Craig Crawford Skewers Bush the Bubble Boy!

[johnfunk]

This is just too good not to read in its entirety:

Imagine a “conversation” where one person does all the talking, except for a few laudatory comments from well-wishers, while those who speak up in disagreement are forcibly removed from sight before anyone can hear what they say.

That is what the White House is calling “A Conversation on Strengthening Social Security” — when the president appears in middle America, as he did here on March 10, to promote his ideas for changing the nation’s 70-year-old retirement system.

It is more like a conversation with himself. These orchestrated events, before crowds of mostly handpicked supporters, serve the purpose of helping George W. Bush get his message out directly. But I suspect there’s another reason for keeping the naysayers at bay.

That could be why the president is so good at sticking to his guns on issues ranging from Iraq to Social Security: He is protected from opposing views. It is much easier to be inflexible when a vast staff of White House handlers and security forces prevent any chance that he will hear alternative ideas.

And yes! There's more!

“How about private accounts outside Social Security,” Bailey shouted as Bush began detailing his plans.

We only know what the Louisville man said, or what he was trying to say, because afterwards Bailey explained it to reporters. When Bailey spoke up during the president’s talk, Bush and his audience of supporters made sure that few in the room could hear what he said.

Bush talked over Bailey in a quickly improvised reference to Kentucky’s strong economy. The gratuitous mention of their home state prompted a vocal reaction from the audience, eager to help the president muzzle dissent. During the ensuing standing ovation, police quickly hauled Bailey out of the theater.

Did Bailey get his point across? After all, his suggestion of setting up private accounts that do not divert Social Security contributions is one of the ideas floating around on Capitol Hill.

“He wasn’t listening,” Bailey said. “He’s good at that.”

I often feel Crawford goes way too easy on the GOP in general and Chimperor Gaius Goofus Georgius Bush LXIII in particular -- but this time, Crawford lays the smackdown on Monkey Boy with aplomb and force!

[slor]

1. He tends to go easy...

but prior to the election, he said Kerry would win, and he seemed to want it that way.

[AlCzervik]

4. Crawford's Dad is a democrat that volunteered for the Kerry campaign

i saw him on cspan before the election, i think it was Washington journal and he was talking about his dad.

[displacedtexan]

2. George W. is so stupid that...

No One Takes Him Seriously at these little photo ops.

If they did, they would realize from the transcripts that he has insulted Blacks, Jews, and Mexicans, as well as say that investing in US bonds is a bad thing.

And that was just during his stops on Thursday & Friday!

I pasted the excerpts from the WH transcripts on my blog (under the burning bush).

[Racenut20]

3. that is not the way it is presented and comes off on cable news.

[UTUSN]

5. Excellent. & Craig Doesn't Let IMUS Shut Him Up. n/t

[AnnInLa]

6. Crawford makes regular appearances on Olbermann

and Imus,and it is easy to tell that he is definitely a Dem......he has a great sense of humor and a comical laugh. Anyone remember his observations of the Ann Coulter doll?....priceless.

[paineinthearse]

7. ?

Did you mean....Chimperor Gaius Goofus Georgius Bush XLIII? Either way, I like it!

[johnfunk]

8. I sure did! The fingers were operating faster than the wetware!

Happens to the best of us...