Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 12:45 am
Please feel free to skip this one.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but even as cynical as I am about politicians, but tonight was just a bit much.

I am referring, of course, to Shrub's address tonight on The Plan For Iraq.

I expected the self-contradictory statements, such as the indications that we will be turning all power over to a sovereign Iraqi government... BUT our military will remain in place and will have the final word in all police/military/security issues.

And then there was the real kicker, in my not-so-humble opinion.

When you listen to any public speaker, you know that they're addressing a large group, of which you are presumably a part. However, they at least allow you the illusion that they have cared enough to prepare a speech (or read one that someone else has prepared, at higher levels), even in this day and age when we are all only too aware of the teleprompter.

But not this time.

This time, our Illustrious Leader couldn't even be bothered to read through the speech in private before he went out to read it out loud to the nation and the world.

How do I know?

Because if he had, he wouldn't have been talking about "a new, human prison system for Iraq," then stumble when he came to the name of the one Iraqi prison that everyone knows -- Abu Ghraib. Or, as Our Illustrious Leader has re-named it, "Abu G... rob."

I could even forgive him screwing it up once -- hell, even professionals stumble occasionally. But for him to then go on and continue to mispronounce it throughout the rest of the speech ... pretty much gives the lie to his earlier statements of concern and indignation over those abuses in "Abu Garob."

Sorry, I have a hard time believing that you actually give a damn about a place that you can't even recognize when you see the name, and can't pronounce even though it has been on every news station for weeks now... not to mention his various aids and underlings who report to him on such things, both verbally and in writing. I find it inconceivable that the name hasn't come up in his presence before -- he just doesn't give a damn.

I think part of what pisses me off the most is how completely *unprofessional* that was. I mean, if you're an elected official, especially one who is up for re-election, at least do voting public the simple courtesy of reading the speech before you try to give it!

I am definitely adopting the position from Lois McMaster Bujold's "Vorkosigan" series: "He's not *my* president. I didn't vote for him!"

If he gets re-elected, I may *have* to expatriate. I'm not sure I can take four more years of that SOB. That might just make me die of shame.
Tags:
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 11:36 am (UTC)
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/alert/?alertid=5834001&content_dir=ua_congressorg
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 01:44 pm (UTC)
{{hugs}}

At least you get to vote against him come election time, though. The rest of us have to live with the prick and don't even get that much... ::sigh::

Ugh, though. That man is just... he doesn't even care about his own lies anymore, does he? Feh.
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 05:21 pm (UTC)
"And the Big Fool said to push on."

As relevant now as thirty-some odd years ago with another Texan in the White House.

(Anonymous)
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 09:57 pm (UTC)
What gets me is the promise to tear the prison down. Because, you know, the *building* is the problem.

Devo
rhi: A griffin rampant, on a plaque. (dignified gryphon)
[personal profile] rhi
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 10:19 pm (UTC)
It's not. The gentlemen in question have freely admitted that they are proposing this to make the rest of the legislators actually *look* at what's going on and what it's really costing.
rhi: Matthew McCormick looking over the top of his sunglasses  (Matthew hunting)
[personal profile] rhi
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 10:21 pm (UTC)
As as symbol, it's got some potential. But it'd better be part of a few other necessary things. Like, oh, investigations all the way up the line. When the Army Times starts complaining about a sitting president, much less a Republican sitting president, we have problems beyond one building. Like, oh, the fact that the Geneva Conventions already depend on a mutual network *and* outside supervision. Speaking as someone with friends over there, one of them female and an Arabic linguist... I want them to have Geneva protections.
rhi: A pink and purple sunrise over Stonehenge.  Zen fen. (stonefen by lanning)
[personal profile] rhi
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 10:22 pm (UTC)
Actually, the song I keep getting is "Sunshine."

"He can't even run his own life, I'll be damned if he runs mine."
rhi: A candle-lit labyrinth with a person just entering. (long day by lanning)
[personal profile] rhi
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 10:25 pm (UTC)
He's arrogant, egotistical, and believes he's 'called' to this job, which means anything he does is what God wanted him to do. The ultimate carte blanche from on High. Gods. Why couldn't we have gotten to vote for McCain and Bradley in 2000? I'd have had to decide who to vote *for*, as opposed to *against*!

(Because, really? I'm not entirely thrilled with Kerry. Would far rather have Edwards, or, believe it or not, Kucinich. No such luck.) And if Bush *does* get another four years? You're going to get a request to look for IR jobs over there. Just... argh.
rhi: A candle-lit labyrinth with a person just entering. (mooncycle by lanning)
[personal profile] rhi
Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 10:27 pm (UTC)
As I said in the car: Every radio and TV has pronounced the name repeatedly. I know he doesn't read papers (his wife claims otherwise, but well, she would), but supposedly he gets briefings....

If we can't get rid of the electoral college, can we at least send electors in proportion to the state votes? You know -- 30% goes Dem, send 30% Dem electors? ::sigh:: I sense another impending disaster. Here's hoping that's just allergy meds.
Wednesday, May 26th, 2004 03:51 am (UTC)
but I think i am missing something.
There is pending legislation in the House and Senate (twin bills: S 89 and HR 163) which will time the program's initiation so the draft can begin at early as Spring 2005 -- just after the 2004 presidential election.

Where does it say that this is what they are thinking about, vs. trying to pass?
Wednesday, May 26th, 2004 08:43 am (UTC)
I just did a quick search through several news databases and the general consensus is that in introducting this bill, the authors are attempting to focus on Bush's abyssmal handling of troop rotations and deployments in Iraq in addition to creating a program that would generate a feeling of shared sacrifice in the public. Since all the sponsors are liberals , Neo-cons are complaining that this is an vile liberal assault on Bush.

Since the debate would take place before the election this could force public attention on things Bush wants to keep shoving under the table. However, currently both bills are buried in committee and are unlikely to see the light of day. So much for open debate on issues.


rhi: Golden gryphon, seated on its haunches, facing left (golden gryphon)
[personal profile] rhi
Wednesday, May 26th, 2004 10:23 am (UTC)
That that's going to be the inevitable result if Bush keeps us in this ongoing disaster?
rhi: A candle-lit labyrinth with a person just entering. (cloudy moon)
[personal profile] rhi
Wednesday, May 26th, 2004 10:26 am (UTC)
::nodding:: I thought I remembered that. Thank you for checking it!