The face of a madman

[chat_noir]

By DOUG THOMPSON

One needed only to look into the angry, out-of-control face of George W. Bush during an interview broadcast on NBC Monday to realize the President of the United States is a madman.

Bush lost his cool with, of all people, Matt Lauer of NBC's Today Show. If Bush can't handle himself with a pabulum producing journalistic wannabe like Lauer, how in the hell can we expect him to protect this nation in times of crisis?

Veins bulged in Bush's face. Anger flashed through eyes that darted from side to side. This was not a man in control.

You normally find full transcripts of Bush's interviews on the White House web site but the transcript of this one, taped Friday, is conveniently missing. I'm sure someone in the West Wing sent down the order: "Don't put anything about the Lauer interview on the web site. Jesus Christ! The President comes off like a crazy man!"

http://www.capitolhillblue.com/content/2006/09/the_face_of_a_m.html


Video at C&L: http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/09/11/matt-lauer-goes-after-bush-over-secret-prisons-and-torture/

[Warpy]

1. Olberman played a good bit of it tonight on his show

I had to stop watching.

Stupid is definitely losing it, probably because they've kept him on a short leash and sober since the G8.

[unblock]

2. he doesn't talk techniques because he "doesn't want the enemy to adapt"

so -- how exactly would terrorists "adapt" if they knew shrub was waterboarding vs. if they knew he wasn't?

would they blow up different buildings based on which interrogation techniques they used???

how does that work, exactly?

:shrug:

[napi21]

5. I asked that very same question when I heard him say that!

Is a person able to adapt to waterboarding so if he's captured he can handle it? Hmmmm

[vicman]

6. I was wondering that myself

Just how the hell does anyone "adapt" to the experience of waterboarding?

Or will the enemy "adapt" by using the techniques we are using on any of our soldiers they might happen to capture or kidnap? That is not a nice thought. Are we teaching the world new rules for torture and terrorism?

[TomInTib]

8. Well, that answer is obvious

They would have breathing exercise lessons at Terrier School.

[NJCher]

3. bush the buffoon

He did indeed act like a nut in that interview. He couldn't get a rise out of Lauer so he kept poking him in the chest, saying that he wanted to "pertek" him and in his family.

Yes, the veins in his forehead were bulging.

Yes, his eyes darted from side to side.

Yes, he forgot it was an interpersonal communication situation and reverted to rambling about murder and cold-blooded murderers and terr. He started gesticulating as if he were giving a speech.

I don't think there was ever a moment that could be called lucid.

The man isn't just a madman, he's a pathetic, dull-witted madman. In the farthest stretches of my imagination, I cannot imagine this lunatic "perteking" anything.




Cher

[BattyDem]

10. "He couldn't get a rise out of Lauer ..."

I thought Lauer handled the situation BRILLIANTLY. He remained totally calm while Bush got more and more agitated. The contrast between the two was striking.

[indepat]

22. No need to worry: those who control the agenda will pull the strings

as necessary.

[FSogol]

4. Guess they need to dial back Bushies prescriptions.

I'm amazed Lauer wasn't backing up.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

13. I've watched it a couple of times, without audio. gwb's body facial

expressions and body language are extremely aggressive.

Matt Lauer doesn't budge. He didn't flinch, kept a poker face and kept his eyes locked on gwb's.

I'm still floored. And, BTW, no transcript from that interview on WH.gov website. Wonder why? MKJ

[Niche]

7. But notice the staging... * got in "I'm protecting you and your family."

Totally "scripted" and edited (check out the close ups) to make *'s point. Interesting Lauer is asking the right ?s but * gets in his rhetoric.

[Golden Raisin]

9. I usually cannot change the channel

fast enough when I see Bush's face appear on TV --- he makes me intensely angry and almost physically ill. Tonight, by chance, I happened to see the portion of KO in which Keith re-played the Lauer/Bush interview and I had the same reaction you did. I kept thinking to myself, "This guy (Bush) is insane." His open hostility, body language, facial expressions, as well as what he actually said and how he said it indicated a madman to me as well. Since absolutely nothing else has worked to get him thrown out of the Oval Office, maybe we can hope that he will have some sort of "episode" on live TV where he loses it entirely, freaks out and has a psychotic meltdown on camera. However, on my bad days I think that perhaps even a public meltdown wouldn't succeed in convincing people we need to throw this guy out.

[BrklynLiberal]

11. I think * has always had the face of a madman..

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

12. CHB and a Doug Thompson rant...good times.

:-) MKJ

[ocd liberal]

14. I never thought I'd say anything nice about Matt Lauer but

he rocked the fucking house with that interview. I'm surprised Bush didn't strangle him with his bare hands on Nat'l TV.
Hmmmm, when is sweeps week again?

[Pachamama]

16. Actually, Bush's body language was extremely aggressive and its amazing

that Lauer didn't flinch or move backwards. Bush's arms were swinging around he was leaning and moving toward Lauer and his voice had a lot of anger in it....

Yeah, Matt Lauer is a lot tougher than I thought. I am a tough cookie and I'll admit if I had the fucking President of the United States who has SS people armed all over and this guy was stepping towards me in an aggressive fashion, I'd be stepping back. Lauer stood his ground and didn't flinch. Bravo. :applause:

PS: Bush strikes me as a bully who bullies people and belittles them and makes them feel insecure. He clearly was trying with Lauer to do this and he didn't succeed.

[quiet.american]

15. Matt was amazing in the way he stood his ground, nose to nose.

For a moment, it looked like a boxing match.

That was a very odd setup, the two of them standing face-to-face. Go, Matt, go -- he was definitely the winner, but the country and the world are still the losers as long as Bushco is in the WH.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

20. Wonder how closely Lauer and other on-air 'personalities' watched KO's

years as a lone voice of sanity against the Rove-Cheney-Bush madness. Since Keith Olberman has kept his job and his relatively high ratings despite speaking ruth to power, maybe more of them will follow Lauer's example and rebel. They cannot have LIKED what they've been doing to keep those millions of dollars flowing to them the past six years.

IMO Lauer deserves the same encouragement we've been giving Olberman. Better late than never for doing your job as a "news infotainment personality". Even Katie Couric may try following Lauer's examples if her ratings keep declining the way they have, if she wants to keep that "anchor" prestige and that $15 million a year.

[hvn_nbr_2]

17. He's not just crazy. He's scared of a war crimes trial.

I didn't see the whole interview but here's something I noticed in what I saw.

Much of what we saw in that interview was Bush laying the groundwork for his defense in a war crimes trial. He kept saying things like, "I told them to do anything legal," and "They assured me the techniques were legal." He's never previously used the word "legal" in talking about using torture. He's laying the groundwork now and also giving us a preview of his defense.

He's not just crazy. He's scared. He's never had to take responsibility for anything in his life and he just may have to now. It's doubtful that Daddy can make a phone call or two and save his butt this time.

[fooj]

18. I agree.

That's why these treasonous, rat bastards are going balls out. They KNOW they are up shit creek.

[NJCher]

21. good catch

I thought that (points about legalities) a little odd, too. Hadn't made the connection,though. Excellent point.




Cher

[BlueEyedSon]

19. Being resposible for so much death and suffering would make any sane

person crazy.

If you get my point.....