<p>“saying what he did would be taken as a direct attack on Obama or Carter. Neither one of those situations is an honorable place for our president to be in.”</p>
<p>I disagree. I think a lot of what he said was completely valid. I believe that people of goodwill can view the same occurrence differently.</p>
<p>Damn, that was good special comment by Olberman.</p>
<p>PLEASE someone make Bush watch it.</p>
<p>btw, my mother’s day present, a t-shirt that says “I hated Bush before you did” priceless!</p>
<p>zooosermom and razor, give me ONE fact you’ve presented…that the Dixie Chicks speaking is the same as President Bush speaking (which is only an insult to the intelligence of the Dixie Chicks). </p>
<p>While we’re at it, give me the excuse or explaination for the latest Republican imbecile, Mike Huckabee who today at the NRA commented, after hearing a noise back stage, that it was Obama “hitting the floor, there was a gun pointed at him”. </p>
<p>I guess he really didn’t mean Senator Obama, he meant lets go bomba Iran. Oh sorry again, that was John McCain singing, “Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran”. Yet another responsible spokesperson for your party.</p>
<p>Just more irresponsible, mindless slim from the GOP.</p>
<p>BTW, here is idiot Huckabee’s exact quote:</p>
<p>“That was Barack Obama,” Huckabee quipped, “He Just tripped off a chair. He was getting ready to speak. Somebody aimed a gun at him and he…he dove for the floor.”</p>
<p>You might also want to note that White House aides today confirmed the “fact” that Bush’s reference was intended against Obama; and, if you’d like another fact, there are plenty of sources on the internet that your boy McBush, sorry McCain, stated and it is on tape that he would speak with Hamas (again that was before he recently drank the kool-aid).</p>
<p>"zooosermom and razor, give me ONE fact you’ve presented…that the Dixie Chicks speaking is the same as President Bush speaking (which is only an insult to the intelligence of the Dixie Chicks). "</p>
<p>I never said or alluded to any such thing. I was referring to Jimmy Carter and Nancy Pelosi. The white House indicated that the comments referred to Jimmy Carter. Note post 39. The McCain categorically denies what allegation of Jamie Rubin and it looks like McCain is telling the truth. Before you start insulting people, perhaps you should get your own facts straight.</p>
<p>Try reading your own posts, start with number #33. And as far as the insults, again, read your own words.</p>
<p>I’ll be happy to quote you though (or perhaps it was simply your own tacit self acknowledgment) “How unrelentingly boring you are.”</p>
<p>You are also 100% wrong as the White House now has admitted the remarks were directed to Obama (and that you would think for one moment they are talking about Jimmy Carter, come on); and, McCain can deny all he wants, his comments are on video tape.</p>
<p>Besides getting 'em straight, try getting a fact.</p>
<p>I do find you unrelentingly boring. I’m entitled to my opinion. Blow your mind that not everyone in the world is excited by you? Why wouldn’t they be referring to Carter? Oh, right, because you say so. Yeah, you haven’t gotten any facts right here, even with regard to posts on this thread. Not credible OR exciting.</p>
<p>CNN is on the case because Jamie Rubin has so far been unable to come up with the rest of the transcript that says what he claims it does. So we’ll see, but in both cases, you can’t prove about whom Bush was speaking, and there is a significant factual dispute with regard to Rubin. you have NO facts. Your opinion is no better than anyone else’s. Just because you bluster doesn’t make you correct.</p>
<p>I can’t believe people think this was aimed at Obama. Anybody who follows current events realizes it was aimed at Carter. Bush talking about meeting w/ terrorist organizations…lets see, did one of Obama or Carter just attempt to meet with Hamas?</p>
<p>Lax, they need to make it a campaign issue, that’s what this is about.</p>
<p>I don’t fault them for making it an issue…there’s no doubt in my mind that the republicans would do the same thing, but for people to honestly think this is about Obama…I don’t get. Hell I don’t think Obama thinks it was about him.</p>
<p>Obama doesn’t think it’s about him, it’s totally cynical. But, hey, more power to him. That doesn’t mean we have to pretend here that it’s true, though.</p>
<p>“Alexander, what do you think of the current events in Lebanon?”</p>
<p>The Lebanese are used to this situation. My dad called me from Beirut just yesterday to inform me that the airport had just reopened and to ask me if I was planning on going to Lebanon during my summer holiday. He was disapointed when I told him that my wife and I were going to Paris/Normandy for 2 weeks and had no plans on going to Beiruty until Christmas/New Year. I was in Lebanon last Christmas, so I am looking forward to a slight change in scenery. Paris always does it for me! hehe! </p>
<p>At any rate, people in Lebanon go on with their lives regardless of the situation. I guess 15 years of civil war (1975-1990) has hardened the population. Even during the Israel/Lebanon skirmish back in the summer of 2006, the Lebanese were still filling restaurants, cafes, shopping centers and nigh clubs. </p>
<p>As far as the political situation in Lebanon, I am afraid Lebanese politicans care nothing for Lebanon or its people. They care only about filling their pockets. And when they are done, it is their children who will replace them. </p>
<p>Hezbollah and the current government deserve each other. So far, the Lebanese population has been unharmed and I hope it stays this way. There isn’t a single politician in Lebanon who is trustworthy. If you ask me, Lebanon must start from scratch. Our constitution does not work.</p>
<p>
Have a heart, bullwinkle! Why kick a guy when he’s already down? It’s bad enough when Peggy Noonan does it:</p>
<p>“[Republican] Hill leaders, lobbyists, party speakers… are ambivalent, deep inside, about the decisions made the past seven years in the White House. But they’ve publicly supported it so long they think they . . . support it. They get confused.” </p>
<p>“That’s why Republicans are losing: because they’re losers.”</p>
<p>“The party, [Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia] told me, is ‘an airplane flying right into a mountain.’ Analyses of its predicament reflect an ‘investment in the Bush presidency…’ Mr. Bush has left the party at a disadvantage in terms of communications: ‘He can’t articulate. The only asset we have now is the big microphone, and he swallowed it.’” </p>
<p>“What happens to the Republicans in 2008 will likely be dictated by what didn’t happen in 2005, and '06, and '07. The moment when the party could have broken, on principle, with the administration over the thinking behind and the carrying out of the war, over immigration, spending and the size of government has passed. What two years ago would have been honorable and wise will now look craven.”</p>
<p>“Mr. Bush has squandered the hard-built paternity of 40 years. But so has the party, and so have its leaders.” </p>
<p>[Declarations</a> - WSJ.com](<a href=“http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html]Declarations”>http://online.wsj.com/article/declarations.html)</p>
<p>
Can’t reasonable people agree to disagree about how to show respect for our vets, bullwinkle? So Pres. Bush thinks foregoing golf = respect for vets. I don’t happen to agree; but, hey, that’s just me. I think, for starters, passing the New G.I. Bill would show respect for our vets. The President disagrees. </p>
<p>“Bush… renewed his veto threat against any bill that comes to his desk equipped with any add-on legislation that would require additional appropriations… [Bush and Blue Dog Democrats] argue that the war funding bill is an emergency appropriation, but the veterans education funding is a new mandatory benefit program that’s supposed to be subject to the budget rule.”</p>
<p>[Iowa</a> Independent:: Nussle Sets Back New GI Bill with Threat of Bush Veto](<a href=“http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2310]Iowa”>http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2310)</p>
<hr>
<p>~~Aside: A word about budgetary emergency appropriations. </p>
<p>“Finally, we should point out that the procedure used by the administration to fund the Iraq war was chosen deliberately in order to deflect close attention. The administration has requested nearly all the money for the war in the form of emergency funding, which is not subject to standard budget caps or vigorous scrutiny. Emergency funding is intended for genuine crises, such as Hurricane Katrina, where the utmost speed is required to get the money to the field. The continued use of this emergency procedurefive years after the war beganis budgetary sleight of hand that makes a mockery of a democratic budget process.”
[The</a> $3 Trillion War: Politics & Power: vanityfair.com](<a href=“http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/stiglitz200804]The”>The $3 Trillion War | Vanity Fair)</p>
<hr>
<p>So this is Pres. Bush’s position:
Funding for Blackwater mercenaries in Iraq = fiscal restraint. Giving up golf = respect for vets. New G.I. Bill =/= fiscal restraint or respect for vets.</p>
<p>The reasonable people in the House disagree with him, too.
[Iowa</a> Independent:: New GI Bill Clears House; Battle Moves to Senate](<a href=“http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2341]Iowa”>http://www.iowaindependent.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2341)</p>
<p>Some one in the RNC/GOP wishes to see their party get fast death… Keep putting Bush in the News.</p>
<p>He’s a blithely arrogant idiot who refuses to understand or acknowledge historical fact in favor of preposterous, absolutist soundbites. </p>
<p>No wonder the GOP loves (loved) 'im :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Thanks for the update Alexander. It is always interesting to hear what is going in Lebanon. I must say it is amazing that anyone carryon anything close to a regular life during a civil war. </p>
<p>I went to a Lebanese food festival yesterday. Great food! The only civil war that broke out was over the desserts. Fortunately, even the losers were winners.</p>
<p>“I went to a Lebanese food festival yesterday. Great food! The only civil war that broke out was over the desserts. Fortunately, even the losers were winners.”</p>
<p>Hehe! Lebanon is a pretty special place. The Lebanese definitely know how to squeeze every ounce out of life! And our cuisine is pretty awesome, particularly when it is homemade. Americans are affraid to visit Lebanon, but they shouldn’t be. It is safe, as long as you don’t hang around outspoken (against Syria) politicians! LOL!</p>
<p>I like the turn this thread has taken. An old boyfriend of mine was Lebanese/Scottish - now that was an interesting mix. Anyway, his mother - the Lebanese one - made the most delicious food. She used to travel with her meat grinder so she could grind the spices in with the meat. I guess she’d have trouble getting through securitiy now with a meat grinder in her suitcase.</p>
<p>You’d be surprised Cartera. I work with a Scott who is married to a Leb! hehe!</p>