Compare and contrast

Do you realize that Bush has lowered the expectations for a President so completely that accepting responsibility is HEADLINE NEWS?

Headlines. Stop the presses! Extra, extra! Bush accepts responsibility! Polar Bears in Ecuador! Chickens grow lips!

Well, pardon me for pointing this out, but accepting responsiblity used to be EXPECTED of a President. It was part of the job description. Now, it's shocking.

And what a weaselly way to "admit responsibility":

"To the extent the federal government didn't fully do its job right, I take responsibility."

BOY, there are a hell of a lot of qualifiers there. Pretty damned mealy-mouthed for someone who claims to be a "straight talker," isn't he? "To the extent that it's my fault, it's my fault." Wow. How "tough-talking," "bold" and "blunt." THAT'S sure going out on a limb.

Compare that to Kennedy's reaction to the Bay of Pigs:

"President Kennedy has stated from the beginning that as President he bears sole responsibility for the events of the past few days. He has stated it on all occasions and he restates it now so that it will be understood by all."

No qualifiers; no shilly-shallying; none of what Rush Limbaugh likes to call "Pablum puking."

We'll leave the pablum puking to Bush.

He does it so well.