By Matt Hurley for the TIB Network:
Michelle Malkin dug up the transcript of the Bush/Lauer interview, here is the relevent portion:Lauer: "You said to me a second ago, one of the things you'll lay out in your vision for the next four years is how to go about winning the war on terror. That phrase strikes me a little bit. Do you really think we can win this war on terror in the next four years?"Emphasis added.
President Bush: "I have never said we can win it in four years."
Lauer: "So I’m just saying can we win it? Do you see that?"
President Bush: "I don't think you can win it. But I think you can create conditions so that those who use terror as a tool are less acceptable in parts of the world –- let's put it that way. I have a two pronged strategy. On the one hand is to find them before they hurt us, and that's necessary. I’m telling you it's necessary. The country must never yield, must never show weakness [and] must continue to lead. To find al-Qaida affiliates who are hiding around the world and … harm us and bring ‘em to justice –- we're doing a good job of it. I mean we are dismantling the al-Qaidaas we knew it. The long-term strategy is to spread freedom and liberty, and that's really kind of an interesting debate. You know there's some who say well, ‘You know certain people can't self govern and accept, you know, a former democracy.’ I just strongly disagree with that. I believe that democracy can take hold in parts of the world that are now non-democratic and I think it's necessary in order to defeat the ideologies of hate. History has shown that it can work, that spreading liberty does work. After all, Japan is our close ally and my dad fought against the Japanese. Prime Minister Koizumi, is one of the closest collaborators I have in working to make the world a more peaceful place."
Matt's Chat
I just heard Terry McAwful peddling his lie of ommission last night on FOX News, the supposed bastion of conservative media, and he wasn't challenged. Why does it take bloggers to do the work of journalists?The only way politics will ever regain respectability and civility is if people call them on stuff like this. It's called integrity, and the media is sorely in need of some...
Mark's Remarks
Terry McAuliffe still peddles the whole AWOL thing, even now that we have complete records showing Bush's service. Terry McAuliffe talks about the Halliburton issue but refuses to talk about his own shady dealings with Global Crossing.
Back to this story. Notice how Matt Lauer changed the question when he couldn't trap Bush into making an ill advised statement--that we could win the war in four years. Then he jumps in and interrupts a train of thought....Bush attempted to clarify the explanation but of course, the media only went with the bare quote. And liberals ran with it. Of course, they chastise us for taking "voting for it before voting against it" and "sensitive war". They just hate it when Conservatives give them a dose of their own medicine.
The Liberal Media is losing. Fox News, which presents both sides, killed the ratings the past few days...Why? It is not because of slick advertising or subliminal messages, it is more about being sick and tired of spin being given as objectivity.
