"State of Denial" by Bob Woodward

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AEON said:

A book like this coming out just before the election?

The Republicans are doing a heckuva job of self-destructing. They don't need literature to help them along.
 
trevster2k said:
All writers who don't blindly and rabidly support conservative positions are not considered objective by conservatives. I think that's pretty straightforward. If you are against anything conservatives support, you are totally for the extreme opposite of the issue. Anti-death penalty means support freeing of murderers to society. Pro-choice means you want to kill babies. Anti-war means support terrorism. And so on.

Now Ann Coulter, Bill O ReillyFox News, Rush Limbaugh, they're objective. Except when/if they criticize Bush.

Are liberals any different?

Quoting Seymour Hersh to give credibility to Bob Woodward would be like me quoting William F. Buckley Jr. to give credibility to Robert Bork.
 
This book won't change anything. Bush supporters probably won't read it. If it was called "Bush : Leader of Men, Messanger of Democracy, Protector of Human Rights", I probably wouldn't read it. So I doubt it will cause any "damage", it's basically much ado about nothing. Although, it is impressive to see the Republican spin machine and handlers do their thing, they are awesome at it. Something the Democrats should learn about or hire away some of their people. Ya gotta fight fire with fire.
 
AEON said:


Are liberals any different?

Quoting Seymour Hersh to give credibility to Bob Woodward would be like me quoting William F. Buckley Jr. to give credibility to Robert Bork.

I agree with this analogy!!! LOL
 
trevster2k said:
This book won't change anything. Bush supporters probably won't read it. If it was called "Bush : Leader of Men, Messanger of Democracy, Protector of Human Rights", I probably wouldn't read it. So I doubt it will cause any "damage", it's basically much ado about nothing. Although, it is impressive to see the Republican spin machine and handlers do their thing, they are awesome at it. Something the Democrats should learn about or hire away some of their people. Ya gotta fight fire with fire.

As someone who was probably classisfied as a Bush supporter at one time in here....I have read the other books, and I will read this one probably over Thanksgiving.

Did you read the first two? Do you believe that Bush supporters are somehow not capable of being judicious? Did you as a Bush non-supporter read the other two, or chalk them up to propaganda?
 
trevster2k said:
Now Ann Coulter, Bill O Reilly, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, they're objective. Except when/if they criticize Bush.

O'Reilly is light years more objective than Coulter or Rush.
 
AEON said:


Are liberals any different?

Quoting Seymour Hersh to give credibility to Bob Woodward would be like me quoting William F. Buckley Jr. to give credibility to Robert Bork.

Fair enough, but in the context of his talk, during which he talked about, among many other things, how reporters get their information (which was very interesting) it carried a lot of weight. He was as critical of Clinton as he was of Bush, and he did not come off as some crazy left-winger but rather as an independent, thoughtful thinker. But whatever, sorry I mentioned it.
 
Dreadsox said:


As someone who was probably classisfied as a Bush supporter at one time in here....I have read the other books, and I will read this one probably over Thanksgiving.

Did you read the first two? Do you believe that Bush supporters are somehow not capable of being judicious? Did you as a Bush non-supporter read the other two, or chalk them up to propaganda?

Nope, actually Dread you are objective and you have posts worth reading. This isn't about being judicious. This is about going out dropping $ 20-30 bucks on a hardcover book which craps all over your guy. It's human nature, most people who dislike Bush won't go read a book which praises him and most who like Bush won't buy a book which condemns him. I'm sure the most ardent readers of Ann Coulter aren't liberal and same for Michael Moore, not too many conservatives read his stuff.

And I didn't read the previous two books by Bob Woodward not because they portrayed Bush in a semi-positive light. I just didn't read them along with all of the other books published about Bush, 9/11 and Iraq. There are enough books out there to create a section on the topic. Actually there is one I was considering purchasing, The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright. Have you read that one? This is why I don't think this book will affect anything, it's just a book with some revelations and views.

However, if it leads to more official revelations and consequences such as the 9/11 Commission wondering why a certain discussion revealed in the book is being denied to have happened and not being mentioned to the Commission. Well, perhaps it might have some impact. But generally, I don't think it will change a substantial number of positions toward the president.
 
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I think "State of Denial" will have a slight affect on the midterm elections. Woodward has no agenda one way or the other because his recent books have had a surprisingly positive portrayal of Bush. This is the most famous journalist living writing a damning critique of the administration. It will have an effect. I think what will have a more drastic effect however is the foley scandal. The fact that Dennis Hastert knew about the emails will kill the republicans chances. I think for a while there the republicans had a chance to hold onto both houses of congress but now I think they will lose both houses. The combination of woodward's book and the foley scandal will cause the democrats to gain power in washington and retake the congress....hopefully :wink:
 
^ I hope you are right but the Democrats are a toothless political party with no leadership and despite all the failings of the Bush administration have been unable to sway the electorate to dump the present administration. The Republican political machine is a Rolls Royce compared to the Ford Escort of the Democrats.

I would love to see a change in administration but the general US electorate is not as focused on events in the world as the kind of people who post on this board regardless of where you stand politically. It seems that democracies are now determined by the loudest sound bites.
 
I am watching Bob Woodward on Charlie Rose right now. Everytime Charlie asks him what he thinks or has concluded based on his information, he refuses to take the bait. He has too much integrity to show bias. I don't remember people coming down hard on Woodward for his first two books about Bush especially the first one which focused on his handling of the events and population of the US after 9/11 and showing a positive side of Bush as being decisive and assertive as a leader. Suddenly, Woodward is a biased reporter. "Attack the messenger", Rules of Empty Debate 101.
 
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trevster2k said:
[Bthe Democrats are a toothless political party [/B]

This is actually how I feel about the current Republican leadership...toothless. This latest Foley incident just might be the nail in the coffin of my party membership.

It is not that Foley simply made a mistake. I wouldn't judge the whole party by one man's actions. What really gets under my skin is that it seems most of the leaders knew about this and did nothing. It's so depressing. It seems so few people have the courage to do the right thing.

The Republicans do their song and dance for half the polulation...the Democrats do their song and dance for the other half. Both hope to pick up the few stragglers for a victory. After the cameras are gone - it seems they all go back to the same underground party.

I am going Independent
 
AEON said:


This is actually how I feel about the current Republican leadership...toothless. This latest Foley incident just might be the nail in the coffin of my party membership.

It is not that Foley simply made a mistake. I wouldn't judge the whole party by one man's actions. What really gets under my skin is that it seems most of the leaders knew about this and did nothing. It's so depressing. It seems so few people have the courage to do the right thing.

The Republicans do their song and dance for half the polulation...the Democrats do their song and dance for the other half. Both hope to pick up the few stragglers for a victory. After the cameras are gone - it seems they all go back to the same underground party.

I am going Independent



i think this gets at the real issue of the Foley case, and seems a very honest expression of frustration.
 
I am a long time Independent myself. I usually vote Democratic, but I've never been partisan and have voted for Republicans I thought could get the job done.
 
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