Elite Media Fuming Over Bush's Popularity

NewsMax.com ^ | Monday Nov. 26, 2001; 6:07 p.m. EST | Carl Limbacher and NewsMax.com Staff

[Jean S]

It's no secret that the media elite can't stand the fact that President Bush has turned in a stellar performance in the wake of the 9/11 attacks and has the sky-high approval ratings to show for it.

And while most reporters have put their presidential barbs on hold for the time being, every now and then some of the old anti-Bush venom slips out.

One such frustrated Bush-hater is Newsday editorial writer Bob Keeler, who, apparently unable to stomach the fact that the Afghan war is actually going well, unburdened himself over the weekend of this particularly nasty diatribe:

"The sight of President Bush in a 101st Airborne Division jacket this week, surrounded by troops, really irked me. There he was, the Chicken-Hawk-in-Chief, wearing the Screaming Eagle patch of a division that fought and died in Vietnam. I wonder how many troops standing with him felt the irony.....

Apparently not many - given the wild cheers and standing ovations that usually greet Bush these days whenever he gets near a military base. Still, Keeler complained:

"(During Vietnam) Bush chose to defend his home state in the Texas Air National Guard. Vice President Dick Cheney did no military service at all. This is useful history to remember now, when Bush and Cheney, long past draft age themselves, are mouthing macho rhetoric in the struggle against terrorism."

The Newsday writer invoked his own Vietnam service to justify his Bush resentment, which begs the question: How did he manage to keep all that vituperation under wraps for eight years while a bona-fide Vietnam-era draft dodger repeatedly sent U.S. armed forces into harms way with little or no justification?

[sweetliberty]

You know, while I place a high value on our military, I do not really think a man's character can be judged on his military service (or lack of it) alone. When I look at President Bush, I see a man who had his wild years and never claimed to be an angel. Maybe some strings were pulled to keep him out of harm's way by the powers that be. I also see a man who has committed himself heart and soul to being the very best president he can be to ALL the people. No one is going to agree with everything he does and a few would bash him if he sprouted a halo and walked on water. But when he walks out in that flight jacket to meet the troops amid the cheers, I see a man who has both confidence and humility and I am proud of him, I am thankful for him, and I am proud to be an american.

Flashback to the Clinton "presidency" and I felt something quite different. I could have forgiven him for being a draft dodger. I could have cared less if he inhaled. I could have forgiven him for just about any past indiscretions if there was evidence that he was a changed man. What I saw instead was an arrogant, lying, thieving, womanizing, treasonous extortionist that literally squandered the public wealth on his own extravagances then dared us to criticize him. Every time he spoke there was a tone in his voice that said, "I can do whatever the hell I want and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it and if you don't like it, tough!" And when I would see that man appear at some photo-op, front and center, with our troops, such as they were under him, I wanted to gag. Does anyone ever recall an enthusiastic welcome of Clinton on a military base. I don't.

[Mike Fieschko]

This reporter (Keeler) has been at Newsay 30+ years. See the U of Iowa Journalism School article here.

I emailed Keeler to see if it was a seminarian or college deferment he had during Vietnam, or whether he wa in uniform.

[NC Conservative]

"Isn't that Austdim?"

THAT WOULD BE AUSTHOLE!!

[xm177e2]

This is useful history to remember now, when Bush and Cheney, long past draft age themselves, are mouthing macho rhetoric in the struggle against terrorism

Of course, so are most of us draft-aged people.

[LisaFab]

Let's not forget the fighter jets that joined to protect AF-1 in the skies after the first terrorist attacks were from the same wing that Bush 43 served in.

Didn't know that. Thanks for the info Steven.

[L.N. Smithee]

Carl Limbacher wrote: "The Newsday writer invoked his own Vietnam service to justify his Bush resentment, which begs the question: How did he manage to keep all that vituperation under wraps for eight years while a bona-fide Vietnam-era draft dodger repeatedly sent U.S. armed forces into harms way with little or no justification?"

layman replied: Excellent question. How did you do it, Limbacher? I mean, you were probably right up there on the front lines with Algore ... giving and taking hot lead, hell-bent for leather ... taking hills with a knife in your teeth and a gernade in each hand. What was it like, Limbacher? Please tell all. I have a real thirst for knowledge.

L.N. Smithee says: You have a thirst for a smackdown, and here it comes.

Can't you read? Your quasi-clever response has nothing to do with Carl's question. Besides, whoever is elected President of the United States is charged with the leadership of American military force worldwide. That entitles every POTUS to wear the jacket -- even Clinton.

The title Constitutional title "Commander-in-Chief" means that for better or worse, he is the person chosen by the electorate to either deploy troops, refuse to do so, or, if the worst happens, to push the big red button. Think he shouldn't be able to without combat experience? Tough schtuff -- he was elected!

Are you Bob Keeler? You seem to have the same disorder he does: Hip-shooting brain.

[layman]

Are you accusing Carl Limbacher of being a draft dodger? Please source your information.

I'm not accusing him of anything. I'm simply asking a question. If you know the answer, please source your information.

[Ohioan]

The Newsday writer invoked his own Vietnam service to justify his Bush resentment, which begs the question: How did he manage to keep all that vituperation under wraps for eight years while a bona-fide Vietnam-era draft dodger repeatedly sent U.S. armed forces into harms way with little or no justification?

It is called hypocrisy. But it is not the "Liberal's" favorite tactic. That honor is reserved for the "Big Lie."

Modern "Liberalism," as a form of Fabian Socialism, has always depended upon the Big Lie in its assault on the realities of this world. (See The Lies Of Socialism, for a treatise on just how pervasive that aspect is throughout the movement.

This writer probably approved of Clinton's efforts to promote Socialism--as in Haiti, for example--and would never have thought of trying to embarrass his esteemed leader!

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[Jean S]

Excellent question. How did you do it, Limbacher? I mean, you were probably right up there on the front lines with Algore ... giving and taking hot lead, hell-bent for leather ... taking hills with a knife in your teeth and a gernade in each hand. What was it like, Limbacher? Please tell all. I have a real thirst for knowledge.

That was an attack, not a question. Don't be cute.

[Humidston]

. Does anyone ever recall an enthusiastic welcome of Clinton on a military base. I don't."

And did you ever see the officer at his helicopter salute his BACK when he passed by - like they do to President Bush? The answer is no. Check it out next time you see Bush enter or exit the helo. You can't miss it, and I choke up every time I see it.

[GussiedUp]

I bet he really got his panties in an even tighter wad when he heard all that LOUD cheering from the troops toward Bush as well LMAO

[Humidston]

ROFLOL!!!!!

[oldtimer]

Hello liberal University of Socialism UT (professor?).

Are you saying that GWB dodged the draft? I just love your 2+2=9 mentality, because that is what you are inferring.

[ncpastor]

My e-mail to Bobby:

Tsk, tsk, tsk. Poor Bobby. Poor elite media. Just can't handle the changing winds that are a'blowin'.

You might want to be careful with the intimation behind statements such as this: Bush and others like him took the least honorable: not opposing the war, but not serving either. Bush chose to defend his home state in the Texas Air National Guard.

It seems you are implying that serving in the National Guard isn't really military service. Hmmm...I wonder how many folks in the National Guard would agree with you.

As for the honorable part, where were you and your commentary when the most despicable Perpetrator in Chief was in the Oval Office for the previous 8 years? Or are you implying that Clinton's draft-dodging was because of his "conscience?"

Get a grip. The country is in love with "W" and his team. At last, honor means something. National pride is making a comeback. And you liberal whiners just have to sit there and take it.

[Brasil]

I heard almost the same outrageous criticism of President Bush from some idiot who called Washington Journal on C-span Saturday. She even got in the words "traitor" and "deserter" before I could hit the remote.

[oldtimer]

I was in the Air National Gaurd for six years, and wish that every little snot nosed lib along with every other kid who was 18 could do a bit of military service.

It is unbelievable that libs have always taken their freedoms for granted since the dawn of human civilisation.

[Poohbah]

No, it's AuTISM.

Think "Rain Man."

[rmvh]

Its very simple:

The Peter Jemnings and Dan Rathers of the media world are just puppets on a string...people who traded their personal honor over to the puppeteers running them...(the prime stockholders controlling and owning the various media outlets).

The owners convey their own twisted, anti-American, socialistic beliefs through the puppets they dangle. The payback for these media floatsom has always been huge salaries, a sense of power over the masses, and the pathetic stroking of their need for celebrity so obvious and abhorent to most reasonable people.