Let's go over how we got here. Much of this information comes from "It's Still the Economy, Stupid : George W. Bush, The GOP's CEO", by Paul Begala.
President Reagan had a fairly strong economy, the growth of which was to a great extent based on his prodigious defense spending. President Reagan's policies, however, also increased the deficit by an enormous amount, and in President George H. W. Bush's presidency the bill came due.
Then we had the Clinton Years. It's hard not to notice that the economy seemed very strong in the Clinton Years. Why?
Well there are a few explanations. One is that President Reagan's policies and tax cuts ended up causing the expansion in the nineties. This isn't very logical as the key element of President Reagan's economic strategy, tax cuts, had since seen several tax increases. One under President Reagan, one under President Bush and another under President Clinton. If Tax Raises were the economic poison they are supposed to be, how did we get the go-go nineties?
Another clue suggesting that Clintonomics was a rejection to Reagonomics was how Republicans reacted to his proposals. Remember that line above about tax increases being poison? Well check out this commentary by Rep. John Kasich (R-OH).
"It's like a snakebite. The venom is going to be injected into the body of this economy; in our judgment it's going to spread throughout the body and it's going to begin to kill the jobs that American's have."
Of course the history of the 1990's does not exactly support this analysis. Another possible explanation is to explain it all in relation to the Tech Bubble and the admittedly brilliant work of Alan Greenspan during the 1990s. Alan Greenspan, however, felt inclined to share a little of his credit.
"My colleagues and I have been very appreciative of your [president Clinton's] support of the Fed over the years, and your commitment to fiscal discipline, which . . . has been instrumental in achieving what in a few weeks . . . will be the longest economic expansion in the nation's history."
The Tech Bubble certainly was problematic; although two salient facts should be noted. Number one the technology sector wasn't the entire economy. Number two, President Clinton reduction of the deficit helped create the credit necessary to fund the growth in the technology sector (and in other sectors as well).
President Bush's economic policies haven't exactly produced the kind of rampaging economy you'd expect. Part of that is September 11th, of course, which he can hardly be blamed for. But of course President Bush also gets credit for emptying out the surplus and taking us back to deficits in record time.
And along with tax cuts for the wealthy, President Bush has chipped away at all sorts of programs designed to help the working poor and the middle class. In effect, the poor face a tax increase due to cutbacks in services and benefits that the government provides. Their jobs are less safe, they have less access to healthcare, schools for their kids aren't as good, the food they eat is less screened, and the air they breath is less healthy.
“Well, I've been in the city for 30 years and I've never once regretted being a nasty, greedy, cold-hearted, avaricious money-grubber... er, Conservative!” - Monty Python's Flying Circus, Season 2, Episode 11, How Not To Be Seen
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Bush Bashing Day 2 : The Domestic Front
In order to understand President Bush's domestic policy it's helpful to know this simple truism.
Conservatives believe that people making, say, $15,000 or $20,000 have life a little too easy. Conservatives also believe that people making say $120,000 or $150,000 have life a little too hard (and don't get them started on the suffering of people making over $500,000).
That's not how I look at it personally (frankly my heart goes out to anybody trying to raise as family on $15,000 a year), but it does explain a lot of President Bush's economic policy.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to make life harder on the people making over $120,000 a year. I have nothing against them, and in fact applaud their accomplishments. I am a proud capitalist. But I think that a Democratic government should focus on protecting and helping those who don't have a lot. The wealthy can, more or less, take care of themselves (as we saw in our little review of President Bush's life story yesterday).
That sad thing is that a single minded focus on making life easier for the wealthy and harder for the working poor is, in the long run, not a solid way to build a society. What's that old line about a chain being only as strong as it's weakest links? President Bush's economic policies are building an America with a few really nice looking links and a lot of busted ones.
Conservatives believe that people making, say, $15,000 or $20,000 have life a little too easy. Conservatives also believe that people making say $120,000 or $150,000 have life a little too hard (and don't get them started on the suffering of people making over $500,000).
That's not how I look at it personally (frankly my heart goes out to anybody trying to raise as family on $15,000 a year), but it does explain a lot of President Bush's economic policy.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to make life harder on the people making over $120,000 a year. I have nothing against them, and in fact applaud their accomplishments. I am a proud capitalist. But I think that a Democratic government should focus on protecting and helping those who don't have a lot. The wealthy can, more or less, take care of themselves (as we saw in our little review of President Bush's life story yesterday).
That sad thing is that a single minded focus on making life easier for the wealthy and harder for the working poor is, in the long run, not a solid way to build a society. What's that old line about a chain being only as strong as it's weakest links? President Bush's economic policies are building an America with a few really nice looking links and a lot of busted ones.
Monday, August 09, 2004
Some Quotes from President Bush
I mentioned the Bushisms earlier (twice, if memory serves), but this isn't that. These are other quotes that I think are worth considering in light of what we've discussed today. I'm not going to provide my own commentary, as I think you can draw your own conclusions.
"A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it." Quoted by Richard S Dunham, Washington Watch, "A Gentleman's 'C' for W," Business Week Online, 7-30-01
"I'm the commander - see, I don't need to explain - I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation." - Quoted by Bob Woodward.
Enjoy! Check back in tomorrow when we will run through President Bush's economic plans.
"A dictatorship would be a heck of a lot easier, there's no question about it." Quoted by Richard S Dunham, Washington Watch, "A Gentleman's 'C' for W," Business Week Online, 7-30-01
"I'm the commander - see, I don't need to explain - I do not need to explain why I say things. That's the interesting thing about being the president. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don't feel like I owe anybody an explanation." - Quoted by Bob Woodward.
I appreciate the chance to -- I deal with my press corps on a regular basis. It's a beneficial -- it's a mutual beneficial society. See, I need them to get the message out, and they need me to be a messenger. And we're working hard to make sure that our relationship is cordial and professional." President Bush, President's Remarks to the Unity Journalists of Color ConventionQ. In the last campaign, you were asked a question about the biggest mistake you'd made in your life, and you used to like to joke that it was trading Sammy Sosa. You've looked back before 9/11 for what mistakes might have been made. After 9/11, what would your biggest mistake be, would you say, and what lessons have you learned from it?
THE PRESIDENT: I wish you would have given me this written question ahead of time, so I could plan for it. (Laughter.) John, I'm sure historians will look back and say, gosh, he could have done it better this way, or that way. You know, I just -- I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference, with all the pressure of trying to come up with an answer, but it hadn't yet.
. . . I hope I -- I don't want to sound like I've made no mistakes. I'm confident I have. I just haven't -- you just put me under the spot here, and maybe I'm not as quick on my feet as I should be in coming up with one.President Addresses the Nation in Prime Time Press Conference
George W. Bush: There's Adam Clymer, major-league asshole from the New York Times."I regret that it [the comment noted directly above] made it to the public airwaves. I was making a comment to Vice President Cheney, I didn't obviously realize the mikes were gonna pick it up. I regret that everybody heard what I said." - President George W. Bush
Dick Cheney: Oh, yeah, he is, big-time.
Exchange overheard during a Labor Day campaign rally at a high school in Naperville, Il.
Enjoy! Check back in tomorrow when we will run through President Bush's economic plans.
The Texas Air National Guard
I'm not going to belabor this issue. President Bush chose to join the Texas Air National Guard as way to avoid the war in Vietnam. It's possible that a family friend interceded in favor of President Bush's father (also a President Bush, although of course this was before even that), and that President Bush 43 didn't make the call himself.
But there is still a contrast between a man, Senator Kerry, who chooses to join the Navy and requests an assignment on a Swift Boat Patrol (one of the more dangerous jobs in the Navy in Vietnam) and President Bush who joined what Molly Ivin's describes (in Shrub the short but happy political life of George W. Bush) as "a safe haven in Texas Guard Units. The unit that accepted Bush included the son of former Texas senator Lloyd Bentsen, the son of former Texas governor John Connally, and enough rich young men to field a polo league. It also included a few black guardsman - several members of the Dallas Cowboy's football team."
Even if you cut out all the stuff about Senator Kerry's medals and whether or not he earned them, there is still a contrast.
I don't know if President Bush failed to attend to his duties in 1972. I suspect he did; I've not seen any convincing information to suggest that he didn't. And you'd think if such information existed, President Bush would be in a hurry to display it.
And that's all I have to say about that period in President Bush's life.
But there is still a contrast between a man, Senator Kerry, who chooses to join the Navy and requests an assignment on a Swift Boat Patrol (one of the more dangerous jobs in the Navy in Vietnam) and President Bush who joined what Molly Ivin's describes (in Shrub the short but happy political life of George W. Bush) as "a safe haven in Texas Guard Units. The unit that accepted Bush included the son of former Texas senator Lloyd Bentsen, the son of former Texas governor John Connally, and enough rich young men to field a polo league. It also included a few black guardsman - several members of the Dallas Cowboy's football team."
Even if you cut out all the stuff about Senator Kerry's medals and whether or not he earned them, there is still a contrast.
I don't know if President Bush failed to attend to his duties in 1972. I suspect he did; I've not seen any convincing information to suggest that he didn't. And you'd think if such information existed, President Bush would be in a hurry to display it.
And that's all I have to say about that period in President Bush's life.
President Bush's Demons
Take this for what it's worth.
This is from a book review of Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President by Justin Frank. I don't buy everything I read in this article, but this section seems pretty plausible to me.
But like I said, take it for what it's worth. Here is another review of Mr. Frank's work, one from the Guardian UK.
This is from a book review of Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of the President by Justin Frank. I don't buy everything I read in this article, but this section seems pretty plausible to me.
While the conventional wisdom might suggest that Bush fears being unmasked as a dolt, Frank believes that Bush's rigidity -- also manifest in his ironclad daily routine -- protects him from inadvertently revealing the darker emotions he's never come to terms with. In addition to the fear of not living up to his father's example, there's the anger at being expected to, and the fear of the destructive power of that anger should it ever be unleashed. The primitive moral vision Bush subscribes to -- in which the world is divided into the good, "freedom-loving" people of America and "evildoers" like Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein -- is another inflexible schema that imposes order on the internal chaos that's always threatening to rise up and swamp him. Maintaining such control takes a considerable amount of energy, according to Frank, which may be one reason why Bush needs so much sleep and finds it so hard to concentrate.But wait, I hear you saying. How can President Bush both learn that he is pretty well invulnerable to failure and also learn that he has a terrible dark side that must be kept under control? It's a matter of transference, in my opinion. When he fails, such failings are projected onto others. It's not that the policy in Iraq is struggling or even failing; the real problem is that the media is reporting such struggles or failings.
Bush's born-again Christianity, an anomaly in his patrician East Coast clan, serves a similar function. For Bush, faith is less about the joyful worship of God in a community of believers (as Frank points out, he seldom attends church) than it is about forcing a structure on both the world and his own life without the risks inherent in a genuine attempt to understand either one. As Frank shrewdly observes, unlike your garden variety AA member, the born-again Christian need not ever examine his pre-conversion past; it can be partitioned off and dispensed with as irrelevant, which is just what Bush has done. The rowdy George W. who drank too much and, when soused, actually owned up to his wrath at his father and his own lot in life, now no longer exists.
But like I said, take it for what it's worth. Here is another review of Mr. Frank's work, one from the Guardian UK.
Why Bushisms Matter Part 2
This is from a book called "Fraud: The Strategy Behind the Bush Lies and Why the Media Didn't Tell You." The book was excerpted at Salon, and this is a good quote that goes back to how Bushisms distinguish between President Bush and Senator Kerry (and the inherent phoniness in the distinction).
"The conservative media apparatus is an integrated system in which stories circulate between talk radio, conservative magazines and newspapers and the Fox News Channel, generating momentum and pushing their way into more mainstream news outlets. The most enthusiastic goal of this media machine is locating and publicizing foolish things said by liberals, no matter how obscure or inconsequential the speaker may be, to inspire mainstream contempt for liberals. The idea that the words of some random professor or student are more important than the actions of the country's leaders may be farcical, but by giving endless attention to these alleged outrages, conservatives sustain the image of liberals as powerful and elitist and conservatives as persecuted and victimized. Were they so inclined, liberals could no doubt find conservative citizens who say stupid things too. But no one is paying them to undertake the search.
When ordinary people, told endlessly to be suspicious if not contemptuous of those with too much education, hear people snicker at George W. Bush's inability to put together a grammatical sentence, they sympathize. Far from being damaging, jokes about the president's intelligence and ineloquence serve to distract from his status within the aristocracy, providing evidence that Bush is not one of the elite, indeed is scorned by them. Presidential elections are won and lost over a variety of factors, but which candidate seems the smartest is not one of them. When liberals make jokes about the bizarre tangle of words that sometimes emerges from Bush's mouth, he is only too pleased since it serves the end of separating him from the elite."
Incidently, in spell checking this, the spell checker didn't like the word Bushisms. The suggested replacement word; "Bushwhaking." That's not very signicant, but it is, in some small way, gratifying.
"The conservative media apparatus is an integrated system in which stories circulate between talk radio, conservative magazines and newspapers and the Fox News Channel, generating momentum and pushing their way into more mainstream news outlets. The most enthusiastic goal of this media machine is locating and publicizing foolish things said by liberals, no matter how obscure or inconsequential the speaker may be, to inspire mainstream contempt for liberals. The idea that the words of some random professor or student are more important than the actions of the country's leaders may be farcical, but by giving endless attention to these alleged outrages, conservatives sustain the image of liberals as powerful and elitist and conservatives as persecuted and victimized. Were they so inclined, liberals could no doubt find conservative citizens who say stupid things too. But no one is paying them to undertake the search.
When ordinary people, told endlessly to be suspicious if not contemptuous of those with too much education, hear people snicker at George W. Bush's inability to put together a grammatical sentence, they sympathize. Far from being damaging, jokes about the president's intelligence and ineloquence serve to distract from his status within the aristocracy, providing evidence that Bush is not one of the elite, indeed is scorned by them. Presidential elections are won and lost over a variety of factors, but which candidate seems the smartest is not one of them. When liberals make jokes about the bizarre tangle of words that sometimes emerges from Bush's mouth, he is only too pleased since it serves the end of separating him from the elite."
Incidently, in spell checking this, the spell checker didn't like the word Bushisms. The suggested replacement word; "Bushwhaking." That's not very signicant, but it is, in some small way, gratifying.
Resentment
A quick note. I've been harping on all of the "good luck" President Bush has had in his life, and I might come off a little resentful. I suppose on some level I do resent President Bush's luck and his wealth. I've had a good life; but it is occasionally a little depressing to consider the many nice things that wealthy people have that I am unlikely to ever experience. But that's not really their fault, nor is it President Bush's fault that he was born into a life where his failures don't matter.
My main point is to suggest that you consider what effect learning that one's failures don't matter has on a person. How does that affect your perception of the world around you?
Something to think about.
My main point is to suggest that you consider what effect learning that one's failures don't matter has on a person. How does that affect your perception of the world around you?
Something to think about.
Bushisms - Why they Matter
"I'm also honored to be here with the speaker of the House-just happens to be from the state of Illinois. I'd like to describe the speaker as a trustworthy man. He's the kind of fellow who says when he gives you his word he means it. Sometimes that doesn't happen all the time in the political process."-Chicago, March 6, 2001
Why do Bushisms matter?
Well, why are people inarticulate? Well there are a couple of reasons. One is that they aren't totally familiar with English. Another is that they lacked the opportunity to get a good education. There is no shame in either of these reasons. But neither, of course, applies to President Bush.
"I know something about being a government. And you've got a good one."-Stumping for Gov. Mike Huckabee, Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 4, 2002
He presumably learned English from his fellow Bush's and went to school at Andover and Yale and Harvard. Even in these days of grade inflation, one has to assume that people can learn to speak well if they want to. But that wasn't, apparently, high on Bush's priorities.
"Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the road map to peace."-Washington, D.C., July 25, 2003
One wonders what would happen to a young black man, who lacked President Bush's connections, in Midland Texas (or anywhere else in the nation) who talked as inarticulately as President Bush. I suppose such a young man, were he talented and ambitious enough to try and get a good job, would be lectured endlessly about how important it is to present yourself. He'd be told that it is essential in our society to communicate clearly and to act a certain way. But, of course, nobody gave President Bush that lecture, and if they did, it apparently had no effect (either on his success or his speaking ability.
"I understand small business growth. I was one."-New York Daily News, Feb. 19, 2000
Of course we might also note President Bush and Senator Kerry came from remarkably similar backgrounds. They both grew up in privileged New England families and they both attended the finest schools. President Bush sounds like a Texan, Senator Kerry sounds like a New Englander.
President Bush sounds like a natural normal joe; Senator Kerry sounds like an educated New England Senator.
And, of course the one that we are asked to believe is a big phony is Senator Kerry.
Why do Bushisms matter?
Well, why are people inarticulate? Well there are a couple of reasons. One is that they aren't totally familiar with English. Another is that they lacked the opportunity to get a good education. There is no shame in either of these reasons. But neither, of course, applies to President Bush.
"I know something about being a government. And you've got a good one."-Stumping for Gov. Mike Huckabee, Bentonville, Ark., Nov. 4, 2002
He presumably learned English from his fellow Bush's and went to school at Andover and Yale and Harvard. Even in these days of grade inflation, one has to assume that people can learn to speak well if they want to. But that wasn't, apparently, high on Bush's priorities.
"Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the road map to peace."-Washington, D.C., July 25, 2003
One wonders what would happen to a young black man, who lacked President Bush's connections, in Midland Texas (or anywhere else in the nation) who talked as inarticulately as President Bush. I suppose such a young man, were he talented and ambitious enough to try and get a good job, would be lectured endlessly about how important it is to present yourself. He'd be told that it is essential in our society to communicate clearly and to act a certain way. But, of course, nobody gave President Bush that lecture, and if they did, it apparently had no effect (either on his success or his speaking ability.
"I understand small business growth. I was one."-New York Daily News, Feb. 19, 2000
Of course we might also note President Bush and Senator Kerry came from remarkably similar backgrounds. They both grew up in privileged New England families and they both attended the finest schools. President Bush sounds like a Texan, Senator Kerry sounds like a New Englander.
President Bush sounds like a natural normal joe; Senator Kerry sounds like an educated New England Senator.
And, of course the one that we are asked to believe is a big phony is Senator Kerry.
She Don't Lie, She Don't Lie, She Don't Lie
Incidently, I am relaxing a bit my rule about always typing President Bush, rather than just Bush. I'll continue to do my best, because I still have respect for the office, but if I miss a few, I'm not going to shed any tears.
For those who don't know President Bush has been accused of abusing Cocaine in his "lost years." Here's a This Modern World Cartoon that gives the salient details as to why we might suspect that this is true.
I'm not very interested in the moral issue of whether or not President Bush did Drugs. What matters to me is that, if this did happen, and as nothing has been conclusively proven, than it is another example of him getting into a bad situation, and that situation having little to no long term consequences.
Edited to add; for those who want additional info on Mr. Tomorrow's charges, here's a story from the 2000 election.
For those who don't know President Bush has been accused of abusing Cocaine in his "lost years." Here's a This Modern World Cartoon that gives the salient details as to why we might suspect that this is true.
I'm not very interested in the moral issue of whether or not President Bush did Drugs. What matters to me is that, if this did happen, and as nothing has been conclusively proven, than it is another example of him getting into a bad situation, and that situation having little to no long term consequences.
Edited to add; for those who want additional info on Mr. Tomorrow's charges, here's a story from the 2000 election.
Bush's Education
This also comes from the article by Joan Walsh, referenced below.
Bush atteneded Yale in the 1960's, at a time when there were numerous protests. His comment on those who attended Yale, as related by one of his biographers is as follows:
"These are the ones who felt so guilty that they had been given so many blessings in life -- like an Andover or a Yale education -- that they felt they should overcompensate by trying to give everyone else in life the same thing."
An interesting comment from someone who would make education a focus of his Presidency and Governorship later in life.
Bush atteneded Yale in the 1960's, at a time when there were numerous protests. His comment on those who attended Yale, as related by one of his biographers is as follows:
"These are the ones who felt so guilty that they had been given so many blessings in life -- like an Andover or a Yale education -- that they felt they should overcompensate by trying to give everyone else in life the same thing."
An interesting comment from someone who would make education a focus of his Presidency and Governorship later in life.
Business Acumen
It goes without saying that President Bush's business career was not very inspiring. He worked for a variety of businesses each of which largely failed. And yet, for President Bush, failure was never the end. There was always someone there to pick him up, dust him off, and give him tons of money. Frankly, they were probably there to catch him before he even landed.
And why?
Well it wasn't because of his business acumen. It was strictly because of his connections. His only success in business was that other people liked using him to get help from his father.
To quote Salon's Joan Walsh, in a review of several biographies of President Bush, "Then came the putative "entrepreneurial" years, when Bush returned to his dad's Midland, Texas, oil roots and got family and friends to help him fail ever upward. Eventually he turned his investment in the aptly named, money-losing Arbusto Energy into a million-dollar stake in a much bigger firm and ponied up about $600,000 for a tiny share of the Texas Rangers baseball team, which was worth almost $15 million when he sold it last year. (To be fair, maybe the books explain more than I've given them credit for. Because if your life worked out this dang well, you might wanna run for president, too.)"
Yep. That's not of course what life teaches most of us. Most of us learn, sooner or later, that you have to pay for your mistakes and so you are better off not making any, if you can avoid it. I mean over and over again, we are going to see that if President Bush had to live the same kind of life you and I live, well, he sure wouldn't be president.
Like Ms. Walsh says, "if your life worked out this dang well, you might wanna run for president, too."
And why?
Well it wasn't because of his business acumen. It was strictly because of his connections. His only success in business was that other people liked using him to get help from his father.
To quote Salon's Joan Walsh, in a review of several biographies of President Bush, "Then came the putative "entrepreneurial" years, when Bush returned to his dad's Midland, Texas, oil roots and got family and friends to help him fail ever upward. Eventually he turned his investment in the aptly named, money-losing Arbusto Energy into a million-dollar stake in a much bigger firm and ponied up about $600,000 for a tiny share of the Texas Rangers baseball team, which was worth almost $15 million when he sold it last year. (To be fair, maybe the books explain more than I've given them credit for. Because if your life worked out this dang well, you might wanna run for president, too.)"
Yep. That's not of course what life teaches most of us. Most of us learn, sooner or later, that you have to pay for your mistakes and so you are better off not making any, if you can avoid it. I mean over and over again, we are going to see that if President Bush had to live the same kind of life you and I live, well, he sure wouldn't be president.
Like Ms. Walsh says, "if your life worked out this dang well, you might wanna run for president, too."
A Brief History of President Bush
I am tryin to play this particular post straight, just so you know.
Here's the official bio, from the White House.
Hmmm. Pretty sketchy details on his "career in the energy business." But we'll get back to that.
The Bio also neglects to note that he went to the Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. That's quite a distance from Texas. And of course we'll be returning to his education in a bit as well.
Here's the official bio, from the White House.
President Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, Connecticut, and he grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas. He received a bachelor's degree from Yale University in 1968, then served as an F-102 fighter pilot in the Texas Air National Guard. President Bush received a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1975. After graduating, he moved back to Midland and began a career in the energy business. After working on his father's successful 1988 presidential campaign, he assembled the group of partners that purchased the Texas Rangers baseball franchise in 1989.The devil, as they say, is in the details.
He served as managing general partner of the Texas Rangers until he was elected Governor on November 8, 1994, with 53.5 percent of the vote. He became the first Governor in Texas history to be elected to consecutive four-year terms when he was re-elected on November 3, 1998, with 68.6 percent of the vote.
Hmmm. Pretty sketchy details on his "career in the energy business." But we'll get back to that.
The Bio also neglects to note that he went to the Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts. That's quite a distance from Texas. And of course we'll be returning to his education in a bit as well.
Laying My Cards on the Table - President Bush's Character
It's always tricky deciding whether to put the argument before the evidence or the evidence before the argument. If you but the argument first, particularly in a case like this where I'll build it over a number of posts, it will sound like a bit over the top. On the other hand if I provide the evidence first, some of it will sound nick-picky and some of it will sound mean spirited, and you don't really know how to put it all together.
In this case, however, I think the danger of you tuning my evidence out because of my argument is the lesser of two evils. It's not like you don't know that this argument is going to be Bush Bashing.
At any rate, here is my assessment of President Bush's Character. Life has taught him that his mistakes don't matter; reality protects him from the consequences of his errors. He has also become very certain of his positions and his ideas; to the point where other points of view are largely irrelevant. To me this is a dangerous combination.
But wait, you ask, how could come to such a nutty conclusion? Read on and find out. Well, read the posts I am posting after this post but which will appear closer to the top of the page.
In this case, however, I think the danger of you tuning my evidence out because of my argument is the lesser of two evils. It's not like you don't know that this argument is going to be Bush Bashing.
At any rate, here is my assessment of President Bush's Character. Life has taught him that his mistakes don't matter; reality protects him from the consequences of his errors. He has also become very certain of his positions and his ideas; to the point where other points of view are largely irrelevant. To me this is a dangerous combination.
But wait, you ask, how could come to such a nutty conclusion? Read on and find out. Well, read the posts I am posting after this post but which will appear closer to the top of the page.
Three Days of Bush Bashing
Yep. I am out of town Thursday and Friday or this would be longer, but as it is we have three days of Bashing Bush ahead of it.
But before the merriment starts let's be clear on what I mean by Bush Bashing. I mean criticizing the President. To Bash Bush is to criticize him. You might think that there is some necessary threshold of criticism one needs to reach before it really becomes Bush Bashing; but you'd be wrong. Any criticism of President Bush no matter how minor is Bashing Bush.
Also for the benefit of those who have not been following American Political Discourse, I am also a Bush Hater. A Bush Hater, this year, is someone who does not want President Bush to win reelection. In other years it was someone who did not agree with President Bush's agenda.
It might seem like these terms are somewhat weighted against Democrats; as who wants to be described as a Basher or a Hater? But that is the dialogue in America. One nice thing about living in America as a Liberal is that we, apparently, completely control the discourse in America. Conservatives complain all the time about our stranglehold on the media, and this is just one more evidence of it. I am sure if Republicans controlled the national discourse, they would apply much gentler term those who disagree with the President.
But now that we have our terms clarified, allow me to repeat that you have three days of Bush Bashing ahead of you. On the first day I will cover President Bush's character. On the second day I will discuss his domestic agenda and on the third day I will cover his foreign policy accomplishments.
Some of you, no doubt, are already upset at the partisan tone I'm taking. That's fine; and I'll understand if you decided to check out for a few days. But there is a very important election coming up. And there are few actions you might take more partisan than voting. I hope you are all going to do that, and I want to present information and analysis on President Bush to make your decision easier in November.
But before the merriment starts let's be clear on what I mean by Bush Bashing. I mean criticizing the President. To Bash Bush is to criticize him. You might think that there is some necessary threshold of criticism one needs to reach before it really becomes Bush Bashing; but you'd be wrong. Any criticism of President Bush no matter how minor is Bashing Bush.
Also for the benefit of those who have not been following American Political Discourse, I am also a Bush Hater. A Bush Hater, this year, is someone who does not want President Bush to win reelection. In other years it was someone who did not agree with President Bush's agenda.
It might seem like these terms are somewhat weighted against Democrats; as who wants to be described as a Basher or a Hater? But that is the dialogue in America. One nice thing about living in America as a Liberal is that we, apparently, completely control the discourse in America. Conservatives complain all the time about our stranglehold on the media, and this is just one more evidence of it. I am sure if Republicans controlled the national discourse, they would apply much gentler term those who disagree with the President.
But now that we have our terms clarified, allow me to repeat that you have three days of Bush Bashing ahead of you. On the first day I will cover President Bush's character. On the second day I will discuss his domestic agenda and on the third day I will cover his foreign policy accomplishments.
Some of you, no doubt, are already upset at the partisan tone I'm taking. That's fine; and I'll understand if you decided to check out for a few days. But there is a very important election coming up. And there are few actions you might take more partisan than voting. I hope you are all going to do that, and I want to present information and analysis on President Bush to make your decision easier in November.
Sunday, August 08, 2004
Some Additional Quotes
"If you are a proud democrat you are an extreme leftist." - Rush Limbaugh
"Even fanatical Muslim terrorists don't hate America like liberals do." - Ann Coulter
"I tell people, don't kill all the liberals. Leave enough around so we can have two on every campus - living fossils - so we will never forget what these people stood for." - Rush Limbaugh
"We're going to keep on building the party [the Texas G.O.P.] until we're hunting Democrats with dogs." - Phil Gramm
"Don't do it because the Republicans represent a great alternative - because they don't. Do it because the Democrats - far to many of them - are evil, pure and simple." - Joseph Farah
"Even fanatical Muslim terrorists don't hate America like liberals do." - Ann Coulter
"I tell people, don't kill all the liberals. Leave enough around so we can have two on every campus - living fossils - so we will never forget what these people stood for." - Rush Limbaugh
"We're going to keep on building the party [the Texas G.O.P.] until we're hunting Democrats with dogs." - Phil Gramm
"Don't do it because the Republicans represent a great alternative - because they don't. Do it because the Democrats - far to many of them - are evil, pure and simple." - Joseph Farah
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Responding to Criticism
Due to repeated complaints a post on President Bush's diction has been deleted. We hope that this meets with our readership's approval.
Friday, August 06, 2004
I am thinking about having my Spine removed
Yesterday I posted a bit on a gaffe by President Bush, a post for which I have received a certain amount of criticism. Apparently pointing out Presidential Gaffes is symbolic of the evil partisanship that has engulfed our society. I, in fact, have noticed this partisanship, and I find it rather distressing. One solution is to become a spineless Democrat, an Alan Colmes Democrat, a weakling Democrat. On the surface this would seem to be an ideal solution, and removing my spine would make it a lot easier to hide behind my water heater.
But doubts remain.
For I've also noticed that Ann Coulter gives a blanket label of Traitor to Liberals. I've noticed that Rush Limbaugh describes liberalism as a psychosis. I've noticed that Dennis Prager insinuated that Liberals are comfortable with child molestation. I've noticed many other examples just as mean spirited.
You might say something like, "Hey does Rush Limbaugh represent the views of the White House?" The answer is that he does. Vice President Cheney and other administration officials have appeared on his show, where he has fawned over them. The Bush Administration has never criticized Rush, not even when he compared the abuse at Abu Ghraib (abuse that led to the deaths of a few involved) to a fraternity hazing.
Also to underline a point, I don't know any liberal with a voice equal to Ann Coulter's who hates conservatives the way she hates liberals. I'm not disappointed in that; rather I'm proud of "my" side for not stooping that level.
We have a war of words going on right now. The conservatives are bringing rhetorical mustard gas and howitzers; I have a pen knife and even that is too much of an advantage.
I'm sorry if you don't like the way I do things; but I can't please everybody. And given that I can't please everybody, I'll settle for pleasing myself.
I guess I'll keep my spine after all.
But doubts remain.
For I've also noticed that Ann Coulter gives a blanket label of Traitor to Liberals. I've noticed that Rush Limbaugh describes liberalism as a psychosis. I've noticed that Dennis Prager insinuated that Liberals are comfortable with child molestation. I've noticed many other examples just as mean spirited.
You might say something like, "Hey does Rush Limbaugh represent the views of the White House?" The answer is that he does. Vice President Cheney and other administration officials have appeared on his show, where he has fawned over them. The Bush Administration has never criticized Rush, not even when he compared the abuse at Abu Ghraib (abuse that led to the deaths of a few involved) to a fraternity hazing.
Also to underline a point, I don't know any liberal with a voice equal to Ann Coulter's who hates conservatives the way she hates liberals. I'm not disappointed in that; rather I'm proud of "my" side for not stooping that level.
We have a war of words going on right now. The conservatives are bringing rhetorical mustard gas and howitzers; I have a pen knife and even that is too much of an advantage.
I'm sorry if you don't like the way I do things; but I can't please everybody. And given that I can't please everybody, I'll settle for pleasing myself.
I guess I'll keep my spine after all.
Round the Horn Part the Duex Ex Machina
Mercury X23 has a discussion of the intersection of politics and celebrity.
Dohiyi Mir has changed locales, so deserves our congratulations. Also he has some cheering info on recent polling data. Cheering to me, at any rate. Less so to President Bush's supporters.
corrente has an update on President Bush's reported absence from his national guard duties.
Collective Sigh has an interesting and sad commentary on free speech zones and American Democracy.
Iddybud has a letter from Ohio on John Kerry's speech, accepting the nomination.
It's Craptastic has a great little tidbit on a certain Republican running for public office in a state not his own.
Musing's Musings has a nice run down on the above-mentioned unnamed candidate for office (I'm not naming him so as not to ruin It's Craptistics post, but he does have a name).
Pen Elayne on the Web has some comments on Air America and how she likes it.
SpeedKill has a treatise on the argument that having Saddam out of power justifies the war.
Trish Wilson's Blog has a story on deadbeat dads contrasting reality and satire.
The Fulcrum has some commentary on Bruce Springsteen and this election.
Steve Gilliard's News Blog has a great (and well written) piece on French Cooking. Personally I would love to learn to make cassoulet but it just seems so gosh darn hard. Someday I won't let that recipe book intimidate me.
Dohiyi Mir has changed locales, so deserves our congratulations. Also he has some cheering info on recent polling data. Cheering to me, at any rate. Less so to President Bush's supporters.
corrente has an update on President Bush's reported absence from his national guard duties.
Collective Sigh has an interesting and sad commentary on free speech zones and American Democracy.
Iddybud has a letter from Ohio on John Kerry's speech, accepting the nomination.
It's Craptastic has a great little tidbit on a certain Republican running for public office in a state not his own.
Musing's Musings has a nice run down on the above-mentioned unnamed candidate for office (I'm not naming him so as not to ruin It's Craptistics post, but he does have a name).
Pen Elayne on the Web has some comments on Air America and how she likes it.
SpeedKill has a treatise on the argument that having Saddam out of power justifies the war.
Trish Wilson's Blog has a story on deadbeat dads contrasting reality and satire.
The Fulcrum has some commentary on Bruce Springsteen and this election.
Steve Gilliard's News Blog has a great (and well written) piece on French Cooking. Personally I would love to learn to make cassoulet but it just seems so gosh darn hard. Someday I won't let that recipe book intimidate me.
Thursday, August 05, 2004
Some people just can't handle a little Slime
In this case the person is Senator John McCain, who called a recent ad put out by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth "dishonest and dishonorable." All of a sudden, Senator McCain has recalled that in the last campaign cycle people supporting President Bush but not members of the campaign did a real number on him.
Those interested in this issue might want to know about how this "grassroots" organization is being funded. Joe Conason has one account; Media Matters for America has another. Both are good.
It is worth noting, as the AP story notes, that members of Kerry's actual crew have testified to his heroism; while swift boat veterans who served on other boats have testified that his heroism is largely fictitious. Which group sounds more believable is an exercise left up to the reader.
Those interested in this issue might want to know about how this "grassroots" organization is being funded. Joe Conason has one account; Media Matters for America has another. Both are good.
It is worth noting, as the AP story notes, that members of Kerry's actual crew have testified to his heroism; while swift boat veterans who served on other boats have testified that his heroism is largely fictitious. Which group sounds more believable is an exercise left up to the reader.
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