CNN does it again

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local...local-headlines

 

THE PRESIDENT: Well, first, I -- I appreciate societies in which people can express their opinion. That society -- free speech stands in stark contrast to Iraq.

 

Secondly, I've seen all kinds of protests since I've been the President. I remember the protests against trade. A lot of people didn't feel like free trade was good for the world. I completely disagree. I think free trade is good for both wealthy and impoverished nations. But that didn't change my opinion about trade. As a matter of fact, I went to the Congress to get trade promotion authority out.

 

I recognize there are people who -- who don't like war. I don't like war. I wish that Saddam Hussein had listened to the demands of the world and disarmed. That was my hope. That's why I first went to the United Nations to begin with, on September the 12th, 2002, to address this issue as forthrightly as I knew how. That's why, months later, we went to the Security Council to get another resolution, called 1441, which was unanimously approved by the Security Council, demanding that Saddam Hussein disarm.

 

I'm hopeful that he does disarm. But, in the name of peace and the security of our people, if he won't do so voluntarily, we will disarm him. And other nations will join him -- join us in disarming him.

 

And that creates a certain sense of anxiety; I understand that. Nobody likes war. The only thing I can do is assure the loved ones of those who wear our uniform that if we have to go to war, if war is upon us because Saddam Hussein has made that choice, we will have the best equipment available for our troops, the best plan available for victory, and we will respect innocent life in Iraq.

 

The risk of doing nothing, the risk of hoping that Saddam Hussein changes his mind and becomes a gentle soul, the risk that somehow -- that in action will make the world safer, is a risk I'm not willing to take for the American people.

 

We'll be there in a minute. King, John King. This is a scripted -- (laughter.)

 

Q: Thank you, Mr. President. How would -- sir, how would you answer your critics who say that they think this is somehow personal? As Senator Kennedy put it tonight, he said your fixation with Saddam Hussein is making the world a more dangerous place. And as you prepare the American people for the possibility of military conflict, could you share with us any of the scenarios your advisors have shared with you about worse-case scenarios, in terms of the potential cost of American lives, the potential cost to the American economy, and the potential risks of retaliatory terrorist strikes here at home?

 

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/03/06/bush.spee...ech.transcript/

 

BUSH: Well, first, I -- you know, I appreciate societies in which people can express their opinion. That society -- free speech stands in stark contrast to Iraq.

 

Secondly, I've seen all kinds of protests since I've been the president.

 

I remember the protests against trade. A lot of people didn't feel like free trade was good for the world. I completely disagree. I think free trade is good for both wealthy and impoverished nations. But that didn't change my opinion about trade. As a matter of fact, I went to the Congress to get trade promotion authority.

 

I recognize there are people who don't like war. I don't like war.

 

I wish that Saddam Hussein had listened to the demands of the world and disarmed. That was my hope.

 

That's why I first went to the United Nations to begin with on September the 12th, 2002, to address this issue as forthrightly as I knew how.

 

That's why, months later, we went to the Security Council to get another resolution, called 1441, which was unanimously approved by the Security Council demanding that Saddam Hussein disarm.

 

I'm hopeful that he does disarm.

 

But in the name of peace and the security of our people, if he won't do so voluntarily, we will disarm him, and other nations will join him -- join us in disarming him.

 

And that creates a certain sense of anxiety. I understand that. Nobody likes war.

 

The only thing I can do is assure the loved ones of those who wear our uniform that if we have to go to war, if war is upon us because Saddam Hussein has made that choice, we will have the best equipment available for our troops, the best plan available for victory, and we will respect innocent life in Iraq.

 

The risk of doing nothing, the risk of hoping that Saddam Hussein changes his mind and becomes a gentle soul, the risk that somehow inaction will make the world safer, is a risk I'm not willing to take for the American people.

 

QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President. Sir, how would you answer your critics who say that they think is somehow personal? As Senator Kennedy put it tonight, he said your fixation with Saddam Hussein is making the world a more dangerous place.

 

And as you prepare the American people for the possibility of military conflict, could you share with us any of the scenarios your advisers have shared with you about worst-case scenarios, in terms of the potential cost of American lives, the potential cost to the American economy and the potential risks of retaliatory terrorist strikes here at home?

 

This isn't proper is it? I didn't bother searching for other errors, but I am fairly certaint this was purposely removed because if you go to http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0303/06/se.04.html it says:

 

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

 

...and it includes the line.

 

So at some point they revised it and took the telling line out, I don't think its was done out of malice, but I do have paraniod thoughts that make me go, maybe.

[Guest DrTom]

Having watched the speech in question, it was obvious the President was delivering that line as a joke. Why it was ommited from a transcript, I have no idea, but I doubt something sinister is afoot.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

What joke? I didn't find anything funny there.

 

Bush said that the "interview" was a scripted event and that the journalist (Mr. King) wasn't allowed to ask his own spontaneous question. CNN then deleted the only line that documented this farce.

 

It also highlights how awful it is to have a head of state that can't do real press conferences because he would stumble over his own words if he had to actually formulate a response himself. Scripted conferences where a horde of professional PR-managers have hours in advance to prepare answers (and maybe even questions) are a joke, I guess.

[Guest Powerplay]

What joke? I didn't find anything funny there.

 

Bush said that the "interview" was a scripted event and that the journalist (Mr. King) wasn't allowed to ask his own spontaneous question. CNN then deleted the only line that documented this farce.

 

It also highlights how awful it is to have a head of state that can't do real press conferences because he would stumble over his own words if he had to actually formulate a response himself. Scripted conferences where a horde of professional PR-managers have hours in advance to prepare answers (and maybe even questions) are a joke, I guess.

Jobber... sarcasm? You are deleving far too deep into something that doesn't really have any meaning behind it...

[Guest B-X]

The Memory-Hole (a site dedicated to saving caches of controversal documents before they are deleted) has a section up about this. It's worth checking out.

 

http://www.thememoryhole.org/media/scripted-scrub.htm

[Guest Powerplay]

... Okay, from what I'm getting from this, Bush looked like he tried to make a joke, and some people thought he made a Freudian slip which he didn't notice (Which is why you see the change from "scripted" to "unscripted".) But really, why are you people making a big deal out of a media misinterpretation?

[Guest JMA]

But really, why are you people making a big deal out of a media misinterpretation?

It may NOT be a media misinterpretation.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

Eh.

 

Who cares? It just shows that Bush is such an abominal speaker, he even screws up when the whole thing is scripted.

 

No big revelation there, we already knew the guy wasn't sharpest stick in the bunch.

[Guest NoCalMike]

I think people are making the bigger deal out of the fact that Bush refuses to answer any questions that are not pre-screened and that have had ample time to be pre-answered.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

That's what I was alluding to, although horribly in my sleep deprived mind.

 

He's afraid he'll be uncovered (*GASP!!!*) as an idiot if he doesn't know the answer to the question very quickly (or if he rambles like hell, etc). That doesn't surprise me at all, and if I was his advisor, I'd sure as hell MAKE IT so that they didn't ask any random questions.

[Guest JMA]

Perhaps he should talk through Ari Fleisher at all times. It would keep him from looking like an ass.

[Guest B-X]

It would keep him from looking like an ass.

Lil' late for that, Tex.

[Guest DrTom]

Did any of you even watch the speech? ANY of you? Or did you just see this post and go, "OMG I H8 BUSH~!!1!!!! HE'S SO DUM HE HAS TO SCRIPT HIS CONFERENCES~! LOL2003~!!11!!!1!"

 

Jesus Christ. The reporter had stood up and thought he'd been recognized by the President, when in fact, Mr. Bush was still giving the previous answer. When he finished and acknowledged the reporter, he said the line in question, which was met with laughter in the press room.

 

Christ almighty, it was a fucking joke. Maybe it wasn't a good one, but it was still a joke. Of course, it's not surprising that you lot who love to kick Bush for any reason are talking up conspiracy theories about deliberate omission and bringing up his speaking skills. All it took was one person to start it up, and then the rest of the liberal flock came bleating into the fray.

 

Bah. You people make me sick sometimes.

[Guest Mikey2Dope]

This is exactly why I watch The Daily Show every night. They show the stuff that CNN is too afraid to show in hopes of keeping people from knowing that Bush is an idiot.

[Guest NoCalMike]

Of course, it's not surprising that you lot who love to kick Bush for any reason are talking up conspiracy theories about deliberate omission and bringing up his speaking skills.

No conspiracy really, Bush is literally a stumbling, bumbling fool. Ok, maybe that was a little harsh.

[Guest treble charged]

I find Bush's speeches humourous. He always looks lost when they're over (the one Monday night, for example, I just thought he looked funny the way he was staring into the camera). Also, everytime I watch him speak, I always picture Will Ferrel doing his Bush impression, so they always come off as a self-parody in my mind.

 

As for this, it's kind of hard to judge if Bush was being sarcastic by just reading the transcript, just as it's hard to judge sarcasm from posts on the board. It doesn't translate well into written words.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

Actually, yes, I did watch the speech and I really didn't care when he said the previous line.

 

I still don't care. It's a well known fact that reporters have to pre-submit their questions, and if they throw a different one in instead, they'll be excluded in all subsequent press conferences. I don't really see what the big deal is.

 

As far as the speaking goes, judging from the speech in question, it was by far his worst speech in several months.

[Guest JMA]

Did any of you even watch the speech? ANY of you? Or did you just see this post and go, "OMG I H8 BUSH~!!1!!!! HE'S SO DUM HE HAS TO SCRIPT HIS CONFERENCES~! LOL2003~!!11!!!1!"

 

You forgot "BAN PLZ~!"

 

Bah. You people make me sick sometimes.

 

It's nice to know the love is there.

 

[Guest JMA]

All it took was one person to start it up, and then the rest of the liberal flock came bleating into the fray.

What about the conservative flock? They do the same thing. Or are you going to let them off? You really shouldn't be complaining--liberals are the minority in this folder.

[Guest DrTom]

What about the conservative flock? They do the same thing. Or are you going to let them off?

In this thread, the only person I saw (besides myself) who wasn't jumping to conclusions and running the Olympic mile with the Bush hate was Powerplay. One other person doth hardly a flock make.

[Guest Tyler McClelland]

*throws hands up in dispair*

 

I've been no-sold.

[Guest JMA]

In this thread, the only person I saw (besides myself) who wasn't jumping to conclusions and running the Olympic mile with the Bush hate was Powerplay. One other person doth hardly a flock make.

I didn't mean this thread.

[Guest DrTom]

*throws hands up in dispair*

 

I've been no-sold.

<Undertaker>Get me some coffee, boy. </Undertaker>

 

Seriously, though, you pointed out what you yourself called a "well-known fact." What am I supposed to do, argue about it? The comment, IMO, didn't refer to the fact that the questions were pre-submitted; it referred to the fact that the reporter stood up to be acknowledged before Bush had finished answering someone else. People looking at the omission of a glib remark from a press conference transcript and attributing it to sinister motives simply because they dislike the President are just being thick-headed and grasping at straws.