IslandDog Very simple - Bush would not have made his say nothing address Tuesday night if support for the war was not going SOUTH very fast! Add the fact that Blair commented on the Downing Street memo's, which prove they do exist, and a picture of nonsupport is clear. Cheney says the insurgency is in the last gasp of existence and on the very same day the Secretary of Defense says it could take 12 years more to end the insurgency. Bush is clearly aware of the lack of support for his policies in Iraq, immigration, his Social Security solution and his continued deficit financing of the United States government.

This is still "your" opinion and not proof! Got any hard facts?

I can't think of one time in any kind of leadership training (whether military or civilian) where the concept that popularity is a sign of leadership was mentioned as anything but a joke.

Leadership is making choices, seeing what needs to be done to make those decisions happen, and doing it. In our form of government it is not the job of the president to do whatever he thinks will increase his poll numbers, it is his job to do what he thinks is right for the country.

Anything less is merely playing to cameras. That is the difference between an leader and a politician. We have enough politicians out there, let's applaud true leadership when we see it, not knock them down because of "all important" (yet completely useless) polls.

Him giving that address to bolster support for his position is the PROOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First, respect is earned. If you think Bush does not play to the cameras, explain his landing on the Abe Licnoln? Why did he give his address before the military? He is 100% on Camera and NOTHING else!!!!! His problem is that the public is beginning to see that he does NOT have the answers and will not seek other options to solve our problems.

Very simple - Bush would not have made his say nothing address Tuesday night if support for the war was not going SOUTH very fast!

You lefties complain when he doesn't speak, and now you complain when he does. Him making a "speech" does not prove what I asked.

Add the fact that Blair commented on the Downing Street memo's, which prove they do exist, and a picture of nonsupport is clear.

Once again col, no original documents, no proof of what they really say.

First, respect is earned. If you think Bush does not play to the cameras, explain his landing on the Abe Licnoln? Why did he give his address before the military? He is 100% on Camera and NOTHING else!!!!! His problem is that the public is beginning to see that he does NOT have the answers and will not seek other options to solve our problems.

Bush has the respect of the military. The military vote is one reason he was re-elected. The troops know what great things are happening in Iraq, while all you do is watch the MSM headlines.

Once again you are stating your opinions and your opinion on what the public thinks.

I didn't say he NEVER played to the camera, I said "anything less is MERELY playing to the camera". Yes, he did play to the camera on the U.S.S. Lincoln. He also did it, because he was able to. The biggest thing I remember about that photo op wasn't the big "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" banner that liars like to misrepresent so often. It also isn't the speech Prs. Bush gave (although it was among his best)...

What I remember most was the look on the faces of the sailors as the camera panned acrossed them. There were a few who were looking bored to tears, some even gave the president looks of derision. However, most had looks that showed they appreciated their commander in chief taking the time to come speak to them.

I don't know how many Pass & Review type dog and pony shows I've either stood in or helped put together. Standing in them and being in the background of the grandstand has taught me a few things.

One of them is, officers are somehow under the impression that the troops have any interest in being there. (special note: I've been to a total of 2 that the troops actually wanted to be there, both were for Changes of Command, for exemplary unit commanders. The rest were nothing but dog and pony shows to make the brass feel all self important.)

When Prs. Bush was speaking, most of the looks on the faces of the sailors were genuinely glad he was there. Another thing I remember was how he didn't leave to meet with the officers of the ship until he had shaken the hand of every sailor that wanted to shake his. They obviously weren't ordered to, as many didn't, but look how many did.... and he made time for each of them.

The fact that you don't recognise leadership when you see it, Colon Gene, doesn't suprise me in the least.

Hate double posts! ;~D

IslandDog

Acknowledgement by the British head of state is proof enough the Downing Street Memo's exist!

The Bush record stands. No military person who did what Bush did in 1972 can hold their head up. He violated the most BASIC issue of the military-- OBEY ORDERS AND REGULATIONS! Busg violated that most basic principal!

The Bush record stands. No military person who did what Bush did in 1972 can hold their head up. He violated the most BASIC issue of the military-- OBEY ORDERS AND REGULATIONS! Bush violated that most basic principal!

Yet, Colon Gene, he had enough points for a "good year", so he committed no crimes, he got an Honorable Discharge, and YOU of all people should know the regulations.

Once again, you trade your great accomplishments for political brownie points. What a pathetic trade.



Now, if you can think of anything that has anything whatsoever to do with TODAY, maybe your points would carry a bit more water.

The American people knew all this at the election, they elected him anyway. GET OVER YOUR PATHETIC LOSER SELF!!!

ParaTed2K

Wrong. Bush was a pilot in the Air Guard. In order to remain flight qualified, a flying office must attend twice as many drills than required for a "Good Retirement Year" When Bush did not attend drills during the second half of 1972 and did not take the required flight physical he was grounded. Thus, Bush was unable to fulfill the job he had in the Air Gurad - Fly high performance aircraft. He also missed a major training exercise that included his Air Guard unit in Oct 1972. What was Bush doing when he did not attend required drills? Runing a political campaign!

Acknowledgement by the British head of state is proof enough the Downing Street Memo's exist!

Sorry Klink, NO, it's NOT! Just "try" to get that to stand up in court. It ain't going to happen. Once "again"....No originals? NO PROOF!

Bush was a pilot in the Air Guard. In order to remain flight qualified, a flying office must attend twice as many drills than required for a "Good Retirement Year" When Bush did not attend drills during the second half of 1972 and did not take the required flight physical he was grounded.

Col

I blown that statement out of the water late last year or earlier this year. We had even pulled out his pay records to show that he did have a good year, even for retirement (i.e. there is no difference.) Do we have to dig up that old line/thread again?

Bush did nothing against regs., you just have a problem with him using the upon "Commander's discretion" clause.

Having a GOOD Retirement Year and maintaining flight status are two different things.During 1972, he did not attent drills in June-Oct, he attended in Nov and did not attend in Dec. He was unable to maintain the required flight hours and when he did not take a REQUIRED FLIGHT PHYSICAL he was grounded! He also missed a required alert training exercuse in October! Failure to take the flight physical violated Air Force regs. In fact there is a required formal written report required when ever a pilot is grounded for not taking the flight physical. Some how that report is missing from the over 400 other pages of the Bush records released by DoD!