Orrin Hatch critical of George W Bush's lack of experience....

[kentuck]

Is Orrin psychic? E.J Dionne reminds us of what Orrin had to say about Bush Jr back in 1999. And a fabulous quote from John McCain. :)
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<snip>
When you hear Republicans disparage Sen. John Edwards's lack of experience, remember the words of Sen. Orrin Hatch, spoken to George W. Bush at a debate on Dec. 6, 1999.

"You've been a great governor," Hatch declared of his rival for the Republican presidential nomination. "My only problem with you, governor, is that you've only had four and going into your fifth year of governorship. . . . Frankly, I really believe that you need more experience before you become president of the United States. That's why I'm thinking of you as a vice presidential candidate."

<snip>
Republicans grumbled that Edwards was Kerry's "second choice" after Republican John McCain. Can't blame the GOP for trying. But it's hard to think voters will hold it against Kerry that he tried to reach out to Republicans during a period of rancid partisanship.

Oh, yes, and one more point on that experience thing: "When it comes time to make the decision to send our young men and women into harm's way, that decision should be made by a leader who knows that such decisions have profound consequences. There comes a time when our nation's leader can no longer rely on briefing books and talking points." That was McCain in 1999. He was talking about the man who became our current president. You wonder which side will be most eager to cite that quotation.

...more

[cthrumatrix]

1. we saw this all day in the media (about bush's lack of experience) NOT

the typical double standard...there will be no truth from now on...forget about it...just votes these assholes out

[aden_nak]

10. Huh?

"from now on"? We've had truth so far? Shit! Where was it?

[kentuck]

2. Experience should be more important at the top of the ticket...but

it didn't seem to matter to the Repubs in 2000. They knew George W couldn't pick out some places on a map, but they didn't care. Now, they want to make a big deal out of inexperience of the VP candidate. Duh?

[ejcastellanos]

3. Experience didn't matter with W

Just like family values didn't matter to Schwarzenegger.

[peacetalksforall]

4. Please - does someone hear know - did Kerry make the offer to McCain?

What is the truth here?

[kentuck]

5. No. He didn't offer it to anyone until Edwards was chosen...

Of course, there was talk of McCain on the ticket, mostly to divide those two "wings" of the Republican Party. It was a very effective political ploy which Bush and Rove are trying to correct with their latest TV ads.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. Yes and no

The truth is that no one officially offers unless the answer is definitely going to be 'yes', for the very reason you're hearing this as an issue today. So no, technically, Kerry didn't offer. However, it seems like it was made clear that if McCain would've said 'yes', that it would have been offered.

Personally, I don't see what the fucking difference is. Who cares if Edwards was the 50th choice? He's a good choice and he's THE choice. Isn't THAT what really matters?

[peacetalksforall]

7. The difference to me is that I want to follow the lie if it is a lie and

observe how many days or months they will run the lie - it's also important that the world knows what the truth is to counter the lie.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

9. I didn't mean it like that...

I wasn't trying to attack you personally by asking what difference it makes. Personally, I'm just pissed that the Rethugs are making an issue of it, because it's really quite pointless in my mind.

[SammyBlue]

8. Air America

Air America said that this morning as well. Hell, Bush decided on his own to run for President. In fact, he was considered a 2000 candidate back in 1996 when the media orgasmed over him and would ask if what he thought of Clinton's actions.

[peacetalksforall]

12. I don't believe for one minute that Bush acted on his own....the myriad

and many right wing think tanks studied this - and as was said by some caller on WJ this morning - the right wing really knows their base - white trash. They had the fundamentalist, fetus and gun lovers, furriner haters, border obsessed all in mind when they groomed the cheerleading backslapper language and life destroyer to run, after, of course, they detroyed his records and got the world to think that taking drugs and drink nearly into your 50's was OK.

[Radical Activist]

11. Edwards has more foreign policy experience than Bush had

when Bush was elected. I keep bringing that up. Bush and Edwards were both in office for six years, but Edwards has the advantage of the foreign policy role that comes with a Senate seat and a spot on the foreign relations committee. It makes Edwards look better and makes people rethink how dumb it was to put Bush into office in the first place.

[kentuck]

14. And Bush was at the top of the ticket...

Edwards is only the VP...

[MissMillie]

13. Yes, Jay Severin was saying the same about Edwards yesterday

and one of his "best and brightest" :puke: reminded him that Edwards has exactly 4 more years of national service experience than Bush* did when Bush was elected to office.

And I think if I hear one more time about how Edwards makes Kerry more electable because women will vote for the ticket because Edwards is good-looking, I may hit someone.