Reason On the Air: Tim Cavanaugh Talks George W. Bush's Memoir with Chris Reed: 7:33 PST

His memoir may already have edged out Bill Clinton's as history's top-selling presidential tell-all. So did George W. Bush do a heckuva job on Decision Points, or is the book an exercise in "simpleminded sententiousness" that seems to have been written by "an admiring sidekick who is familiar with every story Bush ever told but never got to know the President well enough to convey his inner life"?

Did George W. Bush have an inner life?

Find out as San Diego Union-Tribune columnist and KOGO radio host Chris Reed talks Decision Points with Reason senior editor Tim Cavanaugh

Tonight 7:33 PST, 10:33 EST.

San Diegonians can tune in to KOGO at 600 AM.

Others can listen live at kogo.com.

Reason TV spoke with Reed recently about the false promises of California Democrats:

Comments

[Tman]

GW was interviewed by Mark Zuckerberg recently to push the book and talk to Facebook employees, and answer their questions.

Mark Zuckerberg Interviews George W. Bush

Some of the interview will make heads asplode across the country, for a variety of reasons, but not mine.

I know he's a rich daddy's boy born in to a political family which greased the wheels for his life. But it's weird that after watching the interview I just think he's more genuine and clear about his principles then he was given credit for. Everyone disagreed with him about something, but you knew where he stood.

Obama clearly had a harder life to get where he is today, but yet he seems less genuine.

Maybe it's because Bush is retired?

[cynical]

It's probably because Dick Cheney's hand is out of his ass.

[Diogenes]

So when did you remove your tongue from Kevin Jennings' bung, faggot?

[me]

Oh please...what principles??? There is nothing defensible about this man. His entire character was illustrated in that infamous interview with Tucker Carlson where he mimicked Carla Faye Tucker - boo hoo hoo, please don't kill me.

Once he was elected President, he brought that same character to White House and national governance. He dragged this country into a pointless and illegal war that cost hundreds of billions of dollars and God knows how many hundreds of thousands of lives for his own self aggrandizement, so he could be a great "war President". He is a perfect example of the worst rising to the top.

[Tman]

Oh please...what principles??? There is nothing defensible about this man.

I wonder how far you got through the Facebook interview? Your head would be asplodin'.

His entire character was illustrated in that infamous interview with Tucker Carlson where he mimicked Carla Faye Tucker - boo hoo hoo, please don't kill me.

Gee, that's fair. He made some distasteful comments about a convicted murderer who killed two people in cold blood and tried to get out of her execution by saying she was a converted christian, and this is his "entire character". Makes sense, if you're a moron.

He dragged this country into a pointless and illegal war

And here we go. It wasn't illegal, and my Kurdish friends sure as hell didn't think it was pointless.

He is a perfect example of the worst rising to the top.

I disagree with your opinion. I know I won't convince you otherwise, and you won't change my mind so we can agree to disagree.

[Xmas]

Pointless war? I don't see US soldiers being killed in Saudi Arabia anymore, so it really wasn't pointless.

See 1995 to 2004: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001454.html

(Unless you think the continued destabilizing of the Saudi government by agitators angry with US soldiers stationed in the holiest countries in Islam wasn't a bad thing, then the war would be pointless.)

[JohnD]

So much for your judgement. There was a lot to dislike about Bush. But he is a long way from the worst. I nominate Obama and Carter for that role. Of course your mouth is perminately attached to Obama's ass so you will argue that point

[retard]

Chimpy McBu$hitler murdered TRILLIONS of PEOPLE in his ILLEGAL WAR against NICE KITE-FLIERS that cost TWENTY GOOGLEPLEX DOLLARS! Then Chimpy McBu$hitler used HALLIBURTON to turn TRILLIONS of CUTE LITTLE PUPPIES into TOXIC WASTE just so he could SMEAR IT on NAKED SIX-YEAR-OLD BOYS! How can you even THINK this DEMONIC NAZI CHILD MOLESTOR FROM OUTER SPACE has PRINCIPLES!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

[Episiarch]

Wait, did you just say that Bush has principles?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Now I understand your hatred for Wikileaks.

[Episiarch]

Maybe your handle should be Gman instead of Tman?

[Tman]

Who's obsessed with whom again?

Jesus Epi, give it a rest with the Wiki.

One of the most interesting things about the Facebook interview is the story Bush relates of how universal freedom is. He talks of how when we were at war with Japan critics said that the Japanese would never accept democracy because of their culture. They have since said the same thing about the Middle East and Iraq. George Senior fought against the Japanese in WWII, and how amazing is it that many years later one of the first calls Bush received after the tragedy of 9/11 was from Japanese leaders telling him that the Japanese stood side by side with the US and would offer whatever help was needed to fight back.

These are the principles Bush stood for, and he never wavered. You may disagree with him about his choices and decisions, but you can't argue that he doesn't believe in the universal principles of freedom and democracy.

[heller]

but you can't argue that he doesn't believe in the universal principles of freedom and democracy.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

No, continue, please, this is just great material you've got!

[heller]

Mmm...! Dennis Raimondo's salad with syrup... Delicious!

[Episiarch]

I gotta get me some of that.

[RyanXXX]

+1

[Episiarch]

Dude, will you be here all week? Don't worry, I'll remember to tip my waitress, and I'll try the prime rib.

[Episiarch]

Don't mind me. Just being retarded again.

[RyanXXX]

+1

[JohnD]

Yes he has principles. You may disagree with him, but to say is has no principles is BS

I have been struggling to figure out what Episiarch's principles are.

[Episiarch's "Principles"]

1) Atheism=Good; Theism=Bad
2) Abortion=Good; Motherhood=Bad
3) Treason=Good; Patriotism=Bad

[johnl]

TV Tim. You don't have the looks for radio.

[Southerner]

Bush's book just confirms what we admirers of his knew all along: he said what he meant and meant what he said.

When he said, for example, that he wanted our country secure, he meant he wanted our country secure. It's a fair debate as to whether he was using the right methods the right way to achieve this (especially in view of the TSA's behavior since then), and whether he did actually achieve it, but there should be no question that greater security was his intent.

All of his enemies who assign evil motives to his actions are invariably projecting their own motives onto him; which is why I have neither sympathy nor respect for Bush-bashers or any of the fools who listened to them or--worse--voted for them. Bush-bashers were and are unvarnished traitors to this country. If any of you expected them to do other than the very things they had falsely accused Bush of doing, your suffering under their fascist directives is well deserved, and I hope you suffer even worse until you learn your lesson.

Some of you idiots have been calling this leftist regime Bush's third term. By the end, you'll be wishing that it were.

[Les]

You're absolutely right. Except for the times when he was lying about working to avoid war with Iraq, every retarded assault on the English language and common sense that spewed from his smirking lips, was delivered in all sincerity.

http://politicalhumor.about.co.....quotes.htm

Powerful morons like Bush would be nothing without people like you.

[John]

You don't really help yourself by linking to a bunch of political cheap shots. 57 states anyone? If you want to talk seriously about Bush, fine. But, linking to what you did just makes you look like a ignorant dick.

[JohnD]

It's hard to not look like an ignorant dick when you're an ignorant dick.

[Southerner]

Well yes, Les is an ignorant dick... at best.

[heller]

I agree, Only Islamic terrorists and fascist lefties Bush-bash. Death penalty anyone?

[Rat Prick Butt Cannon]

And Nazi apologists; don't forget Nazi apologists.

[Dhimmi Sockpuppet]

I mean, really: don't forget the Nazi apologists here.

[heller]

Don't mind me. Just tossing Dennis Raimondo's salad again.

[CJ]

When he said, for example, that he wanted our country secure, he meant he wanted our country secure.

You know who else--

...well, you know the rest.

Some of you idiots have been calling this leftist regime Bush's third term. By the end, you'll be wishing that it were.

By the end? I'll already concede that he would have been the lesser of two evils since Obama has been as totally inactive on expanding social liberties as Bush while being somehow and some way even worse on fiscal policy than someone who destroyed the economy.

[JohnD]

I beleive you meant to say "after the Democratic congress destroyed the economy"

[Hitler Ate Sugar]

Yes, we all know who destroyed the economy, don't we?

[ben]

Great link Tman! I enjoyed watching Gw being himself and not planned and everything!

[ugg boutique]

The false promises of California Democrats?I'm interested in it.

[Rock Action]

Caption Contest:

I'll find the eggs on the lawn if you catch a flight and find the chemical weapons

[capitol l]

"I am NOT a furry, we are just really close freinds!"

[Rock Action]

"It's a genuine De Beers?!"

"You should see me do this trick where I take this hat and pull a...a...sorry."

[prolefeed]

It's probably because Dick Cheney's hand is out of his ass.

aaaaaaaannnnd ... we have a threadwinner!

[You Fail Logic Forever]

I don't think any of you pederasts here are in any position to judge whose fist has been in whose ass, fool.

[heller]

Assange's Interpol Warrant is for Having Consensual Sex Without a Condom, not Rape

[John]

Was that warrant issued by Feministing?

[PapayaSF]

He has been charged with "sex by surprise"! You can't make this stuff up.

[John]

No you really can't. It is worth remembering stuff like this every time some snot ass European or American liberal euro bootlicker lectures you about how enlightened Europe is compared to America.

[Gomer Pyle]

Surprise, surprise, surprise, Miss Poovie!

[Ragin Cajun]

Yeah, but was it "surprise-surprise"?

[prolefeed]

Assange's Interpol Warrant is for Having Consensual Sex Without a Condom, not Rape

Anyone who thinks leftist-run welfare states are good on civil rights might want to read heller's link at 11:53.

[Jerry]

All this nonsense just because some Swedish prosecutor wants to get a promotion or his 15 minutes of fame.

[Kolohe]

The prosecutor's a woman.

[Grey Poupon]

"But of course"

[heller]

State Department Warns Students not to Read, Share Wikileaks

[J sub D]

Runnintg metaphors through the blender - All the king's horses and all the king's men can't get the toothpaste back in the tube.

[Wind Rider]

Not to mention that closing the barn door after the cows have all bolted won't unring any bells.

[heller]

Once Again, I Toss Dennis Raimondo's Salad

[Wind Rider]

Ya know, I understand that it's nice and all that the Jacket lets the staff out of the oar galley on the weekends and all, but I sure wish there wasn't the need to punish their loyal, faithful, and ever so obedient followers with a frickin picture of W hugging a Bunny ALL GODDAMNED WEEKEND.

[Don't like bunnies?]

Wow. Just imagine if they'd made you look at John Kerry instead...

[James J. B.]

Spoiler alert for the video and pic!

It's really Gillespie (sans leather blazer) in the easter bunny outfit!!!!

[MNG]

Lil' long, but struck me as interesting thought experiment, from Balkinization:

"My advice to Barack Obama:

1. Let the Bush tax cuts expire.

2. Declare a payroll tax holiday for Tax Years 2011 and 2012, featuring cuts in the amount of payroll tax the federal government will correct.

Instruct the Treasury Department to collect less than the current amount of the payroll tax and/or give everyone who pays the payroll tax a tax refund.

Instruct the Treasury Department to issue new regulations justifying the payroll tax holiday.

Instruct the IRS not to prosecute employers who deduct only the amount required under the terms of the payroll tax holiday.

3. Tell the Congress that the payroll tax holiday will continue until Congress passes a tax reform bill to the President's liking.

4. Tell the Republicans that he is sick and tired of their misusing the political process to benefit rich people and that the best way out of the current economic mess is to put money in the hands of hard working Americans who need tax relief and are most likely to spend it. Note that the payroll tax holiday is as necessary to the country's economic recovery as FDR's bank holiday was during the Great Depression.

5. Insist that it is the President's duty to take bold action in times of economic emergency and berate the Republicans for playing games with the lives of ordinary citizens.

6. When members of Congress sue to declare the tax holiday unconstitutional:

(a) argue that they lack standing.
(b) argue that the holiday is justified by the new Treasury Department regulations.
(c) argue that the interpretation of the tax laws in the new regulations is committed to the President under Chevron.
(d) argue that the President, as chief executive officer, has the discretion to refuse to prosecute individuals in the interests of public policy. To interfere with the President's (non)prosecution power violates the Unitary Executive.
(e) Drag out the litigation until 2012, when it will be clear that the payroll tax holiday has helped improve the economy.

6. Rinse and Repeat."

http://balkin.blogspot.com/

[Wind Rider]

That's some funny acid trippin shit right there, I don't care who ya are.

[SIV]

7. Profit!

[MNG]

I'm not sure how Obama would profit, other than perhaps politically, from that.

Anyway I like the payroll tax idea part of it. Robert Reich floated a deficet neutral form of it earlier this year. Of course stupid Obama ignored it and allowed himself to be sucked into playing on the GOP's field as usual...

[heller]

Obama: GOP stooge.

Right MNG?

[Southerner]

To boil down the plan to three steps:

1. Double down, yell louder, and offer more false sacrifices.

2. ???

3. Profit!

[JOhnny MAckson]

LOL

Jess
http://www.anon4u.com

[R C Dean]

Yes, what this economy really needs right now is a massive increase in federal deficits and debt that would come from a payroll tax increase.

And what our politics really needs is a massive power grab by the executive, regardless of whether its wearing tax-cut drag.

[alaamiah]

history's top-selling presidential tell-all. So did George W. Bush do a heckuva job on Decis