Drive Yourself Sane with John Bolton

[President Bush]

When confronted with a difficult or seemingly insoluble problem I ask: What am I assuming about this situation? Can I assume something different? What happens if I do? Is what I'm assuming here so? How can I test this? What observations can I make that may show that this isn't so?

 

[demon]

Hey, he`ll be fine so long as he remembers Rumsfelds guide to metaphysics:


"Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know."

 

[Mephisto]

OR, he could take a tip from the boss

The relations with, uhh -- Europe are important relations, and they've, uhh -- because, we do share values. And, they're universal values, they're not American values or, you know -- European values, they're universal values. And those values -- uhh -- being universal, ought to be applied everywhere.
-- Dubya goes "values crazy" in press conference with EU dignitaries, White House, Jun. 20, 2005

 

[RandFan]

Hey, he`ll be fine so long as he remembers Rumsfelds guide to metaphysics:

Why metaphisycs? ???

"Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know."

A logical and rational statement. Do you not understand it? Would you like an explanation or example?

 

[aerocontrols]

Why metaphisycs? ???


A logical and rational statement. Do you not understand it? Would you like an explanation or example?

When people I dislike say things I can't understand, it's because they're stupid.

 

[Mycroft]

A few times this sock puppet has been really funny, but as often as not misses the mark.

Bolton: Love him or hate him, everyone can agree he needs a decent haircut.

 

[demon]

RandFan:
"A logical and rational statement."

Yeah, whatever...it`s also the sort of bollocks and weasel words that allows Rumsfeld and his ilk to slip and slide their way out of taking responsiblity for anything that they screw up.

"Oh, ain`t my fault guv, afterall there are known knowns like Iraq has a hell of a lot of oil, and there are things we know we know like where Saddam has his WMD stored (absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, remember that`s a known known or is it a unknown known?), and then we also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know and so can`t be held responsible for, like how many American soldiers will be killed in our illegal war for example, or how many innocent Iraqi`s will be killed by our "mistakes", and how many prisoners will be tortured to death in out jails, but hey they are known unknows so don`t look at me when another six soldiers are killed today or another prisoner dies in our custody, it was one of those known unknown things, know what I mean?."

 

[Orwell]

Am I the only one who thinks that Bolton looks like Yosemite Sam? Hell, I think he even thinks like Yosemite Sam!

Do you want Yosemite Sam to be your next UN ambassador?

 

[Manny]

Bolton: Love him or hate him, everyone can agree he needs a decent haircut.

You know, the scary thing is that he's probably got a wife at home and he keeps the bi-color dyed walrus thing going because she digs it.

 

[Manny]

Do you want Yosemite Sam to be your next UN ambassador?

Honestly? Yosemite Sam is about the only person I'd favor over Bolton for the job. Bolton's perfect if one believes that the UN has a chance ever to be important again. Since I don't, Yosemite is a better choice.

 

[peptoabysmal]

Do you want Yosemite Sam to be your next UN ambassador?

I'd prefer Yosemite Sam instead of Pepé Le Pew.

 

[Orwell]

I'd prefer Yosemite Sam instead of Pepé Le Pew.

There you go, french bashing again!

You know, all I can say to this is...


Daffy Duck for Prez!

(He can't do worse than you know who...)

 

[Mycroft]

You know, the scary thing is that he's probably got a wife at home and he keeps the bi-color dyed walrus thing going because she digs it.

I was thinking there is a strong chance she cuts his hair for him. Every four months, if he needs it or not.

 

[Ryokan]

(He can't do worse than you know who...)

Voldemort?!?

 

[Manny]

I was thinking there is a strong chance she cuts his hair for him. Every four months, if he needs it or not.

"Veto me like an anti-Israel Security Council resolution, baby!"

 

[Orwell]

Voldemort?!?

BINGO!


Give the man a cigar!

 

[RandFan]

Yeah, whatever...it`s also the sort of bollocks and weasel words...

NO! It is a logical and rational statement. You really don't get this do you?

 

[President Bush]

Reports that say that something hasn't happened are always interesting to me, because as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know.

How unknown is a known unknown if unknown knowns know known knowns?

 

[demon]

"How unknown is a known unknown if unknown knowns know known knowns?"


Hmmmm, but is there absence of evidence of known unknows if there is not evidence of absence of known knowns?

That is the question.

 

[Manny]

How unknown is a known unknown if unknown knowns know known knowns?

Less unknown than an unknown unknown. The remainder of Sec. Rumsfeld's statement is "But there are also unknown unknowns, the ones we don't know we don't know."

Like or dislike Rumsfeld, RandFan is absolutely correct that the statement is rational and correct. Indeed, they are words by which a wise person lives.