| Author | Message | ||
     strawberry Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1486 Registered: 10-2001 |
Frutie, I'm glad you think you have a subtle sense of humor. Others, on the other hand don't find your comments all that funny. Bush's security was the highest of priority during his trip, don't be so foolish thinking it wasn't. Silly argument in general. Ukealalio, To dismiss Bush's leadership as being nothing more than a yes man to Cheney is over the top. Bush, since his Prep school and College days has always been a leader. A student body and frat leader, later a business leader before becoming a Governor and President. To be honest, I don't believe you know enough about W. If you did, like I do, you would never assume he's ever done anything in his life that even hints he's not a take charge, in charge leader. Also, these drunk conservative friends of yours sound rather mornoic if they view Bush as a light weight. They simply don't really qualify as shrewd political observers as a result. This is one case where you have my permission to tell "Conservatives" to piss off. BUSH IS GREAT..I LOVE PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH! Greatest President since Reagan... "That moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001." --President George W. Bush | ||
| tjohn Citizen Username: Tjohn Post Number: 1921 Registered: 12-2001  |
I don't know that Bush's trip was all that risky contrary to some claims here. The only real window of opportunity to attack Air Force One was during the take off and landing. I have to believe that Air Force One has decoy flare systems to fool shoulder-fired AA missiles. Failing that, a 747 can mostly likely sustain a hit or two from these missles and still land safely. I suspect that FDR would have traveled a bit more during WW II if he had had something like Air Force One at his disposal. | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 3946 Registered: 5-2001 |
The 747s flown for the executive branch have chaff (sp?) and flares and it is rumored that they carry anti-aircraft missles as well. Still I suspect that there were quite a few tight bung holes on board during the landing and the takeoff. During and even after WWII the Secret Service didn't like the idea of the President flying for safety reasons. | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 2486 Registered: 10-1999  |
It was inspiring to the troops, of course. And clearly theatrical (I defer to Duncan's assessment on that). Okay, so now it's Saturday, and Monday will be December 1. That is seven months after the carrier landing, with the big "Mission Accomplished" banner, and the declaration of the end of "major combat operations." The danger of the Thanksgiving visit, even with the secrecy and brevity involved, shows that the May 1 declarations may have been premature. Pictures of the President inspiring our troops in Baghdad are great. What still seems to be missing is a plan for the day we see the President welcoming the last troops home from Iraq. | ||
| strawberry Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1487 Registered: 10-2001 |
Nohero, You won't see that until Hussein is captured or killed. He's the real target now as we rebuild Iraq. His continued presence in the country will forever haunt those who want to step forward with information on Hussein loyalists and Al Qaeda but remain scared to do so. We're not leaving Hussein in Iraq..period. "That moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001." --President George W. Bush | ||
| bobk Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 3948 Registered: 5-2001 |
Uhm, Straw, didn't we say that about Bin Laden and Mullah Omar in, what was the name of that country? I forget. Even a $25,000,000 reward didn't do it. | ||
| strawberry Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1488 Registered: 10-2001 |
Bobk, To chase Bin laden and the Mullah into the Afghan mountains on foot is suicide. Not to mention, Bin laden might not be there anymore. Also, we still have a tremendous presence in Afghanistan so I don't really see your point. "That moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001." --President George W. Bush | ||
| anon Citizen Username: Anon Post Number: 845 Registered: 6-2002 |
I am no supporter of George Bush, but I think his visit to Iraq was the right thing to do. Of course it helps him politically, but that is because it was the right thing to do and the public knows that. In our system of government the President is also a politician so everything he does has a political dimension. That's how it works. A Democratic President would probably have done the same thing and the extreme partisans on each side would have taken the opposite positions from those they take now. | ||
| Fruitcake Citizen Username: Fruitcake Post Number: 43 Registered: 9-2003 |
FWIW, my comments weren’t anti-Bush, they were anti-hype. (Well, OK, anti-Cheney, as well.) Hillary Clinton’s visit to Iraq was also unnecessary and distasteful. I don’t think our civilian leaders, the commander-in-chief included, should be roaming around in war zones. The downside is too great. If Bush had been injured, or even come under hostile fire, the damage to our national security and international prestige would have been overwhelming. The benefit of a pep rally with our troops wasn’t worth the risk. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2220 Registered: 9-2001 |
FWIW.... AGAIN! BUSH IN IRAQ, CLINTON IN AFGHANISTAN... | ||
| Nohero Citizen Username: Nohero Post Number: 2487 Registered: 10-1999 |
Um, FWIW, Sen. Clinton moved on from Afghanistan to Iraq, and met with some of our troops, along with some members of the Iraqi governing council. Does it really amount to much? Probably not. | ||
| ajc Citizen Username: Ajc Post Number: 2221 Registered: 9-2001 |
FWIW, you're probably right! | ||
| Robert Lilly Citizen Username: Cowboy Post Number: 159 Registered: 9-2003 |
Ukealalio, this one’s for you. One morning Dick Cheney and George W. Bush were having brunch at a restaurant. The attractive waitress asks Cheney what he would like and he replies, "I'll have a bowl of oatmeal and some fruit." "And what can I get for you, sir?" she asks George W. He replies, "How about a quickie?" "Why, Mr. President," the waitress says, "How rude . . . you're starting to act like Mr. Clinton and you haven't even been in office for a month yet!" As the waitress storms away, Cheney leans over to Bush and whispers, "It's pronounced "quiche." I too am grateful for Senator Clinton’s trip. | ||
| strawberry Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1489 Registered: 10-2001 |
FWIW, Senator Clinton is a filthy con artist and anyone who supports anything she does is a moron.  Be on the winning team, vote Bush 2004. "That moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001." --President George W. Bush | ||
| tom Citizen Username: Tom Post Number: 1573 Registered: 5-2001 |
If it's good for the President to visit the troops, it's good for a United States Senator to visit the troops. Sometimes, you've got to put your politics in your pocket and accept other people's humanity. In the process, you might find that you enhance your own. | ||
| Ukealalio Citizen Username: Ukealalio Post Number: 214 Registered: 6-2003 |
I agree Bush was a leader in his frat house. Unfortunately, those kid of skills don't automatically transfer over to President of the U.S. It was a decent gesture but I totally agree, a highly theatrical one. A lot of you Conservatives love to skewer Clinton over his evasion of the draft but at least he was a vocal opponent of the war at that time. The new Commander in Chief now is back-peddling and saying he was against Viet Nam so he doesn't have to defend the fact his father kept him out of harms way and even then the bozo went awol and drank himself silly (of yea, I forgot he was a FRAT LEADER). I support our troops 100%,that doesn't mean I have to like or blindly follow W (I don't). The Americans in Iraq are putting their lives on the line, something out Commander in Chief did not do (and no quick photo-op trip to Baghdad will convince me otherwise). | ||
| michael Citizen Username: Michael Post Number: 422 Registered: 1-2002 |
Commander and Chief of USA Armed Forces visits his troops at Thanksgiving during war time. - This is a good thing all politics aside. | ||
| strawberry Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1490 Registered: 10-2001 |
Ukealidio, Bush isn't a topic you know all that much about. He became a Frat leader at Yale, one of the finest schools in our nation. (this before going to Harvard Business School the finest Business school in our nation.) His selection as a frat leader came at the hands of some of our finest minds today. It was the begining of what would turn out to be the start of a career where those around W turned to him for leadership. Sorry son you're in left field on this one. As far as dodging the draft, he joined the Texas National Guard, after taking it upon HIMSELF to meet those who could help him avoid going to Vietnam. He was selected because guard officials were convinced his intelligence and schooling would be important during his training as a fighter pilot. By the way when he was sworn in to the guard as the son of a Congressman, he did so next to Lloyd Betsen's son. (you remember ole bleeding heart Lloyd, don't ya??) Facts, my friends will help you more than rumors.. Also, you're right Bush wasn't a high profile anti war radical like Clinton. Burning his draft card wasn't something a man such as he would consider. Especially since his own father was a war hero. "That moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001." --President George W. Bush | ||
| Fruitcake Citizen Username: Fruitcake Post Number: 44 Registered: 9-2003 |
Strawberry, the things you say! Hillary Clinton a filthy con artist? She got to office the same way George Bush did, by raising a boatload of money and then getting the most votes on election day. Well, maybe George didn’t actually get the most votes, but he went through more or less the same process. Although he did get the Supreme Court involved after the votes were cast… | ||
| strawberry Citizen Username: Strawberry Post Number: 1491 Registered: 10-2001 |
Name one accomplishment Hillary has produced since being a Senator. (and try and do it without research) She's a carpetbagger who had 2004 mapped out until she came to realize Bush was pretty much unbeatable. Than of course Dr. Dean steams ahead and looks like he may actually give Bush a run for his money..So, what does this cockroach of a politician do?? She pushes Clark into the race to take some of Dean's thunder. Why? So Dean isn't elected. This in turn leaves 2008, all hers for the taking. Hillary is a clown and anyone who supports her should do so with big yellow shoes and a red nose. "That moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001." --President George W. Bush |
