| Bush is well known for his own set of "flip-flops." |
| Bush said obligingly in May 2001, "We will not take any action that makes California's problems worse, and that's why I oppose price caps." Bush eventually changed course, as he so often does, which adds such special piquancy to his campaign against John Kerry for "flip-flopping." Source: "Can the PR -- get the facts -- On Enron tapes and the Lynching of Pat Tillman" by Molly Ivins - 6/3/04 Bush's military commanders famously promised to storm Falijua and capture or kill those responsible for the murder/mutilation of 4 American mercenaries in Iraq. A few weeks later they left without solving the crime. Left to run things in their place was one of Saddam Hussein’s former generals. Bush's military commanders also famously promised to capture or kill Sadr, the firebrand Islamic preacher who has spoken out against the American occupation. A few weeks later they cut a deal with him that allowed him to slip between the cracks. Bush initially resisted the creation of a Homeland Security department, but later recanted and joined the bandwagon. Bush fought the creation of a 9/11 commission. When the commission became inevitable, he attempted to appoint Henry Kissinger as its commissioner. When this proved unviable, he recanted and agreed to work with and testify before the commission. Bush originally embraced steel tariffs, but later came out against them. In September 2001, Bush said capturing bin Laden was “our number one priority.” By March 2002, he was claiming, “I don’t know where he is. I have no idea and I really don’t care. It’s not that important.” In October 2001, he was dead-set against the need for a Department of Homeland Security. Seven months later, he thought it was a great idea. In May 2002, he opposed the creation of the 9/11 Commission. Four months later, he supported it. During the 2000 campaign, he said that gay marriage was a states’ rights issue: “The states can do what they want to do.” During the 2004 campaign, he called for a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Dizzy yet? No? OK: Bush supported CO2 caps, then opposed them. He opposed trade tariffs, then he didn’t. Then he did again. He was against nation building, then he was OK with it. We’d found WMD, then we hadn’t. Saddam was linked to Osama, then he wasn’t. Then he was … sorta. Chalabi was in, then he was out. Way out. In fact, Bush’s entire Iraq misadventure has been one big costly, deadly flip-flop: We didn’t need more troops, then we did. We didn’t need more money, then we did. Preemption was a great idea — on to Syria, Iran and North Korea! Then it wasn’t — hello, diplomacy! Baathists were the bad guys, then Baathists were our buds. We didn’t need the U.N., then we did. And all this from a man who, once upon a time, made “credibility” a key to his appeal. In September 2001, Bush said capturing bin Laden was “our number one priority.” By March 2002, he was claiming, “I don’t know where he is. I have no idea and I really don’t care. It’s not that important.” In October 2001, he was dead-set against the need for a Department of Homeland Security. Seven months later, he thought it was a great idea. In May 2002, he opposed the creation of the 9/11 Commission. Four months later, he supported it. During the 2000 campaign, he said that gay marriage was a states’ rights issue: “The states can do what they want to do.” During the 2004 campaign, he called for a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Dizzy yet? No? OK: Bush supported CO2 caps, then opposed them. He opposed trade tariffs, then he didn’t. Then he did again. He was against nation building, then he was OK with it. We’d found WMD, then we hadn’t. Saddam was linked to Osama, then he wasn’t. Then he was … sorta. Chalabi was in, then he was out. Way out. In fact, Bush’s entire Iraq misadventure has been one big costly, deadly flip-flop: We didn’t need more troops, then we did. We didn’t need more money, then we did. Preemption was a great idea — on to Syria, Iran and North Korea! Then it wasn’t — hello, diplomacy! Baathists were the bad guys, then Baathists were our buds. We didn’t need the U.N., then we did. And all this from a man who, once upon a time, made “credibility” a key to his appeal. Source: "George W. Bush: Presidential or Pathological?" by Arianna Huffington - July 13, 2004 Could you imagine if President Bush were guilty of flip-flopping? The president would have been opposed to campaign finance reform and then supported it. The president would have been against a Homeland Security Department and then supported it. The president would have been against a 9/11 Commission and then supported it. The president would have been against nation-building during the presidential campaign, and then not only supported it, but made it a key component in his reelection pitch. The president would have taken the position that it was up to the states to decide on gay marriage, and then changed his position by advocating a federal constitutional amendment that would prohibit same-sex matrimony. The president could have claimed that he was the "education president," and then failed to fully fund key education programs. The president could have been an advocate for fingerprinting and photographing Mexicans who enter the U.S., then met with Mexican President Fox and decided against it. The president would have been opposed to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice testifying in front of the 9/11 Commission citing "separation of powers," then later decided he was for her testifying. Suppose the president supported free trade, then, because of Pennsylvania's 21 electoral votes, supported tariffs on steel, then opposed the tariffs, and was now back to supporting free trade? What if the president was against Iraq's Ba'ath party members holding office or government jobs in Iraq, then changed his mind? Imagine if the president said we must not appease terrorists, then lifted trade sanctions on Pakistan, which pardoned its official who sold nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and North Korea? If Bush administration officials had said that the Geneva Conventions don't apply to "enemy combatants," and now claimed they do, would that be considered a flip-flop? What if the president had made the following two quotes? "The most important thing is for us to find Osama Bin Laden. It is our No. 1 priority and we will not rest until we find him." -- George W. Bush, Sept. 13, 2001. "I don't know where he is. I have no idea, and I really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." -- George W. Bush, March 13, 2002. Source: Byron Williams - byronspeaks.com - 09.20.04 |
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