Things the President Left Out of his Big Speech

[autorank]

By Michael Collins

I just read the presidents big speech tonight and it struck me. There were some key lines left out of the speech. You may have had the same response. For the sake of clarity and fairness, I've tried to reconstruct the missing lines. I'm sure that the omissions were just an accident. Or maybe that Robert Gibbs is up to his old tricks again. My insertions are in italics. They follow the president's words from the official White House transcript. White House, August 31, 2010 Here goes.

THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Tonight, I’d like to talk to you about the end of our combat mission in Iraq, the ongoing security challenges we face, and the need to rebuild our nation here at home. But before I do that, we need a moment of truth. The Iraq war was based on a deliberate lie involving the White House distorting the National intelligence estimate on Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). The report got it wrong on WMD. There were none. But it concluded that the only way the nonexistent WMD would be used against the United States was in retaliation for a US attack on Iraq that threatened Saddam Hussein. By deleting this information, the Bush-Cheney White House justified a preemptive invasion without any basis, a crime under international law that our nation helped establish after World War II.

***

Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. …in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President. It's about time! I've wasted 20 months listening to Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, economic advisor Larry Summers, and the perpetrators of the economic catastrophe, the fat cats on Wall Street. Their day is over. I just fired Geithner and Summers. More importantly, I'm appointing a team of prosecutors charged with confiscating the billions stolen from pension funds, individual stock accounts, and other honest investors. I intend to track down every dollar of ill gotten gains from those who pulled off the biggest heist in history and see that it's returned to the rightful owners. I will also see to it that no-nonsense emergency stimulus and relief efforts are initiated to help the people and get the economy moving again.

Full Rendition

[stevedeshazer]

1. I missed those parts, too.

To be clear, I agreed with with most of what he said, but those missing parts would have been nice to hear.

No, actually, I needed to hear them. I didn't.

*sigh*

[autorank]

15. I'm ready to fully embrace change at any moment

It's only personal when the person is a total troll like Bush and can't change.

I want Obama to be ruthlessly pragmatic about his survival politically. Then we'll be OK.

[flyarm]

2. I couldn't listen to him, My blood pressure would have gone off the wall.

Because i knew he would never ever ever say the things that need to be said and done.

I am more than tired of the GOOD SPEECH guy..who says one thing and does another!..And that "another' is doing as much damage as his predecessor, perhaps more.

[Hardrada]

3. I go out of my way to avoid listening to him

and hate it when the "analysts" replay clips of his immortal utterances.

[autorank]

4. I just read it and looked at the WH pic

Didn't take long. I think these speeches and the replies need commercial timeouts like they have in the NFL.
Interrupt the speech at the point of corporate interest, do an informertial, and rock on into the night.

Where was the banner -- "Mission Impossible"?

[SammyWinstonJack]

61. I avoid listening to him too.

[readmoreoften]

5. It's funny when I read his speeches I see how full of shit they are, but when I listen

I fall under the sway of his "oh-so-reasonable", affable voice. I don't like him and I STILL fall under some sort of hypnotic spell if I listen. He's an amazing speechmaker. And a completely typical politician.

[Skittles]

6. I always read his speeches

that's why I never fell for it

[autorank]

36. He's a master of delivery

No doubt about it.

[Axle_techie]

53. His charisma onstage is immense.

[blindpig]

7. Also notably absent.....

I must must take responsibility for the woefully inadequate response of the federal government to BP's Gulf oil spill.Well, we're changing that. As I speak, all BP assets within US jurisdiction are being expropriated without compensation. The assets of BP's chief officers and Board of Directors are being frozen, pending criminal prosecution. Finally, Thad Allen will walk the plank.

:hi:

[TBF]

11. Excellent, and I've also added a section on the deficit

Yes, we are going to fight the deficit. We must not burden our grandchildren with these massive debts. Accordingly, I've put into place a plan to pull out of Afghanistan by the end of the year. We need all hands on deck here in the United States. The expiration of the Bush tax cuts, and higher rates on the top brackets of taxpayers will ensure that we not only cut our deficits, but can also fund social security and veterans' disability payments as we always have. I will not allow our seniors and veterans to wind up homeless in the streets. To that end I've also fired Alan Simpson, and will disband the deficit commission because it is a waste of taxpayers' dollars. You will also be hearing more from me about a comprehensive jobs plan in the coming weeks. We are going to put America back to work!

[maryf]

35. and another...

and while we're talking about the veteran's health care benefits, lets talk the truth about Medicare; a fantastic program that only needs to be improved and expanded. To that end I've decided to endorse HR 676 the bill for Improved and Expanded Medicare for All!! as it has finally hit me that these insurance companies are putting profits in front of people's good health care....

[autorank]

48. Walk that plank!

Excellent addition;) We need to be come a culture of responsibility. They're always us that.

:hi:

[Axle_techie]

54. HELL YEAH

[Poboy]

8. k&r

[autorank]

17. We're all Poboys now!

Thanks for the K/R

[Poboy]

28. No, thank you, sir. Always like your posts. -nt

[Panaconda]

9. Seems what you are asking

for is the truth. Good luck with that.

K&R

[autorank]

13. If you sleep on the floor,

you can't fall out of bed. I'm on the floor trying to laugh. We can always ask ourselves, What would Mr. Spock say?

Seriously, if South Africa can put itself together based on a Truth Commission, we can.

[JoseGaspar]

24. South Africa had the ANC and the MK. eom.

[Panaconda]

59. Well

not only is South Africa "not together", truth commission or no, but no such entity can put anything together as long as capitalism is in the house tearing things apart.

[mod mom]

10. I helped the kids w homework rather than listen.

With his choice in advisors, I hold little hope that we're on the right path. :(

[autorank]

14. Wouldn't it be great if he fired Little Timmy and Larry

Now that would get some people out to vote. Not holding my breath.

:hi:

[mod mom]

44. I'm not too optimistic even if he did fire them.

Getting people out to vote isn't the issue as you well know-it's fair & verifiable elections and neither party in power have any interest in either. :(

[raccoon]

12. K&R. nt

[autorank]

16. THNX!!! n/t

[truedelphi]

18. This amended copy of the President's speech was slammed right

On out of the Park.

A home run style piece of writing, Mr A.

If only it were true.

[autorank]

31. Ah, but "What is truth"

as Pontius Pilot said;) I'm waiting for a call (probably turn out to be the cable guy;)

[bertman]

19. This revised version would get a standing ovation from me. Rec.

[autorank]

32. Here's to you bertman!

:toast:

[bertman]

47. Back atcha, autorank!!

:toast:

[Scruffy1]

20. I would be able to die happy if this were true

Of course we all know that it ain't never going to happen, and we'll keep buying the same old shit or worse. The only good to come out of his reelection is that most of the progressives I know have abandoned the Democratic Party and are looking at other options. The whole administration has been one vast exercise in trickle down economics. The bankers got the bailout-we got sold out.

[autorank]

37. "The bankers got the bailout-we got sold out." +1000

DAMN!

[olegramps]

65. The Bankers got the gold mine and we got the shaft.

[formercia]

21. Change I can believe in.

..but we all know it's not going to happen. Come January, if the same old crap keeps going on, there's going to be Hell to pay.

[autorank]

38. They'll think it's Hell but it's just the truth

To borrow a phrase from a real shit kicker.

[placton]

22. but he did have time to praise Bush! n/t

[autorank]

39. I do not come here to praise Bush, I come to indict him.

Line I'd love to hear.

[Uncle Joe]

23. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, autorank.

[autorank]

33. Thank you Uncle Joe

One can always hope... and then again, maybe it's time to start laughing more at the storyline. Once you get beyond
how insulting it is, then it is actually funny in a Lenny Bruce sort of way.

[Barack2theFuture]

25. It's almost like those parts are AWOL

[autorank]

40. Accounts for the Bush reference;)

[Ignis]

26. K&R

But expect to be dog-piled for daring to question anything Obama says 'round here.

[autorank]

57. I love dogs! Thanks for the K&R!!! n/t

[me b zola]

27. K&R

[autorank]

58. POWERFUL video at your link

Means a great deal to me. The search never ends, even when it's not on but your title says it all.

Thanks for sharing that.

[robinlynne]

29. oh how I wish.....

[autorank]

41. Well...

...you know that it is happening just that way in the parallel universe;)

[Joe Chi Minh]

30. Hilarious, Mike. You could have started a whole new never-ending game.

You know - presidential speeches, heavily edited with the insertion of new passages!

[autorank]

42. The original Gnostic Christians were encouraged to write

their own gospels to get in touch with the holy spirit. I think we should do the same on a mundane level.

It's a political Rorschach board game - what do you see coming after this sentence?

:hi:

[maryf]

34. K&R!!

Didn't know you were telepathic! (Wouldn't it be nice?) :hi:

[maryf]

45. Can't edit

forgot to add a big winkie!! Let this serve as a kick anyway!

[autorank]

51. I take your kick gladly! n/t

[autorank]

50. Much study

I took "channeling" from the same person that taught HRC. Once you get the signal, it's easy;)

[maryf]

60. LOL

I always see HRC and think Her Royal C, hmmm guess C could stand for channeling... ;)

[earth mom]

43. We WISH Obama had said those things. Very telling that he didn't!

:argh:

[autorank]

56. It's easy to read between the line

or in my case, just make them up. Wish we'd get some "champion of the people" action going with someone who really
means it.

You watch, they'll give in on the tax breaks and cut Social Security. Then they'll feel the full might of the
peoples' fury. Recent poll, only 12% favored cutting SS as a budget solution. 12%! Amazing. I guess they think
that we won't notice.

[Starry Messenger]

46. k & r

Music is the silence between the notes. I forget who said this, but I think there must also be a corollary to that.

[rhett o rick]

49. Those 19 hijackers didnt out smart the best and most expensive defense system

in the world. It just doesnt fly. Poor ole Georgie Porgie didnt know a thing, but my money is that Cheney and his cohorts masterminded the operation on Sept 11. Not a doubt in my mind. But our President is powerless to do anything about it. The forces to be are bigger than him.

[woo me with science]

52. Very nice. nt

[autorank]

55. THNX

Science is going to save us, if that's possible at this point.

[midnight]

62. Thank you Auto Rank. Sorry I did not read this in time to

give it another vote up.

[autorank]

63. I'll take the read!

Thanks. Let the mockery begin!

[olegramps]

66. I will vote for you to be his new speech writer.

Maybe if that isn't possible perhaps we could some how get you the duty of loading his speech prompter with a few last minute "minor" revisions.

[autorank]

67. You know,

I did that once, way way back, at an international conference. It worked out well. Very popular presentation. Thought
I'd be fired but alas...

Collins is a popular name. They'd never suspect :evilgrin:

[amborin]

64. k and r

[howaboutme]

68. We don't have a choice

We have a country that is ruled by corporatists for corporatists. Americans must understand that they are being manipulated by the media so we allow this to happen by using the perpetual liberal versus conservative canard.