Gates: Obama is ‘more analytical’ than Bush.
By on Mar 1st, 2009 at 11:20 am
Gates: Obama is ‘more analytical’ than Bush.
Today, on NBC’s Meet the Press, host David Gregory asked Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to compare the “styles” and “temperaments” of Presidents Bush and Obama. Gates said Obama is “somewhat more analytical” than Bush, as Obama makes a concerted attempt to hear the views of every player involved in an issue:
GATES: I think that probably President Obama is somewhat more analytical, and he makes sure he hears from everybody in the room on an issue. And if they don’t speak up, he calls on them.
Q: A marked difference from his predecessor?
GATES: President Bush was interested in hearing different points of view but didn’t go out of his way to make sure everybody spoke if they hadn’t spoken up before.
Watch it:
Update On CNN, former Bush counselor Ed Gillespie responded to Gates' comments, saying "of course" Bush listened to everybody. But he acknowledged Gates' key point and tried to explain why Bush didn't call on others. "If they didn't [offer their own view], you know, everybody has their own style. I'm not sure how much benefit you get from pressing someone who didn't want to volunteer something." Watch it:
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Afghanistan
Bachmann
Beck
Boehner
Bush
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
Dobbs
Economy
Education
Election
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Global Warming
Guantanamo
Health Care
Immigration
International Relations
Iraq
Justice
LGBT
Lieberman
Limbaugh
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Politics
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Steele
Stimulus
Tea Parties
Technology
Terrorism
Veterans
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
Well you have to like that. If somebody has absolutely nothing to say Obama makes sure he gets heard.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:26 amANALYTICAL!
March 1st, 2009 at 11:26 amHi boozer.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:27 amAre we still talking about old SamJoe the forty something no real job “average american” nonplumber?
—-
GATES: I think that probably President Obama is somewhat more analytical…
—-
Somewhat? How about more analytical by light years.
—-
GATES: President Bush was interested in hearing different points of view but didn’t go out of his way to make sure everybody spoke if they hadn’t spoken up before.
—-
And those who didn’t speak up kept their jobs. Funny how that worked out.
- Tom
March 1st, 2009 at 11:29 amLooks like the TP filter got changed just in time!
Analytical – such a good trait for a President to have.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:31 amI’m pretty sure you have Obama’s cabinet confused with a group of your friends.
Obama’s advisors likely have something to say when they’re called to consult with him.
I’m guessing your friends, if they’re anything like you, frequently speak when they have nothing to say.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:31 amralph the wonder llama Says:
I’m pretty sure you have Obama’s cabinet confused with a group of your friends.
Obama’s advisors likely have something to say when they’re called to consult with him.
I’m guessing your friends, if they’re anything like you, frequently speak when they have nothing to say.
“Who ate all the Cheeto’s?” “Where’s the bong?” “God, are these crabs?!!”
March 1st, 2009 at 11:33 amSomewhat more analytical? You might say that. You might also say that President Obama does NOT have to rely upon “talking points” scripted for him by hacks/hackettes; that he does not have to limit himself to answering questions raised by shills and plants; that he can generate intellectual content on his own; that he can use rather than abuse English. . . “How does he differ? Let me count the ways.”
March 1st, 2009 at 11:33 amHere’s a good WaPo article describing Obama’s daily schedule:
Obama, Reaching Outside the Bubble
a snippet from the end:
While Obama eats (dinner), a team of three staff members works to compile his nightly briefing book. It is a weighty packet of government documents, memos, speeches and articles meant to prepare Obama for the next day. “You look at this and you think, ‘Wow, the number of issues that he is working on in depth in a given day is remarkable,’”said Brown, the staff secretary.
Around the time Obama finishes his dinner, a staff member delivers the briefing book to his residence. Its arrival announces the end of the president’s favorite part of the day, drawing him back to his new reality. He usually reads it late into the night, sometimes studying until 1 a.m.
Didn’t Bush go to bed every night at 9pm?
March 1st, 2009 at 11:38 amLets be clear, G.W. Bush was dumb.
Obama is smart.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:40 amG. W. Bush is still dumb, there’s no fixing dumb.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:45 amGATES: President Bush was interested in hearing different points of view but didn’t go out of his way to make sure everybody spoke if they hadn’t spoken up before.
I’m sure there were times when people didn’t speak up because Bush said, “It’s decided then, that’s what we’re doing.” And when they did try to say something, they got a short, snappy, “I’m the decider and I say it’s decided.”
I’m also positive that Bush never let facts influence his thinking.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:49 amAfter recently viewing the movie, “W” Gates’ comments were the kindest way to comment on Bush’s style.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:49 amThe movie did not tell me anything I didn’t already know, but seeing it altogether in a movie which did not blast Bush, but portrayed him as pathetic and in over his head, was very interesting.
Bush is a case of arrested development – he acts and reacts as an adolescent – and he was in the White House at the worst time in out history.
boozer Says:
Well you have to like that. If somebody has absolutely nothing to say Obama makes sure he gets heard.
Lesson to be learned here. This is an example of a false premise. The poster is indirectly putting forth the false, unsubstantiated idea that people who had not had a turn to speak yet had “nothing to say”. He then ridicules the idea of wanting to hear what someone who has nothing to say thinks.
People who make statements like this poster’s are usually the ones with “nothing to say”. And they ridicule Obama for listening to such people (even though no one said he does) while completely missing out on the irony that even though they themselves have nothing to say, TP lets them say it.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:54 amIf someone in the cabinet has nothing to say, what’s he doing in the cabinet?
March 1st, 2009 at 11:56 amOf course, everyone has an opinion, and those in the Oval Office meetings have the most important opinions of all. For our troll here to suggest that cabinet personnel are stupefied and need babysitting is insulting – to himself and his own understanding.
Bush didn’t have to ask for everyone’s opinoin because only yes-men were admitted to his cabinet and meetings. He already knew what the echo-chamber had to say: yessir, anything you say, sir, you’re right, sir.
I have a feeling that “making sure everybody spoke” wasn’t the only thing Bush didn’t “go out of his way” to do.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:59 amralph the wonder llama Says:
I have a feeling that “making sure everybody spoke” wasn’t the only thing Bush didn’t “go out of his way” to do.
Whether or not everyone spoke in a Bush discussion was irrelevant since it was constructed as an echo chamber in the first place.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:02 pmI disagree, Marie. I think for the troll to suggest that cabinet personnel are stupefied and need babysitting is simply a reflection of his understanding of the way that Republicans run government.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:04 pmI’m sure everyone “in the room” has an opinion on what’s being discussed. If not, why are they there? I’m glad Obama doesn’t tolerate meeting trolls who come in, eat the doughnuts and plink away on their Blackberries while others do the heavy lifting. And thank God Obama doesn’t govern by his “gut” as Bush did. We all know where that got us.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:04 pm“For our troll here to suggest that cabinet personnel are stupefied and need babysitting is insulting – to himself and his own understanding.”
Yup, most of all, it was LAME. Not atypically, though.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:04 pmBush wouldn’t know what analytical means.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:05 pmmary Says:
[...] He usually reads it late into the night, sometimes studying until 1 a.m.
it’s showing too… he needs more sleep…
March 1st, 2009 at 12:06 pmHey boozer, how did bush’s management style work out for us? Obama is smart enough to not conflate “loud” with “right” or “opinionated” with intelligent” or “pushy” with “moral”. I’d tell you to think about it, but I think we all know that aint gonna happen…
March 1st, 2009 at 12:06 pmAre all things anal cool now?
March 1st, 2009 at 12:08 pmI’m not sure how much benefit you get from pressing someone who didn’t want to volunteer something.
The benefit comes from minimizing the comments made from cabinet members and thus compelling them to stay quite or loose their position. It’s called intimidation and it was more likely Cheney, not Bush, that is at the heart of that.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:10 pmNOT FAIR!
A can of sardines is more analytical than GWB.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:11 pmA stump is more analytical than Bush.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:13 pmMarie Says:
After recently viewing the movie, “W” Gates’ comments were the kindest way to comment on Bush’s style.
After recently viewing the movie “Ice Age” I believe that prehistoric animals spoke English and cooperated with each other too.
It was a movie, Hollywood, fiction for crying out loud. What other movies do you base your opinions on?
Of course I still believe that our moon landing was staged in a hanger in Burbank, so I have that going for me.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:13 pmKinda early to be hitting it so hard, eh boozie?
March 1st, 2009 at 12:15 pmboozer chose his/her moniker well…
March 1st, 2009 at 12:15 pmI agree Katy – I read yesterday that he and Michelle are up most mornings at 5:30am to work out. That doesn’t leave too much time for sleep!
I hope he paces himself.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:16 pmboozer, did I say I based my opinions on hollywood fiction?
No – I said it didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know.
Apparently you have trouble reading and listening.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:17 pmheh heh – I always went with my gut – so I really didn’t need to hear what people had to say. My gut did all the talkin’. So if people didn’t want to speak up, that was all right with me – kept the meetin’s shorter, too. An’ I could get to my deciderin’ sooner. And let my gut tell me what my deciderin’ should be.
Like on those weapons of mass destruction. My gut told me about those. Frequently. Oh, I just passed another one now. Now that was a real killer. Just like Saddam Hussein. And that’s why I invaded Afghanistan. ‘Cuz the Talibani were holdin’ up that gas pipeline. And my gut told me that if a bunch of Saudi’s attacked ‘merica on nine one-one, I should attack Afghanistan.
Besides, when I was comanderer in chief, no one wanted to speak out against my gut anyways, so what’s the point in listenin’?
Y’all donate to my lieberry, now, ya hear? That’s me talkin’ now, not my gut. My gut wants another pretzel.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:19 pmMeanwhile, Bush is practicing his lines for a job that he is marginally qualified for:
Nine iron Dr. Goldfarb?
March 1st, 2009 at 12:19 pmPaper or Plastic?
Want fries with that?
Fill ‘er up?
Welcome to Walmart.
Hot wax sir?
You mean, like right-wingers base their approval of torture on what they’ve seen on “24″?
March 1st, 2009 at 12:19 pmCan anyone imagine President Obama doing this:
“He loves to cuss, gets a jolly when a mountain biker wipes out trying to keep up with him, and now we’re learning that the first frat boy loves flatulence jokes. A top insider let that slip when explaining why President Bush is paranoid around women, always worried about his behavior. But he’s still a funny, earthy guy who, for example, can’t get enough of fart jokes. He’s also known to cut a few for laughs, especially when greeting new young aides, but forget about getting people to gas about that.”
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/whispers/articles/060820/28whisplead.htm
Think about that boozer, bush would fart, for his own amusement when greeting new young aides. What does that say about bush? It tells me that he wants everyone to know that he’s in charge. Given that kind of behavior, that level of domination and lack of caring for anyone but himself, why would anyone open themselves up to ridicule by saying anything other that what they think bush wanted to hear?
March 1st, 2009 at 12:20 pmI think that probably President Obama is somewhat more analytical..
Give me a break. My Norwich Terrier is more analytical than Bush.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:22 pmA bush is more analytical than the Bush.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:22 pmPatriot Actor Says:
didn’t go out of his way to make sure everybody spoke if they hadn’t spoken up before.
In other words, Bush wasn’t a freakin baby sitter. It’s not pre-school.
No, it’s a White House job and maybe you don’t have to prove yourself too much at Burger King but it’s not out of line for the President to say “Hey guy, prove to me you deserve to be here”.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:23 pmboozer Says:
After recently viewing the movie “Ice Age” I believe that prehistoric animals spoke English and cooperated with each other to
And after seeing “Bonzo goes to college” I believe that Reagan could communicate effectively with chimpanzees which explains his appeal to the republican base.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:23 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
I think that probably President Obama is somewhat more analytical..
Give me a break. My Norwich Terrier is more analytical than Bush.
If he pauses before he eats his feces, he is…
March 1st, 2009 at 12:24 pmGates: Obama is ‘more analytical’ than Bush.
NO SHITE!!!
March 1st, 2009 at 12:26 pmMarie Says:
No – I said it didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know.
Which you apparently “know” from watching “W”.
Unless…OMG!! You were actually in attendance at Bush’s cabinet meetings? How exciting that you would come here to spill the beans. Almost like that Twitter deal. TP should be honored to have an insider posting here.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:26 pmmary Says:
Didn’t Bush go to bed every night at 9pm?
Yep, and he didn’t work on weekends.
I was shocked when I read that Bush spent 1/3 of his time in the White house on vacation. That is an unprecedented number and will probably never be beaten.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:26 pmLook at what happened to people who spoke up in the bush administration.
Generale Shinsiceki spoke up and was fired
Paul ONeil spoke up, and was fired
Richard Clarke spoke up and was fired
George tenet kissed ass and got the medal of freedom
March 1st, 2009 at 12:30 pmCondi kissed ass and got to go shopping for shoes
Powell kissed ass and got to stick around for 4 years before he was fired, becuase he spoke up in private…
boozer Says:
Marie Says:
No – I said it didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know.
Which you apparently “know” from watching “W”.
Unless…OMG!! You were actually in attendance at Bush’s cabinet meetings?
Gates was, and he agrees with Marie. dumbass.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:31 pmBilbo H.B. Says: . . . I was shocked when I read that Bush spent 1/3 of his time in the White house on vacation. That is an unprecedented number and will probably never be beaten.
I guess we should be thankful; so much more damage could’ve occurred if he hadn’t been clearin’ so much brush.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:32 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
mary Says:
Didn’t Bush go to bed every night at 9pm?
Yep, and he didn’t work on weekends.
You just think he went to bed at 9pm. In reality he was down in the bunker under the White House manipulating oil prices, the stock market, terror attacks and ordering up new methods of torture and wiretapping of all Americans.
I never saw the movie, but I read it on the internet, so it must be true.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:41 pmBobwurst Says:
Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
I think that probably President Obama is somewhat more analytical..
Give me a break. My Norwich Terrier is more analytical than Bush.
If he pauses before he eats his feces, he is…
Now wait a minute here. Chaser has never eaten his feces. He is, however, quite fond of citrus (go figure).
March 1st, 2009 at 12:42 pmMore ANALYTICAL! Gates was choosing his word carefully, while probably thinking (”wow, this guy really knows what he’s talking about and asks tough questions”).
Thank goodness that we finally have a leader who is more thoughtful, intelligent, a listener, open minded (willing to listen to others), able to ask good questions, interested in facts and data, etc. All signs of a good leader.
Just what we need in these challenging, complex times…someone who is not clueless and bullheaded.
And he doesn’t have childish, disrespectful nicknames for his senior staff, like “turd blossom.”
With good leaders, folks may disagree with the boss but they understand why he or she is going in one direction, they appreciate being heard and part of the process, and respect the person. “Lions Don’t Need to Roar” as the good book on leadership says.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:43 pmHi boozer’
March 1st, 2009 at 12:47 pmHave you met Lush? You really should.
Has boozer always served as a comedy interstitial on this forum?
(I know, “comedy” is subjective, and many of boozer’s comments might not measure up to that lofty label. But it was the closest descriptor I could come up with.)
March 1st, 2009 at 12:48 pmNo, boozer. Bush told the country he went to bed by 9 PM. Are you saying that Bush lied to us?
March 1st, 2009 at 12:49 pmPatty Says:
Bilbo H.B. Says: . . . I was shocked when I read that Bush spent 1/3 of his time in the White house on vacation. That is an unprecedented number and will probably never be beaten.
I guess we should be thankful; so much more damage could’ve occurred if he hadn’t been clearin’ so much brush.
I always had mixed feelings about Bush’s vacation time.
On the one hand, he was so obviously not the one in charge or the one making decisions, and it seemed like he’d check in (”Do you need me to speechify or something? Heh heh.”) just to put on a show of some kind, and it really bugged me because it was such a joke…a very lame joke.
But, as Patty points out, if he’d actually attempted to get involved more, it would probably have just made things worse!
March 1st, 2009 at 12:49 pmboozer Says:
You just think he went to bed at 9pm. In reality he was down in the bunker under the White House manipulating oil prices, the stock market, terror attacks and ordering up new methods of torture and wiretapping of all Americans.
I never saw the movie, but I read it on the internet, so it must be true.
And you obviously never read anything else. No newspapers, magazines, or books. Like a good “conservative” you just make it up and assume everyone else does the same thing.
Eejit.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:50 pmWhat Progfin said!
Thank goodness that we finally have a leader who is more thoughtful, intelligent, a listener, open minded (willing to listen to others), able to ask good questions, interested in facts and data, etc. All signs of a good leader.
Just what we need in these challenging, complex times…
I just had to bold that.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:52 pmboozer,
Obviously you do not read nor listen to anything other than the rightwing echo chamber; why else would you assume that there is no other news reporting anywhere that would inform the public?
You make some mighty assumptions about those who post here, based on your own limited information — you need to broaden your scope a bit — maybe you can try that when you sober up.
Republicans are on record as believing that what happens on “24″ is a real interpretation of fact.
You insult me and others with your ridiculous comments and what you must perceive as wit — again, lay off the bottle for a while and see if your head clears.
BTW, that website you advocate is pathetic. Obama has been in office for 30 days and, like other domestic traitors, you are calling for him to fail and counting days unti he does.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:55 pmYou are as pathetic as your web site.
My cats are more analytical than Bush.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:04 pmThey didn’t want to volunteer their own opinion because if it disagreed with Chimpys they would have been fired.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:06 pmMarie Says:
Republicans are on record as believing that what happens on “24? is a real interpretation of fact.
Moonbats are on record as believing that “JFK”, “W”, “Milk” and especially “An Inconvenient Truth” are all “real interpretation(s) of fact(s)”, what ever the heck that means.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:09 pmoohhh, boozer breaks out the moonbat reference. that’s really convincing….I don’t want to be called a moonbat so I better agree with boozer.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pmboozer Says:
Hey buddy, you’re working my side of the street…
March 1st, 2009 at 1:20 pmbarfly Says:
boozer Says:
Hey buddy, you’re working my side of the street…
Don’t worry barfly, boozer just woke up on the wrong side of the gutter.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:21 pmMoonbats are on record as believing that “JFK”, “W”, “Milk” and especially “An Inconvenient Truth” are all “real interpretation(s) of fact(s)”, what ever the heck that means.
And Limbaugh groupies never back anything up with facts.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:22 pmPoor Gates, he can’t just say that one president is brilliant and the other was an idiot.
My cat is more analytical than Bush.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:25 pmI thought Hooterville closed all their gin joints; yet here’s boozer, soused to the gills, and looking for an argument.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:25 pmI think that’s a fair statement — key word being “interpretation”.
Not surprised that the phrase “real interpretations of facts” confuses you, though. You seem easily confused.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:27 pmBobwurst Says:
boozer breaks out the moonbat reference
Boozer broke out the “Moonbat” reference to distinguish the “Loony Left” from the rest of the Democrats. Comments on TP, much like Demoraticunderground, represent the Democratic Party about a much as the “Wingnuts” at Free Republic and Lucianne.com represent the Republicans.
That’s what make these places so fun, they take themselves so seriously.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:34 pmboozer Says:
That’s what make these places so fun, they take themselves so seriously.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Just like the trolls do…
**eyes rolling**
March 1st, 2009 at 1:40 pmbarfly Says:
boozer Says:
Hey buddy, you’re working my side of the street…
What? You didn’t get this mornings memo? I thought you were supposed to be working MYDD or something.
My God, Limbaugh takes one day off to make a speech and the whole schedule gets hosed up!
Fine I’ll just take the rest of the day off.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:41 pmI have to hand it to Sec Def Gates, “I think that probably President Obama is somewhat more analytical…”
That is the nicest way to say out loud on a national broadcast news program that former president George Bush Jr, was intellectually lazy; didn’t read; didn’t ask questions; has absolutely no leadership qualities whatsoever; failed to hold cabinet members responsible for bad decisions; accepted Dick Cheney’s advice as fact; was in over his head; and finally had absolutely no more business running a pay toilet than being the president of the United States. An absolute and complete failed Presidency, thanks for nothing right-wingers!
March 1st, 2009 at 1:44 pm“…somewhat more analytical…”
The English translation of this means “the person has a brain.”
March 1st, 2009 at 1:45 pmMoss and lichens growing on rocks in the northern climes are more analytical that Bush.
O/T: Why do we continue to let these right-wing radical destructionists and obstructionists label themselves as “conservatives?” What have these clowns ever conserved anyway? Our natural resources? Nature? Our environment? No. They “conserve” greed, stupidity, arrogance, fascism, imperialism, financial deregulation, tax cuts for the ruling class and endless imperial occupations. Heck of a job, idiots.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:46 pmIt’s funny listening to Gillespie trying to defend authoritarianism.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:00 pmWell JFK was op-ed on history, with some peoples opinions being represented. W was sarcasm and camp, based on extremely recent history.
An Inconvenient Truth, was science and documentary.
24 is a fiction. Fictional characters. Fictional scenarios. Fictional events.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:05 pm“…somewhat more analytical…”
The English translation of this means “the person has a brain.”
I took it to mean “more intelligent”.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:15 pmAn amoeba is more rational that bush
March 1st, 2009 at 2:16 pmAny truth to the rumor that GW was watching the interview and pondered aloud, “anal what?”
March 1st, 2009 at 2:28 pmWhy anyone could witness the failed boosh crime family regime and still defend their actions is beyond me. There is a reason that the bottom feeders and knuckle draggers are not considered very smart.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:42 pmkasinca Says:
Why anyone could witness the failed boosh crime family regime and still defend their actions is beyond me. There is a reason that the bottom feeders and knuckle draggers are not considered human.
There fixed it for you.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:58 pmCan one person make a concerted attempt at something?
March 1st, 2009 at 2:58 pmGummitch asks:
“Where’s the bong?”
Sorry dude.
March 1st, 2009 at 3:00 pm||
()
Alejandro Says:
Obama makes a concerted attempt to hear the views of every player involved in an issue
Can one person make a concerted attempt at something?
Does the conductor make a “concerted effort” to hear the flutes above the other woodwinds? Hmm, if he/she is in control of ALL the members making the sounds, then he/she has control over their level of vocalizations.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/concerted
Sounds about right.
March 1st, 2009 at 3:03 pmNo. One person makes an effort to hear flutes above woodwinds. Concerted means that more than one person is involved in the effort.
March 1st, 2009 at 3:04 pmI’m confused by this analogy.
It seems to imply the President has “control” over what the congress says, or when or how they get to say it.
March 1st, 2009 at 3:09 pmAn Analysis of Stuff Fer Plain Folks by George W. Bush, MBA—published by Random Thoughts Press.
Economics:
“See, without the tax relief package, there would have been a deficit, but there wouldn’t have been the commiserate –not commiserate –the ‘kick’ to our economy that occurred as a result of the tax relief“. –Washington, D.C. Dec. 15, 2000
“The fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there’s jobs at the machine-making place.”–May 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz.
“And I suspect that what you’ll see, Toby, is there will be a momentum, momentum will be gathered. Houses will begat jobs, jobs will begat houses.” –Gulfport, Miss., Aug. 28, 2006
Government and the Role of the President:
“Never again in the halls of Washington, D.C., do I want to have to make explanations that I can’t explain.” –Portland, Oregon, Oct. 31, 2000.
“They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it’s some kind of federal program.” — Nov. 2, 2000
“The legislature’s job is to write law. It’s the executive branch’s job to interpret law.” –Austin, Texas, Nov. 22, 2000
War and Politics in Iraq:
“It’s bad in Iraq. Does that help?“—Washington, D.C., Dec. 7, 2006
“I think we are welcomed. But it was not a peaceful welcome.”
“No question that the enemy has tried to spread sectarian violence. They use violence as a tool to do that.” — Washington, D.C., March 22, 2006
“There are some similarities, of course (between Iraq and Vietnam). Death is terrible.” –Tipp City, Ohio, April 19, 2007
March 1st, 2009 at 3:11 pmClearly Gates is showing his hand when he makes a point about the contrast between Bush and Obama. It must be very refreshing for Gates to be dealing with Obama through the next phase of Iraq and Afghanistan.
March 1st, 2009 at 3:27 pmIt’s a concerted effort because he is working with the staff. Have you never worked with a group Alejandro? Ever been a leader? You work with the personalities in the situation if you want to get the best from people.
March 1st, 2009 at 3:54 pmNot only was/is George W. Bush an intellectual lightweight, he was/is also an emotional and temperamental bully. Bush didn’t CHOOSE to be non-analytical, he was/is too shallow, unperceptive, insecure and arrogant to BE analytical. Not only did Bush lack the intellectual tools to make effective decisions, he was far too lazy, subjective and insecure to second guess his “gut” instincts, which more often then not just happened to coincide with Republican corporate/political interests. Either you accept that Bush was a TERRIBLE president because he was INCOMPETENT and INCAPABLE or because he was consciously making a concerted effort to IGNORE the needs of the majority of Americans in order to serve the political/financial interests of ONLY Republicans. Either he was too STUPID or too CORRUPT….or perhaps he was both.
March 1st, 2009 at 4:20 pmGates found a nice way of saying W. was a dumbass and he’s glad Obama is now President.
March 1st, 2009 at 4:40 pmPatriot Actor Says:
didn’t go out of his way to make sure everybody spoke if they hadn’t spoken up before.
In other words, Bush wasn’t a freakin baby sitter. It’s not pre-school.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
No in other words Bush is a moron who never cared about other opinions. Obama is NOT a moron and wants to hear from those who disagree in case they have a valid point. When Bush was given the briefing that said Ben Laden was determined to attack IN the US he told the guy that he had covered his ass and spent the rest of the day fishing
March 1st, 2009 at 4:54 pmDoes anyone else here notice that every time Gates appears on cable news he looks incredibly uncomfortable and very guilty? He never looks directly in the camera, and like a good player, always tries to walk the fine line between supporting O, which he should, and not sounding like too much of a team player…
Hard to do, but Gates, in his bumbling way, manages it!
March 1st, 2009 at 4:55 pmboozer Says:
And moronic brainwashed cons like YOU are on record showing that you wouldnt KNOW a fact if it stole your car and slept with your rubber ‘wife’
March 1st, 2009 at 4:57 pmboozer Says:
That’s what make these places so fun, they take themselves so seriously.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What makes MORONS like you so fun is you are so stupid you give us a free clown show. It is so amusing to see you be so pathetic while actually believing you are clever.
March 1st, 2009 at 5:00 pmObama is more analytical than Bush.
Knowing Bush, that could be considered damning with faint praise.
March 1st, 2009 at 5:52 pmThis is really a very simple argument and let me clarify it by quoting from the following post on this subject:
http://www.verbalpaintball.com/2009/03/01/president-obama-more-competent-than-bush-gates-infers/
George W. Bush couldn’t have been a worse choice for this country at a most crucial time. I remember letting out a long sigh when this homonculus won the election, thinking to myself that, hopefully, he wouldn’t cause too much damage over the course of four years.
Instead, a frightened public elected this guy a second time and damaged our country severely. I believe Obama is the ONLY person for the job now – and I’m hoping for everyone’s sake he can live up to the promise.
At the very least, imagine what the world would be like at this moment with a President John McCain. Thank God we never went there.
March 1st, 2009 at 9:55 pmSeems like Gates didn’t really think Bush was interested in anyone’s opinions but his own, but is just being polite to Bush.
March 1st, 2009 at 10:44 pmI am still waiting for my Obama bailout package.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:15 pmBush did do 2 terms in office. The last Prez that got slammed as much as everyone is doing to Bush was Nixon. Give it time Obama is only 7 weeks in office. He will be in the same situation as the rest before him.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:21 pmYea, King Hussein is a slick talker. A real Snake Oil Salesman is he: Just like his cousin he campaigned for in Kenya under the “change” mantra.
We are getting what we deserve. Ya ain’t seen nuthin yet. Grab your wallets and hang on to your undies. The last slick talker in history that compared to King Hussein was a another snake oiler by the name of Adolph Hitler.
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:34 amBush was a down home country type.Did not feel the need for fancy rhetoric.
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:24 amObama is a relatively newbie to politics and certainly not experienced enough for the White House …That is why he asks many questions and asks everyone..he has no experience himself to do the job….
So..what do you expect him to do?? if left on his own to make decisions we would be in a much larger mess than when Bush was in office.
Balmy,
You need to get out more. Like, to a psychiatrist’s office.
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:46 amPlease don’t misunderstand me: I like black people.
Black people are cool!
But now, Obama should use his excellent analytical skills (better than Bush’s) to deal with Bush’s hatred of black people.
Obama should punish Bush for having racially discriminated against black people.
On balance, George W. Bush hates black people (indicated at http://andrewyu-jenwang.blogspot.com/2008/12/andrew-yu-jen-wang-responds-to-stokely.html George W. Bush “doesn’t care about black people”).
Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang
March 2nd, 2009 at 2:29 amB.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996
Messiah College, Grantham, PA
Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993
Balmy Says:
Ok that was classic stupidity troll. Ignorant by any standard. Stupid brainwashed idiocy. You are massivly stupid. I hope you can manage to feed yourself with that substandard brain of yours.
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:46 amPresident Obama is “probably…somewhat more analytical” that George Bush in the same way that Albert Einstein is probably somewhat more intelligent than a lima bean. A dead lima bean. A dead lima bean that’s been stepped on.
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:38 am