(via)
I should note that this chart may be inaccurate in that some of our previous presidents must have taken out a pirate or two, especially in the 1800s. But as far as modern presidents go, I think the chart is accurate.
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Number Of Pirates Killed By Each President
April 13th, 2009
24 Comments
You should know that while your boyfriend Newt Gingrich was criticizing Obama for appearing to not act in this crisis, the Obama team was trying to diffuse the situation in private. The pirates have radios and tv’s and would have known every move if the new President announced his plan. Only when they realized the pirates were about to kill Captain Phillips were snipers ordered to kill the pirates.
You should give him credit for saving this man’s life. When Americans were taken hostage and beheaded like there was no tomorrow in 2004, Bush refused to negotiate and let them die.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUCRq714W9c
Totally disregard my previous post. I’ve had to spend half my day talking to ignorant people, who side with Gingrich, about the pirate incident. Your site rocks and you have a new fan. I will visit the site often *with nice comments only
*
Hey, how about another chart, showing how many American ships have been attacked by pirates? It’d be much the same, with the “3″ replaced with a “1.”
People have been warning about the rising threat of piracy for years now. Hell, even I tapped into it back in June of 2005. It’s just taken this long for them to get around to attacking a US-flagged ship.
Obama’s handled this one right. Will you join me in hoping he continues to handle this rising threat wisely?
J.
Is this good for the Flying Spaghetti Monster?
Oh, now isn’t that precious.
Not only does Jay Tea manage to hint, in a backhand sort of way, that Obama was somehow responsible for an American ship being attacked. He also phrases his question in such a fashion that it excludes, oh, say, Italian ships that we attempted to rescue from bad guys.
That would be the Achilli Lauro, Jay – a naval hijacking that the patron saint of conservatism, Ronald Reagan, completely bungled. Obama, unlike Reagan, did not let the bad guys get away. Funny how gung-ho Republican Presidents always manage to screw up things so badly…
Jay-
Is that like how a chart showing attacks on American Soil that killed 500 or more civilians spikes at Bush and shows no other blips?
Feel free to whip one up, Socratic. And maybe I’ll whip one showing terrorist attacks on US territory by presidential administrations. 43 will have one, 42 will have four…
J.
“terrorist attacks on US territory by presidential administrations”
44 (Obama) would have zero.
Jay Tea, don’t you have war crimes to excuse somewhere?
And maybe I’ll whip one showing terrorist attacks on US territory by presidential administrations. 43 will have one, 42 will have four…
Oh, right, that. Nice chart, genius.
True enough, News. But Bush and Clinton each had eight years. Obama? Not even three months.
Oh, and take your “war crimes” bullshit and shove them up your whiny ass, you free-speech-hating git.
I think someone needs to make the “gay marriage is just like interracial marriage” argument to President Obama. If anything might win his sympathies and sway his opinion, that oughta do it.
J.
Do you want a chart showing deaths via terrorists under U.S. presidents? Somehow I’m guessing “no”.
My only question is – how do you kill half-a-pirate?
I mean, it’s on your chart, so there must be a way…
My only question is – how do you kill half-a-pirate?
He has a peg leg.
Jay Tea conveniently forgets* the antrhax attacks.
Jim Adkisson’s murder of Christians because they were ‘liberals’ was a politically motivated act of terrorism.
And before anyone says, ‘but those people were just crazy,’ well, what terrorist isn’t crazy?
A lot of people also forget that at the time, the US snipings were considered acts of terrorism.
All of the things above happened while Republican Bush was President.
*war criminals like Jay Tea often have very convenient memories.
August, that was inspired. I doff my hat. “Peg leg.” Brilliant line.
On the other hand, August, I said “US territory.” Not “US-controlled territory.” Very important distinction.
All these charts and hypothetical charts all reinforce the old saying: figures don’t lie, but liars can figure. There’s a way to spin any number any way.
Which was my point all along.
J.
A) to the best of my knowledge Obama hasn’t killed anyone
B) no president (except maybe Carter) would have done differently
c) why should anyone care even if Obama shot the guys himself?
Now Obama needs to defeat some ninjas, to achieve new levels of greatness.
“But Bush and Clinton each had eight years. Obama? Not even three months.”
So Obama gets now credit for national security after only three months, but all of the blame for the Bush Recession?
Jay, I say this with love — you’re a complete fucking dumbass.
By my count there were at least 5 terrorist attacks on American soil that resulted in US civilian deaths during Bush’s presidency, with 9/11/01 being the first.
[...] (via Oliver Willis) [...]
Jay Tea: On the other hand, August, I said “US territory.” Not “US-controlled territory.” Very important distinction.
Absolutely. Because without that distinction you might have to consider ALL the facts, and then it would be harder to support your argument.
“From the halls of Montezuma
to the shores of Tripoli …”
Thomas Jefferson took out a lot of pirates in his day. I suspect he’s still the preeminent pirate-hunter among American presidents.
Brainz beat me to it.
And don’t forget TR:
http://www.capitalcentury.com/1904.html
And before anyone says, ‘but those people were just crazy,’ well, what terrorist isn’t crazy?
Wasn’t there a sniper in DC not that long ago? Shooting people from his trunk?
I suppose that doesn’t count, somehow.