AP: Bush Teleconference With Soldiers Staged

[deminks]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051013/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_iraq_8

WASHINGTON - It was billed as a conversation with U.S. troops, but the questions President Bush asked on a teleconference call Thursday were choreographed to match his goals for the war in Iraq and Saturday's vote on a new Iraqi constitution.

As she spoke in Washington, a live shot of 10 soldiers from the Army's 42nd Infantry Division and one Iraqi soldier was beamed into the Eisenhower Executive Office Building from Tikrit — the birthplace of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"I'm going to ask somebody to grab those two water bottles against the wall and move them out of the camera shot for me," Barber said.

"OK, so let's just walk through this," Barber said. "Captain Kennedy, you answer the first question and you hand the mike to whom?"

"Captain Smith," Kennedy said.

"Captain. Smith? You take the mike and you hand it to whom?" she asked.

"Captain Kennedy," the soldier replied.

And so it went.

[Jack_Dawson]

1. This just in: Water is Wet

:beer:

[Pacifist Patriot]

36. Indeed

[VegasWolf]

44. Don't forget to vote up this article, it is being FReeped! nt

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

73. Just did

It's at 3 1/2 stars with 2092 votes

[UpInArms]

87. my sister told me that she saw

this story about the staged photo-op on mainstream tv news today.

I don't think the FReepers are going to be able to keep the lid on too tight.

[barb162]

96. It was all over the news todyay; hilarious

[LIBERALNAVYVET]

79. It figures

ONLY SHRUB WOULD STOOP THIS LOW. IF CLINTON DID THIS.... THE MEDIA WOULD EAT HIM ALIVE. BUSH NEEDS TO BE IMPEACHED

[radfringe]

101. what made me smile

was that the media is actually reporting this as a "staged" / "scripted" event

someone is pulling the curtain away and revealing the HOCUS-POTUS

[soleft]

2. He is so utterly and completely toast

[BlueEyedSon]

7. Yeah, once you've lost AP...

[Imagevision]

114. Bush ran his entire election campaign with pre-screened thousands

getting together a group of 12 people with scripts under proper direction is cake? -- except this time the media taped the sham and exposed this group (Pentagon employee's) for what they are, -- people in desperation especially George!

[bunny planet]

37. I'm beginning to wonder whether or not the neocons are setting Jr. up to

be jettisoned, he's certainly outlived whatever usefulness he had, isn't up for re-election and has become a liability. What a perfect way to deflect any focus on them, let His Fraudulency become the pinata while they figure out what to do next to derail Fitz and/or start a war in Syria, or Iran, or Venezuela or whereever.

[PinkyisBlue]

100. Good Point. I'm wondering the same thing.

I thought after Katrina the neo-cons would cut Bush loose but it didn't happen then. However, the media is feeling a lot more free to criticize Bush and the administration; maybe the corporate powers are realizing what a liability he is.

I think that the Bush dynasty, with Senior Bush at the helm, is too powerful for the neocons to cause any actual harm to Junior, or to even cut him out of the operations.

As happy as I am that the truth about Bushco is getting out, I can't help but be wary about what is coming next. Something is up; these criminals aren't going to stop now.

Why all the talk about bird flu suddenly? Do you think David Kelly's "suicide" may have had something to do with this? He was an expert in microbiological WMDs, wasn't he? Just a thought. I can't feel too happy just yet.

[SquireJons]

103. I've been saying for some time now...

Shrub better not ride in any convertibles in Dallas. One little bullet and the pugs have their 'anti-Kennedy' martyr. Once he has outlived his usefulness, it seems to me to be a logical next step. They have portrayed Reagan as the conservative answer to FDR, and now all they need is someone to counter the Kennedy national myth. It may be Machiavellian, but it's the way they think.

[bunny planet]

131. so you think they'd try and take His Fraudulency out ?

Why bother, you know he's going to have a full blown, hissy fit, 19th nervous breakdown soon probably live and on the tee vee.

[soleft]

115. I said this after the guitar shot during Katrina

[Imagevision]

117. Bunny, Bush the perfect Manchurian candidate for neocons

serving their purposes and when the masses continue to grow in number seeing thru this crooked administration, Bush has outlived his usefullness.


http://www.downingstreetmemo.com/

[SteppingRazor]

3. But... but... in a W.H. press conference earlier today...

Scott McClellan said that it wasn't scripted at all.

You mean... you mean... he... GASP!! HE LIED?!!!

Say it ain't so!!!!

[Bumblebee]

25. It was for purely TECHNOLOGICAL reasons, don't you know?

they could ask him any questions they wanted to, including why he is such an incompetent ass -- but they genuinely like him, they really, really like him, Americans and Iraqis alike. You guys are just such cynics! :)

Interesting that all that will probably bring even more MSM attention to -- and mention of -- the Irish interviewer and her experience with Bush. Froomkin already did it but now it will get more of a play.

[progressivebydesign]

57. Even better.. Scotty accused the reporter of doubting the troops sincerity

Turned it around to try and make the reporter look as though he didn't support the troops. I know it's not right to compare the bush admin. to the nazis.. but.. they must have read many of their political playbooks.

[barb162]

95. I don't know what was more embarassing today, Bush or Scottie

[wanpete]

4. um..who would have thought this was staged????

and the shrubs hits just keep on coming... I tell you what georgie...psttt, lean over and hear me on this one. forget miers withdrawing her name...how about you withdraw your presidency and call it quits? it just doesn't seem to be working out for you now. think about it will you?

[tex-wyo-dem]

5. See what happens with turdblossom isn't around to run the show...

the whole charade gets exposed.

Poor, poor shub...he's in over his head now.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Can anybody name one 'real' thing about this idiot?

[BlueEyedSon]

9. His hubris?

[tex-wyo-dem]

11. He likes being king...

or at least he used to.

[belle]

30. His hair? I think that's still his own hair.

Probably his teeth, too; they don't tend to make little ratlike dentures like that.

[tavalon]

35. Yes

His coke and alcohol damaged brain. It's small, it's stupid, but it is sadly real.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

8. Toast? Just wait til the late night comedians and the Daily Show get this

OH MY GAWD, and I am an agnostic.

this is too cool to ignore, and i have to get going. dammit.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Isn't it an abuse of power

to use troops, especially during war time, has props?

[tex-wyo-dem]

15. Everything about this administration has been abuse of power...

what's one more to add to the list?

[Gnostic]

83. It's been done same way during every war (nt)

[SquireJons]

104. Really?

I'm not old enough to remember anything before Vietnam, but I don't recall any 'conversations with the troops' in the Balkan crisis or the first Gulf War. Seems to me that this is a new twist from the control freaks. It has Roves dick slime all over it.

But, is it just me, or do they seem to be getting desperate? At this point they must really be preying for the rapture, because everything they do is so obviously a quick fix that won't achieve anything. There is no plan for tomorrow; just todays spin for yesterdays crisis. And now they can't even do a good job of controlling the message. The ship is sinking and I expect to see many a fleeing rat in the coming months.

[napi21]

12. Who is Barber? Who's she work for?

Is this really her fault, or did some engineer somewhere screw up?

Ohhhh, some people are going to be PISSED!!!!!

[punpirate]

23. Barber works for the White House...

... communications office, I think.

[napi21]

28. But wouldn't this be a problem caused by an engineer?

I'm not very familiar with that total operation, but it seems to me this slip-up was caused by some engineer flipping the wrong switch...or the right one and the wrong time!

I don't think the person on the mic has any control of that.

[punpirate]

32. Well, yes, probably...

... unless an engineer is also getting a bit fed up with the way things are going. :)

[blogslut]

43. I just saw A Face in the Crowd for the first time the other day...

Don't piss off the technicians. They'll either fuck you up or turn their back while someone else does the fupping. ;)

[TomInTib]

29. Deputy assistant defense secretary

Whatever in the heck that is

[Gnostic]

84. Another worthless high payed and payed off beaurocrat

[dsewell]

13. The Potemkin presidency

and there is not even a little man behind the curtain this time.

[Bravo411]

14. No Shit it was staged !!!!

Everything that they do is staged. Just take a look at his famous town hall meetings.

[54anickel]

16. Good lord I'm gonna puke. I knew I shouldn't have read the entire

article.

[LynnTheDem]

17. This is called BLOWBACK; just keep killin' reporters in Iraq

and this is what ya get; TRUTHFUL REPORTING.

Lovin' it!

[highplainsdem]

18. NPR has audio of the rehearsal online. Link

to the DU topic about it (with a link to that NPR page):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5053451

[dubyaD40web]

19. HE IS TOAST!

After everything else in the news that is bringing him down, this happens. I see this as the "official" end to the Bush administration.

[drfresh]

78. My jaw dropped when I saw it

Saw this on Countdown tonight, and watching the "Q&A session" was just painful. I don't like Bush, but I actually felt bad for him and the pathetic nature of the situation. The scripting was SO obvious, almost as obvious as the Administration's desperation now. Yeah, I think he's toast all right.

If I was Bush, I'd resign and find a new hobby. Being president just can't be fun for him anymore.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. The sun rises in the east

[belle]

21. Ladies and gentlemen, it's President Milli Vanilli!

hahaha loser.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

26. That's f'd up. I hope I didn't ruin my keyboard by spitting all over it.nt

[eppur_se_muova]

70. LOL! Absolutely dead-on assessment

Of course, Bush could never *really* lip-sync...takes too much talent.

[Horse with no Name]

77. Not only that

Milli Vanilli guys had great hair! Bush doesn't even have that.

[Miss Chybil]

91. ROFLMAO!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Stockholm]

105. LOL

:applause:

[Dora]

116. You got it! n/t

[leveymg]

22. Even NPR (All Things Conservative) reported it that way

I couldn't believe it. The NPR reporter actually reported something more than just the usual soundbite of Bush's speech. Said that the soldiers were asking scripted questions that had been practiced with a stand-in earlier in the day.

Even with a fixed audience, Dubya sounded beat up. He's losing it under intensifying media scrutiny. :7

[mokawanis]

34. The rhetorical preznit

It reminded me of the town-hall meetings were people stood and said crap like "I just want to thank you for being our President". Real challenging.

[leveymg]

38. Even with friends, W still comes off defensive and tongue-tied.

He can't even remember to smile and say, "Thank you" at appropriate times.

If he were a five-year-old, his parents would be contantly apologizing for him, and most would quickly learn to just leave him home with the sitter and the TV.

Why didn't Poppy and Babs? Thanks a lot - it's all really their fault.

[Lorien]

64. He's losing it under his first taste of ANY scrutiny

up until now he's gotten a pass on damn near everything.

[PinkyisBlue]

99. He's losing it

He can't wait to get back to his pretzels and Jim Bean. All this photo-oping is hard work!!

[LynnTheDem]

24. OMG!!! AP PRINTED A FACT SHOWING BUSH = STUPID LIAR!!!

"You've got tremendous support here at home," Bush said.

Less than 40 percent in an AP-Ipsos poll taken in October said they approved of the way Bush was handling Iraq. Just over half of the public now say the Iraq war was a mistake.

Wow. I am impressed, AP!

[natrat]

54. they are letting the press corps go on this

listening to the mcllelan whore press briefing you could tell they were setting scotty up to spew yet more lies. War is peace. Lies are truths.

[darkism]

27. Damn liberal media!

How DARE they print such ... umm, truths ... about Our Great Leader?

I love it! :D

[deadparrot]

31. ON CNN NOW. nt

[RedEarth]

33. Bwahahahaha ..... pathetic monster

[Judi Lynn]

39. Bush Teleconference With Soldiers Staged

Bush Teleconference With Soldiers Staged
President Bush Teleconference With U.S. Troops Was Choreographed to Match His Goals for Iraq War
By DEB RIECHMANN Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON Oct 13, 2005 — It was billed as a conversation with U.S. troops, but the questions President Bush asked on a teleconference call Thursday were choreographed to match his goals for the war in Iraq and Saturday's vote on a new Iraqi constitution.

"This is an important time," Allison Barber, deputy assistant defense secretary, said, coaching the soldiers before Bush arrived. "The president is looking forward to having just a conversation with you."

Barber said the president was interested in three topics: the overall security situation in Iraq, security preparations for the weekend vote and efforts to train Iraqi troops.

As she spoke in Washington, a live shot of 10 soldiers from the Army's 42nd Infantry Division and one Iraqi soldier was beamed into the Eisenhower Executive Office Building from Tikrit the birthplace of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1210762&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

[AllyCat]

40. Really? How shocking! I never would have guessed it... nt

[marmar]

41. SHoCKing!

More PRAVDA-like bullshit from the Bush administration. Fake terror alerts in New York. Phoney chats with soldiers sitting there like potted plants. BushAmerica, don't ya love it?

[truebrit71]

42. And yet again they link 9/11 and the Iraqi invasion...

..GOD i hate these fuckers...

[malaise]

46. Brian Williams will discuss on NBC news. n/t

[DesertRat]

45. As real as Bush's Thanksgiving turkey in Iraq. n/t

[burythehatchet]

47. an entry from the message board for that article

AND I VOTED FOR HIM !!!!!!


SOMEBODY BITCH-SLAP ME NOW

by: where_is_mister_toad 10/13/05 05:42 pm
Msg: 42868 of 42930
12 recommendations

[MaineDem]

48. Using soldiers for propaganda like this is the lowest form of slime

Bush deserves more than a slap on the wrist for this sort of action.

My veteran husband is outraged!

[Skittles]

56. it is very egregious, MaineDem

he is using troops as propaganda props to justify his abuse of the troops

[llmart]

72. Even more of a crime......

is using soldiers for cannon fodder for his little war for oil profits.

[Nothing Without Hope]

49. ***Olbermann covers the scripted photo-op & lying press conf TONIGHT***

From today's emailed Countdown newsletter about the show tonight (MSNBC, 8pm and midnight ET). The entire emailed newletter, which is titled ”That ‘Unscripted” TV Moment,” is posted here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=315x22899
(Note that at the end of the email are instructions on how to subscribe to the emailing list.)

Subject: That "Unscripted" TV Moment

Date: October 13, 2005 4:01:08 PM EDT

------------------------------------------------------
Tonight on Countdown
------------------------------------------------------

A handpicked group of U.S. troops told President George W. Bush on Thursday they believed the Iraqi people were eager to vote in a weekend referendum on an Iraqi constitution. In a carefully scripted event, Bush spoke to 10 U.S. troops and an Iraqi soldier in a video teleconference about preparations for the Saturday vote, which is critical to U.S. aims for democracy in Iraq and creating conditions for the ultimate withdrawal of American forces. Bush, suffering job approval ratings below 40 percent, the lowest of his presidency, is eager to show progress in Iraq as the American death toll nears 2,000. A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll last month said only 32 percent of Americans approved of his handling of Iraq. http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N13627152.htm

We will have excerpts of this bizarre teleconference.

And Scott McClellan's press briefing today... notable... you won't want to miss this.

Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann broadcasts LIVE at 8 pm et, and the count is never complete without you. Join us.

(snip - for the rest of the Countdown emailed newsletter, see this post:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=315x22899)

[malaise]

61. Anderson Cooper is about

to deal with it after commercials.

[Nothing Without Hope]

67. That's good news too, but Keith will really flay them to the bone

Cooper's style generally isn't as strong and biting - will be interesting to see if he rises to the occasion.

In the same press conference, McClellan accused Helen Thomas of not opposing the fight against terrorism - his charming way of trying to intimidate the llisteners into compliance as usual. Let's hope Cooper and Olbermann and others pick up on that part of the bizarre incident as well as on the blatant lying about the staged photo-op.

[malaise]

69. Oh yes - this is a ball

hahahhahaha

[IdaBriggs]

50. Yahoo/AP: Bush Teleconference With Soldiers Staged

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051013/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_iraq_10;_ylt=AmyNCxBfluoEgEWEmralzZFqP0AC;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

Bush Teleconference With Soldiers Staged

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer 26 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - It was billed as a conversation with U.S. troops, but the questions President Bush asked on a teleconference call Thursday were choreographed to match his goals for the war in Iraq and Saturday's vote on a new Iraqi constitution.

"This is an important time," Allison Barber, deputy assistant defense secretary, said, coaching the soldiers before Bush arrived. "The president is looking forward to having just a conversation with you."

Barber said the president was interested in three topics: the overall security situation in Iraq, security preparations for the weekend vote and efforts to train Iraqi troops.

As she spoke in Washington, a live shot of 10 soldiers from the Army's 42nd Infantry Division and one Iraqi soldier was beamed into the Eisenhower Executive Office Building from Tikrit — the birthplace of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

(more -- they detail out the rehearsal -- its beautiful!)

[aresef]

51. HAHAHA! Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

And what's that sound? Is it Bush's approval rating dropping? Why yes it is. When it rains it pours.

Oh Countdown will be great tonight.

[paineinthearse]

52. Permission to breathe Sir

Brings to mind this Ray Davies song.



Yes Sir, no Sir
Where do I go Sir
What do I do Sir
What do I say

Yes Sir, no Sir
Where do I go Sir
What do I do Sir
How do I behave

Yes Sir, no Sir
Permission to speak Sir
Permission to breathe Sir
What do I say, how do I behave, what do I say

So you think that you've got ambition
Stop your dreaming and your idle wishing
You're outside and there ain't no admission
To our play
Pack up your ambition in your old kit bag
Soon you'll be happy with a packet of fags
Chest out stomach in
Do what I say, do what I say
Yes right away

Yes Sir, no Sir
Where do I go Sir
What do I do Sir
What do I say

Yes Sir, no Sir
Permission to speak Sir
Permission to breathe Sir
What do I say, how do I behave, what do I say

Doesn't matter who you are
You're there and there you are
Everything Is in its place
Authority must be maintained
And then we know exactly where we are
Let them feel that they're important to the cause
But let them know that they are fighting for their homes
Just be sure that they're contributing their all
Give the scum a gun and make the bugger fight
And be sure to have deserters shot on sight
If he dies we'll send a medal to his wife

Yes Sir, no Sir
Please let me die Sir
I think this life is affecting my brain
Yes Sir, no Sir
Three bags full Sir
What do I do Sir, what do I say
What do I say, how do I behave, what do I say

[zonkra]

53. And then you hand the mike to whom?

"Uh, Captain Joe Goebbels, ma'am. Do you want me to tell the President that he's the best President we've ever had, or is that too Harriet Miers? If I did, would he get me the hell out of this goddamned place?"

[Canuckistanian]

92. Yeah, "would it get me out of this hellhole faster?"

"Yes, sir!, No problem at all, sir"

[Systematic Chaos]

55. My favorite snippet of the whole article:

<The president also got praise from the Iraqi soldier who was part of the chat.

"Thank you very much for everything," he gushed. "I like you.">



Now, if only that "gushing" could have involved some semen stains on a blue dress. THEN we could get that fucking fraud to dance the Perp Walk. :grr:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

58. So maybe my perception was correct about him being bluescreened into

the visit to the rescue/relief command center, where everyone seemed to be ignoring him...

[Art_from_Ark]

134. Wow, The Hologram Pretzeldent

Getting his marching orders from "Ziggy" Rove

[Nothing Without Hope]

59. OLBERMANN will be covering this tonight - info here plus COMPILATION of

threads on the scripted photo-op plus McClellan's lying press conference - in which, by the way, Scotty also accused Helen Thomas of opposing the war on terrorism!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5054730
Thread title: ***Olbermann covers the scripted photo-op & lying press conf TONIGHT***

[louis-t]

60. Very predictable response to the "100 battalions" lie.

Media called him on it so Karl came up with this.

[Solly Mack]

62. well duh

it was obviously staged to anyone watching

well, anyone with a (at least) brain stem

[ElectroPrincess]

63. So true!

Another DU member astutely mentioned that he's seen small actors in "Grade School Plays" with more impromptu grace and talent that Bush's piss poor performance today.

Hey, the poor troops must have been given an order, "Remember, look happy and smile ALL THE DAMN TIME you are on camera!" And they did. :P It reminded me when I was 16 years old competing for the "Miss Snowflake" contest in my little town. Our lips began to crack from all the wetting of lips and Goofy-Ass smiling we were ALSO ordered to do. Those poor troops! I bet is was sheer torture and I could sense a glimpse of "fear" in some of their faces in between the lapses of such a staged smiling festival.

KKKarl must be "out of the net" because this went over like a lead balloon.

[Solly Mack]

66. I couldn't even work up any anger because it was so desperate and sad

I was prepared to be angry - as I always am when watching Shrub, but the entire performance was just so pathetic. I was almost embarrassed for him...goodness knows he's never embarrassed for himself.

[CONN]

65. McClellan: President was trying to engage in a back-and-forth..

Yep, lies and more lies -- from WH press briefing:
<snip>
Q But we asked you specifically this morning if there would be any screening of questions or if they were being told in any way what they should say or do, and you indicated no.

MR. McCLELLAN: I don't think that's what the question was earlier today. I think the question earlier today was asking if they could ask whatever they want, and I said, of course, the President was -- and you saw --

Q And I asked if they were pre-screened.

MR. McCLELLAN: You saw earlier today the President was trying to engage in a back-and-forth with the troops. <snip>

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/10/20051013-2.html

[Eugene]

68. The old gimmicks don't work anymore.

And the MSM is finally calling Bush & Co out on their deceptions.
Late but still welcome.

The wheels are coming off!

[Fluffdaddy]

71. I'm Shocked................NOT

[progressivebydesign]

74. Here's a local take on Capt Kennedy's experience.

http://www.komotv.com/stories/39727.htm

I found it interesting that the weather guy for KOMOTV in Seattle wrote the story, and that he totally dismissed the scripting we all heard with our own ears as though it was nothing at all, and claimed just by one wire reporter.

Notice how they used the officers for this.

[Joey Liberal]

75. Bush is the worst president ever

Bush is Hitler with a smirk.

[CONN]

76. Caught on tape, aide admits staged after first lying

Earlier today, Pentagon communications aide Allison Barber “insisted” to reporters that questions during President Bush’s photo-op teleconference “were not rehearsed,” and that no “specific questions” were prepared.

Unfortunately, she was caught on tape acknowledging just the opposite — that she had “drilled through” “all six” of the questions that Bush was going to ask.

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/10/13/video-photo-op/

[rpannier]

80. To be fair

Every President stages those interviews. Anyone who thinks that any president who meets with the troops on tv isn't doing it as a photo-op, that the troops aren't pre-screened and pre-selected is fooling themselves.

[progressivebydesign]

85. Huh? Prove that. Find us a link of any other President exactly like this

Obviously, troops are selected for chances to meet the president. But.. please prove to all of us that any other president has had a scripted conversation live with soldiers. Where's the link?

And I really resent the idea that all presidents meet with troops for a photo op. I disagree. Some real presidents actually give a shit about the people they send in harm's way.

[rpannier]

88. You can be as offended as you like

But, Clinton did in 93...How do I know, I was at Fort Carson, he went to Ft. Drum where friends of mine served and they all said the people whom he spoke to in front of the cameras were pre-screened and selected as to not make the President look bad.
You can ask anyone who served in the military in the 1980's when just about ANY politician came to their base and it was televised. The soldiers selected were screened as to not embarass the politician visiting. This goes for when both Reagan and Bush.
I'm sorry you're offended by my comment. I have no link for you. I only have first hand sources from people who were there.
Because they are pre-screened doesn't mean the President, Senator or Congressman doesn't care. It means they're protecting their public image.

[0007]

93. No tickie no laundry!

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

97. you're just wrong

no linkee?

[rpannier]

132. Here's a link.

Crooksandliars.com NBCs Nightly News: Pans Bush's Troop Photo-Op. Watch the interview with David Gergen.

Edited because my initial reply was a sophmoric, immature post that was demeaning.

[Bridget Burke]

111. Well, since Clinton was so hated....

I'm sure that accounts of this event have made it online.

Point us in the right direction.

[MsUnderstood]

128. you are explaining a different situation

You are saying all soldiers are screened-that makes sense.

THIS SHOWS the administration not only screened the soldiers but gave them teh exact words and actions they would use when talking to the president.

It is one thing to keep away a soldier who might voice out against the president.

It is another to give the soldier a seat and say "when the president asks you your question, take a breath and wait 2 seconds then tell him this information".

[louis-t]

127. I imagine all presidents do this

However, these people lie about it, even when 'outed', they still lie. He has done MUCH worse than this, but whatever it takes to get the press to smell blood in the water will be fine with me. Every phony thing this bunch does from now on will be ridiculed.

[rpannier]

133. I wish to say

that I apologise on one level. I misread your post...somehow I missed (or ignored) your first sentence. For that I do apologise. But if you go to crooksandliars.com, in the Brian Williams piece it is mentioned that Presidents often use soldiers for photo-ops. As to scripting that I cannot prove. If that's how I came across in my original post I apologise. My only intent was to point out that using soldiers for political gain is not new.

[Trajan]

81. "Stovepiping" soldier opinion ....

Pretending that ALL soldiers are Bush voters and absolutely support everything from cutting food stamps to tax cuts for the rich ...

Oh .... and yes: they prefer to NOT fight alongside the children of the rich and powerful, cause they want them to be comfortable and get rich too, so they (the soldier) can find a job cleaning the many cars the rich chilren own .....

Yeah ..... Viva Boosh ! ...

[Gnostic]

82. Hilarious

This is good stuff. The kind of stuff that makes me just sit back after reading it, shake my head with a severely sarcastic smile on my face, and wonder aloud to myself why the American people still stand for such obvious propaganda and nonsense.

But what I really always wonder, is how on earth guys like McClellan can keep a straight face as they lie, but that's another topic.

Half of them were officers, captains, etc. One token female NCO. Not one single real grunt. And I can tell you how the "grunts" feel. It's not hard, just get on a Yahoo chatroom and talk to a few. You'll get the drift soon enough. They hate it.

No matter. The blind sheeples still will watch this tripe and wave the flag. The rest of us will just sigh with exasperation and boredom.

Edit:
By the way, consider this thread voted for.

[progressivebydesign]

86. I wonder how any people could still support Bush, don't you?

I watched those clips of this today, and watched Bush struggling and looking so out of it and clueless, and I think.. 'can't even his most ardent supporters see this and have that sinkin' feeling?'.

[WLKjr]

89. We all knew sooner or later

they would get caught. This time it was televised nationally and anyone who wasn't deaf at the time could hear the whole thing being staged.


History will look back on GWB and say, "Wow, 8 years in the history of the U.S. were completely false. The whole thing was staged and acted out with a not so worthy of an emmy cast. And the sad part of it is, a lot of people bought it hook, line, and sinker."

[ElectroPrincess]

107. It's like in the flick The Wizard of Oz when ...

Little Todo (Dorothy's little Carin Terrier) scampered over and pulled back the curtain with his little teeth to REVEAL the true "gutless" ruler of the Land of Oz.

Oh, there's no place like THE TRUTH in the "land of Oz"! Especially within this our fastly forming corporate fascist USA media in absolute control of Amerikkka's "news" to the sheeple.

Sunshine is the best disinfectant INDEED!

[Carolab]

90. What was that about * throwing down his earpiece?

KO talked about it...I missed this so I don't know what he meant.

[0007]

94. Tis getting extremely obvious these days

[erpowers]

98. Doing Everything

One of the soldier said that the Iraqi soldiers are doing everything in the security situation for the upcoming election. My problem with this is how could the Iraqi soldiers be doing everything when there is only one batallion.

[eridani]

102. OK, if they can publish this behind the scenes stuff now--

--then wherethehell were they when they should have been reporting Bushie being wired for the debates last year, not to mention the Iraq invasion announcement, when the BBC or some other Brit media outlet caught him punching the air with his fist and saying "FEll good!"

[liberal N proud]

106. The real news here is the media coverage of this staged

propaganda bullshit.

[disndat]

119. The msm had to cover this.

Whoever released the rehearsal tape to the worldwide media is a hero, not unlike Cindy Sheehan. The msm had to follow-up after its release. As evidenced by the national shock waves generated , "this dog will hunt!" Some Repugs I know are finally jumping ship.:bounce:

[Earth_First]

108. The "Eisenhower Executive Office Building" in Tikrit

:puke:

[lectrobyte]

109. What incredible arrogance. We can only hope that the next time they

try such a stunt, some soldier decides they have had enough, FTA, and asks some unscripted questions, like that guy with Rummy about armor and equipment.

[Time for change]

110. This is what I found really chilling about this thing ---

The aide who was briefing them said something to the effect "And if anybody asks an unscripted question, Captain X, you will have the mike, so you can ... impress us all"

[MaineDem]

112. It's almost like this was a set-up to embarrass the Prez

I can't imagine WHY they would release the prep video. It's so blatantly a scripted event now. Without the video it was speculation.

That one statement by the aide sealed it.

[raccoon]

113. Ding, ding! We have a winner!

I think you're right, MaineDem, this WAS a setup.

The ones who wield the power are p.o. at him. But what's their agenda, I wonder? To make him the fall guy, make it look like he's the one who effed up every which way...not the Republican Party? Could that be it?

[emrenz]

118. They allowed it to be taped because they're stupid.

Plain and simple. This administration has NO CLUE as to how and why they do what they do. Now more than ever. They were used to gliding through life on their high approval ratings and that worked for awhile, but now that the worm has turned for them, they really don't know how to react. Even if they had not taped the "rehearsal" only an idiot would've believed that this wasn't staged. Everything this president does in public is and NEEDS TO BE neatly scripted. He can't handle spontaneity.

What kills me is the attempt to "dumbify" us. To make us believe little staged events like this where the chimp tells the soldiers that "America supports them" and the soldiers smile and ask scripted questions that results in the same old rhetoric being spewed in just a different forum is suddenly going to make us see the light and get behind this criminal action. It's truly frightening that they believe us to be this STUPID.

I think we all know who the stupid ones are.

The Reps are definitely backing off Bushy and know that they need to jump off this sinking ship to have even the slightest chance of any success in the 2006 elections.

[Time for change]

120. Come on, they're not THAT stupid

Even if * is, certainly his handlers aren't.

What I would like to know specifically is, how did all this information come to public light. Was it leaked, and if so, who leaked it?

[underpants]

121. Bush Thanks Soldiers in Rehearsed Talk (ABC)

Bush Talks With Soldiers in Teleconference, an Event Choreographed to Match Iraq Policy Goals

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1212494

A brief rehearsal ensued.

"OK, so let's just walk through this," Barber said. "Captain Kennedy, you answer the first question and you hand the mike to whom?"

"Captain Smith," Kennedy said.

"Captain. Smith? You take the mike and you hand it to whom?" she asked.

"Captain Kennedy," the soldier replied.

And so it went.

"If the question comes up about partnering how often do we train with the Iraqi military who does he go to?" Barber asked.

"That's going to go to Captain Pratt," one of the soldiers said.

[marbuc]

122. Treating the soldiers like idiots, that's rich. nt

[Sabriel]

123. He was particularly patronizing to the lone Iraqi soldier

It was along the lines of, "Whatchew got to say for yosself, boah?"

If he'd been there, he would've rubbed the guy's head, too.

[Rex]

124. The Pentagon denies any shenanigins

says the troops were NOT coached in any way. Next thing you know the Pentagon will be releasing statements that they caught OBL, won the war on terror and defeated the Devil.

The Pentagon is doing a 'Monica' on Bush, I hope someone saves the blue dress! :eyes:

[Double T]

125. And make sure you follow the script, dammit.......

I git brain lock if any one asks an unrehearsed question.

[underpants]

126. That one Master Sgt. was clearing reading her response

nothing against the soldiers they were just doing what they were told.

Again-who are you going to believe them or your lying eyes?

[Puglover]

129. Just watched Olbermans link

god, this is spooky and laughable. This buffoon is making us the laughing stock of the world.

[Barkley]

130. I wonder if the troops are going to get plastic turkey next month?

He's been doing this crap all along. The press is now doing their job!

[Orion The Hunter]

135. RE: Staged event

This administration is so utterly and completely, morally bankrupt...