Bush gets arrogant and cocky re: the debates...this is GOOD. Be arrogant.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

...it will make it that much sweeter when Kerry hands him his ASS.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/us_vote_bush



SPRINGFIELD, United States (AFP) - Honing lines of attack before the first debate of the 2004 White House race, President George W. Bush (news - web sites) said Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) shifts positions on Iraq (news - web sites) so often he "could spend 90 minutes debating himself."

Later this week I'll the chance of debating my opponent. It's a little tough to prepare because he keeps changing positions on the war on terror," Bush told supporters in this crucial state.

"He said it was the right decision to go into Iraq. Now he calls it the wrong war," Bush said at the Midwest Livestock and Expo Center. "He could spend 90 minutes debating himself.

"You cannot lead when people do not know where you stand," said the president, who has made charges that Kerry is fickle on key national security issues a centerpiece of his campaign ahead of the November 2 elections.

[peacetalksforall]

1. All *'s flip-flops are very easy to list and counter.

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. All Kerry has to say...

is: "My mistake was believing YOU when you told me that the WMD were there. It's obvious that the American people can't believe anything that you say, and neither can I.

In hindsight, yes, I made a mistake voting for the war. But anyone who believed you made that same mistake. Where are the WMD Mr. Bush, and why are our troops still dying in Iraq if the mission was accomplished?"

FSC

[annabanana]

5. HE DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE WAR....................SHEESH!

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. Alright...let's get rude over trivial language.

He gave him the authority.

[LittleClarkie]

8. No, it's not trivial language

It is his position. It has always been his position. It will remain his position. He has not flipped on this position. It is rock solid. And his position has been that he gave Bush the authority, and would do it again under the circumstances because Bush promised to let the inspectors do their job and to get a proper coalition together if it ended up we HAD to go to war. Bush did neither, and now has the guts to ridicule Kerry for trusting him.

Kerry was thinking of diplomatic power, Bush just wanted to make war.

We all trusted Bush. We all got screwed.

If we don't make this very important distinction, we risk feeding into the Bush ad campaign.

[democratreformed]

11. Your own trivial language:

"We all trusted Bush." No we did not. I did not. I was screaming about this shit from the moment he first started talking about Iraq. It was so exasperating to watch. I knew it was a mistake. I was angry about the vote. I was proud of my congressman for his NO vote. The only thing I trusted was that we WOULD find WMDs. On that, they let me down, b/c I was positive they would plant the damn things.

[LittleClarkie]

15. My language isn't trivial either if I am incorrect

amended: "Those who trusted and suppored Bush got screwed."

It is still sad as hell that Kerry is getting screwed twice. Once for doing what he thought was right and trusting that the president would stand by his word, and then again as he is crucified for that decision.

My point it that Kerry won't say he was wrong to give the authority in the first place, because that's not what he believes. He believes that a president should be able to act from a position of strength diplomatically speaking. That's what he was voting for. I can only imagine how angry Kerry was when Bush rushed into war, considering Kerry went around after the vote saying that the vote didn't necessarily mean war, that the country was still a long way off from war. The president made Kerry look like a shmuck for believing him. I'd be pissed.

[democratreformed]

17. Yes, it is sad. Someone posted this on here today:

"Kerry voted to give Bush the car keys. Bush crashed the car." That's a good way of putting it. That's not the exact words, probably, but that's the gist of it. I have forgiven John Kerry for his vote and can even understand it under the circumstances of the time period that all that was ocurring in. But, as an outsider, I saw clearly that Bush was determined to attack Iraq no matter what. John Kerry was not an outsider and had many other issues to consider when making his decision to vote for or against the IWR. Also, it was a time period during which Democrats were working very hard to present a united face to the world as a whole.

I understand Kerry's position clearly and I agree that he should not admit that he has changed his mind. I think it is more advantageous to focus on how the mess is currently being mismanaged. Hopefully, the majority of voters will agree that it's a mess and that a change in leadership is called for.

[Drifter]

3. "could spend 90 minutes debating himself."

I'll take that anyday, over someone who can't form a complete sentence.

I would rather have someone who can argue both sides of an issue. This shows the person has a complete understanding of the issue. When this person chooses a side, it is based on an understanding of the issue, not what the handlers say.

Cheers
Drifter

[Malva Zebrina]

4. good--let him get arrogant

that is an indication that he will blow it because of his megalomania and narcissism. Let him get arrogant--he will eventually say something real real stupid and childish when he gets arrogantly defensive. We have seen this side of him--he will get out of control

[ewagner]

10. For a number of reasons

You're right...he will get arrogant

Think about it. He has two campaign themes:

I'm a strong leader.

I'm a war president (tough on terror etc)

Those themes demand that he show himself as "in command".
Talk tough. Act Tougher. He's going to attack, attack, attack because he has himself backed into a corner. He can't run on his record (more precisely, lack thereof).

Worse yet, he has absolutely no choice but to continue spouting his lies over and over and at an increasingly higher level. Saddam=Osama. Iraq = Al Queda. Saddam had WMDs. He's backed himself into a corner and can only hope to lie his way out.

Sheer audacity.

[sr_pacifica]

18. I'm hopin' n/t

[Ishoutandscream]

7. Look at him!!! What a Cheneying idiot!!!

How can anyone in their right mind support that piece of ignorant filth.

[Guaranteed]

9. I KNEW BUSH WOULD SAY THIS!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=896367#897593

LOL! I'm SOOO good. ;P

[Peanut Gallery]

12. This "debate" is going to be so stage-managed

they could place a life-size cardboard cutout of Bush at the podium and the press corps would still gush about what a wonderful job he did.

[RollergirlVT]

13. and if

b*shit is cocky then that means he knows the whole thing is arranged in his favor. At this point Kerry should refuse to debate UNLESS Bush agrees to open debate with REAL questions from a REAL audience live on camera the night of the debate. If b*shit is too afraid to face the people then there will be no debate. THAT would be a great debate Surprise.

[ollie3]

14. Reply.....

Bush:"He voted for the use of force in Iraq and then didn't vote to fund the troops," Bush said. "He complained that we're not spending enough money to help in reconstruction in Iraq and now he's saying we're spending too much. He said it was the right decision to go into Iraq and now he calls it the wrong war."

"He could probably spend 90 minutes debating himself," Bush added to hoots of laughter from his supporters.




Kerry (hypothetical reply):

There you go again. I voted to give you the authority to go to war. But only after making sure there were not alternatives. Every step of the way, you ignored the UN, you ignored the suggestions of our allies and the advice of our generals. In short you misused your authority to take us into a misguided war. Once there, you had no plan for success. You did not even provide our soldiers with adequate supplies, even though you Congress gave you everything you wanted. And you did not spend appropriated funds for the reconstruction of Iraq, leaving Iraqis without electricity and security, the very Iraqis we need to be fighting against the insurgency. I voted against the version of the $87 billion bill because there was too much waste in it. History has shown that much of this money is not even accounted for, and it is not being spent how it was intended. Harry Truman, before he was President worked to examine waste in the military budget and he is the one who insisted that the Buck stopped at his desk. I promise to uphold the tradition of Harry Truman if elected and bring accountability back to the White House."

[NewYorkerfromMass]

16. If I had the media machine on my side I'd be arrogant too. eom

[Carni]

19. Bush could blow a huge fart on stage

And the media would still declare him victorious and nothing short of a professional debater (in other words don't get your hopes up)