Conservative Columnists Meet With Bush at White House

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003315487

Eight conservative columnists visited the White House yesterday to interview George W. Bush, and heard the president once again defend his Iraq War policies.

"(T)there are people out there that would like nothing more than to have another spectacular moment by killing the American people," Bush told the columnists, according to a transcript posted on U.S. News & World Report magazine's Web site. "And they're coming. ... That's why we need to be on the offense all the time. Iraq is the central part of this global war right now."

Columnists in attendance -- according to Michael Barone of U.S. News and Creators Syndicate -- included Barone, Tony Blankley of The Washington Times and Creators, Lawrence Kudlow of CNBC and Creators, Kathleen Parker and Charles Krauthammer of the Washington Post Writers Group, Daniel Henninger of The Wall Street Journal, Mark Steyn of the Chicago Sun-Times, and Byron York of National Review.

"Like many others who have been with Bush in the Oval Office, I have found him to be much more articulate and forceful in that setting than he often is in press conferences or in taking questions from traveling reporters," said Barone, who noted that the president began the meeting with lengthy opening remarks before taking questions from the columnists.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061025/25bushtranscript.htm

Transcript: The President's Interview with Print Media Columnists

<snip>

Bush: And my answer to it is, I see the threat, and will use American power to protect ourselves, and at the same time, try to create the first victory in this ideological – the first victories – in the ideological war of the 21st century.

So, much of the thinking and decision-making that I do now is based upon my belief that we're in this grand ideological struggle. It is a struggle between moderate people, and a struggle between ideologues who are totalitarian and kill to achieve an objective without conscience.

<snip>

The other thing that's really interesting about this particular part of the war on terror, and the overall war on terror, is we've got a military that is, one, full of decent, honorable, courageous people; two, who strongly support what we're doing – strongly. I find it really interesting that those most attuned with the stakes of the struggle are those who are right in the middle of the fight. And the reason I tell you that morale is high is because the re-enlistment rates are high and the sign-up rates are high. And everybody knows the stakes when they're signing up. They understand the rotations. You're a U. S. Marine, you understand you're there for seven months, home, and you're back. These guys are talking to people that have been two or three tours in Iraq. And yet, people are signing up, and they're saying, I want to do my duty.

And it's a remarkable country. They tell their parents, this is a – again, very unique in the sense that people are emailing their loved ones. I've worked rope lines and the wife says, I'm emailing my husband after the event. I said, tell her the commander – tell him the Commander-in-Chief respects him – send – and all of a sudden the guy – wow, Mom, I saw the President. It is amazing when there is that direct communication. The point is, is that when these people are motivated to fight these people, word gets back here and the families tell their friends, and their friends tell their friends. And it's just an interesting – it's just an interesting aspect of today's society.

As I say, people want to know, can you win? They're with us if we can win. If we're there and can't win, we're gone. If we can't win, I'll pull us out. If I didn't think it was noble and just and we can win, we're gone. I can't – I'm not going to keep those kids in there and have to deal with their loved ones. I cannot – I can't cover it up when I meet with a family who's lost a child. I cry, I weep, I hug. And I've got to be able to look them in the eye and say, we're going to win. I have to be able to do that. And I'm not a good faker.

[bullimiami]

1. they didnt meet to 'interview' him.

they went to get their marching orders from rove and a pep talk from the cheerleader in chief.

[BOSSHOG]

2. barone is one fucking constitution hating idiot

I get U. S. News and his columns are nothing but right wing lunatic ravings. Yo barone, of course bush is more comfortable when surrounded by ass kissing syncophants then in a mostly staged press conference where occasionally a real question comes out of left field.

[flordehinojos]

24. barone must be in sink with charles krauthammer another right wing

lunatic who likes to rave about bush.

[pwb]

3. bush is really showing his hand isn't he??

first radical right t v idiots, now columnists. what next? every born again minister in the country?

[gratuitous]

4. A shiny nickel awaits

I will send a shiny nickel to the next reporter who asks Chimpy:

"On October 26, 2006, you met with a number of conservative columnists to give them their marching orders for their reporting in the last two weeks before the 2006 mid-term elections. Do you plan on holding a similar meeting with progressive and liberal columnists (if any can be found at the major media outlets)? And a follow-up: You do realize that you are supposed to be the president of all of the people, not just the ones who share your income level or ideology?"

C'mon Washington reporters! Who wants a shiny new Jefferson?

[SaveOurDemocracy]

5. Make it 2 shiny nickels ...

I'll match ya. :)

[RamboLiberal]

6. Make it 3 shiny Nickles - The SOB went off record with them on

Iran. Wonder if he told them the bombing date for Shock and Awe Part Deux?

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061025/25bushtranscript_8.htm

Q: Can I ask you, Mr. President, about Iran?

THE PRESIDENT: Yes. We'll go off the record in a minute.

Q: Oh, I'm sorry.

THE PRESIDENT: Not on Iran.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061025/25bushtranscript_9.htm

THE PRESIDENT: I would hope to have it in a place where the Iranian program is not going ahead.

{Off-the-record comments redacted.}

Anyway, back on the record.

Q: Okay. I don't know how to read that.

THE PRESIDENT: No, no. You shouldn't read anything to it at all. I just want to make –

Q: Are you saying that a military attack is not feasible?

THE PRESIDENT: I'm not saying that at all. That's important. As a matter of fact, I said in Germany, in a press conference – will you take the military option off the table? I said, no. And I meant it.

[RamboLiberal]

7. Anyone know what the hell a 1441 guy is?

Again, I told you a predicate of my thinking is, is that I've got to give diplomacy a chance. And it's painful, and it irritates guys like Krauthammer because it's not nearly as – it just doesn't work very quickly. And, look, I understand the frustrations of it. I'm a 1441 guy, I've been through this. But it's in our interest, at least that's the decision I have made, that we pursue the diplomatic route on these difficult issues.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061025/25bushtranscript_11.htm

And shit he went off the record again with them on North Korea.

[Lexingtonian]

9. UN Resolution 1441 n/t

[RamboLiberal]

12. Thanks - I figured it was probably that

I was just trying to finish reading the transcript on my lunch hour.

It would be worth all of us perusing if for nothing else than to harvest all the crap he's spreading.

Here's the finish:

]i]THE PRESIDENT: Is frustrated that there's nobody else in the game.

Q: Yes.

THE PRESIDENT: I am satisfied that we, one, recognize the problem and we're addressing it. I am not satisfied to the extent that all hands are on deck yet. You're absolutely right.

Q: But we're five years in. How many more years –

THE PRESIDENT: Not really. We are four months – five months into the Maliki government. We are – I forgot – one year, one and a half years after Bremer, who did have a whole group of the all-hands-on-deck people. Yes, I understand the problem. And we're working it.

Okay, guys, I hope you enjoyed it. I enjoyed it. We ought to do this more often.

[Mithras61]

10. I think that refers to UN Resolution 1441

on the disarmament of Iraq. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UN_Security_Council_Resolution_1441">Here is a link to the Wikipedia article on Resolution 1441.

[rodeodance]

8. first Jr invites the RW talk show people, now the writers.

[ShortnFiery]

11. I can't believe that the Right Wingers savor being TOLD exactly

what to think and say. :shrug:

The term "easily led" is apt for those who adore the Bush-World Propaganda Artists. Goebbels is rolling over in his grave and rues that he was born seemingly too early. :P

The talking heads and RW commentators insult their base at every opportunity. Unfortunately their followers love these *Daddy* surrogates. Freud would have a field day with these losers. :thumbsdown:

[RamboLiberal]

13. Another interesting tidbit

Q: You said protecting the country is the number one issue. Some of us were talking the Karl Rove yesterday, and he said, the NRCC believes immigration is a better issue than national security. How does this –

THE PRESIDENT: That's fine. Look, you talk to the political – I'm just going to tell you what the President thinks.

Q: But you're going out campaigning.

THE PRESIDENT: I'm campaigning like mad, and I'm looking at people in the eye and say, you better have a government that does everything in its power to protect you from attack – because that's what I believe. That's what I'm living. And you're right here in the office where I get briefed every morning and it's on my mind. And I'm telling you it's on my mind, and I can't keep it off my mind. I was affected deeply by the attacks of September the 11th. It became clear to me that day that we were at war. And I didn't need a consultant or a guru or anything to tell me that. I know we're at war.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061025/25bushtranscript_14.htm

And here's one - what do I tell the lemmings Mr. President.

Q: I want to go on the air –

THE PRESIDENT: You want to say, 12 million people voted, or we killed Zarqawi.

Q: I want to go on the air tonight, I want some good news. I need some good news, sir.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I do, too.

Q: I really do.

THE PRESIDENT: You're talking to Noah about the flood. I do, too.

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061025/25bushtranscript_12.htm

[seafan]

14. This man is criminally insane!

From the Editor and Publisher:

Eight conservative columnists visited the White House yesterday (October 25, 2006) to interview George W. Bush, and heard the president once again defend his Iraq War policies.

"(T)there are people out there that would like nothing more than to have another spectacular moment by killing the American people," Bush told the columnists, according to a transcript posted on U.S. News & World Report magazine's Web site. "And they're coming. ... That's why we need to be on the offense all the time. Iraq is the central part of this global war right now."

"I know it looks grim right now," Bush said in those opening remarks, "but it has looked grim before in this war on terror. ... This stuff about 'stay the course' -- stay the course means, we're going to win. Stay the course does not mean that we're not going to constantly change."

Later, in answering a question from a columnist (the transcript didn't identify which columnists asked which question), Bush alluded to the media. "This war is on the TV screen every night," he said. "And I'm wise enough not to blame media for anything, but I also understand it's created quite a headwind -- the TV screens do."

Another columnist asked: "Isn't the problem that the American people were behind -- solidly behind -- this when you went in and you toppled the Taliban, when you go in and you topple Saddam. But when it just seems to be a kind of thankless semi-colonial policing defensive operation with no end -- I mean, where is the offense in this?"

Part of Bush's reply: "I share the same frustration you share." But he didn't answer the question directly.

Another columnist said even conservatives wonder if the U.S. is winning in Iraq, and asked: "How can you measure winning? The last couple of years there just doesn't seem to be any signals or signs that we're winning."

Bush answered: "That is the significant disadvantage we have in this war because the enemy gets to define victory by killing people."

God, help us remove this murderous tyrant from power.

[RamboLiberal]

15. And the propagandists that support this insane leader

This one wants the body counts reported ala Vietnam. Oh and note the diss at the Canadians!

Q: But there's quite a lot of those guys out there. The Canadians released this thing saying – because 20 or 30 of their guys have been killed in Afghanistan – and it turned out in one encounter they killed hundreds of bad guys. And these are Canadians who aren't even supposed to kill people, that's not what they do. (Laughter. )And wouldn't it, to be – as I understand it from guys out there, every time American troops encounter the enemy, the enemy die in large numbers. Why can't the American people hear that end of it?

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/061025/25bushtranscript_13.htm

[HuffleClaw]

16. a circle jerk?

sounds disgraceful.

[Supersedeas]

17. Notice how this Tough on Illegal Immigration Conservative WILT on Page

15 when the Frat Boy tells them they are wrong about his guest worker program being an Amenesty Program. NOT A FOLLOW-UP TO BE FOUND and no mention on Barron's Blog either.

Sad little lackies.

[katinmn]

18. "Stay the course does not mean that we're not going to constantly change."

Brilliant!

[nealmhughes]

19. 8 + Bush= 9 => 4 short of a full Black Mass. Should it not have been at

a crossroads at midnight?

[TheCowsCameHome]

20. Oh, goody. A sperm donors convention in the Oval Office.

How appropriate.

[stanwyck]

21. Hey, it's their legacy. The Goebbels and Goerings

of our generation.
They'll be in the old folks homes remembering this was the year they became the despised sycophants of the reviled Bush regime.
And their offspring will change their names and pretend Grandpa was somebody else.
Do you think Hitler's propagandists knew their fate? No. And neither do these lapdogs.

[cyberpj]

22. AGAIN? Dems should use this, saying he has to tell them how to think. nt

[Anakin Skywalker]

23. How Come Librul Columnists Don't Get To Meet With Chimpy?

Is he afraid of big, bad libruls? Maybe he will go crying to his mommy, eh? The mom with the beeeyooootiful mind!

[RamboLiberal]

25. Another Good Column on this meeting from E&P

<snip>

And there were, for me at least, some surprising revelations. Bush says, for example, that Gen. John Abizaid ("one of the really great thinkers") was the one who "came up with" the recent construct about the enemy in Iraq, "If we leave, they will follow us here." Bush then explains that this is what makes the Iraq struggle "really different from other wars we've been in." This completely overlooks the official U.S. line in trying to halt the communists in Vietnam and Korea, not to mention the Nazis and the Japanese in World War II.

<snip>

Another revealing moment comes when Bush flatly declares that only "25% or so" of Americans want the U.S. out of Iraq. In fact, a Gallup poll released this week shows that the number is actually 54% who want us out quickly -- within a year at most. Bush also mischaracterizes the war opponents, saying they "just don't believe in war," as if they are all pacifists.

Then he goes on: "I believe when you get attacked and somebody declares war on you, you fight back. And that's what we're doing." Of course, this ignores the fact that Iraq did not declare war on us -- but it's been so long now, maybe he's just forgotten.

A critical moment arrives when Bush announces, "And I'm trying to figure out a matrix that says things are getting better. I think that one way to measure is less violence than before, I guess. We'll have to see what happens here after Ramadan. I believe these people -- oh, I was going to tell you Abizaid believes Ramadan, no question, caused them to be more violent because he says there's some kind of reward during Ramadan for violence."

Memo to the president: Ramadan ended three days ago and the number of Americans killed continues to surge, with at least five killed in the past day alone.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/columns/pressingissues_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003315514