Uh-hunh.
Yesterday in a press appearence with Tony Blair, El Jefe actually admitted to some regrets and errors relating to Iraq. And, while my initial reaction is to be grateful for at least some small glimmer through a crack in the Bush Infallibility Screen, I have to think it wasn't much. In fact, while I'd like to offer the President positive reinforcement, I'm afraid I just can't.
Here's what was said:
If people received the wrong signal, it wasn't because of misinterpretation. It was because he sent the wrong signal. There just aren't many ways to interpret "bring it on" and "dead or alive." President Bush quite intentionally talked like a 'tough guy' and a sheriff from the Wild West. It wasn't some kind of stylistic error in expressing himself, that was how he wanted to appear. It was an error in the message he wanted to express, not the method of expression. It wasn't the unsophisticated manner of his speaking, it was the unsophisticated manner of his thinking about the world that was the problem.
And what has he learned from it? Only what he should have learned in the schoolyard, that people often will take a dare, and that bullies need to be able to back up their boasts, or they lose all credibility. Important lessons, it's true, but for a 10-year-old. That a President should be learning them finally in his second term is pathetic, and an unacceptable amount of on-the-job training.
Still, if it seemed like he believed it, it would be something. But watching him say it leaves those of us familiar with sophisticated speech unconvinced. The huge smirk after he delivered his remarks sort of gives it away.
Don't think for a minute that he's serious that he realizes that he needs to think and act, not merely speak, in a more sophisticated manner. He and Karl may have figured out a new "humility" posture as a pose to pump up his poll numbers, but there is no sign that the administration is actually increasing sophistication in policy. Or even really in rhetoric. The rejection of the recent overtures from Iran has quite a familiar ring to it.
And so does the "Let's see what we can put over on these rubes" quality behind yesterday's 'regrets.'
Here's what was said:
Q Mr. President, you spoke about missteps and mistakes in Iraq. Could I ask both of you which missteps and mistakes of your own you most regret?Certain parts of the world? Misinterpreted? Are you kidding me?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Sounds like kind of a familiar refrain here -- saying "bring it on," kind of tough talk, you know, that sent the wrong signal to people. I learned some lessons about expressing myself maybe in a little more sophisticated manner -- you know, "wanted dead or alive," that kind of talk. I think in certain parts of the world it was misinterpreted, and so I learned from that.
If people received the wrong signal, it wasn't because of misinterpretation. It was because he sent the wrong signal. There just aren't many ways to interpret "bring it on" and "dead or alive." President Bush quite intentionally talked like a 'tough guy' and a sheriff from the Wild West. It wasn't some kind of stylistic error in expressing himself, that was how he wanted to appear. It was an error in the message he wanted to express, not the method of expression. It wasn't the unsophisticated manner of his speaking, it was the unsophisticated manner of his thinking about the world that was the problem.
And what has he learned from it? Only what he should have learned in the schoolyard, that people often will take a dare, and that bullies need to be able to back up their boasts, or they lose all credibility. Important lessons, it's true, but for a 10-year-old. That a President should be learning them finally in his second term is pathetic, and an unacceptable amount of on-the-job training.
Still, if it seemed like he believed it, it would be something. But watching him say it leaves those of us familiar with sophisticated speech unconvinced. The huge smirk after he delivered his remarks sort of gives it away.
Don't think for a minute that he's serious that he realizes that he needs to think and act, not merely speak, in a more sophisticated manner. He and Karl may have figured out a new "humility" posture as a pose to pump up his poll numbers, but there is no sign that the administration is actually increasing sophistication in policy. Or even really in rhetoric. The rejection of the recent overtures from Iran has quite a familiar ring to it.
And so does the "Let's see what we can put over on these rubes" quality behind yesterday's 'regrets.'
posted by Paul at 1:40 PM |
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