"I accept full respononsibility" and Al Franken

[Eric J in MN]

A few weeks ago, after Donald Rumsfeld said, "I accept full responsiblity" for Abu Ghraib, DUers talked about how meaningless that phrase is.

I said it's insincere unless the person who says it also resigns.

Another DUer said, "I accept full responsiblity" means
"I accept NO responsibility."

But today, on "The O'Franken Factor," Al Franken praised Ronald Reagan for saying he accepted responsiblity after the killing of Marines in Beruit.

Franken said that shows how much better Reagan is than George W., because George W. doesn't say those words.

(Franken was talking to Norm Ornstein).

I think George W. won't hesitate to say, "I take full responsiblity" for something, if he ever thinks he can gain politically by doing so.

I wasn't impressed when Reagan used the phrase, I wasn't impressed when Donald Rumsfeld used the phrase, and I won't be impressed if George W. ever uses the phrase.

[Justice]

1. Just words

no accountability.

I agree with you.

[LittleApple81]

2. Especially if they say "resonponsibility".. that should give you a clue.nt

[mzmolly]

3. I like the way Al thinks. I feel he is pointing out 'just words or not'

Chimpy boy refuses to take any responsibility for anything.

I think using a RW icon like RR to make his point is just fine ;)

[PretzelWarrior]

5. except it's so easy for him to march out to the Rose Garden

offer those meaningless words and have people say, "so now..what's your problem? he took responsibility?"

[Eric J in MN]

7. mzmolly - were you impressed when Reagan said that? (nt)

nt

[mzmolly]

9. Hell no, and I wont be impressed if Bush does either. But,

if he does, then at least he is capable of admitting a mistake.

I think Al Franken was pointing out that Bush is incapable of taking any responsibility for his actions.

[Momof1]

4. Bush will never, ever say those words

Time & time again he has had the opportunity and he doesn't do it.
Remember the press conference when he was asked if he has made one mistake, and he came up blank?

[Eric J in MN]

6. If Rumsfeld can say it, why not George W.? nt

nt

[JHB]

8. Reagan made "I take responsibility" meaningless.

After all, nothing happened to him. And in the process, he interfered with the military's standard review which would have gotten down to what went wrong and how to prevent it (maybe -- there's always the "cover your brass" factor; see Iowa turret explosion).

[Eric J in MN]

10. how did those words stop the military standard review? nt

nt

[skooooo]

11. Al says a lot of things tongue-in-cheek too...

...or with some subtle subtext. I wouldn't always take what Al says at face value, he certainly doesn't always offer up his real thoughts that way in the context of his satire.

[Eric J in MN]

12. Maybe Franken just thought it would be funny to say that

Maybe Franken just thought it would be funny to say that Reagan is better than George W. because of the "accept responsibility" thing, but if George W. ever says that, Franken will be stuck.

[Vickers]

16. Or he can say, Georgie is just doing it because I told him to, and

HE RESPECTS MY OPINION!!!!!

:P

[BringEmOn]

13. Republikanspeak for "I accept full responsibility....but not the blame."

[Yupster]

14. When Janet Reno

said she took full responsibility for Waco, I screamed at the tv, "good - so resign."

That's when I learned the phrase was meaningless.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

15. After Reagan said it he pulled our troops from Lebanon IIRC

[Just Me]

17. WHAT HAS HE DONE TO ACCEPT FULL RESPONSIBILITY?

WHAT?

WHAT?

CYA?

MORE GAMES?

GRRRRRR!!!!

[peacetalksforall]

18. The credibility-o-meter goes off when someone makes that type of

statement.

Iran-Contra was so loathesome to me that a mere few words meant nothing to me. It was easy for Reagan to do - he's an actor and the deed was done. No harm in mouthing a few words. In other words, I had no reason to believe him. He was only talking to a few borderline-gullible-gulls who take a big gulp and say OK that was good!

He knew. There's no doubt about it. Why didn't he tell us that they were going to reverse all the drug damage to try to make up for it.

[Eric J in MN]

20. Reagan said he accepted responsiblity for the Marines killed in

Reagan said he accepted responsiblity for the Marines killed in Beirut.

He never said he accepts responsibilty for Iran-Contra.

[Leilani]

22. Yes, he did.

I saw it on TV last nite.

At first he denied they were trading weapons for hostages...then they had an investigation, & he went on TV & said he had been wrong, that there were people in his admin who had done that.

I believe he fired North, Poindexter, etc.

I saw Nancy Reagan at the time in an interview, & she hated North. She said very nasty things....that is also when Don Regan was fired.

[Eric J in MN]

23. here is the quote. decide if it's accepting responsibility or not.

REAGAN (videotape, 11/13/86): We did not, repeat, did not trade weapons or anything else for hostages, nor will we.

REAGAN (videotape, 3/4/87): A few months ago, I told the American people I did not trade arms for hostages. My heart and my best intentions still tell me that?s true. But the facts and the evidence tell me it is not.

[Leilani]

26. He also said something like:

Admiral Poindexter said the buck stops with him, but as President, it stops with me.

This was on Keith Olbermann tonight. He showed the problems of the Reagan Admin. & showed different clips.

He tried to do a more balanced look at Reagan; there was good, but there was bad.

[peacetalksforall]

24. I think you're both correct.

The exact words using the word 'responsibility' was for Beirut. I think he used the word 'wrong' for the Contra debacle.

I am obsessed with the arrogance and criminality of operating a secret sub-government and bringing the drugs in and making money by ruining lives, then turning around and demeanig the 60's and 70's and 'radicalism' while glorifying their christianity and family values. It was so phoney, so hypocritical, so untruthful. It was and is a horror.

[mandyky]

19. If shrub took responsibility now, it would be disingenuous

That press conference when the media asked about mistakes would have been an opportunity that may have worked for some people. Now I think it is far too late, unless yoou are one of his "koolaid followers".

I think he is incapable of admitting mistakes, thereby taking responsibility. I think a lot of that is is on momma babs - "if they criticize my boys, I'll kill em" with "my beautiful mind".

[Zinfandel]

21. You will never ever hear Bush say he made a mistake, Rove knows

Bush has to look perfect as the Messiah, once he says he made a mistake, he becomes fallible to millions, everything comes tumbling down...No, it's a well planned strategy, for everyone else around him to take the blame, so he can get elected as the second coming and the loyal ones who took the blame will always have a job because they were good soldiers.

[Nlighten1]

25. Excellent!

This post, and ones like this, are the reason I come back to DU every day.

:toast:

[Liberal_Dog]

27. Responsibility Without Accountability Is Just A Waste Of Time

eom

[troublemaker]

28. In a democracy responsibility is assigned by the electorate

I don't care if these clowns *accept* it or not.