Out of the Mouths of Idiots: "One of the Hardest Parts of My Job"
Bush to Katie Couric today: "One of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."
I am not making this up.
Then the President of the United States hesitated for a fraction of a second--perhaps he half-realized what had just come out of his mouth--and so he went on: "I believe it, but the American people have got to understand that a defeat in Iraq, in other words if this government there fails, the terrorists will be emboldened, the radicals will topple moderate governments. I truly believe that this is the ideological struggle of the 21st century. And the consequences for not achieving success are dire."
The truth came first. Spontaneously.
As the man said: It's a hard job, being president of the United States.
"One of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror."
"The other hardest part is connecting my brain to my mouth."
September 6, 2006 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
This bit of Bush truthifying goes right up there next to the truthiness of "catapulting the propaganda".
September 6, 2006 4:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
hploughjogger
Talk about an opening that Couric was too lame to follow up. It was only day two and Bush was able to make her look a bigger fool than he. God help us all.
September 6, 2006 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Constantly attempting to deceive the American people is "hard work".
Tom
September 6, 2006 5:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, our President doesn't seem to be able to speak even truthiness unless Rove scripts it for him first.
September 6, 2006 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Couric had a chance to stake out a claim in "real" journalism, and she blew it.
Bush also said the reason they had to move the detainees to Gitmo is because the CIA felt the rules of conduct were so vague they didn't know what they could do, and, Bush added, "that's irresponsible."
Well, who the frig muddied the rules up in the first place?
That, to me, was an even bigger opening that Couric missed. The press still loves to play softball with W Bush. It's amazing.
Dissent Protects Democracy.
September 6, 2006 5:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Shocked. Shocked I tell you. Bush telling the truth? Now that's news!
September 6, 2006 6:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Katie Couric unable to ask a hard follow up question of the President? Even when he presented her with the opening of a lifetime? Shocked, shocked I tell you. After all didn't she get the first pic of the Cruise baby?
Folks, CBS gets what it pays for. In this case CBS paid for a morning host and that is exactly what CBS got.
I think I will stick with the News Hour. It might not be the best news show ever, but its the best news show now.
Ron Byers
September 6, 2006 7:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
wasn't it about a year ago that i heard this on my car radio? "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees."
September 6, 2006 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Katie Couric is an entertainer, not a news reporter. She all but admitted that in any number of interviews. Her favorite stories are about Joe Sixpack and his old dog, or about Millie Housewife and her health problems. Those "stories" she can handle. Even seasoned news reporters have trouble dealing with the blatant lies and ignorance of Bush, so to expect Katie to be able to do so is a bit of an overreach.
If you want news, CBS will not be the place to find it. If you enjoy watching Katie smile, enjoy!
Hoppy in Sacramento
September 6, 2006 8:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what's everyone else's excuse?
Talking to the President is intimidating even for a media star. Not many would have done better. Look at how Walter Cronkite muffed the interview with Richard Daley in 68. At least we got this gem out of the interview...
September 6, 2006 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Despite the botox, I'm inclined to give Katie a little break and some time. Lets' see what happens when she brings ratings manna home and can take the advantage. Perkiness is her cover, not her persona.
The scary part of this interview is our presidentes explanation of his ME foriegn policy:
"I believe it, but the American people have got to understand that a defeat in Iraq, in other words if this government there fails, the terrorists will be emboldened, the radicals will topple moderate governments. I truly believe that this is the ideological struggle of the 21st century. And the consequences for not achieving success are dire."
Is this the administrations' Readers Digest version of how to sell your message or is it the Bush summary of the real deal as presented to him by trusted coutiers who know Messianic?
How many times have we heard versions of: "but the American people have got to understand," in his less scripted public moments? It doesn't matter what it is, we the people need to get the message.
September 6, 2006 10:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Is Katie Couric really any different than Brian Williams, Charles Gibson or Wolf Blitzer?
Dissent Protects Democracy.
September 7, 2006 4:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Actually one of my favorite memories is of her doing a tour of the White House with mama Barbara. They stumbled into GB the 1st and her "cuteness factor" had him bumbling like his idiot son.
I don't particularly like her; but give her some time.
dc
September 7, 2006 5:08 AM | Reply | Permalink
Apologies to any of my readers here for crossposting from my blog, but I thought it bore repeating:
Try, if you can, to remember those distant days of yore, way, way back to the nethertime of October 2000. An eternity in political years, I know. But those amongst you with a brain cell or two to spare may perhaps recall Governor Bush’s campaign’s response to his rather vacuous demeanor and lack of verbal acuity – “he may be dumb as a brick but that’s ok, we’ll put some smart folks around him to make all the decisions.”
Of course, I may be paraphrasing a bit, but the question remains: with so many of those learned ladies and gentlement around him, why the hell is this guy ever allowed off script?!
September 7, 2006 5:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
All of the political opponents running against GOP members should use this statement over and over, just like they did the 'flipflop..i voted for it before I voted against it' line against Kerry.
This statement should be used to demonstrate how incompetent the administration is and just how NOT SERIOUS they are about national security and the WOT....they are going after false targets.
This statement should be used right along with 'no one anticipated the levees would breech'....to show incompetence when it comes to homeland security.
This is a great line for opponents of the Iraq war and folks serious about the war on terror.
Particularly, since over 40% of ppl believe that Saddam had something to do with 9/11.
September 7, 2006 5:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
He's not. The problem is that it takes such repetitive training to get him ON script,and he lacks the mental ability to get ALL the talking points. He is too arrogant to learn what he needs to say, he believes that is his strength that folks 'misunderestimate him'.
September 7, 2006 5:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
...with so many of those learned ladies and gentlement around him...
LEARNED? LEARNED? Condi is probably the most degreed, but she is NOT smart. Karl Rove dropped out of college. Cheney is far from learned. Rumsfeld has not made a good decision in years.
This "surrounded by smart people" is another fiction that has taken root like "liberal media" and "democrats are soft on terror."
Why do we leave them unanswered? Use Jack Murtha as an example. A short, pithy, insulting remark back (of sound-bite quality) is the only way!
Jan Knaus
September 7, 2006 6:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
Say, where is that box these days anyway?
September 7, 2006 7:22 AM | Reply | Permalink