NYT editorial in response to Bush's address to the nation, 9/11/06

[DeepModem Mom]

Editorial
President Bush’s Reality
Published: September 12, 2006

....Mr. Bush has been marking the fifth anniversary of Sept. 11 with a series of speeches about terrorism that culminated with his televised address last night. He has described a world where Iraq is a young but hopeful democracy with a “unity government” that represents its diverse population. Al Qaeda-trained terrorists who are terrified by “the sight of an old man pulling the election lever” are trying to stop the march of progress. The United States and its friends are holding firm in a battle that will decide whether freedom or terror will rule the 21st century.

If that were actual reality, the president’s call to “put aside our differences and work together to meet the test that history has given us” would be inspiring, instead of frustrating and depressing.

Iraq had nothing to do with the war on terror until the Bush administration decided to invade it. The president now admits that Saddam Hussein was not responsible for 9/11 (although he claimed last night that the invasion was necessary because Iraq posed a “risk”). But he has failed to offer the country a new, realistic reason for being there.

Establishing democracy at the heart of the Middle East no longer qualifies, desirable as that would be. Where Mr. Bush sees an infant secular Iraqi government, most of the world sees a collection of ethnic and religious factional leaders, armed with private militias, presiding over growing strife between Shiites and Sunnis. Warning that American withdrawal would “embolden” the enemy is far from an argument as long as there is constant evidence that American presence is creating a fearful backlash throughout the Muslim world that empowers the fanatics far more than it frightens them.

Fending off the chaos that would almost certainly come with civil war would be a reason to stay the course, although it does not inspire the full-throated rhetoric about freedom that Mr. Bush offered last night. But the nation needs to hear a workable plan to stabilize a fractured, disintegrating country and end the violence. If such a strategy exists, it seems unlikely that Mr. Bush could see it through the filter of his fantasies....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/12/opinion/12tue1.html?hp

[mindwalker_i]

1. "with a series of speeches"

"Bush said" is enough to mark something as bullshit. Bush only says whatever he thinks is necessary to get people to follow him. His policies and priorities don't change (and those policied don't benefit us). So next time somebody points out what Bush said, tell them it has absolutely no bearing on WHAT BUSH DOES.

-mwalker

[Hailtothechimp]

2. "Put aside our differences" = STFU and do it my way.

Sorry, I'll take a pass on that one.

[mindwalker_i]

4. Do it my way

Bush: "And if you don't have your head up my ass, you're supporting the terrorists."

-mwalker

[creeksneakers2]

3. Great editorial

I'm glad you posted it.

Bush went crazy tonight, describing scenarios where terrorists would take over America and take away all our freedoms? How in the hell would they do that? They will never have anything like the military muscle needed to successfully invade the United States and occupy it. The whole idea is something Bush thought up to alarm stupid people.

I'm glad the Times pointed out how ridiculous some of the things Bush said were. Bush's insane rantings often get by because people don't want to believe that somebody that loco is in charge, and that people listen to such a nut.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. They captured my exact mood, as I watched. nt

[wisteria]

5. OMG, if this administration really believes what it is saying to the

public, they really are delusional.

[Kurovski]

7. Bush lives in a fantasy world. that's one way to put it.

Wow.

[Miss Chybil]

8. Madmen are running this country

into the ground.

(Edited because I can't decide if madmen is mad men, or madmen. Looks better as madmen, so I'm leaving it that way. English teachers forgive me, if I'm wrong.)

[FrenchieCat]

9. My only beef with this editorial...is this little line thrown it:

But the nation needs to hear a workable plan to stabilize a fractured, disintegrating country and end the violence. If such a strategy exists...

HeL-Lo NTY Editorial writer...there are several plans out there, all better than the sloganaring strategy to no-where that Bush is making us live through! But, guess that the NYT wouldn't know a "workable" plan if it hit them in the ass.....cause that would be mean reporting that Democrats do have a fucking plan, even if the disaster caused was by this administration! :eyes:

All of the Dems leaders have plans....Choose one! There's Clark, Kerry, Fiengold, Levin, Boxer, and most likely a few more that would work a damn sight better than what they are doing now....sitting like ducks!

[civildisoBDence]

10. Bush says BOOO, we say BAAAAAAA

We need more citizens and fewer sheep.

Newsprism

[SammyWinstonJack]

13. Some of us say BULLSHIT! Probably a lot more of us, truth told. nt

[markbark]

11. Yeah, Right....

Al Qaeda-trained terrorists who are terrified by “the sight of an old man pulling the election lever” are trying to stop the march of progress.

The Bush* administration is terrified by the sight of a populace "pulling an election lever" too.
Their "march of progress" is personified by a nice "safe" Diebold machine.

--MAB

[The Wizard]

12. The only ones still supporting

White House lunacy have thought disorders compounded by loose associations. They make a good case for putting anti depressants in the water supplies of certain geographic areas predominantly in the south and the heart land.

[Anakin Skywalker]

14. A "Unity Government"? In Iraq?

What a joker!