The reality based community

[Honus]

Someone, I wish I knew who it is, came up with the phrase, "reality based community", to describe critics of W. The author of that phrase deserves a prize, because it is dead on.

Check out the following quotes, courtesy of The Washington Monthly, and tell me this country hasn't gone completely insane:


Summer 2002, a senior Bush official to Ron Suskind: "[Establishment liberals] believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality. That's not the way the world really works anymore. We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality."


Summer 2005, a senior Bush official to Robin Wright and Ellen Knickmeyer: "What we expected to achieve [in Iraq] was never realistic given the timetable or what unfolded on the ground. We are in a process of absorbing the factors of the situation we're in and shedding the unreality that dominated at the beginning."

[AustinsCE]

"It depends on what the meaning of the words 'is' is." –Bill Clinton

[kerry]

Today's Denver Post quoted Bush on why he refuses to talk to Cindy Sheehan, the mother whose son was killed in Iraq. Bush said he can't talk to her because "It's important for me to go on with my life."
Can't be any more reality based than that.

[AustinsCE]

"I may not have been the greatest president, but I've had the most fun eight years." –Bill Clinton

[GermanStar]

What, are you filling in for Bone?

[djugurba]

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

Today's Denver Post quoted Bush on why he refuses to talk to Cindy Sheehan, the mother whose son was killed in Iraq. Bush said he can't talk to her because "It's important for me to go on with my life."
Can't be any more reality based than that.

You mean she's one of over 1800 mothers whose sons have been killed in Iraq...

[koop]

Well he ought to meet with her. His numbers are in the tank, she aint going nowhere it's a PR nightmare.

[koop]

I agree with you about the lame duck part. Republicans are running from him. SS is a dead issue. He's done enough damage, time to just run out the clock.

[peragro]

Ok, a few talking points here:

First;

Originally Posted by koop

Well he ought to meet with her. His numbers are in the tank, she aint going nowhere it's a PR nightmare.

why, oh why do people think that because poll numbers are down so and so should do such and such. This seemed to be the mentality that lost the last election. I’d much rather have a leader who did what he thought was right rather than what the latest survey said. Why not just elect Richard Dawson president; remember “survey says…”
And please don’t respond with “we’re a democracy, so opinion matters”. We elect officials for a period of time. We don’t ask for opinion every time a decision is needed, thank God.

Second, right on Bot. As usual, a very succinct synopsis.

Third; Not knowing Ms. Sheehan I don’t know what her motivations are. Though a good indicator seems to be that her family is distancing themselves from her. I, much like her husband, would certainly not be happy with my son’s life being used the way she is going about this. I also find it quite disgusting that the far left groups and Michael Moore are using this situation for publicity. It’s dishonorable, low and shameful.

Fouth;

Originally Posted by dculkin

I take it that Casey Sheehan was a professional soldier. He never had any intention other than to defend the country. As such, he had no real choice when the Commander in Chief sent him to Iraq. It wasn't his place to question his orders or abandon his comrades. All of which only justifies his mother's anger at W. When honorable men and women put their lives on the line, the President has to be scrupulously honest in deciding whether to send them into harm's way. If Cindy Sheehan believes that W violated that trust, then it would dishonor her son were she to remain silent.

Please stop alluding that the poor guys in the military have no choice but to follow the evil whims of the president. They will follow the orders of the lawfully elected Commander in Chief, whether he be republican or democrat. They did so on several occasions during the 1990s. That was the CHOICE made upon enlistment or commissioning. They are neither stupid nor uninformed, quite the opposite. This is the most educated military that we have ever had and perhaps the world has ever seen. Oh, and by the way, they support this President by overwhelming majority. Could that be why the DNC tried to suppress their vote?

[matt7531]

Originally Posted by narwhal

I thought he had already given condolences regarding her son, but she is insisting on a meeting with him about ending the war. Everyone knows damn well the President can't give an audience to everyone who wants one. I bet he gets 1M such requests per day. Probably a lot from other service people survivors, too.

I think the woman now represents the people who have lost loved ones in Iraq. This constituency has questions it wants answered, and this woman is their to ask him for them. She has become symbolic, not just another "face in the crowd" the prez does not have time for in between his exercise and nap schedule. The real reason he will not meet her is because he will be directly asked the questions he has avoided for years, as he hid behind his army of synchopants and co-conspirators.

[Botnst]

Originally Posted by matt7531

I think the woman now represents the people who have lost loved ones in Iraq. This constituency has questions it wants answered, and this woman is their to ask him for them. She has become symbolic, not just another "face in the crowd" the prez does not have time for in between his exercise and nap schedule. The real reason he will not meet her is because he will be directly asked the questions he has avoided for years, as he hid behind his army of synchopants and co-conspirators.

See that's the perception that she wants to convey.

Now prove your point. Show me the list of surviving family members that supports her and those that do not.

B

[mikemover]

Originally Posted by djugurba

You mean she's one of over 1800 mothers whose sons have been killed in Iraq...

And every one of those 1,800 sons KNEW that they were signing up for the MILITARY!

The "possibility of serious injury or death" is in the job description.

Regardless, why should this particular woman get to talk to Bush? What makes HER so much more f***ing special than the other 1,799 mothers???.... Besides, she already met with him once! It didn't bring back her son then, and it won't bring him back if she talks to him again.

I have all the sympathy in the world for someone who loses a relative in the military.... I'm sure it's a horrible, awful thing to endure.

But this woman does not deserve any special or unusual treatment just because she has nothing better to do than to stand around in the middle of nowhere in Texas and whine.

Mike

[luvrpgrl]

Originally Posted by mikemover

And every one of those 1,800 sons KNEW that they were signing up for the MILITARY!

The "possibility of serious injury or death" is in the job description.

Regardless, why should this particular woman get to talk to Bush? What makes HER so much more f***ing special than the other 1,799 mothers???.... Besides, she already met with him once! It didn't bring back her son then, and it won't bring him back if she talks to him again.

I have all the sympathy in the world for someone who loses a relative in the military.... I'm sure it's a horrible, awful thing to endure.

But this woman does not deserve any special or unusual treatment just because she has nothing better to do than to stand around in the middle of nowhere in Texas and whine.

Mike

Besides, she is a liar. She doesnt want to meet with him again, she even said so. She is doing it just for the publicity. Her agenda is not what she says it is publicly. She just wants attention, shame on her using her sons death to get it.

[KATSCAN]

"Ask not what this country can do for you, but how many women in this country that I can do". Bill Clinton

[AustinsCE]

Originally posted by GermanStar
What, are you filling in for Bone?

Yeah, didn't you hear? It's my fault all these members are leaving. I figure I gotta give back what they can't leave behind. Or something? I don't really know? **** you and your ***** *** comments.