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Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1060
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:31 am: | 
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Activists bought Ms Thomas 1200 roses, just to say thanks.
Right on Helen.
http://starcampaign.com/helen.htm |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11112
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 7:28 am: |
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I think last week was the first time the President took a question from Ms. Thomas since he was elected.
She is the senior White House correspondent. Traditionally, the senior correspondent gets to ask the first question at news conferences, which isn't the case anymore.
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Darryl Strawberry
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 7022
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 7:32 am: |
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Bush made her look like an idiot. |
joel dranove
Citizen
Username: Jdranove
Post Number: 267
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 7:52 am: |
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Don't insult idiots.
jd |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1874
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 7:56 am: |
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Actually, the only entity that Bush could possibly, perhaps, somehow on a real lucky day when the wind is blowing right, make to look like an idiot is either John Snow or Howdy Doody, both of whom have s--t-eating grins even wider than the president's. |
Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 1499
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 8:09 am: |
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President Finally Calls on Helen Thomas, Says He Only Semi-Regrets It
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id= 1002200220
NEW YORK Unlike several of his predecessors, going back decades, President Bush has largely avoided calling on veteran reporter Helen Thomas, one of his harshest critics, in press conferences.
But today, for some reason, he relented, early in this morning's press gathering, and the following exchange took place.
Helen. After that brilliant performance at the Gridiron (dinner), I am -- (laughter.)
Q You're going to be sorry. (Laughter.)
THE PRESIDENT: Well, then, let me take it back. (Laughter.)
Q I'd like to ask you, Mr. President, your decision to invade Iraq has caused the deaths of thousands of Americans and Iraqis, wounds of Americans and Iraqis for a lifetime. Every reason given, publicly at least, has turned out not to be true. My question is, why did you really want to go to war? From the moment you stepped into the White House, from your Cabinet -- your Cabinet officers, intelligence people, and so forth -- what was your real reason? You have said it wasn't oil -- quest for oil, it hasn't been Israel, or anything else. What was it?
THE PRESIDENT: I think your premise -- in all due respect to your question and to you as a lifelong journalist -- is that -- I didn't want war. To assume I wanted war is just flat wrong, Helen, in all due respect --
Q Everything --
THE PRESIDENT: Hold on for a second, please.
Q -- everything I've heard --
THE PRESIDENT: Excuse me, excuse me. No President wants war. Everything you may have heard is that, but it's just simply not true. My attitude about the defense of this country changed on September the 11th. We -- when we got attacked, I vowed then and there to use every asset at my disposal to protect the American people. Our foreign policy changed on that day, Helen. You know, we used to think we were secure because of oceans and previous diplomacy. But we realized on September the 11th, 2001, that killers could destroy innocent life. And I'm never going to forget it. And I'm never going to forget the vow I made to the American people that we will do everything in our power to protect our people.
Part of that meant to make sure that we didn't allow people to provide safe haven to an enemy. And that's why I went into Iraq -- hold on for a second --
Q They didn't do anything to you, or to our country.
THE PRESIDENT: Look -- excuse me for a second, please. Excuse me for a second. They did. The Taliban provided safe haven for al Qaeda. That's where al Qaeda trained --
Q I'm talking about Iraq --
THE PRESIDENT: Helen, excuse me. That's where -- Afghanistan provided safe haven for al Qaeda. That's where they trained. That's where they plotted. That's where they planned the attacks that killed thousands of innocent Americans.
I also saw a threat in Iraq. I was hoping to solve this problem diplomatically. That's why I went to the Security Council; that's why it was important to pass 1441, which was unanimously passed. And the world said, disarm, disclose, or face serious consequences --
Q -- go to war --
THE PRESIDENT: -- and therefore, we worked with the world, we worked to make sure that Saddam Hussein heard the message of the world. And when he chose to deny inspectors, when he chose not to disclose, then I had the difficult decision to make to remove him. And we did, and the world is safer for it.
Q Thank you.
THE PRESIDENT: You're welcome. (Laughter.) I didn't really regret it. I kind of semi-regretted it. (Laughter.)
Q -- have a debate.
THE PRESIDENT: That's right. Anyway, your performance at the Gridiron was just brilliant -- unlike Holland's, was a little weak, but -- (laughter.)
Sorry.
*******************************************************************************
Give it up to Helen. Someone finally forces this fool to at acknowledge that he partially regrets going to war.
So who’s the idiot now? Not the 83 year old senior citzen.
 |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 1024
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 8:31 am: |
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and Bush still continues to conflate 9-11 with Iraq. He conflates Iraq with Afghanistan, he conflates Saddam Hussein with al Qaeda. Even though he periodically acknowledges that there was no Iraqi involvement in 9-11 and there was no Iraqi involvement with al Qaeda.
The man is making fools of all who still believe him. |
MBJ
Citizen
Username: Mbj
Post Number: 202
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 9:12 am: |
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Perhaps, Hooops..but if he didn't give you something to post about, what would you do with your "life"? |
Twokitties
Citizen
Username: Twokitties
Post Number: 410
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 9:18 am: |
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No wonder he prefers fielding questions from gay prostitutes. |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2721
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 9:32 am: |
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He was saying partially regrets calling on Helen Thomas, not that he partially regrets going to war. I'm sure he has no regrets about that. |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 1025
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 9:56 am: |
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MBJ - are you trying to tell me to 'get' a life? Interesting that I see you never have an opinion about anything except posters whom you dont agree with.
The president is a disaster for the country and not only cant you defend his policies but you also cant figure out how to post a coherent thought about them. |
Darryl Strawberry
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 7023
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 11:08 am: |
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Bush also makes all Democrats look like idiots on a daily basis. I mean will there ever be a day when a dem defeats him? Maybe Harry "We defeated the Patriot Act" Reid will eventually do so. Doubtful, but there's still time.
libs.
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2726
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 11:19 am: |
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Given that Bush will never run for political office again, I agree that it is highly unlikely any Democrat will ever defeat Gearge W Bush. |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1591
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 11:37 am: |
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He's beaten by a haggard band of Iraqi "insurgents" every day. |
Guy
Supporter
Username: Vandalay
Post Number: 1716
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 11:56 am: |
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He should call on Helen Thomas at every press conference and make sure she is in the front row. |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1592
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 11:59 am: |
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She was traditionally in the front row, but this White House rearranged the seating because they didn't like her questions. |
Darryl Strawberry
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 7024
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:14 pm: |
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Her questions are usually pointless. Guy is right. |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1593
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:22 pm: |
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The old meandering lady made the president look like a buffoon. This is the best part of the exchange:
Bush: ...Part of that meant to make sure that we didn't allow people to provide safe haven to an enemy. And that's why I went into Iraq -- hold on for a second --
Thomas: They didn't do anything to you, or to our country.
Bush: Look -- excuse me for a second, please. Excuse me for a second. They did. The Taliban provided safe haven for al Qaeda. That's where al Qaeda trained --
Q I'm talking about Iraq --
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Twokitties
Citizen
Username: Twokitties
Post Number: 411
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:27 pm: |
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Bring back the hooker to ask tough questions like, "Why are you so great?" |
Darryl Strawberry
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 7025
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:38 pm: |
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Nice job cutting off 3/4 of the exchange. At the end it was clear she's just not capable of being there anymore. It was ugly because the President being the Gentleman that he is was forced to make the old timer look silly.
She sounded like an out of touch lib...She had no point.
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Guy
Supporter
Username: Vandalay
Post Number: 1717
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:52 pm: |
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She made David Gregory look good.
Straw , did you stay up for that whole draft last night? I lasted until about 12:30 AM |
Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2732
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:53 pm: |
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It depends on your perpective. To some, it looks like he can't stay on topic. She asked him about Iraq, and he started tealking about het taliban and Afghanistan. To others, it looks like she is a liberal trying to score points by attempting to nail the President with a "hard hitting" question. |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 1027
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 12:57 pm: |
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Really she asked him a direct question and he cut her off, did not stay on topic, and once again conflated Afghanistan, the taliban, al Qaeda and 9/11 with Iraq. When she tried to get him back on point he again talked over her and again directed his commentary away from her question.
I dont see any redemption for Bush in how he handled the question and in fact I see nothing rambling or wrong with her question of her follow up.
There are not 2 sides to how this is viewed, unless of course you can view it through the star struck glasses of Strawberry. |
Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 1505
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 1:19 pm: |
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THE PRESIDENT:Part of that meant to make sure that we didn't allow people to provide safe haven to an enemy. And that's why I went into Iraq -- hold on for a second --
hold on for a sec? Is he confused here? Yeh, we provided a safe haven… for insurgents!
THE PRESIDENT: I was hoping to solve this problem diplomatically.
 Dude is definately in The Twilight Zone |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1594
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 1:53 pm: |
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Sorry Straw. I should have included a definition of the word "part" for you in my post. My bad. |
Darryl Strawberry
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 7026
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 1:58 pm: |
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or you could have attempted to be honest with other posters on MOL. This instead of attempting to sell us a bag of lib b.s. Another reason why your posts can't be taken seriously.
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Rastro
Citizen
Username: Rastro
Post Number: 2736
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 2:06 pm: |
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Given that the exchange was quoted in greater detail above Dave's post, I see nothing dishonest in his selective quoting. |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 1029
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 2:13 pm: |
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straw vs. dave23
in this exchange, it is obvious who the winner is. |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1595
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 2:14 pm: |
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I'm pretty sure that the other posters have basic reading comprehension skills. They know what the word "part" means. |
Hoops
Citizen
Username: Hoops
Post Number: 1030
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 2:16 pm: |
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Its especially nice when you define it for them. Although your definition in and of itself is - um, lets say descriptive in its own way. |
Duncan
Supporter
Username: Duncanrogers
Post Number: 6113
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 2:28 pm: |
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Straw...get out side. Grab a slice from Roman Gourmet. Look at the houses you can afford. Chill out.
Dave23 won this round. Deal with it. |
dave23
Citizen
Username: Dave23
Post Number: 1597
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 2:49 pm: |
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Duncan's right. I just enjoyed a two-hour lunch. Gonna leave early, lounge in Bryant Park while waiting for a hot NYC date with the wife. |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1061
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 2:58 pm: |
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1200 roses. Pictures of said roses, go to site please. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1523
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 5:30 pm: |
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Stop telling Straw what to do. If he wants to continue making himself look like a giant azz, who are you to stop him? I personally enjoy watching his grand buffoonery. Recently I got to thinking that maybe Straw is just like those lonely men who go online and pretend to be women so they can have sex chats 'cause they can't get sexual affection any other way. But instead of cyber sex he is actually a regular normal, caring and compassionate person (who knows maybe even a Democrat) but for fun he puts on a dress and pretends to be a conservative so that people will give him some attention. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 13357
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 5:34 pm: |
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That's a pleasant thought, Alleygater. Thank you. It fits right inline with people who say he's a nice guy in person.
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Southerner
Citizen
Username: Southerner
Post Number: 870
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 5:35 pm: |
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You just described a liberal. They don't win on election day so they turn to message boards to soothe their loneliness. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 4619
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 5:41 pm: |
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You just described a wing-nut. They win on election day but they still have to turn to message boards to soothe their loneliness.
Oh, that was too easy. |
Nohero
Supporter
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 5270
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 6:19 pm: |
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Ms. Thomas did what a reporter is supposed to do. It's March of 2005, three years after we invaded, and the President is on regard as still making obviously nonsensical statements such as this -"And when he chose to deny inspectors, when he chose not to disclose, then I had the difficult decision to make to remove him." But, the inspectors were in Iraq, and our own post-invasion report concludes that there were no WMDs for Saddam to "disclose" to us. |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1065
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 7:11 pm: |
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 |
Darryl Strawberry
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 7027
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 7:20 pm: |
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Libs are morons. (Not you Foj, I like your posts) |
Nohero
Supporter
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 5272
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 7:26 pm: |
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Funny, but nobody has come up with any reason why the "libs" are incorrect on this one. |
Darryl Strawberry
Supporter
Username: Strawberry
Post Number: 7028
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 7:53 pm: |
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For the record Nohero is hardly a moron as well. Just a little silly at times. |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1878
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 31, 2006 - 8:14 pm: |
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If one hasn't read Kevin Phillips' American Dynasty and his American Theocracy, one has no business deriding Helen Thomas and falling over in awe of GWB's "aw, shucks, I'm just a country bumpkin" routine.
Phillips, a Republican strategist with a great background in history and political science, packs his works with fact and insight.
Unless one has read his books, one really has no idea what's going on. |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1066
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 1, 2006 - 12:46 am: |
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I would say that Kevin was/is a conservative. When hired as a staffer in the Nixon administration he was considered a conservative, he had just written a book about how the conservative movement would be in ascendancy. He now writes that he was right, but that this brand of conservatives are flat out bonkers.
Innis-- he is a laywer too, no? I would recommend starting with "Wealth & Democracy". Then procede to American Dynasty. I will be buying his new one, American Theocracy. I read the review in the NY Times, that you mentioned, Innis.
Anyway- those people who sent Helen flowers are friends of mine. And I am very proud to virtually hang out with people of that sort. |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1882
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 1, 2006 - 9:37 pm: |
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Yes, Foj, he is a lawyer.
You will not notice many neocons rushing out to buy American Theocracy, not the way Phillips reveals the the neocons wrapped in the embrace of the Fundamentalists, and all of them licking oil deposits. |
Foj
Citizen
Username: Foger
Post Number: 1076
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, April 1, 2006 - 10:25 pm: |
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And he is an excellent writer. |
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