Bush isn't concerned about the 21st century Hitler:

Bush in March 2002 press conference:

Q: But don't you believe that the threat that bin Laden posed won't truly be eliminated until he is found either dead or alive?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And, again, I don't know where he is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him. I know he is on the run. I was concerned about him, when he had taken over a country.

Bush in November 2007 speech at the Heritage Foundation:

History teaches that underestimating the words of evil, ambitious men is a terrible mistake. [...]

In the 1920s, the world ignored the words of Hitler, as he explained his intention to build an Aryan super-state in Germany, take revenge on Europe, and eradicate the Jews -- and the world paid a terrible price. [...]

Bin Laden and his terrorist allies have made their intentions as clear as ... Hitler before them. And the question is: Will we listen? America and our coalition partners are listening. We have made our choice. We take the words of the enemy seriously.

Bush also said that day:

Unfortunately, on too many issues, some in Congress are behaving as if America is not at war.

Which is true, since no additional taxes are being raised for the war, nor is there a draft, and Bush wants us all to keep on shopping.

The point is that Bush's scare talk is simply something that he turns on and off. Turns it on when he wants money for the war or to expidite a nomination. Turns it off when he wants tax cuts.

But most of the time he turns it on. And yet he manages to escape the "Where's Bin Laden?" admonishment.

UPDATE: Dick Polman has a post on much of the same territory. (P.S. He's a good read. Mostly liberal, but not always in agreement with your point of view.)


posted by Quiddity at 11/02/2007 05:10:00 AM