Post by Not Phil Adams on Jun 23, 2004 21:42:51 GMT 10
This from last weekend's Australian Newspaper if anyone wants to die laughing or crying!
All the president's words
June 19, 2004
BOB Woodward isn’t the only one to get extraordinary access to President Bush.
Phillip Adams: So this is it! The West Wing!
George W. Bush: See, one of the interesting things in the Oval Office – I love to bring people into the Oval Office, right around the corner from here, and say, this is where I office, but I want you to know the office is always bigger than the person.
PA: How would you describe the world, post 9/11?
GB: This is historic times. I think we agree, the past is over.
PA: More and more terrorist attacks! In Baghdad, Istanbul, Spain, now Saudi Arabia.
GB: More Muslims have died at the hands of killers than – I say more Muslims; a lot of Muslims have died, I don’t know the exact count – at Istanbul. Look at these different places around the world where there’s been tremendous death and destruction because killers kill.
PA: And you always promise retribution.
GB: In my judgement, when the United States says there will be serious consequences, and if there isn’t serious consequences, it creates adverse consequences.
PA: Of course, you’re not always sitting here at your desk.
GB: One of the most meaningful things that’s happened to me since I’ve been the governor – the president, governor – president. Oops. Ex-governor. I went to Bethesda Naval Hospital to give a fellow a Purple Heart and at the same moment I watched him get a Purple Heart for action in Iraq – and at that same – right after I gave him the Purple Heart, he was sworn in as a citizen of the United States.
PA: Sir, are you deeply affected by the rising toll of young Americans dying in Iraq?
GB: There’s only one person who hugs the mothers and the widows, the wives and the kids upon the death of their loved one. Others hug, but having committed the troops, I’ve got an additional responsibility to hug and that’s me and I know what it’s like.
PA: And, of course, there are domestic issues that cause you concern?
GB: The illiteracy level of our children are appalling. Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?
PA: Like our own Prime Minister, John Howard, you’re a great believer in the family.
GB: Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.
PA: And environmental issues?
GB: I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.
PA: You talk about God a lot in your public statements. And you also use the word "free" over and over again.
GB: Free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don’t attack each other. Free nations don’t develop weapons of mass destruction.
PA: Sir, how many newspapers do you read each day?
GB: I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavour for what’s moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves. I’m also not very analytical. You know I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things.
PA: Sir, you are fighting so many wars simultaneously, the war against terror, the war in Iraq, the continuing troubles in Afghanistan . . .
GB: I think war is a dangerous place.
PA: Sir, many of us still believe that the war against Iraq was one war too many. Why your obsession with Saddam?
GB: The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorise himself.
PA: And your message to Saddam Hussein?
GB: When Iraq is liberated, you will be treated, tried and persecuted as a war criminal.
PA: What about other regional leaders?
GB: I’ve got very good relations with President Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdallah and the King of Jordan, Gulf Coast countries.
PA: You recently met with Putin in Moscow. Your message?
GB: I made it clear that it’s important to think beyond the old days of when we had the concept that if we blew each other up, the world would be safe.
PA: The US electorate is getting angry about fuel prices. Your response?
GB: We need an energy bill that encourages consumption. It is clear our nation is reliant upon big foreign oil. More and more of our imports come from overseas.
PA: In your long political career, what do you regard as your most inspirational public address?
GB: In my State of the . . . my State of the Union, or state . . . my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation – I asked Americans to give 4000 years . . . 4000 hours over the next – the rest of your life – of service to America. That’s what I asked – 4000 hours.
PA: Finally, Sir, people suggest you’re not sufficiently engaged, that your understanding of the issues is superficial.
GB: They misunderestimate me.
Footnote: All quotes credited to US President George W. Bush are from the public record.
Except the subject line, that was just to get you reading this bit.
All the president's words
June 19, 2004
BOB Woodward isn’t the only one to get extraordinary access to President Bush.
Phillip Adams: So this is it! The West Wing!
George W. Bush: See, one of the interesting things in the Oval Office – I love to bring people into the Oval Office, right around the corner from here, and say, this is where I office, but I want you to know the office is always bigger than the person.
PA: How would you describe the world, post 9/11?
GB: This is historic times. I think we agree, the past is over.
PA: More and more terrorist attacks! In Baghdad, Istanbul, Spain, now Saudi Arabia.
GB: More Muslims have died at the hands of killers than – I say more Muslims; a lot of Muslims have died, I don’t know the exact count – at Istanbul. Look at these different places around the world where there’s been tremendous death and destruction because killers kill.
PA: And you always promise retribution.
GB: In my judgement, when the United States says there will be serious consequences, and if there isn’t serious consequences, it creates adverse consequences.
PA: Of course, you’re not always sitting here at your desk.
GB: One of the most meaningful things that’s happened to me since I’ve been the governor – the president, governor – president. Oops. Ex-governor. I went to Bethesda Naval Hospital to give a fellow a Purple Heart and at the same moment I watched him get a Purple Heart for action in Iraq – and at that same – right after I gave him the Purple Heart, he was sworn in as a citizen of the United States.
PA: Sir, are you deeply affected by the rising toll of young Americans dying in Iraq?
GB: There’s only one person who hugs the mothers and the widows, the wives and the kids upon the death of their loved one. Others hug, but having committed the troops, I’ve got an additional responsibility to hug and that’s me and I know what it’s like.
PA: And, of course, there are domestic issues that cause you concern?
GB: The illiteracy level of our children are appalling. Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?
PA: Like our own Prime Minister, John Howard, you’re a great believer in the family.
GB: Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream.
PA: And environmental issues?
GB: I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully.
PA: You talk about God a lot in your public statements. And you also use the word "free" over and over again.
GB: Free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don’t attack each other. Free nations don’t develop weapons of mass destruction.
PA: Sir, how many newspapers do you read each day?
GB: I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavour for what’s moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are probably read the news themselves. I’m also not very analytical. You know I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things.
PA: Sir, you are fighting so many wars simultaneously, the war against terror, the war in Iraq, the continuing troubles in Afghanistan . . .
GB: I think war is a dangerous place.
PA: Sir, many of us still believe that the war against Iraq was one war too many. Why your obsession with Saddam?
GB: The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein, and his willingness to terrorise himself.
PA: And your message to Saddam Hussein?
GB: When Iraq is liberated, you will be treated, tried and persecuted as a war criminal.
PA: What about other regional leaders?
GB: I’ve got very good relations with President Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdallah and the King of Jordan, Gulf Coast countries.
PA: You recently met with Putin in Moscow. Your message?
GB: I made it clear that it’s important to think beyond the old days of when we had the concept that if we blew each other up, the world would be safe.
PA: The US electorate is getting angry about fuel prices. Your response?
GB: We need an energy bill that encourages consumption. It is clear our nation is reliant upon big foreign oil. More and more of our imports come from overseas.
PA: In your long political career, what do you regard as your most inspirational public address?
GB: In my State of the . . . my State of the Union, or state . . . my speech to the nation, whatever you want to call it, speech to the nation – I asked Americans to give 4000 years . . . 4000 hours over the next – the rest of your life – of service to America. That’s what I asked – 4000 hours.
PA: Finally, Sir, people suggest you’re not sufficiently engaged, that your understanding of the issues is superficial.
GB: They misunderestimate me.
Footnote: All quotes credited to US President George W. Bush are from the public record.
Except the subject line, that was just to get you reading this bit.