Mark Shields: How dumb do they think we are?

[steve2470]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/18/how.dumb/

Monday, July 18, 2005; Posted: 7:44 p.m. EDT (23:44 GMT)


WASHINGTON (Creators Syndicate) -- In my line of work, you get lied to a lot.

There are the generally forgettable fibs, like a senator who's making his seventh political trip to New Hampshire since the first of the year insisting he has made no decision about a White House run.

The falsehoods you remember are bold and brassy. I will never forget President George H.W. Bush stating with a straight face that the nominee's race had never even crossed his mind when he picked Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court.

Presidential candidate Bill Clinton demonstrated early his flair for fiction by contradicting all his campaign's previous statements on his non-service in the military when he admitted that, yes, during the Vietnam War he actually had received a draft notice calling him to military service.

<snip>

[writes2000]

1. This ROCKS!! We should focus on that senior admin official's statement

It means someone in the Bush admin KNOWS it was revenge and done maliciously.

[ElectroPrincess]

10. The best description of the present Bush Administration is ...

MORALLY BANKRUPT.

[Auntie Bush]

17. They could file for Chapter 11.

[Glenda]

2. I like this quote on Rove : "He's amoral"

Wayne Slater of The Dallas Morning News, who has covered Rove long and well, puts it this way: "Throughout his political career, bad things happen -- sometimes involving dirty tricks -- to his enemies or rivals." Is that because he's evil? "He's amoral. He doesn't set up a plan to damage, defeat or destroy his enemies because he's evil. He does it because he's so unbelievably competitive and amoral."

[rodeodance]

3. rove spread rumos about McCains wife being alcohalic/drugs and Ann

Richards being a lesbian. He is creepy.



.....Wayne Slater of The Dallas Morning News, who has covered Rove long and well, puts it this way: "Throughout his political career, bad things happen -- sometimes involving dirty tricks -- to his enemies or rivals." Is that because he's evil? "He's amoral. He doesn't set up a plan to damage, defeat or destroy his enemies because he's evil. He does it because he's so unbelievably competitive and amoral."

All of this raises one nagging question: Just how dumb do the Bush people believe we are, that we would swallow, for even a nanosecond, the fabrication that Karl Rove's only motive in calling reporters was to discourage inaccurate stories? Do they really think we are that stupid?

[blondeatlast]

5. No, they think their supporters are that stupid. Many still are, but

many are having some excruciating buyer's remorse.

The RW talking points are aimed at them, but are failing miserably.

When in doubt, think of the poll numbers.

[WCGreen]

9. That pretty much says it all......

[Gay Green]

19. "He doesn't set up a plan to damage, defeat or destroy his enemies because

he's evil. He does it because he's so unbelievably competitive and amoral."

Same exact thing IMO.

(edit: typo)

[Skittles]

21. I've said it before

there is nothing "genius" about Rove - his talent is his ability to do things that would make decent people SICK

[wisteria]

4. Excellent piece! Bush's buddies certainly are sleazy! n/t

[eleny]

6. thanks, steve - recommended!

i can just hear shields's temper rising in this piece. "amoral" - that's the ticket!

[steve2470]

8. you're welcome !

:-)

[glitch]

7. Why on earth wouldn't they believe we're dumb? We still believe the vote

count was legitimate, don't we?

[babylonsister]

11. Holy Mackeral, Mark Shields! Kudos for

telling the truth in your inimitable way! And thanks, Steve!

[rosesaylavee]

12. Good post, Steve

I like Mark Shields a lot primarily because he can sit next to David Brooks on PBS Newshour and refrain from slapping him for all the grossly stupid comments that come out of Brooks mouth. Shield's control allows him to say what he needs to say without stooping to their level.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi rosesaylavee!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rosesaylavee]

26. Thanks for the welcome

trying to make up for time lost lurking and reading DU for months. This ain't too bad!

[Fly by night]

13. I still get thumbs up for my "Bush Thinks You're Stupid" bumper sticker.

[blondeatlast]

14. Sums the situation up better than anything I've read yet.

Yet another nomination. It's a must read.

Thanks.

[Donailin]

15. The article is gone

blank page with CNN logo..hit refresh, nothing. Retried the link, error page "the link has been permantly moved"

[steve2470]

16. it's back again nt

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

18. shields was recently fired by cnn

when they cancelled captol gang-the only regular from the show still employed by the network? bob novak--DAMN LIB'RUL MEDIA!

[Kolesar]

22. Shields was a pundit worth watching for

Now there are zero shows on CNN that I will tune in for.

[Daphne08]

20. One of the best pieces I've read, and to answer the question...

How dumb do they think we are?

Well, they obviously must believe that an entire country is as gullible as their own little Republican minions who will swallow anything without blinking an eye as long as it's being spouted by the Republican Talking Machine! :eyes:

[William Seger]

24. How dumb do they think we are?

Actually, that's a dumb question.

[dogday]

25. Good Article

At least someone is seeing through the Republican sh*t pit of lies