Yeah, Bush is the worst President in American history. No doubt, case closed.
He’s also extremely dumb. Like not just folksy dumb. Not like, “hey, we should grab a Budweiser and talk about clearing brush because I’m one of you” dumb. Like, stupid. Like an idiot.
Oh, that feels so good to say.
Don’t believe me? Watch this and you will:
See what I mean? Although, I am impressed that he has such an epileptic reading list.
Kyra Phillips, a CNN reporter, was on the job today in New Orleans covering Bush’s trip. During his speech, Phillips apparently went to use the restroom and left her live mic on! Yes, that’s right. Her entire conversation was picked-up by CNN and all of its viewers as the President was delivering remarks:
We’re working on a rough transcription, but until we finish it, just enjoy this video of Kyra Phillips chatting, seemingly in the bathroom, with an unidentified co-worker (Daryn Kagan?) while Bush blabs about levees or something.
Update: In case you’re unclear on what you’re hearing, some of the better bits are written out after the jump. As always, we welcome corrections and better interpretations.
Highlights: The clip starts with what sounds like “ASSHOLES.” Then Kyra talks about, presumably, a boy of some sort: “No ego… you don’t understand., just a really passionate, compassionate human being. And they exist! They do exist. They’re hard to find—”
COWORKER: “Yep.” KYRA: “But they… are out there.”
Thankfully, “Mom” seems to approve (“good vibe”)
Then, Kyra again: “Of course brothers hafta be, you know, protective. [ZIP] Except for mine. I gotta be protective of him. Ugh, yeah. He’s married, three kids, but his wife is just a control freak.”
Then the best part:
WOMAN: Kyra— KYRA: Yeah baby— WOMAN: Your mic is on. ANCHOR: All right, we’ve been listening in to…
The winds of Katrina have long since ended but the legacy of this disaster looms heavy over our country. Katrina was more than just a storm. This catastrophic event literally and figuratively tore away the curtain on the Bush Administration and exposed what many of us have felt for a long time- that Bush is an incompetent man and that his Administration is incapable of protecting the American people from threats both natural and man-made.
The Bush Administration was not prepared for this event and paid no attention to many warnings about the possible affects of a category four hurricane hitting New Orleans. This was a major blunder on their part but sadly is not the end of the story.
The most important piece of any national tragedy- be it Katrina or 9/11- is that we learn from our mistakes and put into place the necessary precautions to ensure that we will be safer in the future.
This, I fear, is where Bush gets his lowest marks. Not only does it not feel like we’re more prepared to handle a national disaster in the realm of Katrina in New Orleans or any major American city- but Bush has done nothing to address the underlying societal problems that Katrina brought to the surface.
America is still a nation dealing with issues of race, intolerance, and indifference to abject poverty. We are nation that has allowed our federal government to turn its back on the neediest in our society. Government is not the magic bullet and cannot and should not attempt to heal all ills in any society. But, our government must work hand in hand with local jurisdictions to address the issues, however unattractive and difficult those issues are to face up to, and create a better future for all Americans. Allowing the poorest people in New Orleans who were not able to escape to wait for days without food, water, shelter, or medical supplies is inexcusable. Yet, we’ve heard every excuse in the book for why this happened.
I hope and pray that for at least the next 874 days our nation will not have to face the horror of another natural disaster or terrorist incident. For we know that if we do, Bush and his failed Administration will again leave the most vulnerable to suffer and will refuse to accept any type of real responsibility for protecting the citizens of this country.
These issues rise above politics.
Yes, I am a partisan person but I don’t write this as a Democrat or as an anti-Bush activist. I write this as an American who believes that our country is only as strong as its response to adversity. Our future success as a nation will be dictated by what kinds of lessons we learn in adversity and how our leaders address the most difficult issues lurking below the surface in our society. These issues plague us in good times and most pointedly, as Katrina revealed, during out neediest hours.
Here are some of the most important situations that I think should be on Bush’s “to do” list.
1. Iran
2. Iraq
3. Lebanon
4. Hurricanes and emergency management
5. Gas Prices
6. Farting in the oval office and laughing as young aides deal with the smell
Apparently George W. Bush loves fart jokes. Not only does he love them, but apparently he makes a game of farting and asking White House aides to come in the room to catch a whiff.
Anyway, here’s the news, such as it is. U.S. New & World Reports’ Paul Bedard says our commander in chief “loves flatulence jokes . . . can’t get enough of fart jokes. He’s also known to cut a few for laughs, especially when greeting new young aides.”
In an interview yesterday, Bedard, who writes “Washington Whispers” for the weekly newsmagazine, also said he’s heard about Bush’s full-salute “Austin Greeting.” That’s when new aides come in for their “meet and greet.”
“Word is,” says Bedard, “he likes to gas a couple, and then bring the aide in and see what the kid’s face looks like.”
Naturally, the aide can’t accuse the President or grimace or hold his nose. This dilemma apparently drives the presidential funny bone wild.
Serious times call for serious leadership…I guess.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants, its agents, employees, representatives, and any other persons or entities in active concert or participation with Defendants, are permanently enjoined from directly or indirectly utilizing the Terrorist Surveillance Program (hereinafter “TSP”) in any way, including, but not limited to, conducting warrantless wiretaps of telephone and internet communications, in contravention of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (hereinafter “FISA”) and Title III;
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND DECLARED that the TSP violates the Separation of Powers doctrine, the Administrative Procedures Act, the First and Fourth Amendments to the United States Constitution, the FISA and Title III;
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED with respect to Plaintiffs’ data-mining claim and is DENIED regarding Plaintiffs’ remaining claims;
IT IS ALSO ORDERED that Plaintiffs’ Motion for Partial Summary Judgment is GRANTED in its entirety.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
All hail the rule of law.
Alternet has video up with quotes from the decision. Our favorite constitutional blogger, Glenn Greenwald has analysis up here. We’re hearing that the administration is currently working to get a stay on the injuction from the 6th Circuit Court. Keeping checking in all day as we bring you more updates.
has just ruled that the Bush administration’s warrantless wiretapping program is unconstitutional and has ordered an immediate halt. Said U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, “Plaintiffs have prevailed, and the public interest is clear, in this matter. It is the upholding of our Constitution.”
NBC News is reporting that the US pushed British investigators to arrest the plotters of an alleged terror attack against trans-Atlantic airliners earlier than the British authorities wanted. “[O]ne senior British official suggested an attack was not imminent, saying the suspects had not yet purchased any airline tickets. In fact, some did not even have passports.” The rushed arrests were announced just after Ned Lamont beat Sen. Joe Lieberman in the CT Senate primary. Via TPM.
“It is time for Democrats who distrust President Bush to acknowledge that he will be Commander-in-Chief for three more critical years, and that in matters of war we undermine Presidential credibility at our nation’s peril.”
Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, a supporter of the President or a foe, please take a minute to remember the sadness taking place in Iraq. Much of the Iraq news is being pushed to the back burner because of the war in Lebanon, but the human toll continues to climb and things are getting much worse. Now, even members of Congress are suffering the consequences of this intractable war.
Max Baucus’ nephew killed in Iraq
By the Helena Independent Record
Cpl. Phillip E. Baucus, 28, of Wolf Creek, was killed Saturday during combat operations in Iraq.
He was the son of John and Nina Baucus and the nephew of Montana Sen. Max Baucus.
While a spokeswoman for the U.S. Marine Corps declined to provide details of the circumstances surrounding Baucus’ death, Cpl. Heidi Loredo did say he was killed in Al Anbar province while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
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