one man’s words versus another

Monday, March 9th, 2009

Obama, today, overturning Bush’s 2001 order that limited funding for stem cell research:

In recent years, when it comes to stem cell research, rather than furthering discovery, our government has forced what I believe is a false choice between sound science and moral values,

…

In this case, I believe the two are not inconsistent. As a person of faith, I believe we are called to care for each other and work to ease human suffering. I believe we have been given the capacity and will to pursue this research — and the humanity and conscience to do so responsibly.

Bush, 2001, issuing said order that limited stem cell research:

My position on these issues is shaped by deeply held beliefs. I’m a strong supporter of science and technology, and believe they have the potential for incredible good — to improve lives, to save life, to conquer disease.

Research offers hope that millions of our loved ones may be cured of a disease and rid of their suffering. I have friends whose children suffer from juvenile diabetes. Nancy Reagan has written me about President Reagan’s struggle with Alzheimer’s. My own family has confronted the tragedy of childhood leukemia. And like all Americans, I have great hope for cures.

I also believe human life is a sacred gift from our creator. I worry about a culture that devalues life, and believe as your president I have an important obligation to foster and encourage respect for life in America and throughout the world.

And while we’re all hopeful about the potential of this research, no one can be certain that the science will live up to the hope it has generated.

Obama: “I believe” 3 times; Bush: “My position… I have friends… I also believe”

Obama: “rather than furthering discovery”; Bush: “no one can be certain that the science will live up to the hope”

Obama: “our government has forced”; Bush: “I have an important obligation”

read Bush’s 2001 address on stem cell research – read today’s memorandum signed by President Obama

bush vetoes for torture

Saturday, March 8th, 2008

President Bush today said he banned a bill that prevents the CIA from using a torture technique known as ‘waterboarding’ because it has proven effective in extracting information that prevented attacks, and thus keeps “America safe”.

link: CNN article

the image below shows an American soldier during the Vietnam War assisting the waterboarding of a North Vietnamese POW:

this detail shows his emotive state:

and a detail of President Bush’s face from Nov 2007 when he discussed terrorism and torture techniques to a crowd of Heritage Foundation supporters:

read more about waterboarding.

Bush, decoded

Saturday, July 28th, 2007

—- —- —- al Qaeda — Iraq — — —– —– — -.-. ——– — — —– —- — – – ——- — — — ——. — ——– ——- — —— —– —- ——— — —— — ——– ——-. Iraq — — — —— —- — ———- — — — —- –. — —- — — Iraq —- — ———- —— — —– —– —— — 1993. — —- — — Iraq —- —- ——– — ——— — —– — ——–. — —- — — Iraq —- —- ——– — — —- — —-. — — —- — — Iraq – September 11th, 2001.

This one proper weirded me out. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how the hell ‘Iraq’ and ‘September 11th, 2001′ managed to be so close together, and in the same paragraph as ‘1993′ (obviously referencing the World Trade Center Bombing), five other instances of ‘Iraq’ and even a mention of ‘al Qaeda’. So confusing, disturbing even. Want to know more?

Original speech transcript here.
Above code excerpted from here.

[via Eyeteeth]