John Dean's take on Bush/Cheney's joint testimony

[AnnitaR]

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/04/06/1354218

<snip>

JOHN DEAN: It is very unusual. He's the most powerful Vice President we have ever had. He is in essence the Co-President. I think the best evidence of that is the fact that when the two of them are going to appear in the 9-11 commission, they're going together, in tandem. That speaks -- you know, one doesn't have to explain that terribly deeply.

AMY GOODMAN: Why don't you? No, why don't you explain it.

JOHN DEAN: I will, but let me come around this way to explain it. You have it with George Bush a president who is very good at working the campaign trail. He's very good at raising money. He has been doing it all of his life. He knows how to do that. He has got a pleasant public personality. It isn't as pleasant in private, but he is very good at putting a smile on his face and going out and glad-handing and pretending he's a regular guy that everybody wants to be his friend and he wants to be everybody's friend. He is -- he has been the Head of State of this Presidency. the Head of Government, which is a whole different ballgame, these are things that don't interest George Bush too terribly. He has no intellectual curiosity. He doesn't want to get into policy matters deeply. As even one of his speechwriters David Frum said, you couldn't give this president a quiz on his own administration and hope that he would pass it. He's not stupid, but he's ignorant but ignorant by design it appears. To go into the 9-11 Commission, I don't think George Bush could get very far other than to embarrass himself seriously in front of the Commission. While Tim Russert had him one on one under camera in the Oval Office, we all saw how thin and shallow that was, that it would be far worse with a Commission asking him fairly penetrating questions that Cheney can obviously answer and Bush can’t.

<snip>

This is a great interview. My favorite lines from Dean are "...but he's ignorant but ignorant by design it appears." and "He has no intellectual curiosity." Yet, he's the President of the most powerful country on earth. I will never understand why intelligent people can look at this man and think he deserves to be President.

[xchrom]

1. think about the character of many of your fellow citizens

and you'll have your answer. and the answer ain't pretty.

[mulethree]

2. "And to the C students, I say, you, too can be president of the " (USA)

Bush at Yale graduation in 2001

[truthspeaker]

3. I think some people see the President as just head of state

And they are content for the head of government to be an unelected person working in the shadows.

[trof]

4. letter to the editor:

SUCH A DEAL...

Let's suppose that you have been charged with negligent homicide. There were multiple deaths.
The details aren't important for our hypothetical case. You may use your own imagination.

Prior to trial, representatives speaking for you and your attorney (or "mouthpiece") enter negotiations with the judge who will hear your case. I know...this is quite a stretch and could never happen in "real" life, but this is a fable, after all, so stay with me.

Here's the deal they cut:
1. You will take the stand to testify on your own behalf, but...
2. Your attorney will take the stand with you,
just in case you "misspeak" or your memory needs jogging, and...
3. NEITHER of you will be required to swear an oath that what you say will be the truth.
4. Your "testimony" will take place in strict privacy with no observers or news media representatives present.

Such a deal.
And this is exactly the deal that Messrs Bush and Cheney have cut.
Something is rotten in the District of Columbia.
Oh my.

Massey Lambard
Foley

[LizW]

6. Go, trof! Great letter (n/t)

[JohnyCanuck]

5. Skillful use of propaganda has been used to promote Bush.

Yet, he's the President of the most powerful country on earth. I will never understand why intelligent people can look at this man and think he deserves to be President.

Maybe this is why.

Brainwashing America
by Dr. Norman Livergood

The puppet Bush regime is using new, aggressive forms of brainwashing to change the very way Americans think and feel. This is the psychological dimension of the "High Cabal's" general onslaught against American workers, just as the "war on terrorism" is the military dimension and corporate crime and tax cuts for the rich comprise the economic dimension.

We are living under the beginning stages of a military dictatorship in precisely the same way that 1930s Germans suffered under the Nazi regime. As in the case of Nazi Germany, state-sponsored propaganda (brainwashing) is a vital part of the Bush regime's strategy.

<snip>

In an earlier article, I reviewed the varied aspects of personality profiling and simulation. While serving as Head of the Artificial Intelligence Department at the U.S. Army War College, 1993-1995, I conducted studies on profiling, psychological programming, and brainwashing. I explored and developed personality simulation systems, an advanced technology used in military war games, FBI profiling, political campaigning, and advertising. Part of my discovery was that:

unenlightened human minds are combinations of infantile beliefs and emotional patterns

these patterns can be simulated in profiling systems

these profiling systems can be used to program and control people

Personality simulation systems are being used to create political campaigns that apply voter profiles to control their voting behavior. TV commercials and programs use personality simulation to profile viewers to control their purchasing and viewing behaviors. And sophisticated propaganda and brainwashing techniques are being used by the Bush junta to keep American citizens under control.
(emphasis mine /jc)

Brainwashing America