I want to get this puke where he breathes! I want you to find this nancy-boy Osama, I want him DEAD! I want his jihadis DEAD! I want his cave burned to the GROUND! I wanna go there in the middle of the night and I wanna P*SS ON HIS ASHES!
Bush Fires Back At Critics Of Iraq War
ABC did not mention passage of the detainee interrogation bill but provided the most extensive coverage of Bush's remarks on Democrats and Iraq. Each network news show quoted Bush saying "The party of FDR and the party of Harry Truman has become the party of cut and run." ABC World News (9/18, story 4, 2:30, Gibson, 8.78M) reported that campaigning in Alabama Bush "accused Democrats of playing politics with the Iraq war" saying "Democrats are using the National Intelligence Estimate that ties Iraq to rising terrorism to try to win votes in November."
In brief stories CBS Evening News (9/28, story 11, 0:25, Couric, 7.66M) reported, "Bush hit back hard today at Democrats who have been attacking his Iraq policy, especially after an intelligence report tied the war to an increase in terrorism worldwide." And NBC Nightly News (9/28, story 4, 0:45, Williams, 9.87M) reported Bush "used some of the harshest language ever to criticize Democrats, accusing them of being soft on terrorism and the war in Iraq." But "Democrats respond saying it is the President's failed policies that's made this country less safe and increased terrorism elsewhere."
CNN's The Situation Room (9/28, Blitzer) reported that Bush "fired back at his Democratic critics on Iraq. ... He spoke about the recently leaked finding of a National Intelligence Estimate, that the Iraq war has rallied Muslim extremists." Bush: "Five years after 9/11, the worst attack on America homeland in history, the Democrats offer nothing but criticism and obstruction, and endless second-guessing. The party of FDR and the party of Harry Truman has become the party of cut and run."
Fox News' Special Report (9/28, Baier) reported, "Senior White House officials tell Fox the President's speech is a 'road map for the Republican party,' showing candidates how to forcefully tout the national security issue while also 'showing Democrats' shortcomings on that same issue.'"
The New York Times (9/29, Rutenberg, 1.21M) reports, "Bush has been honing his offensive against Democrats for weeks as his political team seeks to shift the election-year focus from a debate about him and the unpopular war to one about terrorism in general, his party's efforts to combat it and what he describes as the opposition's promotion of defeatism and retreat." Yet "until now he had left the sort of hard-charging talk that he used here to his political strategist Karl Rove, Vice President Dick Cheney and the Republican national chairman, Ken Mehlman."
The Washington Post (9/29, A12, Fletcher, 748K) reports, "Speaking before a large and enthusiastic audience at a fundraising luncheon for Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R), Bush attempted to turn criticism of his Iraq policy into a cudgel." He "also criticized many Democrats for not supporting his approach to trying terrorism suspects. Pointing to Wednesday's vote on a bill passed by the House authorizing military tribunals for the suspects, Bush reminded his audience that 160 Democrats ? 'including the entire Democrat leadership' -- voted against the measure, which passed 253 to 168."
The Los Angeles Times (9/29, Gerstenzang, 918K) says Bush "melded politics, a defense of the war in Iraq and the anti-terrorism fight to a greater extent than he had recently." His "speech brought together the two most difficult issues he is facing during his sixth year in office - the war and the challenge of keeping GOP majorities in the House and Senate - more openly than he had before."
The AP (9/29, Loven) reports, "Though not by name, he quoted Rep. Jane Harman of California, top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, as saying that because of the Iraq war 'it may become more likely' that the U.S. will have to contend with terrorists on its own soil again, rather than less likely as the president argues. And he quoted Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, as saying the world would be better off without the Iraq war and if former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein were still in power."
The Washington Times (9/29, Dinan, 88K) notes, "Democrats taunted back, saying Mr. Bush has a chance to prove himself right by releasing the entire intelligence document." They "hope the NIE information helps them regain the initiative and refocus the debate on Iraq after Mr. Bush's successful September, during which his series of speeches on the broader war on terror boosted both his approval ratings and support for Republicans' job in handling terror."
Former 9/11 Commissioner Hamilton Warns US National Security Ignored.
Former vice chairman of the 9/11 Commission Lee Hamilton on CBS Evening News (9/28, story 12, 2:05, Couric, 7.66M) "Free Speech" segment warned the political debate over national security leaks was distracting attention from homeland security efforts saying that "five years after 9/11, our failure to set clear priorities in protecting the homeland; and largely ineffective congressional oversight of intelligence and homeland security. The quality of the political discourse on these topics is discouraging, to say the least. We'd all be a lot better off and a lot safer if we spent less time arguing over who gained a political advantage from the latest leak and more time having a dialogue on how to protect our country."
Addressing National Security Concerns Helps Raise Bush Poll Numbers.
The Washington Times (9/29, Dinan, 88K) in an article titled "Ratings Rise With Terror Talks" reports, "Bush talks about the war on terror frequently...but the White House said the recent series of speeches was designed to cut through day-to-day matters and give the president a chance to get across some specific points." In recent speeches "Bush laid out a more complete picture of al Qaeda, using quotes from terrorist leaders, and demanded that Congress give him tools such as wiretapping authority to go after terrorists. He also challenged both Americans and people worldwide to accept that the battle against terrorism is the major ideological struggle of this century."
Bush's Approval Rating Up To 42% In Fox News Poll.
Fox News' Special Report (9/28, Hume) reported, "President Bush's approval numbers are up slightly in the latest Fox News poll. The President's approval rating is up to 42%. That's from 40% two weeks ago but the disapproval number climbed from 49% to 54%."