Bush to ask US public for more sacrifice as cost of Iraq occupation rises

[NNN0LHI]

Get your wallets out.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20030907/wl_afp/us_iraq_bush_speech&cid=1512&ncid=1480

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) was set make a speech to prepare the US public for continued sacrifice in the effort to stabilize postwar Iraq (news - web sites), as the human and financial toll there climbs.

Bush's national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites), said Sunday that the president would announce during his address how much money the United States needs for the military occupation and rebuilding of Iraq.

"The president will talk about the resources that are needed," Rice told CNN television.

"The president will talk to the American people and he will begin a process with Congress in talking about the resources that are needed," she said.

more

[MrBenchley]

1. By which he means....

more tax cuts for the rich and more poor and middle class people to go and die because he LIED.

[JPace]

31. How many children of the wealthy

have there been wounded or killed in Iraq?

What sacrifices are the wealthy making
toward this Iraq folly?

[Demobrat]

2. What, our jobs and our soldiers aren't enough?

What does he want from us now, I wonder?

[DoctorBombay]

3. Is he going the same road as 41?

We'll see. Sounds like Shrub is going to beg for money while continuing to ignore the ecomomy, unemployment, et al. Just like the old man.

I think if this speech is to beg for more money for Iraq and doesn't address anything else, it's a big loser for Rove and good news for us!

[diplomats]

38. I agree

If all he does is ask for more money what a letdown for an Oval Office speech. Big friggin' deal. That doesn't address any of the concerns people have about Iraq or the economy.

[calimary]

50. I think you're right.

If he asks for more money for that war that the people are growing more and more uncertain about, while their jobs and retirement funds are evaporating in the wind, they're gonna wonder why that money he's asking for - ISN'T going into MUCH-NEEDED job creation programs. And that will be very good news for us. I'm sure there will be at least some out there who will be thinking - "uh, if we can find all that extra money to prop up the war, why aren't we helping our own? We need jobs here!" I'd bet that's where a lot of people are going to go, perhaps after giving him a slight initial bump in the polls. It's all gonna deflate yet again right away. Especially if Dean and other emboldened Dems come out swinging again right afterwards.

[are_we_united_yet]

53. I think

you've made an excellent point.

[huckleberry]

4. Here's an idea --

bush can donate all his fund raising money to rebuild Iraq. After all he raised it on the taxpayer's time!

[BuelahWitch]

12. Let the Carlyle group and Halliburton pay for the damn war

Take it out of the personal bank accounts of all the PNAC members too. They wanted it let the mofo's pay for it!

[oldcoot]

28. Yes!

Let the people who wanted this war pay for this war! I think that if the chimp starts demanding sacrifice, he is through. I remember when Carter used similar terms for a more worthy cause (the Energy Crises) and looked what happened to him. Hopefully, this speech will help send Bush back to Crawford.

[dArKeR]

61. Why aren't Falwell, Robertson, Gramham passing the donation plate

to pay for the war?

Bush family directly pay. Why do people like Santana donate millions
to worthy causes but you get these ultra patriotic christians who donate nothing?

[cliss]

5. Interesting that...

when they first concocted these schemes, they were all done "on the sly". We really weren't asked to do that much, just go about out business and let the administration do the rest. They never came out with exact figures. There was never any indication of how long it would take. The American public was left out in he cold, so to speak.

So now in the 11th hour, Bush will appeal to the Americans to continue sacrificing for the sake of a good cause. Who are they trying to kid? It was always a clandestine operation, so why would we give them our support now?

Compare this with old movies of the WW2, where people are asked to make all kids of sacrifices, victory garden, rationing of gas, volunteer for the Armed forces, etc etc. People did so willingly because they were working together.

This is a totally different deal.

[Rollins]

11. Yes this deal now has a lot to do with money and fear.

Not that it didn't before but I sense the American people are now becoming more scared of Bush taking their money than Saddam having a chemical carrying drone in 45 minutes or OBL terror cells coming to town.

The American people, like any people, do NOT like being lied to and taken to the cleaners. I suspect Bush is going to come up empty tonight except for the 25% of viewers who would believe anything he says. Go Brittany!

[Enraged_Ape]

6. That's just what we want to hear about: more sacrifice

How much are you sacrificing, dickhead? Did you have a nice five-week vacation on your estate?

[gratuitous]

49. Yeah, when do the five week vacations get shortened, Chimpy?

And as I recall, when Crash Cart broke the tie in the Senate to approve your last tax cut, it put $75,000 into his own pocket. If you need some more loose change, I suggest you start there. We're kind of tapped out, seeing as how we've already contributed Social Security and Medicare to your overrich pals.

[snippy]

51. He gave up sweets during the war.

Or so he claims.

People who know Bush well say the strain of war is palpable. He rarely jokes with staffers these days and occasionally startles them with sarcastic putdowns. He's being hard on himself; he gave up sweets just before the war began.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-04-01-bush-cover_x.htm

[Jack Rabbit]

52. He gave up booze years ago

Or so he claims.

[LiberalFighter]

58. What's the big deal about giving up sweets?

He isn't exactly a sweet person considering he such a whistle-ass.

[colorado_ufo]

60. Hmmmmmm . . . .

back in the 60s, marijuana users were noted for their addiction to sweets.

[bvar22]

7. Better start asking your top 1 percenters to do their part!!!

You remember, that handful of already obscenely rich bush*/republican supporters that were the beneficiaries of your oh so generous tax cuts!!

Maybe you could request some funds from those tax evading republican supporting American Corporations with PO Boxes in the Caribbean!

And where the fuck is Kennyboy Lay now that you need him. Kenny Boy and friends have a few billion dollars of tainted money that you could use if you ask him nicely.

And also, have a few of your billionaire republican supporters send THEIR sons and daughters to die for you in Iraq.

[The Magistrate]

15. Hear Hear, Sir!

The whole doctrine of this administration is that the comfort of the comfortable is the essential for success in all things.

If these predictions of contents are true, this bit of blather will go down alongside President Carter's "malaise" effort in the gallery of tombstones.

This boodling brood has no more credibility in calls for sacrifice than a pack of felons calling for safer streets.

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[TahitiNut]

35. Never happen.

More 'sacrifice' called for from the poorest 90% because 15% profit isn't enough for the greed-obsessed 1%. When given a license to steal, who in their right mind would expect them to 'moderate' their looting and pillaging?

"Work harder you 'darkies' and sharecroppers! Massah's after-dinner brandy needs heating." Plantation protofascists are 'entitled', didn'tcha know?

[kskiska]

45. How about Jeb sacrificing his son's budding legal career

and sending him to Iraq?

[calimary]

55. Hey, tell 'em to give up their caviar! He gave up sweets, didn't he?

n/t

[LiberalFighter]

59. Do you mean the 19 percent that think they are part of the 1 percent?

nt

[markses]

8. I predicted in a Speech predictions thread

That Bush would use the word sacrfice 20 times.

That may be a bit much, but lookout for "progress," "commitment" and "sacrifice." I'll be counting.

[KittyWampus]

27. How Many Times Will "Iraq" & "Terrorist Threat" Be Used

in the same sentence?

[RapidCreek]

41. Let's not forget "Moving Forward"!

I am guessing 17 times on moving forward. Every Paragraph he speaks will be prefaced with "moving forward".

RC

[bluestateguy]

9. The difference b/w our side and their side

When their side asks for sacrifice it always comes disproportionately from those least able to give it. When our side asks for sacrifice we demand it from the rich first before demanding it from others.

This speech tonight and his discussion of sacrifice is a subtle warning that the draft is coming back.

[Demobrat]

14. Ouch.

Yes. Of course that's it. He needs money and he need troops to guard the spoils and the staging areas for Iran and Syria. This is the setup.

[somapala]

10. Looser

Shame on u idiot go ask your hawks who want to rule the world in the first place

[newyawker99]

47. Hi somapala!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[indepat]

13. Why not ask those who have benefited most from tax cuts to sacrafice

the most?

[tlcandie]

16. All who voted for war...get out your checkbooks!!!!

Then ship them ALL off to Iraq or Afghanistan! Need to FREEZE *co's accounts and use all that ILLEGAL monies to get the US out of this mess they've put us into!

No matter what happens to them...ALL of them walk away with so much $$$ that it isn't funny while this country/WE TRY to dig ourselves out from under the mess of debt that will NOT go away for YEARS!! :(

[Southsideirish]

23. Yes, esp. all those Freepers that were giving us the finger at the marches

Will I ever forget the sight of those flag wavers grinnin' and kissin' up to Chicago's "finest", clad in their puffed up turtle suits?
They laughed and glowed in the aura of those who have supreme confidence in their opinions, just hanging out adoring one another, united in scorn for the hated anti-war demonstrators ("THIS is what democracy looks like...") .
Mocking and smirking away, tossing insults and obscenities to us all as we we trudged by marching in our big dumb circles - let THEM pay for their most desired war now.

[PartyPooper]

24. Amen to that!

Why weren't these "band wagon warrior" folks listening to us last year?

:evilfrown:

[calimary]

56. Those who weren't sticking the finger at you guys

were flashing it at us from their cars as they whizzed past our protests on Wilshire Blvd.

Wish I'd had a nickel for every time somebody called me a "Saddam-lover," unAmerican, unpatriotic, an appeaser, or compared me to Neville Chamberlain. Funny, I don't hear much from any of those folks anymore. They certainly aren't around heaping abuse and derision and patriotic condemnation on me. And no more of those awful, crappy emails anymore, either.

Hmmmm, wonder where they went.

[Melinda]

17. Codespeak"Resources that are needed" = No UN may necessitate a draft

THE ultimate sacrifice would be the flesh and blood of our young.
My fear is that unless the "irrelevent" and "Old Europe" don't bow down, Bush* is gonna try and claim our kids -- our "resources" -- to complete his bloody Iraqi campaign on the road to global domination.

[reprobate]

32. If he wants a draft, he's toast.

While I think that everyone should serve in some way, peace corps or war corps, america will not stand for that.

If that's what he asks for he might as well write his letter of resignations right now.

[RapidCreek]

44. It shall be a special draft....sort of like the one he evaded

Negroes and poor dumb white folk will go. Jenna and Barbara, will be sailing off Kennebunkport or getting drunk in Texas and showing their titties to the future Energy lords of Mercu. Senators and Congressmans kids will be exempt and for those who deign to serve, I'd imagine administrative ranks will be expanded to afford them an opportunity to be heroically uninvolved in catching lead.

RC

[baby_bear]

18. He has already said it would start with federal workers' pay in 2004

I'm not surprised. The sacrifice will never come from those who are actually making money on this scandal.

s_m

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

19. I can only hope the GRAND WURLITZER goes flat tonight

[Nottingham]

20. Sacrifice like Medicare Social security and Medicaid!

:bounce: The People who need to sacrifice are the Corporations and CEO's when they start sacrificing let me know!

[Rex]

21. I don't know why it says "ask US public"

all he's gonna do is goto Congress and say, "listen up assholes - I WANT more money." And they will all run around, warbling like walruses. "ANYTHING YOU SAY BOSS...JUST KEEP OUR CHECKS COMING!"

[4dsc]

22. Send the Neocons to Baghdad

Great read!!

http://www.counterpunch.org/lind08302003.html

A number of readers of this column have said, in effect, "You are critical of our current policies in Iraq. What would you do instead?" I addressed this in an earlier column, but there are a good number of new readers, so it is probably time to revisit what I said then and perhaps add a few points.

The most important thing we should do is set a date certain for leaving Iraq and make it soon. given the time it will take to get all our troops and stuff out, we might move that to December 25. That way, it would be a Christmas present to our soldiers and to the people of Iraq as well.

Once we have set a date, there will be less reason for Iraqis to attack American soldiers. Those soldiers will be gone soon anyway; why not just wait for them to leave? Further, once it is known when we will leave, Iraqis' focus will shift to each other and the internal conflicts that will shape the future of Iraq.

[robbedvoter]

25. Kenny needs a new pair of shoes.

And halliburton would like more - so give peasants! And love me!
MF bush! (Miserable Failure)

[Buns_of_Fire]

26. Pre-emptively declare a tax cut for Iraq

Hey, it worked to bring ONE country to its knees!

[tedzbear]

29. If he does he will self destruct in 60 seconds...

... as the American people will reach their limit of patience. Rove has his work cut out for him with this speech.
My 85 year old mom who is a flag waving sometime Repug mentioned to me yesterday out of the blue that she doesn't like Bush anymore. She dislikes Rumsfeld even more she said.
Sounds like Bush is losing an important swing vote with this expensive occupation. He is going down fast if my mom is any indication of a national change in mood that even Rove hasn't noticed yet.
Stay tuned...
:kick:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

30. When Bush says sacrifice, I think 'the firstborn of every family'

[InkAddict]

33. Not until after

there's some American Sheeple blood on the newel post!

[AndyTiedye]

39. He'll Draft the Unemployed

[peterh]

34. I went to go see Alice last night and she whispered in my ear....

What I might expect to hear…

I come here in front of you with a very heart. I want to tell you I was wrong. My priorities were misplaced. After 9/11, I should have stayed the course in dealing with the reasons that led to that tragedy by working with the world community…we need to deal with the underlining reasons why terrorism exists…the valid and the invalid….only through cooperation can we expect peace to follow. The world was behind us on that day and I let them and you down.

I am here to talk about sacrifices…I put us in this mess and I need to make it right. I will be resigning in the coming months, but before I go, I need to rectify a number of wrongs that will go a long way in correcting what needs to be.

I will be signing Executive Orders rescinding the tax cuts and I may even have to look at increasing some in my final days. This war has been expensive in more ways than in just dollars and I hang my head in shame in front of the families that have lost loved ones.

I will be working with Congress and Justice in setting up an unprecedented special election to be held in possibly the first week in January for the president of these United States…It is not enough for me to just resign…The people, you people deserve a new administration.

Thank you…

[selvatica]

36. where can I hear whistle ass online?

Although I am can never last more than a minute or two before feeling a major urge to puke, I am curious. At least I wont have to see his face.

Thanks

[newyawker99]

48. Hi selvatica!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[DisgustedTX]

37. I smell 9/BUSH/11 PT II in the making

See! TERRA! SADDAM!

[Solly Mack]

40. Isn't blood enough, Mr Bush? Isn't blood enough?

How many more must die to pay the bill? Would my husband's death settle all debts? How many more people must suffer for you to feel like a winner?

You pathetic nothing of a man. How much more blood do you need?

[Walt Starr]

42. Bushthink "This ought to goose my cook"

He always gets shit bass ackwards.

I figure this speech is the beginning of the end for our dick tater wannabe.

[OneBlueSky]

43. so lemme see if I have this right . . .

first, he destroys the country, thus enriching his friends in the arms manufacturing business . . .

now, he wants to rebuild what he broke, thus enriching his friends at Halliburton and Bechtel . . .

and he wants us to pay for it, while giving huge tax breaks to his rich friends . . .

well, now that I understand, of course I'll go along . . . NOT!!! . . . what a jerk . . .

[Jack Rabbit]

46. No way, Frat Boy

Mr. Bush did not create the two-tiered society that is America today, but he has done much to aggrevate it and does so in the belief that a society of haves and have-nots is a positive good. Moreover, it is a society where the have enjoy privileges beyond those that money can buy.

It never bothered me when I was growing up that some people could afford yachts and Lear jets and others couldn't. Who needs a yacht or a Lear jet, anyway? If the rich want to waste their money on such toys, fine. However, buying access to elected officials is contrary to democratic principle. In a society that prides itself as democratic, such behavior is corrupt. For this, Democrats are just as responsible as Republicans.

Nevertheless, Bush's tax cuts are an example of the corruption of American democracy at its worst. This is nothing but an attempt to remunerate wealthy campaign contributors at the public's expense. This administration winks at corporate corruption. Enron robs consumers and even their own employees blind, but the adminsitration opens a investigation simply to shield the likes of Ken Lay from criminal investigations in California. Through Bush's tax cuts, the hard-earned money of working Americans, who sacrificed in the nineties to bring solvancy back to the federal government, has found its way into the pockets of corporate crooks.

Bush talks of sacrifice; but in Bush's America, sacrifices are not shared.

Bush and many others in this administration do not believe in sharing sacrifices. As young men, they avoided service in an unpopular war by getting student deferments (other priorities, Mr. Cheney?), lame medical exemptions (a pimple on your arse, Mr. Limbaugh?) or using family connections to land a cushy National Guard assignment (you really are proud of your service, aren't you, Mr. Quayle?). Mr. Bush's case is well known to us and particularly egregious. A wealthy congressman's son landed a National Guard assignment in spite of low test scores, then, about four years into his six-year obligation, failed to report for duty. There is much to suggest, although no conclusive proof, that this had to do with drug use. Yet this congressman's son paid no consequences for his behavior and eventually recieved an honorable discharge. Meanwhile, the children of unprivileged families died in Vietnam.

In Bush's America, the rest of us sacrifice for the glory of the rich and powerful. Our children are sent to fight colonial wars predicated on lies; the children of the Bushes escape prison time for drug-related offenses that would send our children up for years. How many times has Noelle been given a second chance? This is the kind of corruption and privilege in the Bushes' America is the kind that one would expect in the France of the Bourbons or the Russia of the Romanovs.

Mr. Bush predicated this war on lies in order to benefit his corporate cronies. Let them pay what cost of the war that can be measured in dollars.

[baby_bear]

54. Amen, Jack Rabbit

Now, would that your eloquent words be heard...truly heard...by those in America most disenfranchised, most disregarded, most discarded, by GW Bush, his family, his cronies, and his evil ilk.

s_m

[The Magistrate]

57. Hear Hear, Mr. Rabbit!

Accuracy and eloquence form an unbeatable combination. My hat is off to you, Sir!

[IndianaGreen]

62. Hey, it's NOT my war!

Why should I sacrifice shit?

Bring the troops home NOW, end the Occupation of Iraq NOW!

[0007]

63. junior is a fucking fabricator of the worse kind

junior brings death to the American people.

HE MUST BE STOPPED

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

65. *

[alterfurz]

64. Lord Farquaad address his subjects:

"Some of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make."

[snippy]

67. Excellent.

[Lori Price CLG]

66. Sacrifice *this*, Maggot-face. Where's Halliburton's sacrifice?

Need big, dry, stale, salty pretzel to rise to the occasion... and fast! <g>
:)-Lori

[Zhade]

68. US Public To Ask Bush To Kindly Fuck Off.

NT