Freedom is beautiful

A little more detail on that press conference in London:

Addressing Prime Minister Tony Blair: "What do you say to people who today conclude that British people have died and been maimed as a result of you appearing here today, shoulder-to-shoulder, with a controversial American president; and Mr. President, if I could ask you, with thousands on the street...marching today here in London, a free nation, what is your conclusion as to why apparently so many free citizens fear you and even hate you?"

"I'd say freedom is beautiful, Bush responded. "It's a fantastic thing to come to a country where people are able to express their views."

That's the second time he's remarked that he's gone to a country that is free to express its views. How very telling on the country he has left behind.

Pressed on the question of why people hate him "in such numbers," Bush said he doesn't know that they do hate him.

"I fully understand that people don't agree with war," President Bush said. "I hope they agree with peace and freedom and liberty. I hope they care deeply about the fact that when we find suffering and torture and mass graves, we weep for the citizens that are being brutalized by tyrants.

"And finally, the prime minister and I have a solemn duty to protect our people. And that's exactly what I intend to do - as the president of the United States, protect the people of my country."

If he'd loan the people some of those overwhelming forces he took to London all just to protect him, that last bit might be easier to swallow.

What a doofus. I suppose he thought it might be like American press conferences where the reporter might let him get away with that first non-answer. And I interpret his second attempt to answer the question to be this: "They hate and fear me because they don't agree with war." Is that about the essence of it? He then immediately spun it into a "we", which is not addressing himself as the target of hatred at all. Unless he is using the "royal we". Maybe he's talking about him and his buddy Tony. He sure didn't want to be hated all by himself, though. Wasn't willing to even accept the accusation as directed. He was willing to be the guy who protects the people of his country though.

What a bugger.


....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.