You wanna know why Bush isn't worried about November?

[WilliamPitt]

It's simple, really. Simple and terrifying.

It isn't Diebold, despite those who lob out that automatic answer. Too many districts don't have these machines, the margins are too wide, and as I always say, "Diebold" is the easy answer reached for by people who need an excuse for despair. (sorry, but that's how I feel)

No, folks.

Bush isn't worried because he isn't running shit. He isn't connected, isn't plugged in, isn't given bad news because he freaks out on aides who bring him bad news, as has been widely reported.

He isn't worried because he is unaware, distant, detatched. As I said in another post, blaming him for all that has happened is like blaming Mickey Mouse when Disney screws up.

Flip that around, now: if Disney takes a hit on the stock market, if their ratings go down, if their advertising revenue shortens up, it isn't Mickey Mouse who sweats it. Mickey Mouse goes into Disneyland with that same stupid-ass smile on his face, shakes hands with the kiddies, and generally bumbles around like the cartoon character he is.

Bush isn't worried because dealing with things like elections and wars and the economy hasn't been part of his job description since Day One. That's not his gig. He's the guy in the mouse suit, putting on a show.

And yeah, that's scary. A cartoon character president in this dangerous world makes me want to hide under the bed, but there it is.

I'd bet my shoes, my wallet and a number of vital organs, however, that there is plenty of worry in that White House.

Cheney is worried. Why else would he be running around the country with that bum ticker screeching about "massive death in America"? He's worried, bank on it.

Rove is worried. Rumsfeld is worried. They're all worried, and they should be.

George isn't worried, and why should he be?

It ain't his problem. Hasn't been for going on six years now. Mickey Mouse is always smiling.

[AndyA]

1. To me, Bush looks worried.

He looks AWFUL.

He seems to be right on the edge of anger most of the time, and he is more abrupt and apt to go off on someone than normal.

I think he's medicated to the hilt, but what little gets through to his teeny weeny little brain is worrisome to him.

So, he'll have a few extra drinks during the day, kick the dog when he gets home, and generally behave like the buffoon he is.

[petepillow]

12. If he's worried about anything, it's his "legacy".

Chimpy has always been obsessed about his "place in history". I guess all the pep-talks and ego-boosting required to get him to act as Puppet-in-Chief sunk in in the form of historical immortality. Well, he WILL be remembered. Gotta give him that.

:eyes:

[bklyncowgirl]

36. See my post 27. Poppy and Baker are working on that.

My guess is whichever way the election goes the Baker commission report on Iraq will come out. Rummy will be tossed overboard and possibly Cheney as well and the big boys will come in and clean up the mess.

[SharonAnn]

78. Too late and not enough.

[Cha]

60. bush should have thought of

that when he was busy blowin' up frogs out on the Texas prairie.

[Fozzledick]

98. B*sh's "legacy" will be to replace Benedict Arnold as the name of treason!

[Kikosexy2]

37. I think...

he's worried...yes about his legacy and his "war crimes" and other misdemeanors....He may not show it much but somehow one can tell...

[Catamount]

2. SO sad and true! K&R

[BeFree]

64. Sad, yes. Completely true? No!

Pitt says: "Too many districts don't have these machines, the margins are too wide, and as I always say, "Diebold" is the easy answer reached for by people who need an excuse for despair."

If true, Pitt has a list of those districts he is willing to furnish us. He doesn't have such a list, I doubt anyone does, so he's just guessing. So, he guesses wrong.

Why wrong? Because all it takes is a few districts with a few machines to swing close elections. But Pitt says the "margins are too wide". Wrong again, no margin is too wide for an unsuspecting and unwittingly head-in-the-sand people and the Diebold party.

We, who are alerting on Diebold, are, indeed, in despair. But our's is not an excuse, as Pitt writes, it is reason. We think, and have facts to back us up, that the 2004 election was stolen by the use of the machines stealing millions of votes.

We believe the Democrats are winners.... Again>>> We believe the Democrats won the 2004 election, and will steal the 2006 election if we don't catch them. It is our despair, he's right, but our despair comes not from Diebold so much as it is the unwary head-in-the-sand democrats that got over the theft of 2004.

We won. Do something. Never get over it. Never give up. Who do you think won in 2004?

[springhill]

80. And thank you............

the dangers of diebold are very real, and this group of gangsters are not willing to give up their power.

[Catamount]

81. I think my avatar tells you what I think...doesn't it? Kery Won!

If you read it correctly- that's what it says. I made it just after the last stolen election in 04, but I didn't have time to read all of Will's post, so you could be right!
I'm not giving up--never could, but its hard to be optimistic now.

[Land Shark]

90. "Confidence" in elections leads to two very bad things

(1) Lax security - creating problems, and
(2) Resting on laurels, leading to anemic campaign efforts.

If one wants to win one doesn't want one's side to be at all comfortable.

"Confidence" in elections is specifically NOT necessary for their proper functioning -- in fact a high level of distrust will lead to a more reliable election as the parties watch each other like hawks and fully execute all checks and balances.

"Confidence" is necessary for a successful fraud however, one's wariness has to be suitably relaxed and trusting for someone to be ripped off, or for election fraud to occur. We have lots of gullible, pollyanna trusting officials in elections, don't we?

[BeFree]

99. It appears our boy Will, be conned, eh?

Heck, anyone who disses the people who have no confidence in elections must have been conned into thinking that everything is fine. They (bushco) just love those kind of people.

They (bushco) don't care what anyone thinks about how they are going about messing up the world, they just want them to think that bushco legally and rightfully holds power.

Its sad that so many are conned; conned into thinking the fraud is just a figment of imagination, when facts and reality scream otherwise.

[truedelphi]

112. Yeah I don't get what Will is smokin'

he'd been friends with Andy Stephenson -just out of respect for the man he shouldn't make ANY statements that a concern over Diebold is not valid.

Andy gave his life for that concern.

Voting BIG on machines that switch the voting numbers is not really voting at all.

[NanceGreggs]

3. Thank YOU!!!

I think this is an excellent summary of what's going on in the WH - as well as all that DOESN'T GO ON inside Bush's head.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. A steady diet of perscription meds

probably doesn't hurt either.

[Land Shark]

89. A multiple causation approach is normally much more sensible

It's not Diebold OR cluelessness, it's much more likely to be a string of "and's" with the correct choice at the end "all of the above." Except maybe for a monomaniacal character like this one, perhaps.

[tenshi816]

5. He's also not worried because

he isn't running again and GWB's only ever been it it for himself, not the party. Bottom line, the GOP was there to prop him up and since he doesn't need them to get him re-elected, he couldn't care less what happens next.

That's my take on it anyway.

[jbonkowski]

20. I disagree...

I think he really cares about his legacy. I think he is livid over the possibility that he will be remembered only as a major screw-up. To that extent he cares.

jim

[tenshi816]

23. Oh, yeah, I agree with you about that part of it.

I just don't think GWB cares about anybody else in the party. He goes through the motions, but at the end of the day it's all about him.

[femrap]

54. I think his worst fears are coming true....

Again, poppy has to bail him out. His fears are pushing closer and closer into his reality...he is a complete and total FAILURE. If his last name weren't bush, he'd have a hard time at holding down a job as asst. manager at a Speedway.

He's drinking alot...so to keep the fears pushed back in the depths of his consciousness.

And damn straight that Rove, Rummy, etc. are scared.....the Dems will have 2 years to put them in jail. YIPPEE!

My fear is a dirty bomb in a Democratic, Union city before Nov. 7 and martial law is declared. Cornered, mean folks do terrible things when faced with their comeuppances.

[salinen]

6. Bush isn't Mickey

He's fucking Goofy.

[paulk]

7. it's kinda funny

back in the Reagan years I wrote a song that had a line in it about "our cartoon Prez"

sheeesh.


The more things change, the more they stay the same...



----------------------


ps - actually, it's not funny at all.

[yodermon]

8. He's liable for war crime indictment(s).

He is not worried because he is certifiably insane, full stop.

[janx]

11. He's both.

He is worried and insane. He is paranoid. Look at recent pics and press conferences.

[calimary]

28. I don't think he's really worried about that, much. I think he figures

he's got all his bases covered now, and that he'll just get away with this, too, because he's always gotten away with everything. And why wouldn't he feel smug and complacent about that - because it's all he knows. It's how things have always been for him. There's always been somebody stepping in at the last minute to yank his sorry ass out of its descent into Hell. Always. Exhibit A at present: the recent return of James Baker III and his "let's figure out what to do about Iraq" group. He isn't worried about facing any serious penalties because he just figures he'll get away with it, AGAIN. One look at Daddy's pal, Baker, has probably clinched that.

[rosesaylavee]

84. Baker and Pooppy

have never been too far from the decision making. What's unusual now is that they are appearing publically to bail Jr out of a jam. Watched some of Pooppy's interview about his son sometime this past week. According to most accounts, they haven't been interacting on a personal level since 2003... yet Daddy went public about how much Boooosh bashing is going on and as a father, it bothers him.

But then, Jr always has Condi to protect him when the big boys are out of town...

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

114. rosesaylevee, brilliant photoshop. K & R, just for that.

:kick: MKJ

[rosesaylavee]

118. Its not mine -

found it earlier this year and really really liked it.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

109. I think the GOP is willing to forfeit this election

It will take the heat off of the last two fraud elections.

I was thinking, being it was republicans who leaked the Foley story, maybe their plan is to let us win in November. We all know the White House has been scrambling to cover their necks.

Being our administration already covered their criminal tracks, I think they’re willing to forfeit this election. Democrats will be put into the unpopular position to either “cut and run” or reinstate the draft, guaranteeing a GOP presidential win in ’08. ..Or worst yet, Bush may know about another attack and dems will be blamed for not keeping us safe...guaranteeing them a win in '08.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

115. That brings to mind the 1998 Superbowl. Green Bay vs. Denver.

Last few minutes of the fourth quarter. Broncos driving ahead to make the TD that will move the score from 24-24 to 24-31.

Holmgren (GB) decides to let the Broncos score. Green Bay has time, gets the ball back, and, hopefully, some control. Terrell Davis strolls into the end zone, and the rest is history.

Forfeiting is the last ditch strategy. It is a strategy of trying to control your losses, rather than increase your winnings.

And I'm thrilled at the thought of the R's being in this position! MKJ

[Rex]

9. Reagan was another Mickey Mouse.

Just bumbling around and getting easy laughs. Although now it seems to be dire. Maybe it is because this Mickey Mouse is certifiably insane.

Diebold ain't about despair (if only it was that easy), it is about what is right and what is wrong and you should know that. BBV is just one aspect of the larger picture of election fraud.

[Demit]

10. I've always suspected he viewed the presidency as a reward, his due,

something he was given for his wonderfulness—so nobody else's fate matters to him, he'll have had his 8 years. The thing that's got him in a snit now is that he isn't getting the deference now that he once did. It will worsen. But worry? Nah. You're right—that's for the big boys to deal with, the ones who have always gotten him out of scrapes. I'm just dying of curiosity about what will happen to him after the presidency. I picture him literally shrivelling up.

[Name removed]

19. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blondeatlast]

62. How does that "great minds" thing go again?

I've often thought that same thing--his presidency is some great reward for him. He almost seems to feel entitled to it, and that's why he finds challenge "unacceptable."

I so hope you're closing statement becomes the scenario, I'll join you in that hilarity!

[patcox2]

13. Also, absolute confidence is a favorite Rove ploy.

Rove believes in declaring victory and just acting as if you've won, no matter what, as a strategy.

[truedelphi]

113. And withthe media supporting Rove, and the media supporting

The voting machines, it seems to work. Has certainly not hampered the
Republican Party's effort in 2000 and 2004.

[yy4me]

14. He isn't worried because all his problems are handled by

others now, and will be the problem of the next administration. All he will have to worry about is when his pension check comes in. Can you stomach the fact that we will be paying for this idiot long after he is out of office? Not only the pension but health care, franking privileges, office and staff and zillions of other perks. Why, we'll probably build him a nice library into which he will walk only to take a quick look-see when it is complete. What, me read? Good grief. I wish he would overdose on whatever he is on. (I don't believe I just said that, naughty me!)

[KitSileya]

46. Would he lose those privileges if he's impeached and found guilty?

'cause that would be an extra incentive to pressure the Dems to impeach him - not that it should be necessary.

[Junkdrawer]

Diebold + ES&S counted 80% in 2004 and that was before the big HAVA push..

Oh, if they want to steal elections, they can.

That being said, I think the Democrats will "win big" this election. They need to quiet the "election fraud" talk and, more importantly, they need a bi-partisan face for the next expansion of the Mid-East oil wars (aka The War on Terror).

BTW: By "they" I mean the Big Oil/Big Money folks who actually control the country.

[CrispyQ]

21. I agree.

They have to throw the dems an election. Then they can tell us to shut the fuck up about election fraud.

[Junkdrawer]

24. It will be interesting to see WHICH Dems win this time...

A majority of Ben Nelsons is not my idea of a sea change.

[Land Shark]

91. Will Pitt "dismissing Diebold" is just a device for this article, IMHO

80%+ of the nation's vote will be counted electronically.

Dismissing "Diebold" as it were is just a device for Will Pitt to tell us that he is thinking outside the more obvious boxes, and I value him for that. I don't think he's serious in dismissing the role of Diebold and the opportunities Diebold provides for election insiders and outsiders to rig machines.

But if Will is serious in dismissing electronic voting overall, then he's an idiot. That would be like dismissing grassroots politics as too obvious, overanalyzed and *therefore* unimportant whenthe importance doesn't change....

But as I said, I think dismissing Diebold is just a device for Will Pitt and a function of the fact that in this particular essay we are focussing strictly here on the current alleged POTUS.

[Patiod]

15. Quoting SNL: Bush is just a big, fuzzy mascot

To paraphrase: Why should the San Diego Chicken worry when the Padres lose?

[calimary]

31. GREAT point!

He's nothing more than the San Diego Chicken in a prezidentin' suit.

Great mental picture, too, 'eh?

LOL

[never_get_over_it]

16. I see you live in a VERY blue state

and I don't think your state has had voting machine issues so I'm sorry but your statement

"Diebold" is the easy answer reached for by people who need an excuse for despair

is total BS for those of us who live in a state who KNOW our votes aren't being counted fairly - when you actually lose sleep at night wondering if your vote for John Kerry was counted for the devil in chief - get back to me ok....

That being said I am a little heartened that Karl Rove "black mailed" Foley into running again because he was worried about losing control of the House - hopefully that means it would indeed be too hard to steal enough House seats if they needed to....but I know in my heart of hearts if there is a way for these criminals to steal this thing they will....no excuse for despair - just the fact that I believe they would STOP at nothing to maintain power.

and by the way I believe everything you said about the devil in chief not being worried and the reasons why - but just because he isn't worried doesn't mean the folks who are running things aren't - and that those folks would try to fix these election if they can - without the devil in chief even knowing it.

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. Good. Then he'll never see us coming.

[JRob]

18. ...not sure on that. He's aged considerably over the last six years

and will age considerably more over the next couple if this this turns out well for dems...

Personally I look forward to the show. I just hope that the dems aren't too complacent based on the recent gains. They need to double their efforts and then double them again right before the election.

[calimary]

22. This is a REALLY good point, Will. I think you're spot-on.

george is our very own answer to Alfred E. Newman, after all. You are correct. The pattern of his being insulated all his life has not stopped just because he got himself a really serious "big boy job."

He's just out of it. And in this time of instability and fear and loathing inside the White House, I'd suspect he's hitting the bottle again - either booze or pills of some sort, or both. He does also have a track record of numbing himself out from time to time, as I recall, so the template is always there at his fingertips. Further, it wouldn't surprise me if cheney and the boys have a couple of White House aides making sure he can get to some of that stuff to keep him numbed out - so he's out of their way and not wandering around stirring things up, or farting in their faces and snapping towels at them while they need to concentrate.

He's got his. Why should he worry? After all, he's already said it won't make any difference to him or any of the rest of us anywa. When history finally has the last word about his administration, remember what he said: "we'll all be dead." He's never had to bother his beautiful mind about any of this stuff before, especially since the "help" has always been around on staff, to bail out one of the family members when he gets into trouble. So why should he worry now? Preconditioning at work here, I think.

Good post. Makes a LOT of sense. As you routinely do.

[BootinUp]

25. Well, its hard to know if any news from inside the WH

is real, but there was the recent story about Bush being pissed off that insiders blabbed to Woodward. And in the past Bush has been credited with motivating his people during tough campaigns. And then he was credited with taking over the Iraq war show back in 2002.

I am probably guessing though. I bought the One Percent Doctrine, but haven't read it yet. And I haven't read any of the Woodward books. Your undoubtedly right that he is shielded from stuff, but maybe not to the level you are describing.

If he is just another Mickey Mouse I'm not sure I want to know.

[BlueEyedSon]

26. can i recommend twice?

[bklyncowgirl]

27. Yup, and Poppy will send ol'Jim Baker just in time to salvage his legacy

That's the way it's always been. Lil'Georgie makes a mess and Poppy sends Jim in to clean it up for him.

George will enjoy many years of golf and fishing at the taxpayer's expense--not to mention lots of sweet business deals--so why the hell should he worry.

[indepat]

44. Procuring trillions of dollars of oil for oil buddies surely will be good

for a few thanks.

[SharonAnn]

79. Too late and not enough.

[Carni]

29. Saddam and the chimp have lots in common

Recall no one wanted to give Saddam any bad news either--that didn't work out so good for him.

I guess I had never thought of Rove and company as a bunch of baghdad Bob's running around spewing BS so that the spoiled narcissistic ass in charge doesn't go off on them... but quite frankly your theory makes a lot of sense.

[salinen]

30. Your wallet?

Who'd want an old Trojan?

[IndyOp]

32. They stole Ohio in 2004 with old-fashioned ballot-stuffing,

pre-punched punch cards (so voting for Kerry became an overvote), counting ballots for one precinct using machine settings for another (so votes for Kerry were counted for other candidates) -- and high tech central tabulator hacking. The vast majority of the cheating was done with Triad corporation punch card machines.

There are 9,000 counties in the US and most operate semi-autonomously in terms of elections. There WILL BE ELECTIONS STOLEN - how many? Don't know.

Also - the new Voter ID laws and Statewide Voter Databases are going to do a LOT of their dirty work for them.

Indiana, my state, is in the crosshairs:

> A new law requires photo ID card to vote - this will disenfranchise many who don't own cars including lower socioeconomic groups, elderly, and college students (who don't attend a publicly funded college or those whose IDs don't have a expiration date on them).

> A new Statewide Voter Database has a few problems: It was superimposed on the incorrect GIS map so lots of voters are listed in the wrong precincts. They may wind up voting on provisional ballots or being made to travel to a different precinct or they may have to wait for the Clerk's office to write a "Certificate of Error" so they can vote. Only 16% of provisional ballots cast in 2004 in Indiana were counted. Also - anyone who is now in their late-60's - who registered to vote before they were required to give their date of birth - is not on the Statewide list because the Statewide database won't include anyone without a date of birth on file. Don't worry - they are still on the county lists and it should take only 30-45 minutes for the counties to find those voters and issue a "Certificate of Error".

> 58 counties that use direct-record electronic machines without voter-verified paper ballots and the other 34 counties that use optical ballot cards don't do random audits. What is the problem? ERRORS. We know that our voting systems have repeatedly had ERRORS at the level of the central tabulators that add up the votes from all of the voting machines.

> Indiana Republican Secretary of State Todd Rokita sued ES&S for not providing service to counties in the last election and got a HUGE settlement from ES&S - most of which ES&S is 'paying' the state by becoming MORE involved in our elections.

> Our other major voting system company - Microvote - has been caught installing uncertified software and had to disable 'straight party' voting last April so their crappy software would pass the certification tests.

I think your statement that we don't need to worry about 'Diebold' is naive and a bit patronizing.

Those of us who've read everything we can at VoteTrustUSA and VotersUnite, those of us who are working Pollworkers for Democracy and the Election Transparency Project -- those of us who've been working our asses off to alert people to the problems that ARE going to cause trainwreck after trainwreck in the upcoming elections -- we are not conspiracy theorists or even alarmists.

That being said - I do agree with you and Bernie Sanders to some extent - for many, Bernie says, yelling "Diebold!" is an excuse not to get involved in elections by donating, calling, campaigning, pollworking etcetera. I think that is lame beyond belief.

We must get invovled and work for a HUGE turnout to try and overcome as many attempts at hacking as possible. We must raise money to fund recounts so that we can check how well voting systems in our states are (are not) working.

Please don't dismiss concerns about voting process - make a balanced, factual statement that recognizes that there IS risk that we will have elections taken from us due to errors or malfeasance.

The Brennan Justice Center Report says that ONE informed participant could plant software on machines that could change the results of a statewide election (change results in over 600 precincts) without the vender knowing, without being detected by software certifiers, without the County Clerks knowing, without the pollworkers knowing. (By the way, one of the conributors to the report was Howard A. Schmidt, Cyber Security Advisor to the White House of George W. Bush and Chief Security Officer of Microsoft and eBay).

When elections are decided incorrectly - by theft or error - I want the people around me to stand up and demand justice! They won't if they keep being accused of being conspiracy theorists.

:(

[Helga Scow Stern]

55. Couldn't agree more, IndyOp.

And frankly Will, I am surprised you could be so regressive about election fraud.

But then if I recall correctly, you were hard to convince back in 2004. I remember I spent New Years Eve faxing every senator on a long list IndyOp's 25 page, excellent report on how the vote was not sound.

So don't give us that nonsense, Will. Go hide under the bed if you must, but don't ignore the facts of the fraud.


Edited to add: "if you must"

[IndyOp]

63. Thanks Ojai - I hope it won't hurt your feelings if I say that I hope we

don't have to team up again in quite the same way this year... ;-)

I am encouraged that there is a MUCH broader range of people who know the issues - not who just have a vague fear, but who have facts in hand about election errors and fraud - this time around.

:hi:

[helderheid]

65. Count me in on having hope now that the story has legs!

[Beetwasher]

33. That Wouldn't Explain Why They Have No Plans Though

The article isn't "Bush doesn't appear worried", it's "The WH has no plans to deal w/ a Dem congressional takeover", there's a difference.

Yeah, we know Bush is an idiotic empty suit and it's not his dept. but it's SOMEONE'S dept, probably Rove, and apparently Rove (or whomever) has no plans to put in place if the Dems win.

Now, I don't automatically jump to the conclusion that the reason for this is that their "plan" is "We ain't gonna lose anyway no matter what" (although this very well may in fact BE the plan). This could be simply and easily explained away also as just their hallmark incompetence. But it's one of the two, IMO. 1. They don't "plan" on losing, no matter what (and this doesn't necessarily mean diebold), or 2. Just more incompetence.

[symbolman]

34. In a Betting Mood again

are we? :)

[WilliamPitt]

39. You're looking to bet on the election?

Or on who is actually running things in the White House?

[symbolman]

42. You know the bet

have you forgotten already? :)

You know I'm just fuckwitting with you, I know you don't have any money..

[Raster]

35. you're right. bush* isn't worried. he never really made the decisions,

never really was in charge. He's done what the search committee recruited him to do. Same as Reagan. Look and act Presidential. Reagan made it look easy. bush* strains just to pronounce the word correctly.

[Parche]

38. Mickey Mouse

Yeah, but Goofy is scared sh*tless

[Canuckistanian]

40. I've always seen him as Goofy

Affable, but not much happening on the second floor. And always being outsmarted by Pluto.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

41. ...

[Canuckistanian]

45. ... or Dopey.

Those small shiny objects are just fascinating.

[VOX]

53. Or Sneezy--but only after ingesting mountainous quantities of white powder

Sorry. Voices told me to write that. :bounce:

[Chomp]

43. I think this analysis is

absolutely spot on.

He is utterly broken.

It is very probable that George is living a kind of blurred, anaesthetised, day-to-day existance. Almost literally daydreaming through the the mind-numbing catastrophe that his presidencey has become.

What is the correct animal metaphor? The ostrich, head buried? The rabbit in headlights? Actually, a combination of the two is probably about right (although, those dumb animals probably weren't on high levels of Nurse Ratchett-strength presription drugs).

Wake, breakfast, shuffle into Oval Office, pretend to talk to Condi about stuff, then sign some bits of paper, lunch, smily-photo with the Ugandan President, nap, pretend confereance call about Hurricane Felicty, food, ask Rummy if he's ok, head back to the living quarters, some TV, chat with Laura about the kids or dog, bed. Repeat.

Asking no questions. Driving no policies. Making no decisions. Giving no (menaingful) orders. Utterly broken by the enormity of the fuck up he has overseen. Fingers in ears. It will all be over soon.

I think there's one question Will didn't ask though: Erm...if not the Boy King, then, who's in charge? *



* This is a trick question for all those tempted to shout: Cheney! or Rummy! or The Gnomes of Zurich! No. The answer, sadly, is nobody.

[catmandu57]

47. Makes more sense than much of what I've read

I don't think he thinks he could really go to jail, poppy and baker aren't going to be around to save his ass forever. I don't think he'll be dragged out of the whitehouse in chains, but, he's not going to have a very easy time the next two years, and, his henchmen are going to be picked off one by one.
One day Mickey is going to look around and he'll be all alone, surrounded by people who want his hide, that's what he should be scared of.

[Gregorian]

48. "Bush" is a metaphor.

Bush IS worried. Even as a figure head, he stands to face decades of litigation. This isn't a corporation after all. Even though they treated it that way. And they do stand to face criminal action.

But then, we'll see. It appears that most of this nation is asleep. And the rest is addicted to a smirk.

If only I could write. What a story just this day would make. Aggressive, arrogance, with a smirk. My town is one of the sickest places on earth. Guns, trucks, chainsaws, litter, and ignorance. It's really scary to see what this nation is made of.

[seabeyond]

49. that is what i was thinking. seeingthat thread. bush doesnt give a shit

if the repugs when. he won his and that is really all he cares about. you are right.

[slackmaster]

50. He's not running shit, and he's also not running for office

What would he have to be worried about as a lame duck?

[savemefromdumbya]

51. He's worried about Foley

[Divine Discontent]

67. he should be (wink) n/t

[midnight]

52. I was afraid that you were going to say that the election was

already stolen. In 2004 news reports came out that staff around him were edgy,but he was trying to cheer them up, and playing cards. Maybe you are right this time. Maybe there are not enough machines to steel these local elections. Maybe there are enough people who want to change this direction, maybe the nightmare is coming to an end......

[stepnw1f]

56. Yup... yup

Nixon was waving and smiling after leaving office in shame....

[marions ghost]

100. and Delay smiled radiantly

in his mug shot, and Bernard Ebbers drove himself to prison in his Mercedes. Often there's no connection with reality as the noose tightens. A classic characteristic of the pathological narcissist.

On the other hand, Scooter Libby slunk away like a defiant rat. Less bravado in the more reality-based?

I expect Chimpy to play the bravado game all the way....

[jazzjunkysue]

57. I never thought for a minute he liked being the pres. He just likes the

feeling of power he gets because of the way his staff treats him.

But giving speeches, state dinners, meeting with anyone, thinking about anything? He's not the decider: Karl Dick and the New American Century people are the deciders.

He really doesn't care.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

58. Every morning KKKarl tells him,

"It's all just fine. There's a few whiners like always; and all those Republicans pleading guilty to stuff and molesting kids and taking bribes, well, that's just Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy trying to make a big deal out of some minor things. The war is going well, too. The Iraqis really are totally grateful; it's just a cultural thing where they thank you by blowing stuff up because it's too hot and dry there to grow roses. So just relax. I've put some fresh batteries in your Game Boy. We'll get ice cream this afternoon."

I do think, though, that he's dimly suspicious that things aren't quite as rosy as they used to be, since lately he's been getting all pissy at press conferences. But that's probably just because the level of really slobbery, obsequious ass-kissing has decreased a bit, and it bothers him -- he's just not sure why.

[helderheid]

59. I hope you're right.

[retread]

61. Maybe a picture will illustrate your point.

[Initech]

66. Bush is a guy that wants something for nothing.

And when he finally has something, like this presidency, he doesnt know what to do with it. So he detaches himself from every day reality and surrounds himself with yes men and ass kissers who will do the work for him. That's why this has been such a dangerous administration. Bush is not ruthless. The people who work for him are.

[The Brethren]

68. junior has a job description? lol

he's not in touch with reality at all. And he doesn't have to be -- he's well padded, well instructed and his ego gets daily strokes. And as much as possible he gets to play to the camera which he loves, unless you disagree with the brat or ask him a real question.

I think Cheney's nervous...because he especially can't stand to look bad. And let's pray he doesn't show up at the next press confer. with a shot gun. LOL That would make a lot folks very nervous.

[KharmaTrain]

69. He's More Like A Tex Avery Character...

The type whose eyes bug out at strange things or has a piano fall on him and he just gets up and walk away.

Many claim Raygun was an empty suit but compared to the oxygen command in thief, Raygun looks like a genius. Listening to boosh attempt to utter is a combination of embarassment and agony...not what this screw says, but that so many people think this guy has a clue.

When people discuss "what the Democrats will do" if they win a majority, I can't see how any serious politician can say with any authority since we have only bits and pieces of what's really gone on to swindle and fleece the treasury and ruin as much of he executive branch as possible. How many things have we predicted about the corruption by this regime, only to find out it was far worse than our worse fear...and this is just looking at the surface. It's not a question as to what to fix but where to start.

[Fovea]

70. Why should he worry?

He has the enabling act in his pocket, ready to sign at leisure (or rather, within the fortnight). Once he signs it, he is the one and only decider, and the rest of the GOP can go play hide the salami with the page staff for all he cares.

In fact he's probably already signed it. Why does he even have to tell us he signed it? He's the decider, after all.

[Vinnie From Indy]

71. Pitt may be right about Smirky, but he is dead wrong about Diebold

It makes ZERO sense to dismiss such an enormous threat to the integrity of our voting systems just as it makes no sense to dismiss all of the other techniques used to illegally manipulate free and fair voting.

[dailykoff]

72. He's wrong about Smirky too.

He may be a reactionary fascist psychopath but he controls all the levers of government and he knows it. In fact he's continually appropriating ever more power to "the executive," mostly illegally and unconstitutionally, which is a sign of his psychopathy but shows that he knows exactly how much power he has but thinks it's not enough.

[chill_wind]

74. Tend to agree completely. nt

[Jeroen]

82. Who wrote "If I disappear?"

This Micky Mouse of yours is not finished yet.

[SammyWinstonJack]

94. Agree there. *Mickey Mouse* was worried enough to get his

Detainee Torture bill passed. He's just relying on his ability to scare the crap outta some people. And he's not use to losing elections. He doesn't believe Nov, will bring an end to his winning streak.

[truedelphi]

110. Ditto n/t

[mirandapriestly]

101. Yes, he is wrong about that.eom

[truedelphi]

111. Diebold rules, Thank you Help America Vote Act

We are truly slaves now.

i watched one night as Olbermann was saying that Bush doesn't get it - that he doesn't have the numbers to keep the power.

"Connect the dots" I kept thinking "Please Keith connect the dots.You've covered the stolen election of 2004. Please!" In Ohio over the last few years we have seen referendums where the numbers are switched - in polls people would vote No -63% and yes 37% but on election day it was switched for them to what the powers wanted.

[pinto]

73. I agree. The Busboy is off to a condo in Houston come '08.

And I doubt if he cares less 'bout what happens next. There's loose ends for other Presidents to pick up, as he has said. It's been a sham Presidency for the whole ride.

The career politicos in the White House, though, know whats up - Cheney, his staff, Rumsfeld (he's a politico, as well), his cohorts and Rove and his crew.

Iraq was a gamble they thought they had down pat. Devastatingly wrong.

If we are successful in finally discrediting the Gingrich Revolution at the ballot box next month, we also have a great opportunity to chip away at the ridiculous "unitary executive" assertions the White House has used as cover, starting from the halls of Congress to Pennsylvania Avenue.

[lonestarnot]

75. Right fucking on William Pitt. No wonder I'm crochety tonight.

[tomp]

76. i read somewhere today...

...somewhere here on du, that the white house is not planning AT ALL for the contingency of losing the house or the senate in november. so now tell me why rove is not worried.

really, mr. pitt, it is diebold, really it is.

[go west young man]

77. I think they aren't worried because they only have to maintain

control of the Senate in order to stop any investigation or impeachment. They will throw all their dollars into the close races and just keep a majority. If they have any worries as to maintaining that edge they will "Diebold" those particular races. They have no doubt they will emerge victorious come election day. It amazes me that after all the deception, lies, and deceit, closed door sessions, held over votes, secret prisons, illegal wiretapping, destruction of the Constitution, illegal invasion, lying into war , you name it, that people can doubt these guys might rig an election. Come on. Nothing is beyond these guys. Nothing.

[DemReadingDU]

83. Bubble boy

Bush is living in a bubble

[goddess40]

85. Nixon was the last real Rep. president

They've used actors and fill ins since then. I think they got a little testy with the real elected president Bush because he was involved and not happy to be their little sock puppet.

[nolabels]

88. There were many things I disliked about Bill Clinton but..........

I think he did the best he could MOST of the time with what he had to work with. Also I don't think the worthless sack of puss that is currently installed is an innocent bystander as others in thread might be fantasizing with either.


As a side note, you really think Jimmy Carter was just some kind of an actor too?

[goddess40]

119. no - I was refering only to the replicans the Dems are the real thing

And I in no way say by using front men the republican "presidents" are not responsible for the actions their administration takes - actually I think they are more responsible because they let themselves be used.

[leveymg]

86. The prospect of jail is enough to wipe that smile off Mickey's face. PIC

[sofa king]

87. He's also a short-timer.

Recall that after he satisfied some but not all of his duty to his country, he went AWOL. His entire life is a legacy of duty-shirking--and we're lucky it is, because if a man that stupid and evil were also results-oriented, we'd all be fueling the incinerators right now.

However, I think it would be a mistake to think that Bush doesn't like wearing the mouse suit. In fact, I think he likes it so much that he's going to try to find a way to extend his stay, rather than leave early.

[The Count]

92. 80% of the national vote - counted by Diebold or ES&S (brothers owners)

So, whether W knows and worries about it is irrelevant - the election will be stolen.

[nolabels]

93. As sure as betting on the Bears going to Super-Bowl I would bet on it.....

But where could I make that bet at? :shrug:

Dang just when the bets get pat they make laws for no more Internet gambling :spray:

[Hepburn]

95. IMO...

...Bush is toooooo stoooooo-pid to be worried. He has got to be the most clueless man in presidential history. He is just a puppet, like Howdy Dowdy, and puppets don't think. They just spew out of their wooden mouths whatever is put forth by those really pulling the strings.

That's in my opinion why the wooden asshole is not worried.

:hi:

[Beelzebud]

96. LOL Great assessment. I think you're right.

[pat_k]

97. Dems promise not to impeach. Rule by signing statement" is secure. . .

. . .why should he worry?

Democratic leaders have promised to violate their oath to defend the Constitution. Almost daily, one of them assures "the public" they won't impeach anybody.

Bush, Cheney, et al are free to continue to systematically destroy the treasured principles and institutions we established in our Constitution.

Why should they worry when they can just overrule anything the Democratic members of Congress manage to get done with a signing statement?

Why should they worry when they can continue to refuse to execute and enforce the good laws already on the books?

Why should they worry when Congress has passed the War Criminals Protection Act? They really only even use their own Congress to "change the debate" -- whenever they wanted to "change the debate" they just get Congress to take up something (immigration, terrorism) so they can squash news about Plame, Spying, War Crimes.

As far as I can tell, as long as the Democratic members of Congress are derilect in their duty, they have absolutely nothing to worry about.

[Singular73]

102. Exactly.

It is a detachment from reality which only the True Believers possess, and the truest of the true is Bush.

I beleive that Bush believes he is a historically driven figure, who's destiny is pre-determined, and who is led by the hand of God from one day to the next.

I think reality will hit him when he is testifying for the 5th or 10th time in front of the house.

But fear not, True Believers always find someone else to blame besides themselves.

[smoogatz]

103. Yes and no, Mr. Pitt.

I think they're banking on keeping control of the Senate (Lieberman will flip if he wins--it's obviously the plan), and have pretty much written off the House. Dems in the House will not have anything approaching a veto-proof majority, and you can count on Bush whipping out the veto pen every time a Dem-sponsored bill hits his desk. They may also yet have an ace or two up their sleeves in a few key house districts--or at least they thought they did before the Foley scandal broke; voter suppression, electronic fraud, absentee ballot fraud, the whole deal. That's why Bush was so confident in '00 and '04; he knew they had it wrapped up in Florida and Ohio; the votes were counted before they were cast. And even odds they've got Osama in a meat locker somewhere in Northern Virginia, all set to wheel out onto the White House lawn two days before the election. Whatever calculus they've been operating under, though, has been severely shaken by the Foley thing.

[Mr_Spock]

104. Fake front or not, the analogy of the Mickey Mouse Presidency is spot on

:rofl:

[Auggie]

105. Fabulous metaphore

[BlueJac]

106. Bush is scared "Shitless"........

People are always afraid of the unknown even the "unknown unknowns" to quote Rummy. I think George is sweating bullets and can't sleep without a pill at this point! I feel a ground swell, and have been hearing more from people I never thought would say a word.

[HardRocker05]

107. voting machines not a problem? - STATE OF DENIAL. if it's a computer, it c

can be hacked, and the only response to this is "oh, they wouldn't do that," or "they'd never get away with it." Well, if they led america into an unnecessary, losing war on the basis of lies and got away with it, what in the heck make you think that they couldn't or wouldn't steal an election to stay in power? denial ain't just a river in egypt, you know.

[requiem99]

108. I very much disagree that fraud is irrelevant.

Because when a party in power is addicted to just holding power and has few or none of the principles on which the country was founded you better believe they'll steal as many elections as necessary to hold that power. Bush isn't worried because he knows the outcome. He knew the outcome in 2004 despite the clear evidence he was finished, and you all have pretty poor memory if you're letting revisionism tell you that the country was just that divided in 2004 that he was able to win by such a miniscule margin.

You can believe that only if you ignore the mountain of evidence that points at electoral fraud, in just Ohio if nothing else, a state that, had it not been stolen, would have given the election to Kerry and we'd be having very different discussions at this very moment. So don't tell me fraud isn't important: For all we know, one person on one computer in Ohio made sure that Bush had another 4 years in Nov/2004.

We haven't reported it, we haven't investigated it, and we haven't even forced the bigs providing EVM coverage to provide any real congressional oversight that is quantifiable and verifiable to inspection. As a nation, we don't deserve democracy anymore, because few of us (not those here on DU obviously) care about keeping democracy alive. I blame American Idol and the rest of the current wave of zombie TV that is destroying the culture of a generation.

[WilliamPitt]

116. I think I blew it on that

in terms of being clear. I take the fraud issue ABSOLUTELY SERIOUSLY, but I also see a lot of people use the problem as an excuse to run up the white flag. *That* is what bothers me.

[PATRICK]

117. I would feel much better

If Bush looks at least as worried and upset as he was after the debate meltdown in 2004. if he sustained that level right into November I would be ecstatic. I remember the last elections when you could see the measure of victory final reaching assurance level. Faking or being insulated from that is pretty huge even, or especially for *. The bad news Rove delivered early on that caused him to sit under the wheels of AF-1 on the tarmac was probably the news that he HAD to cheat to even win and kiss his mandate goodbye. Later he felt better with having a safe win at least.

So we are sweating out the next few weeks not just for our own sakes. If something bloody handed is in the works it will be horrific and the media is still inclined to hand it to him and the Dems to defer. The cheat mechanisms in place may be a source of over-confidence. The popular vote situation has not only changed but it involves hundreds of places and candidate, not a presidential campaign. Pitt is probably right that cheating cannot be source of confidence unless Bush is extremely distant from reality.

Which leaves us with blood and terror and the few that can thwart it and the many who ignore it.

I hope to God Will is right all the way on this one. The fact that there is a slim Dem majority is not necessarily fatal to any of Bush's plans but that cannot be much of a source of confidence and calm.