The Fake President
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Even Fox News had to call bull**** on Bush’s phoney photo op yesterday.
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© 2000-2011 Oliver Willis
Meanwhile yet another Rovian ruse is finally getting some serious scrutiny.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/10/14/national/w085702D00.DTL
Even Faux is embarrassed.
Poor Frankie.
“Even FOX News”? I thought they were the Republicans’ propaganda arm.
The first thing I though of when I saw this on my browser this morning, was “Wait until Oliver hears about this!” Your informants were slow.
You’re right, Oliver. We should have elected the guy who never held a photo op a day in his life!!!
Did John Kerry ever deny staging a q and a session with soldiers in order to prop up support for a idiotic war that he’d gotten us into? What a fucking phony GWB is.
I missed the part where John Kerry used our active duty soldiers who are currently getting shot at in a lame publicity stunt for his scandal-plagued administration.
But gimme the memo.
Here the thing about the Bush staged photo-op: as Tom Friedman said this morning on Imus, most soldiers are probably pro-Bush, and are, by definition, pro War.
So when the President feels the need to “script” (the DOD fluffers own words) a Q&A with people who actually like him and agree with his foreign policy, it shows an almost pathological fear of criticism.
Doesn’t this partly explains why he puts yes-men in all the positions around him? The Emperor is afraid of being told he has no clothes.
I encourage everyone to watch the footage, both pre-interview and the actual interview. GW was in Deer-in-Headlights mode, and it’s impossible to watch the interview and not feel like you’re witnessing one of the most awkward things this administration has done to date.
And if you can, see if you can find the Countdown with Keith Olbermann footage/editorial. The post-interview press confefrence was the best part of the whole ordeal.
NYT’s Friedman says 8 out of 10 troops he interviews support the efforts in Iraq anyway. What are they afraid of? It’s just the knee-jerk of control freaks.
I doubt military support for this war and Bush is that high.
Remember, it is the military culture to voice unwavering support and confidence for whatever mission they’re tasked with. Particularly to those outside the military. I know for a fact a good many folks in the service question,among themselves, what we’re doing in Iraq.
AWOL George has always had to script any public appearance–he can’t think on his feet–or at any other time. With public support for this war below a third and sinking fast, this illegitimate admin couldn’t risk the slightest misstep.
JadeGold the Putz — all your crap about about FOX news has been disproven, and all you can do is fire shots at Bush.
I know for a fact a good many folks in the service question,among themselves, what we re doing in Iraq.
You crack me up. How do you know — from your card games at the NCO Club? CENTCOM briefings?
You don’t know any such thing.
Putz.
Need I add … putz.
Hey Frank –
Here’s a link to someone who would and does know a whole lot about what the troops are thinking:
“When I was an Infantry Platoon leader in Iraq, I was interviewed by CBS 60 Minutes. As the tape was rolling, my commanding officer stood behind the camera carefully listening to my every word with his arms crossed. I knew it wouldn t be fun for me if I strayed from the prescribed talking points. That incident was one of the motivating factors that led me to create Operation Truth–an organization that truly represents the candid voice of our troops and Veterans. The voices we heard today were neither candid nor representative.”
Why are current military personnel re-enlisting at such high rates if they don’t really support their mission?
Why are current military personnel re-enlisting at such high rates if they don t really support their mission?
It should be pointed out that reenlistment rates are just barely exceeding goals, so the term “high rates” is really misleading.
Probably a combination of factors, not the least of which are things like the $15K re-up bonus, more points toward a paid retirement, the fact many have either lost their jobs in the civilian world or have taken a hit career-wise. Another factor is that as recruitment rates have been so poor–the Army and Corps have doubled the number of recruits who are HS dropouts.
frameone: And I had such high hopes for you. That’s one guy. One guy does not an Army make — let alone “a good many folks.”
Siding with JadeGold the Putz is like switching deck chairs on the Titanic.
What numbers are you seeing? While the Army overall has been 6% above its goals for the past 3 years, combat troops are close to 150%. When contrasted against the low first time enlistment rate, this is very significant.
Additionally, if they are just doing it for the money, then they must feel like the risk is worth it. Perhaps they don’t feel like their lives are being wasted or ground away in the Iraqi meat grinder?
Money is a powerful motivator, JWG. Ask yourself why the services would offer such incentives if they have no problem retaining their people. Are they just giving these bonuses out of the goodness of their hearts–or do they think they might have a problem if they don’t?
Moreover, the Army is pressing Congress to further increase reenlistment bonuses even higher.
As for your assertions the Army andCorps are meeting and exceeding retention goals for the past 3 years–no. Last year, the Army barely met the goal; the Marines did not.
I think you’re also ignoring the role “stop loss” plays in artificially boosting retention rates.
Sorry, Frankie. I wasn’t enlisted.
Since you’ve never served, please feel free to ask questions–no matter how dumb they might sound.
Re-enlistment bonuses aren’t a “trick”–they’re an incentive to keep people in.
I’ll bet you never fell for that “re – enlistment bonus” trick, eh, JadeGold the Putz?
You have to be in the service before you can re – enlist…
JadeGold the Putz: I spent four years in the Army so that — ideally speaking — morons like you could make idiotic statements like the ones you’re famous for.
4 years, Frankie? And you learned nothing? Wow. Perhaps that explains the family problems, huh?
One other factor contributing to retention rates is the soft economy.
JadeGold the Putz – I don’t from what corner of your seriously damaged brain you pulled the idea that I have Family problems, but it’s time to retire it — it’s old and worn out.
And, of course, calling me Frankie isn’t getting you anywhere, either. I already have no respect for you. There is none left for me to lose.
The only one who doesn’t know anything about the military around here is you. If you think a soldier re – enlists for the money, you are woefully ignorant of the miltary mind. If somebody doesn’t want to re – enlist, there isn’t enough moneny to make him do so.
If it were only a matter of money, and the “economy is ‘soft’”, as you put it, then re – enlistments should be way up.
By the way, anyone who is already a liberal, and comes to a liberal blog to troll versus conservatives, has really serious problems. The kind of therapy I’m learning is that all psychological problems are, at their root, family problems.
Of course, I believe you at one time had a family, but I find it impossible to believe that any more people like you exist.
But maybe that’s wishful thinking.
You know, JadeGold the Putz, you’d have to take lessons to be a moron.
This one, you get to figure out yourself. This is no challenge to me — it’s just a simple – minded question. Go to the airport, buy a GI a beer and ask him.
If you think a soldier re – enlists for the money, you are woefully ignorant of the miltary mind. If somebody doesn t want to re – enlist, there isn t enough moneny to make him do so.
Again, this is false, Frankie.
But let’s entertain it for a moment. Why offer reenlistment bonuses if the military isn’t having a problem retaining people? Why offer the other incentives?
As for your assertions the Army andCorps are meeting and exceeding retention goals for the past 3 years no. Last year, the Army barely met the goal; the Marines did not.
You’re confusing total numbers with reenlistment. All military branches are having trouble getting enough new recruits (most likely because of Iraq, but it happened in the late 90′s as well).
From USA TODAY (7/17/05):
Additionally, the stop loss program does not affect retention rates. They specifically count reenlistments. Stop loss boosts overall troop strength in key areas but is not counted for retention.
As far as reenlistment bonuses are concerned, DoD has always offered bonuses in “critical” fields as an encouragement. Currently, the number of “critical” fields has expanded due to the war. It makes sense to compensate skilled workers for their expertise. The corporate world does it as well.
JWG:
I’m fully aware the military has offered bonuses–in the past–for certain MOSs in critical fields. However, such bonuses haven’t been as lucrative and they certainly haven’t been as across the board as they are now.
You are also wrong WRT stop loss. Stop loss artificially boosts retention rates.
Stop loss has nothing to do with reenlistment figures. Nada.