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Gates: Obama 'more analytical' than Bush

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Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told NBC's David Gregory that there are some differences of note between President Obama and President Bush.

GATES: I think that probably President Obama is somewhat more analytical, and he makes sure he hears from everybody in the room on an issue. And if they don’t speak up, he calls on them.

GREGORY: A marked difference from his predecessor?

GATES: President Bush was interested in hearing different points of view but didn’t go out of his way to make sure everybody spoke if they hadn’t spoken up before.

John Amato: Gates takes a measured swipe at Bush's overall governing abilities. More analytical means a much more intelligent look into the issues and President Obama demonstrated that on the campaign. Former Bushie Dan Bartlett had to make a DVD about the horrors occurring during Hurricane Katrina so he knew what was going on because his own people weren't telling him.

And as Bob Somerby put it:

What actually happened after Bartlett made that DVD on the first Thursday night? Bush showed up in Mississippi and New Orleans the next day, telling “Brownie” how well he was doing, jesting about fixing up Trent Lott’s house, and joking about how he used to get wasted when he would go to New Orleans to party. This odd conduct was apparently too much for Thomas, so he simply invented a new story element; he simply pretended that Bush had been “shocked” when he watched the news Thursday night. And this morning, Meacham couldn’t wait to repeat the simplified tale.

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Tyler Durden's picture

Most of the plants in my backyard have more analytical skills than Bush.

Peter G's picture

most of the plants in Bush's back yard. Why do you think he likes to cut brush so much. It's jealousy I think.


Hasa Diga Eebowai

ricky's picture

Despite his changed career path, whenever Bush returned to Texas he resumed his persistent but futile search for oil.


"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter

Shoeless's picture

Maybe he should look for the WMDs while he's searching. Texas seems as likely a place to find them as Iraq.

Bix12's picture

And I have no doubt whatsoever that he'd never have a shortage of volunteers willing & eager to help him.

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

he turned his entire home green...forced it on my bro

i would love to watch him debate bush

Bix12's picture

My sister's Cocker Spaniel is smarter than Boooosch!

chrome agnomen's picture
yes

first thought i had when i read the headline: toadstool more analytical than bush.

constituent's picture

NO surprise there. remember, paul o'neil made similiar comments regarding BUSH. BUSH was/is NOT an intellect in my opinion. he ruled by authoritarian measures. he wasn't interested in other opinions.a GUT thinker. other opinions would only confuse matters. the plans were in place to occupy iraq before 9-11. obama has different wiring/reasoning. obama is analytical something average (R) can't/won't comprehend.(R) on average(R) are black and white thinkers. most (D) that i know are of the grey area spectrum of thinking. look at various opinions and variables. both ways of thinking have merit. of course it's much more complicated then this and doesn't account for everyone. this is what i saw in Obama. it's NOT perfect but his type of thinking has better potential to resolve issues.

woody's picture

the chimp has no patience. not reflective. analysis requires patience, reflectiveness.

Bush was an ideal figurehead/sock-puppet. He never noticed.

More analytical than Bush? The same thing could be said about a squash. Bush was the least intellectually curious person ever to occupy the White House.

fastfeat's picture

.


"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."

---Southwest Airlines

ricky's picture

.


"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter

thedeadparrott's picture

No Shit Sherlock!

About the same thing as everyone else said, but with true verve.

Verve is important, you know, rePUGs only pay attention to tax cuts and verve.

Evet's picture

when your big and have brawn and muscle?

Evet's picture

any Gitmo suspects being released that are "suspicious" with a micro GPS tracking device. Maybe they'll lead us to Mr. Big.

Evet's picture

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush...

"New Orleuuuns is Safe! As a matter uh, jus' yesterday I had lobster and crab with the Saints! Right here in this house behind me!"

John Emerson's picture

Evil Christians (at Trollblog): http://trollblog.wordpress.com/

ricky's picture

GREGORY: A marked difference from my predecessor?
GATES: Russert was interested in sucking up in Washington but he would have never gotten jiggly with Karl Rove.


"I mean Romney is the most conservative on illegal immigration and I don't think Ronald Reagan could get elected in California today."
Ann "Clipped" Coulter

Uncle Joe Mccarthy's picture

8 years of a fucking simpleton in charge

Shoeless's picture

Bush was satisfied with basing his decisions on what God, Karl Rove and Dick Cheney told him. And not nessecarilly in that order too.

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

as he pees on America. Obama needs to phase him out. the iraq departure plan should have been for all, including KBR and Blackwater.


Some stuff you can't make up!

What I find endearing about our new president is that he passed more legislation in two weeks than anyone has done in...thirty years. OF COURSE the Republicans are pissed. What is Obama going to do in the next four years?


Jeanne

crazytown's picture

a turnip, a rusted oil drum, roadkill, a wad of gum, a being straight from hell.

HOw could Gates venture a comparison between the two other than that between a non-fuctioning sociopath and a person who functions coherently.

calgarylady's picture

What's astonishing is that this ridiculous question was asked in the first place.

David Gregory is simply pathetic.

CoIntelPro.PronktasticlyAgainst.SCLM.E-Voting.Incumbents's picture

and gates did his fucking best to cough up an answer that would not embarass boosh. fuck the both of them.


Some stuff you can't make up!

Bix12's picture

David Gregory is an insult to the legacy of Tim Russert, and an embarrassment to Meet The Press.

He's an unthinking clod that's only adept (barely) at mouthing GOP talking points. What a yokel!

Christopher di Spirito's picture

GATES: I think that probably President Obama is somewhat more analytical, and he makes sure he hears from everybody in the room on an issue.

Somewhat? Ya' think?

follow the money's picture

That,
is how you learn from people. You throw them all in a sealed room, look into their eyes, and ask questions. You get all the pros, and cons from everyone. then, together...that is republicans and democrats, you can weigh all the best ideas to solve the situation at hand. Oh yea..you look into their eyes, because the moment they flinch, twiddle their thumbs, blow their nose, you know they are trying to lie to you...body language..you also look for theatrics. like the budget, if they come with a whole bunch of people with tons of paperwork,folders, you would call this "props", so they may try to bull-sh*t you. You can find out from everybody where they are coming from if you ask them to speak out, and not hold any grudges inside. If there are any grudges inside a person, it should and will come out sooner or later. This is how you learn from everybody...good job, Mr Obama..

Truth B Told's picture

Still doesn't mean anything substantive.

Obama is deferring to the military anyways, so what's the point in being more analytical if you just yield to what the MIC presents in the final?

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Obama_deferred_t...

In case you haven't noticed, Obama has been

Keeping holdovers of Bush, SecDef Gates
adopting Bushs' Pakistan strike policy
surging in Afghanistan with 17k troops
Stood silent while Israel decimated Gaza
Sells the Iran seeking nuclear bomb pitch to the fearful masses
Obama is not pursuing war crimes investigations of BushCo/Cheney/Rumsfeld et al.
Increased defense spending by 4% ($205 billion)
adopting Bushs' detainee and rendition policy
adopting Bushs' wiretapping policy
maintaining BushCo State secrets policy

so friggin' what if he's more analytical. So he "thinks" more before he continues the phony war on terror?

I posit that makes Obama more Machiavellian than Pavlovian as in the case with BushCo.

BFD.

Sec_Humanist's picture

"I think that probably President Obama is somewhat more analytical" than the simian warmonger, the Former Coke-in-Chief, Dubya, This startling, vapid, PC-esque, ball-less, tip-toeing statement speaks volumes about YOUR analytical ability. Maybe you could start with something straightforward like the following: "When Donald Rumsfeld was in Iraq chatting up the troops, exactly what was the then Secretary of Defense doing in a foreign, sovereign state and exactly what was he defending??" Access to oil, maybe?? Give it a whirl, Bob, and get back to us with your analysis.


"Secular humanism -- a fearless, realistic world view replete with doubt and scepticism that attempts to attain an unachievable state of equilibrium between and among the human qualities of reason, intuition, imagination, memory, ethics and common sense.

Trantorian's picture

Figure that out all by yourself did you? But in all fairness, Obama still makes mistakes.

He kept you around.


The people of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage." J.K. Galbraith

GWMustGo's picture

Shoot, my CAT is more analytical than Bush. And I'm not even talking about the *smart* one!


-------------------------------------------
“Remember when teachers, public employees, Planned Parenthood, NPR, and PBS crashed the stock market, wiped out half of our 401Ks, took trillions in TARP money, gave themselves billions in bonuses, and paid no

RickinSF's picture

...Duh!

soulfulnotes's picture

for stating the obvious, Mr. Secretary.

Steve E's picture

If you sit down as Pres of the US with this character and ask his opinion then follow through with his advice, your fucked.

Dazzle's picture
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chrome agnomen's picture

codpiece more analytical than bush!

bigironal's picture

The way Gates was searching for an answer , I think he was trying to come up with another way of saying that former President "Dumbya" was a total MORON!

A piece of cheese is more analytical than Bush.

Bix12's picture

LMAO!

Mike The Riverine's picture

Of course, Obama is more analytical than Bush about making decisions.

Bush believed he was God's voice on earth, "The Decider". God was actually saying, "George, you're one of the dumbest sonofabitches I ever made!"


Democratic Party progressive, Vietnam veteran and proud Union member for 41 years

James R's picture
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James R's picture
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James R's picture
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