Bush sees himself as flexible with 'thick hide'

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14370656.htm

Bush sees himself as flexible with 'thick hide'

WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush says he is flexible and open-minded, rather than stubborn, but with a "thick hide" to absorb criticism.

In an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" conducted last week, Bush also denied his spirits had suffered because the Iraq war had not gone as well as hoped.

"Quite the contrary," he said, according to a transcript of the interview airing on Sunday. "My spirits are strong.

"I really am not the kind of guy that sits here and says, 'Oh, gosh, I'm worried about my legacy.' I'm more worried about making the right decisions to protect the United States of America," he said.

"I understand criticism. But I've got a pretty thick hide."

[Wwagsthedog]

1. his spirits are strong alright,

180 proof.

edit: sp

[truthisfreedom]

2. Hide is a word that will defiinitely pertain to bush in the long run.

[VegasWolf]

3. Bush, "I'm told my speech went over really well ta other night!" nt

[durtee librul]

4. the little sh*t is to worried

about his 'legacy' and won't he be surprised to find that St Peter has a special chair all picked out for him in the basement. (personally I hope it's next to Saddams chair - THAT would be justice having to make him sit next to saddam for all eternity)

Him not worried about his legacy - I am so glad I didn't waste my time watching that stupid interview, if that's what you want to call it.

Legacy - - that's funny. Oh we'll all remember him alright as one of the blackest periods in the world's history, you know right up there with Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin...all those really good 'leaders.'

On edit - forgot Papa Doc as one of the good ones...

[durtee librul]

5. "I understand criticism. But I've got a pretty thick hide."

I think he meant head and not hide.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. If he had a thick hide, he wouldn't have needed censorship corrals

for people who disagreed with him. He doesn't have a thick hide at all. He just hides.

[raccoon]

32. You got that right!

He's thin hided if anybody ever was.

For that reason alone, he shouldn't be in politics AT ALL. You need an alligator hide to be in politics.

[struggle4progress]

7. Bush babbles. For those who want it, here's the transcript:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/14/60minutes/main2359119.shtml

Same old same old, of course:

PELLEY: But wasn't it your administration that created the instability in Iraq?

BUSH: Well, our administration took care of a source of instability in Iraq. Envision a world in which Saddam Hussein was rushing for a nuclear weapon to compete against Iran. My decision to remove Saddam Hussein was the correct decision in my judgment. We didn't find the weapons we thought we would find or the weapons everybody thought he had. But he was a significant source of instability.

PELLEY: It's much more unstable now, Mr. President.

BUSH: Well, no question decisions have made things unstable. But the question is can we succeed. And I believe we can. Listen, I'd like to see stability and a unified Iraq. A young democracy will provide the stability we look for. I will tell you that if we just isolate ourselves from the Middle East and hope for the best, we will not address the conditions that had led young suiciders to get on airplanes to come and attack us in the first place.

[truth2power]

9. That little interchange...

meaningless babble, as usual. The Monkey never says anything of substance.

[bdamomma]

24. again, dimson, Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.

I truly believe this corrupt and evil government we have orchestrated those attacks in 2001. Hey Bush and his cabal are killing numbers of the American people do you think these evil men care they only care about their agenda, and their quest for oil domination.

[Doctor_J]

8. 1st amendment zones, firing anyone who disagrees with him,

refusing do to unscripted interviews or press conferences... Yup, real thick hide

Lying scumbag.

[spindrifter]

10. Inflexible and hide-bound is what he meant to say--but

he got mixed up and described someone else.
A young democracy is not going to bring stability to the ME, Mr. Doofus. A young democracy is fragile and you haven't even gotten to that point in Iraq yet. Saddam was stability--more so than any of the surrounding leaders, now that the Turkmenbashi is gone.

[bemildred]

11. Is that like a dense flip-flopper? nt

[pacalo]

12. He has a "thick hide"! Is that why only those who support him can attend his speaking engagements?

Is that why protesters are kept yards away from his sight? Is that why he was afraid to meet with Cindy Sheehan?

I saw how thick his hide was when Stephen Colbert roasted him at the Press Corps dinner last year.

[CookieD]

13. Here's the part I find baffling ...

This is from Bush's nationally televised speech on 1-10-07(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070110-7.html):

BUSH: In the days ahead, my national security team will fully brief Congress on our new strategy. If members have improvements that can be made, we will make them. If circumstances change, we will adjust. Honorable people have different views, and they will voice their criticisms. It is fair to hold our views up to scrutiny. And all involved have a responsibility to explain how the path they propose would be more likely to succeed.


And this is from tonight's 60 Minutes Interview:

BUSH: ... Now, I've listened to a lot of good folks who are Democrats who have expressed their opinions. They're just as patriotic as I am. And the interesting is, Scott, a lot of people are saying, "Well, we can't afford to fail." In other words, people understand the consequences of failure. But what's deafening is those who say "we can't afford to fail and here's the plan that will cause us not to fail." Frankly, that's not their responsibility. It's my responsibility to put forward the plan that I think will succeed.

Anyone see a gigantic flip-flop here?? :shrug:

[Nezvanovich]

14. Ha

arrogant little zoo animal isnt he, folks?

[newyawker99]

28. Hi Nezvanovich!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rocktivity]

15. Rocknation sees Bush as insane with a thick skull.

:evilgrin:
rocknation

[young_at_heart]

16. Mr. "Thick Hide" only seems to speak to military audiences

I'll bet if they ever let him around "ordinary" people the hide might get a little thinner!

[Raine]

17. THICK head

is more like it. x(

[depakid]

18. "Thick hide" = lack of a conscience

It's plain to see that this man's a sociopath (and a pathological liar to boot).

ITMFN.

[Norrin Radd]

19. Like a snake? n/t

[TheWatcher]

20. He is a Madman who is handled by even greater Madmen.

They must be stopped.

At this point, we all hope it will be legally and peacefully, but no matter what, the time has come for us to rid our country and our government of these vermin.

If the people we legally voted into office will not do it, it will fall to us.

It's that simple.

This is not a game.

Bush must be Impeached, Incarcerated, and held accountable for Crimes Against Humanity, and that's for starters.

And his handlers as well.

They are traitors, they are madmen, and they are not fit to lead or serve in office of any capacity. They are a Clear And Present Danger to every country on this planet.

It is time for all of us to start speaking about it in these terms. They are plain and simple, because it is plain and simple. As basic as it gets.

They must be removed by any legal, peaceful means necessary.

And if they still will not go.....

I am sure there is one of the old Playbooks from the 1770's lying around.

[Canuckistanian]

21. Yeah? I'd like to see a rhinoceros do yoga. n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

25. You been watching ME do yoga?

Inflexible and clumsy, that's my style of yoga. With grunting and farting for effect. It ain't pretty. But it could be interpreted as Rhino-like.

Anyway, comparing Bush and a Rhino is sort of insulting to the mental power of the Rhino.

[Canuckistanian]

26. Too much information

But you're right. I sincerely apologize to the Rhinos.

[bdamomma]

22. he got a pretty thick head too, he is obsessed with abuse of

his power.

[Olney Blue]

23. Which really means he is inflexible with thin skin.

[dailykoff]

27. Bet that's what he puts in his personal ads.

[VegasWolf]

29. Bush has a thick Bubble. There, fixed the headline. nt

[Lisa]

30. nice to see "Bush" and "thick" in the same sentence

At least that part of it is not false advertising! (I would disagree about his hide though ... from what I've heard he's super-sensitive to criticism, and couldn't even stand the impression of himself on Saturday Night Live -- he yelled at his house guests to turn off the TV, when he was at his Crawford place.)

[HuffleClaw]

31. 'thick hide' says the guy who fires anyone who doesn't 'toe the line'?

and tries to have those who dared to publish pics of his misbehaving kids KILLED???

i'd say the only sensible way to interpret this is as the complete opposite of what he's claiming. he IS concerned about his 'legacy', his spirit is crumbling and cannot accept the slightest criticism.