Just How Stupid Are NewsMax Readers?

Very stupid, if they believe crap like this:

Despite media coverage purporting to show that escalating violence in Iraq has the country spiraling out of control, civilian death statistics complied by Rep. Steve King, R-IA, indicate that Iraq actually has a lower civilian violent death rate than Washington, D.C.

Note how he’s comparing the city of Washington D.C. to the entire country of Iraq.  Not Baghdad, not Tikrit, not Fallujah, but the entire fucking country of Iraq.

I think this handy-dandy diagram capably illustrates King’s methodology:

Appearing with Westwood One radio host Monica Crowley on Saturday, King said that the incessantly negative coverage of the Iraq war prompted him to research the actual death numbers.

“I began to ask myself the question, if you were a civilian in Iraq, how could you tolerate that level of violence,” he said. “What really is the level of violence?”

Using Pentagon statistics cross-checked with independent research, King said he came up with an annualized Iraqi civilian death rate of 27.51 per 100,000.

While that number sounds high – astonishingly, the Iowa Republican discovered that it’s significantly lower than a number of major American cities, including the nation’s capital.

“It’s 45 violent deaths per 100,000 in Washington, D.C.,” King told Crowley.

Let’s compare apples to apples, shall we?

According to the Brookings Institute, the annualized murder rate for Baghdad last year was 95 per 100,000 people.  Brookings notes that these numbers may be low, since “many murder victims are never taken to the morgue.”

Let me also add that a violent death rate of 27 per 100,000 people for an entire country is incredibly bloody high.  Just for comparison, the murder rate for all of America in 2004 was 5.5 per 100,000.  Now, that isn’t the same as a violent death rate, but it’s safe to say that our violent death rate doesn’t come anywhere near 27 per 100,000, since we don’t have to deal with multiple car bombings on a near-daily basis.

 

Comments: 53

 
 
 

Let me also add that a violent death rate of 27 per 100,000 people for an entire country is incredibly bloody high. Just for comparison, the murder rate for all of America in 2004 was 5.5 per 100,000. Now, that isn’t the same as a violent death rate, but it’s safe to say that our violent death rate doesn’t come anywhere near 27 per 100,000, since we don’t have to deal with multiple car bombings on a near-daily basis.

Sorry Brad, but the fact is that if the MSN wasn’t reporting those car bombs, the violent death rate would be much lower. Similarly the 45 per 100,000 violent deaths in Washington DC is clearly the result of the radical left’s campaigns against the second ammendment and a demonstration that yet again Clinton failed to show real leadership in office because he was spending too much time staining dresses instead of tackling the real issues like gay marriage, illegal immigration and flag burning.

 
Worst. President. Ever.
 

And don’t forget Poland, either.

 
 

Mark Twain would have had fine sport with this.

So we’ve turned Iraq into one giant clusterfuckable inner city? Superb. Is it time for a little White Flight back to our leafy ‘burb?

 
 

Well, it’s obvious that the mayor of Iraq is less brown than the mayor of D.C.

 
 

Since Iraq has a population of 28.8 million at 27.51 per hundred thousand that leads to 7923 violent deaths per year.

To put in in perspective if the US had the same violent death rate, with a population of about 298 million, there would be 82 034 people killed in violent deaths per year. The US murder rate is about 16 401 people per year. So Iraq (with a population a tenth the size of the US) has at half as many violent deaths as America has murders (and the US Murder rate isn’t exactly something worth chearing about).

I love actually crunching the numbers and seeing what they reflect instead of going “oh gee, that violence looks terrible but gosh darn it, it ain’t THAT bad…”

 
 

Coincidently, the death rate in McDonaldland is also 45 per 100,000. I blame (the very brown) Mayor McCheese. Didn’t he say he was going to get the Hamburglar “dead or alive”?

 
 

Well, you could argue that, because it’s a rate, it should remain constant no matter how large the population.

You *could* argue that, but then I’d have to hunt you down and kill you.

 
 

I was about to argue that very thing, then I remembered the concept called “scale”. All I had left was that Hamburglar crack.

 
 

Remember when Barney Fife went nuts and shot up the post office? The violent death rate in Mayberry soared. Much safer to be in Iraq.

 
 

Out of nothing but lefty curiosity, does the “violent death” rate include people who are accidentally burned to death in industrial accidents, for example? How about the ones dismembered in industrial accidents?

Personally, I kinda think our on-the-job death stats should be counted toward our crime rate, though I know they never are. But that “violent death” thing is kind of ambiguous.

 
 

I bet their rate of “good news” compares unfavorably to ours as well. And ours is beginning to suck ‘nads!

 
IncongruousAmoeba
 

“I began to ask myself the question, if you were a civilian in Iraq, how could you tolerate that level of violence,� he said.

I think this is even more egregious than comparing Iraq and D.C. I wonder what he thinks would happen if Iraqi civilians weren’t “tolerating” that level of violence? What are they supposed to do, leave the fucking country??

 
 

The fact of the matter is, this post simply illuminates that Brad is a doodie-head.

 
 

Hey, can’t we get back to what’s really important? What’s up with Pastor Swank lately?

 
 

And is pastor Swank into punk rock? Enquiring minds want to know…I mean, we need to get some in-depth reporting like what Bill O’Reilly used to do on Inside Edition. Now that some serious journalism.

 
 

Guys, I’m so, so, sorry about Steve King. It was a drunken joke…I didn’t think he’d actually run.

But really, it’s embarrassing to be an Iowan and have assholes like this represent me.

 
 

Y’know, by Steve King’s magic calculations, the violent death rate in the US on September 11, 2001 wasn’t really that high either.

Perhaps someone should break that to him.

 
 

Oh, God, my email tomorrow will contain this article. Which I will patiently have to mock for my FILs email list.
Because he still hasn’t figured out that when I hit reply all, every one of his dittomonkey wingnut buddies get my reply.

 
 

The rate is less important than the reason Iraqis are being killed. In DC most violent deaths are (let’s say) domestic or drug related. Marry a sensible spouse and stay away from drug neighborhoods and your chances of being killed are minimal. In Iraq, you could be killed buying a pair of shoes or if your name is Omar. Iraqis are living the the terror that is the paranoia of the right.

 
 

Yeah, I lived in DC for eight years and I didn’t manage to get killed once.

 
 

Sometimes I’m just so proud to be represented by this guy…

 
 

The other funny part about all this is that DC isn’t really the way they wanna go for the sake of the standard righty “things aren’t that bad” argument. I live in Arlington and work here in DC (and yes, I’m white, and yeah, I know I know) and things aren’t so great. You have a permanent (mostly black) underclass within spitting distance of the (mostly white)egregious affluance/excess. That should sound pretty familiar to those of you who live/work in or near a big city, but at least all your citizens are represented in the U.S. Congress. And don’t need an act of said Congress to approve your budget. Or make important laws.

Not that I’d expect any rightist to understand this argument, because all they know of DC is the Northwest section where the rich white folks live, or the Capitol Hill area where you don’t go @ night.

 
 

Doesn’t this curious non-fact get dragged out every few months? And even if the strange math involved turned out to be within a million miles of valid wouldn’t it then imply that we should take the troups out of Iraq and move them into Washington?

 
 

remember when Mayor McCheese told the Hamburglar to “Bring it on”? those were the days.

 
 

Oddly enough, I recently spent some three hours riding around in DC in a bus full of 80 year old war veterans. I can’t recall much apprehension and the members of the U.S. military that I saw all seemed to be missing their body armor. So, in the spirit of inquiry that made this country great, would Rep. King (R. Enumerate) please obtain a bus and ride around downtown Baghdad for a few hours next weekend and report back his findings.

 
 

This isnt just apples and oranges, it is comparing apples with a virtually completely unknown quantity.

“Using Pentagon statistics cross-checked with independent research, King said he came up with an annualized Iraqi civilian death rate of 27.51 per 100,000.”

This is not a reliable method to quantify the violent death rate. The Pentagon does not keep comprehensive statistics of all violent deaths in Iraq and have repeatedly said they dont know and dont count civilian deaths. “Pentagon officials say they do not keep tallies of civilian casualties, and a spokesman said yesterday there is no way to validate estimates by others.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A7967-2004Oct28.html Its not clear whether anyone is keeping reliable statistics. This figure is at best the lowest possible indicator as opposed to a reliable one. Nor is it clear that it includes all violent deaths instead of just those documented as involved with American fighting. It may not include random murders, shootings, and stabbings as well as other deaths not accounted for in Pentagon figures. It is almost meaningless.

 
 

As stupid as Stephen King.

 
 

Hey! This just showed up on Fark.

 
 

Reminds me of when Marion Barry said a few years ago about D.C.’s crime rate:

“Outside of the killings, Washington has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.”

It was stupid then, too.

 
 

You know you’re somebody when you’re Farked! The bad news is all the extra Farker traffic tends to kill low-end servers.

 
 

[…] I’m not even sure why I’m tackling this, since Sadly, No! knocked the shit out of this fucking retarded Newsmax piece the other day. […]

 
Strange Forces
 

Having lived just outside of DC for pretty much my entire life, I can say that it’s an interesting place. The disparity between NW and SE is amazing, but I’d honestly rather live in Anacostia or Capitol Heights than Baghdad.

 
Mrs. Tarquin Biscuitbarrel
 

You’re right about that, Strange Forces. There haven’t been any IEDs blown up at the Tenleytown Metro since my kids started taking the subway home from school. However, an out-of-control car smashed into the Hecht’s department store in Chevy Chase the other day.

I get the Newsmax e-mails, and they’re also very keen on stockpiling gold bullion and, um, male enhancement aids.

 
 

That was a most informative and clarifing diagram.

 
 

Hmm, if Iraq is safer than D.C., why does it cost $35,000 to get to the Baghdad airport, and a few bucks on a metrocard to get to DC National?

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/outrage?bid=13&pid=2361

 
 

43,000 deaths per year in auto crashes US nationally.That puts all the Iraqi death toll numbers to shame anyway, that would be 3 years times 43, 000 =129,000 American deaths since Iraqi war began. Thats right…120 Americans die every day in auto wrecks. You know, if you ask me, (but you havent), we should just carpet bomb the fuck out of our enemies anyway instead of sending ground troups ….and also bring back racial profiling to find the fucking bad guys.. we are so damn pc we will lose our country soon.

 
 

[…] Update: Here’s a site that challenges Rep. King’s numbers. They basically claim that he has used incorrect data and that he’s comparing national numbers for Iraq with city-wide numbers for America. crime, Iraq, murder, Steve King, gun crime, Baghdad […]

 
 

U.S. 2003:

death by accident — 37.6 per 100,000 pop
suicide — 10.8 per 100,000 pop.
homicide — 6.1 per 100,000 pop.

total: 54.5 per 100,000.

King’s estimate for Iraq is absurdly low.
I have a state-by-state breakdown at http://www.pollkatz.com

 
 

The message is clear and is not really about statistics. It is about reinforcing belief. Whether in Iraq or in DC, the majority of casualties are either pooh white trash, crazed negroes or satanic Mohammedans . So don’t worry. Be happy. Keep the faith. War is good.

 
Urban Sombrero
 

If it’s so safe, let’s start pulling our troops out. Hey, they’re not necessary any more. The country is pacified.

 
 

sadly, the violence in Iraq has now progressed to a completely new level. it is at present by FAR the most dangerous place on earth. you can’t go out anywhere without a precise plan (the route as such, what to wear, what to say, which streets/places to avoid, etc.). even if you take all the necessary precautions, chances are good that you’ll wind up dead, disappeared or maimed. anyone who hasn’t been there can not possibly fathom how utterly bad it has become.

 
 

Great post. I love the graphic and also appreciate the – what-d’ya-call-it – oh yeah! Research! I appreciate the research you did.

See, when I hear something stupid like this, my first instinct is, “Wait a second – that can’t be right! He’s lying or distorting this somehow…” and then my next impulse is to search for what the scam is (of course, it’d be nice if the media did that fact-checking more often for us). In this case, it’s not that hard in that he’s comparing the crime rate in a city to that of an entire country.

I suspect NewsMax readers, like Rush Limbaugh’s dittoheads, read/listen/watch mainly for the comfort value. It’s like a pacifier. Some of them, deep down, may even know it’s complete and utter crap, or at least that it’s distorted, but now there’s the soothing thought that our Dear Leader is right, the evil liberals are wrong and lying, etc. etc. etc. Trot out a beloved storyline and the facts they hang on it are irrelevant.

 
clarence swinney
 

Hillry said buy one you get two.
Wow! What a Bargain! Can she repeat it?CLINTON PRAISE–WITH PLEASURE
GDP–rose from 6300 to11,600
NATIONAL INCOME-5,000 to 8,000 Billion–
JOBS CREATED—237,00 per month to replace Jimmy Carter record of 218,000.
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS–$360 to $478
AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS WORKED–never hit 35.0–hit that mark 4 times in 80’s
UNEMPLOYMENT–from 7.2% down down down to as low as 3.9%
MINIMUM WAGE–$4.25 to $5.15
MINORITIES–did exceedingly well
HOME OWNERSHIP–hit all time high (no big deal most can say this-except Reagan)
DEFICIT–290 Billion to whoopee a SURPLUS
DEBT—-+28%—300% increase over prior 12 years by Conservatives.
FEDERAL SPENDING–+28%—+80% under Reagan- who is da true conservative?
DOW JONES AVERAGE—3,500 to 11,800 all it’s history to get to 3500 and Clinton zooms it
NASDAQ–700 to 5,000—all of it’s history to get to 700 and Clinton zooms it
VALUES INDEXES– almost all bad went down–good went up in zoom zoom zoom
FOREIGN AFFAIRS–Peace on Earth good will toward each other—Mark of a true Christian–what has Bush done to Peace on Earth?
POPULARITY—highest poll ratings in history during peacetime in AFRICA, ASIA AND EUROPE . Even 98.5% in Moscow–left office with Highest Gallup rating since it was started in 1920’s.
STAND UP FOR JUSTICE–evil conservatives spent $110,000,000 on hearings and investigations and caught one very evil man who took a few plane rides to events.
BOW YOUR HEADS—“Thank you God for sending us a man of Bill Clinton’s character, intelligence, knowledge of governance, ability to face up to crises without whimpering and a great leader of the world. Amenâ€?.
THANK YOU GOD FOR THE GOOD TIMES THE CLINTON YEARS.
clarence swinney-political historian-Lifeaholics of America- burlington

 
clarence swinney
 

Bush said–“I’m a Recovering Drunk”
My interpretation of this remark he made to a group of recovering addicts in Iowa.

“I’m on a Walk just like you and it is a never ending Walk as far as I’m concerned”.

Reported by Judy Keen USA Today.

Here is his confirmation. No Sane person would make these inane remarks.
BUSH WAFFLE HOUSE
“I say what I mean and mean what I say�
“ Promises made-Promises kept�
“When I make up my mind it stays made up�
“I do not take cues from anyone�
“You can’t say one thing and do another�
“Trust me I’m a straight shooter�
“I’m the commander, I don’t need to explain, I do not need to explain why I do things�
“I need a WAR to be a successful president�
�I’m the War President�
“I’m the Peace President�
“A Leader never admits mistakes�
“I’m the Decider and I decide what is best�. God Bless the King!
“Lucky Me, I hit the Trifecta�
“God told me to attack the terrorists in Iraq to keep them from attacking us�.
Exact words of Hitler except he said Poland not Iraq.
“I’m a Recovering Drunk� said Bush. Judy Keen USA Today12-29-05
‘There is no point in discussing the pros and cons of the war�

IS THIS MAN SANE?

————————————————
1.Osama Bin Laden is my number one priority. (at least this week)

2. We need an Office of Strategic Influence (Next decade maybe)

3. I will follow the UN Resolution as long as it takes-10-27-02
10-31-02—The UN needs to act now
2-13-03—The UN needs to show courage (like I did during Vietnam.)

4. I am a strong believer in Fair Trade—(except steel and softwood lumber) (votes first)

Ed Crane—Co-Founder and President of The Cato Institute-“Everything this
Administration does is political�

5. We do not need for the Homeland Security Department to be a Cabinet position.
I made up my mind on it. Boston Globe—6-9-02 “Bush Flip Flop�

6. I will get Osama Bin Laden “Dead or Alive�—(go get em cowboy)—5-13-02-(“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 out first priority�) (“I say what I mean�). (“When I make up my mind it stays made up�).

7. I will use the bully pulpit with OPEC. (Sic em bulldog my gas now 1.65 per gallon)
Supply went down and Prices went up and (“This is just the Free Market at Work�)

8. I will never apologize to the Chinese for “stealing our plane�. Please guys! Be nice.
Return our plane. “I regret it� was later comment.

9. I mean what I say—“We can expect an attack�. Each month warning. When BOY?

10. Wash. Post-2-8-03—Bush seeking a promise from IRAN (Evil) for humanitarian help
in event a slaughter is done in Afghan. (Sounds like Reagan?)

11. NYT-1-23-03—Bush (Man of steel will) “rescinding� old policy and implementing a new policy that allows managed care organizations to limit and restrict coverage of emergency services for poor people on Medicaid. This was after criticizing HMOs for refusal to allow treatment. If this is a Devout Christian I am Jesus Christ.

12. We will not negotiate with North Korea. Wash Post 1-16-03—Bush is now willing to consider agricultural and energy aid. (Hold on! This is EVIL of axis)

13.Individual investors who borrow money to buy dividend-paying stocks should be penalized. (Gosh! What did I say—I did not mean it) NYT 2-5-03

14. I mean what I say until yelling starts. Military pay increase of 2% then 4%.
Stars & Stripes-12-30-02—Bush asked Defense Dept. to lower the announced pay raise for the military from 3.7% to 2%. Congress finally got 4 in 2004 budget.

“I am tired of all the Lying and Deception�—Amen! Halleluiah! Then stop it Boy.

15.I mean what I say—I am the education president. Please. First budget increased by 1.5% which had averaged 5% increase per year over five years. (Sounds like Clinton was the educated educator to me.)

16.Wash Post-12-2-02—In June 2002 Bush promised 500 Million to fight mother-child transmission of Aids . In Aug he vetoed the first transfer of the 500 million. In 111 days since his promise 222,000 babies have been infected with Aids. (I wonder if Jesus Christ is tossing in his bed)

17.“Secretary O’Neill is doing a good job. The economy is improving. I have faith in him�. (Your faith lasts two weeks boy)

18.The Homeland Security Bio-Terrorism Bill is too expensive. I will veto it. An Ok is not a veto boy.
(I mean what I say� but maybe I will not this time.)

19. I do not approve of an Independent Investigation of 9-11. (“I mean what I say� but—yelling is too loud).

20.I am against international money laundering controls. (9-11—“I changed my steel mind�) They may catch daddy.

21.We will have major social security changes. Wash Post. 11-11-01—Andrew Card on Meet the Press on 11-10-02 “I am not sure we will reform it� This was a Centerpiece of his campaign..

22.-12-30-02—We will not tolerate a North Korean nuclear arsenal. (Act nice guys if you want our $$$)

23.We do not hit civilian targets(in Afghan). There is no evidence. (Red Cross building not civilian—Veterans Hospital is military—Warlord Party heading to Kabul to celebrate was armed with .22 rifles—Wedding Party was violent and firing in the air at our planes 20,000 feet above them)

24.Wash Posr-11-15-02—“If you are not happy with the administration’s policy toward Iraq at any given moment just wait a week or two. A new policy, more to your liking, is bound to appear�.

A. Go it alone week
B. Let us wait for UN week
C. “Regime change� is goal
D. remove wmd is goal
E. Secretary of State is nor speaking for the president
F. Attorney General is not speaking for the administration.
G. I am sick and tired of this waffling and waiting.

25.Steel Tariff—I really did not mean that much. I angered some people. Reduce it.
(When I make up my mind it stays made up)

26.Carbon Dioxide is a power plant pollutant I will control.. (Oh! It will be too costly to my energy contributors so forget it suckers—cough cough)

27.Reuters-6-26-02—‘I have confidence in the Palestinians when they understand we are saying they must make the right decisions�—“I can assure you we will not be putting money into a society which is not transparent and which is corrupt�.
(Was he referring to his administration? Sounds like it—transparent—corrupt)

28.I am against human cloning in any form. (well, not quite “any�)

29.“I knew nothing about dangers of 9-11�. Eight months later. “I knew a damn bunch (but I was too busy on Vacation and looking for more to blame on that President who stomped my dad. Darn it is tough being dumb, inarticulate and following such a brain and great success)

30.“I am in excellent physical condition.� (Darn, staying up till midnight in Paris zapped all my energy—Boy—try conditioning your mind))

31.I am on top of everything. (Why did you say twice on TV—“I am not in control the Pentagon is running the War (Afghan)—You have a White House base—same as Al Qaeda. Only more secretive)

32.I will veto bill increasing benefits for disabled military retirees (Yep! He was war hero.. 6-20-02 in Wash Post. I do not change my mind. Until 2004 Budget).

33.-6-14-02—released 23,653 of �cherry picked� Reagan papers after refusing to do it. “When I make up my mind it stays made up� Is this BOY real ?�

34.I mean what I say—‘I will provide 100 million to help preserve the Rain Forest� 12M is not 100. And he has MBA.

35.Budgeted funds for his dad’s Crusader cannon then demanded that Congress kill the big sucker.

36. Airline Security is very important to me. Then, why did you fight so hard to keep guns out of cockpits?

37.Barred part-time Mexican and Canadian students from U.S. schools after 9-11. Then, after howls reversed his decision. “When I make up my mind�

38.Simon (candidate for Gov. of California). “He is a breath of fresh air.�
Bush sho hated that California Smog for he avoided Simon while in his presence.

39.“I will not engage in bailing out countries.� 30 billion to Brazil just a tip?

40.NY Times-Richard Stevenson-2-14-03—“Bush eases Ban on AIDS money to pro-abortion groups abroad.What will he tell Falwell?

41.-March 6—“We will call for a UN Security Council vote.� Geo. Bush
March 13—“There may be no vote� Colin Powell
NY TIMES-“Bush promises to adopt peace plan�. The Guardian-“Bush reversed his previous insistence that the Middle East Peace effort must wait till after Iraq SLAUGHTERAMA

42.NY TIMES–Edmund L. Andrwews-2-26-03—Less than a month after President Bush proposed a radical overhaul and expansion of individual retirement and savings account the White House has abandoned their idea. (“When I make up my mind it stays made upâ€?) (“Promises made promises keptâ€?) (“I say what I mean and mean what I sayâ€?)

————-WHO IN HECK IS IN CHARGE IN THIS WAFFLE HOUSE?————

43. NY Times-Patrick e. Tyler-5-17-03—“In reversal, plan for Iraqi self rule by June 1 put off indefinitely. “When I make up my mind(scorched?) it stays made up�? Sho!

44.BIG WAFFLE—Washington Post-8-19-03-Dana Milbank & Bradley Graham—
“Bush revises view on combat in Iraqâ€?.—May I on USS Desertion he said– “Combat Operations are overâ€?.. Now—“Actually, Major military operations continue because we still have combat operations going onâ€?. Is this boy of scorched brain or what?

45. TEACH FOR AMERICA PROGRAM ZAPPED BY BUSH. I am pissed off. Big time. In 2000 campaign Bush promised President Wendy Koop to expand it. His aides asked President Wendy Koop to quadruple it. . On July 11,2003 she got a letter “We regret to inform you your application was not selected for funding�. Gone. Zapped totally. Bush is one of sorriest not just worst in history. Read TIME—8-17-03. Joe Klein article headed “WHO KILLED TEACH FOR AMERICA�? Sorry, but I am so furious I have difficulty writing. I do not like to curse but xxxxxxx.

45.OBL not priority or is he?

A 9-13-01—“The most important thing is for us to find Osama Bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him�.
B. 9-17-01—I want justice. Wanted :Dead or alive.�

C 12-28-01—“Listen awhile ago I said to the American people our objective is more than Bin Laden—Press pool in chapel on ranch

D. 3-13-02 “I am truly not that concerned about him. �The New American 4-8-02

E. 3-13-02—“I don’t know where Bin Laden is. I have no idea and I really don’t care. It’s not that important. It’s not our priority.� Wow!

46. Bush told bob Woodward in his book “Bush War� that “he didn’t feel that sense of urgency� about Al Qaeda prior to 9-11�. Now claims had great sense of urgency.

47.Nov 2003 Bush made highly touted speech about spreading democracy in the entire Middle East. NYT reported he backed away after it was denounced by Egypt Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.

48. 2-2-04 Budget Director Bolton-“we will not need additional funds for 04.�
5-5-04 Bush “I am requesting that Congress establish a 25 Billion contingency reserve �

49. 3-9-04 Press Secretary McClellan-“Condoleeza Rice will not testify before 9-11 commission it is matter of principle.� President Bush on 3-30-94 “Dr. Rice will testify.�

50. 3-19-02 Ari Fleischer-“Creating a Cabinet Office will not solve the problem.�
6-6-02 President Bush “Tonight I ask the Congress to join me in creating a single permanent department securing the homeland of America.�

51. NYT 1-29-04 “Bush resists outside investigation on WMD intelligence failure.�
2-6-04 Bush “Today, by executive order, I am creating an independent commission, to look at American intelligence capabilities.�

52. Wash Post-1-19-04-“Bush opposes extension of time for 9-11 commission.�
CNN-2-4-04—“Bush supports time extension for 9-11 commission.â€?

53.NYTimes 2-26-04-Bush limits testimony to one hour.�
Spokesman McClellan-3-10-04 “Bush sets no time limit for testimony.�

54.Larry King Live 2-15-00 Bush says Gay Marriage is a state issue.
2-24-04-Bush “Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, an amendment to our constitution defining andprot4cting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife.�

55. 3-6-03 Bush vows to have a UN vote no matter what 3-18-03-Wash Post-“Bush withdraws request for UN vote.�

56. Columbia Journalism Review—Bush vetoed Patients Bill Of Rights as Governor but boasted how he got it passed. Now, flip flop to double straddle. He touted the Texas law as super duper.
When a challenge to the Texas Law went before Supreme Court Bush joined with two HMO’s in opposing the law. Could it be because the HMO’s are Pioneers in his campaign. Doesn’t this man have any honor or integrity?

57.Remove troops from Korea. A proposal by Cheney. Bush on 3-13-02 “There is no question we have obligations around the world, which we will keep. There is a major obligation for the 37,000 troops in South Korea. It is an obligation that is an important obligation. I know it is important and we will keep that obligation.
US Newswire-8-19-04.

58. Speech in Michigan 8-16-04—“We have got to use our resources wisely, like water
It starts with keeping the Great Lakes water in the Great Lakes Basin.. My position is clear : we are never going to allow diversion of Great Lakes water.�
Per Associated Press in July 2001 Bush said “I want to talk to Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien about piping Great Lakes water to the west and southwest. A lot of people don’t need the water, but when you head South and West, we do need it.�
AP 7-19-01—White House release 7-17-01 “remarks by the President in Roundtable interview with Foreign Press.

59. Cheney in Elko, Nevada 8-14-04 “Kerry recommended sensitivity for terrorists. No war was ever won by sensitivity�. Interview with Hugh Hewitt—8-12-04—“From the standpoint of the shrine (Najah), obviously it is a sensitive area, and we are very much aware of it’s sensitivity.� The Daily Howler-8-17-04

60. NYTimes-8-31-04—
April 13,2004—“Can you ever win the war on terror? Of course you can.�
July 19,2004—-“I have a clear vision and a strategy to win the war on terror.â€?
August 30,2004—“I don’t think you can win the war on terror�
“I say what I Mean and Mean what I say�
“When I make up my mind it stays made up.�
IS THIS PERSON SANE?

61. March 5,2000—on CBS Face the Nation—Independent group attacking his opponent John McCain—Bush said: ‘That is what freedom of speech is all about. People have the right to do what they want to do, under the-under the First Amendment in America.

August 23,2004 Bush said: “the practice of independent groups to run smear ads is bad for the system. They should be banned. �Never heard of Swift Boat?

62. Bush said over and over in late 2005—“I will veto the McCain Bill on Torture�
The Bill passed overwhelmingly in Congress and old –“When I make up my Mind it stays made upâ€? –said “This is a great bill and I will sign itâ€?.

63. Many times Bush stated “I will not negotiate with terrorists�. Many times he called Iraq insurgents “terrorists�. Newsweek-2-6-06—Military leaders admit they are in negotiations with “Insurgents�.
Ho! Hum! Just another day in Bush Waffle House.

64. Speech in LA—Belliaco—Peter Fredson—4-24-06
Bush—“I know peoplehere are suffering at the gas pump. I feel your pain. I Pledge to the people here f I find any price gouging it will be dealt with firmly

He did not note the simple obvious. Exxon demand is down but PROFITS are at all time high for any corporation.

65. National Anthem in Spanish—Bush says it is wrong. In 2001 Campaign he had singers sing it in Spanish and applauded them.
“When I make up my mind it stays made up.�

66. “A leader never Admits mistakes�
Press conference with Blair in 6-06 Is he normal?
“I regret saying “Bring Em On� and “Get OBL Dead Or Alive�

67. 4-9-99-Bush said-“Victory means exit strategy and it’s important for the president to tell us what the strategy is�
6-5-99—Bush said—“I think it’s also important to lay out a timetable as to how long they will be involved and when they will be withdrawn�
6-24-95—Bush said—“It doesn’t make any sense to have a timetable. You know, if you give a timetable you’re-you’re conceding too much to the enemy�.
“I say what I Mean and Mean what I say�. Moogumboo.
68. Bush at Twin Towers—“I take a sacred vow that we will never stop looking for Osama Bin Laden�
7-5-06—Osama Bin Laden Search Group disbanded by Bush.
(I say what I Mean and Mean what I say
69.Bush Press Conference on Lebanon crisis—8-06-Chris Elliott seaboard on line
�I’m not prejudiced. As a matter of fact Dick Cheney’s daughter is Lebanese. I think a marriage should be between a man and a woman not a woman and a man.� So clear George! Snort! Snort!

EXCELLENT LIST OF 172 WAFFLES AT http://WWW.FLIPFLOPS.COMPASSIONGATE.COM

clarence swinney
political historian
lifeaholics of america
burlington nc

These inane comments explain this comment Bush made in 2000 campaign to a group of recovering addicts in Iowa:

“I’m on a Walk just like you. It is a never ending Walk as far as I’m concerned.

Is anyone treating him?

 
clarence swinney
 

Please call me a Tax & Spend Liberal. Please.I died when Kerry sat Mute as Bush called him a Kennedy Tax & Spend Liberal.

Kerry had this info. So did Edwards and DNC.

Who trains the candidates?Morons?

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Kerry should have replied–“Yes! I am a Proud Tax & Spend Liberal Very proud of it.

I do it the good old American way.I PAY MY WAY. I raise revenue to pay my bills.

YOU SPEND AND BORROW CONSERVATIVES SPEND LIKE CRAZY PEOPLE BUT ALWAYS BORROW TO LEAVE BILLS FOR OUR KIDS TO PAY.

IT TOOK OVER 200 YEARS TO GET A DEBT OF LESS THAN 1,000 BILLION. THEN, REAGAN AND YOUR DAD ADDED ON 3,000 BILLION IN JUST 12 SHORT YEARS OF BIG TIME SPEND AND BORROW.

NOW, YOU ARE HEADING TO ADD ON FROM 4 TO 5000 BILLION.

Please, Mr. President ,continue to call me a Tax & Spend Liberal who pays his way the good old American way.”
————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

TAX & SPEND LIBERAL WHO PAYS HIS WAY

From G. Washington to Reagan we ended with less than 1,000 Billion in Debt.

The next 12 years of Spend & Borrow Conservatism added on over 3,000 Billion.

Bush 2006 Budget—Five Year Forecast—Historical Tables—Pages 116-117 reveals that he will add on 3759 Billion.

This does not include costs of two occupations (not wars)

This is Gang who screamed—

CUT GOVERNMENT–BALANCE THE BUDGET—TAX CUTS PAY THEIR WAY

Swinney Fact Check—–

CUT GOVERNMENT—

Reagan yelled this more than any President.—His record—He INCREASED the size of government more than any predecessor.

He INCREASED spending by 80%

p.s. He increased California spending by 112%. This is a Conservative? He taxed everything but Sex in Hollywood.

TAX CUTS PAY THEIRWAY.—-

Reagan cut Income taxes by 750 Billion. He borrowed 1700 Billion to pay for it.

He increased Income Tax Revenues by 140 Billion. Wee bit short of 750 Billion.

Bush cut income taxes by 1700 Billion and will borrow 3759 Billion top pay for it.

Anyone care to wager it will not be 5,000 Billion?

Democrats use sensible fiscal polices which SPEND but TAX to Pay Their Way.

Republicans use selfish fiscal policies which SPEND but BORROW to let the kids pay tomorrow.

Which party do you want handling your money?

Clarence swinney-political historian-reagan-clinton-bush II administrations-burlington nc-

Please spread this information to get Democrats using it.

He could have destroyed Bush in a few minutes.

Who will tell the people? DNC will not. Will you?

Give me a platform and I will.

I spoke four straight hours in speech and Q & A on Clinton vs Reagan. Without notes.

P.S. How hypocritical but No D will say it.

Bush supporters are BRAGGING on big increase in revenues.

I thought they wanted to cut government. They are taking more of our money. Who will tell the people?

Proud of Increasing the Size of Government!

 
 

Leggo ed imparo sul vostro luogo. grazie!

 
clarence swinney
 

Cliff ahead

Income not keeping up with zooming prices

Average Income to Average price of New home

1950–2.5 Years Income to buy a New Home
1960-2.4
1970-2.5
1980-3.5
1990-4.3
2000-3.2
Mid 2006-5.4

My home in early 1960’s cost me 1.5 years of my income.

Can people afford that 5.4 years of Income to buy a new home?

Incomes have not kept up with price increases. Yet! Low Inflation?

Someone kidding us.

clarence swinney
political historian since 1991 of Reagan-Clinton-Bush II administrations.
burlington nc

 
 

Hey Tractorman, when did Iraqi citizens become our enemies?
Just curious, because I apparently never got that memo.

 
 

I just shut up and play my guitar loudly!

 
 

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