Yes -- "perhaps." Hard to believe there are people who harbor doubts about this. Not so shocking to learn they dwell on the left side of the aisle.
Former "Wonkette" blogger Ana Marie Cox, a contributor to Time magazine and The Daily Beast, appeared on Rachel Maddow's MSNBC show last night to discuss, among other things, a Los Angeles Times story about Bush cabinet members receiving talking points on accomplishments they can cite from the 43rd president's tumultuous tenure.
Two of the achievements cited are that Bush has "kept the American people safe" since 9/11 and the president's work to curb AIDS in Africa. Maddow and Cox take it from here --
MADDOW: Besides not having sex with an intern in the Oval Office, are there, I mean, obviously he's trying to brag on his record on international AIDS issues, he's trying to brag on his record that there was not another 9/11 after the first 9/11, but I mean are there other things that he really ought, that he could make a good case for himself and his legacy? Are there other things he should be having people focus on?
COX: Well actually, the AIDS issue is not a terrible one. I do think we're judging him by an extremely low bar, but he has done some things on the AIDS issue. And we have not had another terrorist attack. That perhaps is something we should just go ahead and be thankful for and not look too closely ...
MADDOW (interrupting): ... Other, other than the, other than the anthrax attacks and the Washington sniper stuff and the, I mean ...
COX (crosstalk): ... Well, they were domestic terrorism. Hmm, that doesn't, not the same, not the same.
Allow me to stick my neck out and respond to Cox's suggestion in the affirmative -- Yes, Americans are indeed fortunate to have been spared another terrorist onslaught since 9/11.
In fairness to Cox, I have little doubt she believes we are indeed fortunate in this regard, though that troublesome "perhaps" could lead a snarky observer to suggest otherwise. Such are the occupational hazards of the terminally arch and ironic.
Another interpretation of Cox's remark comes to mind. Reading between the lines, Cox may be saying, specifically to Maddow, that we haven't had another terrorist attack and "perhaps" we should "just go ahead and be thankful for" that -- in a way you might be incapable of.
Sure enough, as if to confirm my hunch, Maddow responds with her Glass-Half-Full-Is-Actually-Shattered worldview -- What about the anthrax attack? The DC snipers? (The weather?! How dare you stray from dogma!)
Cox points out the anthrax and sniper attacks were "domestic terrorism" while not mentioning that neither inflicted anywhere near the carnage, destruction and upheaval of 9/11.
Still, perhaps we should be thankful whenever a liberal is willing to consider, even tentatively, an obvious truth.
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December 10, 2008 - 19:20 ET by the strugglerIs that Dave Mustaine,the lead guitar player for Megadeth?
Close...it's W. Axl
December 10, 2008 - 20:22 ET by fitzfongClose...it's W. Axl Rose.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan
fitzfong.blogspot.com
Yer both wrong,
December 10, 2008 - 20:30 ET by RukusIt's the original Carrie (Sissy Spacek)!
Uncle Gary
"Bri is with Jesus now, we will meet again, just not right now. We love you Bri!"
Dave Mustaine is an uber
December 10, 2008 - 21:04 ET by SemperrightDave Mustaine is an uber conservative compared to this skank.
From a recent interview:
Q: The name of the album is The System Has Failed -- tell us about that.
It's not just America. It is everywhere. Look at Spain -- the terrorists blew up that train and within three days there was a new government because of fear. Look at the coalition, where everyone went into Afghanistan but no one wanted to go into Iraq. France, Germany and Russia didn't want to go into Iraq because they stood to lose billions of dollars in the northern oil fields. They were supposed to manufacture the refineries, pipelines and cars for Iraq. The public only knows the surface of what is going on, we get fed what the media wants to feed us. Some people who do a little research will find out this stuff. I am interested in politics. The system is not just the judicial system, the school system in America is suffering and the political system is out of control. Since when do judges decide what the American people want, the people are supposed to vote for that. Canada has a different outlook on America; I have a lot of great Canadian friends. When mankind goes back to treating people the way you want to be treated, things will settle, I don't see that happening. I treat people the way I want to be treated, which makes me odd. Some people think I am a p*ssy and others are shocked that I do what I say I am going to do. Rock 'n' roll is about not being one of the sheep.
Semper Fi
Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share.
Ned Dolan
OMG!!!
December 10, 2008 - 19:24 ET by Wilbur747What? Could it be true? Some left wing lib finally admits it?
Will she finally admit that it was GWB's administration that may have achieved this goal?
Na!
If we're tested as Joe Biden says we will be, Maddow and Cox will say still it was GWB's fault!
Maddow is Bath-tub Boy's
December 10, 2008 - 19:41 ET by bigtimerMaddow is Bath-tub Boy's twin.
Ungrateful b!tches both of them.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I can see it as a "perhaps
December 10, 2008 - 19:55 ET by motherbeltI can see it as a "perhaps we should be grateful for that and not try to pick him apart..."
Kind of like saying "Maybe the NYT should verify facts before they smear someone's name with innuendo...."
And Maddow won't quit...she blames him for the DC sniper, of all things!!
It's like this...
December 10, 2008 - 20:13 ET by Kathleen McKinleyTrying to get a liberal to admit that Bush indeed kept us safe is like trying to get a woman to admit her boyfriend is right in an argument. It might happen, but it will be between gritted teeth.
Perhaps we should all be so
December 10, 2008 - 20:17 ET by ConservativeRexPerhaps we should all be so fortunate to see MSNBC swirl down the toilet of history in just a few short months.
The whole staff at MSNBC should either A) Increase their dosage. Or, B) sue their doctors for not treating their mental illness aggressively enough.
every day
December 10, 2008 - 23:53 ET by katainkentevery day when my alarm goes off in the morning and the news is on I thank God that it isnt this. People have such short memories.
"part of what I'm hoping to introduce as the next president is a new ethic of [government enforced] responsibility" - B. Obama
Maddow...
December 11, 2008 - 06:31 ET by BronxBomberWant to elevate your heart rate? Jog a couple of miles or if you're feeling lazy watch Rachel Maddow...
Last night when Maddow went absolutely giddy over the negative interest rates on treasury notes I was in my aerobic target zone without getting off the couch...
One good thing about Rachel is she has enabled me to get rid of my |Hanoi Jane workout tape...
We gotta find a new planet...
People have short memories
December 11, 2008 - 07:57 ET by motherbeltPeople have short memories because the media didn't want us reminded. It wasn't long before there was a tacit agreement to stop showing footage of the attack so that people wouldn't be "upset."
Every time there was an action that President Bush took that some didn't like, they should have shown it and said "the President's actions today are in response to this...."
Why buy or log in to
December 11, 2008 - 07:28 ET by Andrew H.Why buy or log in to TIME?
Never.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
Gratitude? Don't be silly
December 12, 2008 - 00:10 ET by jodetoadWhen you think of the hard, boring, demanding, and thankless work of the FBI and other security agencies, you have to be grateful. Then think of Pakistan, a Muslim nation, and the terror the Pakistanis endure. Grateful? I'm grateful to Bush, to a huge list of Americans who have done wonders, despite the hurdles placed in their way, and the insults thrown at them.
But it seems to me that part of the whole liberal attitude is feeling they are owed, or have a right, to be comfortable, safe, upwardly mobile, and snarky. When do you ever see them grateful? It says quite a lot about them.