Make America Grate Again

Obama: Thought Romney Meant it When He Said He Wouldn't Get Bin Laden

Politics leads to plenty of WTF moments, but I was actually kind of dumbfounded when I heard Ed Gillespie (professional GOP election guru) whining about President Obama's ad touting the killing of Osama bin Laden, and pointing out that a President Romney may not have even tried to do such a thing. It's sourced, I remember the source. . .so what's the problem? Gillespie portrayed it as unseemly and out of bounds. Even the allegedly liberal Arianna Huffington called it "despicable."  [Story continues below]



What? Why? Are we to believe that with an opposite set of circumstances, Republicans wouldn't touch it? That they can't/haven't/wouldn't tout anti-terrorism operations in an election? That they wouldn't imply that Democrats might do a worse job? Which issue is the despicable one, the "grandstanding" or the Romney slam?

Image found at Common Dreams.

See, I remember seven stinkin' years of Republican grandstanding and/or fear-mongering using terror, terrorism and terrorists as subjects. I remember a flight-suited Dubya landing on an aircraft carrier, artfully staged to look as though it was going out to sea. There was color coordination, pomp and circumstance, and a big, red-white-and-blue banner reading "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!"  They even made a stinking (doll) action figure out of it! And yet, the mission wasn't even accomplished. Boy, now that was some freakin' grandstanding.

And they say the left has a woody for Obama.
Explain this! Image from Balloon Juice.

I also remember Darth Dick Cheney flat out saying that if John Kerry were elected, we were going to get attacked again! Now that is freakin' dispicable! So, tell me again--especially you, Arianna--WTF is wrong with the ad. But before you do, tell me honestly. . .if George W. Bush had killed Bin Laden, do you think he'd have been quiet and reserved about it? Really?


[Excerpt]

Obama Defends Attack On Romney: ‘I Assumed’ He Meant It When He Said He Wouldn’t Get Bin Laden


Mitt Romney and his allies have been attacking President Obama for his campaign’s recent video ad, highlighting both his decision to order the raid that killed Osama bin Laden and Romney’s statement in 2007 that he would not have taken similar action given the chance. Romney now says he would have done the same as Obama. “Of course [I would have]. Even Jimmy Carter would have given that order,” Romney said today. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Obama Didn't Land on an Aircraft Carrier in a Flight Suit

If you have listened to right-wing talk radio this week, or watched FOX "News" you have heard a lot of talk about President Barack Obama's demeanor after Operation: Dead Osama. He says "I" too much. He's arrogant. He acts like he did it all! Because, as you know, Presidents rarely take credit for the good things that are going on in the country. It's unheard of.

"I'm the decider!"



Premature announciation.



But here's what Barack Obama didn't do: He didn't land a jet plane on an aircraft carrier. He didn't wear a flight suit and codpiece. He didn't swagger across the deck. He didn't have the aircraft carrier positioned so that it looked like it was out to sea rather than coming in to port. He didn't have color-coded service members arranged artfully behind him. He didn't stand under a professionally-printed banner that proclaimed "Mission Accomplished!" And he doesn't have a collectible doll action figure of his carefully orchestrated publicity stunt available at Toys "R" Us or on Amazon.com.

"I'm the commander guy, yes sir!"



Perspective, people.

George W. Bush: "Mission Impossible"

Image from source, Think Progress

Oh. My. God. We thought we were done with Bushisms, right? I mean, now that he's a private citizen, and not in jail or anything, I thought he'd keep his mouth shut. Well, we're not so lucky. And he's just as goofy as you remember.

[Excerpt]

Bush: I regret standing in front of the ‘Mission Impossible’ banner.

“I am confident that I made decisions based on principle, that I made calls as best I could, and I did not sell my soul,” Bush told an audience of about 1,000 men and women at the $400-a-seat steak luncheon. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

US Begins Iraq Pullout. . .Uh. . .Mission Accomplished?

Image from source, MSNBC

Yeah, I'm not sure if this is good or bad either.

[Excerpt]

Fireworks over Baghdad as U.S. troops leave

Iraqi forces assumed formal control of Baghdad and other cities Tuesday after American troops handed over security in urban areas in a defining step toward ending the U.S. combat role in the country. A countdown clock broadcast on Iraqi TV ticked to zero as the midnight deadline passed for U.S. combat troops to finish their pullback to bases outside cities. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

Rachel Maddow: 6 Years Since "Mission Accomplished"

I can't remember when the scales fell off my eyes, pertaining to the ineptitude (and other negative qualities) of George W. Bush and his administration. I didn't vote for him, and never thought much of him. But I wasn't actively opposed to him at first, and held my tongue after September 11. Lots of us did.

But by the time of the infamous "Mission Accomplished" speech/photo op, I was starting to get the creeps. Even at first, it was clear the event was stage managed, to say the least. And at that point, we didn't even know that the aircraft carrier was turned around to avoid showing the coast of California. And we didn't know that the administration would try to blame the banner on the troops. Some of us saw through Karl Rove's alternate reality making early. For others, it took a bit longer.

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Sarah Palin Doll: Caribou Barbie!

Photo from source, Socialite Life

Uh. OK. I couldn't not post this. I also could scarcely believe it. The Republican version of "The One," the unknown until two weeks ago Sarah Palin now has her own inaction figure! I'm sure it will sell like hotcakes, much like the George W. Bush "Mission Accomplished" doll (complete with cod piece!). There's not a lot Republicans won't buy when it comes to swag. My sister even told me that her Ohio neighbor has a "NObama: No Socialism" sign in his yard.

It's just a matter of time before they retool some Professor Xavier X-Men dolls with McCain's head on top! Oh, and don't ask me what this headline is about. Palin popular with gay guys? I don't think so. . .

[Excerpt]

Sarah Palin Popular With The Media And Gay Guys

How hot is this? It's the Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin action figure from Herobuilders.com. She comes in two variations - Executive and Super Hero. Look at the photos of the Super Hero version in the white mini! They should have her wrestling a bear or wielding a grandbaby. If I wasn't so freaked out that she might actually get in office, I might buy one. . .

Read more at: Socialite Life

Phrases I Don't Want to Hear After Bush is Gone

File this under: "Pet Peeves." I'm hoping over the next several years to never hear the following phrases:

• "Conditions on the ground"
• "Up or down vote/Up and down vote/Up-down vote"
• "The surge is working"
• "Activist judges"
• "Bring 'em on"
• "Islamic fascism"
• "Stay the course"
• "Democrat Party/Democrat Convention (anyplace Democratic should be used, but isn't)"
• "Mission accomplished"
• And any utterance whatsoever by Frank Luntz.

Mmmmkay? Thanks.

My Ponderings on Iraq

Photo from The Washington Note

This is just a short post to pose a question to the ether (since it is rare for me to get comments). What is winning in Iraq? How will we know when we've had a "victory?" Can we leave if we've won? Can we leave if we're losing? Do we have to stay in any case?

I ask, because it would seem that conservative politicians and pundits (not to mention the entirety of FOX "News") are bent on selling Iraq as a spectacular success. "We're winning," and "the surge is working/the surge has worked" are spoken so frequently on cable news, you'd swear it was an echo. And yet, seldom if ever are we told what "winning" means. I was under the impression that the war was over, that the "mission is accomplished." Isn't the Iraq situation now an occupation? How do you win an occupation?

And as a side note, how long can you call an increase of troops from last year a "surge?" Doesn't a surge eventually just become a presence?

Just wonderin'. . .

Another Dana Perino Moment: Mission Accomplished

White House Spokesliar Dana Perino answers a question about the fifth anniversary of George W. Bush's flight suit, Commander Guy, Mission Accomplished moment.

Five Year Anniversary of "Mission Accomplished"

Photo from source, Huffington Post

Can we leave now?

[Excerpt]

5th Anniversary Of "Mission Accomplished"

The White House said Wednesday that President Bush has paid a price for the "Mission Accomplished" banner that was flown in triumph five years ago but later became a symbol of U.S. misjudgments and mistakes in the long and costly war in Iraq.

Thursday is the fifth anniversary of Bush's dramatic landing in a Navy jet on an aircraft carrier homebound from the war. The USS Abraham Lincoln had launched thousands of airstrikes on Iraq. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post