i don't see why this article is so stupid and offensive to you...it's harmless, and it only points out that mostly everyone needs to lighten up about this shit. not everything has to be the most serious commentary of all time.
As far as war crimes: Bush personally authorized torture and extraordinary rendition. If Saddam had doen that we'd call it a war crime.
Also: The US supplies Israel with banned cluster munitions (which it rained down on Lebanon). If Saddam had done that, the US would have cited that as a war crime. (Not to mention targeting densely populated urban zones with white phosphorous incendiary weapons, which is also a war crime. If Saddam had done that it would be considered a war crime.)
I personally don't think Bush is a war criminal (expect for his personally authorizing torture). He's too much of a man-child-dauphin to be held accountable. Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney on the other hand. . .
I find this article very enlightening. And frightening.
The cocoon BHO describes being wary of is exactly the world GWB lives in.
My favorite quote - from his minister - is such a back-handed compliment of sorts. Essentially, the pastor says that history is not going to judge him well, so it's best that he's dead by that time:
"There's a comfort that comes with knowing you probably won't be alive to see the real verdict on your presidency," said Kirbyjon Caldwell, Bush's friend and the pastor at Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston. "There's only so much he can control."
Also, I think Laura Bush is a totally different animal from the Bushes. The chair gift I find totally charming.
@htotheomo: Re the chairs :Really? I find it kind of picayune and ninnyish. It also feels like a cover to not talk about the massive mess they left the Obamas , which is far more real and compelling than any furniture.
@Ken Elwell: I doubt terrorists have any intention of attacking GWB. He did the terrorists, their supporters and their recruiting efforts nothing but favors.
I think the worst "crime"--not punishable, mind you, unless you believe in a vengeful god, but still--is the fact that, three years after the invasion of Iraq, 71% of the U.S. military personnel in that country believed that Saddam was responsible for 9/11.
Dick Cheney has said as much; he continues to do so, in fact, despite the fact that it's pretty clear that the only reason we invaded Iraq and let the occupation to get out of hand was to provide a permanent source of income for Halliburton.
To lie to people about why they're risking, and in too many cases giving up, their lives is heinous. I hope he lives a very long life riddled with guilt and shame. The suburbs are a good place for that.
As for the more prosecutable crimes related especially to torture, Bush's people did the justice department a huge favor by leaving a huge paper trail that should make the DOJ's job (should they choose to do it) infinitely easier.
@Mediahohoho: y'know, that 71% figure? That many American citizens (who aren't serving) think that's true, too. Excellent conflation of the facts by those two...
@kimberlydebarge: I don't think the 71% figure among the general population ever reached that high. Which is why I think it's worse that it did hit, and remain at that point, for the people who went there under false pretenses. But those two never met a fact they weren't only too happy to twist in the service of their own interests.
Gosh, it's so strange seeing all the Gawker Republicans come out of the woodwork to defend George Bush. Can't you all just disown him and move on like we did with Jimmy Carter?
@eatsshootsleaves: Basically, every evil piece of legislation (Bankruptcy Reform Bill, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, etc.) boils down to 98% republican approval and 75% Democratic approval.
So my disdain is aimed at 100% Republicans (because the remaining 2% are basically nuts) and 75% of Democrats.
So as far as I can tell, 75% of Democratic lawmakers are as wrong as 100% of the Republicans.
1. When you're president, and after, pretty much everything you own has the presidential seal on it. Particularly casual clothes. Its just a perk.
2. As it has been well established during this last campaign, the secret service doesn't allow the president to have a blackberry. I'm pretty sure there may be just a few ways to reach the President of The United States other than blackberry. Just a guess though. So I really have no idea why this is even brought up as an issue. Oh wait, yes I do.
3. It's almost incomprehensibly tacky (even for Gawker) to make fun of the fact that Laura chose to give a gift to Michelle Obama that was clearly very thoughtful and appreciative. Not to mention classy. I wonder if Hillary gave Laura anything?
"Bush left Washington on Jan. 20 with two-thirds of Americans disapproving of his job performance -- one of the worst ratings ever for an outgoing U.S. president. In his return to private life, he has maintained tranquility by adhering to a basic philosophy:
@I.am.the.1: u mean former pres carter? who works with habitat for humanity to build homes for people? and works with international foundations? and contributes a lot to the world? him?
@TheUptightMidwesterner is (insert general bitchery here): Well, that would be so if you'd invaded the elementary school across town because you heard they were stockpiling water balloons, then found yourself completely paralyzed for the rest of your school career once you found out they only had spitballs -- but that now you were in range and that they actually kind of hurt.
05/15/09
05/15/09
05/15/09
04/12/09
Also: The US supplies Israel with banned cluster munitions (which it rained down on Lebanon). If Saddam had done that, the US would have cited that as a war crime. (Not to mention targeting densely populated urban zones with white phosphorous incendiary weapons, which is also a war crime. If Saddam had done that it would be considered a war crime.)
I personally don't think Bush is a war criminal (expect for his personally authorizing torture). He's too much of a man-child-dauphin to be held accountable. Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney on the other hand. . .
04/12/09
04/11/09
04/11/09
The cocoon BHO describes being wary of is exactly the world GWB lives in.
My favorite quote - from his minister - is such a back-handed compliment of sorts. Essentially, the pastor says that history is not going to judge him well, so it's best that he's dead by that time:
"There's a comfort that comes with knowing you probably won't be alive to see the real verdict on your presidency," said Kirbyjon Caldwell, Bush's friend and the pastor at Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston. "There's only so much he can control."
Also, I think Laura Bush is a totally different animal from the Bushes. The chair gift I find totally charming.
04/11/09
04/11/09
Can we just deport the guy, or maybe have a few CIA agents extraordinarily extradite him to the Hague?
The real question is how long until he starts doing coke again. Laura needs to ditch this loser.
04/11/09
04/11/09
Dick Cheney has said as much; he continues to do so, in fact, despite the fact that it's pretty clear that the only reason we invaded Iraq and let the occupation to get out of hand was to provide a permanent source of income for Halliburton.
To lie to people about why they're risking, and in too many cases giving up, their lives is heinous. I hope he lives a very long life riddled with guilt and shame. The suburbs are a good place for that.
As for the more prosecutable crimes related especially to torture, Bush's people did the justice department a huge favor by leaving a huge paper trail that should make the DOJ's job (should they choose to do it) infinitely easier.
04/11/09
04/11/09
04/11/09
04/11/09
04/11/09
04/12/09
So my disdain is aimed at 100% Republicans (because the remaining 2% are basically nuts) and 75% of Democrats.
So as far as I can tell, 75% of Democratic lawmakers are as wrong as 100% of the Republicans.
04/11/09
1. When you're president, and after, pretty much everything you own has the presidential seal on it. Particularly casual clothes. Its just a perk.
2. As it has been well established during this last campaign, the secret service doesn't allow the president to have a blackberry. I'm pretty sure there may be just a few ways to reach the President of The United States other than blackberry. Just a guess though. So I really have no idea why this is even brought up as an issue. Oh wait, yes I do.
3. It's almost incomprehensibly tacky (even for Gawker) to make fun of the fact that Laura chose to give a gift to Michelle Obama that was clearly very thoughtful and appreciative. Not to mention classy. I wonder if Hillary gave Laura anything?
04/11/09
04/11/09
He lives squarely in the remaining 33 percent. "
04/11/09
04/11/09
04/11/09
-- Hi, Bart! Mr. Bush is upstairs napping.
-- You know, your husband's awful grumpy.
-- Oh, that's just his way; he really likes you. You know, it's time for him to get up and work on his memoirs. Why don't you go wake him?
[A loud horn note blasts]
[George wakes suddenly.]
-- Great Scott, don't touch that! That's the alpenhorn Helmut Kohl gave me.
-- Where'd you get those pajamas?
-- They're presidential pajamas. You have to be President, and you're not President!
-- Yes I am.
-- No, you're not!
04/11/09
04/11/09
What?
That is like me still wearing my high school letter jacket.
04/11/09
04/11/09