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See the original image at huffingtonpost.com

Bush: I Gave Up Golf For The Troops

huffingtonpost.com — Any military member or military family member who supports Bush's party after this outrage should seek professional help.

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  • induren, on 05/14/2008, -44/+272Good God what an idiot. He was actually being serious! I can not believe this fool. He should have just stayed quiet. This will be ridiculed for years.
    • EatingPie, on 05/14/2008, -59/+65I'm curious if you read the quote.

      "...And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."

      Indeed, it sure as heck does send the wrong signal. Why does this make the President an "idiot"?

      The main reason this is depicted negatively in the Huffington Post is that they don't like the President. In reality, this was a good thing. The Commander in Chief playing golf in a time of war is totally awful, and it's important the Bush realized this.

      -Pie
      • Gazoo2001, on 05/14/2008, -19/+80Pie,
        The criticism of Bush's action is that it is inconsequential. You know how sometimes when someone gets cancer and the radiation therapy causes them to lose their hair, and their friends and loved ones will shave their heads in support of the sick person? Well, Bush giving up golf to support the troops is sort of like the cancer patient's parent trimming their nose hair in support of their sick child. Oh, and when they were the one who caused the child's cancer, too.
        I agree with you that him playing golf does send the wrong signal. What's funny about the story is that it seems he thinks he's making a strong statement by giving up golf.
        • yojiffyskippy, on 05/14/2008, -37/+20Only someone with very poor thinking skills, very poor reading comprehension or Huffington-comPost would interpret this to mean that he is suggesting that the sacrifice the troops are making and the sacrifice that he is making by giving up golf are equal sacrifices. Give me a break. Idiots like you are what continues to divide this country. STFU.
          • schuder, on 05/14/2008, -2/+6The partisanship here has gotten a little out of control. Bush is a moron, but there is nothing in that tone to indicate he thinks his golf sacrifice is a big one. His tone is morelike "Well *****, probably shouldn't be doing this when people are dying." Do you expect the president to be leading the troops into battle? And for that matter would you really want them led by him? All it is is calling for the Bush twins to enlist, which of course completely goes against a volunteer military. Of course someone like McCain and Webb do it right and don't often bring up their sons, if at all.
            Why don't we stop criticizing all GOP or Dems too for that matter. Dropping party labels and parties as well would be the best thing for this country. All this talk about "change" it's not going to be much of a change regardless of who gets elected. Dems are just a slightly different variant of the GOP without flag lapels and a D in front of their name on the news. Real change would consist of electing a "radical" like a Paul, Kucinich or Gravel (and I totally disagree with many policies of the later two).
          • Gazoo2001, on 05/14/2008, -0/+5"...to mean that he is suggesting that the sacrifice the troops are making and the sacrifice that he is making by giving up golf are equal sacrifices."
            Looks like you're the one with poor thinking skills, assmaster. I did not state anything close to your assertion, nor does my analogy suggest it. Shaving your head to support a friend sick with cancer is a significant sacrifice, yet it is much, much less than having cancer and losing your hair from radiation therapy.
        • Julik, on 05/14/2008, -8/+29That is exactly what the publication is trying to do... It is just something he said in passing... He did not say My sacrafice to the troops is that I will stop playing golf. He just said that he realizes that him out playing golf while soldiers are fighting for the country looks bad. Which is does... He was not asking for a nobel prize for it...
        • jojoanderson, on 05/14/2008, -5/+6agreed! but people in our country will argue and complain about anything...at this point nothing the man could do would make people like or respect him again...everyone just needs to calm down a bit!
        • adrenaline33, on 05/14/2008, -3/+4He wasn't acting like it was a strong statement at all. It was a side question in an interview and he gave a good answer. It would send a bad message if the president was golfing while troops were dying and I think Bush is absolutely in the right here.
          • ShadowMerchant, on 05/14/2008, -2/+2The very same ***** Bush-derangement drama queens would really have reamed him if he ever did appear on TV playing golf. The poor guy can't win. I think he should not have mentioned it, though.
        • themastersb, on 05/15/2008, -3/+2Dear Digg community,

          How come we're commenting like we're writing letters to one another?

          -Yours Truly,
          Themaster
      • h3lx, on 05/14/2008, -9/+22Nothing the man says or does is going to pull him out of the world of suck he's in now. He could ***** 300,000,000 pink twinkies and 2 dozen frosted snowballs and his name would still be *****.

        ***** him, ***** his opinions, if this America is the America he's always dreamed about, then ***** it too.
        • cobophers, on 05/14/2008, -1/+8Yeah bleep him....

          /The guy that awkwardly yells after the cheering. And my voice cracked.
      • muckemuck, on 05/14/2008, -4/+6BS... total BS.. he gave up golf because he sucks at it, and thought he'd win some support by claiming he gave it up "because it didn't seem right during a war".. but he's FINE with going fishing during a war?!?!?
        http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-07-01-bus ...
      • pixelate, on 05/14/2008, -2/+4Does joking about WMD's send the right signal?

        http://youtube.com/watch?v=nKX6luiMINQ
      • evlpanda, on 05/15/2008, -0/+5It makes him an idiot because he is stating the bleeding obvious, which is what idiots do. He also seems proud of such a small gesture.
        • Nevarius, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2That or he actually thinks hes talking down to our level so we can actually understand. err..nvm..your right..Hes a idiot thats out of touch.
    • EatingPie, on 05/14/2008, -12/+47Forgot to mention re "he should have stayed quiet"...

      "Q Mr. President, you haven't been golfing in recent years. Is that related to Iraq?"

      The Huffington Post leaves the question out, but it's in the transcript.

      -Pie
      • treehugger87, on 05/14/2008, -6/+36Far be it from me to defend this President, who is a war criminal and who I could not possibly loathe any more than I already do. However, Pie is right. The full context of the question changes the entire conversation. And Bush is right, the golf course is not the right place for the President to be when receiving the news about the latest tragedy from the war that he started.

        This is a tactic used all the time by the right wing propagandists. They take a statement out of context and turn it into a reason to lynch the (liberal) person who said it. We would all be better off if it stopped altogether.
      • JimTinominin, on 05/14/2008, -8/+15Couldn't agree more. I'm no Bush-lover, but I am an intellectual honesty lover. I'm a conservative and I wouldn't stoop to this misleading dishonesty (even over something so trivial) if it were Obama or Clinton.

        Give me context people, context.
        • sassip, on 05/14/2008, -3/+5You have missed the real-world context. The context is bigger than just Alfred E. Newman quitting golf as mentioned in the interview for "sending the wrong message." It is the juxtaposition of it seeming that he's proud that he has "sacrificed" his balls while others have sacrificed their lives and families... He is a simpleton. You didn't really expect a nuanced answer from him did you?
      • sinurgy, on 05/14/2008, -5/+16Huffingtonpost is Rush Limbaugh for the left. It's sad to see so many people buy into their sensationalist crap!
        • willaggs, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right...
      • markp88, on 05/14/2008, -1/+4Transcript of interview
        http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0508/10316_Pa ...
      • weech, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Fine...but it took him 4 years to seek "solidarity" ??
    • rblancarte, on 05/14/2008, -4/+24"This will be ridiculed for years."
      Just THIS?
    • AKBryant54, on 05/14/2008, -3/+38He should give up the gulf instead.
    • BlueYoshi, on 05/14/2008, -11/+6Land of the BOUGHT, Home of the STOLEN.
    • Ladymongoose, on 05/14/2008, -9/+9I'm sure the world of golf thanks him. The man can't even ride bike..do we want him swinging a golf club? Too bad the didn't give up his presidency instead.
      • acknotSW, on 05/14/2008, -8/+3sometime it better thought idiot then to the type and firm it
        • darkzealot89, on 05/14/2008, -2/+7wat
          • acknotSW, on 05/14/2008, -5/+0I found it amusing that someone who appears to be barely literate and types things like "the man can't even ride bike" and "Too bad the didn't give up his presidency" was jumping on the Bush Bashing Bandwagon for a comment Bush made that was taken out of context. Come on, there are so many legitimate reasons to hate Bush, do we really need to sink to this level?
        • Ladymongoose, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2Agreed, my grammar sucks today for some reason. This hardly makes me 'barely literate', you moron. Go ***** yourself.
      • smittyme, on 05/14/2008, -8/+2You are an Idiot
        • Ladymongoose, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2Gee, my feelings are hurt now. You can go ***** yourself, too.
    • postalblowfish7, on 05/14/2008, -7/+4"This will be ridiculed for years."

      I highly doubt it. This administration can get away with saying or doing anything.
      • smittyme, on 05/14/2008, -6/+2Do you talk/type just foe the sake of it. You are perhaps the dumbest person I've seen on here in weeks!!
    • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -5/+10Bush sacrificing golf, and only golf, for the troops is NOT comparable to tens of thousands of troops sacrificing their time with family, physical safety, mental health, limbs, and lives for Bush and his war.
      • UTKEngineer, on 05/14/2008, -5/+5And no one has said it is.
      • Kajun, on 05/14/2008, -5/+3They thought it was just a free ride? They shouldnt have signed up. They continue to sign on for more tours too so I dont think they have much to bitch about. If it was that taxing on their lives the war would be over because there would be nobody left to fight it for us.
        • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -1/+4You weren't around during Vietnam, were you?
        • jaxcs, on 05/15/2008, -1/+2You know about stop loss right?
    • craznoe, on 05/14/2008, -9/+5I can imagine the Digg headline now.... "People dying in Iraq, Bush shoots a 92!" The guy wouldn't get off your chain either way. Buried for being predictable and inflammatory.
      • malawyer, on 05/14/2008, -2/+5come on you amercians always elect idoits as presidents
    • richmomz, on 05/14/2008, -1/+4What a swell guy.
    • EarlOfLade, on 05/14/2008, -3/+11What he should have done, out of respect for the troops, was to step; down as president.
    • Pestilence, on 05/14/2008, -2/+4Totally out of context. Here's the transcript. He (IMO the war criminal ***** in chief) was answering a question.

      Q Mr. President, you haven't been golfing in recent years. Is that related to Iraq?

      THE PRESIDENT: Yes, it really is. I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the Commander-in-Chief playing golf. I feel I owe it to the families to be as -- to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal.
      • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -0/+8A simple "Yes" would have been better than to try and equate his lack of golf to solidarity with military families.
      • Shuukyoku, on 05/14/2008, -0/+6Also, its not really being taken "out of context" if the paper fails to mention that he was asked a question. Politicians almost never say anything to journalists unless asked a question.
        Besides, if he wanted to show solidarity, he'd go visit the front like FDR used to. In ***** leg braces.
      • evlpanda, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4"... to be in solidarity as best as I can with them". Try harder.
    • krait, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2Doesn't matter... only a matter of time now

      http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Hillary_Clinton_ ...
    • Shuukyoku, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2I don't see how that sends the wrong signal. Unless the Air Force has aim as bad as the Commander in Chief.
    • magus_melchior, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4"To members of the armed forces who are amputees, he is saying [he got scratched 'fighting' a cedar tree]. It is my firm belief that if you are the president, you need to know where you are in the space-time continuum." (Lewis Black, unaired DC stand-up segment)
      "I'm always amazed that we let Bush talk to other world leaders, because there's got to be someone who asks, 'Can I talk to... someone... in charge?'" (Greg Proops, UK stand-up)

      I think we need to remember that the White House's priority is to make sure the President is always right, even if they need to distort reality to an impossible extent. This also means that small sacrifices that the President may accept are equivalent to combat injuries and loss of life.
  • rrouse, on 05/14/2008, -31/+65Golf must mean a lot to him, he must love it like a favorite pet or a loved one. It seems silly to most people because we have to work for a living and don't have time for golf but I guess for GW its a big deal because he never seriously worked at anything.
    • MrWhite7, on 05/14/2008, -2/+16wait... if you work you don't have time for golf?
      • SammyJr, on 05/14/2008, -1/+4Obviously, not as much time as Bush has.
      • LukasSmith, on 05/14/2008, -6/+2Bush hasn't played since 2003. So what exactly is your point? And to be jealous of someone for the time to play golf? Seriously golf sucks ass. Boring as hell.
        • chsbrgr, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1I remember him golfing around the time of Hurricane Katrina, which was late 2005.
    • FredFredrickson, on 05/14/2008, -8/+8...don't try to rationalize his stupid, ignorant, and thoughtless comments, okay?
    • Metman, on 05/14/2008, -2/+5Sucks to be you. I work 60-75 hours a week. Still manage a few hours here and there to get in a few holes of golf. Then again, if I thought the world was a dark, evil place like you obviously do - I might give up too.
      • Frumbler, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2Dude, if your doing 60-75 hours a week it sucks to be you. I'm at about 20 hrs myself, it's much better.
      • starbuxadct, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1Don't know what planet you are on, but the world IS a dark and evil place. Our list of allies shrinks almost daily, China purchases all of our debt, We're in a war that makes no sense at all, between food, oil, global warming, and natural disasters the world can be quite a dark and evil place. But those of us who look beyond our own front doorstep, have known this for quite some time.

        Those of us who don't golf, apparently.
        • KingWilson, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1not buying that, the worlds a better place than it has been for thousands of years. just enjoy what you can and stop complaining and blaming other people. you've been influenced too much by fox news which has told you to be afraid of everything and too be in a constant state of worry
    • LukasSmith, on 05/14/2008, -11/+3Most digg users just play Warcraft watch Anime and Masterbate. You call that noble? Playing golf is just like any other activity like playing xbox 360 wii or ps3 or watching a movie or going to a club or chasing tail or going on a vacation. Have you never done any of these things? Have you not the time to do any of this? I pity you. Your life must really suck ass. You sound bitter and jealous even though I doubt your life could be as lame as I imagine..
    • Gemfinder, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4"No more iced tea for me, Mumsie-dear, I'm off to lie to our valiant men and women in uniform some more."
  • AAK15, on 05/14/2008, -23/+204What a truly moving and noble sacrifice
    • Rahodeb, on 05/14/2008, -5/+33He was asked why he hasn't been seen golfing. This isn't some proclimation of great sacrifice, just answering a question.

      Also, he didn't say "I gave up golfing for the troops." he said it didn't seem right golfing during a time of war.
      • LukasSmith, on 05/14/2008, -9/+10He gave up golfing long ago dumbass. Try 2003. If you weren't reading the Huffington crap producer thats so partisan it bleeds donkey blood. He gave up Golf in 2003 not today. He said he didn't think he should be playing golf while the troops are fighting. He is basically saying he is serious about the war and about the troops. He hasn't had time for golf since 2003. He is directing an entire nation and a military. If he just partied and boozed and played golf you hippies would all be so happy because then you really would have something reasonable to complain about. He is the head of the military, the head of the nation, whether you accept it or not. He will be until the end of this year. And no he wont be tossed out. He will walk out having served two terms, a limit placed there by law.
        • Wartyboskfapped, on 05/14/2008, -4/+3/falls asleep after first 5 words of LukasSmith post *nnnnxxx*
        • LukasSmith, on 05/14/2008, -7/+2wow great response. Maybe you should fall asleep through November too like your party did in 2000 and 2004. That would make me real happy.
        • sassip, on 05/14/2008, -1/+5Speaking of Dumb Ass, aren't there any mirrors in your house? BUSH BREAKS VACATION TIME RECORD!
          By Jim VandeHei and Peter Baker
          Washington Post Staff Writers
          Wednesday, August 3, 2005; A04
          WACO, Tex., Aug. 2 -- President Bush is getting the kind of break most Americans can only dream of -- nearly five weeks away from the office, loaded with vacation time.
          The president departed Tuesday for his longest stretch yet away from the White House, arriving at his Crawford ranch in the evening for a stretch of clearing brush, visiting with family and friends, and tending to some outside-the-Beltway politics. By historical standards, it is the longest presidential retreat in at least 36 years.
          The August getaway is Bush's 49th trip to his cherished ranch since taking office and the 319th day that Bush has spent, entirely or partially, in Crawford -- nearly 20 percent of his presidency to date, according to Mark Knoller, a CBS Radio reporter known for keeping better records of the president's travel than the White House itself.
        • LukasSmith, on 05/14/2008, -3/+2If I woke up every morning and saw Democrats duping the American people with silly conspiracy theories to get their candidates elected I would need a vacation too. The greatest conspiracy theory is how Democrats have managed to convince the American people there is no way that Iraq was just a mistake not intentional or just based on bad intelligence. You know whats funny? Obama disagrees with you he said so himself here:
          http://www.propeller.com/viewstory/2008/04/16/woul ...
          • sassip, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1First of all, I said nothing about whether or not it was intentional or a "mistake." You are conflating issues. Second, if I made a doozie of a "mistake" like that, I'd be fired immediately, and I own the company!
        • magus_melchior, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1If he gave up golfing for the troops, why didn't he do that when we bombed Afghanistan?
      • muckemuck, on 05/14/2008, -0/+6BS... total BS.. he gave up golf because he sucks at it, and thought he'd win some support by claiming he gave it up "because it didn't seem right during a war".. but he's FINE with going fishing during a war?!?!?
        http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-07-01-bus ...
      • Derrekito, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1since when did Bush ANSWER questions? I kid I kid...
    • LukasSmith, on 05/14/2008, -16/+7Rahodeb is right. The truth is the only ones who have no respect for the troops are the hippies. Guess what happens if we bring all the troops home? They don't have a job anymore. Right now we are pumping up the military with people looking for a job. When there is no war we won't need these people anymore. Thus they wont have a job. The whole point of being a soldier is fighting. There is no such thing as a just war. I'm sure there were plenty of German civilians who died innocent in world war 2. And God knows plenty of innocent Okinawa people. You either support our military and military action or you don't. The military is a war machine. Not a digging ditches planting trees brigade. They know when they sign up they might get shot even die and are willing to make that sacrifice. Stop using people who already decided to sacrifice themselves as a crutch for hippie agenda when the fact is that is their job. Makes as much sense as protesting our mail system and believing our postal workers don't want to deliver mail for a living. Without the sacrifice and the danger associated with dangerous situations there would be no reason to respect veterans. Would you respect a boy scout after 4 years of membership? We respect soldiers because they sacrifice. But if they never get the opportunity to do so as hippies wish then they are no different from boy scouts trained to do things they will never use in real life.
      • smittyme, on 05/14/2008, -11/+2Well said
      • cobophers, on 05/14/2008, -1/+10You're economic and intellectual ability is unstoppable. Except for your preposterous argument that troops can't fend for themselves in the "real" world. The national guard aka America's police force, already had jobs before they left. Your use of hippy is crass and inaccurate. I'm a "hippy" and I provide health care to the "war machine". Weird, one would call it a paradox. How can an educated person who believes in peace actually support our troops by not supporting the political effort? It sounds like a conundrum! But arguing politics is different from arguing war. Anyways, so yada yada yada WWII, sacrifice, war machine, cliche, hippie, going postal, repect, yadayadayada, boy scouts, sacrifice, more cliche, and military complex impeding on job prosperity of troops. I have to say I've read better but your heart is definitely into it so I'll give you a C+. Don't shoot your eye out kid.
      • LukasSmith, on 05/14/2008, -7/+7A true hippie wouldn't pay income tax. Therefore you fail. And the political effort you support is the one where soldiers don't get to fight. Thats not support. yada yada, no real explanation what yada means but yada yada. I give you an F.
        • gsxrjason, on 05/14/2008, -0/+3I see... you're just Pro-war. It all makes sense now. How would you feel about invading Canada?
        • LukasSmith, on 05/14/2008, -7/+2Yes lets invade Canada. Why not?
        • gsxrjason, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2LOL, alright. You're officially beyond hope. I'm just going to go ahead and block you now.
        • LukasSmith, on 05/14/2008, -6/+1Oh ***** I just said lets invade Canada on digg.com. I'm in trouble now.
        • sassip, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2You're a pup. 24 years old and proud of it... hu.... what you know about hippies except from your comix (sic) books... why don't you enlist? I knew I should have voted to restore the draft.
      • sassip, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1Let's face it, if it didn't sound so stupid and a miniscule of a "sacrifice" we wouldn't be talking about. Yes, he was asked the question. If he wasn't such a simpleton, he would have ended his answer at - no. Instead, he made it sound like it was his way of "supporting the troops." You could see it in his eyes, he was serious. He truly thought that going into an explanation would make it better. I believe that the guy that snorted coke and drank Jack Daniels in his "tour of duty," believed he was doing something noble. Now if that's not elitism...
    • richmomz, on 05/14/2008, -0/+5Brought a tear to my eye it did. What a swell guy.
    • dildoolielly, on 05/14/2008, -0/+4How can anyone look at Bush and not believe humans can evolve from apes. Really?
    • MrFisty, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2Soldiers give up lives. Bush gives up golf.

      Yep, I always though Bush's math was a little off.
    • Gemfinder, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Positively warms the cockles of my heart. It's good to know that a sport that contributes significantly to water and soil pollution takes second place in the priorities of our beloved and dauntless leader.
  • gak001, on 05/14/2008, -18/+244"Now watch this drive"
    • petrodollar, on 05/14/2008, -2/+10I was thinking he must have seen the trailer for the movie.
    • ErikHarrison, on 05/14/2008, -0/+4I gave up Bush for Golf. :)
    • evlpanda, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3"Play golf not The Gulf"
      (thanks AKBryant54)
  • Dumbledorito, on 05/14/2008, -23/+86For his next trick, he'll give up sport fishing AND watching football.

    There is truly no end to the depth of this man's willingness to deny himself pleasure to help the troops.
    • QsheiK, on 05/14/2008, -3/+16No, please don't let him give up watching football. That'll make him stop eating pretzels.
      • inigomntoya, on 05/14/2008, -5/+7Why, so Cheney can take over? You need to think about the consequences of your wishes before you go rubbing that lamp. I may have voted republican, but even I know my own limits. Besides, Bush had given up watching football back in 2002 after that assassination attempt by Mr Peanut.
        • luchid, on 05/14/2008, -1/+3Bush wasn't your limit the first time around? No problem, now the SECOND time? You still voted for him? I pity those who put the party before the candidate.
        • techprophet, on 05/14/2008, -7/+2Bush was far better than Gore or any of the other candidates at the time. I would vote for him again against McCain, Obama, or Hillary
          • inigomntoya, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Lets see, the moist robot VS the guy who admitted to partying hard in college... Hmmm... It may have been a tough choice for some people, but I prefer my President to have a personality and NO face lift scars.
    • fajitamelt, on 05/15/2008, -2/+2Actually, he did give up both of those too:

      http://youtube.com/watch?v=eBGIQ7ZuuiU
      • picpak, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1uuiU? You think you're some wise guy, don't you?
  • reuscel, on 05/14/2008, -15/+144Sometimes, I think his heart might be too big.
    • vonfook, on 05/14/2008, -6/+11Well, in all humility I'm sure he would say this is what Jesus would do.
      • IrishJoe, on 05/14/2008, -3/+6Besides, walking out on the water hazards to save losing a stroke got to be too show-offy.
    • Rahodeb, on 05/14/2008, -3/+13Cocaine has been known to enlarge the heart.
    • JimTinominin, on 05/14/2008, -9/+4Yep and that was the context wasn't it? "How big is your heart Mr. President?"

      Get a life people. What is the liberal blogosphere going to do in November when they can no longer invent Bush-isms to make fun of.
      • cobophers, on 05/14/2008, -2/+1I don't know!!!! I'm scared..... :(
      • sassip, on 05/14/2008, -1/+1Do you love this country as much as Rev. Wright?
      • JT114881, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1We can always just make fun of you instead.
      • gottarockit, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Oh he's got plenty more left in him, don't you worry your pretty 'lil head!

        Why there will be speaking engagements, lectures, goodwill ambassadorships...And the hits will keep on coming folks!
    • chrgrose, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Sometimes, I think he doesn't have one.
  • AtHomeBoy2000, on 05/14/2008, -22/+18But I thought he said the war was romantic. Maybe he should have given up sex as a tribute the to romanticism of war.
    • Dumbledorito, on 05/14/2008, -7/+4Not having to chance ever encountering him doing the nasty would make ME feel better about the war.
    • SneakyNinja, on 05/14/2008, -2/+11I think we'd all be better off if he didn't procreate any more.
    • FredFredrickson, on 05/14/2008, -0/+3Lord knows we need any more Bush offspring in this world anyway.
    • zazzalicious, on 05/14/2008, -0/+4Remind me, which of the Bush progeny is next in line to the Throne^H^H^H^H^H^H Presidency?
    • Ladymongoose, on 05/14/2008, -0/+3thanks for putting that image in my head.
  • MadKennyP, on 05/14/2008, -17/+343I know of at least 4,000 other Americans who have given up golf for the Iraq war.
    • keymanjim2, on 05/14/2008, -100/+11No you don't You couldn't care less about our soldiers so don't act like you do.
      • MadKennyP, on 05/14/2008, -22/+40Amusing. I assume you'd prefer more soldiers die in Iraq? I will never understand people like you who so blatantly hate our brave soldiers.
        • keymanjim2, on 05/14/2008, -59/+8I'm not the one calling them psychopathic mass murderers and then glomming on to any and every soros funded hit piece that backs up your false claims. That sentiment only comes from the left. You know, people like YOU.
          • luchid, on 05/14/2008, -5/+30So people who want them to come back home and be safe hate them?
          • MadKennyP, on 05/14/2008, -4/+19Ah, so you don't actually mean ME, but some fictitious entity known as "people like me." I guess that makes your arguments easier.
          • luchid, on 05/15/2008, -2/+3MadKennyP: Well said, sir. I shall befriend you now.
        • wendelgee2, on 05/14/2008, -7/+37You're right Keyman. You're the only one who really cares. None of the rest of us are Americans with friends and family over there. Only you.
          • keymanjim2, on 05/14/2008, -13/+3I care a far sight more than you do.
            Given the choice, I wouldn't send them anywhere in the world for anything. The overall result of our soldiers fighting for other countries is that those countries never learn how to fight for themselves.
            But the fact of the matter is that right now, this very second, they are fighting in a foreign land. And they don't need to be micromanaged and accused of nonexistent crimes by a bunch of politicians in Washington with "D" after their names or their supporters and financiers.
            You have just one task left to make you mission complete. Pull them out before the job is done and just when they are winning. Then you will have made this war just like Vietnam. And THAT is your overall goal.
            Tell me I'm wrong and I'll call you a liar. The difference is that I'm correct.
          • Lyk4n, on 05/14/2008, -5/+10So it's important that they "win" now? How many need to die for us to "win" and what is winning? We are foreign fighters in their country, they are fighting invaders. If Russians came here you'd do the same..
          • keymanjim2, on 05/14/2008, -6/+4Moore? Is that you?
            Yes it's important they win. In case you didn't see it, or more likely refuse to see it, they are targeting their own civilians. Those people that you cry for every time one of them stubs their toe within sight of one of our soldiers.
            But I guess you think that's all right. In fact you probably think it's preferable. Since you want to pull out and leave them to fend for themselves. Then you'll see the real bloodbath you desperately yearn for.
          • gottarockit, on 05/15/2008, -3/+3"Tell me I'm wrong and I'll call you a liar. The difference is that I'm correct."

            At least you don't have a closed mind or anything...
        • sizzzzlerz, on 05/14/2008, -4/+28I'm sorry if I missed the part where he referred to them as psychopathic mass murders. Maybe you could point that out to me?
          • keymanjim2, on 05/14/2008, -10/+5Why don't you just click that link I know you have in your favorites list and read it?
            Oh, that's right. You refused to see the first 100 times you read it. I doubt you'll open your mind up to see it now.
            You fail. Get off of the internet idiot.
        • PhoenixAvatar2, on 05/14/2008, -3/+10LOUD NOISES
        • bemenaker, on 05/14/2008, -7/+22support our troops, BRING THEM HOME!!!!!! And pass the new GI BILL
    • culbeda, on 05/14/2008, -6/+37You're forgetting the tens of thousands of people who have lost their limbs or their faculties over there. I'm pretty sure most of them had to give up golf as well. (Excluding "contractors", civilian deaths (theirs and ours), etc.)
      • TW002, on 05/14/2008, -5/+3Way to many people have had to give up everthing so bush could give up a past time what a sad man
    • smittyme, on 05/14/2008, -19/+1What did you give up douschebag!!!
    • mitikomon, on 05/14/2008, -7/+8Hmm...what? 1 million Iraqis are killed too?
      why anybody never mention Iraqis?
      • rmcadams, on 05/14/2008, -7/+71 million Iraqi's is a false number dumbass... that's why.
        • keymanjim2, on 05/14/2008, -7/+4Oh no. It's true. At least the libtards want it to be true.
          At the same time they will tell you that they don't believe that our troops are mass murders and they actually love them.
          Just read a few posts above. They hate being called out out their hatred of US soldiers.
        • Swanston, on 05/15/2008, -0/+4Why is rmcadams being dugg down? For *****'s sake if one million is anything near the real number that means on average, every single day in the Iraq war has had around 550 deaths each.
      • ElderBieler, on 05/14/2008, -4/+2Because we don't understand your 2nd sentence.
      • Swanston, on 05/15/2008, -1/+5LOL that myth is still circulating? If one million Iraqis have died in Iraq because of the war that means on average, 548 civilians die a day. And thats quick calculation with the room for error in your favor, so the actual number is even more unrealistic which means you're a retard for believing one million civilians have actually died from this war.
        • keymanjim2, on 05/15/2008, -0/+3I've tried to do the math in front of them but they refuse to see anything that doesn't put America in a bad light.
    • FutureGuy, on 05/14/2008, -4/+84000 and counting. He should have given up his presidency for the troops, the worse commander in chief ever.
      • magus_melchior, on 05/15/2008, -4/+2To be fair, Lincoln and Roosevelt oversaw far more casualties (different times and technologies, yes, but if we're gonna harp on loss of life...).
        What makes this military campaign one of the worst-conceived is that it was approved on false pretenses (which were rammed through despite doubts regarding the intelligence), and it is being run on appallingly poor planning (they didn't account for the insurgency that resulted as a result of creating a power vacuum and not planning for an effective political strategy). This magnifies the significance of every life lost in Iraq.
  • BohicaTwentyTwo, on 05/14/2008, -102/+38So basically you're going to keep on hating Bush no matter what he does. Enjoy your hate. Hope it keeps you warm at night.
    • Dumbledorito, on 05/14/2008, -10/+59Does that mean you love him no matter how badly he screws everything up?
      • yojiffyskippy, on 05/14/2008, -20/+7He probably means that if you have to pick a (non)issue like this to hate someone then you're an idiot. Surely there's something bigger and better to hate him for than some Huffington comPost "article" suggesting that him giving up golf and the troops sacrificing life and limb are equal. Only a really slow learner would fall for that Huffington propaganda.
        • FredFredrickson, on 05/14/2008, -1/+11When the president has screwed us as badly as Bush has, it's the little things that are the icing on the cake. How can you ignore this kind of ***** just because we have larger problems?
        • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -1/+9Sure, there's bigger and better things to hate him for -- destroying our freedoms, deceiving the nation, plunging us into an ever increasing debt, destroying our environment, killing our soldiers -- and for those things we do hate him... immensely. However, each time he opens his mouth to say something as stupid as this we hate him a little more. Marginalizing the sacrifices of our troops and their families by comparing it to his sacrifice of golf is not a non-issue.

          Bill Clinton getting a blowjob is a non-issue.
    • logicalnoise, on 05/14/2008, -13/+38***** lied his way into a war....of course I'm going to hate him.
      • DaDrake, on 05/14/2008, -26/+15Truly, show evidence of a lie. There is a difference between intentionally misguiding people and being wrong. Bush isn't a great president, but he is sincere. In some ways, he is an honest idiot. I remember the Iraq war debate very well and understand the number of intelligent reports that supported the USA version. I also understand how many other times we been wrong (we developed the nuclear weapons on "evidence" the Nazi's were developing it... even when they stop before the war). Saying he lied is a lie in itself, since it can not be supported by fact.
        • Jan33, on 05/14/2008, -9/+18sorry bud, the Nazi's were developing the A-Bomb well into the war. The evidence of a lie can be found in the PNAC, wherein it is stated that there is a need for perpetual war with many countries. Which also makes one ask a few questions about 9/11. The evidence that he is a liar has been spread far and wide. They have an agenda, and all these "accidents" like Katrina, 9/11, Iraq, fit the agenda perfectly. They do things on purpose, then act like it was just a big mistake.

          They do this to make people like yourself believe something good might still come out of them. It is called manipulation.
        • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -10/+20@Jan33

          Accidents like Katrina? So now you're saying that Bush planned a hurricane in order to destroy a city full of black people? I'm sure he's probably behind the cyclone in Myanmar too, right?

          Never mind the fact that the governor of L.A. and mayor of N.O. didn't issue evacuation orders until it was entirely too late. Never mind the fact that no formal request for aid was made to the federal government until all hell had broken loose. You do know the proper roles of the states and the federal government in situations like this, right? Probably not, if you're placing the blame on Bush for Katrina.
          • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -2/+3Friday, August 26

            GOV. KATHLEEN BLANCO DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY IN LOUISIANA [Office of the Governor]

            GULF COAST STATES REQUEST TROOP ASSISTANCE FROM PENTAGON: At a 9/1 press conference, Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, commander, Joint Task Force Katrina, said that the Gulf States began the process of requesting additional forces on Friday, 8/26. [DOD]
            Saturday, August 27

            GOV. HALEY BARBOUR DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY IN MISSISSIPPI [Office of the Governor]

            5AM CDT — KATRINA UPGRADED TO CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE [CNN]

            GOV. BLANCO ASKS BUSH TO DECLARE FEDERAL STATE OF EMERGENCY IN LOUISIANA: “I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster.” [Office of the Governor]

            FEDERAL EMERGENCY DECLARED, DHS AND FEMA GIVEN FULL AUTHORITY TO RESPOND TO KATRINA: “Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency.” [White House]
            Sunday, August 28

            2AM CDT — KATRINA UPGRADED TO CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE [CNN]

            7AM CDT — KATRINA UPGRADED TO CATEGORY 5 HURRICANE [CNN]

            MORNING — LOUISIANA NEWSPAPER SIGNALS LEVEES MAY GIVE: “Forecasters Fear Levees Won’t Hold Katrina”: “Forecasters feared Sunday afternoon that storm driven waters will lap over the New Orleans levees when monster Hurricane Katrina pushes past the Crescent City tomorrow.” [Lafayette Daily Advertiser]

            nagin.jpg 9:30 AM CDT — MAYOR NAGIN ISSUES FIRST EVER MANDATORY EVACUATION OF NEW ORLEANS: “We’re facing the storm most of us have feared,” said Nagin. “This is going to be an unprecedented event.” [Times-Picayune]

            AFTERNOON — BUSH, BROWN, CHERTOFF WARNED OF LEVEE FAILURE BY NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER DIRECTOR: Dr. Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center: “‘We were briefing them way before landfall. … It’s not like this was a surprise. We had in the advisories that the levee could be topped.’” [Times-Picayune; St. Petersburg Times]

            4PM CDT — NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE ISSUES SPECIAL HURRICANE WARNING: In the event of a category 4 or 5 hit, “Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks, perhaps longer. … At least one-half of well-constructed homes will have roof and wall failure. All gabled roofs will fail, leaving those homes severely damaged or destroyed. … Power outages will last for weeks. … Water shortages will make human suffering incredible by modern standards.” [National Weather Service]

            LATE PM — REPORTS OF WATER TOPPLING OVER LEVEE: “Waves crashed atop the exercise path on the Lake Pontchartrain levee in Kenner early Monday as Katrina churned closer.” [Times-Picayune]

            APPROXIMATELY 30,000 EVACUEES GATHER AT SUPERDOME WITH ROUGHLY 36 HOURS WORTH OF FOOD [Times-Picayune]

            LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD REQUESTS 700 BUSES FROM FEMA FOR EVACUATIONS: FEMA sends only 100 buses. [Boston Globe]
            Monday, August 29

            7AM CDT — KATRINA MAKES LANDFALL AS A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE [CNN]

            7:30 AM CDT — BUSH ADMINISTRATION NOTIFIED OF THE LEVEE BREACH: The administration finds out that a levee in New Orleans was breached. On this day, 28 “government agencies, from local Louisiana parishes to the White House, [reported that] that New Orleans levees” were breached. [AP]

            8AM CDT — MAYOR NAGIN REPORTS THAT WATER IS FLOWING OVER LEVEE: “I’ve gotten reports this morning that there is already water coming over some of the levee systems. In the lower ninth ward, we’ve had one of our pumping stations to stop operating, so we will have significant flooding, it is just a matter of how much.” [NBC’s “Today Show”]

            11:13 AM CDT - WHITE HOUSE CIRCULATES INTERNAL MEMO ABOUT LEVEE BREACH: “Flooding is significant throughout the region and a levee in New Orleans has reportedly been breached sending 6-8 feet of water throughout the 9th ward area of the city.” [AP]

            MORNING — BROWN WARNS BUSH ABOUT THE POTENTIAL DEVASTATION OF KATRINA: In a briefing, Brown warned Bush, “This is, to put it mildly, the big one, I think.” He also voiced concerns that the government may not have the capacity to “respond to a catastrophe within a catastrophe” and that the Superdome was ill-equipped to be a refuge of last resort. [AP]

            MORNING — MAYFIELD WARNS BUSH ABOUT THE TOPPING OF THE LEVEES: In the same briefing, Max Mayfield, National Hurricane Center Director, warns, “This is a category 5 hurricane, very similar to Hurricane Andrew in the maximum intensity, but there’s a big big difference. This hurricane is much larger than Andrew ever was. I also want to make absolutely clear to everyone that the greatest potential for large loss of lives is still in the coastal areas from the storm surge. … I don’t think anyone can tell you with any confidence right now whether the levees will be topped or not, but there’s obviously a very very grave concern.” [AP]

            MORNING — BUSH CALLS SECRETARY CHERTOFF TO DISCUSS IMMIGRATION: “I spoke to Mike Chertoff today — he’s the head of the Department of Homeland Security. I knew people would want me to discuss this issue [immigration], so we got us an airplane on — a telephone on Air Force One, so I called him. I said, are you working with the governor? He said, you bet we are.” [White House]

            mccainbirthday.jpg MORNING — BUSH SHARES BIRTHDAY CAKE PHOTO-OP WITH SEN. JOHN MCCAIN [White House]

            11AM CDT — MICHAEL BROWN FINALLY REQUESTS THAT DHS DISPATCH 1,000 EMPLOYEES TO REGION, GIVES THEM TWO DAYS TO ARRIVE: “Brown’s memo to Chertoff described Katrina as ‘this near catastrophic event’ but otherwise lacked any urgent language. The memo politely ended, ‘Thank you for your consideration in helping us to meet our responsibilities.’” [AP]

            LATE MORNING — LEVEE BREACHED: “A large section of the vital 17th Street Canal levee, where it connects to the brand new ‘hurricane proof’ Old Hammond Highway bridge, gave way late Monday morning in Bucktown after Katrina’s fiercest winds were well north.” [Times-Picayune]

            11AM CDT — BUSH VISITS ARIZONA RESORT TO PROMOTE MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT: “This new bill I signed says, if you’re a senior and you like the way things are today, you’re in good shape, don’t change. But, by the way, there’s a lot of different options for you. And we’re here to talk about what that means to our seniors.” [White House]

            4:30PM CDT — BUSH TRAVELS TO CALIFORNIA SENIOR CENTER TO DISCUSS MEDICARE DRUG BENEFIT: “We’ve got some folks up here who are concerned about their Social Security or Medicare. Joan Geist is with us. … I could tell — she was looking at me when I first walked in the room to meet her, she was wondering whether or not old George W. is going to take away her Social Security check.” [White House]

            8PM CDT — RUMSFELD ATTENDS SAN DIEGO PADRES BASEBALL GAME: Rumsfeld “joined Padres President John Moores in the owner’s box…at Petco Park.” [Editor & Publisher]

            8PM CDT — GOV. BLANCO AGAIN REQUESTS ASSISTANCE FROM BUSH: “Mr. President, we need your help. We need everything you’ve got.” [Newsweek]

            LATE PM — BUSH GOES TO BED WITHOUT ACTING ON BLANCO’S REQUESTS [Newsweek]
            Tuesday, August 30

            11AM CDT — BUSH SPEAKS ON IRAQ AT NAVAL BASE CORONADO [White House]

            MIDDAY — CHERTOFF CLAIMS HE FINALLY BECOMES AWARE THAT LEVEE HAS FAILED: “It was on Tuesday that the levee–may have been overnight Monday to Tuesday–that the levee started to break. And it was midday Tuesday that I became aware of the fact that there was no possibility of plugging the gap and that essentially the lake was going to start to drain into the city.” But later reports note that the Bush administration learned of the levee breach on Aug. 29. [Meet the Press, 9/4/05; AP]

            PENTAGON CLAIMS THERE ARE ENOUGH NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IN REGION: “Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said the states have adequate National Guard units to handle the hurricane needs.” [WWL-TV]

            MASS LOOTING REPORTED, SECURITY SHORTAGE CITED: “The looting is out of control. The French Quarter has been attacked,” Councilwoman Jackie Clarkson said. “We’re using exhausted, scarce police to control looting when they should be used for search and rescue while we still have people on rooftops.” [AP]

            U.S.S. BATAAN SITS OFF SHORE, VIRTUALLY UNUSED: “The USS Bataan, a 844-foot ship designed to dispatch Marines in amphibious assaults, has helicopters, doctors, hospital beds, food and water. It also can make its own water, up to 100,000 gallons a day. And it just happened to be in the Gulf of Mexico when Katrina came roaring ashore. The Bataan rode out the storm and then followed it toward shore, awaiting relief orders. Helicopter pilots flying from its deck were some of the first to begin plucking stranded New Orleans residents. But now the Bataan’s hospital facilities, including six operating rooms and beds for 600 patients, are empty.” [Chicago Tribune]

            bushguitar.jpg2PM CDT — PRESIDENT BUSH PLAYS GUITAR WITH COUNTRY SINGER MARK WILLIS [AP]

            BUSH RETURNS TO CRAWFORD FOR FINAL NIGHT OF VACATION [AP]
            Wednesday, August 31

            1:45AM CDT — FEMA REQUESTS AMBULANCES THAT DO NOT EXIST: “Almost 18 hours later, [FEMA] canceled the request for the ambulances because it turned out, as one FEMA employee put it, ‘the DOT doesn’t do ambulances.’” [Wall Street Journal]

            11:20 AM CDT — FEMA STAFF WARNED BROWN THAT PEOPLE WERE DYING AT THE SUPERDOME: Three hours later, Brown’s press secretary wrote to colleagues complaining that Brown needed more time scheduled to eat at a restaurant: “He needs much more that (sic) 20 or 30 minutes. We now have traffic to encounter to go to and from a location of his choise (sic), followed by wait service from the restaurant staff, eating, etc. Thank you.” [AP]

            NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS ARRIVE IN LOUSIANA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, AND FLORIDA: Troops arrive two days after they are requested. [Boston Globe]

            superdome2.jpg TENS OF THOUSANDS TRAPPED IN SUPERDOME; CONDITIONS DETERIORATE: “A 2-year-old girl slept in a pool of urine. Crack vials littered a restroom. Blood stained the walls next to vending machines smashed by teenagers. ‘We pee on the floor. We are like animals,’ said Taffany Smith, 25, as she cradled her 3-week-old son, Terry. … By Wednesday, it had degenerated into horror. … At least two people, including a child, have been raped. At least three people have died, including one man who jumped 50 feet to his death, saying he had nothing left to live for. There is no sanitation. The stench is overwhelming.”" [Los Angeles Times, 9/1/05]

            PRESIDENT BUSH FINALLY ORGANIZES TASK FORCE TO COORDINATE FEDERAL RESPONSE: Bush says on Tuesday he will “fly to Washington to begin work…with a task force that will coordinate the work of 14 federal agencies involved in the relief effort.” [New York Times, 8/31/05]

            JEFFERSON PARISH EMERGENCY DIRECTOR SAYS FOOD AND WATER SUPPLY GONE: “Director Walter Maestri: FEMA and national agencies not delivering the help nearly as fast as it is needed.” [WWL-TV]

            waterisrising22.jpg 80,000 BELIEVED STRANDED IN NEW ORLEANS: Former Mayor Sidney Barthelemy “estimated 80,000 were trapped in the flooded city and urged President Bush to send more troops.” [Reuters]

            3,000 STRANDED AT CONVENTION CENTER WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER: “With 3,000 or more evacuees stranded at the convention center — and with no apparent contingency plan or authority to deal with them — collecting a body was no one’s priority. … Some had been at the convention center since Tuesday morning but had received no food, water or instructions.” [Times-Picayune]

            PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DECLARED FOR ENTIRE GULF COAST: “After a natural disaster, short and long-term medical problems can occur. Diseases like cholera, typhoid, hepatitis and mosquito-borne illnesses tend to break out under these conditions.” [WCBS-TV]

            bushplane.jpg BUSH SURVEYS DAMAGE FROM AIR FORCE ONE: President Bush flew over New Orleans on Air Force One. “During the 35-minute tour, Bush clearly saw from his vantage point the damage to the football stadium in New Orleans as well as the flooded neighborhoods, wiped out bridges and slabs of foundations where houses used to stand.” [Fox News]

            CHERTOFF “EXTREMELY PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE” OF THE GOVERNMENT: “We are extremely pleased with the response that every element of the federal government, all of our federal partners, have made to this terrible tragedy.” [Department of Homeland Security]

            EARLY AM — BLANCO AGAIN TRIES TO REQUEST HELP FROM BUSH: “She was transferred around the White House for a while until she ended up on the phone with Fran Townsend, the president’s Homeland Security adviser, who tried to reassure her but did not have many specifics. Hours later, Blanco called back and insisted on speaking to the president. When he came on the line, the governor recalled, “I just asked him for help, ‘whatever you have’.” She asked for 40,000 troops.” [Newsweek]

            4PM CDT — BUSH GIVES FIRST MAJOR ADDRESS ON KATRINA: “Nothing about the president’s demeanor… — which seemed casual to the point of carelessness — suggested that he understood the depth of the current crisis.” [New York Times]

            7PM CDT — CONDOLEEZZA RICE TAKES IN A BROADWAY SHOW: “On Wednesday night, Secretary Rice was booed by some audience members at ‘Spamalot!, the Monty Python musical at the Shubert, when the lights went up after the performance.” [New York Post, 9/2/05]

            8PM CDT — FEMA DIRECTOR BRO
          • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -2/+2And of course there's more -- much more. If you'd like I can provide you with the link to the time-line, however I doubt you'll take the time to read it since you apparently have already made up your mind without any facts to back your claims.
          • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -2/+4You left this out....prior to asking for Federal assistance:

            On August 27, 2005, Governor Blanco, speaking about Hurricane Katrina, told the media in Jefferson Parish, "I believe we are prepared. That's the one thing that I've always been able to brag about." You also left out the part about all those buses sitting there, unused by Nagin. The fact that the evacuation order was issued on August 28th @ 10 a.m., just a bit late don't you think? Especially considering that it was already known well before that order was issued, that the hurricane was headed straight for the area.

            But you're right....Bush is the one to shoulder 100% of the blame. Blanco and Nagin can't be held responsible, I mean they're not republicans.
          • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2On August 27, 2005 Hurricane Katrina was still rated as only a Category 3 hurricane, with a projected path that didn't include a direct hit on NO.

            I didn't leave out the August 28th mandatory evacuation order. Keep in mind that Katrina wasn't upgraded to a Category 5 storm until just earlier that morning.

            The buses: Whether that photograph truly represents a lost opportunity to have evacuated a substantial number of New Orleans residents ahead of Hurricane Katrina is difficult to assess. Such a claim presumes an availability of resources (e.g., experienced drivers, fuel) and workable logistics (e.g., sufficient means of notifying and getting residents to departure points, sufficiently clear roads for multiple trips out of town and back, adequate facilities within a reasonable driving distance capable of providing shelter, food, and water to a large number of people for an indeterminate period of time on short notice) that may or may not have been present. (There's no guarantee that all the buses shown in this picture were even in working condition.) And, given the particular geography of New Orleans, any such evacuation would have had to have begun well in advance of Hurricane Katrina to avoid exposing residents to the potential danger of being stuck in buses on traffic-clogged roads in the path of an approaching hurricane. Moreover, any type of evacuation effort would have incurred a substantial outlay of funds from local and/or state governments — while everyone agrees with the advantage of hindsight that would have been money well spent, many taxpayers might not have been left feeling so enthusiastic about footing the bill for an unnecessary evacuation had Hurricane Katrina not proved so damaging.

            I notice you leave out the fact that while Blanco and Nagin were in the area attempting to resolve the problems and begging for assistance, the Bush administration was at a birthday party, baseball game, medicare benefits, and on vacation ... ignoring repeated requests for assistance, doing photo-ops, playing guitar, and saying 'You're doing a heckuva job Brownie.' Care to defend those actions?
          • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2And you're incorrect about the time Nagin issued the mandatory evacuation order. It was 9:30am -- a minor detail, but simply further proof that you choose to disregard the facts.
          • stix213, on 05/14/2008, -2/+211oops

            Seeing to the evacuation and safety of citizens has always been the responsibility of state and local governments. State and local governments know the area and the people and are already on location during an emergency. The Katrina disaster is the first natural disaster in the history of the US where the bulk of the emergency response was for some reason expected to be dictated halfway across the country in Washington DC.

            What should have happened is the Mayor should have seen to it that New Orleans was properly evacuated before the storm struck.... That did not happen. The State government should have had emergency response teams and National Guard troops ready to save lives and clean up damage.... That did not happen.

            The federal government was supposed to assist the local and State governments, such as delivering truck loads of supplies to state and local workers who would actually deliver it to those in need. Unfortunately, the state and local response was almost non-existant....

            There should have been ZERO people inside New Orleans, so the Feds should have rightly thought that no one needed to be plucked off roof tops.....

            There should have been a State system in place to deliver supplies from the Feds to people..... That didn't exist so the Feds didn't really know where to drop stuff off at....

            After a few days it became apparent that instead of the Federal government assisting the State and local government, the Federal government was going to have to do EVERYTHING FOR THEM!!!

            But it is all Bush's fault right?
          • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2stix213... Irrelevent. "The state responds until its resources are exhausted or soon will be. " in which case the Feds step in. The states did respond until their resources were exhausted, that is when the Feds dropped the ball.


            When a disaster occurs, the local first responders use their capabilities to respond and if overwhelmed, go to the state for assistance. The state responds until its resources are exhausted or soon will be. At this point, the Governor will begin the process of formally requesting a disaster declaration from the President. This process is a two-channel communication. First, the State Coordinating Officer will notify the FEMA Regional Director of the Governors intent. The Regional Director will contact the FEMA Director who, in turn, will advise the President. Soon after this, the Governor will contact the President directly and certify the state’s needs and lack of capability and ask for a disaster declaration.

            The President acting upon the advice from the FEMA Director and the Governor, will either deny the request or sign a “Major Disaster Declaration.” The declaration will include the area affected, starting date, and appointment of a Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO). Additionally, the President will charge the FCO to administer all Federal programs to bring relief to the state.

            The FCO will proceed to the area of the disaster in conjunction with the Emergency Response Team (ERT) and set up a Disaster Field Office (DFO). The ERT is task organized based on the states needs, but usually includes representatives from 15 Emergency Support Functions (ESF). The FCO uses the ERT as his staff to accept Requests for Federal Assistance (RFA) from the state and coordinate the response.


            What are Emergency Support Functions (ESFs)?

            ESFs are the primary means through which the Federal government provides assistance to State, local, and tribal governments or to Federal departments and agencies conducting missions of primary Federal responsibility. ESFs were established as an effective mechanism to group capabilities and resources into the functions that are most likely needed during actual or potential incidents where coordinated Federal response is required (e.g., Transportation, Firefighting, Public Health, etc.). ESFs may be selectively activated for both Stafford Act and non-Stafford Act incidents by the Secretary of Homeland Security. ESFs may also be activated by the ESF Coordinators. The ESF framework provides a modular structure to identify the precise components that can best address the requirements of the incident. For example, a large-scale natural disaster or significant terrorist incident may require the activation of all ESFs. A localized flood or tornado might only require activation of a few ESFs.


            Purpose

            Emergency Support Function (ESF) #6 – Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services supports State, regional, local, and tribal government and nongovernmental organization (NGO) efforts to address the non-medical mass care, housing – both short and long-term, and human services needs of individuals and/or families impacted by Incidents of National Significance.


            ESF #6 support is categorized in the core functional areas of:

            * Mass Care
            * Housing



            And Human Services


            Purpose

            Emergency Support Function (ESF) #8 – Public Health and Medical Services provides the mechanism for coordinated Federal assistance to supplement State, local, and tribal resources in response to public health and medical care needs, including veterinary and/or animal health issues when appropriate, for potential or actual Incidents of National Significance and/or during a developing potential health and medical situation.
          • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2The Basic Scenario
            In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, federal assistance is made available only after a formal request has been made by a state’s governor. The extent or the impact of a natural or man-made event can qualify a region of a state to be declared a disaster. The President makes this declaration, and once made, it initiates the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA. FEMA reacts as quickly as possible to the devastation caused by a disaster to provide immediate aid and relief to those affected; this is known as the disaster response phase. After the disaster is over and it it is time to rebuild, the recovery phase begins, and with it come additional sources of aid.

            Declarations of Emergency and Major Disaster
            A state's governor orders a preliminary disaster report to be completed, usually after a disaster has struck. Once this report is finished, the governor can then request from the President a major disaster or emergency declaration for affected areas. This request can be transmitted as soon as it is obvious that the destruction is significant, often while a large scale weather event is still in progress.
          • Dumbledorito, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2You could make the case that the next hurricane-spawned disaster in New Orleans WILL be Bush's fault, if his administration has anything to do with the Army Corps of Engineers ignoring local engineering standards for the rebuilt levees and stuffing the new ones with newspaper: http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl042408tpleve ...
        • BohicaTwentyTwo, on 05/14/2008, -9/+6"The evidence of a lie can be found in the PNAC, wherein it is stated that there is a need for perpetual war with many countries."

          Oh you have got to be kidding me. I know you people like to harp on the "new pearl harbor" line, but how in the world did you get perpetual war from that?
        • glycolized, on 05/14/2008, -4/+15Three words: Downing Street memo
          • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -13/+4One word: yawn
          • Dumbledorito, on 05/14/2008, -1/+3@PolishLogic: And there's where you fail at remotely resembling someone who can think.
        • stix213, on 05/14/2008, -3/+2Wow Jan33, you really know how to make your side sound like a bunch of conspiracy theory spouting morons. You speak of manipulation, but talking about a natural disaster like Katrina as an "accident" tells everyone all they need to know about you.
    • Gazoo2001, on 05/14/2008, -9/+21Ah, so you think that Bush's giving up golf is a moving and significant sacrifice? And that people who hate Bush for this, or for other reasons, are ridiculous and have no basis for it? Man, your head is in the sand.
      • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -18/+11If he were still playing golf regularly, would you trash him for it? That was his point. He said he didn't find it appropriate to be out playing golf during a time of war.

        Hating him for other reasons is fine. Hating him because some ***** agenda-driven website is taking a few quotes entirely out of context and leaving out any mention of the questions that brought about the quotes is ridiculous and there is no basis for it.
        • wendelgee2, on 05/14/2008, -2/+9No. If he played golf it would just mean he had a day off.
          By the way, he's taken more days off than any president in history.
        • toddcat, on 05/14/2008, -2/+6That's not the point. The point is he thinks this, after all this warmongering and slavering and jonesing for a war and an occupation and a complete clusterf*ck in Iraq, he thinks that after 4000 US troops have died and perhaps a million Iraqis.............that his having given up golf ingratiates himself with US troop families?
          • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -3/+2Funny that you bring up points, considering you clearly missed the original point being made about the whole golf subject.
    • kayvman78, on 05/14/2008, -4/+12YES! What planet are you from? He's not out King you moron. He is just another politician who got a turn and made a mess of it. Stop kissing your master's ass and join the real world. If Obama or Hillary messed things up there would be just as many of you on here talking *****. Now shut up and go about your day.
      • toddcat, on 05/14/2008, -2/+6No, he didn't just "make a mess of it." This was essentially a corporate coup d'etat. The neo-cons saw their opening after 9/11 and Bush was their front-man and represented them ideally for them. This was much more pre-ordained, an attempted money grab of all our public resources, by the neo-cons. Screwing up is like putting the wrong burger in your fast food order.....or misspelling a word in a press briefing.
        • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -6/+2conspiracy conspiracy conspiracy conspiracy conspiracy conspiracy

          At least Tom Clancy makes it more entertaining than you do.
      • techprophet, on 05/14/2008, -7/+1He didn't make a mess of it. And Hillary and Obama have already made mistakes. So why aren't there mountains of comments on it? Or even stories?
        • FredFredrickson, on 05/14/2008, -2/+7Because they aren't president, and their mistakes don't result in the loss of thousands of lives, or the financial ruin of the country.
          • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -3/+2Really? Congress can't make mistakes that result in the loss of thousands of lives or the financial ruin of the country. Considering Congressional approval is needed for war, and Congress controls the purse, that's an interesting concept you have there.
    • FredFredrickson, on 05/14/2008, -3/+15My hate for Bush will keep me warmer at night than your blissful ignorance of reality.
      • techprophet, on 05/14/2008, -9/+0Who is ignorant of reality? I believe it is you.

        And FYI, hate is cold, it burns like running naked in the artic.
        • gottarockit, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0Ok, that's definitely a new one...
    • BohicaTwentyTwo, on 05/14/2008, -13/+8Kang: Abortions for all.
      [crowd boos]
      Kang: Very well, no abortions for anyone.
      [crowd boos]
      Kang: Hmm... Abortions for some, miniature American flags for others.
      [crowd cheers and waves miniature flags]
    • siszam, on 05/14/2008, -5/+16As the parent of a Marine I find it greatly insulting that Bush would consider my sons life equal to a game of golf. Some parents will never see their son or daughter again. Meanwhile, Bush just threw a big wedding for his daughter and claims that he sacrifices by giving up golf. You're mentally challenged if you can defend that psychopaths action. If he supports the troops he should make his daughters fight in his war. Better yet, end the war and bring the troops home. The killing could have ended on 9/11. Only a fool thinks death is the answer to death.
      • techprophet, on 05/14/2008, -6/+2Only a fool thinks that standing back and letting yourself get slaughtered the option that we should choose over war. Do I lose more by cutting of an infected leg or by letting it stay and fester and infect the rest of my body?
      • BohicaTwentyTwo, on 05/14/2008, -4/+6Maybe you would stop shoveling your guilt for forcing your children into the military on to other people. Or we should start treating our kin like adults and let them make their own decisions. Your choice.
        • toddcat, on 05/15/2008, -2/+2"Siszam" didn't say they felt guilty. Don't try and attribute words or thoughts to them.
        • BohicaTwentyTwo, on 05/15/2008, -0/+2"If he supports the troops he should make his daughters fight in his war"
          Obviously this person endorses parents forcing their will on their children rather than letting them think for themselves.
    • toddcat, on 05/14/2008, -2/+7Right....it's about hating Bush and not the fact that he is fully responsible for all the troop deaths, for the 1/3 of Iraqis being displaced or dead, for the refugee crisis of people being forced into Syria...of the fact that he lied his way into war or that he (with the help of the worst Dem and Repub led Congresses) has plundered the public trust in order to pay for this nightmare. No....it's not about any of that.
      • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -3/+3You might want to be a little more pissed at the American public. They're the ones that vote the President and Congress into office.

        Especially considering the gigantic failure that is the "sweeping change" platform the Dem's secured Congress with in '06. Other than a handful of non-binding resolutions, they've produced exactly jack-***** in the area of "sweeping change".

        Do yourself a favor and do NOT vote for incumbents. If you flush the toilet, the ***** goes away.
    • JoeVet, on 05/14/2008, -2/+5Actually, we hate your kind more for having kept this idiot in the highest office in the land for 8 years. Sometimes talking stupid actually means they are stupid and are not just a good 'ol boy.
      • BohicaTwentyTwo, on 05/14/2008, -2/+2Your kind = American Voters?

        Maybe the next time you try to run a "war hero" for president, make sure he isn't considered a traitor by the people who fought in said war.
    • sassip, on 05/14/2008, -1/+4I live for "Great Moments in Presidential Speeches," on Letterman.
    • kreneskyp, on 05/14/2008, -1/+4he gave up golf because he didnt want to upset people but he DIDNT give up his record setting amount of vacation days.
    • sexyfridge, on 05/15/2008, -0/+0hating him warms my heart. but only for a short time... i'm a fridge.
  • keymanjim2, on 05/14/2008, -14/+67Why is this listed under 2008 elections? Bush can't run for a third term.
    It should be listed under political opinion.
    • Dumbledorito, on 05/14/2008, -14/+25Funny you should mention that. I just got a copy of "Constitution II" authored by Dick Cheney. It arrived with my "stimulus" check...
    • Deadpixel1221, on 05/14/2008, -12/+12Well since McSame is running for Bush's 3rd term I figured he IS on the ballot plus I was drunk last night.
    • khail250, on 05/14/2008, -12/+10WRONG! Bush will run for a third term, when something naughty happens right before he hands over his dictatorship, and declare Marshall law
      • HonestAbe, on 05/14/2008, -2/+13Martial.
      • magus_melchior, on 05/15/2008, -1/+1Nazi-style coup d'etat is passe and predictable, so Bush is taking a page out of Putin's book: make sure your puppet replacement is groomed in your policies. If McCain is elected, his VP may run the show as much as Cheney had.
    • LonesomeFighter, on 05/14/2008, -12/+3I think President Bush could run as Vice President, win, then have the President step down, and make President Bush President for two more years making him President for a total of ten years. I think.
      • culbeda, on 05/14/2008, -1/+9Umm, no. The rules for electability state that the you must be qualified to be President to hold the position of VP. But thanks for playing.
  • JessicaLF77, on 05/14/2008, -64/+25Hey, at least he gave up something. That's more than a lot of Americans can say...
    • bicyclethief, on 05/14/2008, -12/+28Except for the nagging fact that he unnecessarily sent the troops into Iraq in the first place...
      • floorman56, on 05/14/2008, -2/+8For the record I take it all of these reasons are "unnecessary"
        The resolution cited many factors to justify the use of military force against Iraq:

        Iraq's noncompliance with the conditions of the 1991 cease fire, including interference with weapons inspectors.
        Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, and programs to develop such weapons, posed a "threat to the national security of the United States and international peace and security in the Persian Gulf region
        Iraq's "brutal repression of its civilian population."
        Iraq's "capability and willingness to use weapons of mass destruction against other nations and its own people".
        Iraq's hostility towards the United States as demonstrated by the alleged 1993 assassination attempt of former President George H. W. Bush, and firing on coalition aircraft enforcing the no-fly zones following the 1991 Gulf War.
        Members of al-Qaeda were "known to be in Iraq."
        Iraq's "continu[ing] to aid and harbor other international terrorist organizations," including anti-United States terrorist organizations.
        The efforts by the Congress and the President to fight terrorists, including the September 11th, 2001 terrorists and those who aided or harbored them.
        The authorization by the Constitution and the Congress for the President to fight anti-United States terrorism.
        Citing the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, the resolution reiterated that it should be the policy of the United States to remove the Saddam Hussein regime and promote a democratic replacement.
        you should also look up the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 and see what that said
    • Gazoo2001, on 05/14/2008, -8/+29What do you mean? Plenty of people have "Support Our Troops" bumper stickers on their cars. That's doing something, isn't it? Isn't it?
    • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -7/+16I'd go a step further and say that the only Americans who have actually given up something are the ones in the military regardless of their deployment, and the ones that are working in the zone as contractors.
      • JessicaLF77, on 05/14/2008, -1/+10Yeah, that's kind of what I was trying to say. I guess my comment didn't quite come across right though. Oh well.
      • LonesomeFighter, on 05/14/2008, -0/+13and the ones who are family or in a relationship to military personnel. I know my girlfriend misses me when I am gone doing stuff for the Army
        • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -0/+8Unfortunately, I navigated away from the page before I realized I left that out. Thanks for adding it.
    • jaxcs, on 05/14/2008, -3/+8he told us to go shopping and that conservation is a personal choice. if this is your guy, suck it up.
    • kayvman78, on 05/14/2008, -4/+9Wow. Really? American have given up their reputation and standing in the world. I'd say that's a little more important than Golf.
    • dinot, on 05/14/2008, -5/+10Tell that to the families of the men and women who gave up their LIVES for this *****.
      • JessicaLF77, on 05/14/2008, -4/+6Should I look in the mirror when stating it then? How arrogant of you to assume that I haven't lost someone.
    • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -5/+10I gave up my second-cousin, my nation's prosperity and reputation, and $2.00 gallons of gasoline.
      • kayvman78, on 05/14/2008, -4/+22 Dollars? I'm paying $4.09 a gallon. I would love to be paying two bucks.. :)
      • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -4/+7Very classy...putting the cost of gas into the same sentence as the loss of a family member.

        /facepalm
        • 11oops, on 05/14/2008, -5/+6What, I wasn't supposed to list all the things I have sacrificed -- I should be satisfied with only sacrificing once? A family member died a few years ago and that's all I should care about today?

          "Oh well, my cousin died three years back, and that is so overwhelming to me that I couldn't possibly be bothered by the constant drain on my wallet today?"

          You fail on all your comments.

          /facepalm
          • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -4/+4Just making an observation that gas prices and deaths of loved ones seem to be on the same level for you, that's all.

            Now you can go back to reading too much into my comments. Thanks.
        • gottarockit, on 05/15/2008, -2/+3And you can go back into reading too much into his. Apparently if you asked someone what bad things happened in their life this year and they said "my mom died, my house burned down, I lost my job, and my hamster died" you would take that to mean that their hamster was just as important to them as their mom. Interesting...

          Is this amount of nitpicking at minutiae really necessary?
    • pintomp3, on 05/14/2008, -5/+3tens of thousands of americans have lost a family member thanks to bush's war. how many family members has he lost?
    • toddcat, on 05/14/2008, -3/+5Please. We are paying a lot more in gas. We have less money for other things because of this cost outlay. In economics, the missed economic opportunities are called opportunity costs because those are things our money could have been spent on rather than what we actually spent on. We could all have health care. We could have affordable gas, food, we could keep more of our money. We've given up a lot.
      • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -4/+7You mean like funding research to study transgendered Aleutian Eskimos?

        (yes, that was a real piece of a Congressional funding bill and it got $2.5 million)
        • toddcat, on 05/14/2008, -3/+4Did I say that?
          • PolishLogic, on 05/14/2008, -2/+5"We have less money for other things"

            That would all depend on whether "we" means the government or citizens.
    • lhbaker, on 05/14/2008, -2/+2I have given up trying to talk sense into morons. It's like barking at the rain.
    • IronDonut, on 05/14/2008, -4/+2We've given up 300 years of hard fought liberty, freedom and privacy to Bush.

      And he gives up golf a non-sport.
  • yellowcakewalk, on 05/14/2008, -18/+50Our Commander in Chief has made the supreme sacrifice. Those whiny veterans with missing limbs and those pesky widows and orphans should just STFU. /sarcasm
    http://www.awolbush.com /notsarcasm
  • AshamedAmerican, on 05/14/2008, -15/+58*dry heave*
    • Lavarock, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1You should be eating an drinking stuff to prevent that kind of thing,
  • openj, on 05/14/2008, -26/+18You should all be more sympathetic. Golf to him is like masturbating to you. When you're ready to dedicate the cessation of yanking your pud to the brave men and women in harm's way, then you'll understand the President's motive.
    • IrishJoe, on 05/14/2008, -4/+5So you're telling me that he cums when he's playing golf. Man, that's f*cked up!
      • smittyme, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2Did you stop jerking off to type that...YOU are a JERKOFF!!!
    • xedd, on 05/14/2008, -0/+3Your analysis is completely off base, openj.

      I was under the impression that people are actively masturbating in SUPPORT of the troops.
    • sidewinderaim9x, on 05/14/2008, -0/+1No.
    • cobophers, on 05/14/2008, -0/+2I don't know whats going on here.
  • PhilliesBlunt, on 05/14/2008, -17/+225I wish he'd give up the presidency for the troops.
    • toonworld, on 05/14/2008, -9/+11I wish he'd give up his life for the entire planet
      • ventura7, on 05/14/2008, -1/+3That didn't make much sense, but it reminds me, I wish the past 8 years of Bush flavor never ***** happened.
    • culbeda, on 05/14/2008, -1/+6Nothing like going out while he's on top. (And that would be nothing like going out while he was on top.)
    • jimmy87lee, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1Amen!
  • DaDrake, on 05/14/2008, -33/+66"I don't want some mom whose son may have recently died to see the commander in chief playing golf," he said. "I feel I owe it to the families to be in solidarity as best as I can with them. And I think playing golf during a war just sends the wrong signal."

    When you read his comment, it sounds sincere. Not sure why everyone is jumping on this. I am sure the President has allready sacraficed much more... just look at how he aged in a few years.
    • SuperVepr308, on 05/14/2008, -20/+21Now, you just quit making all that sense! This here is a Bush lynching!
    • Blueflie, on 05/14/2008, -27/+13yeah, people are going to pile on and bash him. I think the statement was sincere....... these days, you're not "cool" unless you are a Bush-basher..... it's easy. This president has been through a lot. Anyone else in the White House would have stood by after 9/11 and did nothing. It wasn't popular, but it WAS the right decision. It us as Americans. We have become people that think war should be a drive-through situation and be back home in a week.
      • petrodollar, on 05/14/2008, -5/+16"Anyone else in the White House would have stood by after 9/11 and did nothing."

        And by do nothing, I presume you mean not invade iraq?
      • TheInfamousOne, on 05/14/2008, -3/+11I don't see what 9/11 has to do with Iraq, please explain.
      • jes4772, on 05/14/2008, -3/+13Troops dying in Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11.

        If he wants to show solidarity with the troops, commit to finishing the war in Afghanistan, capture Osama bin Laden and bring them home, don't get us bogged down in another war.
      • cobophers, on 05/14/2008, -2/+2ERRRRHHGGGAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! They exist!!!
    • dreicher, on 05/14/2008, -10/+42If he said, "I don't have time for golf because I'm working day and night focusing on ending hostilities in Iraq so that our brave men and women can return home safely. And when they do, I'd like to invite a few of them with me to play a round." That would be sincere, not "one of my flunkies said its bad press for me to be on the news golfing while soldiers are dying in Iraq and I thought that makes sense."
      • petrodollar, on 05/14/2008, -5/+8"That would be sincere"

        No it wouldn't.
        • magus_melchior, on 05/15/2008, -0/+1This is not the venue for a Room 12A argument.
    • toonworld, on 05/14/2008, -10/+3umm... he was already butt-*****-ugly before he took the presidency....
    • gwaggy12, on 05/14/2008, -12/+8I agree. Honestly, who cares? What wartime president hasn't enjoyed leisurely activities from time to time? Clinton was getting blowjobs during our many police actions of his era. I don't support the war in Iraq, but this is just dumb.

      I have friends and family in Iraq, and this is far from the outrage it's being portrayed as.
      • lhbaker, on 05/14/2008, -1/+2Bill Clinton! Bill Clinton! Bill Clinton!
    • SebK666, on 05/14/2008, -4/+9Of course it's sincere, but I honestly don't think it'll help American troops much.
      Sure, it was a nice thing to do; but he could have also done other things for them.
    • ClosedCaption, on 05/14/2008, -6/+8I dont have a problem with it being sincere or not, my thing is that he thinks thats some sort of sacrifice worth noting. Its not.
      • Puppyfam, on 05/14/2008, -3/+7He was asked why he was no longer golfing. He answered. He is not parading this as some sort of noble sacrifice; he's simply stating why he gave up golfing.
    • kayvman78, on 05/14/2008, -4/+9When you get a marine coming to your door to tell you your son or daughter is dead, the last question on your mind is "Well is Bush still playing golf?"
      • Puppyfam, on 05/14/2008, -1/+10But I'll bet turning on the TV three weeks later and seeing the Commander-in-Chief enjoying himself on the driving range would sting more than a little.
        • xedd, on 05/14/2008, -5/+9Turning on the TV anytime, and seeing that this man is still the Commander-in-Chief stings more than a little.
          • IconoclastStill, on 05/15/2008, -5/+4Not half as much as seeing pierre kerry running around when he should have been court-martialed and executed for treason or yet another session of "lie, deny and spin" from obie or the shrew.
          • ironhide, on 05/15/2008, -1/+5Icon you really are nothing but a ***** parody. It'd be funny if it wasn't so pathetic.
    • SpectralSounds, on 05/14/2008, -6/+15Everyone is jumping on this, because nobody should be rewarded for what they are supposed to do. It's like me saying, "I decided I wouldn't go kick people in the balls while they are filling up their gas tanks, it just wouldn't be right with the way gas prices are these days." And then expect to get praised for it...

      Unless the economy and every other aspect of our government is in order, he shouldn't be out dicking around playing golf anyway. I'm not going to give him a pat on the back for what common sense should lead him to do.
    • bemenaker, on 05/14/2008, -4/+10IT's not that he isn't allowed to take a break, hell, he has taken more time off than any president in history, and all while fighting two wars?? The problem is his smug ass thinks he's really doing something here. Oh, I don't want to send the wrong message, well, maybe you shouldn't have started THE WRONG ***** WAR!!!!!!
      • Puppyfam, on 05/14/2008, -3/+5*Sigh*

        He gave up golf years ago out of respect for the troops; he didn't want the family of a soldier who had been killed or injured in the war to turn on the TV to see him enjoying a light-hearted game of golf. He's not parading this as some sort of huge personal sacrifice; he's just answering the question, "So, why aren't you golfing anymore?"
    • FredFredrickson, on 05/14/2008, -2/+7Going to war with a country that did nothing to provoke or attack us, while our real enemies hide out in other places sends the wrong signal too, apparently.
    • bgrah449, on 05/14/2008, -1/+11He doesn't want them to see him playing golf, but he doesn't mind taking "joke" pictures of looking all over the White House for WMD?
    • koko775, on 05/14/2008, -1/+7Read the update -- it's not even sincere! He had medical problems which made him unable to play golf! Damn, that's ***** up.
    • stormado, on 05/14/2008, -3/+4Exactly. He was asked a question. It's not like he is going "hey guys, look at me. I'm sacrificing golf for the troops." Why do some people assume that he is trying to please public opinion when he doesn't even care about his low ratings? I think his sympathy for the mothers of the fallen troops might be authentic. He keeps saying how he wouldn't want the mothers feeling like their sons' deaths were in vain, but the longer the troops are there the more the mothers that are added to that group.
    • sassip, on 05/14/2008, -4/+6Lemmings still defending Bush... we ARE doomed.
      • ElderBieler, on 05/14/2008, -3/+1Oh of course, anybody who thinks before jumping on the 'bash-Bush' bandwagon must be brainwashed. Unless you've missed it, the MAJORITY of American's aren't fond of Bush right now; so who are the critical thinkers?
    • lhbaker, on 05/14/2008, -1/+5Even the phrase 'some mom' is offensive. That, plus the article points out that he didn't give up golf for the troops. But you didn't read the article. Too many words.
  • Garlik, on 05/14/2008, -19/+33Giving up something like golf seems more like an insult than respect