Bush Accused Of Nearly Hitting Reporters With D-10 Tractor (Newsweek via HuffPost)

[Ian David]

Bush Accused Of Nearly Hitting Reporters With D-10 Tractor
Newsweek | Holly Bailey | Posted January 31, 2007 08:24 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2007/01/31/bush-accused-of-nearly-hi_n_40068.html

I Have Had My Differences With Members of the Press. But it's Nothing That Burying them Under Tons of Earth Won't Solve

Contributed by Holly Bailey - Posted: January 30, 2007 2:10:10 PM

Does President Bush have it in for the press corps? Touring a Caterpillar factory in Peoria, Ill., the Commander in Chief got behind the wheel of a giant tractor and played chicken with a few wayward reporters. Wearing a pair of stylish safety glasses--at least more stylish than most safety glasses--Bush got a mini-tour of the factory before delivering remarks on the economy.

"I would suggest moving back," Bush said as he climbed into the cab of a massive D-10 tractor. "I'm about to crank this sucker up." As the engine roared to life, White House staffers tried to steer the press corps to safety, but when the tractor lurched forward, they too were forced to scramble for safety.

"Get out of the way!" a news photographer yelled. "I think he might run us over!" said another. White House aides tried to herd the reporters the right way without getting run over themselves.

Even the Secret Service got involved, as one agent began yelling at reporters to get clear of the tractor.

Watching the chaos below, Bush looked out the tractor's window and laughed, steering the massive machine into the spot where most of the press corps had been positioned. The episode lasted about a minute, and Bush was still laughing when he pulled to a stop. He gave reporters a thumbs-up. "If you've never driven a D-10, it's the coolest experience," Bush said afterward. Yeah, almost as much fun as seeing your life flash before your eyes.
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More:
http://bailey.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=464251

[iconoclastic cat]

1. That about says it all, doesn't it? nt

[Dinger]

60. Yup (nt)

[ima_sinnic]

2. and I assume that right after that he told a fart joke?

what a lame-o a-hole

[Tuesday_Morning]

42. Nah. It was after he said this:

I want to talk a little bit about trade. Trade is an important subject here at Caterpillar, and the reason why is because a lot of the product you make here, you sell to somebody else, sell overseas to another country. That's trade.

I kid you not.

[Flying Dream Blues]

51. Is that verbatim or are you paraphrasing? Seriously. nt

[Tuesday_Morning]

53. verbatim.

Here ya go:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/01/20070130-7.html

[Flying Dream Blues]

57. Thank you. I just can't believe it...I read a good bit of that

"speech" and it sounds like it's written for second graders (and not the brightest of those) and full of empty BS platitudes. I'm reminded of something Woody Guthrie said about west Texas..."A place where you can look farther and see less than anywhere in the world." * can talk longer and say less than anyone in the world. UGH.

[peacetalksforall]

3. Way out of touch with reality. He's in his own loco universe.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

47. The No Shit, Sherlock speaking tour, coming to an unlucky town near you.

MKJ

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. He was headed to Iran with the damn thing.

[efhmc]

5. What in the world is wrong with this arrested development freak?

[AndyA]

6. Bush looks down on the American people like a bunch of Ants.

He can crush thousands of us with the sole of his shoe.

The man, to put it mildy, is disturbed. He needs medical attention and America needs a PRESIDENT (for a change).

[bdamomma]

39. I agree why doesn't the Congress get a committee together

to discuss Bush's mental state, psychologists and psychiatrists now that would be an interesting panel.

[ShortnFiery]

7. Oh Stop, don't cha know ...

"It's Hip to Be Square?" Sa-lute MF! Or else. :puke:

[Poll_Blind]

8. From the "Kurdi Bear" school of driving. n/t

PB

[goclark]

9. And where were the photographers for that one

I have not seen any mention of this on my TV.

Did I miss the 24/7 repeat?


I can only imagine if that had happened to Clinton. :puke:

[Rose Siding]

21. Here are some photos of the maniac at the plant-

US President George W. Bush speaks about the economy at Caterpillar, Inc.in Peoria, Illinois. Bush, insisting he still has a "pretty loud" voice in US policy despite Iraq, plans to lay out his economic priorities to a war-weary US public and skeptical lawmakers.

http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070131/photos_pl_afp/83b3ba0115fa7dc185816bc0327f94b8

WAY louder if he can wipe out the press

[Deb]

26. Thanks for posting these

omg, bush threatened reporters with a freaking bulldozer! He is insane.

[efhmc]

10. I recommended this. If this doesn't convince people that this guy is bonkers,

then I do not know what will.

[ShortnFiery]

15. The M$M is covering for him. It's downright Bizarro Twilight Zone

- the lengths that news models and commentators will go to in order to lessen the impact of his insane deeds, i.e., choking on a pretzel causing a big black eye, plowing into a UK cop (breaking the officer's leg) with his mountain bike; dropping Barney; glibly commenting that he can't wait to *hang* MLK Jr's portrait ... just to mention a few *gaffes.* :shrug:

[efhmc]

18. The slightest faux pas from a Dem and it is front page "news"

but this dingdong can repeatedly screw up and gets a pass over and over again.

[EST]

11. That's D-10, not DC-10

I know it's big, but it ain't that big.:toast:

(I used to own a couple of d-4s and a d-6 and operated a d-9)
D-10s are indeed awsome, although the one they made for a strip mine was two d-10s bolted together, side by side-man, what a machine!

[Botany]

20. I have driven a D 9 the thing was wicked strong.

I knocked over 6" trees and part of an old building like they were nothing.
It was on level ground and with lots of room around me. I was awed by
it's power and knew that it could kill a person in a second. The last thing
I thought it was, was a toy. Bush really could have done some damage w/
that D-10.

[EST]

37. Bush reminds me of this nasty kid, when I was in grade school.

He would roll rocks down the hill just to see people jump-no warning at all-could have resulted in broken legs, arms, etc.
He went on to spend a lot of time in prison, just as * should have, had he not been born to privilege.

[havocmom]

12. What idiot gave him anything bigger than his bike to drive?

Oh, the SCOTUS, that's right :grr:

I shall double up on my prayers that the military brass wouldn't really trust him with the actual codes....

[opihimoimoi]

13. A wannabe Macho Moment for the dufus in charge...??

[BlueIris]

14. I was so hoping this would escape from GD.

'Cause this is fucked up, right here. He tried to run over the press corps with. a. tractor.

[Tight_rope]

16. The fucker is demented!

[Occulus]

17. Is h trying to prepare an insanity defense?? n/t

[Beetwasher]

19. HE DID IT ON PURPOSE (Seriously, Read This Part)

"Watching the chaos below, Bush looked out the tractor's window and laughed, steering the massive machine into the spot where most of the press corps had been positioned. The episode lasted about a minute, and Bush was still laughing when he pulled to a stop."

[ShortnFiery]

22. The rest of the World is ...

scared shitless of this maniac and his puppet-masters. But our dumb-a** Congress, both D and R repeatedly whine words to the effect, "Oh, we know he means well." That is so wrong on so many levels. Do they think the American People are STUPID? Wait, don't answer that. ;)

Everyone knows that Dear Leader is a heartless man and it's about time to legislate RESTRICTIONS to his power. :grr:

[Sequoia]

28. Just keep it up psyco killer. Your day will come.

If he'd had run over someone it wouldn't matter. He'd never have to pay for it, do jail time...anything. He doesn't care for anyone.

[elehhhhna]

44. He woud Love to Rachel Corrie the entire press crops,

...not to ention the rest of us.

[tomp]

56. can anyone photoshop a tienamin square type photo....

...with one lone reporter standing up to bush in a tractor?

[me b zola]

59. (not so) passive aggressive

Makes you wonder who gave the order for the military to mortar the Iraqi hotel where the press was located.

[Deb]

23. Was this a Cat D-10 bulldozer?

http://www.cat.com/cda/layout?m=111782&x=7

[Joe Bacon]

24. Damn, he missed running over the Fox News crew :-(

I wouldn't have shedded any tears if he did :evilgrin:

[caligirl]

25. warmongering egomaniac dolt, the guy is such a jerk.

[blogslut]

27. Feel a prick in your heel, Achilles?

Maybe this is the moment.

[peekaloo]

29. Pickles must have given him some driving lessons.

[raccoon]

30. It boggles the mind that he'd do that so shamelessly.

He doesn't even bother to PRETEND to be a human being.

And nobody stops him.

Makes you sick, doesn't it?

[Ganja Ninja]

31. We need to have this guy drug tested.

In fact we need to drug test them all. If it's good enough for minimum wage workers it's good enough for our elected officials.

[Ian David]

35. Our media attack poodles at work. Let's see what press this got:

Your search - bush caterpillar "run over" - did not match any documents.
Your search - bush caterpillar "run us over" - did not match any documents.
Your search - bush caterpillar accident - did not match any documents.

bush caterpillar "Get out of the way" yields an un-related result
"We Are Winning!"
WorldChanging - Jan 29, 2007
You can attempt to seize control, or you can get out of the way. Oh wait, there's a third choice: getting cold feet and apologizing for having won. ...


Bush in Illinois to tout policies
Caterpillar benefited, president tells workers
By James P. Miller
Tribune staff reporter
Posted January 30 2007, 10:15 PM EST
<snip>
At the end of the tour the president climbed aboard a massive piece of heavy equipment painted the iconic Caterpillar yellow and told the press pool: "I'd advise you to stand back. I'm about to crank this sucker up."

He drove it forward about 20 feet, then backed it into a turn and straightened the giant vehicle out.

Bush then climbed down, saying, "Oh, yeah."

[email protected]
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/chi-070130bushpeoria,0,6440012.story?coll=sfla-business-headlines

THAT'S IT??


And from Associated Press via USA Today:

Bush pushes for more free-trade deals
Updated 1/30/2007 9:34 PM ET

<snip>

"I would suggest moving back. I'm about to crank this sucker up," Bush called from the cab of a yellow tractor. He started the motor. A puff of smoke belched from its stack, and the president steered it around the assembly line. "That was fun," he exclaimed as he got off.

More:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-01-30-bush-trade_x.htm

WTF??? THAT'S IT??

Here's a video link:
http://usatodaytv.feedroom.com/index.jsp?fr_story=FEEDROOM177797




Bush salutes Caterpillar rise
But analysts differ on U.S. policy role in firm's advance
Associated Press
EAST PEORIA - President Bush climbed aboard a giant bulldozer and took it for a short test drive Tuesday during a tour of Caterpillar Inc.'s East Peoria plant before delivering a speech on the economy.
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/local/16586136.htm



Durbin points at Bush for drop in factory jobs
BY DORI MEINERT
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
Published Tuesday, January 30, 2007
WASHINGTON - As President Bush arrived in Peoria this morning to tout Caterpillar as as an example of the success of his administration's economic policies, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., blamed those policies for the loss of manufacturing jobs in the region.
http://www.lincolncourier.com/story.asp?SID=4661&SEC=8


Bush in Illinois to tout policies

Caterpillar benefited, president tells workers

By James P. Miller
Tribune staff reporter
Posted January 30 2007, 10:15 PM EST
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/chi-070130bushpeoria,0,6440012.story?coll=sfla-business-headlines

Bush visits East Peoria, touts free trade at Caterpillar
By MIKE RIOPELL and BLACKWELL THOMAS - H&R Springfield Bureau Writers
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2007/01/31/news/local_news/1020818.txt


How did Bush play in Peoria?
By Molly Parker
Peoria, Illinois
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=389&topic_id=90532&mesg_id=91020

[PurgedVoter]

32. This is like a feverish dream.

This is real, yet is sounds like one of those edge of nightmare dreams.

The symbols here are all fairly clear and straight forward. If this dream where my own, I would be asking where my internal leadership was threatening my own ability to examine reality. I would wonder where I was threatening to run over the parts of me that were protecting me. This is the sort of dream that makes one think getting help might be a good idea.

That this has happened and is not on the front page, I think shows how destroyed and devalued our press is. Our congress needs to wake up. Conservatives need to wake up and find some shred of the patriotism, strength, courage, independence, integrity, and honor that they think they have a monopoly on.

Sadly most of us here, have woken up, but the fever dream goes on. As outrage builds on outrage, as evidence builds on evidence we still see folk driving along with W stickers in huge cars. Like a nightmare, thoughtful leaders such a Obama still hold out compromise like an olive leaf as they step into the coral with rabid ravenous puss spewing unformed beasts.

For years now this nightmare has continued. News agencies have driven brave and bold reporters from their posts while ignoring obviously lying faces pretending to be reporters.

Wake up America, before you take us all with you into the long sleep.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

48. Yes, it continues unabated and before our incredulous eyes. Now, if had been Obama, we'd have seen

it 24/7. MKJ

[smoogatz]

33. Okay, it's official.

Bush is completely insane. Jesus.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

34. IMAGINE the uproar if Clinton had the same accident. . .

Imagine the non-stop coverage on Cable and boredcast news.
Imagine the holier than thou editors and journalists who would tsktsk, then chide, then complain, then wonder about his sanity, THEN make jokes nonstop.
Imagine any sane man acting like a little child while he is on the world's stage.

Imagine us surviving the next two years, if possible.

[CoffeeCat]

36. OMG!!! Joey Buttafuoco is running this country!!!

"I'm about to crank this sucker up!" Hardy har har!!

How does someone who grew up with ALL OF THAT MONEY--spending
summers on the affluent East Coast---end up behaving like the biggest uncouth,
undignified white-trash buffoon that ever existed?

[bdamomma]

38. it would have been great if that news photographer said

watch out for the madman!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[demnan]

40. What a fucking sick fuck!

Caligula must be stopped!

[LizW]

41. Christ. He's a psychopath.

The freak broke a guy's leg with a bicycle and they let him drive a bulldozer???? Who is supposed to be minding this psychopath????

This is truly frightening. I'll bet he's been dreaming of this moment ever since he heard of Rachel Corrie.

[Ian David]

43. He's having flashbacks to the time everyone else was in 'Nam...

and he was getting busted for drunk driving.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

61. Laura and George are terrors behind the wheel of any moving vehicle

No wonder the National Guard suspended Bush from flying jets and took away his wings.

[VOX]

45. "I'm about to crank this sucker up." That, ladies and gentlemen, is the *U.S. president* speaking!

He's represents the pinnacle, nay, he's the very embodiment of erudition, and he's the chief executive of the richest, most powerful nation on earth. :wtf:

What a colossal, horse-turd sized embarrassment this guy is. :grr:

Just keep repeating "only two more years," "only two more years," "only two more years," etc.

[nam78_two]

46. K&R

:eyes: I seea crazy person...

[Ian David]

50. Randi Rhodes opened with this on her show today, "Bushdozer." n/t

[951-Riverside]

49. K&R

[meldroc]

52. Did you catch Rove's comments?

http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2007/01/bush_nearly_fla.html

Before the tour, Rove chatted briefly with Caterpillar executives about whether Bush would drive one of the tractors. Rove reminded them Bush doesn't do much driving on his own these days and asked if Caterpillar's insurance was up to date.

Wow... :wtf:

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

54. "This is what happens when your President doesn't read"

Check out the comments in the orginal Newsweek post.


This is what happens when your President doesn't read...the label of his antipsychotic medication, "Taking this medication may impair your ability to drive a car or operate heavy machinery."
:rofl:

[Cha]

55. littlebritchesbush is a

fucking sadist and oh, the supremecourt5 put him in charge of the nu-cu-lar button. :nuke:

[treestar]

58. Shrub should be kept away from all heavy machinery

He couldn't handle that little bicycle thingy either.