Bush administration defends fearless leader, takes cheap shot at Clinton

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Aid grows amid questions about Bush

Should vacationing president have spoken out?

By John F. Harris and Robin Wright

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6763683/

The Bush administration more than doubled its financial commitment yesterday to provide relief to nations suffering from the Indian Ocean tsunami, amid complaints that the vacationing President Bush has been insensitive to a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions.

Bush's deepened public involvement puts him more in line with other world figures. In Germany, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder cut short his vacation and returned to work in Berlin because of the Indian Ocean crisis, which began with a gigantic underwater earthquake. In Britain, the predominant U.S. voice speaking about the disaster was not Bush but former president Bill Clinton, who in an interview with the BBC said the suffering was like something in a "horror movie," and urged a coordinated international response.

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.

[NYC]

Biking, clearing brush, strolling.

Yes, actions do speak louder than words.

..."Actions speak louder than words," a top Bush aide said, describing the president's view of his appropriate role...

Nero fiddled while Rome burned, and Bush clears brush during this tragedy.

[Skittles]

1. actions speak lounder than words?

THE BASTARD IS STILL ON VACATION

And for GOD'S SAKE will someone PLEASE rescue that poor f***ing DOG already????????????????????

[mogster]

9. It's improper to laugh at times like this. But sometimes it's hard not to.

Good post, Skittles! :bounce:

[Lucky Luciano]

2. This emporer of ours is really off the charts in tactlessness.

[Fridays Child]

3. Yes, indeed. Empathy is eschewed by this administration...

...in favor of heartless disdain. They truly do not fathom how bizarre they are, do they?

[bluedeminredstate]

4. They're still afraid of him

He's a rock star who can visit countries and mingle with actual citizens, and not have tanks on the roads like El Chimperor did in Ireland.

President Clinton goes out in public in Ireland...







And Bush goes to Ireland too, but can't face the people...

[Bush was AWOL]

5. You know what, I think you're right

they are jelous. Clinton can visit other countries, where people do appreciate him...which makes him unlike shrub, who is not welcome in any country outside of the United States.

[Calvinist Basset]

22. Who says Bush is welcome here? eom

[magellan]

6. Excellent photos

That soldier at the bottom looks like a man with a mission. Is it lame duck season yet? lol

Clinton is beloved the world over to this day, much as he is here at home. I'm positive his words of sympathy towards the tsunami victims are appreciated far more than anything Bush** could hope to be told to say by his handlers.

[opihimoimoi]

7. The Wannabe Prez....always trying but never could "Get it"

so, instead, Lie Cheat Steal Deny Manipulate etc etc

He is such a fake.

[Spinzonner]

8. "Thank you. Now watch this drive."

[LostInAnomie]

10. "The president wanted to be fully briefed on our efforts."

Uhh... What was there to really be briefed about?

"There was a big wave that killed a TON of people and they need a lot of help."

I did it in 18 words. Why would it take a number of days to make a decision on that?

[RC]

11. Simple.

Actually helping people is a foreign concept to this administration.

[orpupilofnature57]

12. Thats a dog shrub, not a turd.President Clinton's legacy will make

massive jumps through history,shrubs mass dumps.

[slor]

13. "Cow..."

Maybe he is doing more important stuff, such as pointing out domestic farm animals to new WH press corp staff.

[Kingofalldems]

14. Bet you anything

the quote "Actions speak louder than words" came from none other than Karl Rove.

[roenyc]

15. well what did we expect from

a man who sat and read a book as the WTC hit the ground in NYC. he had nothing to say then and has nothing to say now.

and this event isn't about him! no way can he turn this to his advantage.

he should have gotten off his damn bike and made a statement. of course i realize that statements of true compassion dont come easy to this administration. but i am sure if they called Clinton he would have helped.

and yes they all hate Clinton. and i mean all. even moderate republicans. the neo-cons hate him for disrupting their plans. and the rest of them hate him for the hyped up blow job.

just a shame. a damn shame.

[Calvinist Basset]

23. "the rest of them hate him for the hyped up blow job."

Was that because of jealousy in wanting one too, but no intern was willing to touch their diseased and shriveled privates?

:evilgrin:

[dave123williams]

16. yes; and inaction speaks volumes, doesn't it.

[sam sarrha]

17. I heard them say on CNN that the extra 20 million dollars was in the form

of LOANS.... they might hav gotten embarased and changed it but they said LOANS.

what confuses me is why cant people see how Amateurish this administration is.. and Bu$h is an amateur.. never held a real job till Governer of a currupt state that the government only meets for a couple months every 2 years.. they are so petty and Bitchy.. its like they got PMS all the time.

[Disturbed]

19. A Sociopath is

not capable of empathy. GW Bush is a Sociopath.

[Calvinist Basset]

25. "LOANS???!!!"

Nothing like giving help to people in need--and expecting them to reimburse you for it!

:grr:

[democrank]

18. Perhaps today we`ll all get a big treat

when the media cheerleaders stand in front of fake hay bales and report how Bush has been working around the clock facilitating conference calls with important world leaders.

Then they`ll be a report about Bush praying for guidance on just how much disaster aid to send. The photographers from Fox News will issue the official photo showing Bush and Laura on their knees...heads enveloped in halos, hands clenched in unity.

Just go shopping. Bush has things under control.

[Bhaisahab]

20. you're an asshole, george w bush

and a despicable, cunning little asshole at that. you can't get a fucking hard-on without the help of aides, forget comprehending a disaster such as this.
by the way, all that brush you keep clearing, why dont you shove it up your oily arse?

[no_hypocrisy]

21. Two words: "HARD WORK!!!"

[snippy]

24. Even for Bush, this is pathetic. n/t