posted on August 30, 2004 04:46:52 PM new
QUOTE
Bush Suggests Terror War Cannot Be Won
3 minutes ago
By SCOTT LINDLAW, Associated Press Writer
NASHUA, N.H. - President Bush (news - web sites) ignited a Democratic inferno of criticism on Monday by suggesting the war on terrorism could not be won, forcing his aides to scramble to defend his remarks just as he had hoped to bask in convention accolades.
Bush sought to emphasize the economy ? New Hampshire's appears to be on a rebound ? but his comments on terrorism dominated national attention.
In an interview on NBC-TV's "Today" show, Bush vowed to stay the course in the war on terror, saying perseverance in the battle would make the world safer for future generations. But he suggested an all-out victory against terrorism might not be possible.
Asked "Can we win?" Bush said, "I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that the ? those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world."
Democrats, looking for ways to deflect the spotlight from Republicans as they opened their convention in York, pounced.
"After months of listening to the Republicans base their campaign on their singular ability to win the war on terror, the president now says we can't win the war on terrorism," said Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards (news - web sites). "This is no time to declare defeat."
"I decided a year ago that he cannot win the war on terror," said retired Gen. Merrill McPeak, former Air Force chief of staff, at a news conference in New York organized by Democrats.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan sought to clarify the president's remarks, telling reporters, "He was talking about winning it in the conventional sense ... about how this is a different kind of war and we face an unconventional enemy."
"To suggest that the war on terror can't be won is absolutely unacceptable," said Sen. Joseph Biden (news, bio, voting record), D-Del., the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"First George W. Bush said he miscalculated the war in Iraq (news - web sites), then he called it a catastrophic success and blamed the military," said Kerry spokeswoman Allison Dobson. "Now he says we can't win the war on terror. Is that what Karl Rove means when he calls for steady leadership?"
Meanwhile Rove, Bush's chief political strategist, acknowledged that the continuing conflict in Iraq could be a political liability in key swing states such as Pennsylvania, Florida and Arizona.
"We're in a war, so you got a lot of people who say, `I don't like the fact that we're in a war. But I want to win the war,'" Rove said in an interview in New York with Pennsylvania reporters.
The coordinated Democratic attack came as Republicans sought to portray Bush as a strong leader in the war on terrorism in the opening session of the Republican National Convention.
Bush suggested in an interview with Time magazine that he still would have gone into Iraq but with different tactics if he had known "that an enemy that should have surrendered or been done in escaped and lived to fight another day."
He called the swift military offensive that led to the fall of Baghdad in April 2003 "a catastrophic success" in light of the fact that fighting continues to this day despite the overthrow of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s government.
Speaking in Nashua, Bush praised a 3.9 percent unemployment rate that is considerably below the national average of 5.5 percent, below other states in the region and below New Hampshire's July 2003 rate of 4.3 percent. "It's dropping every second," Bush said with a smile as he took credit for the state's gains.
Bush was on a three-day, six-state campaign dash that will bring him to New York late Wednesday. From New Hampshire, he headed to Michigan.
The president rehearsed his Thursday night acceptance speech Monday morning before leaving the White House.
"They're kicking off the convention with positive speeches. It's going to be a positive experience for the people of this country to see what we believe," Bush said.
THIS JUST APPEARS TO BE ANOTHER CASE OF THE SELF-DESCRIBED "MASTER OF LOW EXPECTATIONS" ATTEMPTING TO LOWER THE BAR AGAIN... SO HE CAN JUMP OVER IT. GEE... JUST IN CASE THERE IS A TERRORIST ATTACK... THEY WON'T BLAME ME
posted on August 30, 2004 08:43:54 PM new
Borrowed from another poster.. enjoy
Shame he didn't come to this realization til today. Quotes are all Bush:
LA Times, 4/27/2004. “Cheney's address Monday kicked off what the Bush campaign was calling its "Winning the War on Terror Tour."”
[The Hotline, April 28, 2004] “From a Bush-Cheney campaign e-mail: "You are invited to an online chat with" ex-NYPD commish/ex-Iraq Interim Interior Minister Bernard Kerik on 4/29. "Kerik is hosting this chat as part of the Bush-Cheney '04 Winning the War on Terror Tour…"
In one of many similar releases, the campaign said, “Bush-Cheney '04 today launched the Winning the War on Terror Tour…Today's kick-off events in Michigan, New Hampshire and Ohio will coincide with the release of a new ad, "Weapons," that will air in various markets and on national cable stations.
Jul 30 2004
We have a clear vision on how to win the war on terror and bring peace to the world.
Aug 30 2004
"I don't plan on losing my job," Bush said during his first prime time news conference of the year. "I plan on telling the American people that I've got a plan to win the war on terror. And I believe they'll stay with me. They understand the stakes."
Sep 2002
Meanwhile, with military jets flying overhead, Bush on Wednesday vowed to win the war on terrorism as he and other US leaders paid tribute to victims of the September 11 attack on the Pentagon. “Today we remember each life, we rededicate this proud symbol, and we renew our commitment to win the war that began here,” Bush said in remarks to 13,500 people gathered in front of the Pentagon section destroyed by the attack, which was officially reopened Wednesday.
Jan 2002
Our war on terror is well begun, but it is only begun. This campaign may not be finished on our watch -- yet it must be and it will be waged on our watch.
We can't stop short. If we stop now -- leaving terror camps intact and terror states unchecked -- our sense of security would be false and temporary. History has called America and our allies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our privilege to fight freedom's fight. (Applause.)
Our first priority must always be the security of our nation, and that will be reflected in the budget I send to Congress. My budget supports three great goals for America: We will win this war; we'll protect our homeland; and we will revive our economy.
Apr 2003
"I want to thank our friends in Pakistan, I want to thank the agency ... the CIA, for working hard to continue to win the war against terror," said Mr Bush, who declared war on terrorism after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
"And make no mistake about it ... we will win the war against terror."
Jun 2003
“One of the biggest challenges before the USA is to make sure that we continue to fight and win the war on terror,” the President of the USA, Mr George W. Bush, said today.
William Niskanen article
In a speech in Cincinnati on October 7 2002, President George W. Bush asserted that "confronting the threat posed by Iraq is crucial to winning the war on terror". From the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 1 2003, Mr Bush argued that "the liberation of Iraq is a crucial advance in the campaign against terror". Most recently, in a mid-July joint press conference with Tony Blair, Mr Bush concluded that "the removal of Saddam Hussein is an integral part of winning the war against terror".
I limited myself to direct quotes, not someone paraphrasing what he said.
There's probably more, but looking for Bushisms makes me queasy.
Iowans bristle at Bush putting them in 'hinterlands'
DES MOINES (AP) — Iowans were quick to bristle at Tuesday's misspeak by President Bush on Rush Limbaugh's radio show, placing their state "in the hinterlands."
Talking about the big crowds he's drawn in Iowa, Bush said: "I believe something is going on here in the hinterlands, in the heartland, that is going to mean a victory come November ..."
Iowans from both parties seemed peeved by the characterization.
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Gordon Fischer said it was insulting.
"We deserve a president who doesn't treat Iowa like somewhere you point at and make fun of while on the way to somewhere else you'd rather be," Fischer said in a statement.
Iowa's senior Republican, Sen. Charles Grassley, heard about the comment while attending the GOP convention in New York.
"We're blessed in Iowa to be in the hinterlands, and I'm especially sure of that after three days in the congestion of New York City," he said.
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
posted on August 31, 2004 08:23:11 PM new
Websters defination of hinterland......
Main Entry: hin·ter·land
Pronunciation: 'hin-t&r-"land, -l&nd
Function: noun
Etymology: German, from hinter hinder + Land
1 : a region lying inland from a coast
2 a : a region remote from urban areas b : a region lying beyond major metropolitan or cultural centers
I don't see anything bad about saying that about Iowa. In fact it probably is a nice peaceful place to live.
posted on August 31, 2004 08:53:00 PM new
The dems have referred to states like that as 'fly over states' - meaning they weren't as important as the coastal states are when it come to elections.
Plus they've felt the same way about the importance of the 'south' and what they could do for them there. Pretty much have avoided even trying there.
posted on August 31, 2004 10:49:10 PM new
Libra, that is indeed the original meaning of the word. However, in this century it has taken on a rather different meaning, which you can see by looking at the synonyms for the word: backcountry, backland, backwash, backwater, backwoods, boondocks, bush, sticks, up-country.
____________________
"Bad temper is its own scourge. Few things are more bitter than to feel bitter. A man's venom poisons himself more than his victim." --Charles Buxton
