Yesterday Schrub had his final press conference.
He stayed resolute.
Make any mistakes George? Anything, upon reflection, you would have done differently?
"Clearly putting a "Mission Accomplished" on a aircraft carrier was a mistake. It sent the wrong message. We were trying to say something differently, but nevertheless, it conveyed a different message."
Reverend translation…
'Yeah, that banner. Don't know how in the hell that got up there. But it sure sent the "wrong message". I don't know how this stuff gets so misconstrued. The furthest thing from my mind that Day of Codpiece was conveying a "message" that our mission in Iraq was , you know, accomplished. That's why I said that day….'
"My fellow Americans," Bush intoned May 1, 2003. "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." Link
Continuing Reverend translation….
'Is it my fault that when I said "the United States and our allies have prevailed", viewers and media confused what I said with a great big, hard to miss, banner that said "Mission Accomplished"? I don't think anyone could have predicted that critics would make a connection between "prevailed" and "mission accomplished." But with my critics, it's easy to misunderestimate.'
He stayed resolute.
Perhaps, Mr. Decider, your response to Katrina could have been different?
"I've thought long and hard about Katrina — you know, could I have done something differently, like land Air Force One either in New Orleans or Baton Rouge. The problem with that and — is that law enforcement would have been pulled away from the mission. And then your questions, I suspect, would have been, how could you possibly have flown Air Force One into Baton Rouge, and police officers that were needed to expedite traffic out of New Orleans were taken off the task to look after you?"
The Reverend's translation…
'See…Katrina was a political moment for my administration. An opportunity. I decided, with help from my trusty sidekick 'TurdBlossom', that a photo-op-flyover picture would make Americans think I cared much more than if I would have chosen a photo-op, on-the-scene picture. Why? Because you media types would have accused me of pulling law enforcement away from their emergency duties in order to, you know, protect me. So…no, no regrets for choosing the proper photo-op that day.'
He stayed resolute.
What now, Mr. Decider Codpiece? As focused and as resolute a Decider as you've obviously been over the last 8 years in successfully keeping us all safe, how will you be able to just lay all that great work aside? Will it be difficult for you to take off the Codpiece once and for all?
"For the last eight years I've had a national security briefing every day but Sunday. And when you get a national security briefing, it is a reminder of the responsibilities of the job. It's just a daily reminder about what may or may not happen.
The interesting thing about this job, by the way, is it's one thing to deal with the expected, what you anticipate; the real challenge is to be in a position to deal with the unexpected. And that's why those intel briefings are so important, because there is — there's an awareness in the briefings by the analyst to try to help anticipate problems. And of course you hope they don't arise, but you better be prepared when they do.
And that in itself creates a — you know, gets your attention, when you start thinking about what could happen. And the key there, of course, is that — to take these different analyses seriously, and then have a structure so that your team will be in a position to analyze and then lay out potential avenues for the President — from which the President can choose.
I say all that because that's — this has been — this notion about being briefed and thinking about this issue or that issue has been just a part of my life for eight years. People say, well, there you are in Crawford on vacation. You never escape the presidency. It travels with you everywhere you go. And there's not a moment where you don't think about being President — unless you're riding mountain bikes as hard as you possibly can, trying to forget for the moment."
Translation….
'I've been so busy being hyper-attentive to all those daily intelligence briefings, you remember, like the one I anaylzed so deeply in August, 2001…..so, yes, it will be a big change not receiving, and then ignoring, those briefings. Those daily briefings became second nature for me, in fact, they became, over time, a daily reminder of the responsibilities I resolutely shirked. A president simply can't escape from those damn daily intelligence briefings. Every day when I was briefed, I was reminded of how I ignored "analysis….anticipating problems" about being hit by Bin Laden. I'll really be glad to get away from those daily reminders. And no, my answer does not, in any way, reflect my guilty conscience.'
Resolute President Prick stayed resolute to the end. What else could possibly matter?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Rev – How about not trying to translate so much and take the man at his word and what he says. It's like your favorite book, The Bible. Or that favorite childhood game where someone starts a secret and it goes for person to person. The truth gets muddled in there some where. There is too much translating going on in the media and most of it is BS, especially now with the conspiracy theorists on the net.
The same thing is going to happen to Obama. In fact it already is and it is already hurting his public opinion. Who do we trust? Who do we believe? If you can't take a man at his word at that level, why did we elect him? DO we believe Obama? How about when we take into consideration the number of criminals, terrorists, racists and liars he has surrounded himself with?
Bush made mistakes. However they were amplified by other peoples translations and creating "what he really meant" and "what REALLY happened" senarios, when these people weren't there nor did they know the context of the incident. I guess it's part of the grand scheme to keep us in the dark.
I will not take Obama at his word, just as I never took W. at his word.
It's the actions, the decisions, the policies…..that's how you judge a president…..by their fruits….not their words.
Bush did not make "mistakes." He made decisions. Many of those decisions were criminal. All were politically motivated. Some, were only destructive and misguided. All in all, he and his GOP cohorts and spineless Democratic enablers have done more to destroy America than any other historic political group.
That's not a translation.
To anyone: I would challenge anyone to read the portion at the end of W's presser yesterday…..the part where he begins rambling about intelligence briefings…..and then tell me I don't have it right. In his twisted-up, deranged mind Bush was explaining his guilty feelings over failing us so monumentally. This man is a very sick and bad person. Coupled with The Dick, America has never witnessed such depraved leadership.
Poor sir,
You have misconstrued President Bush's and Vice President Cheney's strength of leadership with some sort of shadowy evil brought by "very sick and bad persons". Sir, I WILL NOT standby and let you defile the work this administration has done!
I see you've been taking for granted the safety, completely free from terrorist attacks against you, provided to you the past seven years and three months from these very same "criminals".
Our Commander-in-Chief feels no guilt. I interpret his feelings as sorrow for those of his people unconverted, perpetual nay-sayers, whose only obvious goal is to destroy the democracy brought to us by President Bush and the strongest administration to have run this country!
Yes sir, I feel sorrow for you too. You are unable to bask in his Power, you stand in the cold and darkness, while we true conservatives revel in Sunlight brought by George W. Bush. Our only hope is that it does not wane in the next four dark years of B. Hussein Obama, until the torch is passed over to Governor Sarah Palin.
God save us.
I almost felt sad for W on his last news conference. He did indeed admit his mistakes and shortcomings. He did revel in his perceived strengths and accomplishments. The event only amplified the reality that he is very much out of touch with the lives of most Americans.
To the last comment, W and his banditos did not bring democracy to this nation. Believe it or not it has been here for over 200 years. However, he did split this nation into those who deserve more rights and freedom and those who deserve rights at the will of him and his off out in right field cronies.
Well if Obama can claim he'll 'save' millions of jobs I suppose Bush can claim to have saved U.S. democracy. Plus millions of jobs.
Rev,
If you are going to judge Obama by his policies, how about this one:
The Dems are pushing through a 60 cent hike on the price of cigarettes for Obama to sign. As everyone knows, it is poor people who smoke the most, therefore, the tax will hit the poor the hardest. The tax monies will be used to expand the SCHIP program, of which nearly half the benefits will go to those who are NOT POOR, and are often earning at 2-4 times the poverty rate. This is progressive ? No, it's regressive. It gives benefits to the middle class at the expense of the poor.
Judge that.
Smoking cigarettes has been proven to be a killer habit. I can't muster any sympathy over higher taxes on cigarettes.
Your interpretation of the SCHIP program is also a bit of a stretch, as well.
I've already spoken out against Obama's position on FISA and telecom immunity. He was wrong when he took his last position on those issues…and he's still wrong.
He has also been waffling about some need for a special legal process for detainees…he's wrong about that.
He's wrong to cut taxes in hopes of creating jobs. Tax cuts do not create jobs.
But until he actually, you know, acts….I'm keeping most of my powder dry.
Halifax: I had forgotten that the Bush administration wasn't inaugurated until September, 12, 2001. My mistake. I feel safer already.