Has "Osama bin Forgotten" been forgotten? Only by Bush
posted by Rick at 1:39 AM

George W. Bush says the darnedest things.

First he didn't know he owned a small stake in a timber concern, and thus counted as one of the "small businesses" that would be affected by a rollback of his tax cut for the wealthiest Americans. (That the insignificance of Bush's stake in a small business was exactly Kerry's point is an irony that seems completely lost on the chimpanzee-in-chief.)

And now Dubya denies having said he was not concerned about Osama bin Laden.

Well, George, you said it. I heard you say it. The whole world heard you say it. And it's disturbing that you could say such a thing and then forget having said it.

You and your buddy Karl Rove delight in twisting John Kerry's words to make it look like he's flip-flopping. But we don't have to play that game to make you look bad. Because your flip-flops, unlike Kerry's, are real--and are a matter of public record.

On September 13, 2001, George, you said: "The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden. It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him."

Six months later, on March 13, 2002, you said: "Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don't know where he is. I--I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him.”

Then on October 13, 2004, you denied it altogether: "Gosh, I don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden."

Maybe you just shouldn't talk on the 13th of the month. More likely you shouldn't be believed on any day of the month.

 

Various clips of Bush talking about bin Laden (and about flip-flopping) ought to be juxtaposed in a MoveOn ad. How about this montage:

"...the people who knocked these buildings down will hear from all of us soon." (9/14/01)

"Gosh, I don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden." (10/13/04)

"Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him." (3/13/02)

"The most important thing is for us to find Osama bin Laden." (9/13/01)

"I don't know where bin Laden is. I have no idea and really don't care. It's not that important. It's not our priority." (3/13/02)

"It is our number one priority and we will not rest until we find him." (9/13/01)

"It's kind of one of those--exaggerations." (10/13/04)

"I truly am not that concerned about him.” (3/13/02)

"Of course we're worried about Osama bin Laden." (10/13/04)

"I--I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him.” (3/13/02)

"We're using every asset at our disposal to get Osama bin Laden." (10/13/04)

"...exaggerations."

"And again, I don't know where he is..."

"...number one priority,,,"

"And, again..."

"...really don't care."

"I can see why people at your workplace think he changes positions a lot, because he does." (10/8/2004)

[pause]

"You cannot lead if you send mixed messages." (9/30/2004)