Yes, Bush really said Iraqis are ready to "take the training wheels off"

[BurtWorm]

:wtf:

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/05/20/iraqi_power/print.html


Bush says Iraqis ready to take power


- - - - - - - - - - - -
By Scott Lindlaw



May 20, 2004 | Washington -- Iraqis are ready to "take the training wheels off" and assume political power from the U.S.-led coalition, President Bush said Thursday as his administration began to roll out a rough plan for the June 30 transition of authority.

Bush went to Capitol Hill to brief anxious Republican lawmakers, warning of more difficult days in Iraq even after the transfer of sovereignty.

"This has been a rough couple of months for the president, particularly on the issues of Iraq, and I think he was here to remind folks that we do have a policy and this policy is going to be tough," said Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. "Things, as I think he commented, are very likely to get worse before they get better."

Bush's job-approval ratings have slumped to the lowest levels of his presidency, dragged down by bloodshed in Iraq. He sought to reassure lawmakers that despite the polls, he is eager for his re-election fight.

[NJCher]

1. is there a thread on this remark?

I was working when I heard it and couldn't get on DU. I was so appalled. It's so insulting. Everytime this idiot opens his mouth, he makes things worse.


Cher

[BurtWorm]

3. I don't know of any other thread on this subject beside this one.

It's not surprising that he's so thoroughly out to lunch and out of touch. It's surprising that he can display it and no one bats an eyelash!

[anarchy1999]

10. Yes, there have been at least one other thread on this but with GD

these days, how many pages do you want to go back? The comment was shocking to say the least! Training Wheels????......Time for Iraq to ride the bike now???? ......

How much worse does it have to get before the House and the Senate finally do the right thing? IMPEACH - Throw them all out! That includes Hastert, Delay and Frist along with all the rest of the NeoCon, Fundamentalists.

We need to take brooms, mops, and lots of Clorox to Washington and do a clean sweep!!!

[Journeyman]

6. An article is linked on talkingpointsmemo.com. . .

Joshua Marshall discusses this on his blog -- May 20, 2004 -- 01:48 PM EDT -- and gives links to news articles. . .

From TPM. . .


"President Bush was up on the Hill this morning meeting with Congressional Republicans to quell their growing anxiety that their job security may be only marginally greater than that of the Iraq Interim Governing Council.

"The tenor of the event can probably be judged by the fact that the 'rallying cry' coming out of the meeting seems to have been that things are really bad and almost certain to get worse.

"Rah! Rah!

"According to several participants, President Bush told Republicans that the Iraqis are ready to "take the training wheels off" by assuming power.

"That's a bit of a condescending thing to say about a country which encompasses what is generally considered to be the cradle of civilization. But the thought that an extra set of training wheels may now be available prompts the question of whether the Iraqis might be willing to hand their pair off to the White House."

[Spinzonner]

2. Well, yes but ...

at least he hasnt given them any cute names yet.

I hope ...

[gratuitous]

4. Keep in mind that this is a guy who fell off a Segway

If George W. Bush was telling me about fine cocaine, I'd tend to believe what he was saying. Somebody ready to "take off the training wheels"? Sorry, there are some neighborhood 7-year-olds that have more credibility with me.

[Minstrel Boy]

8. hah!

very good. :evilgrin:

[wishlist]

5. They can't wait to be able to totally blame the Iraqis for what happens-

as Ann Richards said on Larry King last night, we will have even more troops there than we do now and we will still be calling the shots but we can just blame the Iraqis for everything controversial or bad that happens after June 30.

Major damage control in full swing by Bush & Co today to prop up their base. I just had the displeasure to view their new anti-Kerry ad where all they do is show negative quotes from the Wall St Journal and several other papers. Kerry is going to have to fight back hard.

[BurtWorm]

7. Read Elizabeth Drew's piece in the NY Review of Books

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17176

It's called The Dream Campaign, and it's about how wrong everything has suddenly gone for them. It's disturbing and yet somehow hopeful as well, in the sense that it makes you realize how necessary it is to kick these bastards butts the hell out of power.

PS: Welcome to DU!

[leftchick]

9. wolfowitz said the same thing earlier this week...

when he was in front of the senate armed services committee again. It must be the new rove talking point for the week.

[damnraddem]

11. Yes, they're not only ready, they're already ...

taking the training wheels off -- using roadside bombs.

No training wheels left around Fallujah or Najaf.

And Chalabi's training wheels have been confiscated.

But Dubya needs to put the training wheels back on -- he ain't ready to ride on his own.