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Bush and 'But'-Head
The Wall Street Journal ^ | Friday, October 1, 2004 | JAMES TARANTO

Posted on 10/01/2004 1:17:53 PM PDT by livesbygrace

John Kerry made some strong and sensible statements during the debate last night, but did you notice what the next word usually was? Here are some Kerry quotes:

"I'll never give a veto to any country over our security. But . . ."

"I believe in being strong and resolute and determined. And I will hunt down and kill the terrorists, wherever they are. But . . ."

"We have to be steadfast and resolved, and I am. And I will succeed for those troops, now that we're there. We have to succeed. We can't leave a failed Iraq. But . . ."

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2004; bush; debate; debate1; debates; firstdebate; jamestaranto; kerry
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The best I've seen yet!!
1 posted on 10/01/2004 1:17:53 PM PDT by livesbygrace
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To: livesbygrace
Beat me by 90 seconds...

I'll re-post my comment here because the other thread will get locked -- one of my favorite all-time quotes comes from Jim Quinn in Pittsburgh: "anything before 'but' is bulls**t".

Kerry could have fertilized the entire midwest last night.

2 posted on 10/01/2004 1:22:21 PM PDT by kevkrom (My handle is "kevkrom", and I approved this post.)
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To: livesbygrace

My American Government teacher taught us that whenever somebody says "but" just forget what came before it, what comes before "but" is what the person knows people want to hear, what comes after is what they actually think.


3 posted on 10/01/2004 1:22:35 PM PDT by discostu (run faster run faster you fool you fool)
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To: livesbygrace

Taranto is great when he doesn't talk about Taranto.


4 posted on 10/01/2004 1:27:29 PM PDT by Last Dakotan
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To: livesbygrace
excellent analysis. it's nice to be able to read a WSJ article without having to subscribe; thanks for posting.

QUESTIONS FOR KERRY:

Senator Kerry, did the attack on the World Trade Centers pass your Global Test?

Does shooting children in the back pass the John Kerry Global Test?

Does sawing the head off of innocent strangers meet your Global Test for action?

Are these events the fault of George Bush?

5 posted on 10/01/2004 1:30:02 PM PDT by alrea (Does shooting children in the back pass the John Kerry Global Test?)
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To: livesbygrace

This is fantastic. I knew within myself that Bush came out on top of that debate, and this thoughtful commentary on it really sums up why.


6 posted on 10/01/2004 1:30:07 PM PDT by Live_from_PR_of_Boulder_County (PR means "People's Republic")
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To: livesbygrace

He's a But Monkey!


7 posted on 10/01/2004 1:30:37 PM PDT by bootless (Never Forget - And Never Again)
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To: livesbygrace
Hey butthead, this orange stuff really rocks

I'm gonna put it all over my face, shut up Bevis

gimme that windsurf board, I'm skippin' school.
8 posted on 10/01/2004 1:32:52 PM PDT by keysguy (Trust the media as far as you can throw them)
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To: bootless

LOL! I'm listening to the delayed broadcast of Laura Ingraham now. She's really on a "but monkey" jag over F'n's comments during the debate.


9 posted on 10/01/2004 1:32:59 PM PDT by lonevoice (Vast Right Wing Pajama Party)
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To: lonevoice

Oh good. I thought she would. I'll listen tonight at 8.


10 posted on 10/01/2004 1:34:04 PM PDT by bootless (Never Forget - And Never Again)
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To: livesbygrace

Laura Ingraham calls those folks who use 'but' all the time, 'but monkeys'.;o)


11 posted on 10/01/2004 1:34:18 PM PDT by SuziQ (Bush in 2004-Because we MUST!!!)
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To: livesbygrace; lonevoice

Heh, GMTA. I should have read a couple of more posts before doing mine!


12 posted on 10/01/2004 1:35:29 PM PDT by SuziQ (Bush in 2004-Because we MUST!!!)
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To: kevkrom
...one of my favorite all-time quotes comes from Jim Quinn in Pittsburgh: "anything before 'but' is bulls**t".

Does anyone know if Laura Ingraham brought out the "BUT-monkey" soundclip?

13 posted on 10/01/2004 1:37:29 PM PDT by Christian4Bush ("The chair recognizes John Kerry and Ted Kennedy, the Jr. and Sr. Terrorists from Massachusetts.")
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To: Christian4Bush

Oops...didn't read down-thread. My bad...


14 posted on 10/01/2004 1:38:14 PM PDT by Christian4Bush ("The chair recognizes John Kerry and Ted Kennedy, the Jr. and Sr. Terrorists from Massachusetts.")
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To: livesbygrace

LOL!

This almost needs a "Registered" photoshop!


15 posted on 10/01/2004 1:43:31 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: kevkrom

My ex-wife pointed me out to this problem with speaking, the "but" does negate everything prior and i was thinking this throughout the whole debate. at least use "however." I believe that kerry knew this to be true and used it for his benifit thinking that us silly americans wouldnt understand the concept.


16 posted on 10/01/2004 1:48:45 PM PDT by Docbarleypop (Navy Doc)
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To: livesbygrace

bttt


17 posted on 10/01/2004 1:50:33 PM PDT by firewalk
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To: livesbygrace
Yet, within months, FDR decided to pursue a "Europe First" strategy which involved our putting the core of the United States Army into North Africa and then into Europe, on the other side of the planet from the perpetrators of the Pearl Harbor attack in Japan.

The strategy is known as engaging the greatest threat regardless of chronology. The Germans were a greater threat to England and our English speaking allies and therefore the "Primary Threat". The Germans in possession of Europe were a greater threat than Japan in possession of Asia. Though Japan attacked first, Japan could be engaged as the "secondary".

Afghanistan was the "primary", it is now the secondary. Iraq has become the primary by virtue of Iraq being a greater threat in the near future - if left on its own with what weapons its oil could buy - than a defeated Taliban in Kabul.

18 posted on 10/01/2004 1:51:33 PM PDT by elbucko (A Feral Republican)
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To: livesbygrace; All
Wow. That was and excellent blog!

Kerry: Well, you know, when I talked about the $87 billion, I made a mistake in how I talk about the war. But the president made a mistake in invading Iraq. Which is worse?

But see, this is why i'm so pissed at Bush. he should have said in his down home Texas style:

"I'll tell you which is worse, and I'll tell you straight up! It's worse to say that going into Iraq is the right thing to do, and to then refuse to fund our troops, and THEN to try to excuse that refusal by the lame statement that "i made a mistake in how i talk about the war", and to THEN accuse me of making a mistake for invading Iraq, when you already agreed it was the right thing to do! You need to up your mind, slick, and quit making excuses for refusing to fund our troops!

Oh, and by the way, we shouldn't be surprised that you can't make up your mind about this war, since you were clearly confused when you refused to support my dad's use of force during the first gulf war."

I humbly submit that the response i just posted (or some similar response even in third person) ALONE would have been the knock out punch to John Kerry, and it would have been the soundbite to be remembered from this debate forever after.

19 posted on 10/01/2004 1:58:45 PM PDT by tame (Are you willing to do for the truth what leftist are willing to do for a lie?)
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To: alrea
QUESTIONS FOR KERRY: Senator Kerry, did the attack on the World Trade Centers pass your Global Test? Does shooting children in the back pass the John Kerry Global Test? Does sawing the head off of innocent strangers meet your Global Test for action?

EXCELLENT POINT! Wow, just wow.

20 posted on 10/01/2004 2:03:56 PM PDT by sarasotarepublican
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