Bring them on!

[XPav]

There are some who feel like the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring them on." (http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/02/sprj.nitop.bush/index.html)

Dear Iraqi Irregulars,

Please attack our soldiers.

Sincerely,

George Bush.

PS: I want to cut benefits for soldiers (http://www.dailykos.com/archives/003248.html#003248) so that it won't cost me that much. That way I can give more money back to my rich friends.

[Case]

There are some who feel like the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is, bring them on." (http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/02/sprj.nitop.bush/index.html)



This was one of the most asinine comments I've seen him make. Makes him sound like an REMF. Come to think of it, he is an REMF.

[Met_K]

But, realize, that most Republicans are stuck up, down-to-Earth assholes who like a man who can shittalk with the best of them.

[Tyjenks]

This attitude which peeks its way out on occasion and Frist's campaigning for an amendment banning gay marriages are two reasons why I can never vote Republican. The reasons for not voting for a Democrat, however, are running neck and neck.

[XPav]

Damn Tyjenks, maybe you should move to Australia. :lol:

[ydejin]

Well, I was pretty disgusted with Bush's "Bring them on" comment, but realistically, this is probably not a bad move politically. It's not like his comments are actually going to increase the number of militants shooting at us in Iraq. Anyone who wants to take a crack at us already is, and his belligerent comments will have next to zero effect on how many people hate us.

Domestically I do not think it's a bad move. It does increase the amount those of us who don't like him think he's an idiot (but we are pretty much lost to him anyway) and I think it increases the rally around the flag effect. He's treating the whole thing like a football game, and trying to get Americans' patriotic fevor up -- as in "yeah we can whip them, bring it on."

I think the only real potential cost to him is the effect this might have on potential foreign allies. I'm sure this doesn't play well in Europe for example. However, as with Americans who don't like him, I think he's already done such a poor job with Europe that they're not going to like him no matter what he says.

Maybe I need to give the American people more credit on this matter than I do. But honestly, I don't see this kind of asinine comment as hurting Bush at all.

[Tyjenks]

Damn Tyjenks, maybe you should move to Australia. :lol:

With Tudor and Kleve?!?! Fuck that.


Maybe I need to give the American people more credit on this matter than I do. But honestly, I don't see this kind of asinine comment as hurting Bush at all.

My problem is that it was an asinine comment.

[Dirt]

Can someone please explain to me how this is supposed to make us safer as a country?

[ydejin]

Maybe I need to give the American people more credit on this matter than I do. But honestly, I don't see this kind of asinine comment as hurting Bush at all.

My problem is that it was an asinine comment.

I completely agree with you Tyjenks, I thought it was an incredibly stupid comment to make. I just don't think it's going to hurt him at all politically and might actually help him. Of course if things in Iraq suddenly take a substantial turn for the worse he will look pretty stupid. But I don't think that's all that likely to happen. It is possible, but I think things will probably continue at the current level for the forseeable future or maybe quiet down just a little bit. If we keep on losing 1-2 soldiers a week, at some point, it won't even make the headlines. And I doubt anyone will have the guts to call Bush on it during the debates, because frankly I don't think it will play very well -- after all, realistically now that we're in, we're in, we really cannot leave until the job is done.

I will say thought that if I were a soldier on the ground in Iraq I'd be pretty pissed to hear him talk like that.

[Jason McCullough]

I can't imagine FDR or Lincoln saying it, that's for sure. Or Eisenhower. Or Kennedy. Even Reagan seems unlikely.

[Tyjenks]

If we were not losing the soldiers as you pointed out, his comment could be set aside as playing to his base. Since we are losing men/women, its like he is saying, "Well, you are only getting a couple a day now. Can't you do better than that? I double dog dare ya'!" Maybe people will blow it off anyway and it will not hurt him a bit. If I were a Democratic Congressman ***shivers***, I would be loading that up in my media weapon of choice and firing away at him.

Again, as a voter and, yes, proud American, who believes Bush, Jr. is really a decent, caring guy at heart, that wass a moronic thing to say.

[ydejin]

I can't imagine FDR or Lincoln saying it, that's for sure. Or Eisenhower. Or Kennedy. Even Reagan seems unlikely.

Actually my first thought when I saw "Bring them on" was remembering Reagan's comment about bombing the Soviet Union when he thought the microphone was off. Of course in Reagan's defense he did think the mic was off, Bush was making a public comment.

[SpoofyChop]

Finally, a politician that doesn't mince words and everybody wants some kind of Clinton to spin the hell out of everything.

You guys are ding-dongs.

[Toddy]

The comment is incredibly stupid. Especially when the attacks seem to be getting more organized by the day. How long before someone rams a truck bomb into a barracks and kills a few dozen US soldiers? Bush's comments will come back to haunt him if the situation in Iraq isn't calmed in short order.

[Doug Erickson]

There's not mincing words, ala Teddy Roosevelt, and then there's sounding like a mullet-sporting redneck thug, ala, well, Junior.

[Jason McCullough]

I can't imagine FDR or Lincoln saying it, that's for sure. Or Eisenhower. Or Kennedy. Even Reagan seems unlikely.

Actually my first thought when I saw "Bring them on" was remembering Reagan's comment about bombing the Soviet Union when he thought the microphone was off. Of course in Reagan's defense he did think the mic was off, Bush was making a public comment.

Well, it was a joke.

I think a better comparision would be if Reagan had said "Come on, I dare you to send those T-72s across the Fulda gap! We'll own ya!"

[Met_K]

You have to love Teddy "Don't vote my way and I'll make sure the only thing you represent is Charlie's Fried Chicken back home in Kentucky. Don't like it? Then guh, guh, guh, go the fuck back home, redneck" Roosevelt. I know I would've felt threatened as a congressmen under his presidency, fuck, I don't wanna know how the enemies felt.

[Tyjenks]

Finally, a politician that doesn't mince words and everybody wants some kind of Clinton to spin the hell out of everything.

You guys are ding-dongs.

I could agree with you whole-heartedly if only that was his common practice. The problem is his spin cycle, as printed by his writers, is on 98% of the time. He turns it off once in a blue moon and something like this comes out. I bet after he stepped away from the mic, his lap dogs politely said, "I have a little suggestion, Mr. President. Howzabout we just stick to the script from now on? OK?"

[ydejin]

I can't imagine FDR or Lincoln saying it, that's for sure. Or Eisenhower. Or Kennedy. Even Reagan seems unlikely.

Actually my first thought when I saw "Bring them on" was remembering Reagan's comment about bombing the Soviet Union when he thought the microphone was off. Of course in Reagan's defense he did think the mic was off, Bush was making a public comment.

Well, it was a joke.

I think a better comparision would be if Reagan had said "Come on, I dare you to send those T-72s across the Fulda gap! We'll own ya!"

I agree they weren't the same, but they were both shows of false or foolish bravado.

[Dirt]

"Finally, a politician that doesn't mince words and everybody wants some kind of Clinton to spin the hell out of everything."

The spin is coming; Rove is probably working on it right now.

[Dirt]

Great Virtuous Spirit?

[Ignatius P. Reilly]

Finally, a politician that doesn't mince words and everybody wants some kind of Clinton to spin the hell out of everything.


Yeah, Bush was just speaking off the cuff. And just happened to be standing (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/030702/168/4kg67.html)in front of a painting of Teddy Roosevelt when he turned into a Tough Guy. :roll:

[Mark Asher]

Why the hell are we even fighting over there still? There are no WPMs and Saddam is ousted, if not dead. We set up a government quickly in Afghanistan. Let's do the same and get the hell out of Iraq. Bring them on should be bring them home.

[Troy S Goodfellow]

Well, the government in Afghanistan really only controls Kabul, and it's hardly the model of what we want in the Middle East. With Afghanistan, there was also early agreement on how to choose a new regime with the Loya Girga or whatever it was. But there is still no real civil society in much of the country and the defense minister has a private army much larger than the US trained Official Afghan Army. And US troops are still in Afghanistan. Not 150k strong, but there.

Iraq doesn't have any traditional system of choosing leaders (the first Iraqi king was established at Baghdad by the British), no figurehead exile who can bring legitimacy to a process (like the Afghan king) and a lot of people who were deeply involved in the last government running around. Unlike Afghanistan, there is no Iraqi Liberation Army to back up US troops or to pass off patrol duties to. The Kurdish army isn't going anywhere south of Mosul.

Troy

[Incendiary Lemon]

Finally, a politician that doesn't mince words and everybody wants some kind of Clinton to spin the hell out of everything.

You guys are ding-dongs.

You realize how many people tool over those speeches, how much more he spends on polling. The aircraft carrier stunt? Setting up those massive lights to illuminate the Statue of Liberty for his speech?

[Russ]

Mark
Iraq is not Afghanistan.

[Dirt]

Yeah, Afghanistan doesn't have alot of oil.

[Dirt]

Mark:

Halliburton hasn't milked all it can out of their contracts yet.

[Tyjenks]

Yeah, Afghanistan doesn't have alot of oil.


Mark:

Halliburton hasn't milked all it can out of their contracts yet.

While both are true, neither is really pertinent as to the military and governmental difficulties which are completely different in the two country's. Your two posts did beat separate dead horses rather nicely, but did not address Troy's valid arguements as to why we are still in Iraq when Afghanistan was handled more easily. In fact, even though it was brief, Russ' point was pretty much the Cliff Notes version of TSG's and well put, also.

[Idar Thorvaldsen]

I think the only real potential cost to him is the effect this might have on potential foreign allies. I'm sure this doesn't play well in Europe for example. However, as with Americans who don't like him, I think he's already done such a poor job with Europe that they're not going to like him no matter what he says.

Which is interesting, now that the head of the EU (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=3028483) isn't all that diplomatic, either.

[Jim F.]

Bush still thinks he's running the Texas Rangers baseball team, but this time they have guns. Never have I heard a speech where he seems to realize that he's dealing with the lives of thousands of people, but American and Iraqi.

This is just a continuation of his father's style of politics. "Hey, I know the economy sucks, I'm giving all your money to the rich, and I'm slowly taking away your fundamental rights... but we sure kicked those Iraqi's asses!"

Jesus, if he gets reelected, I think I'll move to Italy. At least their leader's idiocy isn't costing anyone their lives.

[Anders Hallin]

Jesus, if he gets reelected, I think I'll move to Italy. At least their leader's idiocy isn't costing anyone their lives.
No, his mob contacts usually take care of that for him.

..seriously.

I think moving to Iceland would be an interesting idea, personally.

[Idar Thorvaldsen]

I think moving to Iceland would be an interesting idea, personally.
Yeah, and since you're a foreigner, you'd even get to keep your genes. ;)

Those lessons in Old Norse back in High School might finally come in handy, though.

[Anders Hallin]

Those lessons in Old Norse back in High School might finally come in handy, though.
You got classes in Old Norse?
Apparently we have no sense of history in Sweden :(

[Tyjenks]

Jesus, if he gets reelected, I think I'll move to Italy. At least their leader's idiocy isn't costing anyone their lives.

I am all for grandstanding and hyperbole, but no, you won't move to Italy because even though our government is a screwed up nightmare, its still better than most and the U.S., in the end, is still a great place to live.

I hear conservative morons saying with all of their expected bluster and indignation that if Hillary gets elected they are leaving because the country will go to hell in a hand basket. I do not think she ever will, but if she did become president, we will not turn into a Socialist state and we will survive her presidency just fine.

I wish I did not feel like we had to survive each presidency, but that seems to be the case. With each one we cross are fingers and murmur, "Please don't fuck things up, please don't fuck things up."

[Idar Thorvaldsen]

Those lessons in Old Norse back in High School might finally come in handy, though.
You got classes in Old Norse?
Apparently we have no sense of history in Sweden :(
It all ties into the recent history of the Norwegian language, I'm sure. You should just be glad you have better things to learn about. :)

[Stroker Ace]

BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 3 — A day after President Bush asserted that coalition forces in Iraq were prepared to deal with any security threat, American troops came under attack again this morning, with 10 soldiers wounded in three separate incidents.

[Jim F.]

Well yeah, my "moving to Italy" comment is pure hyperbole. The comment was meant to demonstrate that even a stupid comment comparing a German politician to a Nazi guard pales in comparison to the idiocy of the Bush administration's constant Iraq comments and actions.

I'm going to be watching the next election with great interest. If the Democrats get their crap together, they may actually be able to get back into the White House... but that's assuming a lot from the Democratic party these days.

[Mark Asher]

BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 3 — A day after President Bush asserted that coalition forces in Iraq were prepared to deal with any security threat, American troops came under attack again this morning, with 10 soldiers wounded in three separate incidents.

I guess that's their answer to Bush's "Bring them on" challenge. Maybe since our soldiers were only wounded instead of killed, Bush will urge the terrorists to try harder next time. "Is that all you got? You didn't actually kill anyone!"

[Daniel Morris]

"Say hallo to my leeeetle friend! I take you ALL to fucking hell!" -George W. Bush

[Tyjenks]

BAGHDAD, Iraq, July 3 — A day after President Bush asserted that coalition forces in Iraq were prepared to deal with any security threat, American troops came under attack again this morning, with 10 soldiers wounded in three separate incidents.

I guess that's their answer to Bush's "Bring them on" challenge. Maybe since our soldiers were only wounded instead of killed, Bush will urge the terrorists to try harder next time. "Is that all you got? You didn't actually kill anyone!"

Its just insane that they have not beaten the urge out of Bush to say stupid, stupid shit. Speaking your mind is one thing, but this makes it look like he is playing a tabletop wargame. Yelling across the hobby store to his sweaty opponent who is browsing the selection of new Warhammer miniatures that just arrived.

Well, they brought 'em on. Bet he won't say that again in this lifetime and probably not in the next two or three to come.

[MajorFreak]

i thought Americans liked voting in straight talking types? (i figure that's Dubya's spin right there)it's that "awww shucks" disclaimer that spindoctors love. they can "leak" comments like, "well, he actually meant to say..." and get away with it just as easily as someone who uses Latinhell, if you spin it right you could even have a president suffering from early symptoms of Alzheimers.

I don't care what the hell the idiot blurts, the facts of the matter say something a little different than, and i quote the original source, "Since May 1 -- when Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq -- there have been more than two dozen 'hostile' U.S. military deaths in Iraq, according to the Pentagon."

that's bullshit.


Over the past two weeks attacks by guerilla forces centered in cities north of Baghdad have killed at least 10 American soldiers, wounded 25 and shot down an Apache helicopter. Ambushes by these forces against U.S. troops, described by Washington as remnants of the Baathist party loyal to Saddam Hussein or terrorists sympathetic to al Qaeda, are almost a daily occurrence. The U.S. has responded by sending thousands of troops into conflicted areas and aggressive house-to-house searches for weapons, tactics which have angered many anti-Saddam civilians who increasingly resent the occupation of their nation. The killing of 18 un-armed protesters by U.S. soldiers in the city of Falluja last month, has also fanned the flames of hostility and sparked a cry for revenge.

In all, more than 50 U.S. soldiers have been killed in Iraq, many from hostile fire, since the Pentagon announced the end of the war on May 1. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Chris Toensing, editor of Middle East Report, who examines the growing armed resistance in Iraq and the possibility that the increasing number of guerrilla attacks could signal the beginning of a protracted conflict.


notice how this info casts a new light on threats to 'up the ante' when it's a case of the chicken & the egg...sad how those poor arabs are incapable of democracy, but at least they still think of the US army as a force of liberation. *sniff*

omg. i can't go on, the patriotic tears are flowing. boo hooo :roll:

[Met_K]

Looks like we have a new Jason McCullough. Well, a retarded cousin, at least. Jason can, sort of, link to reliable news sources, sometimes.

[Brian Koontz]

Looks like we have a new Jason McCullough. Well, a retarded cousin, at least. Jason can, sort of, link to reliable news sources, sometimes.

If DrCrypt has Rob Slater and Jason McCullough has MajorFreak, do I get my own Mini-Me as well?

Mini-Me and I will... *rule the world!*

BWAHAHAHAHAHAH~~!!!!

[Rob Slater]

Hey, semi-obscure references alone don't make me a DrCrypt like-a-look. I don't radiate anything like his intellectual elitism, and the closest I come to his absinthe habit is a fondness for european licorice, which is nothing like its weak-kneed cousin we have in the US. I mean, wormwood extract? Yuck-ola. He can keep it.

Although I do drink Moxie when I can find it. Maybe that's close enough to absinthe. Ok, I'll take the DrCrypt Mini-Me reference, but I don't have to like it. Someday I'll post enough to have my own reputation, and won't I be sorry then!

[MajorFreak]

oh oh, i'm sorry, did i forget the official board rules that state any quote needs a source that links (in the end) to reuters? oh, pray god to that trusted news source of CNN? pray tell you didn't actually mean the hive of truth from NYT?

http://www.mindphyre.com/UMEC/PIC/FLM/Daffy.jpg
"First get your facts; then you can distort them at your leisure."
BTW, thanks for the warm welcome...i was sure to get entertainment and decent conversation in equal proportion. FYI, i didn't bother mentioning that US casualties are twice that of before "the end of major hostilities"...i'm sure you'll even cross-examine that as full of holes and i decided not to post that since i'd probably get rather bored of stating the obvious...not to mention overusing mark twain as an "unreliable source"...outdated...tired...cliched...tiger and bears! oh my!

Met_K: next time, may i suggest doing some grade3 math on the numbers before and after may1st, hmmmmm? next time you won't sound like such a stooge of the "official" spin coming out the arse of white house talkingheads.

[bmulligan]

I think MajorFreak deserves a promotion to Lt. Colonel for that one !!

[Mark Asher]

"BTW, thanks for the warm welcome...i was sure to get entertainment and decent conversation in equal proportion."

Met_K tends to be a bit abrasive, often for no apparent reason.

[Linoleum]

To quote the always entertaining L.T. Smash (http://www.lt-smash.us):


George W. Bush is President of the United States, and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He is our leader. He sets the tone for every man and woman in uniform. If the President says we are a bunch of bad-asses, then that is the attitude we will adopt. It sure beats the heck out of the alternative.

Meanwhile, President Bush is taking some heat for these remarks, being accused of using “shoot-from-the-hip lines,” with some urging him to bring the troops home “as soon as possible.”

His response: “We're not leaving until we accomplish the task.”

How refreshing.

[Jason McCullough]

"We'll pacify Iraq no matter how many dead GIs it takes!"

[bmulligan]

"We'll pacify Iraq no matter how many dead GIs it takes!"

Who are you quoting?
Is Bush another retarted cousin of yours?