Energy Crisis: President Bush laughs as the nation chokes
By SilentPatriot Monday Jul 14, 2008 3:15pm
In this short, two-minute clip from his press conference today on the sad state of the American economy, President Bush managed to embarrass himself (and thus the country) on at least three occasions. First he smirks and gives a smart ass answer when asked about $5 gasoline -- not very funny considering he "hadn't heard" of $4 gas back in February. Second, he repeats the McCain campaign talking point "gaffe" about our economic woes being merely "psychological." Then, finally, he tops if off with what he calls his "brilliant statement" about "magic wands."
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I think it was in the Rose Garden where I issued this brilliant statement: If I had a magic wand -- but the President doesn't have a magic wand. You just can't say, low gas. It took us a while to get here and we need to have a good strategy to get out of it.
Can this guy seriously be any more out of touch? Watching him chuckle his way through questions about how badly he has destroyed our economy as millions of Americans are losing their homes and being forced to change the way they live tells you all you need to know.
Full transcript below the fold:
Q Mr. President, in February you were asked about Americans facing the prospect of $4 a gallon gasoline and you said you hadn't heard of that at the time. Gas prices --
THE PRESIDENT: Aware of it now.
Q Gas prices are now approaching $5 a gallon in some parts of the country. Offshore oil exploration is obviously a long-term approach. What is the short-term advice for Americans? What can you do now to help them?
THE PRESIDENT: First of all, there is a psychology in the oil market that basically says, supplies are going to stay stagnant while demand rises. And that's reflected somewhat in the price of crude oil. Gasoline prices are reflected -- the amount of a gasoline price at the pump is reflected in the price of crude oil. And therefore, it seems like it makes sense to me to say to the world that we're going to use new technologies to explore for oil and gas in the United States -- offshore oil, ANWR, oil shale projects -- to help change the psychology, to send a clear message that the supplies of oil will increase.
Secondly, obviously good conservation measures matter. I've been reading a lot about how the automobile companies are beginning to adjust -- people -- consumers are beginning to say, wait a minute, I don't want a gas guzzler anymore, I want a smaller car. So the two need to go hand in hand. There is no immediate fix. This took us a while to get in this problem; there is no short-term solution. I think it was in the Rose Garden where I issued this brilliant statement: If I had a magic wand -- but the President doesn't have a magic wand. You just can't say, low gas. It took us a while to get here and we need to have a good strategy to get out of it.
Q But you do have the Strategic Oil Petroleum Reserve. What about opening that?
THE PRESIDENT: The Strategic Oil Petroleum Reserve is for, you know, emergencies. But that doesn't address the fundamental issue. And we need to address the fundamental issue, which I, frankly, have been talking about since I first became President -- which is a combination of using technology to have alternative sources of energy, but at the same time finding oil and gas here at home. And now is the time to get it done. I heard somebody say, well, it's going to take seven years. Well, if we'd have done it seven years ago we'd be having a different conversation today. I'm not suggesting it would have completely created -- you know, changed the dynamics in the world, but it certainly would have been -- we'd have been using more of our own oil and sending less money overseas.
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future generations will wonder why we didn't lynch this guy.
Osama Bin Laden couldn't be any happier either.
What a f*cking idiot! How in the hell did this moron ever
get in any elected office?
Just 10 minutes alone with this putz, that's all I ask.
Future generations will wonder why we didn't indict him. We know the answer already.
Spock @ 3:
Name recognition.
Oh my god. This is our president. That's just dumbfounding.
It took us a while to get here under the watch of two oil men
Never ONCE in nearly eight years have I ever referred to this criminal as "President" Bush. It was always just Bush. The man is quite simply not deserving in any way, shape or form, to be addressed with a title of respect. Which reminds me, has the Bush Legacy been driven past his mother's house yet?
"If we'd a started a program 7 years ago . . ." Who the hell does he think was running things 7 years ago? Really, I can barely stand to look at this idiot anymore. Everytime he opens his mouth I think, "The man is just an embarassment."
He's right on one thing. It did take a while to here to this point.
8 long years of republican control is what it took.
8 looooooooooooong years of repubs.
Correction. Bush Legacy Bus. More than anybody "Barbara With the Beautiful Mind" needs to be reminded of her boy's "accomplishments".
this guy is like a SNL sketch only it is for real. Freaking unbelievable!
Thanks to all you morons who voted for him. He has damaged this country for genereations. More to come...
Wake me when it's over...
me and myself @ 6:
Cognitive dissonance
Hasn't the idiot left the building yet?
ohh i admire your efficency... King and Court jester rolled in one i call it the "Double Dumb CEO Value pack Prez"....
Fundamental Issue ? Change the dynamics in the world ? Does he even know what he's talking about ? Frankly, George, you never really addressed the issue until you got us in this mess and now you are brazenly disregarding the rest of us SUFFERING, as a result of your draconian mismanagement of the government apparatus (remember the tax rebates for small business owners to buy SUV's and Hummers ? So your reciting of fundamental issue was reflected since you took office as the prices rise and Cheney is still in the bunker, you've been ... what ?
Get a grip man, you have no standing in this world, other than poisoning our airwaves and rendering the American People insolvent with the rest of the world watching your baffooneries. Care you reply without lying to us ?
Cya.
k
You voted for him and the Rethugs, America. You deserve EVERYTHING you get. You kept putting these morons in office and you will now pay for thirty years of Republican economics. Again, you deserve all of it. You are owned by China. You deserve it. You can't get health care. You deserve it. You are losing jobs. You deserve it. You don't have food. You deserve it. You are second rate to the rest of the world in just about every sector of innovation. You deserve it. But you got Jeebus and you hate gays. God do you deserve all you've gotten and all that is about to come.
And if you don't think you do, look at some poll numbers. Even with this nation on the brink of complete collapse, McCain is still competitive. You deserve it all.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
Declaration of Independence 1776
Spock @ 3:
the American people elected him my friend
Such an unbelievable jackass. He's not only going to deny that he's been an agent of big oil from Day One... he's actually going to pretend he was some kind of "get off the oil teat" visionary.
Amazing. These people always use the same angle; turn reality upside down, then exaggerate THAT.
Annie @ 11:
the only President in the past 30 years who was correct about oil and gas was Carter.
uk visa @ 15:
really - F*&^ THIS AS$%&^. WHY ANYBODY SHOULD DO OR LISTEN TO ANYTHING THIS BUFFOON SAYS OR DOES ANYMORE IS BEYOND ME. HE HAS NEVER ONCE TOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THE TRUTH - WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE HIM NOW?
Watching that sorry spectacle makes me nostalgic for Squeaky Fromme and John Hinckley.
4$/gallon gas is old news. This time next month we'll be talking about 5$/gallon gas.
The argument that if we had been drilling 7-10 years ago we would be in better shape is ludicrous.
First of all, oil was at about $28 a barrel and oil companies couldn't even begin to think about spending the money to explore or drill, it wasn't worth the effort for the return (the same reason they haven't done squat up until recently).
Second, the oil we bring up isn't exclusively for America...it will be sold on the world market, and prices will be just as contingent upon the market forces we see today, including speculation, supply and demand.
Third, and most importantly...someone tell me when George W. Bush's administration has EVER addressed alternative energy sources before the current situation developed??
The man is a pathological liar and will say literally ANYTHING to keep the wolves from the door.
Someone take note that the Messiah himself, Barack Obama, ALSO used the magic wand reference when talking about the economy... a joke Jon Stewart highlighted!
Given this person's record at the White House,
I wonder if Congress should consider limiting
executive privilege and the trappings of immunity
that a president can bestow on nearly anyone
or anything.
Bush's recklessness has irreparably harmed the
country. Future legislators had better take these
matters in hand and ensure that these abuses
don't happen again.
G.W. BUSH IS THE MOST IGNORANT, PATHETIC, APATHETIC PRESIDENT THIS COUNTRY HAS EVER HAD.
HE IS EVEN LESS AS A MAN AND A HUMAN BEING. HE IS A LYING, CHEATING, MASS-MURDERING, BLOOD-THIRSTY, WAR-MONGERING INDIVIDUAL AND SHOULD BE TRIED AND EXECUTED FOR WAR CRIMES, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, MURDER, ETC.
CHENEY, RICE, RUMSFELD, AND MANY, MANY OTHER IN HIS CIRCUS FREAK ADMINISTRATION SHOULD BE TRIED AND CONVICTED ALSO.
ONLY IN AMERICA CAN SUCH ARROGANT, IGNORANT, DANGEROUS, INSANE PEOPLE BE IN POSITIONS OF POWER DOING AND SAYING THINGS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF EVERY AMERICAN FOR THE WORSE AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
BUSH AND HIS CRONIES ARE SOAKED TO THEIR PORES WITH THE BLOOD OF THOUSANDS UP THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE AND HAVE NO REMORSE, NO CONSCIENCE AND BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG.
AMERICA, THE LAND OF THE FREE, THE HOME OF THE INSANE!
He's smirking cause everything is going perfectly as planned.
What I've always loved about this asshole is that, since there isn't a magic wand, there's nothing he can do.
Gas prices? Nothing I can do.
Middle East Peace? I'm not going to actually do anything until the sides stop fighting.
The list could go on and on, but I don't have the stomach for it.
He has gone beyond being an embarrassment to the United States: he is now officially an embarrassment to the human race.
Powkat @ 10:
Yeah, 7 years ago he directed cheney to meet, in secret, behind closed door, with the
Oil and Gas Industry (Energy Task Force), and it was at that time that the American
public initially got screwed...and it continues.
The guy rambles and stammers like a drunk...come to think of it, he slurs his words, makes colosslly bad decisions, is generally belligerent and falls down a lot.
Yup, the country's being run by a drunk.
He wasn't being funny, but defensive. Like Nero who can't accept Rome burning Bush can't accept our country is falling apart. So now he's in the blame game, pointing the fingers at everyone else.
And who is his first target, Democrats. They control Congress; the American people don't understand 40 Republicans can block all legislation in the Senate and it takes 2/3 to override a veto. All they hear is Democrats control Congress.
Hopefully, the vast majority of America's uninformed stay home this November.
did you realize he rubs of all Americans when abroad???
LOL i hardly cant see any American without smiling and i have seriously to hold back all the time.. and that to the nice ones who are brave enough to go to other countrys...
you really put a huge question mark over capitalism and democracy...thanks
TO THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES WHO SELECTED BUSH FOR HIS FIRST TERM AND TO ALL THOSE WHO VOTED FOR HIM WHETHER ONCE OR TWICE, MAY YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOWED AND ROT IN HELL!
Obummer @ 1:
This generation is wondering the same thing.
Kind of reminds me of an abusive husband...
"...An' if yuh had cooked muh dinner right, I wuldna had tuh hit ya!"
here we have nero, with his violin tucked
up his a$$ as cheney plays it.
Does ending a sentence with two prepositions make the point twice as important or twice as obtuse?
Spock @ 3:
because there are always the 29%ers.
Cannot wait till we don't have to see this fucking smug smirk anymore.
Impeach.
Indict.
Incarcerate.
Annie @ 11:
Try 14 years - 1994 anyone?
And as for Bush - tsk tsk - looks like he started drinking again...
There is serious brain damage here. I anticpate a new syndrome to be diagnosed soon and placed in the DSM. Key symptoms: phony and forced boughts of feminine-like laughter, smirking, trouble enunciating and distinguishing basic words, and a general schizoid approach to problems.
Robert59 @ 35:
Not only that, but who controlled the Congress from 1994 to 2006?
I noticed that as the questions kept coming, the more shrill he became.
"Clue Phone, line two.... It's for you Mr. President"
Neil @ 20:
Both elections were stolen. Some people voted for him but not the majority when you actually count the votes instead of letting electronic voting machines that can be programmed to change the votes, do it.
O/T (sorry): Brit Hume stepping down from Fox News
what did people expect fromthe economyunder bush? in his "business career" , he bankrupted harkins oil, arbusto oil, the texas rangers ,and the state of texas. it was a logical assumption that he would break the american economy. they voted for this jerk off twice.
Al Hidalgo @ 44:
Anyone want to try to argue that, had a Democratic president committed even 1% of the crap the Bush syndicate has repeatedly inflicted upon this country, a Republican congress would have impeached him?
It takes alot to make me boo before noon but that speech was one of the worst I've ever heard.
Obummer @ 1:
Current generations are wondering that right now!
When energy prices began to climb in 2001, Ari Fleischer, then the White House press secretary, was asked whether the president was considering a campaign to urge Americans to conserve energy.
"That's a big no," Fleischer said. "The president believes that it's an American way of life, and that it should be the goal of policy makers to protect the American way of life. The American way of life is a blessed one. And we have a bounty of resources in this country."
He represents the people? The people HATE HIM severely, all around the entire world. He always was a failure, and will continue to be so, yet ran TWO terms.
This man has been given more power than any other previous president, legal or illegal.
Does the logic stink yet? Does the smell of the corruption reek in the air?
This man has broken more laws, legally and physically, than any previous corrupt president, yet NOTHING is done about it. This can't happen in a properly run democracy, unless the checks and balances have been eliminated.
It is no joking matter anymore. I cannot listen to one word this man spews anymore.
monkeyboy wasn't the only one laughing ... did you notice bill plante giggle sitting next to the reporter who asked the question.
Underground Pirate @ 54:
If reich-wingers have any say, any mention of herr dubyah in history texts will be outlawed.
scott d @ 51:
If you want somethign screwed up, give it to an MBA...if you want something profoundly f$#@ed up, give it to an alcoholic, sociopathic diseased chimp with an MBA.
Works every time.
This INCOMPETENT moron came into my living room more times than I could barely tolerate for nearly eight years. Why the dumbest man in the world with his silly looking face and nauseating voice was given so much air time is totally beyond me.
OH SAY CAN YOU SEE, BY THE DAWN'S EARLY LIGHT
WHO BUSH SO PROUDLY HAD MURDERED, AT A TWILIGHT SOAKED WITH BLOOD
WHOSE BROAD STRIPES AND BRIGHT STARS
BUSH HAS TARNISHED FOREVER
O'ER THE CRIMES WE HAVE WATCHED, WERE SO COWARDLY ORDERED.
AND WITH THE VICTIMS RED BLOOD,
GAVE PROOF THROUGH THE NIGHT, THAT OUR PRESIDENT WAS THERE!
OH SAY DOES THAT BASTARD, WHO FOREVER WILL BE BLAMED
FROM THOSE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE AND THE HOME OF THE INSANE!
Andrew @ 55:
Our purpose in life is to eat. That's why we're called consumers.
Next time you hear a conservative whine out gas prices, remind them that it's good for Bush he's an oil man. His family is making good money, and we should be proud that we can help them make the good money they are making. Remind them that Capitalism is working as designed and that the oil industry should charge, what the market will bear.
I've been doing that lately and the conservatives I know, actually appear to be thinking when I argue these points. I've gotten a few to say unpleasant things about Bush.
"I drink your milkshake! I drink it up!" - Daniel Plainview
Chesire11 @ 59:
But you have to admin, he's very consistent.
Sixteen or seventeen percent of crude that is pumped from our country goes to other countries. Why not just (for the time being) keep it here, build a few more refineries, and the price would go down right away. Then, get busy with alternative energy research and development so we can get off the oil tit. But, NOT biofuels.(corn) That's what is causing world hunger.
Why is Bush always so angry and defensive when asked about anything that isn't within his little Utopian fantasy of how he sees the world? He acts like press questions are deliberately confrontational and disrespectful. I hope every dumb-ass that voted for Bush hears him, truly hears him, when he says "how much is it now?" Isn't the president supposed to be a leader, supposed to be in touch with what is going on. He could care less about what people are going through. In fact, he can disguise his utter disdain. He doesn't want to hear it, plain and simple. "Just gimme the good news." Oh, and "Lemme talk, lemme talk." Unfortunately, there is no propaganda that can mask what is going on with the price of gas or the economy, (or Afganistan and Iraq for that matter).
Another company you've ruined George.
Someone should drill into his forehead for oil. They certainly won't find any brain matter there.
Why did he have a press conference today? I mean, obviously, he had nothing to say.
Answer: Feith was testifying in the House. Can't have anyone paying attention to that.
i'm trying to figure out how i'm going to "conserve" any more than i already do -- this past winter i kept my thermostat at 63 degrees and could barely afford to pay the gas bill (took longer than the gas company thought appropriate but before they shut me off).
i guess i can knock it back to 58 or 60 but that is not going to make things easier financially because the bill will STILL be higher than it was keeping it at 63.
now instead of keeping one light on wherever i am in the house, i guess i'm going to have to turn that one off too and use candles.
this is insane. i live in "the most powerful nation on earth" and i've got to turn back the technological clock and risk burning down my house because the republicans thought it would be a great idea to start a war at a time and in a place where it was patently obvious to anyone not willfully stupid that energy prices would go through the roof.
the question of the day for mccain is: how is your imagination?
clearly the "biggest" problem with this administration has been their lack of imagination when it comes to possible outcomes. every single time the shit has hit the fan, the response has been "i never imagined that would happen!"
Voting doesn't work. Revolution? Never happen again in this country, unless things got really ugly... I think we need to start actively seeking out the mentally unstable and get really adept at mind-control. Or perhaps another Paul Schrader/Martin Scorsese collaboration?
Gee.
Americans are being forced to change the way they live?
This would, in fact, be a lot easier if Americans would voluntarily change the way they live. But let's face it, many of them aren't going to - being forced is pretty much inevitable given that our resources on this planet are not unlimited.
The people living "the west" at large, not just America, OUGHT to change the way they live. This has been a long time coming, and I'm not particularly heartbroken to see the beginnings of what will likely be a long term correction.
I knew I shouldn't have clicked on that video.
i hope bush and cheney and cundi leave the country after
this horrendous administration is up in jan.
because out of the bounds of this nation's borders
waits an indictment with extraordinary rendition
for them all. the world knows bush, cheney and cundi
are criminals and they will act on these crimes while
congress tries not to step on their own balls.
Weaseldog @ 62:
Well capitalism is not working as designed because we don't have capitalism. Government colluding with big business is more align with a soft type of facism/corporatism. Also the various programs we have also give us a more socialist bent than anything resembling capitalism. We also have a mercantalist slant when invading middle eastern countries.
Capitalism- itself, has no design. It is just people cooperating to trade goods and services.
You know, many states have a magic wand when it comes to electricity and natural gas. It's called "price controls".
"I think it was in the Rose Garden where I issued this brilliant statement: If I had a magic wand — but the President doesn't have a magic wand"
And this is what he thinks constitutes a brilliant statement?!......no magic wand indeed Mr. Bush....the mere fact that you're still here is a testament to that.
What we don't need is anymore of his deluded narcissism........ but access to the transcripts to the closed door energy policy meetings Cheney had after he was sworn into office...the first painful go around..........
Eric in Ottawa @ 70:
Even if Americans completely changed the way they lived and stopped using oil- our cost of living would continue to rise. Why? Because the US dollar is declining due to the Federal Reserve's "lets print money" policies to "stimulate" the economy and keep up the pace with congressional spending.
It is time we had the government completely change ITS role- and its time we had more rules and regulations on GOVERMENT institutions like the federal reserve.
Wow. I can think of a magic wand that's within reach of the Bully Pulpit.
Nationalize. The. Oil. Industry.
Duh.
You know, I hear Congress has a magic wand. It's called 'Impeachment'.
There's something really frustrating being lectured to in a condescending way, as if we don't really understand the issue, by a man who quite obviously doesn't know the issue!!!
Therein lies Bush's hubris. For him, the problem isn't really the problem, but the perception like you don't have a solution is the problem. So if you sound like you have a simple solution (e.g.- get more oil and you'll no longer have an oil problem), then there's nothing more to talk about.
so much distortion and misinformation in so few sentences.
Bushie lives in a total dream world. But it's OK--they know him there.
His smarmy little smirk just goes all over me. I'd like to smack him in his stupid face.
I'll throw him and his doings in all my Neoconservative acquaintances's faces till the end of time. Bush: Worse than useless.
Tony @ 29:
Sure you feel this strongly about it Tony ? Too bad Reid and Pelosi don't care.
BeeSting @ 30:
He's smirking because he actually remembered the talking points and feels he delivered them outstandingly. He's also smirking because he thinks he was brilliant (he actually says this, brilliant), because he used the magic wand reference and felt it was so brilliant that it needed to be repeated. He is i-n-s-a-n-e.
He found his magic wand when it came to funding the Iraq War.
He waved it and Bang!
Hundreds of billions of dollars out of his wazoo.
JTM @ 67:
You know, that's amazing. I actually had no idea that 'the stupidest f*()ing human being on earth' (according to General Tommy Franks) was testifying publicly today.
Woof, media lapdogs. Woof Adrea Mitchell. Woof.
Now, sit there with that treat balanced on your nose until I tell you that you can eat it.
Ron @ 49:
Indeed, though lots stood by and allowed it, and still do.
....... I just got more dumber watching him spout the usual crap ..... I really must just ignore the US and it's people till early next year and see what is going on then !
Theguy @ 76:
Sure, I'll agree with you there.
Frankly, I'm hoping that the economic situation down there pisses enough people off that they will demand changes in the banking system and corporate laws in order to put a halt to the transfer of wealth away from the many into the pockets of a few. And hopefully, while they're at it, they'll bring back small, transparent, democratic and accountable governance.
Wishful thinking. Pie in the sky. But here's hoping...
Theguy @ 73:
Ooops, I forgot the /SARCAM tags. My bad.
Weaseldog @ 87:
Hrmmm, /SARCASM
The mere fact that this buffoon has a 29% +or- approval rating demonstrates just how ignorant our country really is.
Is there ANYONE with a lick of intelligence that can watch this idiot and be proud of how he is handling our domestic problems, let alone our aggressive influence around the world.
We truly are a nation of f*cking morons...led by the biggest idiot of them all.
The propaganda network will always have an audience, cause we are just that stupid.