WH disses Clinton in an effort to defend Bush re: Tsunami relief

[wndycty]

Their arrogance is just so damn appalling, isn't it?

-snip-
"The president wanted to be fully briefed on our efforts. He didn't want to make a symbolic statement about 'We feel your pain.' "
-snip-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32337-2004Dec28.html?referrer%3Demailarticle&sub=AR

[NJCher]

1. poor wingnutz

It's hard living in the shadow of a great man. Especially when not legitimately elected.

Get used to it wingnutz.


Cher

[deminflorida]

2. Here's what Wes Clark had to say about it...

"Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark, who as the military's top European commander helped supervise NATO's efforts to respond to a 1999 earthquake in Turkey, said the United States has unique military capabilities in reconnaissance and logistics management that can be useful in the current crisis. He urged Bush to take a higher profile. "Natural disasters happen," Clark said. "One of the things people look for is a strong response that illustrates America's humanitarian values.""

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6763683/

Let'em diss that.....

[wndycty]

7. Everytime Wes speaks I am glad that I worked for him in the primary

:kick:

[Tinoire]

8. Clark, like Clinton, is a real man

I may not agree with their politics but I would not be ashamed to have them in my circle.

[wndycty]

10. Well at this point its not about politics, its about leadership. . .

. . .something Bush knows nothing about.

[Tinoire]

13. Exactly!

Have you ever been so embarrassed to be an American?

The war, the tax cuts, the coups, and now the callousness, the mocking callousness. $0.12 per victim.

I can't even say what I really think! Don't dare. One it's not Christian (but I have a feeling God would empathize) and two, well, "it wouldn't be prudent".

[Crunchy Frog]

15. The night the bombs started falling on Baghdad

with the TV crowing about it triumphantly, I just wanted to dig a hole and jump in it. That's the time that I felt most ashamed to be an American. Everything that's happened since then has just continued to heap on the humiliation until at this point I'm literally numb to it. At some point I simply have to detach myself from any more emotional investment in my country.

I'm not even remotely surprised at this latest outrage. There is literally nothing that the Bushies could do that would surprise me at this point. (God I hope they don't do something that proves me wrong on that last bit.)

[Tinoire]

22. Yes... That was a shameful night

I feel myself becoming number to it & I hate that.

Two years ago, I met a woman in a grocery store, very lovely woman but total stranger, and don't ask me why or how but I got her into a conversation about the Israel/Palestine situation (of all things) because it was really affecting me that day. I remember going into detail about Jenin. This poor woman threw up her hands and told me she couldn't listen because she was an artist and if she even thought about such things, she wouldn't be able to paint.

I thought it was so selfish because true to my real name, I was already seeing the coming wars. I thought it was incredibly selfish but I understood.

Now I understand even more and I envy that woman.

You are numb. I am getting there. And, well, she still has a life.

Peace my friend. Just realized I better be off to bed so that I'll still have a job. Good-night :hi:

[journalist3072]

18. Thank You!!!!!

And Clinton understood that part of leadership meant getting your behind out there and expressing the emotions that everyone was feeling at times of national crisis, like Oklahoma City and Columbine.

Soothing words from a President can help heal. I guess after nearly 4 years and the biggest tragedy this country has ever seen, Bush doesn't get that.

[flordehinojos]

20. what do you mean? bush goes around saying that he is "a leader",

that a leader is "supposed to lead" and i wish i could remember all of the other platitudes that he goes "spreading" around about the fact that HE IS; "A LEADER" ... he would take issue with your post. (I happen to agree with you that this delusional, selfish, narcissistic man knows nothing about leading or leadership!)

[susanna]

17. I love Wes. n/t

[Mad_Dem_X]

33. Ah, Wes...what could have been...

I voted for him in the primary. Class act all the way.

[txindy]

3. Junior couldn't say he felt anybody's pain

That would take empathy. He doesn't feel anything for anyone but himself.

[Left coast liberal]

11. So darn true.. n/t

[Eric J in MN]

4. I hate how the Washington Post prints obnoxious Republican

quotes anonymously.

There are plenty of Republicans willing to be obnoxious on the record.

It's different to publish an anonymous quote which provides important information.

If a Republican is just being obnoxious, the Wash. Post should refuse to publish what he says anonymously.

[unpossibles]

12. There are plenty of Republicans willing to be obnoxious on the record....

except when answering exit polls. Suddenly they are shy and under represented :crazy:

[Tinoire]

5. Oh the entertainment!

If only people weren't dying over this crap.

Between the laughter (I have to laugh to keep my sanity) and the disgust remains the embarrassment that the entire world is witnessing this spectacle.

Strike that. The entire world is suffering from this spectacle.

I yearn for the day I can be proud to be an American again, to not feel shame.

[Supersedeas]

35. and that's what the MSM demands...entertainment...nothing issue driven

[NYC]

6. It's all about "me".

They should show less concern for their image, and more concern for the victims.

[ginnyinWI]

9. well at least he's consistent:

he doesn't care about ANYbody. It seems like he's already quacking like a lame duck, doesn't it??

[saracat]

14. Hey , another version of "it's Clinton's fault'! This time Clinton is at

fault for Bush's lack of empathy!

[Crunchy Frog]

16. Well, you know that Oval Office BJ

just destroyed our whole social fabric and coursened everything. Of course it's the reason that Bush is incapable of empathy. It's the greatest trauma our nation has ever suffered. <sarcasm>

[JI7]

19. bunch of fucking assholes

it never ends with them does it ?

a lot of it has to do with them probably knowing Bush is worthless and anything positive about him is fake and something they had to create . they had the media's help in doing this also by pushing their stupid "memes" about Bush being tough, a good christian etc.

so anytime someone does something positive it automatically shows what a fraud bush is and the right wing feels a need to attack the person who really cares in order to defend their pathetic loser shitty so called "leader".

[DemBones DemBones]

21. Don't you just want to smack 'em upside the head?

Obnoxious twits!

[snippy]

23. Even for Bush, this is pathetic. n/t

[wndycty]

25. Yeah unfortunately he has lowered the bar for himself. . .

. . .and this country.

[PA Democrat]

24. Clinton's remarks were made as part of a BBC interview

I'm sure he was asked about his thoughts regarding the disaster and he responded as reported. What was he supposed to say?

"No comment."

or

"I'm sure that President Bush will have an appropriate response after he's done clearing brush."

So Bush's refusal to let a little thing like tens of thousands dying in a horrible disaster ruin his vacation should force everyone else to be as callous and selfish?

I cannot begin to express my abject DISGUST with that heartless bastard.

[wndycty]

26. Hey we should not be surprised. . .he is a heartless bastard

:kick:

[Donna Zen]

27. Energy and grip

Clark told Al Franken that there are two qualities that one must possess for leadership:

Energy--You must create a positive model for those around you by bringing the highest level of energy to your job.

Grip--You must completely understand the details of any situation or subject that your team is dealing with.

So bush is on vacation, hasn't said a fucking word, makes time for a photo op with a football team, and apparently will surface this morning in response to WaPo criticism with a prepared script. As my sweet but sometimes potty-mouthed daughter just observed: the man is a F-douche bag. (I love that girl!)

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. Feeling Pain for other people and caring about their plight

would require a heart and a conscience. The chimp has neither. That remark was uncalled for, but doesn't surprise me. Those people are hateful, arrogant and could give a shit less about what happens to other people. Why should they? Why should they worry their pretty little heads over such a matter? :grr: Man I hate those people with every fiber of my being. :grr:

[wndycty]

29. So true

:kick:

[Bridget Burke]

30. Part of the President's job IS "symbolic"

Isn't that the reason they're spending so much money on the Inauguration? The swearing-in could be done in private or in a TV studio. But, no, it must be a gigantic spectacle, underwritten by contributors (who will be reimbursed) & taxpayers.

Even old Ronnie could have read a prepared statement about the disaster & acted like he meant it.

[robbedvoter]

31. And here he is, "monitoring"

Bush Monitors Earthquake Damage From Ranch

President Bush spent part of Monday at his Texas ranch monitoring devastation from a deadly earthquake in Southeast Asia — a replay of his post-Christmas vacation last year when he was monitoring damage from an earthquake in Iran.
Bush sent letters of condolence to Bangladesh, Thailand, Sri Landa, Indonesia, India, Maldives and Malaysia — all countries affected by the Sunday earthquake and tidal waves that have killed more than 22,000 people.
"He's been monitoring it very closely," White House spokesman Trent Duffy told reporters at a briefing here. "He's seen some of the images on television."
On Dec. 26, 2003, when Bush was beginning his 2003 post-Christmas vacation here, his advisers were keeping him abreast of an earthquake in southeastern Iran that left more than 26,000 dead.
More...
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041227/ap...

[Donna Zen]

32. Information by earpiece

n/t

[atommom]

34. Mad cowboys feel no empathy! He is a hollow man. nt

[fooj]

36. ...just wait!!!

soon they'll be blaming Clinton for the stolen election, as well! * can't FEEL anything...he has no soul! They are pathetic and an embarrassment to all Americans! C'mon guys...Where's that compassionate conservatism that you shoved down our throats over and over and over and over.....Hey-we know being the prez is "HARD WORK", but you stole the election so step up to the plate!!! Hey, where's the Dickster? Not another "undisclosed location"...???? What's he plotting now? And by the way...how many days does it take to get "fully briefed"? What a joke.........the whole situation disgusts me!:grr:

[RuleofLaw]

37. This is how a world leader reacts:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/29/politics/main663680.shtml

Critics said Mr. Bush has been upstaged in the world arena by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who cut short his own vacation and returned to Berlin because of the calamity.

On Wednesday, Schroeder called on creditor nations to suspend debt repayments from Indonesia and Somalia to help in their recovery from the quake-tsunami disaster.

Germany will propose the measure at a meeting of the Paris Club of creditor countries in January, Schroeder told reporters. Indonesia and Somalia are the only two nations with debt repayment agreements with the Paris Club out of the dozen nations ravaged by this week's catastrophe.

[Cheswick2.0]

38. people with borderline personality disorder can't feel other peoples pain

asshole

[BurtWorm]

39. It took three days to be fully briefed on what the US was doing

with $35 million?

That boy is s-l-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ow.