“The Bush League wants to get together for a party, but the former vice president isn’t having it”

Make up, to break-up.

Just 3 months after the end of his presidency, Dubya is getting the gang back together for a little reunion party, but there’s one big holdout – DICK CHENEY.

Who will be there? Former Bush staffers such as Condaleeza Rice, Karen Hughes, Dan Bartlett and Michael Gerson are all getting together with former President Bush to talk about the direction of the George W. Bush Policy Institute. But the New York Times reports that Cheney is just too cool for school:

“Not coming to next week’s session is former Vice President Dick Cheney, who in the final days of the administration argued with Mr. Bush about his failure to pardon Mr. Cheney’s former chief of staff, I. Lewis Libby Jr., who was convicted of perjury and other counts for his role in the leak of Valerie Wilson’s employment with the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Cheney later went on television to air his grievances with Mr. Bush, while also accusing Mr. Obama of endangering the country.

That is an approach Mr. Bush has rejected, telling aides that for now he is intent on giving his successor room to govern without criticism from him. Besides, he says, he is too busy in his own new life.”

I get not wanting to go to a reunion. They can be weird and uncomfortable. You have to make conversation with people you never really liked in the first place, and hope no one gets drunk enough or honest enough to talk about how they really feel.

But come on, Dick. Don’t you want to get together with your old pals and talk about how awesome George’s legacy will be?

The funniest about this whole video is that the student body president name is George Bush. That’s pretty ironic for a black guy but hey excuse me demented twist of humor. LOL!

Officials at Cheyney University are trying to get to the root of a student brawl that someone posted online. The images from a fight at a Cheyney University party Saturday night are graphic.

Video shows one male being kicked repeatedly in the head while he is lying on the ground. Equally disturbing is the fact that this fight was edited to controversial music infused with suggestive language and racial slurs and then posted on YouTube.

“I think the way it was portrayed is a little skewed and it puts Cheyney in a bad light, which is not good for us, because, from what I know, it doesn’t accurately get the whole scope of the whole night and it’s a very sensationalist video,” George Bush, Cheyney student body president, said.

Bush says the crowds got too big at the party held at an on-campus fraternity. ”
“The way the party was promoted was Cheyney vs. Lincoln vs. West Chester,” Bush said.

Bush believes many people attending the party came looking for a fight. School officials say there were people attending who weren’t students at any of the schools.

State police confirm there were four arrests that night. The university says it is still investigating the video, the fight, and who posted the video.
However, this is just one of several fights Action News found from Cheyney University posted on the popular video site. The school says it is looking into adopting a policy that would punish any student who posted similar videos on the Internet.

“Living in a climate of violence that we do live in with violence being glorified all across through media, through movies, Internet, even music, it’s causing a climate for people to be desensitized, it’s a societal problem, not necessarily a Cheyney problem,” Cheyney University spokesperson Antoinette Colon said.

The university’s president also announced there will be a full investigation into the policies, procedures, and safety precautions at on campus parties. Until that investigation is complete, there is a moratorium on all on-campus parties.

Who know but “There are plenty of issues to look at when examining the history of the 43rd commander-in-chief”

(AFP OUT) U.S. President George W. Bush holds a press conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House July 15, 2008 in Washington, DC. President Bush urged the US Congress to act quickly on a plan to shore up housing finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and also to lift a ban on offshore drilling to help increase domestic oil production.

By John Charles Reedburg

Perhaps you might agree with this.

Will history vindicate George W. Bush as he predicts? There are plenty of issues to look at when examining the history of the 43rd commander-in-chief.

Elected in 2000 during a heated race against Al Gore, America was introduced to the term “hanging chad” as 36 days passed from Election Day before Gore conceded the race.

Many say Bush stood strong for America during 9/11, but the incident led to military action in Iraq and Afghanistan that became very unpopular at home.

He achieved a new benchmark for education with the “No Child Left Behind Act”, but was perceived by many to be sitting on the bench during Hurricane Katrina.

World leaders gained respect for his efforts to fight AIDS in Africa, but often criticized his military policy in the Mid-East.

Some historians are already ranking him among some of the worst Presidents to hold office, but President Bush says he’ll be vindicated in the future much like Harry Truman. What do you think will be his lasting legacy?

“He told me that he has no regret because of what he did and that he would do it again”

By John Charles Reedburg

Why blame him?

The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at GEORGE BUSH was tortured into writing a letter of apology, his brother claimed today.

MUNTAZAR AL-ZAIDI was wrestled to the ground after throwing his shoes during a news conference on 14 December held by Bush and the Iraqi prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.

The investigating judge in the case acknowledged last week that Zaidi was beaten around the face and eyes.

But the journalist’s brother, Uday, said his brother suffered more severe injuries, including a missing tooth and cigarette burns to his ears, and would sue.

Zaidi is in custody and faces up to two years’ jail for insulting a foreign leader. The prime minister’s office said last week that Zaidi had written a letter of apology and asked Maliki to recommend a pardon.

Uday al-Zaidi said his brother told him the apology letter was written against his will because of the torture inflicted on him during his detention, including being doused with cold water while naked.

“He told me that he has no regret because of what he did and that he would do it again,” Uday said.

“The thing that makes you cry and laugh at the same time is that when the prime minister said that that my brother was not tortured and will not be tortured, he was under severe torture by security authorities.”

The prime minister said Zaidi admitted in the letter that a known terrorist had induced him to throw the shoes.

“He revealed … that a person provoked him to commit this act and that person is known to us for slitting throats,” Maliki said, according to the prime minister’s website. The alleged instigator was not named.

The prime minister said his government remained “committed to protecting the journalist in performing his professional duty” and guaranteed him the right to practise his profession “on condition that he does not violate the dignity of others”.

Neither Bush nor Maliki have sought charges, but investigating judge Dhia al-Kinani said last week he did not have the legal option to drop the case.

Zaidi is expected to face charges of insulting a foreign leader. A conviction could bring two years’ imprisonment. The trial was expected to begin on 31 December, Uday al-Zaidi said.

Footage of Zaidi bombarding Bush was repeatedly broadcast worldwide and he has become a potent symbol for opponents of the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq. Thousands of Iraqis have rallied to demand his release.

Palestinian GUNMEN stand on a poster of US PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH during a demonstration organized by Palestinian armed group Popular Resistant Committees in support of an Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi on December 16, 2008 in Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi threw his shoes at President George W. Bush during a press conference in Baghdad on Sunday, while yelling in Arabic: “This is a farewell kiss, you dog, this is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq.“

“If you want the facts, it’s a size 10 shoe that he threw,” Mr. Bush joked afterwards

A surprise visit by US President George Bush to Iraq has been overshadowed by an incident in which two shoes were thrown at him during a news conference.

U.S. President George W. Bush speaks during a joint press conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (not pictured) on December 14, 2008 in Baghdad, Iraq. Bush arrived in Iraq on a unannounced, farewell visit to Baghdad on Sunday, just weeks before he leaves his office to President-elect Barack Obama. Bush will meet with Iraqi leaders, thank US troops and celebrate the new security agreement during his visit.

By John Charles Reedburg

Darn, they should have!

An Iraqi journalist was wrestled to the floor by security guards after he called Mr. BUSH “a dog” and threw his footwear, just missing the president.

The US president has now continued to Afghanistan to inspect troops there.

He arrived before dawn at Bagram air force base, and is due to hold talks with President Hamid Karzai.

Earlier in Baghdad, Mr. Bush and Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki signed the new security agreement between their countries.

The pact calls for US troops to leave Iraq in 2011 – eight years after the 2003 invasion that has in part defined the Bush presidency.

Speaking just over five weeks before he hands over power to Barack Obama, Mr. Bush also said the war in Iraq was not over and more work remained to be done.
His previously unannounced visit came a day after Defense Secretary Robert Gates told US troops the Iraq mission was in its “endgame”.

“SIZE 10”

In the middle of the news conference with Mr. Maliki, Iraqi television journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi stood up and shouted “this is a goodbye kiss from the Iraqi people, dog,” before hurling a shoe at Mr. Bush which narrowly missed him.

Showing the soles of shoes to someone is a sign of contempt in Arab culture.
With his second shoe, which the president also managed to dodge, Mr. Zaidi said: “This is for the widows and orphans and all those killed in Iraq.”

Mr. Zaidi, a correspondent for Cairo-based al-Baghdadiya TV, was then wrestled to the ground by security personnel and hauled away.

“If you want the facts, it’s a size 10 shoe that he threw,” Mr. Bush joked afterwards.

Al-Baghdadiya’s bureau chief told the Associated Press that he had no idea what prompted Mr. Zaidi to attack President Bush, although reports say he was once kidnapped by a militia and beaten up.

“I am trying to reach Muntadar since the incident, but in vain,” said Fityan Mohammed. “His phone is switched off.”

Correspondents said the attack was symbolic. Iraqis threw shoes and used them to beat Saddam Hussein’s statue after his overthrow.

AMERICAN SECURITY

Mr. Bush’s first stop upon arriving in Baghdad was the Iraqi presidential palace in the heavily-fortified Green Zone, where he held talks with President Jalal Talabani.
“The work hasn’t been easy but it’s been necessary for American security, Iraqi hope and world peace,” Mr. Bush said during his talks with Mr. Talabani.

The Iraqi president called Mr. Bush “a great friend for the Iraqi people, who helped us liberate our country”.

The BBC’s Humphrey Hawksley, in Baghdad, says the key issue at present is exactly how American troops will withdraw within the next three years and what sort of Iraq they will leave behind.

President Bush said events have been necessary for US security and world peace
The US media has just published details of a US government report saying that post invasion reconstruction of Iraq was crippled by bureaucratic turf wars and an ignorance of the basic elements of Iraqi society.

The report is circulating among US officials in draft form, says the New York Times.
It reveals details of a reconstruction effort that cost more than $100bn (£67bn) and only succeeded in restoring what was destroyed in the invasion and the widespread looting that followed it, the newspaper said.

TROOP PROMISES

George Bush says being pelted with shoes could be one of the ‘weirdest’ moments of his presidency

Mr. Bush’s visit, unannounced in advance and conducted under tight security, follows the approval last month of a security pact between Washington and Baghdad that calls for US troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by the end of 2011.

US troops are first to withdraw from Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, by June next year.
Defense Secretary Gates said on Saturday that “the process of the drawdown” had begun.

“We are, I believe, in terms of the American commitment, in the endgame here in Iraq,” he told US troops at an airbase near Baghdad.

Mr. Gates has been picked to stay on as defense secretary by President-elect Barack Obama.

President Bush leaves the White House in less than six weeks. He said in a recent interview with ABC News that the biggest regret of his presidency was the false intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

Finding these was one of the key justifications for the invasion. None were ever found.
Mr. Obama has promised to bring home US combat troops from Iraq in a little over a year from when he takes office in January.

More than 4,200 US troops and tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians and security personnel have been killed since the invasion in 2003.

There are currently about 149,000 US soldiers in Iraq, down from last year’s peak of 170,000 after extra troops were poured in to deal with a worsening security situation.

As Mr. Bush arrived in Baghdad, Gen David Petraeus, the head of the US Central Command, which includes Iraq, said attacks in the country had dropped from 180 a day in June 2007 to 10 a day now.

In a sign of modest security gains in Iraq, Mr. Bush was welcomed with a formal arrival ceremony – a flourish that was not part of his previous three visits.

He arrived in the country on Air Force One, which landed at Baghdad International Airport in the afternoon, after a secretive Saturday night departure from Washington on an 11-hour flight.

“It’s not a question of outranking the Obamas, she said. There’s nothing more to say other than that”

U.S. President George W. Bush (R) walks on the colonnade with U.S. President elect Barack Obama at the White House November 10, 2008 in Washington DC. On January 20th Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.

By John Charles Reedburg

But what’s the real reason?

The White House has turned down a request from the family of President-elect BARACK OBAMA to move into Blair House in early January so that his daughters can start school on Jan. 5.

The Obamas were told that the guest house for visiting dignitaries, where incoming presidents usually stay during the five days before Inauguration Day, is booked in early January, a spokesperson to the Obama transition said. They will be allowed in on Jan. 15, and Obama will be sworn in on Jan. 20.

Sally McDonough, spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush, would not say who is staying in Blair House in early January. “It’s not a question of outranking the Obamas,” she said. “There’s nothing more to say other than that it’s not available and won’t be available until January 15. You’re trying to make a story out of something that’s not a story.”

Obama has been staying in Chicago with his family since the election; the Obamas have decided to send their daughters, Malia and Sasha, to Sidwell Friends School in Washington. Obama transition officials said that the family is considering other housing options and are hopeful the girls will not miss the start of school.

“This just completely alienated his evangelical supporters”

By John Charles Reedburg

Not as dumb as we assume.

”I don’t think [cre- ationism is] incom- patible with the scien- tific proof that there is evolution.”

- George W. Bush on ABC’s Nightline

With no elections to worry about and no Karl Rove looking over his shoulder, President GEORGE W. BUSH gave an interview to ABC’s Nightline where he admitted that he thinks the Bible is “probably not” literally true.

That puts him out of line with the Fundamentalist Christian base that helped get him elected twice. Surprisingly enough (to me at least), it also puts him out of line with a majority of Americans, 54 percent of whom believe the Bible to be literally true, according to a 2006 Rasmussen survey. I honestly didn’t realize that percentage would be so high.

That means whenever you meet a random fellow American, there’s better than a 50/50 chance that they believe Jonah really spent three days hanging out inside a whale before being spit out and sent on his way.

Over on the Washington Post, blogger John Ward relays one pertinent message he received: “I already have an e-mail from a former Bush administration official who writes, “This just completely alienated his evangelical supporters.”

Bush went on to further alienate hardcore fundamentalist Bible-thumpers by saying he doesn’t see why evolution and creationism can’t coexist.

Here’s an excerpt from the the interview:

MCFADDEN: Is it literally true, the Bible?

BUSH: You know. Probably not … No, I’m not a literalist, but I think you can learn a lot from it, but I do think that the New Testament, for example is … has got … You know, the important lesson is “God sent a son.”

MCFADDEN: So, you can read the Bible…

BUSH: That God in the flesh, that mankind can understand there is a God who is full of grace and that nothing you can do to earn his love. His love is a gift and that in order to draw closer to God and in order to express your appreciation for that love is why you change your behavior.

MCFADDEN: So, you can read the Bible and not take it literally. I mean you can — it’s not inconsistent to love the Bible and believe in evolution, say.

BUSH: Yeah, I mean, I do. I mean, evolution is an interesting subject. I happen to believe that evolution doesn’t fully explain the mystery of life and …

MCFADDEN: But do you believe in it?

BUSH: That God created the world, I do, yeah.

MCFADDEN: But what about …

BUSH: Well, I think you can have both. I think evolution can — you’re getting me way out of my lane here. I’m just a simple president. But it’s, I think that God created the Earth, created the world; I think the creation of the world is so mysterious it requires something as large as an almighty, and I don’t think it’s incompatible with the scientific proof that there is evolution. Honestly, Bush seems a little taken aback by the line of questioning and I think ABC might have just caught him with his guard down in an uncharacteristically candid (though not necessarily eloquent) moment.

“Bush awkwardly kissed Streisand’s cheek, and she clearly felt obliged to return the affection“

Barbra Streisand got an awkward kiss on the cheek from the president, and yes, she gave him a smooch back. Streisand, a vocal critic of President George W. Bush, was a guest Sunday at the White House before being honored at the Kennedy Center.

By John Charles Reedburg

BARBRA STREISAND is an outspoken critic of President Bush. She’s an active member of the Democratic Party, against the Iraq war, and seemingly convinced that Bush stole both the 2000 and 2004 elections. Nonetheless, she was named as a 2008 Kennedy Center honoree just in time for her award to be presented to her by President Bush himself.

During the ceremony, Bush awkwardly kissed Streisand’s cheek, and she clearly felt obliged to return the affection – though the irony of such a friendly gesture between these two was not lost on bystanders. Later this video of the smooch was played at a gala, and audience members like Morgan Freeman, Condoleeza Rice and First Lady Laura Bush dissolved into laughter.

Streisand said at the ceremony that “art transcends politics today,” and that she would have liked to receive the honor from President-elect Obama.

Another ironic bit: Streisand’s stepson is none other than Josh Brolin, who gave an uncanny portrayal of Bush in Oliver Stone’s film W. Apparently she was so against his decision to play the President that she refused to speak to Brolin.
“She said, ‘How much are you getting paid?’ I told her it was a very low fee. She said, ‘Then why are you doing it?” – Josh Brolin

The 2008 Kennedy Center honorees (L-R front row) singer Barbra Streisand, actor Morgan Freeman, dancer Twyla Tharp, (L-R back row) producer George Stevens, Jr., President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Michael M. Kaiser, musician Roger Daltry, musician Pete Townshend, musician George Jones, and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Stephen A. Schwarzman pose for the formal group photo following the Artist’s Dinner to honor the 2008 recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors at the U.S. Department of State December 6, 2008 in Washington, DC. The artists will be honored in a live show being taped December 7, 2008 from the Kennedy Center and will be broadcasted on December 30, 2008 on CBS.

Just yesterday, the fattened turkey was set to lose its head

By John Charles Reedburg

Earlier this week Bush pardoned convicted rapper John Forte.

So I guess he figured, might as well save a turkey named Pumpkin, in the process, too.

PUMPKIN’s life is about to get a whole lot better.

Just yesterday, the fattened turkey was set to lose its head because that’s how we do in America on Thanksgiving. Now Pumpkin is a free bird on its way to Disneyland to be the grand marshal in Disney’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in California.

Pumpkin was pardoned today by President George W. Bush — a tradition dating back to 1947 with Harry Truman. Soon after arriving at Disneyland, Pumpkin will receive some very special attention, including a personalized enclosure and a specialized diet.

Turkeys fattened for slaughter are often so fat that if they weren’t killed, they would soon face debilitating physical conditions, such as problems with their feet, which are not accustomed to supporting so much weight.

According to AP, last year’s birds — named May and Flower via online poll — are currently living the good life at Disney World in Florida, where they were flown by a United Airlines flight that was renamed “Turkey One” for the occasion…

“They arrived very heavy,” says Matt Hohne, acting animal operations director for Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “They were immediately put on our conditioning program.”

Turkeys get the same attention to their nutritional and health needs as any more exotic species at Animal Kingdom. Excess weight is unhealthy for animals as well as people. Dieting, exercise and sunny Southern California weather… sounds like that turkey has some good days ahead of him. Good job on the pardoning Mr. President. Now if only you could get those darn Kwanzaa party invitations right.