Bush's Banned Interview: An Insight Into Insanity

While surfing the net on 'Stumble', I came across an interview with President Bush on Irish television that caused a bit of a storm in 2004. The interview conducted by the tenacious Carol Coleman of Radio Television Ireland was not aired on American television, and Bush's press officers apparently complained vociferously about the rigorous questioning.

The video shows Bush at the absolute peak of his arrogance -- convinced of his own rhetoric about Iraq, flooded with confidence from international subservience to American power, and high off a crushing military victory that reinforced his childish fantasies of American power and preeminence.

The problem was, Coleman was having none of it, and what transpired was a unique insight into the warped brain of the least respected and most hated president in the history of the United States.

"Mr. President," asked the stone faced Coleman. "You're going to arrive in Ireland in about 24 hours' time, and no doubt you will be welcomed by our political leaders. Unfortunately, the majority of our public do not welcome your visit because they're angry over Iraq, they're angry over Abu Ghraib. Are you bothered by what Irish people think?"

Other than stutter, the president managed only to answer in vacant homilies about 'the great values of our country.'

"We are a compassionate country," he asserted. "We're a strong country, and we'll defend ourselves -- but we help people."

And that was about the depth of his explanation for the invasion of Iraq. Supremely satisfied with his own answers, Bush expected Coleman to be bowled over with his 'good ol' plain speakin' English', but Coleman, not infected with the American media's insatiable appetite to service power, had other ideas.

She continued to grill Bush about the rising violence in Iraq, increased world wide threat of terrorism, and failure to find the weapons of mass destruction. Flustered and unaccustomed to serious challenges to his power, Bush displayed flashes of anger, and an increased reliance on catch phrases to argue the unarguable.

"These people are willing to kill innocent people," he answered testily in response to questioning about the Iraqi death toll. "They're willing to slaughter innocent people to stop the advance of freedom. And so the free world has to make a choice: Do we cower in the face of terror, or do we lead in the face of terror?"

Coleman cut through the simplistic slogans about evil doers and freedom loving Americans and continued to ask Bush serious questions about the illegal war he had just launched. It fast became evident that this was a man who really had no idea what he was doing -- someone so removed from reality that he failed to even understand what he was being asked.

The world in Bush's mind exists of good and evil, right and wrong, and America and everyone else. He could not fathom anyone disagreeing with his nobility, and simply refused to acknowledge that a different account of reality existed.

The interview took place almost four years ago, but is the perfect illustration of a man elected purely on name recognition, dirty money, and no discernible talent. Four years ago, there were still enough Americans who believed Bush's infantile bluster was charming and direct. Now, even Republicans do not waste their time with him, quietly wishing he would disappear and stop embarrassing their party.

The interview with Coleman should go down on record as definitive proof of Bush's utter incompetence, a priceless picture of a madman who had no business occupying the highest office of the land.

Watch below:

Ben Cohen is the editor of www.thedailybanter.com and a contributing writer to www.espn.com and Boxing Monthly Magazine. He can be reached at [e-mail]

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Comments

[Lazslo]

Actually, this interview fails to pierce the logic of the administration. I'm not sure what the author of this saw on the video, but it clearly is not proof of Bush's insanity. In fact it is quite tame and Bush appears in control and reasonable. Perhaps the author of this article is dreaming of a day when journalists will really act with reason and determination in the pursuit of truth.

[shuppy]

I just listened to the interview and I have always viewed Bush as inarticulate. To the contrary, he was extremely articulate and, in my opinion, handled the interview very well.

Obviously, the interviewer represented a viewpoint, which also was reflected in Mr. Cohen's comments.
I can see the obvious biases displayed by both the interviewer and Cohen. Bush was truthful - the others displayed pre-formed opinions completely based on bias.

I opposed the war and know it was a horrible mistake. I think Bush expressed the real intent - which, believe or not - was altruistic. No, things worked very badly largely because of lack of intelligent preplanning.

I doubt very much if it was banned: I wish all Americans could see the interview. It expresses very well the original intent of the US, no matter how awry it turned out.

O

[jesselee26]

oh shuppy. shuppy, shuppy, shuppy... really?

[elbzee]

Beg to differ shuppy. What I saw was a president insistent on HIS message with no intention to seriously discuss the challenges the interviewer posed. Hell, after his first 7 or 8 "points" I’d lost the question. I found his objections to her attempts to redirect him offensive and highly condescending. I'll confess, the loathing I feel when I see that man smirk as he educates the unenlightened. He disgusts me.

As I heard him utter the words, "Do we cower in the face of terror, or do we lead in the face of terror?" I saw the supreme terrorist he is delighting in taking the lead. Sorry you didn't see the same thing I did.

[robertlockwoodmills]

And...Bush will be susceptible to international war tribunals after he leaves office. He won't show up, of course, but that could mean a verdict against him in absentia for war crimes. The International Red Cross has clearly identified instances of torture that would qualify.

"Hold on to your seats. It could be a bumpy night!" Bette Davis as Margo Channing in "All About Eve"

[Veneita]

So he says that people join terrorist organizations "because there is no hope." HOPE!

[nirek]

bush said one thing that is true, history will judge him and trust me, it will not be pretty.

[aliVonal]

oh my God. What a guy, such arrogance.

[BushBites]

He's a walking cliche.

[woodsba]

Instead he would lead the American people and dash the hopes and ambitions of his fellow citizens.

[youknowwhat]

I think the American people and the elitist corporate media will be judged more or just as harshly as Bush. Bush's history has shown that he has failed at everything his father let him have. His history was out there for anybody to find out about. The media will be judged harshly because they did nothing but misinform the Americans who did not care to research Bush's history. Those misinformed Americans are a part of why this country is the dilema it's in.

[larryfishkorn]

"My job is to do my job"--- classic Bush answer.

[RobBob]

Classic, and meaningless. Try putting that on your resume, see how many interviews you get...

[joy316]

I remember seeing this video quite some time ago and thinking that the President has a horrible, terrible, “mean streak”.

[RobBob]

Yeah, the article should have highlighted Bush's great impatience. Far be it for *anyone* to interrupt the man when he's blathering on with no great purpose. "Let me finish! Let me finish!"

[triplbee]

The only thing that Bush and I have in common is that we both believe in God. I hope that God has mercy on us as a country for putting this man in power. Sadly, it seems that we are reaping what we have sown. God have mercy on our souls.

[Project4NuBostonTeaParty]

My assessment is slightly different from yours: tthe fact that Bush has been president for nearly eight years now only proves there is no God.

[new logic]

.....god is relative..­........ma­ny

[GunOfSod]

Your comment has had exactly the same effect as if you had said the following:

The only thing that Bush and I have in common is that we both believe in "Fairies". I hope that "The Fairy Queen" has mercy on us as a country for putting this man in power. Sadly, it seems that we are reaping what we have sown. "Fairy Queen" have mercy on our souls.

Now if all you people out there stopped praying for peace, or change got up off bended knee, and did something useful. I doubt there'd be much of a probelm left.

[RobBob]

I'm not a religious man, but I think this post is pretty rude. Belief in God isn't the problem. Using that belief to justify your personal ambitions is the problem. Claiming God is on your side is the problem. Abuse of religion is the problem.

[AnnieinOR]

brutal dictator - like the one we have now, that believes in torture... and spying on their own citizens and killing of innocent people and his own soldiers over a lie... sounds like he is talking about himself, in a lot of points.

[crablover]

Carole Coleman is a brave journalist, unlike the coifed "spokesnews people" on American TV, who lack the courage and integrity to do their jobs and serve the interest of the American people.

Where is Sam Donaldson when we really need him? Sam would never tolerate Bush's smilin' and shuckin' answers.

Maybe we can get Carole to have a little sit-down with McCain so we can watch him have a meltdown when confronted with some tough questions. One can only hope!

[imagine0594]

It's funny Bush thinks he can bomb the hell out of a country, kill hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians, and think that history is going to judge him as some kind of great president. The headline is right: this is insane!