Ari Fleischer Says Bush Gets Credit For Iran
One minute the right wing is blaming Barack Obama for what’s happening in Iran. The next, they’re giving George W. Bush credit for what’s going on there. Today’s Washington Post (via Think Progress) has spinmeister Ari Fleischer being the first out of the box to claim that Iran’s reform movement is the result of Bush’s “tough policies,” and offering the same bon mots for what’s happening in Lebanon. So, let me get this straight: George W. Bush caused the reformers to come out and protest in Iraq, but Obama caused Ahmadinejad to power grab at the same exact moment?
“I think it’s fair to say the George Bush’s Freedom Agenda planted seeds that have started to grow in the Middle East,” Fleischer concluded.
Does that mean that the beautiful economic garden Obama inherited was because of the seeds Bush planted, too?
Does that mean that the beautiful economic garden Obama inherited was because of the seeds Bush planted, too?
Does it?
Seems that The Blessed Leader in unable to have a conversation regarding the economy without bringing up the fact that he inherited it.
And yes, I think that seeing elections in Iraq and having Syria back away has contributed to at least some of the mindset in the Middle East.
jasperjava Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
I don’t know why you Republicans keep referring to Obama in quasi-religious terms like “The Blessed Leader”. You must really like him. Between you and me, it makes you look slavish and servile.
But there’s no question that Obama inherited B*sh’s economic mess and his foreign policy disasters. Obama’s presidency is only five months old. He’s already done much to repair the damage, but it will take at least two terms to return the United States to its former position (pre-B*sh).
I think we should repeal the 22nd Amendment so that Obama can run again in 2016. He’ll only be in his mid-fifties, and there may still be things to accomplish once the B*sh-era wreckage has been cleared.
Kregg Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Jasper said: I don’t know why you Republicans keep referring to Obama in quasi-religious terms like “The Blessed Leader”. You must really like him. Between you and me, it makes you look slavish and servile.
K: Jas, here’s the hint Pino gave out some months ago – but few got: “Put the wax on then take the wax off…”
J: Lets see if you can figure it out… ;-)
jasperjava Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
That’s a Karate Kid reference, isn’t it?
The most unrealistic thing in that movie is when the Pat Morita character catches a fly with his chopsticks. I don’t think any Japanese would do that. Very unsanitary.
Kregg Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
Jasper said: That’s a Karate Kid reference, isn’t it?
K: Very good. Now, make the connection Pino intended with that statement and you will have the answer… ;-) (I had to figure it out by myself so I know you can too) (you will be in an elite group of two if you decipher it)
jasperjava Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
If you’re trying to imply that Obama has some mad jiu-jitsu skills, I won’t argue. He’s got his opponents in full meltdown. All he has to do is order Dijon mustard, and the right-wingers fall to the floor thrashing and foaming at the mouth, making complete fools of themselves. It’s beautiful to watch.
Kregg Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Jasper said: If you’re trying to imply that Obama has some mad jiu-jitsu skills, I won’t argue. He’s got his opponents in full meltdown. All he has to do is order Dijon mustard, and the right-wingers fall to the floor thrashing and foaming at the mouth, making complete fools of themselves. It’s beautiful to watch.
K: Nope, grasshopper, not even close – keep waxing… ;-)
jasperjava Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Forgive me, sensei, if I don’t take Pino for a reservoir of wisdom. Whatever he meant by that Mr. Miyagi reference, he must have gotten it completely wrong, judging from the flawed thinking that he exhibits on these boards.
Kregg Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
jasper said: Forgive me, sensei, if I don’t take Pino for a reservoir of wisdom.
K: Grasshopper, one not need to ascribe to another’s politics to seek enlightenment on the meaning of his labels for the Chairman
pierre Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Hannity used to compare Bush to Moses .
He said” both men have the same sense of God
presence and THE SAME SPEECH IMPEDIMENT”.
So Hannity is still waiting for his “Messiah”,
Obama is just the fake “ONE” /a joke.
RDM Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
He is referred to as the “Blessed Leader” because that’s the Muslim meaning of Barack… his first name.
Daddio Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Hey, The editor of Newsweek Magazine referred to Obama as “a god”. Hardly a conservative there.
pierre Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
That God cleaned his cloack last nov.
No more clean up for Sean at the white house;
he is a pagan.
RDM Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 9:30 am
What do Obama and God have in common?
God doesn’t think he is Obama.
OldLefty Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 9:36 am
RDM,
I don’t know anyone other than those who hate Obama, say he thinks he’s God, but Bush DID say,
“Bush said to James Robinson:
‘I feel like God wants me to run for President. I can’t explain it, but I sense my country is going to need me. Something is going to happen… I know it won’t be easy on me or my family, but God wants me to do it.’
And Gen Boykin, (PNACer), has repeatedly told Christian groups and prayer meetings that President George W Bush was chosen by God to lead the global fight against Satan.
He told one gathering: “Why is this man in the White House? The majority of Americans did not vote for him. He’s in the White House because God put him there for a time such as this.”
June 15th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Tell Ari to put it in a book and see if it sells.
My theory is that life is a wheel, and it turns, and the young lions of the revolution have become the old guard of the status quo–and now there’s a whole new generation of young lions who think they know better how the world, and Iran, should be run.
June 15th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Alan said: Does that mean that the beautiful economic garden Obama inherited was because of the seeds Bush planted, too?
K: Ya’ can’t have it both ways. Either a president is responsible for EVERYTHING that happens on his watch or you have to admit that policies and actions take time to come to fruition.
Southern Girl Lib Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
That is flawed logic, because you are assuming a blank slate to begin with. Which is why Obama’s favorability ratings are in the sixties – most Americans are willing to give him a chance because they know what a mess he inherited. Which is largely why he was elected and why the congress has now turned blue.
average james Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Kregg,
Ya know I seem to remember Condy Rice doing some State dept. work that seemed contrary to the right’s agenda, towards the end. Maybe she was just sorta freelancing.
I suppose it could have had some positive effects.
Kregg Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
James said: Ya know I seem to remember Condy Rice doing some State dept. work that seemed contrary to the right’s agenda, towards the end. Maybe she was just sorta freelancing.
I suppose it could have had some positive effects.
K: I’m not sure what you’re referring to as I’m not sure what you consider the right’s ‘agenda’ but I suspect its hard not to work on one’s personal legacy before leaving office ;-)
June 15th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
he inherited.
So, did he inherit a moving Iran as well?
Obama’s favorability ratings are in the sixties
That is his personal numbers. When speaking to his policies, he is not doing as well. As a matter of fact, for the first time in 2 years, polling shows that American’s feel Republicans have a better grasp on economic issues than do Democrats.
First time in 2 years! Obama “inherited” a lead, and in 5 short months, gave it away.
jasperjava Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
So, did he inherit a moving Iran as well?
I don’t think we can discount the impact of the Cairo speech in energizing the reform movement. Three weeks ago, Ahmadinejad was leading by a margin of 2 to 1. Now it appears that some unofficial results put him in third place before the ballot counting was stopped and he was declared the winner.
As for public support for Republican policies, you’re citing an outlying Rasmussen poll. If, as seems likely, the recession will be over by the 2010 mid-terms, this momentary misperception will be long forgotten.
June 15th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Ari is simply trying to revive “the Bush legacy tour”.
June 15th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I don’t think we can discount the impact of the Cairo speech in energizing the reform movement.
I do.
As for public support for Republican policies, you’re citing an outlying Rasmussen poll.
Typical left:
I DEMAND PROOF!
I SEE YOUR PROOF BUT I DON’T LIKE IT!
jasperjava, if you think that I am citing an outlying Rasmussen poll, please cite a non-outlying Rasmussen [or non rasmussen] poll.
If, as seems likely, the recession will be over by the 2010 mid-terms
The recession is already over. We knew that it would be. And only a very little bit of Obama’s spending has been spent. In other words, it didn’t need to be spent to begin with.
Or anything.
Show me something.
TDro319 Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Good Pino:
Now let’s image in McCain would have won the election instead of Obama. Here is what your statement would have been:
“The recession is over already! We knew that it would be with a republican in office. And only a very little bit of McCains spending has been spent because republicans are much more conservative with taxpayer’s money than democrats.
Lee Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Pino,
“I SEE YOUR PROOF BUT I DON’T LIKE IT!”
To use one of your favorite idioms:
‘Pot meet Kettle, Kettle meet pot..’
“The recession is already over”
Oh dear.. Well I wish I lived in your world..
However, the US economy is still contracting, this means its growing in a kind of negative way.. It’s just contracting a lot slower than it was which is why a lot of people think we might be coming out. However, there is a big difference between ‘coming out of’ and ‘being out of’ a recession..
Government spending should help get us out quicker with the drawback of slower growth in the long run.
I actually agree with reining in the deficit but you don’t do that when you are deep in an economic crisis as it will just make the problem much worse than it already is.
EricG Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
“The recession is already over”
The Bush Recession is not over yet.
Hang on tight. Because Obama is going to fix what you Republicans broke out of arrogance.
You might want to absorb something ‘news’ other than FIXED News though … they are partisans and hate this country. I wonder when they will fire Alan???
Should happen the same day he lets some firebrand liberals take the show where it should go:
Into bashing the fascist, communist and unpatriotic fools still supporting conservative ideals despite all the damage they have wrought this nation.
June 15th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Now let’s image in McCain would have won the election instead of Obama.
I agree with you; had McCain spent, it would have been bad as well. And yes, TARP was a Bush creation; it was bad then and is bad still.
My point has less to do with Republican cheer leading [there has been little cheer about the last several years] than it does with fiscal conservatism in specific and conservative economic policy in general.
EricG Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
There is no such thing as fiscal conservative being a ‘conservative’ anymore. they are all liars who will spend us to death on military sources but ignore the people hurting in our streets.
Cowards who can’t balance a budget nor keep an economy don’t deserve the title ‘fiscal’ nor ‘conservative.’
June 15th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
That God cleaned his cloack last nov.
No more clean up for Sean at the white house;
he is a pagan.
June 15th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Pagans drop their Baggage at the most convenient house, especially when pagans have not done a thing to work themselves. “Me, Mine and I” in a way of speaking.
Wouldn’t you agree.
pierre Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
Did you see Hannity’s clean at the white house days
before Bush left office?
Now his way of life is taking away from him.
His identity is being destroyed.
Instead of worshiping the “new Enlightened one”,he has become rabid pagan dog.
Obama this, obama that,ect.
Even Fox(Cavuto) has began complaing today of the abscence of Obama at Fox news.
Good for him, he does not want to get rabies.
jazmine Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Mmm, * scratching head* No, I must of missed that episode.
What do you mean his life and identity has been taken away? What happened,do tell.
” New Enlightened one” meaning Obama, oui? I worship him also, he rocks my socks! Now about this rabid pagan dog thing, that sounds like some kind of nasty mother earth rash, that a bottle of Cap’n Morgan most likely will cure…then again, it didn’t cure my dog. I’m sure the solution is just a single mouse Click away in the book of Wiki-Google. He should try that approach first, it would end his/others suffering :-)
June 15th, 2009 at 10:34 pm
To use one of your favorite idioms:
‘Pot meet Kettle, Kettle meet pot..’
“The recession is already over”
Oh dear.. Well I wish I lived in your world..
Very good, I am very encouraged that you saw that. Now, what would it take for you to at least concede that it MIGHT be over?
Lee Reply:
June 15th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
“Now, what would it take for you to at least concede that it MIGHT be over?”
It would take seeing some economic indicators that are completely positive versus being ‘less negative’
e.g net job increase, solid growth in consumer spending, manufacturing etc
In the long-term, I am pessimistic. The national debt we have is indeed scary (I agree with you here although probably not with whom is to blame) and we are hurtling towards a day of reckoning when we are going to have to radically change.
And that doesn’t even touch on problems like energy, food and water which are going to make the situation even worse.
June 15th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Will Mr. Fleischer also give Bush credit for Iran speeding up their nuclear weapons program?
June 15th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
It would take seeing some economic indicators that are completely positive versus being ‘less negative’
newyorkfed.org/survey/empire/empiresurvey_overviewexpand.html
First time since 2001 that this index has risen four straight months.
bloomberg.com/apps/quote?ticker=BFCIUS%3AIND
That’s the highest since June 08.
The 4 week average has fallen 7 out of 9 weeks.
richmondfed.org/research/regional_economy/surveys_of_business_conditions/manufacturing/2009/pdfs/mfg_05_26_09.pdf
When we moved out of the 2001 recession, it was marked by this index moved above 0.
finance.yahoo.com/q?s=^VIX
This moved to near normal levels. It index’s “Investor Fear”. Go to 1 yr view.
newyorkfed.org/research/capital_markets/Prob_Rec.pdf
See the chart labeled: Probability of US Recession
pino Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 1:20 am
Yohooooo, Lee?
Lee Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 1:52 am
Pino,
Stock indices are not a good economic indicator of ‘today’. They mostly bet on what the performance is going to be in the future i.e 6-12 months and are not really a reflection of today.
And then for the next two comments, I refer you back to what I wrote which was to see comments which are purely positive versus ‘less negative’. Stating we are not losing as many jobs as last month (but are still losing jobs) or saying that consumer confidence is ‘rising’ does not mean we are adding jobs or that consumer confidence is ‘good’.
Thats not to say such indicators are not good things and it certainly suggests we are over the worst but they don’t tell us when we will actually come out (e.g quickly or very slowly).
As for the last sets of data you provided, I didn’t study it in detail but must admit some of the data looks very positive (e.g on manufacturing output) and if thats also national trend then its very encouraging but still, other data indicates overwhelmingly that we are not yet ‘out of the woods’.
June 15th, 2009 at 11:55 pm
Thats not to say such indicators are not good things and it certainly suggests we are over the worst but they don’t tell us when we will actually come out
You understand that the recent average delay in “Calling a Recession over” is something like 20 months?
Given that, I expect the policies of our Dear Blessed Leader will have thrown us into another economic “crisis” before this current one is even officially called over.
June 16th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Bush gets credit for letting the US getting attacked.
Bush gets credit for the first American Torture Program.
Bush gets credit for letting the market go down.
Bush gets credit for dividing the nation like never before which remains to this very moment.
Bush gets credit for violating the US Constitution instead of protecting it.
If we were half as patriotic as well claim to be as a nation he would have been executed for crimes against the state already.
Nations have gone to rebellion and murdered leaders so less than Bush has wrought for us as a people and a nation.
–
Like all conservatives, everywhere, Fleischer should hang his head in shame and come forth only to apologize for breaking the law and smearing the American image with torture and failed policy.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
other than FIXED News
Speaking of “FIXED News”, did you see where Foxnews is doing an exclusive 1 full day of coverage in Cheney’s home?
Fox and Friends will be aired in his study.
America’s News Room in his garden.
Studio B in his office co-hosted by Cheney.
Ending with Special Report in his Library.
Special Report will be focusing on Gitmo and other terror fighting strategies.
Now, in full disclosure, Cheney will not be allowing reporters from other networks access during this day’s coverage. Nor will reporters or cameras from those networks be allowed either.
Interesting. Not sure how I feel about this?
pino Reply:
June 16th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
Nor will reporters or cameras from those networks be allowed either.
Sorry, meant to say mics or cameras.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:52 pm