DoubleSpeak with Matthew and Peter Slutsky

Flashback: $4-A-Gallon Gas?

I took the bus to Philadelphia this weekend, because it’s just too expensive to drive. I made sure to take note throughout my trip of the incredibly high gas prices between D.C. and Philly. I didn’t see any regular gas under $4/gallon. On my ride back last night, it hit me that President Bush was asked a few months ago about the rising gas prices and the prospect of prices hitting $4/gallon. He shrugged of the notion that prices would get that high, even in the face of analysts predictions. This was the line of questioning from a CBS news reporter on February 29, 2008:

Peter Maer of CBS News Radio asked: “What’s your advice to the average American who is hurting now, facing the prospect of $4-a-gallon gasoline, a lot of people facing … ”

“Wait, what did you just say?” the president interrupted. “You’re predicting $4-a-gallon gasoline?”

Maer responded: “A number of analysts are predicting $4-a-gallon gasoline.”

Bush’s rejoinder: “Oh, yeah? That’s interesting. I hadn’t heard that.”

Hadn’t heard that? Maybe that’s because President Bush doesn’t have to buy gas, or pay utility bills - the tax payers cover that for him.

Bush went further to reject the idea that gas could hit $4/gallon.

The president, however, had difficulty grasping the possibility, even after Maer told him.

“You just said the price of gasoline may be up to $4 a gallon — or some expert told you that,” Bush repeated. “That creates a lot of uncertainty.”

Here’s some video of that press conference.

Bush was asked about the rising gas prices back in February and here we are in June, about to enter the heavy summer driving months and gas now looks like it could top $5, or more in the near future. We need to remind people that Bush is wildly out of touch and that he doesn’t understand the problems people are facing filling up their cars everyday.

Maybe a reporter should ask John McCain to respond to Bush’s naivety on this important issue for the American people. I’d be interested to see what McCain’s response would be? Would he embrace Bush’s brazen aloofness, or would he have to further distance himself from his fundraiser-in-chief?

More: H/T to Jeff for sending in the “$4/gallon remix.”

Jun 9, 2008 by Peter Slutsky in
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If You See One Film This Year…

If you haven’t been following the “minor blip” over Hillary Clinton’s trip to Bosnia in 1996, you certainly are missing an epic tale.

Sen. Clinton, in a effort to shine the spotlight on her commander-in chief-credentials told the gripping story last week of her dangerous mission to visit American troops in the war-torn Balkans. The only problem; nearly the entire story was both wildly exaggerated and, well false. Ooopppsss. She must have been having one of those “commander-in-chief” moments.

Talking Points Memo has more on the story here.

Check out this YouTube clip - if you are going to see one movie this year, this should probably be it!

Mar 24, 2008 by Peter Slutsky in
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The White House

is reporting that Spokesman Tony Snow has just been diagnosed with liver cancer. Tony Snow had his colon removed in 2005 after cancer was discovered. DoubleSpeak would like to wish Tony and his family the best of luck in their struggle to beat this horrendous disease.

Mar 27, 2007 at 9:37 AM | No Comments »

The Politico

newspaper in Washington, D.C. is reporting that “Republican officials operating at the behest of the White House have begun seeking a possible successor to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.”

Mar 19, 2007 at 7:10 PM | No Comments »

Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Lucky

I. Lewis

From CNN:

Former White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby has been found guilty on four of five counts in his perjury and obstruction of justice trial.

Libby was convicted of:

1. obstruction of justice when he intentionally deceived a grand jury investigating the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame;

2. making a false statement by intentionally lying to FBI agents about a conversation with NBC newsman Tim Russert;

3. perjury when he lied in court about his conversation with Russert;

4. a second count of perjury when he lied in court about conversations with other reporters.

5. Jurors cleared him of a second count of making a false statement relating to a conversation he had with Matt Cooper of Time magazine.

You can check out complete coverage of the trial and the verdict at Firedoglake. In case you haven’t been following their coverage - FireDogLake has been doing extensive live blogging from inside the courtroom. They were actually given press credentials and have done some groundbreaking work both during the lead-up to the trial and during the actual criminal trial proceedings. They have taken blogging to the next level! Nice work!

Mar 6, 2007 by Peter Slutsky in
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White House Lying About Iraq Violence

In a revelation that will surprise very, very few of our listeners and readers, the Iraq Study Group says that the Bush administration has been lying about the level of violence in Iraq to cover its own failure.

The Bush administration routinely has underreported the level of violence in Iraq in order to disguise its policy failings, the Iraq Study Group report said Wednesday.

The bipartisan group called on the Pentagon and the director of the U.S. intelligence community to immediately institute a new reporting system that provides “a more accurate picture of events on the ground.”

…

On page 94 of its report, the Iraq Study Group found that there had been “significant under-reporting of the violence in Iraq.” The reason, the group said, was because the tracking system was designed in a way that minimized the deaths of Iraqis.

“The standard for recording attacks acts a filter to keep events out of reports and databases,” the report said. “A murder of an Iraqi is not necessarily counted as an attack. If we cannot determine the source of a sectarian attack, that assault does not make it into the database. A roadside bomb or a rocket or mortar attack that doesn’t hurt U.S. personnel doesn’t count.”

To quote a bumpersticker, “When Clinton Lied, Nobody Died.”

Dec 7, 2006 by Joshua Skaroff in
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Longer Than WWII

In World War II, America had a defined enemy. In World War II, America was on a war-footing and everyone rallied around the cause of freedom. In World War II, we had leaders who were up to the task.

Now, the conflict in Iraq has lasted longer than the second Great War. America has no plan for victory and its leaders are not up for the challenge. We need to bring our brave troops home today!

The Associated Press:

The war in Iraq has now lasted longer than the U.S. involvement in the war that President Bush’s father fought in, World War II.

As of Sunday, the conflict in Iraq has raged for three years and just over eight months.

Only the Vietnam War (eight years, five months), the Revolutionary War (six years, nine months), and the Civil War (four years), have engaged America longer.

Fighting in Afghanistan, which may or may not be a full-fledged war depending on who is keeping track, has gone on for five years, one month. It continues as the ousted Taliban resurges and the central government is challenged.

Bush says he still is undecided whether to start bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq or add to the 140,000 there now.

Nov 27, 2006 by Peter Slutsky in
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Lieberman’s Money Trail

So who exactly is supporting Joe Lieberman’s Independent bid for re-election in Connecticut? A recent article answers that question: Karl Rove and the Republican Party.

That’s right, it seems that during the weeks leading-up to Lieberman’s defeat in the Democratic Primary in Connecticut, the White House was hard at work instructing its money machine to give to Senator Lieberman.

From Insight Magazine:

The White House funneled millions of dollars through major Republican Party contributors to Sen. Joseph Lieberman’s primary campaign in a failed effort to ensure the support of the former Democrat for the Bush administration.

A senior GOP source said the money was part of Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove’s strategy to maintain a Republican majority in the Senate in November. The source said Mr. Rove, together with Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, directed leading pro-Bush contributors to donate millions of dollars to Mr. Lieberman’s campaign for re-election in Connecticut in an attempt that he would be a “Republican-leaning” senator.

Karl

Cashish

Joementum

Sep 6, 2006 by Matthew Slutsky in
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Bush Is Full of Hot Air

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

Fart

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.

From the Beantown Herald:

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.

Aug 24, 2006 by Matthew Slutsky in
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Karl Rove To Help Lieberman?

From ABC World News’ Daily Blog:

According to a close Lieberman adviser, the President’s political guru, Karl Rove, has reached out to the Lieberman camp with a message straight from the Oval Office: “The boss wants to help. Whatever we can do, we will do.”

…

The White House might help Lieberman by putting the kibosh on any move to replace the weak Republican candidate, Alan Schlesinger, with a stronger candidate.

And it might be able to convince Schlesinger to drop out of the race and endorse Lieberman in the final week or two, when it’s too late for another candidate to fill the GOP slot. A quiet White House effort to steer some money in Lieberman’s direction is another possibility.

Looks like Joe is stuck between a rock and a turd blossom.

Aug 9, 2006 by Peter Slutsky in
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