Don’t Expect Bush to Be a Uniter
” Now that I’ve got the will of the people, I’ll be enforcing a one question rule.”
“Obviously, you didn’t listen to the will of the people. I said ONE question.”
–President Bush, to journalists in a press conference today
At a press conference today, President Bush made it clear he would not tolerate too many mind-boggling questions at one time since he now has a mandate. Is he using a mandate to silence the press and legitimize his disdain for them?
Thus began the new Bush presidency. The one where, this time, gawl dang it, he has the will of the people ( a fraction of a majority more than the record-setting millions who voted against him). Almost half the nation can go screw themselves. That’s what I heard today.
For Democrats looking for an outstretched hand, President Bush gave horrifying answers today. When asked how he planned to unite America, he said he would expect Democrats to participate in promoting his agenda. When pressed on the question of how he’d unify America through his relationship with Congress, he referred to the “No Child Left Behind Act”, the one in which he hoodwinked Ted Kennedy. Choosing to hoodwink a dead man’s memory this time, he’s invoking the name of Daniel Patrick Moynihan in order to look like a bipartisan leader. I wish Moynihan were here to defend himself. I’d imagine he’d be spinning in his grave like chicken rotisserie if he knew Bush was using him in this particular way. Bush said he thinks Democrats agree that they have a responsibility to govern and expects they will have “good will” from here on in. I hope he doesn’t forget who has the majority to ’stick it’ to the nation with the ease of rightwing disdain.
President Bush wonders why Washington D.C .is bitter. He still wonders that, after four years? Is he daft? Is he that much of an overly sensitive boob? Does he not understand that he has had a direct effect on the DC mood and environment?
When asked about future judicial nominations, he recommended that we should look at his past. Oye, we’re in trouble.
He skirted the Evangelical Christian-pandering question by replying that he didn’t expect us to agree with his religion and that we were free to worship as we please in America. It didn’t answer why he was politically sniffing up the ass of the Pat Roberston crowd.
He has made no decisions on Cabinet changes. The puppet usually doesn’t choose his puppet-masters - it’s generally the other way around - so I’m not surprised.
He danced the turn-around on his swearing, during the campaign, that he didn’t tell a group of his “in-crowd donators” that he planned to jam a plan to immediately privatize Social Security through Congress. He’s made it clear today that it’s it one of his obvious priorities.
Hearing the press cackle at his twisted, mocking jokes makes me ill. “Sometimes I mangle the English language.” Chortle chortle. I just love an ignorant ass as my president, don’t you?
He says that he earned “political capital” in this election and he intends to spend it. (Completely forgetting, the day after the election, just how many people voted against his agenda in the biggest election turnout in history).
Unity of the people be damned to hell.
As always , Bush denies reality while proudly and forcefully stuffing a right wing agenda down America’s throat. He knows he has the majority in the Congress to do as he pleases. Out of the many millions who voted for him, he easily forgets that almost as many millions did not. I came away from the press conference feeling as if he doesn’t give a shit and that he’s never going to change. It’s his right, as our leader, to push his agenda. It will never convince us that he cares about the dangerous and silent civil war brewing within our nation that will come to a head if President Bush fails to present more of a good faith willingness to reach across the aisle.
In yesterday’s SF Chronicle, Mark Morford wrote:
“…This much is clear: We are not, with a grim Bush victory, headed for buoyancy and friendship and sincere hope for something new and refreshing. We are not, with another four years of what we just endured, headed toward any sort of easing of bitter tension, a sense of levity, or sexual openness, or true education, or gender respect, or a lightness of spirit and of step.”
I feel badly for America, as I would feel for a beloved friend on the wrong path. The difference is that I am a part of my friend and it’s impossible for me to be objective. What hurts my friend is killing me. I live in her and her soul is living in me. As a person of vision, I feel suffocated in the knowlege that this leader refuses to change for the greater good of you, of me, and our nation. The November sky even looked heavy-laden as I drove to my class last night. I thought to myself, “The clouds are weighted with the tears of what could have been.”
November 4th, 2004 at 11:30 am
That’s a pretty shocking quote, Jude, and I pondered it for a moment before realizing that at least half of the media should take this as a challenge. Their job is to ask questions and question the answers ON OUR BEHALF and we aren’t doing OUR jobs if we don’t pressure them to test everything he says and does…
Let’s give Bush a second term from hell.
November 4th, 2004 at 1:17 pm
Popular Vote: Bush 49.4%, Kerry 48.7%
“Of all sad words of tongue or pen,
The saddest are these:
It might have been.”
I think PW has a good point–the media will play a crucial part in the next few years. The Bush puppetmasters have shown great skill in media manipulation. I hope the media realized how they were (mis)used and get their act together.
November 4th, 2004 at 1:42 pm
The press has got to stop all the nonsense and give us the facts. They are responsible to present the truth. This president, who has very few press conferences, must be questioned, he works for us not the reverse and with a 51% win that doesn’t give him a mandate. Realize 49% of American’s voted against him. He should be held accountable at every step, we citizens have to also deep track of our congress and senate. The media should get more involved with the “red” and “blue” states and let us all see that we’re not that different. This White House can not be allowed to separate us into groups that think we don’t like eachother. And by all means drive a wider wedge between Church and State once religon becomes a factor mind control by fear is the order of the day.
November 4th, 2004 at 1:58 pm
You misunderstand. Emperor Bush is not referring to the electoral outcome; like the Chinese emperors he has the Mandate of Heaven.
November 4th, 2004 at 2:18 pm
A lot of shit is now going to fall on this smug little prick’s head. He can chose to answer for it, or not. A lot of people in and around him are probably going to be indicted now (things like the Plame fiasco still hover, not to mention Abu Ghraib, and lots of other shit). The press was already soft-balling him left and right. So what difference does it make? He has a press office; they can tout the official line, and our bought, paid for and consolidated media will accept it as gospel. Like the Hastert-deLay House will even consider investigating, let alone impeaching, is almost too hilarious to ponder.
For Gawd sake, Bush hasn’t needed to explain himself while RUNNING for reelection, and he’s gotten a pass. Why should he bother when NOT running for reelection? I mean, the lame duck session starts IMMEDIATELY… why talk?
Let me make this clear for y’all: more American people than have ever voted for a President just said, LOUD AND CLEAR– they LIKE EVERYTHING about this man. They COULDN’T BE HAPPIER. So, please, let’s not pretend otherwise. If you didn’t like the last four years much, you will REALLY HATE the next four years.
November 4th, 2004 at 2:30 pm
As I say to my dog, Cut out that barking! We are the consumers of the media. We are able to affect them economically, but only if we actually DO it. I suggest we get busy. And the sooner we get around to showing Bush supporters what their morality means — make them look in the mirror — the sooner we’ll start communicating with them, not just grimacing at them!
November 4th, 2004 at 2:53 pm
Let the scandals begin!
Next week’s Senate agenda is going to focus on Casino Gaming. Now, you are all smart people, meaning you can connect Casinos with Organized Crime+Native Americans pretty darn quick. It’s real bad in New York State, where former militant “Warrior Society” Mohawk, in league with the mob, are connected-at-the-hip with NY Republicans like Pataki and (Senate Maj. Ldr) Bruno.
http://satp.blogspot.com/2004_11_03_satp_archive.html#109952351798135085
Or, for the small-town Indie Journalist who did the original research…
http://www.nocasinoerie.org/mcmahon.htm
November 4th, 2004 at 8:29 pm
Well, as you speak, so does the media.
I just watched Joe Scarborough’s commentary, and he emphatically stated that we are NOT a divided country. He noted that the majority voted for Bush and wants him as President. Well, what he failed to mention is that almost half the country did not vote for him (I believe a percent was quoted above: 51% to 49%). And those that did not vote for him, do not merely dislike the man, they basically can’t stand him.
I admit that normally I’m fine with the President of choice. Because usually, the President elected is not so very far to the right or left, that we can all live with him. But this President is on his own Crusade, that I might add, we are all paying for. He now thinks he has, as he so eloquently said (snicker), I have capital and I’m going to spend that capital.
He is blatantly ignoring, as is Joe Scarborough, that 49% of the country vehemently did not want this man in office.
And so, the media will help America to believe the lie that this country is not divided.
Shame, shame on Joe Scarborough for his lie.