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