David Shuster on Hardblogger Rips Bush!

[Vyan]

Here's a new phenomenon, people in the MSM with some backbone. Here's some daring commentary from MSNBC's David Shuster on the Hardblogger.

The White House spin cycle (David Shuster)

I don't know if things are getting better or worse in Iraq. But I do know the Bush administration is now in total panic mode over the erosion of public support for the occupation. How else could one explain the President's bizarre radio address this past Saturday or the even more surreal comments recently from other administration officials?

First, the president's radio address: On Saturday President Bush defended the war in Iraq saying, "We went to war because we were attacked." Huh? In September 2003, the President himself stated, "We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the September 11th attacks." (For the record, the 9/11 Commission is on the side of the Sept. 2003 President Bush — The commission found there was "no collaborative relationship between Iraq and Al-Qaeda.")

On Sunday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said criticism of the handling of the war isn't justified because "The administration, I think, has said to the American people that it is a generational commitment to Iraq." What? That was said... but it came from Senators pouring cold water on the administration's optimistic pre-war predictions. What were those predictions? Vice President Cheney (March 16, 2003) said, "My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators... I think it will go relatively quickly... in weeks rather than months." Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld on Feb. 7, 2003 said, "It is unknowable how long that conflict will last. It could last six days, six weeks. I doubt six months." Former Budget director Mitch Daniels (March 28, 2003) stated, "The United States is committed to helping Iraq recover from the conflict, but Iraq will not require sustained aid."

Iraq will not require sustained aid? Hmmm. Today, Congress voted to send the Pentagon another $45 billion for operations in Iraq. That brings the total amount appropriated so far, for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, to $322.40 billion.

The administration seems to think that by shifting the justification for the war or changing what administration officials said 3 years ago, the president's poll numbers will magically turn around. The pretzel shaped logic of this strategy is mind-boggling. And one begins to wonder if the gang that helped President Bush win a 2nd term has been stuffed into a closet.

More...

Vyan

[izzie]

1. What ever is going on is odd. I think Bush has forgot who is dead

A lot of regular Am. and Iraq people and more hurt while he runs around saying things are better. He is really odd. I do not think he will ever say he is wrong or was wrong. I almost think his handlers told him he would be a great President if he was a great C in Chief and as yet it has not worked. He should have been told or was and did not hear that this would be a guerrilla war. After all what would you do if the US army came after you? You would run so you could fight another day. This has always worked with small armies fighting large ones. Look what Tito did in WW2 and the Germany Army was not a fly by night army. Tito held the Germany army down for years and made them waste time and groups fighting his army. I think the USA loves those big money things so will build 20 Million jets even if these things do not work any more. What good is all this money going in to such things a tanks if they are not working. :shrug:

[laugle]

20. I heard recently Bush said

when he was govenor, that "small wars were good for a president" and that they are the ones who are remembered. He also said "never admit a mistake". You can see that is exactly what he is doing. What a PSYCHO!!

[shoopnyc]

2. I find it interesting...

that on last nights Hardball, for the DSM report, that Matthews disappears, (sure, he took a vacation day!), and the "young 'uns" are left, (Shuster and hosting David Gregory), are left to unravel the mistake of not covering it in the first place. Gregory was much more aggressive and better than I thought he'd be, and the *impression* that I was left with was that there is a serious pecking order in the "entertainment journalism" circle jerk, with the newbies damping their opinions for the adults.

[Clark2008]

10. Personally, I think Hardball is more interesting when

David Gregory sub-hosts.

I'll watch it then. I don't watch it at all otherwise.

[AmBlue]

11. I was relieved to see David Gregory...

was doing the DSM show and not Tweety. Matthews has been so full o' crap lately with being GOP buttboy and all, I can't stand to watch him.

I also love it that one of Keith's guest commentators (can't remember his name), for the first time, said that what Bush was saying to the people didn't match what was in the DSMs. That's the point folks, THE PEOPLE were out of the loop on this. WE were the ones that were being played for patsies. The press knew, everyone in Washington knew, all Blair's people knew..... The whole thing is that WE, THE PEOPLE didn't fucking know, at that time, that war with Iraq was a done deal. :mad:

[Gay Green]

24. And a totally unnecessary deal at that.

.

[Norquist Nemesis]

15. That caught my attention as well

I didn't see Friday's show so I'm not sure if the producers put this together over the weekend or what...but Matthews being absent for this Hardball "Exclusive" (or Special?) Report seemed very strange.

Compared with other 'hosts' including Matthews, Gregory has done an excellent job sitting in the Hardball chair. He hits both sides with pretty hard questions from an opposing view. He either knows his stuff, or the staff provides strong backup support.

I was disappointed (but not surprised) that someone like Joe Wilson or another of the DSM hearing panel were not invited to participate. Woolsey's a hawk and David Kay, at the very least, is a leaf from the same tree.

[Burried News]

3. Oil at $60 per barrel is the end.

Dead meat needs to save some fuel to burn the bodies while he can still afford it. Few in the South can afford gas at $3.00 per gallon, and the distances require alot of driving. Shaoot whut is this gonna to do to ticket praices at Lowes Motor Speedwhuy? This sheet is gittin old maan.:wtf:

[Roland99]

9. It's at $60/bbl...Gas is about $2.20 average nationwide...DJIA is up now

Amazing, eh?


Bizarro.

[slor]

4. This is big news...

because Shuster always seemed to be supportive of the * regime, during the election cycle. Glad to see he is facing up to reality.

[bklyncowgirl]

5. Hey David better watch it you're gonna be in the back row with Helen.

Good to see Schuster piling on. He's been one of the better WH correspondents.

Did a good job sub-hosting Hardball too. Nice straight journalism--asked tough questions of Smith and of Kay and Woolsey.

May some others take note.

[sendero]

6. Use the email link....

... to let Mr. Shuster know that we appreciate his
efforts. I did.

[Darkhawk32]

7. David, they ARE in panic mode. They've been caught!!! n/t

[Coexist]

8. Great blog!!! eom

[Felix Mala]

12. $322.40 billion and not one flower thrown back at our troops.

The admin will continue to spin and prevaricate and it will be most difficult to get their lies to stick to them. Wasn't Condi Rice supposed to have spent the last five month getting us help from Europe? What's she been doing? Tanning in Ibiza? Of course, she didn't do much better when she was put in charge of the war in December '03. I'm going to send this article to my e-mail list.

ORGANIZE NOW TO HOLD THESE MORANS RESPONSIBLE!!!

[ChiciB1]

13. First Off... Bush NEVER WON!!

Second, how many EXCUSES will be enough before the stupid IDIOTS catch on??

Every time something comes up, we get ANOTHER REASON, ANOTHER EXCUSE!

Everyone in the Oval Office SUCKS!! I'm getting more and more worked up as each day goes by. Where once I willing to wait for some action, I now want to go out and start hitting super hard. I've lost all my illusions about Freedom and Democracy. These people MUST GO!!

Out, Out Damn Spot!!!

[Oreo]

14. Just emailed him

Thanks for posting this

:kick:

[quaoar]

16. Here is an interesting appeal from a RW blogger

http://www.redstate.org/story/2005/6/20/221939/980

So, we've now established that Senator Durbin has a poor grasp of historical parallel. Oh, bravo for us indeed. (Next: Robert Byrd was in the Klan!) Make no mistake, it needed to be done: but it is done, and it is, as it always was, a sideshow. The continuing hysteria over it is just that; John Cole is quite right to point out that the time has come to act like adults. And what does that entail? In this case, a bit of reflection, not on Durbin's blundering rhetoric, but on his substance.

The substance is, distressingly enough, there. Specifically, the Senator cites some appalling abuse as witnessed by an FBI agent. While it is fashionable in certain crowds to shrug at these things on the grounds that the victims are all terrorists anyway, the affected apathy leaves some assumptions unexamined. Those assumptions are: first, that the abuse as reported was as bad as it got; second, that the victims are all terrorists. Both assumptions are false. We know that dozens of prisoners have died in American custody, with a shameful proportion being probable homicides. We also know that many prisoners have been released from Camp X-Ray, apparently not terrorists after all.

Now, two caveats here: no one, to my knowledge, has died at Camp X-Ray; and the specific techniques witnessed by Durbin's FBI source were, I am fairly sure, accepted US military interrogation tactics as long as twenty years ago. These are mitigating facts if you fixate on rhetoric in a vacuum, studiously ignore the constellation of American prisons other than Guantanamo, and pretend that rap music, shackles and uncomfortable air temperature is the extent of the problem. Knowing that on the next news cycle Durbin will be yesterday's news and our wartime prisons will remain a current affair, what would an adult do?

[AX10]

17. Has Bush been caught Red-Handed?

What do you think?

[stickdog]

18. Wow. Basically, I couldn't have written that much better myself.

It's sad that truthful journalism is this amazing. Isn't it?

[laugle]

19. I can't think of anyway Bush can get people

to decide they want this war. They are getting really desperate!I predict his numbers in the polls will continue to fall below 40%, just like the congress. A change is coming finally!!!!

[mzmolly]

21. WELL I'LLLLLLL BE!

:toast: to Mr. Schuster for actually doing his friggen job! Novel idea these days for journalists to do their job.

[Cha]

22. Somebody is dealing with

reality in the corporate media..

"The math on this is simple. If the war was going well, the public would support the occupation of Iraq, regardless of whatever reasons the administration gave for the invasion. The problem is, according to republican Senator Chuck Hagel, "The White House is completely disconnected from reality. It's like they're just making it up as they go along."

And now, the public is tired of this deadly trip through fantasyland — a place where White House P.R. strategies seem to matter more than holding anybody accountable for the war's mistakes and mismanagement."

Many of us knew the War On Iraq wouldn't go "well" because it was based on LIES for oil and profit..and it was Illegal. It's called "KARMA IS A MOFO BITCH!"

[Gay Green]

23. "The administration seems to think

that by shifting the justification for the war or changing what administration officials said 3 years ago, the president's poll numbers will magically turn around. The pretzel shaped logic of this strategy is mind-boggling. And one begins to wonder if the gang that helped President Bush win a 2nd term has been stuffed into a closet."

LOL After JimmyJeff GannonGuckert was revealed, that gang FLED into the closet!