Bush links terror war to U.S. independence war

[maddezmom]

MOUNT VERNON, Va., Feb 19 (Reuters) - President George W. Bush linked the U.S.-led war on terrorism on Monday to the country's struggle for independence led by George Washington more than 200 hundred years ago.

~snip~

Standing before the Mount Vernon mansion and sharing the stage with an actor dressed as Gen. George Washington, Bush said Washington's Revolutionary War leadership inspired generations of Americans "to stand for freedom in their own time."

"Today, we're fighting a new war to defend our liberty and our people and our way of life. And as we work to advance the cause of freedom around the world, we remember that the father of our country believed that the freedoms we secured in our revolution were not meant for Americans alone," Bush said.

"He once wrote, 'My best wishes are irresistibly excited whensoever in any country I see an oppressed nation unfurl the banners of freedom,'" Bush said.

more: http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N19421480.htm

from the transcript:

George Washington's long struggle for freedom has also inspired generations of Americans to stand for freedom in their own time. Today, we're fighting a new war to defend our liberty and our people and our way of life. And as we work to advance the cause of freedom around the world, we remember that the father of our country believed that the freedoms we secured in our revolution were not meant for Americans alone. He once wrote, "My best wishes are irresistibly excited whensoever in any country I see an oppressed nation unfurl the banners of freedom."

President Washington believed that the success of our democracy would also depend on the virtue of our citizens. In his farewell address to the American people, he said, "Morality is a necessary spring of popular government." Over the centuries, America has succeeded because we have always tried to maintain the decency and the honor of our first President.

His example guided us in his time; it guides us in our time, and it will guide us for all time. Thank you for coming, and may God bless. (Applause.)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20070219/pl_usnw/remarks_by_president_bush_in_honor_of_president_george_washington_s275th_birthday

[grytpype]

1. HOW THE HELL are we defending our freedom, liberty, and way of life in Iraq?

I know I'm preaching to the choir here... but WTF?

[Deja Q]

7. We're giving all that to India, which is our 52nd state, you know...

China must be our 51st...

:shrug:

I have no idea. Either he's insane, I'm insane, you're insane, we're all insane, or something good is soon going to happen with all those times we were told "Have faith" finally paying off and his popularity will go back up to 99.7% once again. :shrug:

[Fire Walk With Me]

63. It's sarcasm, mockery, and asshole-speak for "fuck you".

No insanity involved. Insanity would be preferable to assholes of the size, running down the nation, getting ass on everything.

[screembloodymurder]

58. We are defending a way of life.

A life of excess. A life of consumption rather than conservation.

[iconoclastic cat]

2. Holy fuck, he's gone insane. nt

[rock]

4. It was a short trip

a very short trip.

[iconoclastic cat]

13. No, that's seriously fucking nuts. nt

[maddezmom]

25. agree, he has lost the plot

I just reread the transcript, he has more in common with King George III not George Washington. :argh:

[screembloodymurder]

59. Yes, he has.

He's responsible for the total perversion of our principles.

[Deja Q]

3. Holy Boston Tea Party... anybody remember what that was about?

Something about unfair taxes, unfair prices, being oppressed by those who ruled...

[no_hypocrisy]

9. Buncha colonialist terrorists destroying private property.

One man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist. Everything is relative.

[Mrs. Overall]

15. Yes, Let Us Throw All Of Our Copies Of "Gilgamesh" Into Boston Harbor!

[reprobate]

47. No, Sir. They'll only get my copy of Gilgamesh by prying it outa my cold dead hands.

Same for my copy of the Constitution.

I've been telling everyone for six years that this stupid monkey is insane. I don't have to say it anymore. He exudes psychoses from every pore. One can only hope that the recurring facial skin problems are not melanomas. It takes too long. We have only twenty one months before the election. He MUST be gone before then.

Are you listening Mr. Conyers?

[saigon68]

56. this stupid monkey is insane (He's actually BAT SHIT CRAZY)

Good point :-) He's truly "Out to Lunch"

[donkeyotay]

46. Wasn't there something about not suffering despots gladly?

"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,--That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or to abolish it ... mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government..."

Letting a bunch of oil and defense wingnuts, who are not only corrupt but incompetent, destroy our country while representing only their narrow profit interests, even to the extent of rigging our votes, seems like an attempt to place us under absolute Despotism. We're just along for the ride, hoping king george doesn't up the catastrophe ante in an attempt to avoid the realization that history is not going to place him along side George Washington. george, you're a crook and a fuck up. Please face up to it before you consign the country you hijacked to permanent war.

[SpiralHawk]

5. Put down that kool aid, Commander AWOL

Because you are seriously deranged to describe your Oil & Muntions Profits Crusade in these terms.

[Rambis]

6. WTF happened to we are not nation builders!

"I don't think US troops should be used as nation builders"
GWB
We are not defending freedom that is a bunch of shit we are occupiers getting blown to fucking bits!

[Deja Q]

8. But 9/11 changed all that!

Right... we should have improved our nation's defenses and borders and ports... not selling them off.

But apparently, the economy is a totally separate entity from every other aspect of national defense.

:shrug:

[Rambis]

10. Shite!

I always forget that! Never mind:)

[POAS]

11. What if the French

had invaded Boston and declared they were here to liberate America and bring French style liberty to you.

Would they have been anymore welcome than the Brits?

[pretzel4gore]

12. the Spawn of Wimpy

strikes again!
:rofl:

[global1]

14. Come On - Now He's Trying To Compare Himself To George.....

Washington. Right.

[theoldman]

16. This coming from a guy who never read a history book in

his entire life. Worse yet, his speech writer is even dumber. Lord help us.

[IndianaGreen]

38. The Bible is the only valid history book in Bush's mind

after all, what can we expect from a man that referred to Jesus as the most important philosopher in history. How many books and treatises did Jesus write?

[rodeodance]

17. Jr delights in thinking he is a GREAT pres!

[BootinUp]

18. Why not use the example of the crusades George? n/t

[MadMaddie]

51. He did already...remember

"This is a crusade against radical Islam" he just didn't use the word Christian...but it was implied..

[w4rma]

19. He's moonbat crazy. He just tosses BS and hopes something sticks. He could care less about the

welfare of our soldiers, the Iraqis or the average American. He's only interested in trying to perpetuate the neo-con con.

[FiveGoodMen]

45. I agree that he's nuts. But I don't think he's writing his own material.

[itsmesgd]

20. If he really wants to see what an American Independece movement looks like

he needs to keep doing exactly what he is doing. We rebelled against a mad King George who was power hungry and refused to acknowledge our political existence and used us simply for our resources. If he should stepup the escalation of this war, launch another illegal war complete with nukes, and eventually end up declaring martial law here, he might see what another American Independence movement looks like.

[Hand]

21. Well, as we used to say during the Nam war...

"It's just like the revolution--except we're the redcoats." :grr:

[samq79]

22. Just when I think he cannot sink any lower

He digs another sub-basement!!!

[Guaranteed]

23. "Whensoever"?

What the hell is that?

[Warren Stupidity]

24. Bush Compares Revolutionary, Terror Wars

"On the field of battle, Washington's forces were facing a mighty empire, and the odds against them were overwhelming. The ragged Continental Army lost more battles than it won, suffered waves of desertions, and stood on the brink of disaster many times. Yet George Washington's calm hand and determination kept the cause of independence and the principles of our Declaration alive," Bush said on a clear but frigid day, speaking to several hundred people.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/19/AR2007021900442.html

Ragged, lost more battles than it won, facing a mighty empire - hey wait a second that description fits the insurgents in Iraq, not us. The irony I'm sure is lost on Dumbass.

[Fresh_Start]

26. They both have Americans extremely angry at King George

And King George did very bad things to the Americans.

Other than that, not a whole lot in common.

[Doctor_J]

27. Yes. Until Shock and Awe we were under the rule of King Saddam

:crazy:

It's a damn good thing only about 5 Americans listen to the fool any more.

[yardwork]

28. He has a point.

The Iraqis probably do feel that they are fighting a revolution to throw an oppressive dictatorship out of their country.

Oh - that wasn't what King George meant?

[MisterP]

29. remember how Ronnie Poo-Pants equated the Contra butchers to the Founding Fathers?

[Solly Mack]

30. All that is so wrong - inaccurate & fallacious - on so many levels

where to begin....

[IndianaGreen]

34. It takes a minimal level of intelligence to draw an analogy

obviously Bush's brain is so damaged by alcohol and cocaine abuse, and irrational religious fervor, that he cannot even formulate a coherent thought, much less draw any sort of analogy.

[madrchsod]

31. he really doesn`t have a clue

about what he said does he....

[IndianaGreen]

36. Obviously Bush did not heed Washington's warning about foreign entanglements

and he is not only clueless, but he should submit to a psychological evaluation. Bush's brain is totally fried!

[sakabatou]

32. My head!

It hurts so much!!

[pinniped]

33. I think monkeyboy tried this one before.

Of course, jerkoff's 30% base possess short memory spans, which allows this jerkoff to keep pulling the same BS lines over and over.

[PittPoliSci]

35. Washington has nothing in common with Bush.

The very comparison enrages me beyond belief.

[meegbear]

37. Bush links terror war to U.S. independence war ...

and America sighs, shakes head in disbelief and rolls eyes. Film at 11.

[Jack Rabbit]

39. This is my way of relating Bush to the American Revolution:

DOWN WITH KING GEORGE AND HIS IMPERIAL COURT!!



Portrait of King George from VoltaireNet.org

[bamacrat]

40. Yes and now we get to be the British.

What a giant douche.

[lumpy]

41. Bush the Supreme Joker :

"I feel right at home here. After all, this is the home of the first George W. I thank President Washington for welcoming us today. He doesn't look a day over 275 years old," Bush said to laughter

[TexasLawyer]

42. Here's a picture of Georgie-boy today

with a somewhat more successful prior George.


President Bush is pictured with Gen. George Washington,
played by actor Dean Malissa, after Bush spoke on the
275th anniversary of George Washington's birthday at his
estate in Mount Vernon, Va., Monday, Feb. 19, 2007.
(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/02/19/bush_compares_revolutionary_terror_wars/

[Trillo]

43. I'll take a different approach:

"President Washington believed that the success of our democracy would also depend on the virtue of our citizens."

Then reward 'human' honesty and integrity, instead of the lying cheats that have been enabled by the corporatist beast that only seem to practice "money trumps peace".

When Washington made the statement, "Morality is a necessary spring of popular government", corporations didn't have "personhood", their charters were strictly limited and regulated.

[paparush]

44. "..and our way of life" TRANSLATED = Exploiting and murdering the poor

so fat, rich, white men can get fatter and richer.

[BadgerKid]

48. History. Doomed. Repeat. n/t

[superconnected]

49. There is no end to that mans ignorance.

[AnOhioan]

50. Give me a friggin break.....

* is full of shit. Everytime he opens his trap he offends me even more.

[Up2Late]

52. On the Bright side, I LOVE the way this article is written!

To me, it's written as "Bush Said..." as in, he expressing his own crazy opinion's which do not correspond with what most Americans feel. Definitely an improvement over the crap that the AP try to push on us.

[Canuckistanian]

53. What "terror war"?

If he means Iraq, he's dead wrong. The "terrorists" are comfortably ensconced in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

The closest thing to a real "terror war" is in Afghanistan. And I don't see much US effort there.

[daleo]

54. Orwellian reasoning

Washington was trying to win independence from one of the strongest imperialist powers of his time. Bush is imposing American will on foreign countries. No comparison.

[wageslave71]

55. Does he live in a Bizarro World or something?

where everything is the inverse of reality?

The only thing scarier is how many Americans still might agree with him.

[Massachusetts]

57. True!

[BigDDem]

60. Hey, why not?

He linked Iraq to 9/11 and about 70% of the people signed on.

[raccoon]

61. Well, one similarity is there was a mad George then and there is now. nt

[Fire Walk With Me]

62. I liken Bush more to Kinsky in "Aguirre".

http://www.amazon.com/Aguirre-Wrath-God-Klaus-Kinski/dp/6305972761

"A few decades after the destruction of the Inca empire, a Spanish expedition leaves the mountains of Peru and goes down the Amazon river in search of gold and wealth. Soon, they come across great difficulties and Don Aguirres, a ruthless man who cares only about riches, becomes their leader. But will his quest lead them to "the golden city", or to certain destruction?"

[EndElectoral]

64. The man should read Washington's Farewell Address (excerpt below)

"Observe good faith and justice towards all Nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all."

"...nothing is more essential, than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular Nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The Nation, which indulges towards another an habitual hatred, or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest. Antipathy in one nation against another disposes each more readily to offer insult and injury."

"As avenues to foreign influence in innumerable ways, such attachments are particularly alarming to the truly enlightened and independent Patriot. How many opportunities do they afford to tamper with domestic factions, to practise the arts of seduction, to mislead public opinion, to influence or awe the Public Councils! Such an attachment of a small or weak, towards a great and powerful nation, dooms the former to be the satellite of the latter. "

"Excessive partiality for one foreign nation, and excessive dislike of another, cause those whom they actuate to see danger only on one side, and serve to veil and even second the arts of influence on the other. Real patriots, who may resist the intrigues of the favorite, are liable to become suspected and odious; while its tools and dupes usurp the applause and confidence of the people, to surrender their interests. "

"The great rule of conduct for us, in regard to foreign nations, is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connexion as possible. So far as we have already formed engagements, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop.'

"Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence, therefore, it must be unwise in us to implicate ourselves, by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships or enmities. "

"Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course. If we remain one people, under an efficient government, the period is not far off, when we may defy material injury from external annoyance; when we may take such an attitude as will cause the neutrality, we may at any time resolve upon, to be scrupulously respected; when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel. "

"Why forego the advantages of so peculiar a situation? Why quit our own to stand upon foreign ground? Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of European ambition, rivalship, interest, humor, or caprice?"

"It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world..."

Taking care always to keep ourselves, by suitable establishments, on a respectable defensive posture, we may safely trust to temporary alliances for extraordinary emergencies.

....

So much for Washington on "pr-emptive" liberty for foregin nations. Why does GW misconstrue so much on Mount Vernon ground?

[donkeyotay]

65. 2 peas in a pod these 2 Georges. Other than the fact that one was

a thoughtful patriot and the other a propaganda catapultor, you could hardly tell them apart. But I'll go out on a limb here and suggest that George would not have approved of either the current GOPer party with its international intrigues and abuse of defense or of the "unitary" executive, the Decider.

http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/farewell/text.html

9 The unity of Government, which constitutes you one people, is also now dear to you. It is justly so; for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very Liberty, which you so highly prize. But as it is easy to foresee, that, from different causes and from different quarters, much pains will be taken, many artifices employed, to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth; as this is the point in your political fortress against which the batteries of internal and external enemies will be most constantly and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) directed, it is of infinite moment, that you should properly estimate the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness; that you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable attachment to it; accustoming yourselves to think and speak of it as of the Palladium of your political safety and prosperity; watching for its preservation with jealous anxiety; discountenancing whatever may suggest even a suspicion, that it can in any event be abandoned; and indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts.



13. Hence, likewise, they will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of government, are inauspicious to liberty, and which are to be regarded as particularly hostile to Republican Liberty.

17 All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.

18 However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion.

22 The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.

23 Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind, (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight,) the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.

24 It serves always to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration. It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

25 There is an opinion, that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the Government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And, there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.

26 It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country should inspire caution, in those intrusted with its administration, to confine themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositories, and constituting each the Guardian of the Public Weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern; some of them in our country and under our own eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the way, which the constitution designates. But let there be no change by usurpation; for, though this, in one instance, may be the instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any partial or transient benefit, which the use can at any time yield.

[Supersedeas]

66. thinks himself a scholar too