JLF: The Only Idea Bush Has is That Invading Iraq Was Right

So, lets study this together, eh?


1.  When asked what his stand was for the U.S. on China's human rights record, the President said:

"In the long run, America better remain engaged with China, and understand that we can have a cooperative and constructive, yet candid relationship. It's really important for future Presidents to understand the relationship between China and the region, and it's important to make sure that America is engaged with China -- even though we may have some disagreements."

Well, my question, obviously, is why did the President feel the need to act on our (apparent) differences with Iraq?  Is it a question of size?  Is Bush, essentially, a bully who's only comfortable picking on countries smaller than us?  I know you're going against the grain, here, but we're gonna look the other way because there are 1.3 billion of you, we owe you trillions of dollars and you manufacture everything we own.  Is that how we roll?  Is that why we stepped to Iraq but not North Korea, Iran or China? 

I don't necessarily think so.  We don't overlap with the way Sudan is running their country, but you don't see us invading them and stopping genocide and saving hundreds of thousands of lives.  Size?  Meh.  I think it has more to do with who we can make money from.  There's no money in invading Sudan.  Iraq has rung up hundreds of billions of dollars.

2. When Costas re-iterated the point that the U.S. might have to work to change China's policies, he said:

"(L)isten, we agree with them on a lot of things. And we disagree with them on things. And that's the way the relationship is going to be. It needs to be, as I mentioned, constructive and cooperative."

I guess we torture and they torture.  Sounds like a party.  Now, I understand we treat our people better than China does, so don't beat me up in the comments.  As I've said before, and I'll say again, I'm a glass is 5% empty rather than 95% full.  So instead of blasting a comment, shove it in your pie hole.

3.  Bob Costas says, "But given China's growing strength and America's own problems, realistically how much leverage and influence does the U.S. have here?"  Bush's response, in the height of Bushology, responded:

"First of all, I don't see America having problems."

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!  I mean, the last 7 years are spinning before my eyes, paraphrased: "You're doing a heckuva job, Brownie."  "We are not in a recession."  "Iraq is linked to 9/11."  "Mission accomplished."  "Bring it on."  "George worries greatly about the victims of Hurricane Karinna," Laura Bush on Larry King Live.  Bush giving the Presidential Medal of Freedom to George Tenet.  "We're going to send a man to Mars."  "We don't do corporate bailouts," referring to their bail out of Freddie and Fannie Mac.  "We don't torture."  "We know nothing about the CIA leak.  (But I'll use the full force of the law when we figure out the leak....)"  Well, I guess the full force of the law can be commuting a sentence.  "We are passionate about alternative fuels." 

What an ass hole.

4.  When Costas asks about China becoming more religiously tolerant, Bush responds with the most I-want-to-ride-a-rainbow and love-will-heal-the-world bull shit that will be the singature of his reign.

"Well, first of all, if you're a religious person, you understand that once religion takes hold in a society it can't be stopped."

This is the exact problem with the past 7 years.  There are years of decisions and lives on the line becaue of a whole bunch of assumptions built on faith.  Execution?  Planning?  Not necessary.  I believe it will be great.  I believe we will be greeted as liberators.  I believe "freedom" will flourish in the Middle East.

Is Bush that out of touch?  Does he not understand there there are plenty of religions that have taken hold in China that the government is crushing?  Has he heard of Tibet or Falun Gong?  My Lord, he's a mess.

5. While the Olympics were going on, Russia was destroying Georgia.  Costas (kicking SO much ass) asked Bush what he had said to Putin during the opening ceremony.  Bush:

"I said this violence is unacceptable -- I not only said it to Vladimir Putin, I've said it to the President of the country, Dmitriy Medvedev. And my administration has been engaged with both sides in this, trying to get a cease-fire, and saying that the status quo ante for all troops should be August 6th. And, look, I expressed my grave concern about the disproportionate response of Russia and that we strongly condemn bombing outside of South Ossetia."

Is Bush realizing he's lost his ability to tell other countries that they shouldn't invade others after we invaded Iraq?  Is he realizing how little political credibility the U.S. now has?  Is it finally coming around to bite him in the ass?  Is this why FRANCE has brokered the peace agreement between parties instead of the U.S.?  How is Sarkozy taking care of this while Bush is tapping female beach volleyball players on the back?  What the FART has happened to this country?

6. Costas asked if Bush thought the President of China, Hu Jintao, was receptive to Bush's message about Tibet and acceptance (since he claims to be heralding Joey Cheek's message, an Olympic medal-winner whose Visa was denied by China a week before the games because of his involvement with the Tibet awareness group he was a part of).  Bush's response about Hu Jintao's openness:

"It's hard to tell. I mean [...] I can't read his mind."

That's odd, because all you've been doing is reading people's minds, like gays, Hussein, Guantanimo prisoners and Jesus.


These ten minutes were a great boil-down of Bush's terms: Blinded by faith, out of touch, pompous, turning back on problems, lost international influence, selectively involved in global affairs... all wrapped in odd facial expressions and uncomfortable laughs.  Great job, Costas.

Always your pleasure.

 - JLF


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