In Secretly Taped Conversations, Glimpses of the Future President

[MelissaB]

I questioned putting this article in this forum, but it does relate to elections...

In Secretly Taped Conversations, Glimpses of the Future President

By David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 - As George W. Bush was first moving onto the national political stage, he often turned for advice to an old friend who secretly taped some of their private conversations, creating a rare record of the future president as a politician and a personality.

In the last several weeks, that friend, Doug Wead, an author and former aide to Mr. Bush's father, disclosed the tapes' existence to a reporter and played about a dozen of them.

Variously earnest, confident or prickly in those conversations, Mr. Bush weighs the political risks and benefits of his religious faith, discusses campaign strategy and comments on rivals. John McCain "will wear thin," he predicted. John Ashcroft, he confided, would be a "very good Supreme Court pick" or a "fabulous" vice president. And in exchanges about his handling of media questions about his past, Mr. Bush appears to have acknowledged trying marijuana.

>>>snip

But Mr. Bush also repeatedly worried that prominent evangelical Christians would not like his refusal "to kick gays." At the same time, he was wary of unnerving secular voters by meeting publicly with evangelical leaders. When he thought his aides had agreed to such a meeting, Mr. Bush complained to Karl Rove, his political strategist, "What the hell is this about?"

Long, but good read: http://michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=1490

[Zeke]

1. No Help...

ABC with George Steph played a portion.

The soundbites weren't damnin to Bush, but helpful.

Made him sound opposed to drugs, like
a determined leader, and Al Gore basher, etc.

The MSM loves Bush and they're gonna protect him all they can.

[MelissaB]

2. I sure would like to see all

of those tapes.

[asjr]

3. And I wonder if they were really "secret."

[Zeke]

4. All I KNow I s This...

HEY, KOOL AID !!! :)

[coloradodem2005]

5. I don't know how much this helps us.

[glitch]

6. So, apparently Bush is really a deep, thoughtful, good guy after all.

How could we all have been so wrong?

Please. So this is how they are going to counter the Guckert problem? This is so obvious I can't even stand it. They must really be hurting to try something so blatant. I bet we don't see any corporate media pundits rolling their eyes either.

Lap it up, my pretties.

[kster]

8. I was

wondering the same thing,but the Guckert problem sure takes our minds off the biggest crime in the history of the world. I think guckert could be a diversion from the big crime.All you have to do is look back to Monica story,they know sex is a good story, but in the end it will not take * down.So why not use the sex story to divert from the bigger crime. Just thinking out loud.

[glitch]

11. So you think guckert it the distraction? Could be, they love to distract

Keep a prostitute in the WH press corps for two years until you need him for a distraction? Perhaps.

And looting SS is definitely the holy grail they've been pursuing. Or the deliberate looting and destruction of the U.S. economy. Or are you talking about them stripping America's remaining resources? Maybe you're talking about the illegal resource war and the war crimes therein. The intentional furtherance of global climate change, possibly even the deliberate triggering of a massive human die-off? Or perhaps you mean the treason of 9/11, and the dismantling of the U.S. Constitution? Perhaps you mean their transformation of our country to a fascist state with global power, and the inevitable world war which will result from their noxious power-grab?

I know there are more, these are just the biggest crimes I can think of off the top of my head.

Actually I think they've got so many crimes in progress, each one distracts from the other. The good old blitzkrieg, shock and awe.
Tried and true methods for the people willing to subvert their humanity to use them.

Let me know if one of my biggest crimes listed is the one you were talking about, or if there is one I missed. Probably you are also thinking:
All of the above.

Edited to add: I can't believe I forgot to list the one that I am actively working on: the theft of the US presidency and the rolling coup of the US government structure with the election fraud in 2000, 2002, 2004.

[kster]

21. I was thinking of

the one you are actively working on, because the election theft story is not going away,and they don't like it.If they know people are closing in on them. As this site and so many other sites are doing. And they obviously know they have a prostitute in the White House,why not throw him to the dogs,for a distraction. It fits their way of thinking.

[anamandujano]

23. nice list (anxiety attack inducing)

and about the tapes--

Why would someone trusted enough for Bush to allow him to tape release anything of damage. No one here believes any damage will result but I guess they know that the public will swallow whatever story they trot out for whatever reason.

[glitch]

27. Ain't that the truth. But I remember reading somewhere 90% of propaganda

is simply to provide cover for the true believers. So, it's interesting to see who runs with the more blatant stuff, like these tapes.
I forget what the other 10% is for. Maybe they actually hope to make new recruits with it. :eyes:

[Amaryllis]

28. Which biggest crime? there are so many; which are you referring to?

[MelissaB]

7. I took from the article

that EVERYTHING Bush does is based on how it will play politically.

>>snip

Preparing to meet with influential Christian conservatives, Mr. Bush tested his lines with Mr. Wead. "I'm going to tell them the five turning points in my life," he said. "Accepting Christ. Marrying my wife. Having children. Running for governor. And listening to my mother."

In September 1998, Mr. Bush told Mr. Wead that he was getting ready for his first meeting with James C. Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, an evangelical self-help group. Dr. Dobson, probably the most influential evangelical conservative, wanted to examine the candidate's Christian credentials.

"He said he would like to meet me, you know, he had heard some nice things, you know, well, 'I don't know if he is a true believer' kind of attitude," Mr. Bush said.

>>snip

As eager as Mr. Bush was to cultivate the support of Christian conservatives, he did not want to do it too publicly for fear of driving away more secular voters. When Mr. Wead warned Mr. Bush to avoid big meetings with evangelical leaders, Mr. Bush said, "I'm just going to have one," and, "This is not meant to be public."


(I guess he changed his mind on that last one, too. :) )

[crispini]

36. Ding ding ding! You are sooooo correct!

Check THIS quote out:

Preparing to meet Christian leaders in September 1998, Mr. Bush told Mr. Wead, "As you said, there are some code words. There are some proper ways to say things, and some improper ways." He added, "I am going to say that I've accepted Christ into my life. And that's a true statement."

CODE WORDS? Jeez, I for one am just now realizing how people do this, and he was doing this back in NINETY EIGHT!?

[riverwalker]

9. why did he say he "wouldn't fire gays"

unless he was being pressured to "fire gays" but it can only mean political advisors. Who else did he employ at that time, other than advisors and handlers? A gay housekeeper?

[MelissaB]

10. Dzika just posted a video collage from Fox, CNN, and ABC

in the daily thread. I'll try to link here: http://www.edwardsdavid.com/BushVideos/fox_abc_cnn_sunday_bush_tapes_050220-01.rm

Watch Clinton at the last of the video!

Edited to add: Dzika, :yourock: !

[Helga Scow Stern]

13. You mean how he reaches over and pats Bush's leg?

Or that smile? Now I'll have to go and watch again.

[MelissaB]

15. The pat, smile, and the fact

that he looks like he wants to comfort Bush. I know Clinton is human and seems to feel deeply for people, but this bothered me. Now I have to go and question myself. Why should this bother me?

[Amaryllis]

29. Have you looked at this thread? Looks like a lot of Dem compicity

in election fraud for a long time.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss//duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=330709&mesg_id=330709

[Helga Scow Stern]

30. Yes, it made me wonder too....

Almost no one, except maybe Kerry, is as hated by the RW as much as Clinton.

To see him "feeling" GHW Bush's pain is a strong image. I'm sure it is a deliberate and calculated message. He is a consummate politician. Who knows what he's up to?

[kster]

31. Why do you

think Bush 1 and Clinton,keep coming out together like this ?

[Helga Scow Stern]

12. This seems clearly like damage control for Guckertgate.

This is a piece of very carefully orchestrated propaganda designed to shore up the pro-* forces. You can tell by the tome of the article. The reporter even praises *'s role in Texas as governor.
There is absolutely no questioning of anything by the one reporting the story.

1)How wrong to focus on a person's past (Guckert's). The whole point is how you've been saved, not what caused you to need saving. * is indirectly comparing himself w/ the Guke.

2) It provides a rationale, albeit flimsy, for why Guke was allowed--* promised not to kick or fire gays. It gives everyone a reason to believe.

2) Secular shrub supporters need not worry, * is not a total nutcase fundie.

3) It plants several (false) impressions that no elections were stolen...he feared he might lose to Forbes? Give me a break.

4) It repeatedly bashes Gore, further dismissing any claims that Gore won.

5) It throws a bone to the fundies with *'s unabashed admiration of Ashcroft. There must have been some problems with his leaving the cabinet.

Propaganda in action worthy of a Goebbels.

[kster]

25. I'm begining to

think guckertgate was a diversion of theirs that backfired, spiraled out of control,and now we have the tapes,for the damage control.I don't think they are going to get the horses back in the stable.I really think we are gaining on them,as far as getting the stories out. Keep up the good work.

[Helga Scow Stern]

14. "Authenticated" by audio expert Tom Owen

"Yes it is my opinion that it is the voice of George W. Bush." But did anyone authenticate the time the tapes were made? If they have been edited, patched, added to, etc.? Has anyone seen copy regarding the details of authentication?

[Helga Scow Stern]

19. Owen authenticated only *'s voice

"Wead eventually agreed to play a dozen tapes on the condition that the names of any private citizens be withheld. The New York Times hired Tom Owen, an expert on audio authentication, to examine samples from the tapes. He concluded the voice was that of the president."

The voice of the president was authenticated, but apparently nothing else. They are separate activities, according to Owen's website:

http://www.owlinvestigations.com/rates.html

VOICE IDENTIFICATION $3,500.00 for one known and one unknown
Minimum.

AUTHENTICITY (Video or Audio) $4,500.00 per tape, per side: Minimum
Additional charges may apply.

[Peace Patriot]

16. See my post at...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=330803&mesg_id=330803

The Gannon 'scandal' is cover for SOMETHING ELSE.

But WHAT?

Iran, maybe. Not sure. It's their MO.

[MelissaB]

17. I've read so much the last few days

about current and past events that I don't know what to believe. My eyes are tired and my hand/wrist hurt.

So much has happened with the two Bush presidents that it is all hard to swallow. I don't doubt Gannon was a plant, either. I just don't know what else he was. What else besides stolen elections, child prostitution, illegal wars, lots of people turning up dead (suicided, one car wrecks, plane crashes) etc. is there? You get the idea. It looks like somebody in the "media" would have pulled this together. :shrug:

[Helga Scow Stern]

18. Doug Wead

I was reading an online cultic studies newsletter when I happened upon this report containing information about Doug Wead:

Amway, Republicans & That Old Time Religion

December 13, 2004
By: Evelyn Pringle

Independent Media TV

snip--

The Bush Family & Religious Heathens

Several members of the media have looked into the relationship between the two Bush Presidencies and members of the extreme Religious Right Wing. After reading up on that gang, the only thing I know for sure, is that there is not a single honest person in the whole bunch.

First off, lets take a look at evangelist Doug Wead, a divorced Baptist Minister, and former Diamond distributer, who is still a regular speaker at Amway conventions.

Wead was the first President Bush's liaison to the Christian Right and he later served as Special Assistant to the President in the first Bush White House. Time magazine referred to him as "the man who coined the phrase the compassionate conservative."

He was linked to the second President Bush early on as well. US News and World Report described Wead as an "old friend and advisor" to George W Bush. In the book, First Son, Author and Dallas Morning News Reporter, Bill Mintuglio, said that Wead was a man who had spent years "preparing strategy reports" for both President Bush and GW.
--snip

The report goes on to detail Wead's huckseterism as leader of Amway in France, which ended in getting the organization exiled from the country.

http://www.independent-media.tv/item.cfm?fmedia_id=10132&fcategory_desc=Under%20Reported%3Ehttp://www.independent-media.tv/item.cfm?fmedia_id=10132&fcategory_desc=Under%20Reported

[Helga Scow Stern]

20. Voting for greatest. n/t

[Helga Scow Stern]

22. Please nominate!

I can't believe everyone isn't talking about this.

[BrightKnight]

24. Why is everyone reporting this at face value? - n\t

[BrightKnight]

26. No enemy would release these now! Friendly source not credible

The tape is not damaging. No enemy would release this. This is especially true in light of the current Gannon story.

A friendly source simply is not credible enough to warrant reporting this at face value. Any serious journalist would understand this. The MSM is deliberately distributing propaganda. Shame!

[garybeck]

32. how do we know these tapes aren't just another ROVE game

sure fits the pattern.

be careful, michael moore.

[Helga Scow Stern]

33. I wrote Michael Moore a "news tip"

that these tapes were fakes to reassure the * believers.

It seems so very obvious....

[garybeck]

37. seems obvious

I've only read the summaries, not actually heard the tapes, but it seems pretty obvious that they are not real. just another opportunity to make people think Bush acts a certain way even behind closed doors. the fact that they touch on the marijuana is just thrown in there to make it seem credible. If it were real there would have been some more damning content. Minor use of marijuana years ago wouldn't upset many people, but it would make it seem more credible.

Rove, you suck. Your tactics are obvious to anyone who just looks at your history of lies, deceipt, and trickery. You are a hypocrite of the highest order. You should read the 10 commandments. I think lying and killing are covered there. And oh yeah, I don't think "the ends justifies the means" is one of the 10 commandments.

[Claire Beth]

34. I don't believe they were "SECRETLY TAPED"....

if Wead didn't tell Dumbya 'perosnally' he was being recorded, he damn sure made certain he WAS aware of it. The answers Dumbya gave to the questions were too practiced. They lacked all the stuttering and stammering he does when he is caught with offguard questions. ugh ugh ugh well, I, I, I, jusssst ugh ugh am not sure about all this ugh Mr. ugh Wead!

[seaclyr]

35. Seems suspicious to me too...

Agree with others that this could easily be a distraction from other stuff going on. I think one always has to consider the possibility of dirty tricks with these guys. Also, consider the source in this case.

[kster]

38. Bring it on *

we can walk and chew gum at the same time.We can tell more than one story at a time, Gannon/guckert and Election fraud. If the 15 second soundbite was a plan to divert it didn't work, it just means we have two stories to tell. As seen here at the DU, Election fraud is still alive and well. NGU

[rumpel]

39. I agree, it smells. I guess bush's Christian support is in danger with

the Guckert story, so the "friend" comes to the rescue. This is nothing else but a counter to the outing of Guckert, the ongoing issue of gays, and to keep the faithful from leaving.
Ojai Person is right, when was the tape recorded? And do we really believe that someone, who claims to be a friend and deep insider of this secretive bunch to reveal a secretly made tape?

[anamandujano]

40. My in-house barometer of the faithful (my mother) says--

Always a waste of time to talk politics around here but I just asked her how she felt about the "gay prostitute in the White House" story--

A little background--she takes in the mainstream TV news, PBS, no Fox since I pulled the plug on cable a few yrs ago, and 5 hours or more of right wing radio.

She hasn't heard that story but she has heard that someone taped Bush and it's an "outrage". I said, "you haven't heard about it on the radio?"

"No."
---------
We had a screaming argument a couple of weeks ago when Sleeza was on tour and using the words "peace" and "Iran" in the same sentence. I screeched "That's what they said about Iraq and then they bombed the f*** out of everyone. Would you like to see some pictures of Iraqi children?"

I have no doubt that if the conversation had continued she might have said, "They deserved it." I left the room before she had the chance.

I don't know why people think the "faithful" are going to turn on Bush for anything.