Suskind on Charlie Rose: * will win; will be seen as a great president.

[Merlin]

He claims to be the recording secretary of the Republicans in exile, thinks Bush makes decisions by divination not careful examination and evaluation, thinks Bush is making many historical and grievous errors, but is fascinated by him, thinks he's way more interesting than Clinton, he's the "story of our time," and will be remembered historically as one of the great presidents for his self assurance after 9/11.

Suskind is the same guy who wrote in Salon a couple of days ago that the people around Bush literally do not believe in assessing reality, but believe they can create their own reality.

Meanwhile Charlie Rose's only questions of Suskind are, to paraphrase the general in Paths of Glory, "Wherein has he done wrong?" Charlie Rose sees no evidence that Bush has allowed his messianic sense of God-chosen behavior to influence his decision making.

Has the world gone fucking nuts???

Just wondering...

[high density]

1. He said the same thing in his recent Salon interview:

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/10/20/ron_suskind/index2.html

"My betting line right now is, and has been since midsummer, to stick with Bush. There was something very interesting from that luncheon, where Bush spoke for 65 minutes in a very open and freewheeling way to his top contributors. He said, "I'll be criticized and there will be a lot of who won, who lost. And just prepare yourself for I will not necessarily be at my best. But after that, during the final three weeks, that's when the real campaign will resume." That means an extraordinary electoral machine targeted at energizing the base, largely the faith-based core of the base. And that machine is kicking up now, and I think you're seeing it in the poll data.

It's like two great machines racing across the horizon. I think the Bush machine, with its support from the powers of the executive, is a machine that's hard to beat. Having said that, I think the Kerry machine is certainly the most forceful, energetic and well-running machine the Democrats have ever created. But the Republican machine is also best of breed for Republicans. At the end of the day, it's not just the man but the machine he sits on, and I think Bush sits on a slightly more pointed and efficient machine -- one that Karl Rove has been building and oiling and calibrating the gears on for four years. That's why, right now, it looks to me at least, like Bush."

[shraby]

16. The Bush machine is called

DIEBOLD

[dennis4868]

2. the whole world has not gone nuts.....

only about half of our country, the repib party and the mainstreem media is nuts....Bush is totally insane and has destroyed this country!

[Merlin]

4. But how can Charlie Rose be so dense?

I've never noticed that about him before.

[dennis4868]

6. Because there are many honest and good people.....

who simply are blind to what we see in Bush and his thugs in the WH....They look at Bush like they would any other politician....they do not understand that Bush's lies and crimes have hurt this country and the world so badly....they just dont get it.

[Cha]

11. Funny, I've always noticed that about

him.

[BurtWorm]

18. Charlie Rose is a high-priced media whore.

He always has been. He starts from the assumption that power is a good thing, Americans in power are good.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Boy, that's bizzare

He also wrote the Paul O'Neill book, which was highly critical of *.

Maybe he's worried about future employment opportunities.

[faithnotgreed]

5. if thats what suskind said, he sounds like chris matthews. hello

ron, the reason bush has been allowed to suddenly be deemed one of the greatest politicians (huge cough) would only only only be because you in the media have been complicit and part of the largest and most tragic coverups the world has ever seen.

or never seen.

there is no sanity in corporate america

[Norquist Nemesis]

7. Nuts? No. Flim-Flammed? Yes.

Since the day of Bush's announcement for the 2000 race, this has been the ultimate marketing campaign. It has to go down in history as the most successful marketing campaign, too!

For years and years, books will be written how they successfully marketed the American electorate. I still remember the story shortly before 9/11 how they pasted Made-in-USA stickers on cardboard boxes stamped Made in China. It was beginning to come to light, then...9/11. After that, floodlights targeted on the Statue of Liberty poised over Bush's left shoulder; Mt. Rushmore in the background with Bush's mug positioned subliminally between the heads of two of the four presidents...and so many more.

Sadly, it directly affects people's lives and livelihood throughout the world.

[Carl Yasutomo]

33. Bush is like Troy McClure

The old recurring character from the Simpsons, whose voice was done by the late Phil Hartman.

No matter how many times Troy McClure conned the people of Springfield into buying something they didn't need (enraging them in the process), the people always fell for it again the next time he came to town. Bush is like that. As a businessman, he had a knack for losing other people's money and coming out ahead himself. As president, he has lied, and lied, and lied again, and people keep falling for it over and over and over, no matter how many times he is proved wrong.

[glarius]

8. Bush's "self assurance after 9/11?...He went into hiding for24 hours

I keep hearing the praise heaped on Bush for his handling of 9/11....As I remember it HE WENT INTO HIDING FOR 24 HOURS!....Doesn't that seem strange to anyone?...The fact that at a time of crisis (nobody knew then what was happening), he virtually disappeared for 24 hours before he went on TV to talk to his countrymen. Is the big deal about him that he put his arm around a fireman at "ground zero" and made his promise to go after "them"?.....I just don't get it????

[dennis4868]

9. "for his self assurance after 9/11. "

huh, what self assurance after 911?

where the hell was Bush after 911?

[indigobusiness]

10. He also said he had a gut feeling something real bad was in store

for America if Bush is re-elected.

[still_one]

12. no way...

[Cha]

13. Well, isn't he just one wrong

turkey!

Give me break..first of all Kerry is going to win and bush is a basket case.

And now suskind is on my shit list!

[jab105]

14. Geesh, you are spinning this!! Suskind was not for Bush in any way!!

Suskind was very critical of Bush...though he did say that Bush would win (I hate to say it, but I do agree, just because the deck is stacked to such an extent for him)...

The only thing he said was positive about Bush was that after 9-11 when we needed someone who was assured, and confident...he was...then he said Bush dropped the ball by talking about Iraq...Suskind said that journalists still have no idea why we went into Iraq, and it was the presidents job to ask real questions and get real answers from every source...

He was facinated by Bush because Bush doesn't think about an issue, he just relies on his gut, which is unusual for a president, cause usually they care a lot more about the consequences of their actions...

He also said that it will be a horrible thing if Bush won again, he can feel it in his gut, it will be very bad for the country...

Come on guys...be honest on this one...Suskind was definitely not proBush!

[Merlin]

15. What do you mean "spinning?" He said Bush will be seen as a great pres.

Did he offer a lot of criticism? Yes. Read my post. I said as much.

Did he also offer a ton of ass-kissing adulation? Yes he certainly did. Maybe you were out getting a beer at the time.

[jab105]

19. I didn't see any asskissing...Bush was facinating to him in the

same way that a car accident is fascinating and people slow to see it...in the same way he is fascinating to all of us...because he is hurting america so much, and half the country doesnt see it because the circle around Bush is so good at controlling the message...how does he do it? why dont people see it?

He never said that Bush would be remembered as a great president, he said that he would be considered great for what he did after 9-11...and, again, I agree with him...but he never said that his presidency would be looked on as great...as he was criticizing Bush for not researching an issue in any way, he even said that history would certainly be a judge on that (implying clearly that history would not judge it yet)...

Bush will be judged for the days after 9-11 as a 'great' president by many...for many of the reasons why the rest of his presidency will be viewed as a complete and utter failure! Because he is unquestioning, and completely confident...but, again, that is also his downfall...when you are leading the superpower of the world...going by your gut is just not good enough...and that pretty much sums up what he said...

[dennis4868]

24. why should anyone think.....

Bush was great after 911?

Lets see....when we were under attack he sat ina classroom reading my pet goat. Then he flies around the country working on preparing a statement for the nation and hiding ina safe place while we all were under attack. Then he attacks Aghanistan but does not complete the job so that he could go get Sadaam.

What is so great about this?

[jab105]

25. Again, many of us dont...but most of the people in America did...

see the 90% approval rating...

Because he was there basically...any president would have been just as good, and would not have screwed it up so much since...

BUT, Bush was the one who was there...and in the days after 9-11 he was the guy who was going to get the bad guys, I know, I know...but those few days were him at his best...and its gone way downhill since then...

[Cha]

17. You think bush is going to win?

No way! Kerry is going to win..and you can mark my words.

[jab105]

23. I hope you are right...but, with the Sinclair thing in Friday...

listening to CNN at the gym tongiht (I don't have cable at my house) and hearing nonstop about THK's comment instead of NEWS!! NOTHING absolutely NOTHING about Kerry's huge speech today...

Watching the spin by the media...watching infotainment become news, and complete spin and nonissuses being given MORE credibility and facetime than facts...

I'm sorry, I'm working my ass off...I'm phone banking this weekend, last weekend, I volunteered at the Edwards rally, and canvassed, and got 4 friends to do it with me...the week before that I also canvassed...

But, I met young black democrats who are voting BUsh because they really want Bush to keep gay people from having equal rights...I see people who think Iraq was wrong, but think we cant change course...I see Christians who think that Kerry stands for everything opposite of them...I gotta say, its a slap in the face, its fucking depressing, but its reality...

[dennis4868]

26. young black democrats

voting for Bush? hmmmm...kinda like Jews for Hitler.....weird.

It is strange that young black men are voting for Bushit because they dont want other to have equal rights when the guy they are voting for would do anything to take away their rights as US citizzens.

[Cha]

31. AND send them to war!

Zogby came out and said that "Blacks will be voting for Kerry like they did for Gore", yesterday..

[Cha]

32. I know you're working really hard, jab!

Just please don't let that repuke brainwashing get to you..cnn is poison..I don't watch it. I know certain people have to watch it for reconnaissance but it's not for everybody.

We are going to win! And the media is going down with bush!

Go Red Sox! :toast:

[jab105]

35. I desperately hope that you are right...

but this media thing is incredible...

Today on GMA, not a word about the issues, it was all about THK's comment...and not only did they use the comment, but they spun it...now, THK is attacking all mom's apparently...I can't stand this crap...

AHHHHH!!!!

I'm sorry, I just can't eblieve what we are up against here...and then from all directions (I'm surrounded by conservatives) I get that Bush is a good christian, that the media is liberal...it's opposite day every day...and I dont think most of America will wade through it soon enough for this eleection...

[Cha]

38. Yes, they are PURE EVIL Personified...

I knew we were up against this ..that's why the media should be indicted for Treason!

They are our Enemy! Never thought it could happen here but it's insidious and we need to do something about it on a Grand Scale!


:dem: The People Have The Power! :dem:

[Stephanie]

36. I agree. Suskind was measured in his words but very against Bush.

He sounded genuinely frightened of four more Bush years. He did make the remark about Bush being remembered as a great president for his 9/11 response, but I didn't get the idea that he *agreed* that Bush is great - rather that he would be remembered that way in the same way that Reagan is, by *those* people. It was my impression that Suskind was quite anti-Bush.

[Pax Argent]

20. I hate to be the one that brings this up

but the victors usually write history. The US doesn't remember the evil that it does a few years down the road. We don't want to. We barely remember the Native American genocide, the dirty little wars in South America and Vietnam, slavery and racial violence, support of Saddam, Osama and other bloodthirsty dictators when it suited our purposes, and other horrible acts committed during our history. Iraq will be no different.

Ironically, Kerry stands as one of the scapegoats as to why we lost in Vietnam to a great number of people in this country. This is part of why the right is so violently opposed to him.

Bush sits atop everything that is wrong with our nation. Inability to see reality through our own prejudices and preconceptions. Arrogance, ignorance, greed, avarice, belligerence, lying, hypocrisy and violence all driven by fear. This is the reason he must be defeated.

Bush IS the spirit of this age, God help us all.

[Gloria]

21. Rose's last question was if Suskind feared a Bush win...and Suskind

said, (paraphrase) ...Bush talks about his gut, I have my gut, and ifhe wins, I fear there will be problems in the next Bush Admin.


As far as winning...He said he sits on a huge machine...Bush says the "real machine" will kick up again. He cites a Sept. meeting where Bush is so "confident" and shows "mastery." YEEEEEEEEECK

Suskind admitted he was obsessed with Bush, in that he found him fascinating. Interesting was how he described the people around him, how he's created an "echo chamber of his own making"--he said he should "relax" and admit doubt. He stopped doing it early in his Administration. He also said that BUsh was devoid of the first-half of the decision making process...thinking about it, consulting....before making a decision...so now, faith is "ever more at the center" of how he works.

I first caught the last part of the interview and didn't get any feeling that Susking favored Bush. Then I watched the whole thing (it runs on 2 PBS outlets here)...at the start he did seem almost like a cheerleader, but by the end, it was clear his first enthusiasm was based mostly on his fascination about how Bush operates so differently...(like normal people). He says Bush isn't slowed down by things that would make most people consider things.......

[Carolab]

27. Gore referenced it in his speech at Georgetown

and summed it up thusly: that this adminstration ignores reality (i.e., facts), and is not interested in making decisions based on it, that they create their OWN reality and ACT regardless of the facts.

[otohara]

28. Think I'm Glad I Didn't See It

Don't think I could handle seeing Suskind favoring the man who rules by his twisted "gut" and fundy "faith"

[Merlin]

30. Thanks, Gloria. This may explain why some have a different take.

I couldn't stand to stick around to the end.

[Vadem]

22. Merlin, tell me I'm not losing my mind!!!!! Is he or is he not the ....

one who did the 11 page story on Bush in Sunday's NYTimes where he states that Bush said in a private GOP meeting that he would privatize Social Security????? Am I f***king losing my mind?????

[Merlin]

29. No YOU'RE not, Vadem. Suskind is. So is Charlie Rose.

Suskind is fixated on Bush. He has the kind of fascinated enthrallment usually reserved for teenage girls who gain a crush on the tough acting bad boy at school. It's a guilty crush, but he backs it by spewing all kinds of accolades on him in one moment, then confessing his fascination at all of the horror this moron is causing the world in the next.

As far as Charlie Rose, he seems incapable of grasping the utter vacuousness of Bush and the people he is surrounded by.

[Supersedeas]

34. Suskind did say that Paul O'Neil and other true Conservatives won't

support Bush.

When a Republican President's own Treasury Secretary will not support him for re-election, it ought to be a clarion call to all Republicans with integrity!!!

[sadiesworld]

37. Suskind, et al, seems to have a tough time using the word pathology.

* doesn't have some sort of deep insight nor is he divinely inspired, he just doesn't give a shit.

He can't "understand" poor people, laughs at people on death row, watches with disinterest as thousands are killed and maimed, and lies with impunity.

He is unable to empathize and the lies roll off his tongue. This isn't confidence, this is a character disorder.

[Generator]

39. I swear on my grandchildren's life(they aren't anywhere near born yet)

that they nor I will never live in this country if there is any chance in HELL that George W. Bunnypants who basically let 9/11 happen is condsidered a "great president".

Rot in hell all you enablers. I am shocked this is what Suskind has to say.