Bush: 'Presidents Don't Get Do-Overs' ('But I did.')

[sabra]

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=2406066&page=2

Bush: 'Presidents Don't Get Do-Overs'

<snip>

Gibson: A very good argument, that you just made for what you did in Afghanistan and what you did in working with the Pakistanis, to go after the Taliban, who were at the center of this, but Iraq was not, until we went in.

Bush: Charlie, I just told you, the president's job is to confront a threat, and … and if … if I can walk you back in history, uh, Saddam Hussein was clearly a threat. He was a sponsor of terror, he was shooting at American airplanes, he had invaded a neighbor, he had killed thousands of his own citizens, he had used weapons of mass destruction. We have learned since that he did not use them, but he had the capacity to use weapons of mass destruction. He was paying for suicide bombers, the families of suicide bombers.

It wasn't just the United States that saw a threat — Republicans and Democrats saw a threat. The international community saw a threat. He was given a last chance, and it was his choice to make.

Presidents don't get do-overs. But I did. … I'm going to make this statement to you: This world is safer and better off without Saddam Hussein in power, and now the challenge is to help the reformers and moderates fight off the extremists in Iraq and develop a … and help a country grow that can defend itself, sustain itself, and govern itself, and will be an ally in the war on terror. Victory in Iraq is a major defeat toward the extremists and the radicals who want to do America harm.

[Julius Civitatus]

1. Silver spoon daddy's boy has been getting do-overs ALL HIS LIFE

That's all he knows.

[Ilsa]

5. Less about do-overs and mulligans. More about "Clean-up crews"

Poppy has always had someone available on a leash to come clean up little W's messes and failures. Geez, a clean up crew about like the one Travolta, etc called in to clean that guy's brains off the car in Pulp Fiction. The Clean-up Crew is the US military and whomever takes the WH in 2008.

[DakotaDemocrat]

8. Harvey Keitel

The "cleaner" in Pulp Fiction was Harvey Keitel.

I don't if that's funny "ha-ha", funny "strange" or just fuckin funny.

edit: I spelled Harvey as Harley.

[Wickerman]

2. I sometimes don't think Bush is as dumb as he looks

he had used weapons of mass destruction. We have learned since that he did not use them, but he had the capacity to use weapons of mass destruction.

He makes the statement that Saddam used WMD. That sticks - its been hammered SO many times on a non-critical public. He is careful to retract it, but in a very sleazy and convoluted manner; in a way that leaves you still hearing his first statement.

Clearly, Bush is an idiot, but sometimes he isn't as big as idiot as the one he plays on TV. He isn't to be misunderestimated.

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. Giving the Devil his due

Saddam had used chemical weapons, in the war with Iran. He used them against his own citizens. (It's true.) Iraq had developed biological weapons, and had attempted to develop nuclear weapons.

He still possessed them, but did not use them in "The Gulf War" AKA "Desert Storm."


The UN arms inspectors did their job after the war. So, by the time we invaded (this time) Iraq had no "WMD's."

[knight_of_the_star]

13. Yes, but consider this

When he was using said chemical weapons he was considered a US ally, so it was all ok then. That was also under Ray-gun's watch.

[CoffeeCat]

3. Can Americans just THINK for one second...

...about this!!! DUers get it, but can't the 36 percent who still like this human can of garbage---please see the truth!

We went into Iraq when there were NO terrorists. No Al Queda. We went in on the premise that Saddam had WMD.

No WMD was found.

Then, Junior altered his marketing. We're in Iraq to give the people freedom.

Now...the people don't have freedom. They can't even get to the market without the threat of being blown up.

Now---Junior says we're in Iraq to defeat the terrorists.

HeLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! We frickin created a mess. We cultivated civil war and created conditions that drew in and fueled terrorism---things that didn't exist before we arrived!

Saddam was an oppressive dictator who did a lot of bad things. However, he ruled the country better than we are! Those people aren't free! 100,000+ are dead because of us, and their infrastructure has been obliterated. They don't have gas, electricity, running water and many are living in refugee camps. This is disgusting!!

Wake up 36 percent!! Listen to what YOUR pResident is saying!!

[rodeodance]

17. forget about that 30 % they are a lost cause (his base) and will never

change

[CollegeDUer]

4. What kind of line is this?

"It wasn't just the United States that saw a threat — Republicans and Democrats saw a threat."

What does that even mean?

[Journeyman]

9. I think by "United States" he means himself. . .

while "Republicans and Democrats" are all the rest of us, the hoi polloi whom he expects to mindlessly follow his every whim.

The sentence makes perfect sense, seen in this light.

[HuffleClaw]

6. it would take only one REAL interview to sink the chimp

just one. but while interviewers COMPLIMENT him on his answers thats not gonna happen.

[gratuitous]

10. Gee Gibson, you're such a bulldog

Bush blathers on, conflating events that unfolded over 20 years as if they had all happened at once, and Gibson just looks thoughtful and nods. Not the least trace crosses Gibson's adoring mug that anything Bush is saying is just flat-out bullshit, never the least challenge to any of the "facts" that Bush recites, just move on to the next fatuous question and the stream of bullshit recommences.

I strongly suggest Gibson watch a few old tapes of Oriana Fallacci to learn how to do his fucking job.

[VegasWolf]

11. Hey, that's Gibson. A pussycat can't change his stripes. Still better

than CBS though.

[fshrink]

12. Impostors can.

[Lisa]

14. So, logically, he isn't really a president? Works for me! (n/t)

[yellowcanine]

15. 'Presidents Don't Get Do-Overs' but G.W. Bush does. His life has

been nothing but do-overs as a spoiled little brat rich kid.

[Parche]

16. phrases

he had killed thousands of his own citizens,

If I hear that right wing talking point one more time.......Bush has killed over 2600 of his own
brave citizens by sending them to Iraq..........

And tell me where in the US Military or US Constitution that we overthrow governments and dictators
because they "kill thousands of their own people"