Former Powell aide: Bush was ‘Sarah Palin-like’ in his knowledge of foreign policy.
Former Powell aide: Bush was ‘Sarah Palin-like’ in his knowledge of foreign policy.
In an interview with Vanity Fair for its upcoming issue on the Bush White House, Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, ripped President Bush, saying that after the 2000 election, Bush’s knowledge of foreign affairs was as poor as that of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R):
We had this confluence of characters—and I use that term very carefully—that included people like Powell, Dick Cheney, Condi Rice, and so forth, which allowed one perception to be “the dream team.” It allowed everybody to believe that this Sarah Palin–like president—because, let’s face it, that’s what he was—was going to be protected by this national- security elite, tested in the cauldrons of fire.
Bush famously was unable to name the leaders of Pakistan, Chechnya, and India when running for President in 1999. In a recent interview, he reflected on his early days as President, stating, “I think I was unprepared for war.” Similarly, in 2004, Bush said he “was not on point” prior to 9/11. “I didn’t feel that sense of urgency, and my blood was not nearly as boiling.”
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
“…Sarah Palin–like…”
There might be a way to condense this phrase into a phonetically friendly yet concise single word.
Open to suggestions, here’s mine…
sapalike
(example)
December 30th, 2008 at 10:28 amGeorge Bush was a sapalike president.
Daryll is a sapalike troll.
etc…………………………………………………
Lawrence Wilkerson says:
It allowed everybody to believe that this Sarah Palin–like president—because, let’s face it, that’s what he was
Correction Lawrence, that’s what he IS!
December 30th, 2008 at 10:29 amEight frickin’ years, and he still doesn’t have a clue with regards to foreign policy.
Hell, he doesn’t have a clue for domestic policy.
So incurious George is incompetent, inept and self-serving. Is there something we didn’t know? Oh yeah, back when he was Governor of Texas he could see Mexico from his house I guess. This @ssclown has spent his entire life unprepared, uninterested and relying solely on his inner circle to carry his sorry @ss. It hasn’t worked as he has failed miserably at everything he has tried to accomplish throughout his life. Maybe, just maybe soon after January he will be successful at swallowing the gun that he carries around that belonged to Saddam. Once again, just being hopeful…
December 30th, 2008 at 10:31 amI remember when people were making fun of him for that.
But the sense I got from a lot of folks back then was “Clinton’s set up the country so good that it’d be next to impossible to screw it up. The yokel couldn’t hurt things too bad. He can just go clear brush or something.” This goes along with the primacy of the Conservative belief that all government action is bad, and that it’s better for government to do nothing than to ever do anything.
We know better now.
I think that’s the thing that frightened people about Palin so much – that she was Bush circa 2000 come again. What with the not knowing anything, etc. If we still had the luxury of believing that Presidents don’t matter, she might have been tolerable to more voters. But we don’t.
I find it funny that people are already speaking of Bush in the past tense, like he’s dead or something. Probably another example of Republicans trying to distance themselves from the fact that he ever existed.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:36 amBush was ‘Sarah Palin-like’ in his knowledge of foreign policy.»
– - Bush is and was incurious, despite his wealth, pedigree and position. Meanwhile, Palin is just proudly ignorant, eschews education and has no interest in reading anything written outside her echo chamber.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:38 am“Bush was ‘Sarah Palin-like’ in his knowledge of foreign policy.”
_________________________________________________________
I’m waiting for the Sarah fans in the GOP to use this as justification for her being qualified to run for president in 2012. As in — “You really don’t have to know anything about foreign policy to be President; after all, you have people for that sort of thing. I mean — look at Bush!”
It’s scary, really.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:39 amFrom the Wilkerson interview: “He became vice president well before George Bush picked him,” Wilkerson said of Cheney. “And he began to manipulate things from that point on, knowing that he was going to be able to convince this guy to pick him, knowing that he was then going to be able to wade into the vacuums that existed around George Bush — personality vacuum, character vacuum, details vacuum, experience vacuum.”
Finally someone is willing to publicly acknowledge who has actually been calling the shots for the last 8 years.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:42 amThe US electorate is continually going to be subjected to jackasses like bush and palin having a chance at the highest office as long as the capitalist, corporate media concerns itself with ratings and profit rather than providing truthful information that helps people make important decisions about their lives.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:43 amwho woulda thunk? dummya didn’t even have a freakin’ passport before being elected president
December 30th, 2008 at 10:44 amBush’s knowledge of foreign affairs was as poor as that of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R):
Remember, that’s still a high water-mark for the Regressives.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:46 amAnd Saruhh thought it was a season ticket to the hockey rink.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:47 amA Patriot Acting…. Bush doesn’t have the balls to pull the trigger. He is a weak coward and will die an old weak coward. Or as Nevar points out, a vacuum. A total waste of protein.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:52 amNevar Says:
“…Sarah Palin–like…”
There might be a way to condense this phrase into a phonetically friendly yet concise single word.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:28 am
_______________
How about “Bushlike?”
Seriously. Palin’s just a cheap Bush knockoff. Calling Bush “Palin-like” or “sapalike” is like calling a blues musician “Elvis-like.”
December 30th, 2008 at 11:02 amnanlichi…Like I said, I was being hopeful that he might get drunk enough. If not there’s always the possibility of a patriotic rogue pretzel :)
December 30th, 2008 at 11:03 amBush famously was unable to name the leaders of Pakistan, Chechnya, and India when running for President in 1999. In a recent interview, he reflected on his early days as President, stating, “I think I was unprepared for war.” Similarly, in 2004, Bush said he “was not on point” prior to 9/11. “I didn’t feel that sense of urgency, and my blood was not nearly as boiling.”
If this doesn’t reveal this imbecile’s true nature/being , nothing will.
What the hell kind of a president goes off on some sort of blood-lust adventure ?
And the wrong one at that ?
Jesus , this cretin has been an absolute nightmare……….
December 30th, 2008 at 11:05 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
I’m waiting for the Sarah fans in the GOP to use this as justification for her being qualified to run for president in 2012. As in — “You really don’t have to know anything about foreign policy to be President; after all, you have people for that sort of thing. I mean — look at Bush!”
It’s scary, really.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am
___________
When we still have troops dying in Iraq in 2012 thanks to Bush’s foreign policy blunders, I think people might start revising their qualifications.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:08 amHe’s a dumb fu… But no excuses, when money buys the presidency , well this is what you get. Did they even buy his wardrobe? I bet they did even though he was a bush with a bag full of it.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:10 amThinkFast:
Those poor, innocet, helpless, sad little Jews are on their way to losing any remaining support from the international community.
Gaza relief boat damaged in encounter with Israeli vessel
CNN Correspondent Karl Penhaul was aboard the 60-foot, Gibraltar-registered pleasure boat Dignity when the contact occurred. When the boat later docked in the Lebanese port city of Tyre, severe damage was visible to the forward port side of the boat, and the front left window and part of the roof had collapsed.
The Dignity was carrying 16 passengers and crew who were trying to reach Gaza through an Israeli blockade of the territory.
The captain of the Dignity said the Israelis broadcast a radio message accusing the vessel of being involved in terrorist activity. But Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor denied that and said the radio message simply warned the vessel not to proceed to Gaza because it is a closed military area.
Palmor said there was no response to the radio message, and the vessel then tried to out-maneuver the Israeli patrol boat, leading to the collision. Video Watch Penhaul describe the boat damage »
Penhaul said at least two Israeli patrol boats had shadowed the Dignity for about half an hour before the collision, moving around the vessel on all sides. One of the patrol boats then shined its spotlight on the Dignity while the other, with its lights off, “very severely rammed” the boat.
The captain of the Dignity told Penhaul he received no prior warning. Only after the collision did the Israelis come on the radio to say they struck the boat because they believed it was involved in terrorist activities.
LINK
December 30th, 2008 at 11:12 amGiven that George got something less than half of the popular vote in 2000, I’m going to assume that of those who voted for him, probably 75% had no idea of just how incompetent and vacuous he really is. (The other 25% probably knew, but also knew who was going to be manipulating the strings, and voted for the Neo-con machine.)
December 30th, 2008 at 11:14 amIt has taken 8 years, and the comparison to two more clueless and incompetent candidates for President and Vice-president for the majority of Americans to realize what a catastrophe (and just how stupid) George Bush is.
It’s it funny how what many people thought from the beginning is turning out to be spot on, but when the man was THE Unitary Executive, all was bright and shiny and to utter an unkind word otherwise was treason? Enablers, one and all. The confession at the end doesn’t alter that fact.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:14 amre 14:
spot on guido. thinking, planning, examining the possible consequences of his actions don’t come into the equation at all. He just needs to be mad. that’s what passes for diplomacy in the bush world.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:14 amOnly after the collision did the Israelis come on the radio to say they struck the boat because they believed it was involved in terrorist activities.
Again, blaming “terrorism” as a means to justify one’s own “terror”.
You wickedly smart Jews already killed the “King of the Jews”, so what’s left for a group of religious zealots who still believe they’re the “chosen ones”?
More murder.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:16 amYou mean the Republicans would pick an unqualified and incurious ignoramus to lead their party?
Imagine that.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:17 amI think Israel and Saudi Arabia should be wiped off the map
December 30th, 2008 at 11:17 amReagan , Bush , Palin ………..What is with the GOP and their fascination with vacuous , ignorant hicks who possess all the depth of a piece of notebook paper………?
December 30th, 2008 at 11:20 amThis should not surprise anyone…Chimpy has proven over and over and over that he doesn’t have a clue and doesn’t want one!!
As MCMetal indicated this cluelessness started long ago and with the way the rethugs are currently acting it will be a LONG time until they even recognize they need a clue….BUT in the meantime, it sure is nice to have them to kick around everyday…
December 30th, 2008 at 11:27 amremember how they marketed that as a “PLUS”…
December 30th, 2008 at 11:28 am“well, the average american doesnt know their names either!”
DNFP and old_hack, please stop trying to derail this thread with your trolling. We’re talking about how much Bush sucks here. Feel free to think all the stupid crap you want, over there in the corner by yourselves. The grownups are busy right now.
Badmoodman Says:
- – Bush is and was incurious, despite his wealth, pedigree and position.
I hate the coinage of that term, “incurious.” You just know that somewhere in some Republican think tank they were going, “quick, think up a synonym for ’stupid’ that doesn’t make people realize we’re saying ’stupid.’”" Fact is, Bush and Palin are just plain old stupid.
December 30th, 2008 at 11:33 amThis is an insult to Caribou Barbie. At least she is “Keepin an eye on ole Putin over there in Russia.”
December 30th, 2008 at 11:42 am“I didn’t feel that sense of urgency, and my blood was not nearly as boiling.”
Oh great…I’m so glad that his blood started to boil more.
Because that’s worked out so well for this country.
December 30th, 2008 at 12:05 pmElBruce Says:
Stick a sock in it d ouchebag.
Since your such a neophyte, I’ll clue you in:
WHEN TP IS ON VACATION, THERE’S NO OPEN THREAD, THUS, THOSE OF US WHO PAY ATTENTION TO THINGS OTHER THAN TP WILL POST O/T FROM TIME-TO-TIME.
Troll my a$$, moron, been here longer than you, which unfortunately has no bearing on whether your a stupid a$$hole or not.
GO FCUK YOURSELF TOOL.
December 30th, 2008 at 12:24 pmIsrael mulls truce offer on Day 4 of Gaza assault
Time to look at weapons inventory and place more orders with their AIPAC buddies at the Pentagon.
Then, more killing, at least until their next election.
Similar to, but more severe than Shrub’s last minute assault on environmentalists.
Birds of a feather, Zionists and Conservatives. A mindset that won’t rest until everything is destroyed in “their” name.
Now back to the elbruce show and more meaningful topics such as “Palin is dumb like Shrub”. Duh man, just “duh”.
December 30th, 2008 at 12:43 pmAt lease Sarah’s foreign policy is she can see Russia from her window, Bush is to high on booze and drugs to even know your talking to him. To really know the biggest mistake America made allowing Bush to steal the Oval Office just watch David Letterman’s Presidential Speeches. Each night it’s a reminder of just how really really stupid Bush is and why his parents must cry alot because how do you explain having two of the dumbest kids Jeb/George W. If only Mr. and Mrs. GHW Bush could say it was because they are related to each other and the kids were formed from bad blood or something. History will show a President who for 8 years hasn’t finished reading the book My Pet Goat because he had it up side down.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:15 pmMight the GOP use this as an endorsement of Palin in the next campaign?
December 30th, 2008 at 1:16 pmI don’t think they’re smart enough not to. I know I endorse her for the gop standard bearer.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:33 pmI misstyped… Bush is a sui geneirs kind of criminal…
December 30th, 2008 at 1:36 pmBush is a sui generis king of criminal imbecil. He didn’t have a passport before being PLACED in the WH.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:36 pmBush never did acquire the gravitas everybody knew he lacked in 2000. That shows how unwise it is to vote for a pig in the poke as they did in 2000.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:39 pmNo matter how stupid and clueless Bush really is he worships Satan and that has opened that way to the top for him. Despite of his screwups he was able rule for 8 straight years of repeated failure after failure without being impeached or killed.
December 30th, 2008 at 1:57 pmThe idiot is vested with demonic power to destroy and bring ruin. His self-praise and confidence despite his failures is very rare and unusual. His ego is almost boundless. He doesn’t need approval for the people, he’s got his own approval that’s all he needs!
Former Powell aide: Bush was ‘Sarah Palin-like’ in his knowledge of foreign policy.
So that would make Powell which; Bristol, Piper, Track, Willow, or Trig? Powell obeyed his ‘Palin-like’ boss like a dutiful child and sold us all out.
I’m thinking Willow, since he bends over with the prevailing political winds.
December 30th, 2008 at 2:26 pmThat’s true. I remember when he got into office, the only foreign head of state he could think of was Blair. He knew nothing about any country.
Remember when he started the war? He had no idea that the factions in Iraq had been enemies for hundreds of years. He had no idea they would be fighting amongst themselves. This man was and is a total mental midget.
No matter what the truth of Wilkerson statement, let’s not forget Powell did not have to follow Bush. He was smarter. There was a time for him to stop being a good soldier. He was weak when he should have been strong.
December 30th, 2008 at 2:53 pmWilkerson has been much more forthcoming with the truth about Bush than Colin Powell. I don’t doubt his words, but I still have trouble accepting that Powell took so long before he left Bush, took so long before he backed Obama, and has said next to nothing about the incompetency and deceitfulness of Bush and his comrades.
December 30th, 2008 at 4:52 pmBeing a loyal soldier does not mean you watch him destroy the country — in fact, a loyal soldier would have risked his reputation and career to tell the truth.
(Recall that his son was appointed to the FCC in those early years.)
43. Marie Says: …but I still have trouble accepting that Powell took so long before he left Bush, took so long before he backed Obama, and has said next to nothing about the incompetency and deceitfulness of Bush and his comrades.
It could be because Bandar bush bought colin a Jaguar soon after he ‘retired:’
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070429/news_1n29saudi.html
Bet the chrome shined like so much silver…around 30 pieces…
December 30th, 2008 at 5:10 pmhanshiro – Thanks for that tidbit of information.
December 30th, 2008 at 5:34 pmThat helps explain some things.
I still say, it would be a wonderful charity fund raiser to have Palin and Bush appear on “Are you smarter than a 5th grader”.
I’d not only watch it, I’d buy the DVD.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:06 pmNevar Says:
“…Sarah Palin–like…”
There might be a way to condense this phrase into a phonetically friendly yet concise single word.
Yeah, it’s called STOO-PID.
wiley Says:
Might the GOP use this as an endorsement of Palin in the next campaign?
Gawd, I hope so. Please go there, Republicans.
December 30th, 2008 at 6:24 pmAfter 8 years of the ignorant, stupid, crook Bush; no wonder America is falling apart. And there is still a RepubliCon Party full of crooks and their stooges (Is Sarah Palin a crook, a stooge, or both?).
December 30th, 2008 at 6:52 pmBush is Sarah Palin like and
December 30th, 2008 at 8:01 pmSarah Palin is Bush like.
That should just about register positive with, oh, maybe
a couple million morons.
HAHAHAHA
Now they talk.
December 30th, 2008 at 9:41 pmIn 2007, Bush was in Pakistan saying what a fine example of an Arab democracy they were! But Pakistan is not Arab and they were headed by a dictator who came to power in a coup and would not allow fair elections! They also supported al Qaeda and the Taliban, helped fund and plan 9/11, had nuclear weapons, sold nuclear technology to North Korea, and were harboring bin Laden.
December 30th, 2008 at 10:50 pmOne word. Two people. Idiots!
December 31st, 2008 at 10:58 amWhich one is more inept? Anybody have a quarter out there?
Heads – Bush, Tails – Palin, Standing On it’s Side – Both
December 31st, 2008 at 11:53 amI just registered on this site, so my apologies if someone has already posed this question and gotten an answer: Can anyone explain to me how in the H-E-L-L Madam Silly Governor Palin took second place in the Most Admired Women list? PLEEEEEZE shed some light on that little gem.
December 31st, 2008 at 6:58 pmThis is the story I’m referring to
December 31st, 2008 at 6:59 pmOops. Here is it again: http://www.adn.com/palin/story/635555.html
December 31st, 2008 at 7:02 pmSillyWabbit. Its a mystery. I certainly have no explanation its hard to believe after her immediate family anyone could actually admire Bimbostien
January 1st, 2009 at 3:40 am