Katherine Harris's own Bushism...

[mfa96]

Dubya isn't the only one saying the wrong thing....


Congresswoman Harris dumbfounds Indiana officials with terror story

VENICE -- Officials in Indiana and Washington say they're dumbfounded by a statement U-S Representative Katherine Harris of Sarasota made about a terrorist plot to blow up a power grid in Indiana.

During a speech to 600 people Monday in Venice, Harris either shared a closely held secret or passed along second-hand information as fact.
A staff member of the U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees the nation's intelligence operations, said he had heard of no such plot.

And Indiana officials in the county where the power grid is located were at a loss to explain where the information originated.

In an interview, Harris would not reveal the name of the mayor who told her about the threat or provide further details.

She said in the speech that a man of Middle Eastern heritage had been arrested in the plot and that explosives were found in his home in Carmel, a suburb north of Indianapolis.

Carmel Mayor James Brainard and a spokesman for Indiana Gov. Joe Kernan said they had no knowledge of such a plot. Brainard said he had never spoken to Harris.

Harris, a Republican who is running for re-election, said the case was an example of the nation's success in fighting terrorism.

Floyd Jay Winters, one of four Democrats running for the nomination to oppose Harris in this fall's election, called it irresponsible to bring up allegations at a rally but provide no details.

Harris first gained worldwide attention during the 2000 presidential election when she served as Florida's secretary of state and was often harpooned by cartoonists and late night television talk show hosts from everything from her clothes to the makeup she wore.


Is it any wonder there were problems with the 2000 election in Florida with this brainchild involved? :rolleyes:

[AnnieBW]

Carmel, Indiana is Yuppie heaven. It's the rich section of Indianapolis. The fact that a Middle Eastern man could have even BEEN in Carmel without being arrested (unless he was a clerk at the 7-11) is ludicrious! :D Although it must've scared the dren out of my mother-in-law who lives in Venice, FL. John's youngest brother, Jeff, lives in Carmel. :D

[grinner]

okay, not to get into defending anyone... but I would bet that if you looked for 'Bushism' formerly known as 'Goreisms' and 'Doleisms' and 'Quayleisms' you can find some from everyone who has ever made a speech.

[mfa96]

Maybe, but none as entertaining- and frequent- as Bush :)

[Antrobus]

What - is she doing lines too!?!

[B Sharp]

speaking of 'Bushism's', just saw this:

http://slate.msn.com/id/76886/
Updated Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004, at 12:50 PM PT

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."—Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

[vacantlook]

WASHINGTON A Florida congresswoman says she regrets concerns caused by her claim that a plot existed to blow up the power grid in Carmel, Indiana.

Officials in the Indiana suburb disputed the claims of a plot.

Katherine Harris says she was told about the plot in an open setting.

Harris made the comments about terrorism and the plot on Monday at a rally for President Bush in Venice, Florida, and a subsequent interview with a Florida newspaper.

Carmel Assistant Police Chief Tim Green says he's not aware of any plots to blow up the power grid.

A spokeswoman for Carmel's mayor says the mayor never talked to Harris.

Harris says she stands by her comments to the newspaper that the United States has thwarted 100 potential attacks in the last three years.

Source Link (http://www.wane.com/Global/story.asp?S=2136057)

[SaraD]

Gore might not be a fiery speaker, but he always has something interesting and well thought out to say. Also, as bad as Bush is (how low can you go?), I think Quayle was worse. Here are some of his more memorable gaffs:

"I was recently on a tour of Latin America, and the only regret I have was that I didn't study Latin harder in school so I could converse with those people."

"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."

"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child."

"What a waste it is to lose one's mind. Or not to have a mind is being very wasteful. How true that is." (trying to quote the NAACP motto: "a mind is a terrible thing to waste")

"The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century." 9/15/88

"I believe we are on an irreversible trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change." 5/22/89

"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any vice president, and that one word is 'to be prepared'." 12/6/89

"Verbosity leads to unclear, inarticulate things." 11/30/88

[stellar]

okay, not to get into defending anyone... but I would bet that if you looked for 'Bushism' formerly known as 'Goreisms' and 'Doleisms' and 'Quayleisms' you can find some from everyone who has ever made a speech.

No way. Bush is WAY more prolific.

I hate to defend Katherine Harris, but I don't know that her statement qualifies as a Bushism. She didn't say something stupid, she did something stupid.

[SaraD]

What - is she doing lines too!?!

no doubt they do them together.

[Darth Buddha]

okay, not to get into defending anyone... but I would bet that if you looked for 'Bushism' formerly known as 'Goreisms' and 'Doleisms' and 'Quayleisms' you can find some from everyone who has ever made a speech.

GW puts even QUAYLE to shame.

This guy is more fun than watching Gerald Ford slide down a stairway.

I'm not saying he's dumb as a brain damaged manatee.. he just SOUNDS dumb as a brain damaged manatee!

[Mike0812]

GW puts even QUAYLE to shame.

This guy is more fun than watching Gerald Ford slide down a stairway.

I'm not saying he's dumb as a brain damaged manatee.. he just SOUNDS dumb as a brain damaged manatee!


Makes it much easier to underestimate him though, no?

[Darth Buddha]

Makes it much easier to underestimate him though, no?

Him? Nah. His backers? Never.

The man has had everything bought and sold for him. Even his business "successes" were gifts, and in some cases, were possibly inadvisable as likely insider trading. His only claim to fame is that he isn't the coke-head DUI ass he was a while ago. And I still suspect that the whole pretzel-boy event had some substantial blood-alcohol levels in the plot.

His backers, including the Saudis, including investment moneys that originated with the Bin-Laden family... including those allied with his dad (whom I feel deserved said loyalties... HE was quite a guy), have set him up with a silver spoon every step of the way.

His dad can't be called a silver spooner, he put his ass on the line, he actually was a legitimate business man (not the beneficiary of a financial shell game), he was a successful CIA director, he was one hell of a giant on the international stage... a respected giant.

This guy is just a pugnacious snot, despised on the international stage, whose excuse for sitting there dumbfounded after being told about the 9/11 attack doesn't hold water... because the real reason is that he is well out of his field. He's the frat-boy president... when in reality he isn't bright enough to be in Animal House.

I'd shake his dad's hand without reservation. I wouldn't shake Bill's... and I sure as hell wouldn't shake GW's hand.

Commander in Chief my ass!

[vhsiv]

This guy is just a pugnacious snot, despised on the international stage...Buddha - Why do you hate America?

I'm no Bush fan, but I was watching a cold war thriller just the other afternoon, 'The Whistle Blower' and there was a line in there that was more or less the following: "to question anything is treason". That line more or less illustrates the current political landscape of 'terror threats' and diminishing poll-ratings.

Even though your comments may have a ring of the truth to them, I think it's inadvisable to post those kinds of things in a public forum, with the Carnivore software out there. For the next 3 months at least - you never know what might come back to haunt you.

[Mike0812]

The man has had everything bought and sold for him. Even his business "successes" were gifts, and in some cases, were possibly inadvisable as likely insider trading. His only claim to fame is that he isn't the coke-head DUI ass he was a while ago. And I still suspect that the whole pretzel-boy event had some substantial blood-alcohol levels in the plot.

Ouch! Try not to hold anything back DB, tells us how you really feel :D. The business stuff, I'll grant you, the rest, well that can be debatable...


His backers, including the Saudis, including investment moneys that originated with the Bin-Laden family... including those allied with his dad (whom I feel deserved said loyalties... HE was quite a guy), have set him up with a silver spoon every step of the way.


The Saudis have supported almost everyone that has occupied the White House. It's a relationship that goes back 50 years, unfortunately. As for the Bushes, the relationship, whatever the extent, was already in place way before GWB came into the White House.


His dad can't be called a silver spooner, he put his ass on the line, he actually was a legitimate business man (not the beneficiary of a financial shell game), he was a successful CIA director, he was one hell of a giant on the international stage... a respected giant.


I agree. Though, he wasn't exactly poor to start with was he? Wasn't his dad, Prescott I think his name was (not sure about that one), a Senator or something who was already very wealthy? His economic and political connections can't have hurt George HW Bush either. But he WAS a much better diplomat, that's for sure.



This guy is just a pugnacious snot, despised on the international stage, whose excuse for sitting there dumbfounded after being told about the 9/11 attack doesn't hold water... because the real reason is that he is well out of his field. He's the frat-boy president... when in reality he isn't bright enough to be in Animal House.


Your opinion DB. The children thing, I think is unfair. I'll tell you this though, if years down the line, Afghanistan and Iraq emerge on the path towards some form of genuine democracy, albeit with an Islamic "twist", he will be remembered as a great President. That is still a big "IF", for now. And part of the international despisal is just the reality of being the world's only hegemon or superpower. That is not to say that his administration's diplomacy has been even adequate to say the least. Sometimes, it has been downright incompetant, at least till a few months ago.

Bottom line DB, I find it hard to believe that the US would elect the kind of person you describe to hold the highest office in the land (nothwithstanding the 2000 fiasco). I think you're being awfully hard on the voters who chose him. In any case, you and the rest of his political opponents keep thinking these kinds of things about him and you might find yourself with a second Bush administration. In fact, that's probably what they're hoping the Democrats will do...

[DRD2001]

Buddha - Why do you hate America?

I'm no Bush fan, but I was watching a cold war thriller just the other afternoon, 'The Whistle Blower' and there was a line in there that was more or less the following: "to question anything is treason". That line more or less illustrates the current political landscape of 'terror threats' and diminishing poll-ratings.

Even though your comments may have a ring of the truth to them, I think it's inadvisable to post those kinds of things in a public forum, with the Carnivore software out there. For the next 3 months at least - you never know what might come back to haunt you.You've got to be kidding.

[stellar]

Bush's relationship with the Saudis, especially GHW Bush, was significantly more than political elbow rubbing. It preceded his Vice-Presidency. And some theories point to the Saudis as being the go-between for the October Suprize.

[Darth Buddha]

The Saudis have supported almost everyone that has occupied the White House. It's a relationship that goes back 50 years, unfortunately. As for the Bushes, the relationship, whatever the extent, was already in place way before GWB came into the White House.

That's true of most presidents when they are IN office... but of relatively few BEFORE they are in office!

You've got to be kidding.

I suspect vhsiv was at least half serious. I worry about these things myself, because as I scientist I know too well that before you get government funding, you have to correctly answer two litmus test questions:

What is your position on (banned subject, not the war)?

What is your position on handguns?

Actually, with John Ashcroft as the highest ranking law enforcment official, I should probably worry about more than that!

[Mike0812]

That's true of most presidents when they are IN office... but of relatively few BEFORE they are in office!

True, I just find the whole conspiracy theory thing a bit of a stretch. I don't buy it. George HW Bush's fortune was made primarily in the oil industry (again going by memory here-correct me if I'm wrong). Saudia Arabia is the world's largest oil producer. He was also CIA chief during the 70s, where a lot of crazy shit went down in the Middle East and the Saudis are KEY players. He was then Vice-President for 8 years. So, over the course of his career, he established several relationships with the Saudis, notably Prince Bandar. What's the big surprise?

[La Bomba]

Darn. From the title, I thought there might be dirty pictures in here.

[NebariNookiee]

Harris says she stands by her comments to the newspaper that the United States has thwarted 100 potential attacks in the last three years.
BULLSHIT!

[Darth Buddha]

BULLSHIT!

Hey, FEAR is about the only thing the Republicans have going for them. The more scared people are, the better.

Though I'll warrant that in reality, George and his posse haven't made us any safer.

I hate to say this, but I suspect Al Quaeda will pull something off before the election, just to prove the point. I REALLY hope they are stopped... but I wouldn't want to bet on that.

[Digger]

"Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child."Apparantly so do the Scarrans.

Dan Quayle was VERY entertaining, but I shudder to think that he was a bullet or a heart attack from being President. :fear: