I just watched a replay of President's speech and I am here to report...

[kentuck]

I am just a common American. I do not speak as a Democrat or Republican or an Independent, but as an American citizen. This is the truth as I see it. I have no microphone or Rose Garden to speak from - only this keyboard in front of this computer. But this is the way that I read the speech from yesterday.

It was meant to be a "political" speech from the beginning. He was going to "go over the heads of the media" and speak directly to the American people. And he did. Unfortunately, the man did not speak the truth. He spoke with the intent to divide this country. And the issue that he chose to divide this country on was torture and the meaning of the Geneva Convention.

From my simple perspective, he looked like a used-car salesman. He was dishonest and deceptive with his comments. He meant to fool enough people to make it difficult to come to a consensus on anything - even torture. How could anyone portray a "lemon" like torture as a positive or necessary practice? How could anyone with half a mind not question the practice?

The simple truth is that the President is not a "dummy" about the meanings of the Geneva Convention, torture, secret prisons, or even, the secret eavesdropping without court approval. He knew exactly what he was doing. He flaunts the law. He believes himself above the law and he attempts to convince himself and his supporters that he is doing it to "protect" the American people. But, is he really?

No one would want to drive across the country in the car this man is trying to sell us. When he came before the American people to announce that he was moving 14 prisoners from secret prisons to Guantanamo, we should have been shocked as a nation. Secret prisons? The stuff of dictators and tyrants? It went by us about as fast as the smell of the dead skunk a mile back. It is now forgotten?

So, the purpose of the "press conference" was to sell torture as an acceptable policy to the American people, but mostly to his supporters. That's all he needs to successfully divide. He was selling us all a "lemon". Unfortunately, it is a very dangerous lemon. Don't buy it.

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Between the 9-11 speech and the recent press conference ...

... Bush appears to be imploding in slow motion.

He's frustrated, enraged, and not shy about showing it. It's a sure bet that he's taking it personally and is unable (unwilling) to restrain his emotional reactions.

This does not bode well for the USA. Enraged leaders often do incredibly reckless, tragic, and destructive things.

--p!

[Catchawave]

2. yes, this isn't about "politics" any more....

he's hurting all of us, our country and our souls.

[Arugula Latte]

19. It's a sad thing that I regard the president of the United States

not as someone who has my interests in mind, but as someone who is my enemy and is actually against everything I hold dear. I'm for protecting the Constitution, civil rights, separation of church and state, environmental protection, international cooperation, living wages, affordable public education, affordable health care, and corporate accountability. He is against all of these things, and he is against me.

[abluelady]

3. Those Are My Thoughts

I can't help but wonder why his handlers are letting him out there. His base is diminishing all the time. I have to believe that more and more people are seeing what you and I are seeing. I am becoming more and more confident that if the Repukes win in November elections are totally worthless. There cannot be so many dummies out there.

[pretzel4gore]

4. talk about 'the horns of a dilemma'!

the gopigs know bush is fini; he has damaged so much he's basically a vandalizer (and it's hard to hide the facts) so they must get ridda him, but maybe he don't wanna go, or not w/out fireproof guarantees regards impeaching/investigations etc...iow the gopigs are stuck with a criminal, and they MUST assist the crookery on pennsylvania avenue until...well until hell freezes over. the memory hole is a HOLE, not a foxnews empty head which can take in anything no matter how silly! besides the memory hole is full, like condi rice's undersilks (after a public appearance)...
enjoy

[saltpoint]

5. The president behaved hysterically yesterday. It was torturous just

to listen to him try to speak.

It really does look like the wheels are coming off his neurological scooter.

[indepat]

20. Was thinking Wolf was attributed to having thought it grand or sometime

like that.

[Nimrod2005]

6. Please please send this to all the so called press present at the PC

at the time...This is so right on. They need to report on this exactly as you state it here!!!

[DURHAM D]

7. What occurred to me while watching the press conference-

Bush is actually "turned on" by torture. We have known for a long time that he is a bully - what is the extension of that behavior? What is he likely to become sexually excited about - my guess - grown men screaming in agony.

Before yesterday I had never given a single thought to Bush's sexual tastes. I would be willing to bet that his performance in the press conference made a lot of regular Americans uncomfortable and flash on his sexual tastes.

Most people on DU probably watch him and think about "the policy". Casual observers in Middle America were probably watching and asking themselves - Why is he so passionate about this issue??? Answer that pops in there head - It excites him.

[rosesaylavee]

8. I think torture is NOT accepted by the average American...

I think the American People, Dems and Republicans and Independents, are burned out by the CONSTANT drum of bad news about bad decisions this administration has perpetrated on the country and the world ... and lethargy and depression has set in as there doesn't appear to be an action we can collectively take to turn it around.

Voting for a Dem Congress this fall is the answer.

[Frustratedlady]

10. You said, "Voting for a Dem Congress...."

THAT is what has him upset. He is finally getting the word that the November election isn't going to be a piece of cake (or a Diebold manipulation by his cronies) and he's running scared. His own people are publicly coming down against him and his policies, and he knows he's losing control. Little by little, he will begin to look and act like a cornered animal.

[rosesaylavee]

11. That's right

and someone posted last night on DU that he is finally 'getting it' that he could be tried for war crimes. That's why a DEM congress would be sooooo bad a thing for him and his buddies. They are just not fighting for their political lives --- but their actual lives.

[janx]

18. He already is acting that way.

And you're absolutely right about Congress.

[indepat]

9. Sadly, tens of millions of Amerikans will support his every whim, desire,

want, or wish, no matter how inhumane, bizarre, or illegal: we've got a bunch of very sick puppies IMO.

[MoonRiver]

12. "tens of millions" ? Please.

:eyes:

[indepat]

13. Surely those numbers are not too high and surely not too low

[MoonRiver]

14. On the basis of what data do you base this conclusion?

[indepat]

16. On the basis of a population of 300,000,000 and a probably near-30%

hard core, true-believer, base. If the Dems win control of both houses in November, I will gladly acknowledge being a ranting lunatic. Of 20 campaign signs in a mile stretch on my street in early November 2004, 19 were for W and I would bet of the 19, 17 or 18 would still be in the true-believer camp. Hope I am wrong and prove/otherwise demonstrate me wrong, please. Also can anyone name me three Repug Congresspersons who would ever vote to impeach a Repug, no matter how the compelling constitutional mountain of high crimes and misdemeanors? Moreover, if I'm proved wrong on any of this, I'll graciously permanently sign off this board as a commenter.

[kentuck]

17. Reportedly he got about 60 million votes..

If he has the support of 1/3 of those, it would be "tens of millions".. :)

[POAS]

15. We are all tortured daily by this administration n/t

[grasswire]

21. that might be the only slogan Democrats need:

WOULD YOU BUY A USED CAR FROM THIS MAN?