Bush Response to Tsunami: Trash Clinton

[hgc]

From Washington Post

Earlier yesterday, White House spokesman Trent Duffy said the president was confident he could monitor events effectively without returning to Washington or making public statements in Crawford, where he spent part of the day clearing brush and bicycling. Explaining the about-face, a White House official said: "The president wanted to be fully briefed on our efforts. He didn't want to make a symbolic statement about 'We feel your pain.' "

Many Bush aides believe Clinton was too quick to head for the cameras to hold forth on tragedies with his trademark empathy. "Actions speak louder than words," a top Bush aide said, describing the president's view of his appropriate role.

Words escape me. Makes pond scum look wholesome.

 

[Hutch]

from hgc:

Earlier yesterday, White House spokesman Trent Duffy said the president was confident he could monitor events effectively without returning to Washington or making public statements in Crawford...

Reminds me of Russian Cza...I mean President Putin when (IIRC) the hostage situation in the theater occured, he at first distanced himself, then realized his mistake and rsuhed back home (or was it another incident?)

At a guess, we'll have a public statement within 24 hours...

 

[Mr Manifesto]

Well, it wouldn't be safe for the President to make some wussy touchy-feely comment about how much it sucks to be in a tsunami. People might think he's a fag or something.

 

[Lurker]

Aw, he's just playing to the Limbaugh/Hannity/Coulter crowd that approves of these sorts of snide comments. They were all sniggering, I am sure.

Lurker

 

[TragicMonkey]

I'm certainly no fan of Bush's, but I really don't see what he could really do. I mean, all the aid and money and stuff is being sorted out by agencies and people already, people who know what they're doing a lot better than Bush could tell them. Does anybody actually do their work better when supervised by someone who doesn't know the job? If he were sitting in the Oval Office, making calls, he'd probably just be interrupting them.

Apart from those generic statements of sympathy, there really doesn't seem to be much need for Bush to do anything other than keep out of the way.

And as for Clinton, what's up with him? Feeling the need for some publicity? It's not like he's Jimmy Carter, who at least has been doing some sort of international work and charity junk since his term. Who needed Clinton to tell them how sad a dreadful natural disaster is?

 

[HarryKeogh]

While I don't expect Bush to fly to Sri Lanka to personally deliver supplies could he just not clear brush and bike around the ranch for a few days.

Even if you don't mean it Bush, at least put on a front of pretending to be deeply moved by the death of tens of thousands of people and put your leisure activities to the side for a few days.

And just how much brush is on this guy's ranch anyway? Seems it's his number one activity there.

 

[Brown]

Chances are that the real reason little Bush didn't make a statement was that he didn't know how to pronounce "tsunami."

According to CNN, little Bush has done a flip-flop, and IS planning to make a statement from Crawford.

 

[hgc]

... If he were sitting in the Oval Office, making calls, he'd probably just be interrupting them.

Depends on the quality of leadership. In the case of Bush, you have a point.

Apart from those generic statements of sympathy, there really doesn't seem to be much need for Bush to do anything other than keep out of the way.

It meant a lot to Americans on and after 9/11 when foreign leaders expressed sympathy. Days later, and Bush, the most important world leader, has said nothing. Incredible insularity. Disgusting. Puny.

And as for Clinton, what's up with him? Feeling the need for some publicity? It's not like he's Jimmy Carter, who at least has been doing some sort of international work and charity junk since his term. Who needed Clinton to tell them how sad a dreadful natural disaster is?

Who cares what Clinton said? He's not president any more. When will you people get it?

 

[TragicMonkey]

While I don't expect Bush to fly to Sri Lanka to personally deliver supplies could he just not clear brush and bike around the ranch for a few days.

Even if you don't mean it Bush, at least put on a front of pretending to be deeply moved by the death of tens of thousands of people and put your leisure activities to the side for a few days.

And just how much brush is on this guy's ranch anyway? Seems it's his number one activity there.

What do you want him to do? Put on a black arm band and spent six weeks in church? People deal with things in different ways. Who says he's not deeply moved? Perhaps simple and mundane activities like yard work, which he certainly doesn't have to do himself, are his way of coping?

Not to be personal, but I notice that nobody here is so deeply moved that they cannot be posting to internet message boards.

 

[Brown]

Originally posted by me
Chances are that the real reason little Bush didn't make a statement was that he didn't know how to pronounce "tsunami."

Or "Sri Lanka" or "Maldives" or "Seychelles" or "Sumatra" ...

 

[TragicMonkey]

Who cares what Clinton said? He's not president any more. When will you people get it?

I'm not sure which set of "you people" I'm being lumped in with, this time. I'm well aware that Clinton isn't president, which is another reason I'm wondering why he felt the need to make announcements of the obvious.

 

[Mr Manifesto]

What do you want him to do? Put on a black arm band and spent six weeks in church? People deal with things in different ways. Who says he's not deeply moved? Perhaps simple and mundane activities like yard work, which he certainly doesn't have to do himself, are his way of coping?

Not to be personal, but I notice that nobody here is so deeply moved that they cannot be posting to internet message boards.

He could give a statement of sympathy like every other god-damned leader in the world has. The rest of the world sympathised with the US when she was hit on 9/11. Why is reciprication such a big deal?

It would show that he gives a toss about foreign nations like the ones hit by the tsunami. There's a slight international preception that he couldn't care less.

 

[Snide]

And as for Clinton, what's up with him? Feeling the need for some publicity? It's not like he's Jimmy Carter, who at least has been doing some sort of international work and charity junk since his term. Who needed Clinton to tell them how sad a dreadful natural disaster is?

What did Clinton say about this (Tsunami)? I took the Clinton comparison to mean what he did while in office (actually, the "feel your pain" came from while he was campaigning, IIRC).

 

[hgc]

I'm not sure which set of "you people" I'm being lumped in with, this time. I'm well aware that Clinton isn't president, which is another reason I'm wondering why he felt the need to make announcements of the obvious.

Consider this: Is Clinton supposed to keep his mouth shut? Why should he? But Bush is the one that people are listening for. It's freakin' amazing that we have to wait until this morning for Bush to speak out. That's why the most well known American leader to have spoken out until now is an ex-president. Bush ceded the field to Clinton, and it's an outrageous abrogation of his responsibility to represent our nation.

 

[King of the Americas]

What 'I' would have like to have heard from the President:

"My fellow Americans, I am sure by now you've heard of the terrible news of an earthquake caused tsunami, and the absolute havoc it has reigned down upon the Sri Lanka as well as parts of Africa & India.

I want to assure every global member that everything possible is being done by the U.N. and the U.S. to ease the suffering of those affect by this disaster. In this era, it is important for us all to know that we are not alone, and that our true strength lies is our ability to look out and care for one another. A friend in need, is a friend in deed, and so long as you help your friends, there will be friends to look out for you...

So I'd like to ask that every American who has the means to call the aids stations and ask what food or medicines you could donate. I understand that potable water is in short supply, so water purification tablets would be useful as well as dried goods, tents and blankets, or even bottled water. I'd like to urge all Americans to help those in the world who most need it, during their desperate time of need.

No questions, thank you guys for coming out."

---

I want my President to lead not only in time of War, but in times of disaster and famine. We should ACT, and be actly be trying to get the public behind the cause and helping out in any way they can.

Sitting back in Crawford, clearing brush for a bicycle trail, pondering at how bad it would suck to be swallowed by an ocean, isn't exactly being helpful to the utmost degree.

 

[TragicMonkey]

He could give a statement of sympathy like every other god-damned leader in the world has. The rest of the world sympathised with the US when she was hit on 9/11. Why is reciprication such a big deal?

It would show that he gives a toss about foreign nations like the ones hit by the tsunami. There's a slight international preception that he couldn't care less.

Well, the man's a jerk. We knew that already, and would still think it even if he had made a moving speech. "Look at the jerk pretending to care", etc. It's probably too late now, because anything he says now will just make it even worse that he waited so long.

My personal theory is that he was initially convinced it was Judgment Day, and didn't want to badmouth the Lord's work only to come face-to-face with Jesus II next minute. By the time his advisors taught him what a tidal wave was, it was too late.

 

[webfusion]

bush has a lot of bush

Question was raised by HarryKeogh --- why does the President spend so much time on his ranch "clearing brush" ?

It is possible that he has a bit of a problem with too much wild marijuana weed!

 

[HarryKeogh]

Not to be personal, but I notice that nobody here is so deeply moved that they cannot be posting to internet message boards.

I'm not the President and millions of people aren't judging me by my actions.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Consider this: Is Clinton supposed to keep his mouth shut? Why should he? But Bush is the one that people are listening for. It's freakin' amazing that we have to wait until this morning for Bush to speak out. That's why the most well known American leader to have spoken out until now is an ex-president. Bush ceded the field to Clinton, and it's an outrageous abrogation of his responsibility to represent our nation.

Clinton's a notorious spotlight hog. Blink, and you've given him a chance to rush the podium. I voted for the guy, and think he did an okay job as president, but I don't imagine he actually cares about anything or anyone other than himself. Which makes him no different from most politicians, heck, most people.

But it was a stupid lack of PR sagacity on Bush's part, or the part of his advisors, not to make a statement as soon as possible. Whether he meant it or not, because what's important in politics is making empty gestures that the masses can take to heart as reassurances of the basic goodness of their leaders. Did he do the same for the Bam earthquake? I don't remember a fuss over him not making a statement then.

 

[TragicMonkey]

I'm not the President and millions of people aren't judging me by my actions.

So, are you angry at Bush for not feeling sad, or for not publicly stating that he's sad, as a political PR move?

If you wanted him to make a speech for PR, look good, reasons, and he wasn't sincerely sad, wouldn't he be a hypocrite? And if he were genuinely sad, and made a moving speech, and won brownie points for it, wouldn't he then be exploiting tragedy for his own popularity gain?

Sincere exploiter, or unfeeling faker? Nice choices.

Or is it merely a disgust at his lack of PR awareness? That's a fairly trivial thing to be upset over, considering the disaster in question.

I hate the man, but even I can see that no matter what he does, there'll be something to object to.