Bush: "If somebody from al-Qaida is calling you, we'd like to know why"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

Bush Begins New Year With Familiar Focus

CRAWFORD, Texas - President Bush is starting his sixth year in office with a flurry of activity designed to trumpet upturns in the economy, defend U.S. action in Iraq and challenge critics who claim his methods of fighting terrorists infringe on civil liberties.

On Sunday, the president strongly defended a program that allows domestic spying on those suspected of having ties to terrorist groups. "If somebody from al-Qaida is calling you, we'd like to know why," Bush said in San Antonio.

While the president makes his case in public, his aides will be girding behind the scenes for looming battles with Congress over the renewal of the Patriot Act and the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito.

White House officials hope this week sets the tone for its top priorities as Bush visits the Pentagon on Wednesday to discuss the war on terror and then flies to Chicago on Friday to try to convince Americans that the economy is on solid footing. "I've been thinking long and hard about 2006," Bush said Sunday after a visit to wounded troops in San Antonio. "And my hopes of course are for peace around the world. I'm going to continue to work as hard as I can to lay that foundation for peace."

"I've been thinkin' long and hard...because thinkin' is hard work, Stretch! Now go on...put some food on your families, and you gynecololgicalists...get back to practicin' your LOVE..."



http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060102/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_agenda

[Bonobo]

1. For those curious, it says "Idiot".

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

7. It certainly does.

:patriot:

:evilgrin:

[tatertop]

2. Bush's Theatre of the Absurd

Tonight's performance:

Return of the Straw Man

[Christa]

3. yeah right

they will identify themselves as Al Qaida :evilgrin:

[JuniperLea]

5. Oh, yes they will... and if not

We will just look them up in the handy dandy al Qaida phone directory.

[Christa]

10. help me

:applause: :rofl: you are too funny :rofl:

[Christa]

11. delete

double post :shrug:

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

13. I bet they're listed in both the White and Yellow pages

Of the Ma Bell Terrorist Phone Book

[chelsea0011]

4. Effin' President. And three friggin' more years of this.

[FloridaPat]

6. Maybe We the People should be wire tapping * phone lines.

[JHB]

8. My worry isn't "someone from Al Queda calling" me...

...My worry is the second, third, fourth, and so on degrees of separation.

Mr. Al Queda calls his parents, so pull the parent's phone list, which includes a cousin in the states. Pull the cousin's phone list, which could have nay number of things (schools, restaurants, peaceful political groups, etc.) that also have MY number as an alumni, patron, or member. and TADAAA! Any number of completely innocent people can be illeagally tapped based on a "link to Al Queda" -- no matter how tenuous -- without some sort of judicial review.

[kahleefornia]

9. really. 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon all over again. nt

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

15. Yesterday on "Hardball" there was a glaring unanswered question...

...it came up during a conversation between Tweety and Andrea Mitchell. Since neither of them know the answer, it just sort of went out into the ether. Here it is:

Suppose the government does the wiretaps and investigations and such. Suppose YOUR NAME, or MINE, or ANYONE'S name goes on "the list." Suppose that after checking you out they come up with NOTHING.

Are you removed from the list?

Do you STAY on the list?

Are you migrated to a NEW list?

A question worth asking, eh?

[Lowell]

12. Hang Up Calls

I get them all the time. I am beginning to wonder if they are from al qaida. Are we still in trouble if we don't answer the phone? What a bunch of morons! These guys are like a modern version of the Keystone Kops.

[Arkansas Granny]

14. So Bush wants to lay a foundation for peace. Someone should

remind him that foundations are laid with bricks and mortar, not bombs and mortars. I think he's a little confused about the terminology.

[FSogol]

16. Dup

[GregW]

17. OMG - I think one of them DID call me!!!11!

He left a message on my phone, went something like:

"Hi, this is Al Kyder and I would like to talk to you about satellite TV. I will be in your neighborhood in the next few days ..."

I hung up and wasn't sure exactly about his name, I know it was Al something.

:scared:

[youngred]

18. He's right

but that doesn't excuse illegal, secret wiretapping, especially when the process is so open and will usually give the President the benefit of the doubt and what he wants.

[CJCRANE]

19. "Honey

it's those islamic telephonists on the line again..do you want the free trial on the Jihadi Starter Pack^TM or the two-for-one deal on the turbans?"

[Neil Lisst]

20. The problem is ... He also wants to know if Al-Gore calls you.

I know it.
You know it.
And the American people know it.
--- quoting Bob Dole on another occasion about a different matter

[JuniperLea]

21. Knock knock knock

land shark

[OneTwentyoNine]

22. Me too Commander Dipshit---I'm on a NO call list!! n/t