Former President George W. Bush made an appearance Thursday evening to a crowd of about 2,500 people for a meeting of the Economic Club of Southwestern Michigan, held at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor.
CNN's Political Ticker reports on the meeting that did not allow any recording devices:
In his largest domestic speech since leaving the White House in January, Bush told an audience in southwestern Michigan that after the September 11 attacks, "I vowed to take whatever steps that were necessary to protect you."
Although he did not specifically allude to the high-profile debate over President Obama's decision to halt the use harsh interrogation techniques, and without referencing Cheney by name, Bush spoke in broad strokes about how he proceeded after the capture of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in March 2003.
"The first thing you do is ask, what's legal?" he said. "What do the lawyers say is possible? I made the decision, within the law, to get information so I can say to myself, 'I've done what it takes to do my duty to protect the American people.' I can tell you that the information we got saved lives."
Bush offered the disclaimer "Nothing I am saying is meant to criticize my successor," more than once during the evening as he responded to questions directly from the audience on topics ranging from the economy and TARP to his forthcoming book on his time in the White House. Although he received a standing ovation from the crowd, not everyone in attendance was a fan, as the Youtube video of Fox28's news report that follows will show.
From Fox28 News:
Not everyone at Lake Michigan College was there in support of the former president. A handful of protesters from "World Can't Wait dot org" held signs and demanded that President Obama release torture photos and documents. They also say they want President Bush and his administration prosecuted for war crimes.
"These people are war criminals and we're allowing him to speak at Michigan college and get paid $150,000. How does that make us feel in Michigan where we're loosing all of our jobs and he's getting paid $150,000 for a war criminal to speak?" asked Bush protester Bruce Fealk.
Protesters say they came today to face President Bush and hold him accountable for his actions. Their efforts are part of a group of protests happening this week across the nation. President Bush did address his dissenters by defending his decisions as president.
This was the former president's first appearance in Michigan since leaving office, and only his second public event in the United States since then. Bush's next stop is in Toronto, Canada on Friday where he will be joined by former President Bill Clinton for a joint speaking engagement.
The following Youtube video is from Fox28's news report that originally aired Thurs., May 28,2009:
--Diane Sweet
oh YES!!!!
The only thing better than Darth Rove and Darth Cheney driving down the GOP approval ratings is wheeling out (recently divorced) George W Bush!!
The trifecta of unpopular old white conservative men.
Awesome!!!
I will have to watch this speech, during his first four years Bush did not have ONE speech where he spoke more than 8 words in a row without stopping, stuttering or just generally making a fool out of himself. Condi's flashcard sessions in the Oval Office seemed to help a small bit during his 2nd term.
At this rate Obama is going to have enough senators and popularity in 2016 to change the constitution and run for 2 more terms!
Game over GOP, please keep rolling out the morons who stole your party, keep reminding the American people how lucky they are to have Obama.
ANY coverage of Bush speaking is worth billions in ad campaigns for the Democrats. Simply hearing his unsure "overconfident" stuttering tone compared to the master Orator that Obama is, is quite damning. MORE, lol.
Wondering if the GOP is trying to sink itself,
Star*Dagger
To be fair I would not call President Obama a master orator. Compared to governor bush he is; but if you listen to his speeches he has many a long pause, and an occasional stutter.
Sadly Bush hasn't learned a thing since leaving office. Still says Torture was legal simply because his carefully picked appointee Lawyers said it was.
At that point Torture was a Federal Capital Crime. IT Still Is.
Only Congress can make laws. Bush Lawyers certainly couldn't.
Why isn't he in a Federal Jail.
How can we pressure Obama to get a Special Prosecutor?
If you do nothing else for your Country today,
SIGN THE PETITION To Prosecute Them For Torture
http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
Over 250,000 have signed
Join them and call yourself a Patriot
.
They should not release any more torture photos, and Cheney and the rest of the media should shut the you know what up about the whole thing. Our policy should be clearly stated that we do not torture. Yes Bush, Cheney , Rumsfeld and other neocons are war criminals. But we have troops and other people in Muslim countries and this only puts them art risk.
The Bush Family of liars know all about 911, AIPAC, & the Federal Reserve.
All we need to get a full set of Sith cards is for Darth Rumsfeld and Darth Ashcroft to come out and open their ignorant pieholes.
I think it is not likely that Rumsfeld will say anything since he is a technical advisor for a PC game called "Left4Dead" that deal with a zombie invasion scenario, the developers wanted to hear from a real life Undead!
As far as Ashcroft, he was beaten in an election by a dead man for Senator from Missouri, and then Bush appointed him AG, mind boggling!
S*D
We executed Japanese soldiers for water-boarding US and British soldiers during WW2. Bush and Cheney deserve no less than an equal measure of American justice. Hang the criminals.
It does irritate the shit out of me that this guy is not behind bars. Or swinging from a rope.
As usual Bush had all the questions before the dinner.
What a goof!
BUSH’S “ENHANCED INTERROGATION” PROGRAM FAILED
Every time you hear a conservative repeat the canard that torture kept America safe, refer to this report as a handy rebuttal:
http://thinkprogress.org/why-enhanced-interrogation-failed/
TORTURE DOES NOT YIELD ACCURATE INTELLIGENCE
CONVINCING THE DUMBED-DOWN THAT WATERBOARDING IS ILLEGAL IS LIKE TRYING TO TEACH A LATTER DAY REPUBLICAN ABOUT EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY OR ECOLOGY
WATERBOARDING IS TORTURE
http://lawreview.wustl.edu/slip-opinions/waterboarding-is-illegal/
1. Torture Act
2. War Crimes Act
3. Prohibition on Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of Persons Under Custody or Control of the United States Government
4. Additional Prohibition on Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
"The United States has enacted statutes prohibiting torture and cruel or inhuman treatment. It is these statutes which make waterboarding illegal. The four principal statutes which Congress has adopted to implement the provisions of the foregoing treaties are the Torture Act, the War Crimes Act,and the laws entitled "Prohibition on Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of Persons Under Custody or Control of the United States Government" and "Additional Prohibition on Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment." The first two statutes are criminal laws while the latter two statutes extend civil rights to any person in the custody of the United States anywhere in the world."
Torture does not work. This has been proven. bush and cheney have always lied and continue to lie. Torture is NOT legal, never was, and the crimes against humanity bush and cheney committed should be prosecuted. They are also guilty of dragging our country down economically and respectfully. The longer they get away with this, the more our politicians show their corruption and arrogance. A majority of us Americans want our country back and that includes justice for those domestic terrorists in the bush administration.
WATERBOARDING IS TORTURE
http://lawreview.wustl.edu/slip-opinions/waterboarding-is-illegal/
1. Torture Act
2. War Crimes Act
3. Prohibition on Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of Persons Under Custody or Control of the United States Government
4. Additional Prohibition on Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
"The United States has enacted statutes prohibiting torture and cruel or inhuman treatment. It is these statutes which make waterboarding illegal. The four principal statutes which Congress has adopted to implement the provisions of the foregoing treaties are the Torture Act, the War Crimes Act,and the laws entitled "Prohibition on Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment of Persons Under Custody or Control of the United States Government" and "Additional Prohibition on Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment." The first two statutes are criminal laws while the latter two statutes extend civil rights to any person in the custody of the United States anywhere in the world."
The more they talk, the deeper they dig themselves into a hole.
GEORGE WASHINGTON DISAGREES WITH GEORGE W. BUSH
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1217-30.htm
"In 1776," wrote historian David Hackett Fischer in "Washington's Crossing," "American leaders believed it was not enough to win the war. They also had to win in a way that was consistent with the values of their society and the principles of their cause. One of their greatest achievements … was to manage the war in a manner that was true to the expanding humanitarian ideals of the American Revolution."
The fact that the patriots refused to abandon these principles, even in the dark times when the war seemed lost, when the enemy controlled our cities and our ragged army was barefoot and starving, credits the character of Washington and the founding fathers and puts to shame the conduct of America's present leadership.
Fischer writes that leaders in both the Continental Congress and the Continental Army resolved that the War of Independence would be conducted with a respect for human rights. This was all the more extraordinary because these courtesies were not reciprocated by King George's armies. Indeed, the British conducted a deliberate campaign of atrocities against American soldiers and civilians. While Americans extended quarter to combatants as a matter of right and treated their prisoners with humanity, British regulars and German mercenaries were threatened by their own officers with severe punishment if they showed mercy to a surrendering American soldier. Captured Americans were tortured, starved and cruelly maltreated aboard prison ships.
Washington decided to behave differently. After capturing 1,000 Hessians in the Battle of Trenton, he ordered that enemy prisoners be treated with the same rights for which our young nation was fighting. In an order covering prisoners taken in the Battle of Princeton, Washington wrote: "Treat them with humanity, and let them have no reason to Complain of our Copying the brutal example of the British Army in their treatment of our unfortunate brethren…. Provide everything necessary for them on the road."
Coming out of his hole from the ranch to re-fill the cash coffers is so transparent and shallow but it is clearly chimpy's style... bitching about this...mumbling about that..grumbling that he can't get a good burger...
Still stupid and still taking his talking points from cheney's lawyers this man is so boring that we should be asleep before even reading about his exploits...
WHY wasn't the US Marshall Service there to put the cuffs on him for being a war criminal???
does this ring a bell?
excerpted from "profile of a sociopath" at http://www.mcafee.cc/Bin/sb.html
THE MALIGNANT PERSONALITY:
These people are mentally ill and extremely dangerous! The following precautions will help to protect you from the destructive acts of which they are capable.
First, to recognize them, keep the following guidelines in mind.
(1) They are habitual liars. They seem incapable of either knowing or telling the truth about anything.
(2) They are egotistical to the point of narcissism. They really believe they are set apart from the rest of humanity by some special grace.
(3) They scapegoat; they are incapable of either having the insight or willingness to accept responsibility for anything they do. Whatever the problem, it is always someone else's fault.
(4) They are remorselessly vindictive when thwarted or exposed.
(5) Genuine religious, moral, or other values play no part in their lives. They have no empathy for others and are capable of violence. Under older psychological terminology, they fall into the category of psychopath or sociopath, but unlike the typical psychopath, their behavior is masked by a superficial social facade.
also from the same source as above
Other Related Qualities:
1. Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
2. Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
3. Authoritarian
4. Secretive
5. Paranoid
6. Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
7. Conventional appearance
8. Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
9. Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
10. Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
11. Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
12. Incapable of real human attachment to another
13. Unable to feel remorse or guilt
14. Extreme narcissism and grandiose
15. May state readily that their goal is to rule the world
(The above traits are based on the psychopathy checklists of H. Cleckley and R. Hare.)
NOTE: In the 1830's this disorder was called "moral insanity." By 1900 it was changed to "psychopathic personality." More recently it has been termed "antisocial personality disorder" in the DSM-III and DSM-IV. Some critics have complained that, in the attempt to rely only on 'objective' criteria, the DSM has broadened the concept to include too many individuals. The APD category includes people who commit illegal, immoral or self-serving acts for a variety of reasons and are not necessarily psychopaths.
The only thing better for America than Richard B. Cheney defending torture is George W. Bush defending torture. Defending torture is the surest means to create the political will for the DOJ and or Congress to initiate formal public legal investigations into the torturous policies of the Bush/Cheney administration/chamber of horrors.
Obama says torture is illegal, unsuccessful and unacceptable. Bush and Cheney say torture was legal, successful and necessary.
How can a sitting president do nothing while being accused of making our nation less safe because he believes torture is illegal, unsuccessful and unacceptable?
How can a professor of Constitutional Law allow these abuses of American justice and American principles continue to go unpunished? HOW?
$150K? Economic Club? "Our Future Depends on if People are Free"? Learn and Shout out the Conspiracy of 1937 of DuPont, Anslinger, Hearst turning Old Growth Forest into yellow journalistic newspaper pulp, introduction of monopolistic toxic patented polyesters, Chem Fed Cotton - "By 1916, USDA Bulletin 404 predicted that a decorticating and harvesting machine would be developed, and hemp would again be America’s largest agricultural industry." Let us Realize the Truth of our Past and Save Ourselves from these propagandizing Corporatist Tyrants who advocate Torture! The Emporer Wears No Clothes! http://jackherer.com/index.html
It just shows that you can fool some of the people all the time..
One hundred and fifty thousand dollars to the man that helped break America?
Sixty three trillion dollars in debt?
Bailing out the people who got us here in the first place?
Unending wars, lies and torture.
On and on it goes and where it stops...God help us.
I cannot believe people are not marching in the streets, maybe they will be when it starts to hit their own wallets...
I love America but it's complacency and ignorance is disgraceful and pathetic...maybe that's why they still give ol' George W standing ovations, their just to ignorant to know the truth and just don't care about the truth....
Looks like Bush took the bait. This is gonna get good when the Doofus-in-Chief is justifying the Cheney Administration's abuses of power.
I spent a summer working on my uncle's hobby farm(weekend farmer) in Benton Harbor Michigan in 1977. My parents sent me there to get me out of San Francisco for the summer so I wouldn't get in trouble. The one experience I came away with after being there is that a college eduction was a must in my life to better myself. I have never met so many ignorant, red neck and backwards people in my life. It was shocking and appalling to my 16 year psyche. Looking at those people standing in line reminded me of that experience and those I encountered. Another example of people not thinking of their best interests and being fooled by the rhetoric of the republican party.
The most important issue facing US voters today
is making our Politicians Obey US Federal Laws.
IF we can force them to do that, then we will have enough of our power as voters back to get them to do other things we want.
Politicians who refuse to enforce Federal Laws such as the US Law against Torture Will Never Get You Single Payer. Until we force them to enforce our laws single payer is doomed.
Read our Federal Torture Law http://tinyurl.com/besdd3
Would you support Torture after being forced to watch your wife or daughter being tortured?
If you do nothing else for your Country today,
SIGN THE PETITION To Prosecute Them For Torture
http://ANGRYVOTERS.ORG
Over 250,000 have signed
Join them and call yourself a Patriot
.
So in other words, Bush lied when he previously stated that they didn't torture anyone right? Can't believe a thing these people say.
[...] of money to fuel Nader’s campaign. Bush re-enters torture fray: Torture legal, saved lives http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/05/bush-re-enters-torture-fray-torture-legal-saved-lives/ Former President George W. Bush made an appearance Thursday evening to a crowd of about 2,500 [...]
[...] of money to fuel Nader’s campaign. Bush re-enters torture fray: Torture legal, saved lives http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/05/bush-re-enters-torture-fray-torture-legal-saved-lives/ Former President George W. Bush made an appearance Thursday evening to a crowd of about 2,500 [...]