Obama Says "Uhh" 144 Times in Eleven Minutes during Press Conference - Video Link 6/16/08

His past uh, uh, um, uh's were nothing compared to lately.


... and to think how Bush was criticized for not being a good speaker!

Anyway I was listening to the radio today and they said he said uh um's for 7 1/2 minutes straight today. Which speech and where was that? I am assuming today in the mideast?

He was pausing to think instead of just reading off a card what someone wrote for him to read.

That's the noise he makes every time Michelle pulls his string.

ThEAO0lt4Dw

Uh, I'm not sure exactly why!! Uh, perhaps he feels he needs to uh, bring himself down to the level of the average person who can't spell or speak correctly. Uh, why do you think he says uh um so much?

This is pathetic and stupid. Uh um!!

I agree. I guess the only reason people find this worth even mentioning is the fact that he's an intelligent speaker, person, and will make a good leader.

I've given rather lengthy talks in front of the public and sometimes when communicating you think of pertinent information you should share. Think of "uh" as the equivalent improper conjunction to "and." Saph, have you given two or three long speeches everyday concerning on a variety of national interests? It's not easy. Unlike McCain, who has problems pronouncing two syllable words on cue cards days in advance, Obama has the communications skills of one Ronald Reagan. That's certainly something our country has been sorely lacking for a long time.

I wish we could give greenies in this section, cause you deserve one. I couldn't possibly agree more.

Obama Says "Uhh" 144 Times in Eleven Minutes during Press Conference - Video Link 6/16/08

His past uh, uh, um, uh's were nothing compared to lately.


...and to think how Bush was criticized for not being a good speaker!

Anyway I was listening to the radio today and they said he said uh um's for 7 1/2 minutes straight today. Which speech and where was that? I am assuming today in the mideast?

Afraid of flip-flopping yet again? Well, you have to remember that he might be scoping out the audience to see which way the wind is blowing that day in order to see how he will answer and just before he decides to say something, he may see someone whom his thoughts could possibly offend so he has to be always thinking about how to re-phrase, re-phrase, and yet re-phrase what he is going to say. But if he actually knew the answers to those questions, as someone who is truly presidential would, he would not be having such a hard time with all those problems stuttering. Wow, with all those uh and ums, by now I think his anemometer is on it's last leg!

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I don't about anyone else but after 8 years of people endlessly abusing Bush about tripping over his tongue, I find it amusing that people get upset at the slightest questioning of Obama's status as an intelligent/gifted/eloquent silver tongued master of communication when he utterly falls apart without his teleprompter and script. ;)

I've given rather lengthy talks in front of the public and sometimes communicating you think of pertinent information you should share. Think of "uh" as the equivalent improper conjunction to "and." Saph, have you given two or three long speeches everyday concerning on a variety of national interests? It's not easy. Unlike McCain, who has problems pronouncing two syllable words on cue cards days in advance, Obama has the communications skills of one Ronald Reagan. That's certainly something our country has been sorely lacking for a long time.

At least Ronnie could improvise. He also had much thicker skin and a sense of humor :D

People do need to think before they speak. Maybe that is his way of thinking before speaking. There is nothing wrong with that. He still human.

Sky,

You are one of those halfwits I was talking about that he is probably trying to help understand by saying "uh um" all the time.

I don't about anyone else but after 8 years of people endlessly abusing Bush about tripping over his tongue, I find it amusing that people get upset at the slightest questioning of Obama's status as an intelligent/gifted/eloquent silver tongued master of communication when he utterly falls apart without his teleprompter and script. ;)

Speech, I think you've just hit the nail on the head! :D

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Sky,

You are one of those halfwits i was talking about that he is probably trying to help understand by saying "uh um" all the time.

Wow Skell, well Thank You! That I could be that Powerful as to cause Obama to literally lose control of his memory as well as his speech (and who knows what else ;)) while in my presence! That's great! And I'm sure he would too! Thanks again and remember only a "halfwit" can fully know and respond to a dimwit! :D

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ChihuahuaMomma,

Sky hasn't given a speech since Wal-Mart ran out of white pillow cases. Her speeches require props such as lighter fluid and makeshift wooden crosses. She's just an old bitter uneducated hot headed McCain plant fronting Hillary for an excuse and she's just here to flame, nothing more.

At least Ronnie could improvise. He also had much thicker skin and a sense of humor :D


Ronnie "Bed time with Bonzo" Reagan didn't have Obama's vocabulary. It's basically a wash. But to correct your misgiving about Ronald Reagan he used "uh" a lot also. ;)

This is from George W. Bush's Eulogy for Ronald Reagan:

"Ronald Reagan understood paradoxicals. . . uh, paraducks. . . uh, paradorks. . . Stuff that doesn't seem to make sense. Like how we used trade sanctions to starve the commies in Nicaragua into respecting human rights while opening trade with apartheid South Africa so we could gorge them into submission. Or how the president always campaigned for a Balanced Budget Amendment, but submitted the most out-of-balance budgets in history. In effect he was saying, "There ought to be a law against what I'm doing!" Like I said, mysterious ways."

What makes anyone think that just because a man can speak eloquently that makes him a good leader? ALL of the TV evangelists are excellent speakers, but I bet most of you don't think much of THEM as leaders.Get real!!

I don't see where anyone said that he's a good leader BECAUSE he's a good speaker.

ChihuahuaMomma,

You can sure tell who gets ALL the attention whenever I post... I DO! The one they frequently like to target due to their fear of my bringing forth the way things are and then speaking about it! I wonder if No Savvy Babbie knows anything other than Let's Not Dare Talk About Obama but about SKYGEM instead, and hope the fools forget about Obama's shortcomings! :p Not to worry, however, 'cause you know his posts always prompt me to just bring up even more things about his guy to utterly please him to no end! How 'bout that! Stay tuned for further mysteries! :D

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I just like pushing Sky's troll buttons. She's been knocked down for the count so many times with Obama facts the she spends as much time on her back as the red light district girls on Lincoln Blvd. ;)

To correct yet another misgiving about Ronald Reagan, he used "uh" a lot.

This is from George W. Bush's Eulogy for Ronald Reagan:

"Ronald Reagan understood paradoxicals. . . uh, paraducks. . . uh, paradorks. . . Stuff that doesn't seem to make sense. Like how we used trade sanctions to starve the commies in Nicaragua into respecting human rights while opening trade with apartheid South Africa so we could gorge them into submission. Or how the president always campaigned for a Balanced Budget Amendment, but submitted the most out-of-balance budgets in history. In effect he was saying, "There ought to be a law against what I'm doing!" Like I said, mysterious ways."

Maybe the guy is just tired?

Before one of you shining stars can bash me with your brilliance, I'll bash myself...

Ow, ow, ow, ow, oof, ow euhoww, whew!

Ronnie "Bed time with Bonzo" Reagan didn't have Obama's vocabulary. It's basically a wash. But to correct your misgiving about Ronald Reagan he used "uh" a lot also. ;)

More evidence of his much thicker skin and sense of humor - unlike The ObaMessiah. ;)


This is from George W. Bush's Eulogy for Ronald Reagan:

"Ronald Reagan understood paradoxicals. . . uh, paraducks. . . uh, paradorks. . . Stuff that doesn't seem to make sense. Like how we used trade sanctions to starve the commies in Nicaragua into respecting human rights while opening trade with apartheid South Africa so we could gorge them into submission. Or how the president always campaigned for a Balanced Budget Amendment, but submitted the most out-of-balance budgets in history. In effect he was saying, "There ought to be a law against what I'm doing!" Like I said, mysterious ways."

And this is Obama, "Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states?"

For the record, I don't equate eloquence with intelligence, wisdom, ability, leadership. I may not be the most eloquent and intelligent myself (insert joke here) but I can't help but trip over my own tongue, also. That's why I'd rather sing than speak - someone wrote the words for me :)

Who is Obama? That funny noise is only the audible sound of a brain fart.

That sounded terribly conservative George! Here, I'll bash you too...

Bash, bop, slap.

More evidence of his much thicker skin and sense of humor - unlike The ObaMessiah

Steve, you're sounding more and more like Sky with every post. Pope Bozo Reagan kept them stitches as the entertainer easily amused his congregation into one massive national debt. How about a knee slapper for the gipper!



I don't equate eloquence with intelligence, wisdom, ability, leadership. I may not be the most eloquent and intelligent myself (insert joke here) but I can't help but trip over my own tongue, also. That's why I'd rather sing than speak - someone wrote the words for me :)

Speechless, I don't imagine George W. Bush does either. Oh! The irony.

Obama Says "Uhh" 144 Times in Eleven Minutes during Press Conference - Video Link 6/16/08

His past uh, uh, um, uh's were nothing compared to lately.


...and to think how Bush was criticized for not being a good speaker!

Anyway I was listening to the radio today and they said he said uh um's for 7 1/2 minutes straight today. Which speech and where was that? I am assuming today in the mideast?
He thinks before he speaks, thank god he does instead of our current president, Bush, not thinking.

Yeah this is a manufactured issue to a degree but Steve makes relevant points about the hypocrisy . Dan Quayle must be sitting home quite amused . His spelling of potato was a long running joke .But Obama ;who wants to be the President of 57 States for 10 years gets a pass.

It is clear that when Obama is in front of a teleprompter he is an inspirational speaker . But when he speaks extemporaniously off the cuff he stammers and stutters . That is why he refuses to go one on one against McCain in a town hall format. McCain should challenge him to one as soon as Obama is home from his manufactured rainbow tour ;where he is so controlled ,they don't even bother miking the questioner.

From Spitball with Chris Matthews :





MITCHELL: Let me just say something about the message management. He didn't have reporters with him, he didn't have a press pool, he didn't do a press conference while he was on the ground in either Afghanistan or Iraq. What you're seeing is not reporters brought in. You're seeing selected pictures taken by the military, questions by the military, and what some would call fake interviews, because they're not interviews from a journalist. So, there's a real press issue here. Politically it's smart as can be. But we've not seen a presidential candidate do this, in my recollection, ever before.


MATTHEWS: Let me ask you about access to the troops, Andrea. A lot of African-American faces over there, very happy, delighted faces. Is that a representation of the percentage of servicepeople who are African-American, or did they all choose to join someone they like, apparently? What's the story?

MITCHELL: I can't really say that. Being a reporter who was not present in any of those situations, I just cannot report on what was edited out, what was, you know, on the sidelines. That's my issue. We don't know what we are seeing.

WHY does Obama say uh so much Hello saph:

Uhhhh, I don't know. Do you think people who say uhhhhh, and I don't know, and ain't, ain't very smart?

I don't know - uhhh, then I guess I ain't very smart. Bummer. I was thinking I was...

excon

But he is beyond smart . He announced his plan before he went on a fact finding trip.

His fans should not worry . When he speaks in front of the Prussian victory column he will tear down the house.

It is correct and factual to say that Ronald Reagan also did not have a great gift for public speaking. HOWEVER, Ronald Reagan remained true in his convictions and beliefs, and did not flip-flop.

I find it utterly hilarious and at the same time, embarrassing, that Obama would publicly poke fun at Americans' foreign language skills, and then make himself look like the same people of which he is making fun; by improperly pronouncing "Merci boku" as Mercy boku (I'm sure the French were highly insulted as well). It is also so obvious that he is trying to lure Hispanic voters in by proposing that every American learn to speak Spanish fluently. Need I remind him that English is not only the dominant American language, but is also the Trade language and Aviation language of the entire world? He comes across as not only arrogant, but also very snide. I cannot place my trust in such a person. Furthermore, his claims of being a true Christian (Baptist), are quickly shot down when you find out that he vehemently opposes every possible form of abortion, including Partial-Birth abortions.

I do not support McCain necessarily because I want to; rather, I choose McCain over the lesser of two evils. McCain has the necessary political and military experience to be the next President, Obama does not. Obama is still very wet behind the ears. That point is plain and simple.

Obama supporters are a very jaded group, who choose only to live in the moment, and do not consider the consequences of their quick, thoughtless actions. Their goal is to merely garner enough support (via public opinion and the majority of news media) to make it past each stage. That, and a lack of commitment to a true stance, are why Democratic candidates tend to flip-flop so often (John Kerry was also a big flip-flopper).

Ironically enough, it is the news media making the permanent records from which the flip-flops are so easily revealed. Such footage provides concrete proof (video witness) that the events occurred and the remarks were made.

I just finished watching Obama's address to Israel - WOW, he really needs help if he thinks that Israelis are as unfocused and ignorant of his past actions, as the American populace he is so used to addressing. Israelis see right through his smoke and mirrors. They're not dumb enough to believe that the US can defend itself by slowing its development of military technologies, while the rest of the world forges ahead. Obama's campaign is merely one of hype. Check out Hype: The Obama Effect - HypeMovie.com - Citizens United (http://hypemovie.com/)

We don't need another president (like Clinton) who is soft on war, and who would rather leave troops inadequately equipped, than to lose face in public opinion (Reagan would NEVER have cut back on military technology as Obama threatens to!). I'm referring to what happened in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. The request for AC-130 Spectre gunships was denied by Washington. The reason: too high profile. The administration wasn't ready to fully commit to the action required by its most elite troops. Many people believe that both of Clinton's terms in office were punctuated by peacetime. That is a flat-out lie. Somalia and Bosnia were both war-time actions, not "peacekeeping missions" as the media so artfully portrayed them. I know, my brother-in-law was there and was forced to salute a President who was a draft-dodger and didn't even know how to salute properly! The public does not fight America's battles! Highly educated military commanders and their soldiers do! General Petraeus is a man among men and the next President would be very wise to heed General Petraeus' advice.

Steve, you're sounding more and more like Sky with every post. Pope Bozo Reagan kept them stitches as the entertainer easily amused his congregation into one massive national debt. How about a knee slapper for the gipper!

Oh puhleeeeze, I am 100% ME :)

yeah this is a manufactured issue to a degree but Steve makes relevent points about the hypocrisy . Dan Quayle must be sitting home quite amused . His spelling of potato was a long running joke .But Obama ;who wants to be the President of 57 States for 10 years gets a pass.

Apparently he's already the Prez. One of his foreign policy advisors told reporters that his speech in Germany "is not going to be a political speech. When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally."

At least a reporter noted, "But he is not president of the United States"

Ronald "Shotgun Wedding" Reagan (http://www.romm.org/reagan.html)

Besides other flip-flops like on abortion, here's a biggie:

"Campaigned for 16 years, since his Goldwater acceptance speech and won in 1980 on a balanced budget platform, yet the first thing he did was massively increase the deficit, and for wholly political reasons said his Budget Director. This is the biggest flip-flop in US political history, and it drove conservatives crazy."

Biggest myth is that we speak English in the US. At best we speak a bastardized version as we have been dropping English vocabulary and adding other immigrants words into the "American" language. We have not spoken English in over 200 plus years. Anybody interested in hearing English travel to England.

English has never been the official language in the US, that's Civics 101 in the quiz book when legal residents apply for citizenship. Heaven forbid Obama imply that we educate the next generation in a second language, they may end up employed. :rolleyes:


Concerned about Israel? Hmm...

Like Bush, McCain is no friend of Israel's - Reader comments at DanielPipes.org (http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/131182)

"On the other hand, George W. Bush is the first U.S. president to make the establishment of a Palestinian (no question, terror) state in Israel a "formal goal of American policy." Bush and the Republicans codified this destructive policy in our 2004 national Republican party platform as well as commend Israel for her willingness to forcibly remove Jews from the land of Israel. I believe Dr. Pipes asked rhetorically, rather than forcibly expelling these Jews, why did Israel not simply remove IDF protection for Gaza's settlement communities.

Indeed, John McCain supports Bush's anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian (jihadist) state policies. McCain has intimated that he might bring back one or both of the "smart guys" -- James Baker and Brent Scowcroft -- to help him shape Mideast policy. These two are inveterate Israel-bashers.

As they say, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.""



ABC News: Israelis Ambivalent About Obama's Visit (http://abcnews.go.com/International/Story?id=5422964&page=3)

Israelis are not thrilled about John McCain and communication is becoming an increasing popular view in Israel. That's something that doesn't look favorable for the traditional wall that Republicans erect. Jews, and I'm one of them, are not looking toward either McCain or Obama, getting the job done. Who has? Name one president? None. No Republican or Democrat has ever done nothing more than a cosmetic pilgrimage to Israel. Correct. Israelis are not naïve.


"However, Nabil Feidy, who owns a foreign exchange shop in East Jerusalem, is not so hopeful of the results. "I have no delusions about what Obama or any other president can do to solve the Arab-Israeli problem," he said.

"However, it is a problem that only the U.S. is capable of solving, with its good relations with Israelis, with the Palestinians. They're the power of the world," he said. "We always hope that the next American president will be able to do something."

Feidy said he supports Obama. "He's young, he's energetic, and America needs change," he said, "but I have no illusions about what he can do here. We won't see peace in the next four to eight years.""




Israelis Want to Talk to Hamas | Newsweek International Edition | Newsweek.com (http://www.newsweek.com/id/119881)

"In a Haaretz-Dialog poll last month, 64 percent of Israelis said they supported direct talks; among those who belong to the country's dovish Labor Party, 72 percent favor negotiations. Yet even among those surveyed from the hawkish Likud Party, almost half--48 percent--said they favor a face-to-face dialogue. Already in recent weeks, even as the two sides have traded some of the most ferocious bombardments in months, a number of nongovernmental channels have opened between Israelis and the Islamists."

Oh puhleeeeze, I am 100% ME :)

100% something. Bull-tonga??

Apparently he's already the Prez. One of his foreign policy advisors told reporters that his speech in Germany "is not going to be a political speech. When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally."

At least a reporter noted, "But he is not president of the United States"

I love it. McCain blasted and begged Obama for months to take a trip abroad to Iraq. He did so and got more respect then the president. Bwa ha ha ha! That backfired on McCain. Any more bright ideas?

Apparently he's already the Prez. One of his foreign policy advisors told reporters that his speech in Germany "is not going to be a political speech. When the president of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally."

At least a reporter noted, "But he is not president of the United States"

We know that he is not Prez . How ? Because a Prez would never come out of a one on one meeting and hold a press conference where he puts words in the mouth of the person he met with . They instead would hold a joint press conference.

Any more bright ideas

Certainly . McCain should challenge the globe trotter to a one on one town hall debate about foreign policy.

Certainly . McCain should challenge the globe trotter to a one on one town hall debate about foreign policy.


Oh! I do hope so! I do! I do! I do!

It is correct and factual to say that Ronald Reagan also did not have a great gift for public speaking. HOWEVER, Ronald Reagan remained true in his convictions and beliefs, and did not flip-flop.

ezbless, I recall Reagan as being known as The Great Communicator (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4152396/).

Yes. The statement that Reagan did not flip-flop flap is a myth; example: abortion, budgets, etc... And as I mentioned in an earlier post for all his bravado the history of Pakistan nuclear capability charted right in the midst of Reagan's administration and it's documents that he was well aware of what was happening. Personally, in my book he was an enjoyable entertainer for a president. I voted for him the second term, which I admit my poor judgement in hindsight. I certainly preferred him over the G. Herbert voodoo economics and the current G. Dubya Bush.

ezbless, I recall Reagan as being known as The Great Communicator (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4152396/).
He was known as The Great Communicator for his ability to sway opponents. I loved Reagan, don't get me wrong. I love to watch his debate with Jimmie Carter and hear the classic line, "There you go again." I was merely admitting that even Reagan exhibited those speech characteristics, Obama really is nothing like him. Gorbachev was the one who went running after Reagan in his limo after Reagan walked out of an arms treaty meeting. Gorbachev, the Russian Premier, running after the US President during the Cold War!

Reagan can also be commended for his swiftness in getting the hostages released from Tehran. In my opinion, Reagan is one of the greatest Presidents we've ever had.

Anyone who votes for Obama, is merlely voting for hype. All of that BS might work during the election year, but what is he going to do if he gets elected President? He won't have a clue and our foreign policy will go down the tubes. He's too young and too inexperienced. Too liberal. That's too many negatives for the next President. Not enough positives.

Hello ez:

Are you talking about Ronnie Raygun? They governor who gassed me simply because I happened to be walking in downtown San Francisco on a sunny afternoon in 1968?? Are you talking about the guy who didn't care about the innocent citizens like me, whose rights he trampled upon that afternoon, as long as gassed those goddamn hippies, and stopped 'em from demonstrating?? THAT Ronnie Raygun??

Yeah, I remember him. He ran his presidency with that kind of "screw the Constitution" mentality, too. I haven't liked him much since then.

You probably like much of what the dufus in chief has done, too - doncha?

excon

Ronald "Shotgun Wedding" Reagan (http://www.romm.org/reagan.html)

"A study in cognitive dissonance

All links were good when this was originally written, in October of 2003.

The question isn't so much why dittoheads like Ronald Reagan, the question is why do they love him so slavishly?

Ronald Reagan had major character flaws: Our only divorced president (on the grounds of "mental cruelty"), forced to marry a pregnant Nancy in a shotgun wedding, was greatly influenced by astrology in events, senility by 1983, surrounded by corruption and incompetence and found guilty of "failing to meet presidential obligations" (bottom of link), and investigated for being a Communist in 1947.

Ronald Reagan was not a good president: Campaigned for 16 years, since his Goldwater acceptance speech and won in 1980 on a balanced budget platform, yet the first thing he did was massively increase the deficit, and for wholly political reasons said his Budget Director. This is the biggest flip-flop in US political history, and it drove conservatives crazy. The corruption in his SAG term of office was reflected in massive corruption in his presidential terms (some attribution here and here and... Indeed, it's worse than reported, going so far as to terrorize church officials for their politics and having the CIA illegally infiltrate church sanctuaries. He didn't defeat "communism". The Soviet Union was less than a quarter the number of people that remain under communist regimes. The dissolution of the Soviet Union was a major victory for the people in Russia and the repressed states, but Reagan's sabre-rattling kept it alive several years after it was obviously dead. Star Wars not the reason: There was no increase in the Soviet Union's military spending in response to Reagan's build-up. He screwed up at Reykjavik, proposing a deal to completely eliminate US and Soviet nukes, then backing off when it looked like Gorby would accept. Credit should go to Carter for setting exactly the right policy with a selected arms build-up, in Afghanistan, and with Solidarity. As we've seen since, the Soviet Union wasn't much of an empire and most of the people in it aren't particularly evil. Perhaps if he hadn't fired the air traffic controllers, there would have been more experienced people who would raise the alarm faster on 9/11.

He was all too willing to sell out. As mentioned above, he was investigated by Hoover for Communist leanings. Hoover scared him, but not straight. During the height of the McCarthy Witch Hunts, Reagan was head of the Screen Actors Guild. The basic result of the "investigation": No important spies were caught, and a bunch of actors' and writers' careers were ruined. Why in hell did the paranoid right go after Frank Sinatra and Harry Belafonte when Kim Philby was still at large? HUAC was one of the prime reasons more countries went commie: Clearly, any country that could do that to its citizens was the worse of the two. The main effect here in the states, aside from tightening a lot of sphincters, was to remove most of the Jews from power in Hollywood. More Beach Blanket Bingo and less Spartacus and Roman Holiday.

So... why Reagan? Why not Eisenhower? True, he wimped out when McCarthy and co. went after the real hero in the fight against communism, Gen. George C. Marshall. On the other hand, he ended 20 years of Democratic control of the White House and propelled the career of Richard Nixon. He took over from the French in Vietnam, etc. Why not Nixon? Oh yeah, he was a sleazy crook and even the right can't stand him. Why not Poppy Bush, the president when the SU dissolved and Eastern Europe was released, who successfully fought the Gulf War? But Reagan made the few very wealthy people more wealthy, quadrupling the number of billionaires by 1987. The Trickle Down Theory didn't, and the average Joe and Jane didn't do all that well... but they don't give thousands in campaign funds.

Cognitive Dissonance is the theory that people can't hold two competing ideas at the same time. When presented with two completely different views of reality, they'll pick one... and defend that one far more than it really deserves. In this case, Reagan had spend 16 years excoriating Republicans and Democrats alike if they even ran a deficit. This wasn't a plank in his platform, it was his main campaign theme. For him to completely flip-flop on the deficit issue so completely must have done odd things to the heads of the Republican party. On one hand, the guy broke his main campaign promise. On the other hand, they were making money hand over fist. On one hand, a guy who didn't go to church during his presidency replaced the devout Born Again Jimmy Carter. On the other hand, he kept talking about "family values" as if it meant something to him. On one hand, Reagan never went overseas during WWII, spending his time in uniform making films for the army. On the other hand, he lied so smoothly about his participation in the war, freely putting himself in war movie scenarios. On hand, he was obviously senile at the end of his first term. On the other hand, he read his cue cards well and played the part of president better than any real president. On one hand, he stood up to the Soviet Union. On the other hand, he trained and funded Osama bin Laden and sent an autographed bible to Ayatollah Khomeini. On one hand, he projected honesty and integrity. On the other hand, his administration was incredibly corrupt and incompetent. On one hand, Grenada. On the other hand, Lebanon.

Then there was that whole Iran-Contra thing. Traitors to the Constitution working out of the White House, Reagan giving photo ops to people who bought arms for terrorists fighting a democracy. And there was the massive HUD scandal that gets barely a mention these days. Republicans love this stuff. Republicans are soft on crime... when it's theirs.

When faced with these contradictions, no conservative will admit to himself that he was wrong. He'll look at Reagan and the Reagan presidency through rose-colored glasses, remembering a past that didn't exist and a man that never was. They'll kiss his from now 'till doomsday because they can't handle the truth, and will lie that much louder.

By all accounts, The Reagans is favorable to Ronnie and Nancy. It shows him resolute in the face of internal criticism, credits him with many accomplishments, etc. The hue and cry over the movie was by people who hadn't seen it. No such criticism was leveled again DC 9/11, which lied about Bush, or Primary Colors, the unflattering portrayal of a Clinton-like president. No, the neocons just couldn't stand a piece that wasn't pure Soviet-style propaganda. Sphincters tight, they went after CBS. CBS caved, just like they caved 30 years earlier over The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (And later caved when they finally gold the truth about George W. Bush going AWOL from the National Guard).

Even more than with Bush Lite, being armed with the facts about Reagan just doesn't sway an arch conservative. They've lived with the lie for decades, spending hours and hours listening to Rush and other hatemongers. They've spent more time praising Reagan than they have making love to their spouse. It may be too late for their redemption; it's not too late for ours."