September 6, 2007
24 Hours in Boston (Ron Christie)
Earlier this week I ventured into the capital of the nation’s bluest state to conduct several meetings in Boston. That same day, journalist Robert Draper released his new work Dead Certain, a historical account of the presidency of George W. Bush. This is important to this story, as I had a copy of the book while I was being driven to a television studio to spar with Chris Matthews about a line his staff plucked from the epilogue in which President Bush speculated that he might like to give speeches following his presidency to “replenish the coffers.”
When the driver asked me what we were to speak about, she laughed as I told her. “Of course the president should think about his future,” she told me. “Anyone who doesn’t think of what they’ll do next is being foolish.” The driver continued by confiding that she was a big fan of the president and that she admired his strong leadership. While Chris Matthews and his other guest thought that it was “unseemly” that the president would consider life after the White House at a time of war, one citizen with whom I spoke agreed that the president is clearly preoccupied with protecting the country as well as the men and women he sent into battle to protect us all. A reflection upon the future now and then is not only normal, but to be expected, despite the protestations to the contrary of the chattering class on television.
The following day, I appeared on National Public Radio where I confronted the same “astonishment” about the line in the book regarding the president’s future plans. I still don’t fathom how people in the media could try to insinuate that the president has failed to focus on his job when it is clear that his entire mandate, which he accepts without hesitation, is to protect our country.
Scratching my head after yet another “astonished” interview regarding the president’s future plans, I traveled back to Boston from Brighton and shared a cab with an executive from a leading civic organization in town. “Is that the new book about the president?” she asked. When I told her it was, she admitted that while a Democrat and not entirely fond of the president’s politics, she admired him for being a strong leader and doing what he thought was best to defend the country against future terrorist attacks.
The interesting exchange in the cab for me took place when she asked me about the president’s intelligence: “I know he’s really smart, but the media doesn’t show him that way, do they?” That has been my frustration with the media coverage and the political posturing on Capitol Hill regarding President Bush for quite some time now. Many in the media and most congressional Democrats seem more interested in attacking the president, incessantly questioning his motives and seeking to score political points, than they are about taking responsible steps to safeguard this country and do the job they were hired to do by the American people.
Having spent 24 hours in Boston this week and chatting with a half-dozen strangers who walked up to me to ask about President Bush, I can tell you that to a person they admired, respected and applauded the president’s focus on protecting this country against future attack. I only wish the media would allow the American people to see George W. Bush as the strong, resolute leader that he is rather than a caricature of a bumbling, unfocused individual they take pains to create and perpetuate on a daily basis.
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Ron, are you a paid apologist, and/or revisionist, for the RNC? That posting was about as deep as the Great Salt Lake.
So Ron took a six-person sampling in a town of millions and is now drawing conclusions from it. Might the sampling be a bit biased? Perhaps the sampling size (n=6) is too small for a populated east coast City?
Ron, the rose colored glasses just don't work. Your ideals and opinions are too biased for you to be trying to portrait an objective writer.
Perhaps nursing is a proffession you, Ron, could excercise your biased optimism and actually get results that benefit society, as opposed to wrecking society.
Ron, did you ever tell Cheney I wanted his resignation? If yes, what'd he say?
Comment by Chris in NM — September 6, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
He was smart enough to "facilitate" 9/11, but he is gambling smart. He is betting that we keep our illegal beachhead in Iraq. He is betting that the Demcons will go along with oil stealing, and so far he is correct.
Comment by Gary Anderson — September 6, 2007 @ 12:34 pm
Bush will be remembered as the man who transformed the Middle East. A lot more than we can say about Clinton, Bush Sr, and Carter.
Comment by Igor R. — September 6, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Ron;
I saw your pathetic attempt to debate Jon Stolz on Hardball. You equated your sitting in the Oval Office with serving in Iraq! How dare you! You are just a paid lackey for Bush/Cheney who doesn't have a honorable bone in your body. I thought you were pathetic before but after watching your exchange with Jon, you really confirmed it for me.
Comment by Mike Coleman — September 6, 2007 @ 3:49 pm
Mike: I saw the same exchange and you are making up stories, as Democrats do. Ron said that he had been in the Oval Office and the Cabinet Room with the President and listened to Bush outline the stakes and the consequences of winning the war on terrorism. Not only did he not equate his service in the White House to the other fellow's service in Iraq, Christie went one step further the THANK the solider for his service to his country. Just another lie by another jaded Democrat. Get with it.
Comment by John Robinson — September 6, 2007 @ 5:03 pm
I don't think very many people hold the national media in much respect. They come off as a bunch of whiners and American hating complainers.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — September 6, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
Ron, I'll bet that if George Bush went to Boston, as you did, and walked around and chatted with the locals, as you claim that you did, and heard their comments about his strength and intelligence, I'm sure that if he did this the media would make sure that Americans would see George Bush as he really is.
Personally I don't think he'd dare set foot in Boston, which indicates that he's not THAT stupid.
Comment by Don Bacon — September 6, 2007 @ 6:43 pm
John Robinson;
Making up stories? Are you one of those suckups to Bush/Cheney like Ron? From the take of your post, it sure sounds like it. how can you compare getting shot at in war to sitting in a comfortable chair listening to a delusional person? It ain't the same. Also, this is not a war on terrorism, it is a war on US, teh American Citizen. Tell how has the Patriot Act is doing in catching Bin Laden? On that note, why hasn't Bush caught Bin Laden, could it be that Salem Bin Laden lent Georgie money back in teh good ole days. Could it be that Bush Allowed the Bin Laden Family to leave the US after 9/11. John, don't give me this BS about a war on terrorism, it won't wash when the man responsible for it is still at large and Georgie boy hasn't brought him to trial yet. This is just more money for the have mores.
Comment by Mike Coleman — September 6, 2007 @ 7:14 pm
It's funny how Ron can find the Bush lovers, isn't it? It's funny, there aren't too many of those here in my world. what about all of you? Igor, George Bush has transformed the Middle East into chaos, which suits you and your ilk just fine. Do you have any children fighting over there in Bush Paradise?
Comment by Chris Calbi — September 6, 2007 @ 7:33 pm
John: I ALSO watched the exchange, and I ALSO got the impression he was likening his service to that of a soldier:
CHRISTIE: "I am very pleased and honored by the fact that you chose to wear the uniform of this country.
"But I also chose to serve this country. And I have been involved in public service, serving the United States and the American people, for most of my professional career. So, I do have the ability to judge the president, not only as one who is a very strong man and one who knows exactly what he’s doing.
"But, unlike you, Jon, I have actually sat in the Oval Office. I have sat in the Cabinet Room and listened to the president talk about the solemn responsibility that he and he alone must bear as the commander in chief, who you reported to as a soldier, and recognize that he knows exactly what’s at stake. He knows exactly what the consequences are for sending men and women in battle.
"So for you to suggest that the president is only trying to cash out, he knows and that’s why he was outraged by what happened at Walter Reed."
I found this passage by Christie to be quite stunning. And sad. And disturbing.
Comment by Katrina Sharpf — September 6, 2007 @ 9:01 pm
Chris Calbi, no I don't have any children fighting anywhere. This has nothing to do with the fact that since the dawn of civilization in Mesopotamia the people there have never known freedom, and George Bush gave it to them. It also has nothing to do with the fact that in spite of the Democrats' best efforts to force America into defeat by legislation and propaganda from the highest offices, in spite of their un-interrupted stream of lies and truth-suppression on the real situation in Iraq, the war there is finally being won so decisively that the traitorous Democrats will have to let the war come to its natural conclusion: victory.
When they lost Katie Couric, they lost their grip on America.
Comment by Igor R. — September 6, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
If you sat in the oval office, you are either naive or you are in bed with thieves. We went into Iraq to steal oil. and that stealing is wrong for individuals and for governments.
When are you going to realize, and when is Rosencrans going to realize that stealing and the murder of Iraq people that comes with stealing oil is wrong?
Comment by Gary Anderson — September 6, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
Christie is likely the most heinous of authoritarian slugs on the pundit trail today. To revisit this post, his Boston trip description has to be one of the most disingenuous posts that I have ever read, even from him. He seems to be hell bent on disputing the idea that 75% of the American people aren't buying the scam, and want us out of Iraq; on behalf of his devotion to George Bush. Because of this I'll single him out and ask him, after he has defended this hollow President, who doesn't have the brains to keep his mouth shut about his future cashing in on the deaths that he has been responsible for. The question is, Ron, how to you feel about bush bragging, in Australia, about us "kicking their asses"? Have you ever thought of how the parents of a soldier who died, would feel, hearing that? Or the parents of a soldier who they know is sweating in that desert, with no mission and no end game?
To feel this way is anyone's right. To express it in those terms though, when you're the leader of the greatest country in history, is simply ignorant and sad.
Comment by Chris Calbi — September 7, 2007 @ 7:56 am
Chris Calbi who had accused me of being "belligerent" is calling someone "the most heinous of authoritarian slugs". I think Chris Calbi just gets off on coming up with the nastiest non-obscene names he can call people.
Comment by Igor R. — September 7, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Ron,
I'll give you a call the next time I need some spin. If you can get 100% pro-Bush (even with n=6), you are good.
Comment by BCC — September 7, 2007 @ 3:07 pm
Ron,
I'll give you a call the next time I need some spin. If you can get 100% pro-Bush in MA (even with n=6), you are good.
Comment by BCC — September 7, 2007 @ 3:08 pm
Hey everyone, listen to Igor. Iraq has been set free by George Bush! With little electricity and clean drinking water, with foreign occupiers kicking in doors, this country has been turned into Shangri-la, by Mr. "bring it on" and "we're kicking their asses" George Bush. The Igor crowd is lining up to move over there, to indulge themselves in that safe and heady haven.
Sectarian violence is down 75%, my dear war mongers. the problem is that we've, once again, moved the goal post, and changed the definition of sectarian violence.
These bloodthirsty Igors just can't get enough of kicking "Islamofascist" ass.
Comment by Chris Calbi — September 7, 2007 @ 4:18 pm
Ron Christie, how dare you compare your service to bush/cheney to a man or woman serving in Iraq. Were you in danger of being shot every day? (unless you upset Cheney) Were you sweltering in 120+ heat day after day? Were you afraid every time you got in a humvee and had to patrol the roads in Iraq? Don't for one single minute ever think what you did sitting in the White House compares one little bit with a soldier's job in Iraq. You are a first class jerk! Don't tell me you are a brave soldier, you don't have the balls to enlist in the service of the United States. Go back under what ever rock you crawled from.
Comment by liberAL — September 7, 2007 @ 7:15 pm
“I know he’s really smart, but the media doesn’t show him that way, do they?”
I know, right? Like how the news media depicted him in Australia this week, praising the contribution of that nation's "Austrian troops" to the war in Iraq.
Can't get any smarter than that!
Comment by ron_notchristie — September 7, 2007 @ 7:46 pm
Mr. Christie, your attempt to even try to equate your political jobs with people who are actually fighting your war is shameful. If you really support this war, see a military recruiter tomorrow and stop making others fight the war you want so badly.
Comment by Joe — September 8, 2007 @ 1:03 am
Shame on you Ron Christie for trying to compare your political jobs with serving in the US military.
Shame on you also for removing comments from here you don't like. (Yes, these negative comments are probably the best ones he's getting)
Comment by Sam Grere — September 8, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Igor R.-
Do you personally know any enlisted servicemembers or junior officers in our military?
Have you encouraged your own relatives and friends, your circles of influence, if eligible to serve [healthy heterosexuals 41-or-under], to volunteer for military service?
If you haven't even done that, you're not really Supporting President Bush. You want him to fail.
I'll have to agree with you on one thing, however. He HAS transformed the Middle East. But he has yet to do so in a good way that will improve our nation's security in the long term.
Comment by Karl O. — September 8, 2007 @ 3:03 pm
Ron-
During this visit to Boston, or at any time in your entire life, have you seen the inside of a military recruiting station?
Comment by Operation Yellow Elephant — September 8, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Igor R.-
You're quite right.
President George W. Bush "43″ has DEFINITELY "transformed" the Middle East - into what? Look at all of the Iraqis voting with their feet.
Comment by Karl O. — September 8, 2007 @ 9:08 pm
Igor R.-
There must be some reason why Jenna Bush's fiance Henry Hager, and other healthy heterosexual young Republican males, have yet to find their way to a military recruiting station to Be A Man! Enlist!
It just shows you how much confidence President Bush and his strongest supporters have in the Surge.
Comment by Operation Yellow Elephant — September 8, 2007 @ 9:11 pm
As a Navy veteran, I am surprised Mr. Stolz for not giving Ron a belt in the mouth after uttering such an insulting comparison of "service". Monica was in the Oval Office too.
Comment by Mark J — September 10, 2007 @ 2:34 am
Igor states, "Bush will be remembered as the man who transformed the Middle East".
He already has, numb nuts. Look at the carnage Igor. Bush has guaranteed an enemy for our grandchildren to deal with.
Igor, you really believe Iraq is a "war" huh?
Comment by Lester — September 11, 2007 @ 1:01 am