President Bush must know what he's become in the eyes of the American people - a whining and petulant man desperately begging us to support him just one more time. That's the impression I got from watching his press conference yesterday.
Why else would he lamely insist "I am relevant" when explaining why he wielded his veto pen to cut off the health coverage of millions of children? Or mutter darkly (while snickering, no less) that "if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing [Iran] from [having] the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon."
(Note that he changed the script slightly - he did not accuse Iran of actually trying to build a bomb, only of getting the required know-how. It seems that his handlers realize the old scare tactics aren't working and are changing to new ones.)
He doesn't get it. There's a reason why the latest poll shows him with a 24% approval rating, why his saber-rattling against Iran isn't selling, why the public is upset over his denying health care to working-class kids.
Perhaps it's because he continues to insist that the United States does not torture when everyone knows prisoners are routinely beaten and waterboarded. Maybe he really believes that he can get away with torture by redefining it, but he's sure not convincing anyone else.
Or perhaps he insists that "I feel good about many of the economic indicators here in the United States" when all but his super-rich pals are falling further and further behind.
But it's really all of the above. Bush comes across as someone denying the reality that is staring him in the face, pushing one more lie, hoping to deceive the American people just one more time. No one believes him anymore, and even he knows it.
And we have four hundred and sixty days left to go until someone else becomes president.
Why else would he lamely insist "I am relevant" when explaining why he wielded his veto pen to cut off the health coverage of millions of children? Or mutter darkly (while snickering, no less) that "if you're interested in avoiding World War III, it seems like you ought to be interested in preventing [Iran] from [having] the knowledge necessary to make a nuclear weapon."
(Note that he changed the script slightly - he did not accuse Iran of actually trying to build a bomb, only of getting the required know-how. It seems that his handlers realize the old scare tactics aren't working and are changing to new ones.)
He doesn't get it. There's a reason why the latest poll shows him with a 24% approval rating, why his saber-rattling against Iran isn't selling, why the public is upset over his denying health care to working-class kids.
Perhaps it's because he continues to insist that the United States does not torture when everyone knows prisoners are routinely beaten and waterboarded. Maybe he really believes that he can get away with torture by redefining it, but he's sure not convincing anyone else.
Q: A simple question.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. It may require a simple answer.
Q: What's your definition of the word "torture"?
THE PRESIDENT: Of what?
Q: The word "torture." What's your definition?
THE PRESIDENT: That's defined in U.S. law, and we don't torture.
Q : Can you give me your version of it, sir?
THE PRESIDENT: Whatever the law says.
Perhaps it's because he's asked when he's going to admit the Iraq War cannot be won militarily and responds by raising the specter of al Qaeda and demanding that Congress hand over even more spying power to him.
Or perhaps he insists that "I feel good about many of the economic indicators here in the United States" when all but his super-rich pals are falling further and further behind.
But it's really all of the above. Bush comes across as someone denying the reality that is staring him in the face, pushing one more lie, hoping to deceive the American people just one more time. No one believes him anymore, and even he knows it.
And we have four hundred and sixty days left to go until someone else becomes president.
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