This thread is covering Bush’s primetime news conference which begins at 8:30est. Constructive comments and fact backed criticism/feedback welcomed, save the empty insults for the other threads.
weak. Bush seemed baffled at times and skipped around questions. Bush camp can't be happy after that display.
The one thing that I find remarkable, as I am sure many other people do too is the sheer conviction of the guy (Bush). Which is not bad, per se. However, it raises interesting questions.
So Bush makes a point today again, that the war is against people who kill innocent people and have no regard for human life. That is grossly untrue. "Those people" - whether you mean OBL's group, al-Sadr's group or even Saddam's group - all of them have great regard for their own people, they just wanna kill many Americans. And if many of those Americans happen to be civilians... no problem.
You think thats bad?
Well, the thing is that all of these "villains" have strong convictions. They have aims they want to achieve. And if innocent civilians come in the way of those aims, these innocent civilians will be killed as well as military targets.
Is that bad?
Turn the tables. Look at GWB. He has strong convictions too (e.g. that he wants to eliminate Al-Qaeda and Saddam). He will use all necessary force to achieve these aims (i.e. kill them). If there are innocent civilians who die in the conflict, it won't stop the mission. In many cases, residential areas are bombed on mere suspicion of Saddam being there. Bush has no higher regard for innocent lives. Its part of life. Collateral damage. Whatever you call it.
So, on a very philosophical level, there is hardly any difference between Bush and his enemies. They all have single-minded conviction of achieving their goals. They all are willing to kill innocent people to achieve their goals. So, when they get off their pedestal, they will realize that the words of condemnation against terrorism are as empty today as they were before.
My take.
The president has no clothes!! 
Seriously, can anyone, ANYONE come away from that speech and tell me something good? about Bush, the future of this country or Iraq or elsewhere? Anything?
OK, a compliment for Bush here, I think.. he made more sense than Prism.. but that's still none at all.
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*Originally posted by spoon: *
OK, a compliment for Bush here, I think.. he made more sense than Prism.. but that's still none at all.
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:D I just find Bush very irritating. More so when he is issuing a sermon, like he was doing today. And especially since most of it was empty rhetoric, and can be applied to anyone, including Bush.
His selling point against Kerry is that he wants to lead the U.S. into a go it alone style while his opponent wants to share responsibility, I don't understand how this is a selling point for him. A very awkward news conference, I felt uncomfortable more than once and not just because the horrid tie.
The best (or the lowest point, depending on your view point) of the news conference was when the reporter asked him about “your biggest mistake in life”. Bush was like “I wish you give me your questions in advance so I can prepare the answers!” 
That was odd, he outted the reporter for giving him an unscripted question, wtf?
"Brown people" can live in freedom to, that was a touching moment.
Guy is as dumb as they come. Slick Willy had the gift to get away with murder, but this guy, despite doing everything right (I fully support the war and elimination of terrorists wherever they might be) he comes across as an idiot. You gotta love the guy for his single-mindedness and consistency. I am afraid to say it, but he is here for another 4 years. Hope his message to the middleeast morons was heard loud and clear. The credit goes to the American voters for picking a guy to do the job. Who the hell cares about his communications skills.
wager Madhanee? you still owe me for the Arafat bet you lost.
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*Originally posted by underthedome: *
A very awkward news conference, I felt uncomfortable more than once and not just because the horrid tie.
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I know! That tie was really not a power tie, because the "conference" was not good at all. I mean I am not one to judge Pres. Bush on the pauses or even the "ums" because lets face it, it is not easy being up there. However my main problem was that he was repetitive with certain words like "peace" and "freedom" I mean I know it may fly well in the red (hick) states but to the educated or critical viewer, it really served no purpose.
The only positive I could see was the 18 min intro. Atleast it gave him a chance to brief the American public on the developments in Iraq and where he stood. Unfortunately the actual news conference was quite bad.
Full disclosure: I am a Connecticut republican and did vote for Bush in 2000.
If this news conference was an indication, the guy is a lost cause. He can't think. He can't talk. He can't dress. If Iraq continues to deteriorate (very likely), economy doesn't pick up quickly (unlikely)... Kerry has a very good shot.
UTD yaar, A dead Arafat is the same as a living one, except quieter. Yeah, I owe you one. Come to NYC I have tics for lots of interesting stuff happening.
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*Originally posted by Prism Man: *
He can’t think. He can’t talk. He can’t dress.
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low blow.
I think your right except the wild card Osama…if he can pull OBL out like rabbit trick, his re-election is assured.
How are we feeling about this?
The violence we are seeing in Iraq is familiar. The terrorists who take hostages or plants a roadside bomb near Baghdad is serving the same ideology of murder that kills innocent people on trains in Madrid, and murders children on buses in Jerusalem, and blows up a nightclub in Bali and cuts the throat of a young reporter for being a Jew.
We’ve seen the same ideology of murder in the killing of 241 Marines in Beirut, the first attack on the World Trade Center, in the destruction of two embassies in Africa, in the attack on the USS Cole, and in the merciless horror inflicted upon thousands of innocent men and women and children on September the 11th, 2001.
None of these acts is the work of a religion. All are the work of a fanatical political ideology. The servants of this ideology seek tyranny in the Middle East and beyond. They seek to oppress and persecute women.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9488-2004Apr13_3.html
The war on Violent Islam?
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*Originally posted by Ohioguy: *
How are we feeling about this?
The war on Violent Islam?
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OG, I am fine with a war on violent anything. If it is Islam, Judaism or Christianity, or the next threat, it does not make a difference.
However I do believe that the occupying US army in Iraq, marines in Leb are fair targets. Innocent civilians in Jerusalem, Madrid are not. The Armed forces whether US or not, acting on imperialistic impluses are fair game. It is the soldiers job to die.
Iraq needs to be an international effort and not just a U.S. one. There is more than 1 way to do a good thing, 'our way or the highway' does not sell to me, it doesn't sell to the world, and come November its not going to sell to the American public.
next time I’m in I’ll take you up on the offer. Let’s involve some of these 
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*Originally posted by underthedome: *
Iraq needs to be an international effort and not just a U.S. one. There is more than 1 way to do a good thing, 'our way or the highway' does not sell to me, it doesn't sell to the world, and come November its not going to sell to the American public.
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Why would the Intl community want to get involved in a mess largely created by the US?