once had to ask him to please cut down on the firing squads for a while.
So, yeah - he’s not a nice guy.
But part of diplomacy is talking to the not nice guys sometimes. As history has taught us, ignoring them doesn’t work.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:03 pmJust. Stop. Talking.
Comment by Keltoi
Are you speaking to Bush or to us? If you are talking about Bush, I agree. He doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut. Same goes for McCain.
Comment by bilbobaggins — February 29, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
Oh, Bush, all the way. His press conferences are becoming finger nails on chalkboard bad. I get the sense that he is just letting it all hang out…and as for McCain, he is running for President, talking is kinda important to him. Bush doesn’t have to say these things, he could just….stop.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:03 pm“It will send a discouraging message to those who wonder whether America will continue to work for the freedom of prisoners.”
Prisoners? You mean like former Governor Siegelman? Our own tyrant had no problem granting clemency to Scooter Libby before he had to go to prison. Even if it isn’t Rove’s fault that Siegelman is in prison (as if) obviously 51 formers prosecutors think the trial was unjust. It’s ok if they’re Bush’s political prisoners, it’s ok if the administration tortures them, he’s got some nerve calling others tyrants.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:04 pm‘Sit Down At The Table’ And ‘Have Pictures Taken’ With ‘Tyrants’
Well, he can’t sit at the table with himself, but he can sit at the table with Cheney, I think that counts.
Or would that be ‘Have Pictures Taken’ With ‘War Criminals’?
Buck Fush
February 29th, 2008 at 5:05 pmNice try, but in two of the pictures Bush and the tyrant are standing up, and none of them show a table.
Comment by rmwarnick — February 29, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
Wow, just, wow.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:06 pmBush doesn’t have to say these things, he could just….stop.
Comment by Keltoi — February 29, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
Advice that would have been useful for him starting in 2000. Bush is even more dumb than you are, and that says a lot!
February 29th, 2008 at 5:10 pmBirds of a feather…
Huddle in the same Bush.
.Comment by Max-1 — February 29, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
OK, that’s FUNNY! ;)
February 29th, 2008 at 5:10 pmHe’s just askeert one of them will haul off and smack his smarmy face.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:13 pmOh, Bush, all the way. His press conferences are becoming finger nails on chalkboard bad. I get the sense that he is just letting it all hang out…and as for McCain, he is running for President, talking is kinda important to him. Bush doesn’t have to say these things, he could just….stop.
Comment by Keltoi — February 29, 2008 @ 5:03 pm
Here’s the real question, Keltoi: Is Bush making increasingly stupid remarks or are you just paying more attention?
February 29th, 2008 at 5:17 pmHere’s the real question, Keltoi: Is Bush making increasingly stupid remarks or are you just paying more attention?
Comment by gummitch — February 29, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
Maybe both?
I think any president gets pretty tiresome at year 7.5
His verbal non-sequiters were amusing once. I think Obama’s eloquence is magnified by the very favorable contrast.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:22 pmIn the same press conference:
Q Thank you, sir. In China a former factory worker who says that human rights are more important than the Olympics is being tried for subversion. What message does it send that you’re going to the Olympics, and do you think athletes there should be allowed to publicly express their dissent?
THE PRESIDENT: Olivier, I have made it very clear, I’m going to the Olympics because it’s a sporting event, and I’m looking forward to seeing the athletic competition. But that will not preclude me from meeting with the Chinese President, expressing my deep concerns about a variety of issues — just like I do every time I meet with the President.
And maybe I’m in a little different position. Others don’t have a chance to visit with Hu Jintao, but I do. And every time I meet with him I talk about religious freedom and the importance of China’s society recognizing that if you’re allowed to worship freely, it will benefit the society as a whole; that the Chinese government should not fear the idea of people praying to a god as they see fit. A whole society, a healthy society, a confident society is one that recognizes the value of religious freedom.
I talk about Darfur and Iran and Burma. And so I am not the least bit shy of bringing up the concerns expressed by this factory worker, and I believe that I’ll have an opportunity to do so with the President and, at the same time, enjoy a great sporting event. I’m a sports fan. I’m looking forward to the competition. And each Olympic society will make its own decision as to how to deal with the athletes.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:22 pmI think any president gets pretty tiresome at year 7.5
Comment by Keltoi
Hahaha!! That must be it!
February 29th, 2008 at 5:24 pmMaybe both?
I think any president gets pretty tiresome at year 7.5
His verbal non-sequiters were amusing once. I think Obama’s eloquence is magnified by the very favorable contrast.
Comment by Keltoi — February 29, 2008 @ 5:22 pm
I don’t know about that, I was happy with Clinton after 7.5 years, but the Republican Congress I was really ready to see go!
Obama’s eloquence? ROTFL! You’ve been smoking the hopium too long! I’m betting you liked Obama’s comment that “No one is Pro-Abortion”? Obama reminds me too much of those shallow republican evangelical preachers, he’s all talk, but he comes across almost as shallow as you do!
February 29th, 2008 at 5:29 pmWhere’s Harper and Bush?
February 29th, 2008 at 5:37 pmObama reminds me too much of those shallow republican evangelical preachers, he’s all talk, but he comes across almost as shallow as you do!
Comment by republicans hate facts
RFH, how is Obama supposed to be anything other than talk while he is running for the presidency. He is not the president yet so there isn’t much he can do now. I’ve been listening to Obama a lot lately and he’s been saying some amazing things. He also has good ideas. I don’t think that he has really expressed all his ideas yet because he knows he needs to be careful until he is truly the candidate. Once that happens, watch out!
So, who are you going to vote for? McCain? Nader? or maybe you are going to sit home and pout because your favorite candidate didn’t make it.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:38 pmNice try libs but even YOU know the game here!!
February 29th, 2008 at 5:39 pmI get it now. I missed the fact that RHF is a Hillary Clinton supporter. Oh well, we all have to lose sometimes. Now whether we are a gracious loser or a sore loser is the measure of a man or woman.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:46 pmDecider Guy: “Oh, but that’s DIFFERENT!!”
Yeah. OK. Ri-i-i-i-i-i-i-ght.
February 29th, 2008 at 5:48 pmWhere’s the picture of him with Ehud Olmert?
February 29th, 2008 at 5:59 pmI guess one man’s tyrant is another man’ s buddy.
Lame.
February 29th, 2008 at 6:14 pmEvery time he opens his mouth we see just how stupid he is. The Republican Party should keep Bush on vacation for the rest of his term or send him back to his paid friends in Africa. Each African got 12 dollars to cheer for the US President Gerbil on his visit. Now some might say why did they do it, well 12 dollars will feed and African family for a year. I did notice how some took the money but held Senator Obama signs up. I guess they thought or were told President Obama was coming to visit.
All the Americans Presidents who set down with the enemy World Leaders. Is there they a brain in Bush’s head or is it Mr. Jack Daniels and Mr. Weed speaking for him.
February 29th, 2008 at 6:26 pmBush does not have the intellect to negotiate and his frustration with that ineptness has given us a weak foreign policy.
Comment by leftcoast — February 29, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
Oh man, this makes so much sense!
Bush is insecure and his response to things that scare him is to belittle them. He knows that if he tries to negotiate with someone with even a little bit of smarts, he’ll be leaving that negotiation in just his underwear.
THAT’S why he is so dismissive of negotiating! Totally makes sense.
February 29th, 2008 at 6:42 pmRFH, how is Obama supposed to be anything other than talk while he is running for the presidency. He is not the president yet so there isn’t much he can do now. I’ve been listening to Obama a lot lately and he’s been saying some amazing things. He also has good ideas. I don’t think that he has really expressed all his ideas yet because he knows he needs to be careful until he is truly the candidate. Once that happens, watch out! Comment by bilbobaggins — February 29, 2008 @ 5:38 pm
GOOD IDEAS? Like WHAT? I want GREAT IDEAS, and Obama has FEW of thos!
So, who are you going to vote for? McCain? Nader? or maybe you are going to sit home and pout because your favorite candidate didn’t make it.
Comment by bilbobaggins — February 29, 2008 @ 5:38 pm
ROTFL!! Don’t be stupid AGAIN bilbo! Absolutely not, I’d vote for Obama in a heartbeat to avoid McCrazy! You HOPIUM ADDICTS though would probably vote for McCain rather than vote for Hillary. Why must you be a whiny little b**ch bilbo when people disagree with you and your favorite cult leader of the day (religious or otherwise?).
February 29th, 2008 at 6:50 pmSitting down at the table, having your picture taken with a tyrant such as Raul Castro, for example, lends the status of the office and the status of our country to him. He gains a lot from it by saying, look at me, I’m now recognized by the President of the United States.
Actually, if someone saw Raul Castro sitting down with Bush, they might wonder WHO was with Raul Castro. “The ‘president’ of the US?? No WAY!”
February 29th, 2008 at 6:50 pmI get it now. I missed the fact that RHF is a Hillary Clinton supporter. Oh well, we all have to lose sometimes. Now whether we are a gracious loser or a sore loser is the measure of a man or woman.
Comment by bilbobaggins — February 29, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
ROTFL! Ironic you lecturing about being a SORE LOSER! Anytime we’ve ever debated, you’ve been INCAPABLE of ADMITTING DEFEAT! As for ME being a LOSER, I’m not RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, you IDIOT *SSH*LE! If how GRACIOUS we are as LOSERS MEASURES US, you’re VERY SMALL!
February 29th, 2008 at 6:51 pmBush does have one unique talent. He is able to say things without hearing, or comprehending, the words he says.
February 29th, 2008 at 6:52 pmBush does not have the intellect to negotiate and his frustration with that ineptness has given us a weak foreign policy.
Comment by leftcoast — February 29, 2008 @ 5:02 pm
Which explains his decisions on scientific/technical issues as well.
February 29th, 2008 at 6:55 pmHe also has good ideas. I don’t think that he has really expressed all his ideas yet because he knows he needs to be careful until he is truly the candidate. Once that happens, watch out! Comment by bilbobaggins — February 29, 2008 @ 5:38 pm
Good ideas? Like:
Supports capital punishment.
Opposes gay marriage.
He’s also the guy that said “No one is Pro-Abortion”.
Sorry, but I’m still unimpressed with this “ideas”.
February 29th, 2008 at 7:02 pmAre we sure this is not an item from “The Onion”? How completely out of touch can one man be?
February 29th, 2008 at 7:15 pmAs long as bushie keeps campaigning against the Democratic candidate, I’ll keep smiling.
February 29th, 2008 at 7:44 pmBush is a troll. Let’s ignore him.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:38 pmChina is the biggest violater of human rights. Isn’t funny how it doesn’t bother the President. The only president in history to speek from his butt. When his lips move it’s actually gas.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:02 pmBush is a troll. Let’s ignore him.
Comment by nellre — February 29, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
February 29th, 2008 at 11:06 pmI’d rather prosecute and imprison him.
Did the head CHIMP of BUSHCO say something?
March 1st, 2008 at 9:10 amWhy are those four leaders sitting down with a tyrant?
March 1st, 2008 at 9:43 amYou mean …pictures with you IDIOT! Bush family worms must be nuked!
March 1st, 2008 at 1:03 pmWasn’t there a scene in Fahrenheit 9/11 of Texas Gov. Bush with some visiting Taliban guys? He praised them for their suppression of the opium crops (War on Drugs) and how they brought order to Afghanistan (strict religious control).
March 1st, 2008 at 1:06 pmNow they control the opium crops and distribution.
Heckuva job in Afghanistan.
Except for derailing threads, trolls are harmless.
March 1st, 2008 at 1:10 pmWe can’t say that about Bush. He’ll be dangerous even after he’s gone, with all of the pod people he’s installed in every government agency and the land mines he’s left in regulations.
Couldn’t help expanding on the theme just a bit:
http://www.bloggerradio.com/2008/03/bush-condemns-l.html
Whoever it was that said we should ignore him is really right … I meant “correct”, of course.
March 1st, 2008 at 7:25 pm