Newsweek - Bush's emotional meetings with families?!?

[gridbug]

Found this whilst looking around online:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8941525/site/newsweek /

It's bascially a very surreal article about The Smirk being super emotional while visiting with other families who've lost loved ones in the Iraq war.

For example:

---snip

"President Bush was wearing "a huge smile," but his eyes were red and he looked drained by the time he got to the last widow, Crystal Owen, a third-grade schoolteacher who had lost her husband in Iraq. "Tell me about Mike," he said immediately. "I don't want my husband's death to be in vain," she told him. The president apologized repeatedly for her husband's death. When Owen began to cry, Bush grabbed her hands. "Don't worry, don't worry," he said, though his choking voice suggested that he had worries of his own. The president and the widow hugged. "It felt like he could have been my dad," Owen recalled to NEWSWEEK. "It was like we were old friends. It almost makes me sad. In a way, I wish he weren't the president, just so I could talk to him all the time."

---snip

Not to mention:

---snip

"Before Bush left the meeting, he paused in the middle of the room and said to the families, "I will never feel the same level of pain and loss you do. I didn't lose anyone close to me, a member of my family or someone that I love. But I want you to know that I didn't go into this lightly. This was a decision that I struggle with every day."

As he spoke, Ascione could see the grief rising through the president's body. His shoulder slumped and his face turned ashen. He began to cry and his voice choked. He paused, tried to regain his composure and looked around the room. "I am sorry, I'm so sorry," he said."

---snip

Anyone have any idea how accurate (or not) this is? I know what we all want to believe, but at the same time I find myself wondering two things: if any of this is true, can it have a negative effect on Cindy's vigil, and what Cindy's reaction will be when she gets wind of the article?

[JAbuchan08]

1. I'm sure Bush feels sorry that soldiers have died on his orders

if only he felt sorry for the actions that led to their deaths.

[livvy]

2. He probably forgot to take his happy pills that day.

It made him weepy.

[Bumblebee]

3. No, he just knew Newsweek was following him around but

they are too stupid -- or too cynical and whorish -- to know the difference. The timing of the article is interesting. Defend your president or lose access to the WH!

[noamnety]

4. Welcome to DU

I saw you posted this elsewhere as well.

Cindy has spoken of her own experience with Bush. I'm sure different people have different experiences. Some who have lost their children in the war still support it, and idolize Bush.

[AlinPA]

5. Bush** was acting as usual. He is too goddamn stupid to feel any remorse.

[deadparrot]

6. You see what you want to see.

If you idolize BushCo, you're going to rave about his attention and compassion. If you despise them, you're going to see arrogance.

Especially with something as emotionally jarring as death in wartime, people often contort their experience to fit their views.

[liveoaktx]

7. In other words, if it's a staged photo op with sympathetic admirers

he's all there and can muster up some tears for the camera. But if it's someone that, heaven forbid, doesn't agree with him, he HIDES>

[Catchawave]

8. McCain pretty much said the same gushy-mushy stuff on Imus

this morning...new RW talking points to swift boat Cindy ?

[Junkdrawer]

9. Corp. Media PR Damage Control. Read it as Cindy is effectively...

painting Bush as uncaring and so Rove is out to counter this by:

1.) Emotionally destroying Cindy hoping she will wilt under the assault. So far, she has not - and under stresses that would have collapsed most of us.

2.) Painting Bush as a deeply caring man who agonizes over every death. This will be emphasized by creating a chorus that all sing the same tune.

[gridbug]

10. Good points all...

...it's just so, well, uncomfortably weird to read about him carrying on like that, red-eyed, his voice cracking with emotion, and the whole thing about him walking into the room and saying "Tell me about Mike..." It has such a strong contrast to Cindy's account of his jokey atmosphere, calling her "Mom" and not knowing (or caring to know) Casey's name. I guess I should know better by now, but the fact that Newsweek is running that article, which pretty much bends over backwards (or is that forwards?) to make The Smirk look like a decent, for real human being just kinda threw me for a loop.

I still stand by Cindy and her cause, like I have since the very beginning and will continue to do, and I still think that the BushCo administration is the absolute worst thing that's ever happened to America. I just hope that the article and subsequent rhetoric won't stall Cindy's momentum. Her mission is the only one that matters now if we're going to restore sanity to our country.

Thanks for the input, everyone! :)

[annabanana]

11. I tell ya.. I'd have to see this on tape from 8 different cameras

held by DUers to believe a word of it. (And then I'd check their post count and alert on them anyway)

:wtf:

[Halliburton]

12. john meecham was probably behind this

that guy is a huge wingnut. they always have him on msnbc talking about how great bush is because he is religious.

[snippy]

13. This reminds me of the White House article which described Bush's

great sacrifice of giving up sweets during the initial stages of the invasion of Iraq.

From an April 2003 USA Today article:

"People who know Bush well say the strain of war is palpable. He rarely jokes with staffers these days and occasionally startles them with sarcastic putdowns. He's being hard on himself; he gave up sweets just before the war began."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2003-04-01-bush-cover_x.htm

After all, no sacrifice is too great for Bush to make as long as it is someone else's loved one dying for his grandiose schemes.

And never forget,

BUSH DID DISARM THIS IRAQI

My email to Newsweek about this story:

Subject : 'I'm So Sorry' article by Holly Bailey and Evan Thomas

I am writing to inquire why Newsweek magazine allows White House staffers to ghost write articles such as the the one referenced above. It is obvious that this article was written by loyal and devoted Bush followers.

It is equally obvious that Evan Thomas has had an anal liplock on Bush for many years. Just as a matter of curiosity, does Mr. Thomas prefer to ingest the more solid or the more runny Bush stool? Or is he equally ecstatic with being allowed to ingest either? Also as a matter of curiosity, are Mr. Thomas' children and grandchildren as ashamed of him as they should be ? If not yet, they will be.

Can anyone at Newsweek recommend a weekly news magazine that is both pro-American and factual and informative? I ask only because it is obvious that Newsweek has choosen to be an un-American and a dishonest and misleading publication.

Newsweek has chosen, just as Bush has, to annoint itself with the blood from its victims. History will see this for what it is.

Sincerely,

Snippy W Shrub
(the W stands for Whore, but for some odd reason Bush thinks it stands for Vacation)

[Junkdrawer]

14. Yes, but what do you REALLY think about Mr. Thomas ....

:wow:

[snippy]

15. That post probably would be deleted. n/t