Bush to protesters: "Who cares what you think?"
Big surprise here. President Bush "respectfully" told the millions of anti-war protesters to take a hike and that he would not be deterred by anti-war slogans, marchers or any other speed bump on the road to Baghdad.
Well, I guess this proves one thing: Deterrence really doesn't work to stop madmen.
Bush took a moment to out of his busy schedule to condescend to the protesters who turned out by the millions on Saturday and who could, conceivably, cost Tony Blair his premiership.
"Democracy is a beautiful thing, and that people are allowed to express their opinion," Bush said. I just don't have to listen, he thought to himself.
I'd like to think that Bush et al. will pay a price for this come 2004, but I worry that the memory of the American voter is short, too short, and easily erased, like an etch-a-sketch shaken hard, by smart bomb footage and gauzy CNN films of GIs receiving flowers from Iraqi children.
If things go wrong, as they very well could, the fallout could be devastating for America. If that's the case, Bush's political career deserves to be "collateral damage."
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About me
Hi there! Thanks for stopping in. I'm Christopher Allbritton, former AP and New York Daily News reporter. In 2002, I went stumbling around Iraqi Kurdistan, the northern part of Iraq outside Saddam's direct control, looking for stories. (Some might call it "looking for trouble.") In March 2003, I made it back in time for the war, becoming the Web's first fully reader-funded journalist-blogger. With the support of thousands of readers, we raised almost $15,000. You can read my dispatches here. It was one of the moments in journalism when everything worked. It was a grand -- and successful -- experiment in independent journalism. In 2004, I moved to Iraq, where I would spend the next two years. It was a raucous, scary and exciting place with a lot of news going on. But I've since moved on to Beirut and the wider region. I now report for a variety of outlets.
Since a majority vote of Americans didn’t faze him in November 2000, I can’t imagine what level of opposition would make his ears perk up. Perhaps some of those 70%-80% opposition countries in the EU can create their own regime changes in time to draw his attention.
After all, opposing anti-democratic militaristic regimes that bring wars of aggression to nations that have not threatened them is the point the Rumsfelds want us to ‘get’, isn’t it?
Kahlil—
you’re absolutely right, of course, especially the point you made in your last graph. But I have to tell you, pointing out every horrible irony of this situation (not to mention the daily inventory of hypocrisies) takes a lot of work! Sometimes a few slip through the cracks. ;-)
how many voted for the past election? to be honest the percentage was not really high - disinterest in politics? it doesnt surprise, democracy in the US has degenerated as in many other countries in the EU too. it started with the first ever printed book and the patterns informationtechnology has gone through. People have to VOTE, appreciate and again understand democracy and its values, not just the right to vote and “freedom of speech”. especially in this case people have to be reminded of their responsability. on the other hand conflicts like these push people towards information and education. this is where it starts again and again …… i think mankind has problems evaluating information today, and the kids are learning this right now. ———— supporting them is too important ———— a lot just wave a flag.