Audio | Text | Bush Flip Flops
I think an important point must be made about this section of the web site. Everyone knows that George W. Bush butchers the english language on an almost daily basis. He cannot speak within the defined rules of sentence structure. He invents words, uses the wrong word for something else quite often. He uses incorrect tense, pronouns, and commits other errors that my 10 year old cousin does. For this reason, listening to the man speak without a prepared speech used to embarrass me, while the rest of the world pointed and laughed.
After getting used to this "butchery" (his word, not mine) of the English language, I realized something else that alarmed and embarrassed me even further. While the poor English still bothered me, I slowly began to realize that the scary part of Bush's speech is that it revealed how completely clueless he is about several different aspects of his job. It's not that he can't formulate the words to describe a coherent, clear, thought - it's that he honestly doesn't know the answer, and the mangled sentence that follows is direct result of him trying to bullshit everyone.
Please click here to see the exact point that I realized this, and turn up your speakers loud enough to actually hear reporters laughing at Bush's attempt to answer a question. The big deal isn't when he fucks up an answer like in that example - it's when you're asking him to think about combating terrorism, or nation building, or environmental issues...that's when not knowing can actually hurt.
So while the statements below might seem cute, or funny - I see them as quite alarming. This is not just a public official struggling with answers to important questions. This is our president - our representation to the rest of the world. Happy reading.
"Now, if you're a worker who earns 35 dollars a year over
your lifetime, and this system were in effect where you could put 4 percent
of your payroll taxes in a personal account, and you started at age 20, by
the time you retired, your personal account would grow to 250,000 dollars.
That's compounding rate of interest."
--2/10/05 in Raleigh, NC. (audio)
"Surveys show that the vast majority of people do want to participate in democracy. And, ahh, some are feeling intimidated. I urge alls people to vote." --1/26/05 in Washington DC. (audio)
"I'm also looking forward to the Iraqi elections on January the 30th. This is an extraordinary year, when you think about it. In the first month of a new year, there will be an election in -- in the Palestinian territory and there will be an election in Iraq. Who could have possibly envisioned an erect-sh -- an election in Iraq at this point in history?" --1/10/05 from the white house. (audio)
"Now, one of the important aspects of my vision is that this is not automatic citizenship. The American people must understand that. That if somebody who is here working wants to be a citizen, they can get in line like those who have been here legally and have been working to become a citizenship in a legal manner." --2/20/04 Washinton DC. (audio)
"We will not have an all-volunteer army. And yet, this week ---- we will have an all-volunteer army!" --10/16/04 Daytona Beach, FL (audio)
"Uhhh -- Bob, we relied upon a company out of England to provide about half of the flu vaccines for the United States citizen, and it turned out that the vaccine they were producing was contaminated. And so we took the right action and didn't allow contamidated medicine into our country." --Presidential Debate, 10/13/04 (audio and by the way, the "company out of England" is Chiron Corporation of Emeryville, California)
"Uhh -- I hear there's rumors on the, uhh, Internets that we're gonna have a -- draft. We're not going to have a draft. Period." -- Second Presidential Debate, St. Louis, MO. (audio)
"It is naive and dangerous to take a policy that he suggested the other day, which is to have bilatarelations with North Korea." -- Second Presidential Debate, St. Louis, MO. (audio)
"The truth of the matter is, if you listen carefully, Saddam would still be in power if he [John Kerry] were the President of the United States, and the world would be a lot better off." -- Second Presidential Debate, St. Louis, MO. (audio)
"My concerns about the Senator is that, in the course of this campaign I've been listening very carefully to what he says, and he changes positions on the war on Iraq. It's a -- changes positions on something as ff -- fundamental as what you believe in your core, in your heart of hearts is right for -- in Iraq. I -- you cannot lead if you send mexed miss -- mixed messages." 9/30/04 First Presidential Debate, Coral Gables, FL. (audio)
"We got an issue in America. Too many good docs are gettin' out of business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their -- their love with women all across this country." 9/6/04, Poplar Bluff, MO (audio)
REPORTER 1: You're not going to Athens this week, are you?
DUBYA: Athens, Texas?
REPORTER 1: Ol -- the Olympics, in Greece.
DUBYA: Oh, the Olympics? No, I'm not.
REPORTER 2: Have you been watching them?
DUBYA: Oh, yeah, yeah, it's been exciting.
REPORTER 2: Any particular moment stand out?
DUBYA: Umm -- particular moment? I like the -- let's see -- uhhhm -- Iraqi
soccer. I liked -- I liked seein' the Afghan woman carryin' the flag comin'
in. I loved, uhh -- you know, our gymnasts. I've been watching the swimming.
I like th' -- I've seen a lot, yeah. Listen, thank you all. --8/23/04,
Crawford Texas (audio)
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." --8/5/04, Washington DC. (audio)
"Americans are serving and sacrificing to keep this country safe and to bring freedom to others. After the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, this nation resolved to fight terrorists where they dwell. We resolved to arm the terrorist enemy." --7/4/04 Charleston, WV. (audio)
REPORTER: So when you say that you want the U.S. to adhere to
international and U.S. laws, that's not very comforting. This is a moral question.
Is terr -- torture ever justified?
DUBYA: Look, I'm gonna say it one more time. I can -- if I can -- maybe --
maybe I can be more clear. The instructions went out to our people to adhere
to law. That oughtta comfort you. We -- we're a nation of law. We adhere to
laws. We have laws on the books. You might look at those laws. And that might
provide comfort for you. And those were the instructions out of -- from me
to the government. --6/10/04 Savannah, GA. (audio)
"In terms of your Prime Minister, he's a -- interesting guy. He's
a lot of fun to be around. He promotes, uhh, serious business in a, in a,
in a way that, uhh, endears himself to people. And so, uhh, I think his presidency
has been an important presidency for the EU during difficult times, and he's
handled it well. And, umm, I was gonna say he's a piece of work, but that
might not translate too well. Is that all right, if I call you a piece of
work?" -- 6/20/05 White House (audio)
"In terms of, umm -- you know, the -- the detainees, we've had thousands of people detained. We've investigated every single complaint against the detainees. It seemed like to me they based some of their decisions on, on the word of, uhh -- and the allegations -- by people who were held in detention, people who hate America, people that had been trained in some instances to disassemble -- that means not tell the truth. And so it was an absurd report. It just is. And, uhh, you know -- yes, sir." -- 5/31/05 White House (audio)
"Here's the way the system works. Two folks work, they both contribute to the Social Security system. If one dies early, the -- thees, the spouse, the -- remaining spouse gets to choose her benefits or his benefits, which are ever greater, but not both. Think about that system." -- 5/24/05 Greece, NY (audio)
"If you're a two-working family like a lotta families are here in America, and, uhh -- two people working in your family, and the, the spouse dies early -- before 62, for example -- all of the money that the spouse has put into the system, uhh, is gum -- held there, and then when the other spouse retires, he or she gets to choose the benefits from his or her own work, or the other spouse's benefits, which is ever higher but not both." -- 4/28/05 White House (audio)
"Today I am pleased to announce that I have nominated an outstanding military officer, Admiral Ed -- Ammiral Ed Giambasteen -- Deh -- Giam -- Giambastiani." -- 4/22/05 (audio)
"Iran is not Iraq. We just started the diplomatic efforts, and I wanna thank -- uhh, our friends for taking the lead and I -- we will work with them, to convince the moolahs that they need to give up their nukyular ambitions." -- 2/23/05 Mainz, Germany (audio)
"Now, if you're a worker who earns 35 dollars a year over your lifetime, and this system were in effect where you could put 4 percent of your payroll taxes in a personal account, and you started at age 20, by the time you retired, your personal account would grow to 250,000 dollars. That's compounding rate of interest." -- 2/10/05 Raleigh, North Carolina (audio)
" Surveys show that the vast majority of people do want to participate in democracy. And, ahh, some are feeling intimidated. I urge alls people to vote." -- 1/26/05 Washington, D.C. (audio)
"Rick Sanchez has done a fabulous job. He's been there for a -- a long time. His service has been exemplorary." -- 5/25/04 White House (audio)
"Under the dictator, prisons like Abu Gar -- reb -- were symbols of death and torture. That same prison became a symbol of disgraceful conduct by a few American troops who dishonored our country and "disregardered" our values. America will fund the construction of a modern, maximum security prison. When that prison is completed, detainees at Abu Garomp will be relocated. Then, with the approval of the Iraqi government, we will demolish the Abu Garab prison, as a fitting symbol of Iraq's new beginning." -- 5/24/04 United States Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania (audio)
"We're encouraged to see more Iraqs take responsibility for resolving the standoff in Najaf." -- 5/10/04, Washington, D.C. (audio)
"I'm a uniter, not a divider. That means when it comes time to sew up your chest cavity, we use stitches as opposed to opening it up." --3/2/00 on CBS's Late Show w/David Letterman.
"We don't believe in planner and deciders making the decisions on behalf of Americans." --9/6/00 in Scranton, PA
"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." --2/21/01 from a speech in Townsend, TN
"When I put my hand on the bible, I will swear to no - to uphold the laws of the land." --10/27/00 Toledo, OH
"First, we would not accept a treaty that would not have been ratified, nor a treaty that I thought made sense for the country." --4/24/01 referring to the Kyoto Accord in an Interview with the Washington Post.
"America is not ready to overturn Roe v. Wade because America's hearts are not right." --3/10/99
"We must have the attitude that every child in America, regardless of where they're raised or how they're born, can learn." --4/18/01 from a speech delivered in New Britain, CT
"I can't remember any specific books." --8/26/99 answering an elementary school student when asked to name his favorite book as a child.
"I did denounce it. I de-- I denounced it. I denounced interracial dating. I denounced anti-Catholic bigacy -- bigotry." --2/5/00 responding to criticism that he visited Bob Jones University.
"Nobody needs to tell me what I believe. But I do need somebody to tell me where Kosovo is." --8/25/99 as quoted in Talk Magazine.
"When I'm the president, we're not going to obfuscate when it comes to foreign police." --1/7/00 Republican debate in NH.
"And by the way, I'm still negotiating with myself...And good Americans such as yourself are trying to get me to negotiate with myself." --3/29/01 White House press conference.
"It's important for us to explain to our nation that life is important. It's not only life of babies, but it's life of children living in, you know, the dark dungeons of the Internet." --10/24/00 from a speech delivered in Arlington Heights, IL.
"My education message will resignate amongst all parents." --1/19/00 as quoted in the New York Post.
"I don't see many shades of gray in the war and terror. Either you're with us, or against us. And it's a struggle between good and it's a struggle between evil. --2/8/02 speaking in Denver, CO at the 2002 Cattle Industry Convention.
"When I was coming up, it was a dangerous world, and you knew exactly who they were. It was us versus them, and it was clear who them was. Today we are not so sure who they are, but we know they're there." --1/21/00 from a speech given at Iowa Western Community College.
"I'm gonna get it mixed up but they had 10,00 square foot of warehouse, no they've got hundreds of thousands of square foot of warehouse." --1/5/02 referring to a corporate success story in CA during a town hall meeting.
"One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures." --1/3/00 as quoted in US News & World Report.
"No, can you?" --11/4/99 when asked by a reporter to name the president of Chechnya.
"We will use our technology to enhance uncertainties abroad." --3/6/00 The president was referring to foreign threats, as quoted in the NY Times.
"The federal government puts about 6% of the money up. They put about 60% of the strings, where you go to fill out the paperwork. A teacher has to be a paperwork-filler-outer." --10/17/00 St. Louis, MO.
"The California crunch really is the result of not enough power to power the power of generating plants." --1/14/01 from an interview with the NY Times.
"The new prime minister of India is-- no." 11/4/00 when asked by a reporter to name the Prime Minister of India
"General--I can't name the general. General." --11/4/99 when asked by a reported to name the leader of Pakistan
"If I don't practice I'm going to destroy this language." --6/12/01 during an interview with a Spanish TV station in Florida
"I flew down on the airplane today with some distinguished members of the North Carolina Congressional delegation. First, a true gentleman, and someone every time I sees him talks about North Carolina in the most glowing terms, and that's Senator Jesse Helms." --1/30/02 speaking in Winston-Salem, NC on CNN
"Laura and I are proud to call John & Michelle Engler our friends. I know you're proud to call him governor. What a good man the Englers are." --11/3/00 from speech made in Grand Rapids, MI.
"If anybody harbors a terrorist, they're a terrorist. If they fund a terrorist, they're a terrorist. If they house terrorists, they're terrorists. I mean, I can't make it any more clearly to other nations around the world." --11/26/01 from a press conference at the White House.
"But the true threats to stability and peace are these nations that are not very transparent, that hide behind the -- that don't let people in to take a look and see what they're up to. They're very kind of authoritarian regimes. The true threat is whether or not one of these people decide, peak of anger, try to hold us hostage, ourselves; the Israelis, for example, to whom we'll defend, off our defenses; the South Koreans." --3/13/01 speaking to the media in Washington DC
"It's your money. You paid for it." --10/18/00 in La Crosse, WI.
"Mr. Vice President, in all due respect, it is -- I'm not sure 80% of people get the death tax. I know this: 100% will get it if I'm the president." --10/17/00 from Presidential Debate in St. Louis, MO.
"I made the decision to name the Justice Department building after Robert Kennedy, because he's deservant." --11/20/01 speaking to reporters in the oval office.
"I don't know, maybe I made it up. Anyway, it's an abro-tree-ist, somebody who knows about trees." --8/11/01, from his Texas Ranch, as quoted in USA Today
"I've supported the administration in Colombia. I think it's important for us to be training Colombians in that part of the world. The hemisphere is in our interest to have a peaceful Columbia." --10/11/00 presidential debate, Winston-Salem, NC.
"If you're asking me whether or not as to the innocence or guilt or if people have had adequate access to the courts in Texas, I believe they have." --6/10/00 answering a question by an AP reporter.
"And I see Bill Buckley is here tonight -- fellow Yale Man. We go way back, and we have a lot in common. Bill wrote a book at Yale -- I read one." --10/19/00 comments made at the Al Smith Memorial Dinner in NY.
"Right hand up, please. Actually right hand on your heart." --6/11/01 instructing a group of new citizen at an Ellis Island citizenship ceremony.
"They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's some kind of federal program." --11/2/00 St. Charles, MO.
"One reason I like to highlight reading is, reading is the beginnings of the ability to be a good student. And if you can't read, it's going to be hard to realize dreams. It's going to be hard to go to college. So when your teachers say read -- you ought to listen to her." --2/9/01
"I don't know whether I'm going to win or not. i think I am. I do know I'm ready for the job. And if not, that's just the way it goes." --8/21/00
"It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it." --5/5/00 as reported by Reuters.
"The American people wants a president that appeals to the angels" 8/00 during GOP political convention speech.
"I would have said yes to abortion if only it was right. I mean, yeah it's right. Well, no it's not right -- that's why I said no to it." -2/14/00 in South Carolina
"Redefining the role of the United States from enablers to keep the peace to enablers to keep the peace from peacekeepers is going ot be an assignment." --1/14/01 as quoted in the NY Times.
"Education is not my top priority - education is my top priority." 2/27/01, from a budget speech in Washington D.C.
"The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case." --1/30/00 from a speech in Pella, IA and quoted in the San Antonio Express-News.
"Actually, this may sound a little West Texan to you, but I like it when I'm talking about myself, and when he's talking aobut myself, all of us are talking about me." --5/31/00 on MSNBC's Hardball.
"I understand small business growth. I was one." --2/19/00 quoted in the NY Daily News.
"The important question is, how many hands have I shaked?" --10/23/99 quoted in the NY Times when he was asked why he handn't spent more time in NH.
"Laura and I really don't realize how bright our children is sometimes until we get an objective analysis." --4/15/2000 made on NBC's Meet the Press
"I think if you're going to do something and don't do it, that's trustworthiness." --8/30/00 From CNN online Chat
"They misunderestimated me." --11/6/00 in Bentonville, AR
"...Magna Carter..." --5/30/01 standing before giant redwood trees in California, the president stated that the trees were there when the 'magna carter' was signed.
"Drug therapies are replacing a lot of medicines as we used to know it." --10/17/00 at St. Louis Presidential Debate
"We ought to make the pie higher." --2/15/00 Columbia SC, during presidential comapaign.
You cannot inherently understand this man unless you understand one of his most common practices as President - flip flopping. Now, I know what you're thinking - the liberal media applied that label to John Kerry, but the two major changes of heart assigned to him are completely inaccurate. The first, the war in Iraq, was actually an issue Kerry was almost 100% consistent with the entire 4 years that has been a debate. You can read a great article on that here. Secondly, Kerry was accused of flip-flopping on the vote 87 billion of extra funding for troops - the famous "I voted for it before I voted against it." Well, the truth of the matter was, there were two votes. Kerry voted for the measure that would take the 87 billion out of Bush's billionaire tax cuts, but then voted against it when it was discovered we'd borrow from the national debt for the money. But, enough about Kerry. Lets get to the Bush Record:
1. Social Security Surplus
BUSH PLEDGES NOT TO TOUCH SOCIAL SECURITY SURPLUS... "We're going to
keep the promise of Social Security and keep
the government from raiding the Social Security surplus." [President
Bush, 3/3/01]
...BUSH SPENDS SOCIAL SECURITY SURPLUS The New York Times reported that "the
president's new budget uses Social
Security surpluses to pay for other programs every year through 2013, ultimately
diverting more than $1.4 trillion
in Social Security funds to other purposes." [The New York Times, 2/6/02]
2. Patient's Right to Sue
GOVERNOR BUSH VETOES PATIENTS' RIGHT TO SUE... "Despite his campaign
rhetoric in favor of a patients' bill of
rights, Bush fought such a bill tooth and nail as Texas governor, vetoing
a bill coauthored by Republican state Rep.
John Smithee in 1995. He... constantly opposed a patient's right to sue an
HMO over coverage denied that resulted in
adverse health effects." [Salon, 2/7/01]
...CANDIDATE BUSH PRAISES TEXAS PATIENTS' RIGHT TO SUE... "We're one
of the first states that said you can sue an
HMO for denying you proper coverage... It's time for our nation to come together
and do what's right for the people.
And I think this is right for the people. You know, I support a national patients'
bill of rights, Mr. Vice
President. And I want all people covered. I don't want the law to supersede
good law like we've got in Texas."
[Governor Bush, 10/17/00]
...PRESIDENT BUSH'S ADMINISTRATION ARGUES AGAINST RIGHT TO SUE "To let
two Texas consumers, Juan Davila and Ruby R.
Calad, sue their managed-care companies for wrongful denials of medical benefits
‘would be to completely undermine'
federal law regulating employee benefits, Assistant Solicitor General James
A. Feldman said at oral argument March
23. Moreover, the administration's brief attacked the policy rationale for
Texas's law, which is similar to statutes
on the books in nine other states." [Washington Post, 4/5/04]
3. Tobacco Buyout
BUSH SUPPORTS CURRENT TOBACCO FARMERS' QUOTA SYSTEM... "They've got the
quota system in place -- the allotment
system -- and I don't think that needs to be changed." [President Bush,
5/04]
...BUSH ADMINISTRATION WILL SUPPORT FEDERAL BUYOUT OF TOBACCO QUOTAS "The
administration is open to a buyout."
[White House spokeswoman Jeanie Mamo, 6/18/04]
4. North Korea
BUSH WILL NOT OFFER NUCLEAR NORTH KOREA INCENTIVES TO DISARM... "We developed
a bold approach under which, if the
North addressed our long-standing concerns, the United States was prepared
to take important steps that would have
significantly improved the lives of the North Korean people. Now that North
Korea's covert nuclear weapons program
has come to light, we are unable to pursue this approach." [President's
Statement, 11/15/02]
...BUSH ADMINISTRATION OFFERS NORTH KOREA INCENTIVES TO DISARM"Well,
we will work to take steps to ease their
political and economic isolation. So there would be -- what you would see
would be some provisional or temporary
proposals that would only lead to lasting benefit after North Korea dismantles
its nuclear programs. So there would
be some provisional or temporary efforts of that nature." [White House
Press Secretary Scott McClellan, 6/23/04]
5. Abortion
BUSH SUPPORTS A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE... "Bush said he...favors leaving
up to a woman and her doctor the abortion
question." [The Nation, 6/15/00, quoting the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,
5/78]
...BUSH OPPOSES A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE "I am pro-life." [Governor
Bush, 10/3/00]
6. OPEC
BUSH PROMISES TO FORCE OPEC TO LOWER PRICES... "What I think the president
ought to do [when gas prices spike] is he
ought to get on the phone with the OPEC cartel and say we expect you to open
your spigots...And the president of the
United States must jawbone OPEC members to lower the price." [President
Bush, 1/26/00]
...BUSH REFUSES TO LOBBY OPEC LEADERS With gas prices soaring in the United
States at the beginning of 2004, the
Miami Herald reported the president refused to "personally lobby oil
cartel leaders to change their minds." [Miami
Herald, 4/1/04]
7. Iraq Funding
BUSH SPOKESMAN DENIES NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR THE REST OF 2004... "We
do not anticipate requesting
supplemental funding for '04" [White House Budget Director Joshua Bolton,
2/2/04]
...BUSH REQUESTS ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR IRAQ FOR 2004 "I am requesting
that Congress establish a $25 billion
contingency reserve fund for the coming fiscal year to meet all commitments
to our troops." [President Bush,
Statement by President, 5/5/04]
8. Condoleeza Rice Testimony
BUSH SPOKESMAN SAYS RICE WON'T TESTIFY AS 'A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE'... "Again,
this is not her personal preference;
this goes back to a matter of principle. There is a separation of powers issue
involved here. Historically, White
House staffers do not testify before legislative bodies. So it's a matter
of principle, not a matter of preference."
[White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, 3/9/04]
...BUSH ORDERS RICE TO TESTIFY: "Today I have informed the Commission
on Terrorist Attacks Against the United States
that my National Security Advisor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, will provide public
testimony." [President Bush, 3/30/04]
9. Science
BUSH PLEDGES TO ISSUE REGULATIONS BASED ON SCIENCE..."I think we ought
to have high standards set by agencies that
rely upon science, not by what may feel good or what sounds good." [then-Governor
George W. Bush, 1/15/00]
...BUSH ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS IGNORE SCIENCE "60 leading scientists—including
Nobel laureates, leading medical
experts, former federal agency directors and university chairs and presidents—issued
a statement calling for
regulatory and legislative action to restore scientific integrity to federal
policymaking. According to the
scientists, the Bush administration has, among other abuses, suppressed and
distorted scientific analysis from
federal agencies, and taken actions that have undermined the quality of scientific
advisory panels." [Union of
Concerned Scientists, 2/18/04]
10. Ahmed Chalabi
BUSH INVITES CHALABI TO STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS...President Bush also met
with Chalabi during his brief trip to
Iraq last Thanksgiving [White House Documents 1/20/04, 11/27/03]
...BUSH MILITARY ASSISTS IN RAID OF CHALABI'S HOUSE "U.S. soldiers raided
the home of America's one-time ally Ahmad Chalabi on Thursday and seized documents
and computers." [Washington Post, 5/20/04]
11. Department of Homeland Security
BUSH OPPOSES THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY..."So, creating a Cabinet
office doesn't solve the problem. You
still will have agencies within the federal government that have to be coordinated.
So the answer is that creating a
Cabinet post doesn't solve anything." [White House spokesman Ari Fleischer,
3/19/02]
...BUSH SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY "So tonight, I ask
the Congress to join me in creating a
single, permanent department with an overriding and urgent mission: securing
the homeland of America and protecting
the American people." [President Bush, Address to the Nation, 6/6/02]
12. Weapons of Mass Destruction
BUSH SAYS WE FOUND THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION..."We found the weapons
of mass destruction. We found biological
laboratories...for those who say we haven't found the banned manufacturing
devices or banned weapons, they're wrong,
we found them." [President Bush, Interview in Poland, 5/29/03]
...BUSH SAYS WE HAVEN'T FOUND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION "David Kay
has found the capacity to produce weapons.And
when David Kay goes in and says we haven't found stockpiles yet, and there's
theories as to where the weapons went.
They could have been destroyed during the war. Saddam and his henchmen could
have destroyed them as we entered into
Iraq. They could be hidden. They could have been transported to another country,
and we'll find out." [President
Bush, Meet the Press, 2/7/04]
13. Free Trade
BUSH SUPPORTS FREE TRADE... "I believe strongly that if we promote trade,
and when we promote trade, it will help
workers on both sides of this issue." [President Bush in Peru, 3/23/02]
...BUSH SUPPORTS RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE "In a decision largely driven
by his political advisers, President Bush set
aside his free-trade principles last year and imposed heavy tariffs on imported
steel to help out struggling mills
in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, two states crucial for his reelection."
[Washington Post, 9/19/03]
14. Osama Bin Laden
BUSH WANTS OSAMA DEAD OR ALIVE... "I want justice. And there's an old
poster out West, I recall, that says, 'Wanted:
Dead or Alive.'" [President Bush, on Osama Bin Laden, 09/17/01]
...BUSH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT OSAMA "I don't know where he is.You know,
I just don't spend that much time on him... I
truly am not that concerned about him."[President Bush, Press Conference,
3/13/02]
15. The Environment
BUSH SUPPORTS MANDATORY CAPS ON CARBON DIOXIDE... "[If elected], Governor
Bush will work to...establish mandatory
reduction targets for emissions of four main pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen
oxide, mercury and carbon
dioxide." [Bush Environmental Plan, 9/29/00]
...BUSH OPPOSES MANDATORY CAPS ON CARBON DIOXIDE "I do not believe, however,
that the government should impose on
power plants mandatory emissions reductions for carbon dioxide, which is not
a 'pollutant' under the Clean Air Act."
[President Bush, Letter to Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), 3/13/03]
16. WMD Commission
BUSH RESISTS AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION ON WMD INTELLIGENCE FAILURE... "The
White House immediately turned aside the
calls from Kay and many Democrats for an immediate outside investigation,
seeking to head off any new wide-ranging
election-year inquiry that might go beyond reports already being assembled
by congressional committees and the
Central Intelligence Agency." [NY Times, 1/29/04]
...BUSH SUPPORTS AN OUTSIDE INVESTIGATION ON WMD INTELLIGENCE FAILURE "Today,
by executive order, I am creating an
independent commission, chaired by Governor and former Senator Chuck Robb,
Judge Laurence Silberman, to look at
American intelligence capabilities, especially our intelligence about weapons
of mass destruction." [President Bush,
2/6/04]
17. Creation of the 9/11 Commission
BUSH OPPOSES CREATION OF INDEPENDENT 9/11 COMMISSION... "President Bush
took a few minutes during his trip to Europe
Thursday to voice his opposition to establishing a special commission to probe
how the government dealt with terror
warnings before Sept. 11." [CBS News, 5/23/02]
...BUSH SUPPORTS CREATION OF INDEPENDENT 9/11 COMMISSION "President Bush
said today he now supports establishing an
independent commission to investigate the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks."
[ABC News, 09/20/02]
18. Time Extension for 9/11 Commission
BUSH OPPOSES TIME EXTENSION FOR 9/11 COMMISSION... "President Bush and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) have decided to oppose granting more time to an independent commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks." [Washington Post, 1/19/04]
...BUSH SUPPORTS TIME EXTENSION FOR 9/11 COMMISSION "The White House announced Wednesday its support for a request from the commission investigating the September 11, 2001 attacks for more time to complete its work." [CNN, 2/4/04]
19. One Hour Limit for 9/11 Commission Testimony
BUSH LIMITS TESTIMONY IN FRONT OF 9/11 COMMISSION TO ONE HOUR... "President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney have placed strict limits on the private interviews they will grant to the federal commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks, saying that they will meet only with the panel's top two officials and that Mr. Bush will submit to only a single hour of questioning, commission members said Wednesday." [NY Times, 2/26/04]
...BUSH SETS NO TIMELIMIT FOR TESTIMONY "The president's going to answer all of the questions they want to raise. Nobody's watching the clock." [White House spokesman Scott McClellan, 3/10/04]
20. Gay Marriage
BUSH SAYS GAY MARRIAGE IS A STATE ISSUE... "The state can do what they want to do. Don't try to trap me in this state's issue like you're trying to get me into." [Gov. George W. Bush on Gay Marriage, Larry King Live, 2/15/00]
...BUSH SUPPORTS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BANNING GAY MARRIAGE "Today I call upon the Congress to promptly pass, and to send to the states for ratification, an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of man and woman as husband and wife." [President Bush, 2/24/04]
21. Nation Building
BUSH OPPOSES NATION BUILDING... "If we don't stop extending our troops all around the world in nation-building missions, then we're going to have a serious problem coming down the road." [Gov. George W. Bush, 10/3/00]
...BUSH SUPPORTS NATION BUILDING "We will be changing the regime of Iraq, for the good of the Iraqi people." [President Bush, 3/6/03]
22. Saddam/al Qaeda Link
BUSH SAYS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEEN AL QAEDA AND SADDAM... "You can't distinguish between al Qaeda and Saddam when you talk about the war on terror." [President Bush, 9/25/02]
...BUSH SAYS SADDAM HAD NO ROLE IN AL QAEDA PLOT "We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved in Sept. 11." [President Bush, 9/17/03]
23. U.N. Resolution
BUSH VOWS TO HAVE A UN VOTE NO MATTER WHAT... "No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote. We want to see people stand up and say what their opinion is about Saddam Hussein and the utility of the United Nations Security Council. And so, you bet. It's time for people to show their cards, to let the world know where they stand when it comes to Saddam." [President Bush 3/6/03]
...BUSH WITHDRAWS REQUEST FOR VOTE "At a National Security Council meeting convened at the White House at 8:55 a.m., Bush finalized the decision to withdraw the resolution from consideration and prepared to deliver an address to the nation that had already been written." [Washington Post, 3/18/03]
24. Involvement in the Palestinian Conflict
BUSH OPPOSES SUMMITS... "Well, we've tried summits in the past, as you may remember. It wasn't all that long ago where a summit was called and nothing happened, and as a result we had significant intifada in the area." [President Bush, 04/05/02]
...BUSH SUPPORTS SUMMITS "If a meeting advances progress toward two states living side by side in peace, I will strongly consider such a meeting. I'm committed to working toward peace in the Middle East." [President Bush, 5/23/03]
25. Campaign Finance
BUSH OPPOSES MCCAIN-FEINGOLD... "George W. Bush opposes McCain-Feingold...as an infringement on free expression." [Washington Post, 3/28/2000]
...BUSH SIGNS MCCAIN-FEINGOLD INTO LAW "[T]his bill improves the current system of financing for Federal campaigns, and therefore I have signed it into law." [President Bush, at the McCain-Feingold signing ceremony, 03/27/02]
26. Hybrid Automobiles
Bush Flip: Bush Mocked Gore's Tax Credit for Hybrid Cars
"'How many of you own hybrid electric gasoline engine vehicles? If you look under there, you'll see that's one of the criteria necessary to receive tax relief. So when he talks about targeted tax relief that's pretty darn targeted,' Bush told the Arlington Heights rally, drawing laughs." [Chicago Sun-Times, 10/29/00]
Bush Flop: Bush Supported Investing in Hybrid Cars
In his State of the Union speech, Bush said, "Tonight I am proposing $1.2 billion in research funding so that America can lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen-powered automobiles. ... Join me in this important innovation, to make our air significantly cleaner, and our country much less dependent on foreign sources of energy." [White House, "President Delivers 'State of the Union,'" 1/28/03]
27. Assault Weapons Ban
Bush Flip: Bush Supports Extending Assault Weapons Ban
Ashcroft: "It is my understanding that the president-elect of the United States has indicated his clear support for extending the assault weapons ban, and I will be pleased to move forward with that position." [Confirmation Hearing, Senate Judiciary Committee, 1/17/01]
Bush Flop: Bush Opposes Extension of Assault Weapons Ban
"The White House is opposing addition of gun show and assault weapons restrictions to a bill shielding firearms makers and dealers from lawsuits, prompting angry complaints from Democrats that President Bush is reneging on earlier support for the two proposals...In a statement [on February 24, 2004], the White House urged passage of the lawsuits measure without amendments that might delay its enactment. 'Any amendment that would delay enactment of the bill beyond this year is unacceptable,' the statement said. Democrats interpreted this as an effort to undermine support for the gun-control measures. 'For the president to say he is for the assault weapons ban but then act against it is a flip-flop if there ever was one,' said Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), one of several sponsors
28. Steel Tariffs
Bush Flip: Bush Imposes Steel Tariffs
"President Bush on [March 5, 2002] slapped punishing tariffs of 8% to 30% on several types of imported steel in an effort to help the ailing U.S. industry, drawing criticism from American allies and mixed reviews at home. 'An integral part of our commitment to free trade is our commitment to enforcing trade laws to make sure that America's industries and workers compete on a level playing field,' Bush said in a statement issued by the White House." [USA Today, 3/5/02]
Bush Flop: Bush Rescinds Steel Tariffs
"Facing a potential global trade war, President Bush on [December 4, 2003] lifted tariffs he imposed on foreign steel 21 months ago, declaring the U.S. steel industry healthy and ready to compete despite the industry's claim that it needs more time to recover." [Chicago Tribune, 12/5/03]
And finally, these are for honorable mention:
29. Mr. Bush's broken promise to retire $2 trillion of the national debt;
30. Mr. Bush’s broken promise on control of carbon dioxide emissions
31. Mr. Bush’s reneging on a promise to fully fund the Low Income Home Energy Assistance program (LIHEAP);
32. Mr. Bush’s flip flop on apologizing to China when China forced a US spy plane to land without permission;
33. Mr. Bush's flip flop on whether or not we can win the terror war;
34. Mr. Bush's flip flop on global warming.