"Mandela's dead because Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas."

Oh good gravy!!
Does this man not have anyone reading his speeches? [Nevermind -- seems he was up there answering questions, and apparently winging it at that: GWB Unplugged]

Somebody pinch me, because I swear I'm dreaming this stuff up:

Bush acknowledged Baghdad would not meet the goal he set last January for Iraq to take over security in all of its 18 provinces by November.

"Achieving those goals have been slower than we thought," Bush said. But he said the goals were still worth pursuing.

"Part of the reason why there's not this instant democracy in Iraq is because people are still recovering from Saddam Hussein's brutal rule," Bush said. "Sort of an interesting comment, I heard somebody say, `Where's Mandela?' Well, Mandela's dead because Saddam Hussein killed all the Mandelas."

It was a reference to the charismatic former leader of South Africa who helped reconcile his country after decades of racial division. Mandela is still alive.

The Hussein as Hitler meme might have worked to convince enough good-hearted but short-sighted people to originally support the invasion, but please. Stop it, already, Mr. President.
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"You know, I'm saddened."

Saddened, huh? Well, you know, over there, it sounds like, you know, they're starting to get rather ... how shall we say this in drawl-speak ... maddened:

President Bush on Thursday refused to criticize a U.S. security company in Iraq accused in a shooting that left 11 civilians dead, saying investigators need to determine if the guards violated rules governing their operations.

Bush said he expected Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would raise the shooting by agents of Blackwater USA when they meet next week at the U.N. General Assembly.

Al-Maliki has urged the U.S. Embassy to find another security firm to protect its diplomats, saying he cannot tolerate "the killing of our citizens in cold blood." He called the shootings a "crime" and said they had generated "widespread anger and hatred."

"Obviously, to the extent innocent life was lost, you know, I'm saddened," the president said at a wide-ranging news conference. "Our objective is to protect innocent life. And we've got a lot of brave souls in the theater working hard to protect innocent life."
...
In a telephone conversation on Monday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked al-Maliki to delay any initial action to the shooting and that any permanent measures be held up until all the facts were known, a senior State Department official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to provide details of the private discussion.

Maliki, however, insisted on taking a stronger line and warned that continued use of the contractors would further inflame tensions, the official said.

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"You know, fairness."

Bush spoke out for the first time about the case in Jena, La., in which six black teenagers were initially charged with attempted murder in the beating of a white classmate. He wouldn't comment on legal specifics. The case has attracted nationwide attention.

"The events in Louisiana have saddened* me," the president said. "I understand the emotions." He said the FBI is monitoring the situation, adding: "All of us in America want there to be, you know, fairness when it comes to justice."

Bush repeatedly refused to comment on reports that Israeli planes guided by ground forces attacked an installation — believed to be the beginnings of a nuclear project — in northern Syria on Sept. 6. Asked about whether North Korea was providing nuclear assistance to Syria, Bush said: "We expect them not to."

Please, please: just stock up on 15 months worth of provisions and get back in that bunker, Mr. President? It'll be easier for you, and less painful for the rest of us, and the late-night comedians surely can just work up their own original material, eh?
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* There's that "saddened" again. Do you think he's trying to tell us, you know, something along the lines of, "I share your pain?" Think anybody out there's still biting?

I'm starting to realize why so many, you know, former war enthusiasts -- cheerleader types even -- are suddenly turning to "reality" tv and following their sports more vividly.

Sometimes it's easier to just turn the channel and escape, than have to deal with the consequences of your actions and consider exactly what scenarios might play out in the future, and how we can adapt today.

Just Remember: that pricetag "goes up uP UP" every day that passes. And we thought the mortgage crisis has long-reaching tentacles... The poor kids coming up.

Ok, now I'm saddened.