President Shit-for-brains talks to the Washington Post

From the "accountability moment" interview:

"Priorities for the second term: of course, win the war on terror [...]"
  WaPo article

What benchmark will he use to claim such a feat?

"I'm taking on three issues: asbestos reform, class action and medical liability reform."

Three issues that will return the balance of favor to corporations, especially inluding pharmaceuticals and the AMA, and away from injured individuals.

"I firmly believe that a free Iraq will be a major defeat for the Salafist movement and the extremist movement, those who want to use terror as a weapon to impose their will on millions of people throughout the world."

Like collective punishment and death squads and torture? Oh, no. That's something else. That's American foreign policy. Sorry. I get confused some times.

"So the political process is unfolding. And it is a process. In other words, this is the election of an assembly, which will choose leadership. And out of that leadership will, obviously, become -- we'll work to develop -- further refine the security strategy, as well as watch a process unfold that will write a constitution. And it's important for people to understand that."

Important, perhaps. But extremely difficult. I know it's a lot to ask, but next election, could we get somebody who can speak intelligible English?

The Post: In Iraq, there's been a steady stream of surprises. We weren't welcomed as liberators, as Vice President Cheney had talked about. We haven't found the weapons of mass destruction as predicted. The postwar process hasn't gone as well as some had hoped. Why hasn't anyone been held accountable, either through firings or demotions, for what some people see as mistakes or misjudgments?

The President: Well, we had an accountability moment, and that's called the 2004 election. And the American people listened to different assessments made about what was taking place in Iraq, and they looked at the two candidates, and chose me, for which I'm grateful. [...] My only point is, is that, on a complicated matter such as removing a dictator from power and trying to help achieve democracy, sometimes the unexpected will happen, both good and bad. [...]

I cut out all the other extraneous bullshit, because truly that was his only point - you can't expect accountability when you're involved in something where unexpected things happen. I'll try to remember that. It could come in handy some day. I've been using Reagan's approach to accountability - I forgot - for so long now, it's getting kind of old.

The Post: There [are] signs of a manpower squeeze in the regular Army. The National Guard and Reserves have been pressed to their limit. Do you plan to ask Congress to authorize additional National Guard or regular Army units?

The President: No, what we're going to do is we're going to make sure that the missions of the National Guard and the Reserve closely dovetail with active Army units, so that the pressure that you're speaking about is eased.

And The Post doesn't ask, "Well, what the hell are they doing now?"

The Post: Only two-thirds of the beneficiaries of Social Security, as you know, are retired people. The rest are disabled and people collecting survivor's benefits. Do you think that the rising costs of disability and survivor's insurance is causing the overall Social Security problem, and can you promise that the benefits will not be touched under your reform plan?

The President: We will look at all aspects of Social Security, of course, but the main focus I have been on, focusing on -- the main issue I have been focusing on is the retirement system aspect of Social Security, because it is a pay-as-you-go system. The number of payers is declining quite rapidly relative to the number of retirees. And that, thus far, has been our focus, because that is the part where the Congress needs to focus.

And to answer the disability insurance, we have no plans of cutting benefits at all for people with disabilities.

The Post: So they'll definitely remain untouched?

The President: Well, as I said, we have no plans for cutting benefits.

The Post: Is that just for disability, or for survivors, as well?

The President: Well, we're --

The Post: It's a different benefit for --

The President: Yes, you're right. Frankly, our discussions in terms of reform have not centered on the survivor/disability aspect of Social Security. We're talking about the retirement system of Social Security. I think that's an accurate statement.

I don't think he knows. But he does answer the question again about whether those benefits will "definitely remain untouched"...

MR. McClellan [Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary]: You're talking about at or near retirees, right?

The President: Yes, they're talking about survivor and disability benefits, and we have had no discussions of that, thus far. The best way to put it -- the answer is, we have no discussions of that, so far, in terms of changing them, I think is the best way to describe it.

Yeah. Probably is. They haven't talked to him about that part.

The Post: Will you talk to Senate Democrats about your privatization plan?

The President: You mean, the personal savings accounts?

The Post: Yes, exactly. Scott has been --

The President: We don't want to be editorializing, at least in the questions.

The Post: You used partial privatization yourself last year, sir.

The President: Yes?

The Post: Yes, three times in one sentence. We had to figure this out, because we're in an argument with the RNC [Republican National Committee] about how we should actually word this. [Post staff writer] Mike Allen, the industrious Mike Allen, found it.

The President: Allen did what now?

The Post: You used partial privatization.

The President: I did, personally?

The Post: Right.

The President: When?

The Post: To describe it.

The President: When, when was it?

The Post: Mike said it was right around the election.

The President: Seriously?

The Post: It was right around the election. We'll send it over.

The President: I'm surprised. Maybe I did. It's amazing what happens when you're tired.

Wait, it gets better.

THE PRESIDENT: I'm surprised. Maybe I did. It's amazing what happens when you're tired. Anyway, your question was? I'm sorry for interrupting.

The Post: So have you talked to Senate Democrats about this?

The President: Yes, I have talked to Senate Democrats, and I will continue to talk to Senate Democrats. And I'll continue --

The Post: Did you --

The President: We had a meeting with -- I think before Christmas we had the leadership in, didn't we?

MS. Devenish [Nicolle Devenish, the White House communications director]: That was Republicans.

MR. McClellan: For Social Security?

The President: Yes.

MR. McClellan: The bipartisan meeting at the end of last year, toward the end of last year.

The President: And before we went on the Christmas break?

MR. McClellan: Yes.

The President: It was right after, I think Harry --[Senate Minority Leader] Harry Reid was there, I know for certain. I'm trying to remember -- I can't remember all who were there. But, yes, I have, and will continue to do so, and continue to speak to the people.

He doesn't know who he talked to or what he said.

First step is to make sure people address -- are willing to address the problem. In other words -- in the campaign, you might remember, in going to one of the debates -- Senator [John] Kerry said -- I don't want to put words in his mouth, but basically said, this is something that we can grow the economy and Social Security will be okay. I think he said that.

Nor does he know what anyone else said.

But as president, I have been -- if you go back and look, I think you will find that I've never really personally called anybody out, never tried to villify because people didn't agree with my position.

No, not personally in public. But ask Joe Wilson about disagreeing. Ask Richard Clarke. Ask anybody who's tried to get near a presidential public appearance wearing an anti-war T-shirt and been arrested. Villify? More like ruin.

The Post: A parochial question for The Post in D.C.

The President: I'm trying to stay concentrated.

The Post: What's that?

The President: I'm just trying to stay concentrated.

Concentrated essence of bullshit. I don't know what he's trying to say. Focused, probably, but who knows?

I called Abu Amas the other day, and I told him I'm looking forward to seeing him again and working with him -- or Abu Mazen.

Or somebody.

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


Update 12:45pm: Concerning the likelihood of disability cuts.