Bush: "I'm getting it, aren't I?"

[question everything]

From a WSJ story about Charles P. "Chuck" Blahous III, the self-described geek behind President Bush's foundering plan to revamp Social Security:

While higher-ranking advisers spend more time with the president, they use Mr. Blahous's talking points. "He's our ongoing rabbi," says chief White House strategist Karl Rove. The usually circumspect Mr. Blahous once told a friend that during briefings, Mr. Bush would sometimes smile and say, "I'm getting it, aren't I?"

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. "Lookit MEEEE! I'm getting it, aren't I, KKKarl? Aren't I ?"

Actually... not so much, George.

[senseandsensibility]

2. Uh, that would be "no"

You're incapable of getting anything ever, chimp.

[Technowitch]

3. Want to know something really, really sad?

I grew up with Mr. Blahous.

Chuck -- or Chaz as we used to call him -- was a great fellow. Friendly, outgoing, insanely popular.

I wish I knew just what the heck happened to him. Back in high school, he used to be quite the progressive.

Now? *sighs...*

[question everything]

4. His bio

He got his Ph.D, in Chemistry from Berkley in 1989, but then went to work as a legislative director for Senator Alan Simpson from Utah, until 1996. Then he moved to Senator Gregg, from NH.

In 2000 became executive director of alliance for worker retirement security and from there, in Feb. 21, was a short way to the White House.

[Technowitch]

5. The last time I spoke with him was around 1990 or 91, I think

Shortly after he'd gone to work for Simpson as a science advisor. He'd recently moved to Maryland, and contacted me by getting my phone number from my parents. We had a nice chat, got caught up on what we'd been doing. Made the usual promises to stay in touch -- which we never did.

Further back though, we'd had very infrequent contact after high school, after he left for Princeton. But we originally met in 5th grade, that's how far back it goes. Like I said, to discover that he's one of Shrub's closest advisors just blows my mind.

Here's another mind-boggler for ya: During the 1980 election, our high-school held a mock election. Carter vs Reagan vs Anderson.

Guess who he supported then (to the point, literally, of running around the school and urging our fellow students to vote)? *Anderson*

-Technowitch

[question everything]

8. And just got married, on Friday, April's Fools Day

and was back at work on Monday..

[southlandshari]

6. It is sad to see this -

The flipside of the high-school-geek-becomes-huge-success.

Hi technowitch!

:hi:

[Technowitch]

7. Hiya Southlandshari!

:D

For what it's worth, I was one of those geeks, too. Oh, but how my life led me in an entirely different direction... *lol*

[southlandshari]

13. Geek

is a relative term!

;-)

[nickgutierrez]

14. In some cases...

:D

/is a geek

[southlandshari]

15. Another one!

If you and technowitch are geeks, then this Alabama geek is in fine company!

:pals:

[Chomp]

9. "Want some wood?????" nt

[Robbien]

10. The man may not be bright but he is a very useful tool.

There are legions of Bushbots, dittoheads and freepers worshiping his footsteps. He may not "get" it, but he uses it.

Snicker if you will, but be aware.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

11. I doubt that dumbell would ever utter the words,

"I'm getting it, aren't I?"
More like, "Do Ah get it? Heh, Heh, Heh..."

[Stinky The Clown]

12. "I'm getting it, aren't I?" said a young Georgie to his Mama Babs ....

on the sidewalk outside the family's residence occupying a full floor of a Houston hotel.

"Yes, Georgie, you're doing very well" said Mama Babs, all the while scowling at the two young nigra men employed to act as then 14 year old Georgie's training wheels as he learned to ride his "big boy bike" ... a super size tricycle from Nieman Marcus. She was scowling at the servents because they weren't running fast enough to make Georgie look as skilled as the other boys with their shiny English Racers.

"No prop is too expensive for *my* boy", said Babs. "We'll always be there for you, Georgie ... your Daddy and me. You're 'special'."

This parable brought to you by one pissed off, cynical, clown who thinks all bushes need a good dousing with a very potent weed killer.