[Goober5000]

Wow.
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/13/D8D7I5C83.html

(Sarcastic disclaimer: It was found on Drudge, so it's of questionable accuracy. )

[Bobboau]

what? are you actualy suprised?

[BlackDove]

...of course these things are staged. You think sheep are allowed to have a free opinion?

[Goober5000]

Not really surprised that it happened.  Rather, surprised that it was this blatant.

If any conservatives are still supporting Bush, this should be the last straw.

[Deepblue]

After finding http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/13/051013191606.sxn77r88.html as a link on that page, I need a better source.

[achtung]

Is yahoo reliable enough?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051014/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_iraq

[Deepblue]

Thanks. Sad times these days. Though I'm sure it's not just Bush. I bet you find this sort of thing with any politics.

EDIT: Then again, the article doesn't provide any proof whatsoever that it wasn't merely topical guidelines...

[aldo_14]

Please tell don't tell me you're surprised at this?  Bush has a history of screwing up even scripted speeches, they're not going to let loose a bunch of angry plebs on him asking hard questions

Hell, it was only a few months ago there was the reports of staging footage of 'refugees' in New Orleans greeting Bush (apparently they didn't live in NO, now were refugees, but were picking up some clothes for another - looting?! - and were reasonably telegenic).

EDIT; they'll also tell the reporters which questions they can ask, IIRC.

[deep_eyes]

heres also the kicker, bush said on CNN the other night, "we brought the iraqi people chaos. Were teaching them how to fight freedom... err chaos, and bring them freedom..."

what a f-uc-kin nub!

[Wanderer]

My personal favorite of the GWB is the classic

We can't allow the world's worst leaders to blackmail, threaten, hold freedom-loving nations hostage with the world's worst weapons.

It kind a brings images to my mind of Saddam and other 'world's worst leaders' sharpening their horrible wooden sticks and loading their slings (world's worst weapons)..

[Flipside]

"If the question comes up about partnering _ how often do we train with the Iraqi military _ who does he go to?" Barber asked.

"That's going to go to Captain Pratt," one of the soldiers said.


I bet it did too.....

[aldo_14]

Now Major Pratt?

[Ace]

Nope, now Lieutenant Pratt

[Deepblue]

Sorry. Just read an article about this except it includes a bit more info. One of the soldiers who was from this area said that it was not staged, but choreagraphed. All the opinions expressed were those of the soldiers, though the topics were pre-selected.

Debunked.

[aldo_14]

Choreographed = staged.

I mean, come on.  The questions are pre-picked, the audience is pre-picked - what's different from just scripting the damn thing?  You think so long as it's not literally scripted but simply 'organized' to be as inoffensive and supportive of the administration, it's ok?

If you're going to send people off to fight and die, you might at least have the moral conviction to face them and listen to what they say - not decide what you want them to say and pick the least argumentative.

A good leader, after all, doesn't need to pick the most compliant 'opponent', and doesn't shirk from answering the difficult questions.  Hell, make that a 'competent leader'.

[Goober5000]

And in a hilarious juxtaposition of stories, the Today Show is caught in some staging of its own.

[ Article | Video ]

[Ace]

Meh, at least that's actually funny/harmless stuff.

[Kosh]

What do you expect from this administration? Honesty? Truthfulness? Integrity? You would find any of it.