Democracy Has Prevailed.

May 15, 2008

Should we call this "Golf-gate"?

Remember this?

More lying from dubya. Check this out from the Washington Post. First the set-up that everyone knows by now:

The nation is in despair over the war in Iraq and the toll it is taking on our troops and their families. But President Bush shows no outward sign of inner pain.

He is chipper in his public pronouncements. His weekly bike rides and daily workouts have put a perpetual spring in his step. He's always ready with a wisecrack. He just hosted his daughter's wedding at his multi-million dollar estate in Texas. He takes more vacations than any president in history. He has made clear that he doesn't lie awake at nights.

And yet now it turns out that Bush has indeed made a personal sacrifice on account of the war. According to the president yesterday, his decision to stop playing golf five years ago wasn't just an exercise in image control or a function of his bum knee -- it was an act of solidarity with the families of the dead and wounded.

He gave up golf out of solidarity to the troops and their families (and I am sure they are all very grateful).

Only he didn't:

Not only is it a hollow, trivial sacrifice at best, Bush's story doesn't hold water. While he dates his decision to abjure golf to Aug. 19, 2003 -- the day a truck bomb in Baghdad killed U.N. special representative Sergio Vieira de Mello and more than a dozen others -- the Associated Press reported on Oct. 13, 2003, that he'd spent a "cool, breezy Columbus Day" playing "a round of golf with three long-time buddies.

"Bush played at Andrews Air Force Base with Clay Johnson, Office of Management and Budget deputy director, Richard Hauser, Department of Housing and Urban Development general counsel and another friend, Mike Wood."

On that outing, he was typically full of what passes for good humor at the White House. The AP reported: "'Fine looking crew you got there. Fine looking crew,' Bush joked to reporters. 'That's what we'd hope for presidential coverage. Only the best.'

"He hit a couple of practice balls before flaring his tee-off shot into the right rough."

By the way, he still rides his mountain bike and works out every day. I guess that doesn't send the wrong message.

By way of the Washington Post article you can find this at worldgolf.com:

Bush has spent more time on vacation than any other president - 453 days to be exact. He’s never attended a slain soldier’s funeral. He’s spent time fishing and endlessly clearing brush on his ranch, and attending his daughter’s lavish wedding, among other things. But golf? Well, that would just send the wrong signal to the thousands killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.

War supporters take note - put away your golf clubs. It’s just disrespectful.

But of course dubya carries the biggest burden for the war. The VP sed so:
Well, it obviously brings home, I think for a lot of people, the cost that's involved in the global war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. It places a special burden, obviously, on the families. We recognize, I think -- it's a reminder of the extent to which we're blessed with families who have sacrificed as they have. The President carries the biggest burden, obviously; he's the one who has to make the decision to commit young Americans. But we are fortunate to have the group of men and women, the all-volunteer force, who voluntarily put on the uniform and go in harm's way for the rest of us. You wish nobody ever lost their life, but unfortunately it's one of those things that go with living in the world we live in. Sometimes you have to commit military force, and when you do, there are casualties.
Yea, making the decision that ended up sending 4,000 to their deaths is so much worse than being among the families of those 4,000. Maybe they should think about taking up golf.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

John K. says: Speaking of lying, has anyone identified the other 7 States yet? Obama said he visited all 57 States. I wonder which ones he has visited that I haven't?

cathcatz said...

ever notice how when die-hard dumbya supporters are presented with actual evidence of his lies, that they still can't see them? and this isn't even a major lie, not like the ones he told to the american people about why he was sending our kids to war. its just a little lie to make him seem sympathetic, instead of simply pathetic.

didn't work.

Anonymous said...

This "Obama 57 states" thing has been making the rounds of Wingnuttia for a bit.

But if you go to youtube and actually listen to the cut, you can actually hear the audience GIGGLING AT THE JOKE.

It was a joke.

The wingnuts are so desparate that they can't see that.

not shitrock

Anonymous said...

Retired Millhunk-
Bush more than likely isn't lying. What makes you think he knows October comes after August. There's 12 months he only has ten fingers, that puts him in a bind right there.

Anonymous said...

I would just like to point out that John K. has reached such a level of stupidity that I will no longer be able to intellectually acknowledge his existence.

There's just so much "dumb" a person can take and John has crossed that threshhold. At this point, I will simply say that it's admirable that a pre-evolutionary hominid is capable of even attempting to participate in a vocalized debate.

I mean, how is that even lying?

I have a theory as to why rightwingers are playing this up and it's not to paint Obama as a liar - it's a dog whistle to the racist fucks who infest our society. What they're actually saying is that Obama is just a dumb ******.

Of course, there have been about 60 primaries or contests held this year, including states and territories. And when he made that statement, I believe he said there were 57 plus 2 more. Your typical candidate gets about 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night, so its clearly a misstatement, not lie.

If it's a lie, it's the dumbest lie ever. Why would you lie about that? How stupid do you have to be to even interpret that as a lie?

As for George W. Bush's sacrifice for our troops, the man has reached a level of political irrelevancy that most of what he does these days merits no response what so ever. After his despicable behavior in the Knesset, he can, and I'm paraphrasing Dick Cheney here, "Go fuck himself."

Sixteen years ago, Republicans concocted a story about Bill Clinton going over seas speaking out against his country. Of course, Bill Clinton was a student at the time, not the sitting President of the United States. But it's apparently perfectly fine for our halfwit boy-child president(ty HST for that one, see "Jesus Loves Bald Pussy") to take a dig at Obama in the chamber of a foreign goverment.

After 8 years, all George W. Bush has proven is that he is a petulant child. If he wants to say that to Obama, do it in our own country and say it to his face.

Hell, even Reagan talked to the Iranians.

Anonymous said...

Look, damnit, he was golfing a 71 before he quit. 71!!! That's like, pro level, man. Do you know how hard you have to work to get to that level? Huh? Do ya?! That man has suffered enough for his country without you pinko ingrates piling on like this, o.k.?

- Shawn

Anonymous said...

shawn,
I wish we had ratings here because that comment was too much!

Anonymous said...

Thank, you are too kind. I guess all of that right-wing blather the spewed about the blogosphere rubbed off on me.

Too bad I know what "appeasement" means or I could passed myself off as just another troll. ;)

- Shawn