Sunday, January 4, 2009

AP: Bushisms Over The Years

The AP has consolidated a little best of the worst of George Bush quotes, and to say the least, this guy is not very good at talking. Check them out:

[From The AP]

President George W. Bush will leave behind a legacy of Bushisms, the label stamped on the commander in chief's original speaking style. Some of the president's more notable malaprops and mangled statements:

"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully." — September 2000, explaining his energy policies at an event in Michigan.

"Rarely is the question asked, is our children learning?" — January 2000, during a campaign event in South Carolina.

"They misunderestimated the compassion of our country. I think they misunderestimated the will and determination of the commander in chief, too." — Sept. 26, 2001, in Langley, Va. Bush was referring to the terrorists who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks.

"There's no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail." — Oct. 4, 2001, in Washington. Bush was remarking on a back-to-work plan after the terrorist attacks.

"It would be a mistake for the United States Senate to allow any kind of human cloning to come out of that chamber." — April 10, 2002, at the White House, as Bush urged Senate passage of a broad ban on cloning.

"I want to thank the dozens of welfare-to-work stories, the actual examples of people who made the firm and solemn commitment to work hard to embetter themselves." — April 18, 2002, at the White House.

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." — Sept. 17, 2002, in Nashville, Tenn.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." — Aug. 5, 2004, at the signing ceremony for a defense spending bill.

"Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." — Sept. 6, 2004, at a rally in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

"Our most abundant energy source is coal. We have enough coal to last for 250 years, yet coal also prevents an environmental challenge." — April 20, 2005, in Washington.

"We look forward to hearing your vision, so we can more better do our job." — Sept. 20, 2005, in Gulfport, Miss.

"I can't wait to join you in the joy of welcoming neighbors back into neighborhoods, and small businesses up and running, and cutting those ribbons that somebody is creating new jobs." — Sept. 5, 2005, when Bush met with residents of Poplarville, Miss., in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

"It was not always a given that the United States and America would have a close relationship. After all, 60 years we were at war 60 years ago we were at war." — June 29, 2006, at the White House, where Bush met with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

"Make no mistake about it, I understand how tough it is, sir. I talk to families who die." — Dec. 7, 2006, in a joint appearance with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"These are big achievements for this country, and the people of Bulgaria ought to be proud of the achievements that they have achieved." — June 11, 2007, in Sofia, Bulgaria.

"Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction. Thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit." — September 2007, in Sydney, Australia, where Bush was attending an APEC summit.

"Thank you, Your Holiness. Awesome speech." April 16, 2008, at a ceremony welcoming Pope Benedict XVI to the White House.

"The fact that they purchased the machine meant somebody had to make the machine. And when somebody makes a machine, it means there's jobs at the machine-making place." — May 27, 2008, in Mesa, Ariz.

"And they have no disregard for human life." — July 15, 2008, at the White House. Bush was referring to enemy fighters in Afghanistan.

"I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office." — June 26, 2008, during a Rose Garden news briefing.

"Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have helped transform 13 small colonies into a great and growing nation of more than 300 people." — July 4, 2008 in Virginia.

"The people in Louisiana must know that all across our country there's a lot of prayer — prayer for those whose lives have been turned upside down. And I'm one of them. It's good to come down here." — Sept. 3, 2008, at an emergency operations center in Baton Rouge, La., after Hurricane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast.

"This thaw — took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." Oct. 20, 2008, in Alexandria, La., as he discussed the economy and frozen credit markets.

VACATIONS OVER! Back to the Grind!

Hope everyone enjoyed the holidays! I know I did! But now that the first Monday of the New Year is coming up, we have a lot to look forward to in the world of politics! Here's whats happening...

>Mr. Obama Goes to Washington: The Pres. Elect and his family are fresh off of vacation and ready to work. The kids start school Monday and the President-elect has a series of meetings planed with leaders of the House and Senate on both sides of the isle. The meetings will focus on the Economy and how to stimulate it, but I'm sure Obama will have to also fit in some time to meet with his National Security team regarding the situation in the Middle East.

>Mr. Burris ALSO Goes to Washington: Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich's pick to fill Obama's senate seat, Roland Burris, is also heading to Washington to be sworn in, pick out a staff, and do all the stuff incoimg Senators do...despite the fact that he might be arrested by Capitol Hill police and the fact that Senate Dems vow not to seat him AND the fact that the Ill. Secertary of State vows not to certify him. Burris will, however, be able to meet with Sen. Harry Reid to discuss his status. Which in my opinion is a good sign. I'm thinking that on this one the Dems are all talk and no walk and will end up seating Burris in order to keep the seat blue. Because in a special election, that might be harder to do...

>Mr. Richardson is NOT Going to Washington: Gov. Bill Richardson withdrew his nomination for Secretary of Commerce this morning. Richardson is appreently going to be investigated by a grand jury regarding a possible "pay-to-play" scheme (what is up with these Governors lately?!?). More details as they come...

>Mr. Franken MIGHT Go to Washington: MSNBC and CNN are both reporting that Al Franken is very likely to win the recount on Monday once the canvessing board finsihes the recount and sends the results to the Secertary of State for certification. Franken is now ahead of Sen. Norm Coleman by a little over 200 votes. Coleman's lawyers are also saying that he is very likely to contest the results in court.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Time Out - Reviewing the Bush Shoe Throw

Seriously, lets think about this again for a second. Where was the Secret Service? And how did they allow somebody to take off their shoe, throw it, then take off ANOTHER shoe, and throw it again? At the very least they should have been throwing themselves in front of Bush or tackling the shoe guy, but no. They were behind some door and didn't even come out until after BOTH shoes had come off! Look, all I'm saying is that we got the first black president coming in soon and we live in a country where about 46 or 47% of people didn't want him elected, I bet that 20% of that was because of racism or some kind of bigotry, and 5% of them are probably down right crazy enough to do something more damaging than than throwing a shoe at Obama if you get what I'm saying. Now more than ever the Secret Service needs to be on its game, shoe, no shoe, or something far worse.

And if you missed it...


BREAKING: Obama office had no 'inappropriate contact' w/ Ill. Gov.

This news just confirms what I suspected and what US Attorney Fitzgerald has said all along. More updates as I get them...

>UPDATE: Here's the full story below (From AP/MSNBC)

Obama review: No inappropriate discussions
Full details of internal review not to be released until at least December 22

The Associated Press
updated 12:16 p.m. PT, Mon., Dec. 15, 2008

WASHINGTON - An internal review shows aides to President-elect Barack Obama had no "inappropriate discussions" with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich or his staff concerning the search for a Senate replacement from Illinois, a spokesman for the presidential transition office said Monday.

But spokesman Dan Pfeiffer also said the office won't release details of its review until the week of Dec. 22 at the request of prosecutors "in order not to impede their investigation of the governor."

That's Christmas week, when few people will be paying attention and when Obama plans to be celebrating the holiday in Hawaii.

The brief statement left several issues uncovered. It did not say whether Obama's incoming White House chief of staff, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, was heard on a wiretap providing the governor's top aide with a list of names that the president-elect favored.

Nor did it say who if anyone on Obama transition's team had made contact with the governor or his aides concerning a replacement for Obama.

In the statement, Pfeiffer said that incoming White House counsel Gregory Craig has kept federal prosecutors informed of the internal review "in order to ensure our full cooperation with the investigation" into allegations against the governor.

Pfeiffer said the review "affirmed the public statements of the president-elect that he had no contact with the governor or his staff, and that the president-elect's staff was not involved in inappropriate discussions with the governor or his staff over the selection of his successor as U.S. Senator.

Obama resigned his Senate seat last month to prepare for taking the oath of office as president. Blagojevich, who has the power to appoint a replacement, was arrested last week on charges he schemed to sell the seat in exchange for money or political favors for himself or his wife.


Presidential Race Officially Ends Today

Here's a fun little tidbit. Today the electoral college is going to meet up and cast their votes for president, which would officially (barring anything extremely unprecedented and outrageous) make Barack Obama the President-elect of the United States. Now although Obama should win this, don't be surprised if he doesn't get the 365 that all the news agencies are projecting he will get. It is common to have one or two "unfaithful electors" who either spell the name wrong or acidentally vote for the worng guy in the final offical count. But if everything goes prefectlly, Obama will be declared the winner with 365 electoral votes to McCain's 173 electoral votes. Yay!

Sen. Caroline Kennedy (D-NY)?

The New York Times went with an article this morning on the decision of Caroline Kennedy to seek the US senate that will soon be vacated by Secretary of State-designate Hillary Clinton.

[From The New York Times]
The decision came after a series of deeply personal and political conversations, in which Ms. Kennedy, who friends describe as unflashy but determined, wrestled with whether to give up what has been a lifetime of avoiding the spotlight. Ms. Kennedy will ask that Gov. David A. Patterson consider her for the appointment. The governor was traveling to Utica today could not immediately be reached for comment. If appointed, Ms. Kennedy would fill the seat once held by her uncle, the late Robert F. Kennedy.


Reactions about having another Kennedy, especially this Kennedy, are mixed. There are many concerns about her ability to be re-elected, her experience, and the fact that it seems as if she is inheriting the seat just because of her name. Clinton loyalists also don't want her to have the seat because of the fact she supported Barack Obama And finally, many residents of New York, upstate New York to be specific, want somebody in the senate that represents them and not just the city. But that is not to say that she doesn't have any supporters. Mayor Bloomberg for instance has praised her abilites, while many democrats love the idea of keeping a Kennedy around seeing that Ted Kennedy's era is approching its ending.

As I'm not from, nor that familier to the issue, all I will say is that after seeing Caroline Kennedy support Obama the way she did in both the primaries and in the vetting process for a VP, I would not be against her being in the US Senate. However, it is the governors choice, and it will hopefully reflect the will of the people in New York. Not some college student from California.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Talking Points for 12/15

Besides Bush nearly getting hit by a shoe (I'm still giggling about it), there was more news made today. Here's your talking points for Monday that will sure to strike up some interesting conversation:

>Rovian Politics: Karl Rove is rumored to be the leader in the holding of up Eric Holder's confirmation for Attorney General. Holder has a troubled past because under Clinton he allowed the pardoning of Marc Rich after Rich evaded taxes and made oil deals with Iran during the hostage crisis. My take is that although this issue should be examined by the senate, it should not stop him from getting the job. Holder's record after is fairly clean, and after Alberto Gonzales, can Rove really try to say Eric Holder's appointment would be that bad?

>Powell: We should re-evaluate don't ask, don't tell: Fmr. Secertary of State Colin Powell sat down with CNN's Fareed Zakaria and suggested that the US should re-think the military's treatment of Homosexuals. My take on this one is that we, the US, are mighty stupid not to allow Homosexuals who want to serve, to serve. I look at it this way, I'm not going to any warzone, so if a gay person wants to go you need to take him cause you sure as hell won't get me! Either that or (stupidly) fight the war with too few troops. Seems like a clear choice to me.

>Hey, aren't we still short a few Senators?: Yep, it seems like the whole Blogojevich scandle kept our eyes off the on-going recount in Minnesota. Last I heard is that Franken, who actually has a shot at winning, is going to withdraw many of his ballot challenges, leaving him with about 500 in total. As far as when this recount will end, it looks like it will go on for at least 2 more weeks. There is more on that matter here and here. And in Illinois we are also still short a senator because of the crazy little idea thier Governor had. On that front, rumors are still swirling about Blago resigning tommorow, but it appears less likely. My take on all of this is a simple yet long sigh.

>Sorry! All out of Midnight Oil!: And finally, some lighter news right out of California. The South El Monte city council has passed legislation that bars the city mayor from staying in City Hall past 11pm. The mayor is not pleased with the legislation, she calls it "petty" and justifies her staying late because her days are full of meetings and responding to e-mails. Personally, I'm with the mayor on this one. If she likes working hard into the night, they shouldn't stop her. I just remind the mayor to keep in mind that "All work and no play makes Jill a dull girl." She should work to her hearts content Monday-Thursday, Duck out early on Friday, and Have the weekends off.