George Bush suffered an embarrassing rebellion in the ranks yesterday when the founder of the conservative Christian Coalition said the White House had dismissed the very idea of US casualties in Iraq during the run-up to the war.In an interview with CNN, the movement's founder, Pat Robertson, described a conversation with Mr Bush shortly before the war in which Mr Robertson voiced his fears for American troops, and suggested it was time to prepare the country for loss.
"I warned him about this war. I had deep misgivings about this war, deep misgivings. And I was trying to say, 'Mr President, you had better prepare the American people for casualties,'" Mr Robertson said. He said Mr Bush had replied: "Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties."
The rare criticism from Mr Robertson, who otherwise remains an ardent supporter of the White House, was not the only act of betrayal by those claiming proximity to Mr Bush.
Six of the president's kin have created a website called bushrelativesforkerry.com dedicated to the defeat of their famous relative. "Because blood is thinner than oil," the front page says. "Please don't vote for our cousin."
The six are all descendants of Mary Bush House, the sister of Prescott Bush, the founder of the political dynasty and George W's grandfather. None has had any contact with the president, although a few knew his father, the first president Bush.
They accuse their cousin of gross arrogance, a misplaced sense of entitlement, and failing to live up to Christian values.
"As much as I'd like to vote for a relative running for president, I just can't," writes Hilary House.
But the family feud, though annoying for Mr Bush, is unlikely to have anything near the impact of the criticism from a figure with Mr Robertson's influence on the Christian right. (The Guardian)
It's getting ugly for Bushie when even Pat Robertson says nasty things about him...
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'The only way to avoid getting crushed by absurdity, is to humbly include the absurd in our calculations.'
George Bush suffered an embarrassing rebellion in the ranks yesterday when the founder of the conservative Christian Coalition said the White House had dismissed the very idea of US casualties in Iraq during the run-up to the war.In an interview with CNN, the movement's founder, Pat Robertson, described a conversation with Mr Bush shortly before the war in which Mr Robertson voiced his fears for American troops, and suggested it was time to prepare the country for loss.
"I warned him about this war. I had deep misgivings about this war, deep misgivings. And I was trying to say, 'Mr President, you had better prepare the American people for casualties,'" Mr Robertson said. He said Mr Bush had replied: "Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties."
The rare criticism from Mr Robertson, who otherwise remains an ardent supporter of the White House, was not the only act of betrayal by those claiming proximity to Mr Bush.
Six of the president's kin have created a website called bushrelativesforkerry.com dedicated to the defeat of their famous relative. "Because blood is thinner than oil," the front page says. "Please don't vote for our cousin."
The six are all descendants of Mary Bush House, the sister of Prescott Bush, the founder of the political dynasty and George W's grandfather. None has had any contact with the president, although a few knew his father, the first president Bush.
They accuse their cousin of gross arrogance, a misplaced sense of entitlement, and failing to live up to Christian values.
"As much as I'd like to vote for a relative running for president, I just can't," writes Hilary House.
But the family feud, though annoying for Mr Bush, is unlikely to have anything near the impact of the criticism from a figure with Mr Robertson's influence on the Christian right. (The Guardian)
'The only way to avoid getting crushed by absurdity, is to humbly include the absurd in our calculations.'
