It takes GUTS to watch bush speak. Can you hack it or not?

[Philosoraptor]

I tried early in his career in his role as the president, to turn away from the propaganda transmitter and tune him out, but, I found I was like a character in a Poe story, drawn to the horror, fascinated with the spectacle.

Some simply can't watch him talk, which believe me, I understand, but somebody has to watch him make all these bizarre statements, and it takes guts to make it all the way through one of his surreal sessions.

He has several modes: Robotic automaton reading directly off the teleprompter after a week long rehearsal, such as state of the union speeches, emergency mode, where he's sitting at his oval office desk with a blank but stern clown persona. And off script, goofball incoherent mode, which is the most difficult to witness.

All the mugging, and podium leaning, and sweating, and stuttering, and rambling, and drifting, and grinning and smirking, and giggling, and raging, and scolding, its not easy to sit through and keep one's composure.

Can you do it? I can, in fact I anticipate each new off the script press conference just to catalog the unbelievable statements made by such an obviously unqualified and dangerous maniac, just out of a sick, freak show mentality.

Every time I watch him speak, it takes a little piece out of my soul, but I feel comforted knowing that I'm not the only one who saw and endured it, otherwise no one would believe me if I told them.

[AspenRose]

1. Nope

I may have him on C-SPAN or something but I'm within earshot and away from the TV so I can't see him. And that's hard enough.

Otherwise I'll start throwing stuff at the TV.

[liberaldemocrat7]

39. If you like watching and hearing Charles Manson rant then you like Bush

Early on I noticed that George W Bush rants like the murderer Charlie Manson.

Sometimes I watch Bush with the sound off, or I will listen but not look at the tv. Somehow removing one of the dimnsions of listening to this Connecticut Yankee in Jefferson Davis' court makes it a little more tolerable.


I have a few special names for Bush:

SLOBOGEORGE MILOSEBUSH.

MARCOS ON THE PECOS.

THE A$$HOLE FROM EL PASO

THE WACKO FROM WACO

CALIGULA ON THE POTOMAC.

CHARLIE MANSON'S RANTING VOICE.

[verse18]

2. I watch * speak

so I can make fun of him later. Y'know, laugh to keep from crying.

Plus, one of these days he is going to have a public meltdown and I want to be sure I see it.

[quiet.american]

3. "Stern clown" -- you nailed it, lol.

[Flying Dream Blues]

32. I agree...that describes his goofy "serious face" perfectly!

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. I can't do it. I've tried. I only last a few seconds before I dive for

the remote, while cursing uncontrollably.

[rhiannon55]

5. It's like a train wreck, ain't it?

Morbid curiosity (and perhaps a touch of masochism) keeps me glued to my seat. Aarggg! :popcorn:

[Atman]

6. I watch Bush like Bush supporters watch NASCAR

I just KNOW there's going to be a fiery wreck every time I tune in. Otherwise, what's the point?

[Blue_In_AK]

7. Every time I see him

I'm reduced to screaming obscenties at my TV. However, I do watch when I can stomach it. I agree it's extremely painful.

[Libby2]

8. No.

It makes me want to shoot my tv.

[goddess40]

9. Can't even stand the sound of his voice

The way he has of talking down to everyone - he seems to feel he has no equals. Makes me ill just to think about it.

[AnneD]

31. I heard a discussion on the Bill Maher show...

and I don't know who said it, but they were talking about the very thing you mention. It is like he is explaining it to a simpleton. To which one of the guest said "Bush is explaining it the way it was explained to him". It was a eureka moment for me. The idiot has killed so many brain cells that he is only capable of parroting back what he is told. That should give you a whole new perspective!

[butterfly77]

34. exactly! and that is what irritates me the most...I think

because he acts as though he is the first president in the history of this country and he is saying the same thing and then he gets angry as though he is trying to get it in our heads because it has been drummed into his. I have to watch because I don't want to miss the breakdown .

[Warpy]

10. I don't rubberneck at car wrecks

and try to move out of the area ASAP to keep traffic moving and allow the rescue crews to do their work (although I'll stop to help if the ambulances haven't arrived yet). In the same spirit, I simply refuse to engage in the type of soul destruction and blood pressure hike (as well as risk to the physical integrity of my TV set) that it takes to watch Stupid.

I will read transcripts. However, my dislike of that man is personal and visceral. I refuse to watch.

[mtnester]

11. I get too angry and throw things at the TV image

I only watch if hubby watches...he calms me or turns it off if we both get too upset

We do, however, suffer through the entire State of the Union address, no matter what

[Philosoraptor]

13. If I scream too loud I don't get to watch at all, and no cookies

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Will never listen to him speak!! I read transcripts and see clips.

[porphyrian]

14. It doesn't require "guts," it requires masochism and anger management.

Assuming you aren't talking about republicans and blind followers, it's simple to watch him if you're self-destructive or if you enjoy testing your ability to resist throwing the TV into a fucking wall, but it has nothing to do with courage.

[Philosoraptor]

16. ohh, can't hack it eh?

:sarcasm:

[porphyrian]

17. Pretty much not. At all.

I think my record is 48 seconds, and that was because it wasn't my TV.

[Philosoraptor]

19. I always feel dirty afterwards.

yeah, you can't kick in someone else's tv

[EFerrari]

20. Me, either. I used to be able to watch him but that was years ago.

I've developed an allergy to the whole Cabal.

[bklyncowgirl]

15. I would but I can't afford a new TV set.

I've tried potholders and nerf balls but nothing beats a good old fashioned beer bottle or a ball peen hammer.

[yorkiemommie1]

18. nope

simply cannot.

[The2ndWheel]

21. No problem here

I know it's all crap, so it doesn't bother me much.

[pitohui]

22. no, i can't hack it

what is the point to subjecting myself to this fool's pathetic attempts to speak, i watched the debates w. kerry, wherein * literally drooled and after the chimp was hopelessly out-classed then the media lied about it anyway

i already know he's a stupid man w. nothing of merit to say, why keep subjecting myself to his drugged and drunken rambles?

i don't give this fool the satisfaction of watching any of his speeches, i hear soon enough about his latest stoopit comment of the day

i would support an I.Q. test for the presidency after the disasters of reagan/bush, i don't see why we should be subjected to any more brain-damaged idiots

[hashibabba]

25. can't watch him...

it just is so maddening to listen to that man. Its easier for me to read and hear later and that's bad enough!

[chat_noir]

23. Stephanie Miller, and Jim and Chris make them bearable

Earlier this week, I watched it with the sound off, and listened to Stephanie's play-by-play.

Listen to some clips: www.stephaniemiller.com

[Swamp Rat]

38. Me too!!!! I ONLY listen to Bushler via Jim Ward.

Otherwise, I break things and scare woodland creatures.

[scorpiogirl]

24. I just don't have the patience

The worst part for me is trying to watch the man finish a sentence. My two year old can put together a more coherent thought. Then of course as soon as I hear a full sentence of b.s. I immediately start yelling obsenities at the tv. So I guess my answer would be no, I can't hack it.

[SmokingJacket]

26. The last time I listened really carefully was during the debates.

Maybe that was the first time, too. I was fortified with a nice large glass of wine and sat down with my radio.

But he was *so bad* and so *stupid* that I just laughed and whooped in amazement the whole time. Wow, I thought! He's losing this debate so completely! Whooooooo!

Then, immediately afterward, a reporter commented on Bush's performance, and seemed NOT TO NOTICE that the guy stunk! Everyone was treating Bush's debate responses like he and they were normal, sane, and intelligent!

AAAHAHAHAHHHHHGGGGGGG!

Since then the mere sound of his voice fills me with rage.

[Neecy]

27. occasionally.....

It's really not out of interest but sheer amazement that anyone - anyone- could vote for such a nitwit.

I usually have to switch it off, though, when this ignorant cornered dumb animal starts shrieking, "It's the president's job to...(fill on the blank). That's when I scream "TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION" and then turn it off, stat, before my blood pressure rockets.

[wryter2000]

28. Nope

For a while I could watch him if DU had a bingo game going, but I can't do that anymore. I can't even stand to see him on the Nooz. I end up screaming, "Why are you putting that asshole on my TV?" I'd rather watch Digger the Dermatophyte.

[Lisa]

29. I agree, Philosoraptor ...

I can just barely stand to watch his scripted automaton performances ... partly because it reminds me of my students reading out an entire class presentation (and I can't very well get mad at them or leave the room, because I know they're only doing it that way due to fright and inexperience). Also, when it's Bush doing it, I imagine Dick or Karl hitting him (or maybe even using that hidden electric shock button) to make him stay focused, and that keeps me somewhat amused.

But when he THINKS he knows a topic really well, and just starts rambling on about it (smirking all the while because he's in total denial about how stupid and thoughtless he sounds) ... that's when I get really irritated. I admit that I'm not great at public speaking, but I do manage to stay organized enough that almost all of my students are able to learn the material and pass the final! And when the President of the United States, who is supposed to be better and more experienced at this sort of thing than I am, sounds so idiotic that I want to shove him out of the way and answer the questions myself ... that's really bad!

Calling him "amateurish" would be an insult to amateurs, because at least they (as their name implies) have some enthusiasm.


A little piece out of my soul -- you know, I hadn't thought of it that way before, but that does explain why I feel so sad, and somehow lessened, whenever I listen to him.

[Raffi Ella]

30. ..."otherwise no one would believe me if I told them".

Ha I know right!?

No,sometimes he comes on and I will listen for a few seconds but I always end up turning.I just cannot bring myself to give this cretin an audience.

[Ms. Clio]

33. no, I can't

I absolutely cannot watch the Chimperor "speak." Just reading about it later puts me at risk for a stroke.

[Arkham House]

35. My hat's off to you...

...cause I sure can't stomach watching him anymore...not at all. Please take care of your soul, OK? I know *exactly* what you mean, and hope the effort doesn't get too unbearable...just remember, you can always come here to DU and regurgitate out all the evil and slime he spouts...we'll be here to lidten and emphasize...

[burythehatchet]

36. Yes I can hack it. I've learned to enjoy it

I know that every second I'm watching I'm observing history in the making. The ramblings of George Bush will be very entertaining reading in the History books describing a once prosperous civilazation called America.

[focusfan]

37. I flip him the bird then change channels

If I owned a gun I might shoot the TV

[samsingh]

40. i can't watch bush

and that picture of him is utterly slimy

[Withywindle]

41. I'm a wuss. I can't hack it.

I try, I really do. But that insulting fake jus'folks accent and the hectoring condescension, and the total and abject black-hole-density of ignorance, and petulant inflections and really really irritating l o o o n g ... p a u s e s while he waits for the next word he doesn't understand to come up on the TelePrompTer and the repetitions of meaningless buzzwords and slogans he's been spewing since 2001 like HAL9000 as he's being turned off...


...and yet, I do TRY to watch, because I know there'll be that moment when he totally loses it and starts babbling and bawling about his mother or proudly announces he's appointed his favorite horse to the Senate or starts taking his clothes off on camera, and it WILL happen sooner or later, and I want to see it live!

[Sparkly]

42. Depends on my mood, but it's BAD for Husb's health.

I have never allowed "Husb2Sparkly" to view an entire State of the Union address read by the Chimperor.

There are few things either of us *insist* upon for the other, and only for the sake of the other's health and with their acknowledgement so...

He can NOT watch an entire SOTU address. Other times, I've threatened to turn off shorter press conferences or limit "news viewing" in general when there are frequent clips of the Chimp. One year, he was painting the walls when the SOTU came on, and he got so irate it was about to become a household disaster! *CLICK* -- Off!!

Most of the time, I can watch the Chimp and think, wonder, muse, ponder how the HELL this idiot ever became president, how much of what he's reading he comprehends, how his handlers coached and rehearsed him (I'm a performing artist), what rightwingers might be seeing and believing as they watch him, etc... In other words, I guess, rather abstract and distant.

But H2S is all emotion and I swear there've been times I feared he'd have a heart attack unless I turned the TV off. "YOU GODDAMNED SON OF A BITCH HOW DARE YOU FUCKING DENIGRATE AND DIVIDE PEOPLE YOU GODDAMNED POMPOUS ASS KILLER COWARD CHICKENHAWK FUCK YOU YOU SON OF A BITCH YOU LIAR!!" etc... *CLICK* -- Off!

[uppityperson]

43. No. eom

[windbreeze]

44. Simply canNOT do it...

No way...I just cringe...he almost makes me physically ill...
wb

[SalmonChantedEvening]

45. That voice is like fingernails on the blackboard of my soul.

Three words tops and I need to scream then shower.

:puke:

[B Calm]

46. If I ever wanted to look at a horses ass, I'd go to the riding stables.

[rman]

47. I can't take it, and i think it's kindof pointless to listen to them.

After all, most of what govt. officials say is entire predictable and therefor uninformative.

[sweetpotato]

48. He induces vomiting

I can't watch him vocalize, I don't even like to look at photos.

[mwb970]

49. I've tried, really, but I just can't.

I always end up yelling at the TV or radio and then I can't hear it any more. It is maddening to have to live for so long with such a chucklehead in charge. It makes me mad or sad, depending on my mood.

But no, I can't watch it "speak".