Why Bush Must Go...

[bluffmanxx]

you know what's really funny jen??? that McGovern didn't even mention the biggest screw up at all. that Bush spent like a drunken democrat...errr...sailor and ran the nation further into debt despite a steadily growing economy.

ignoring that, yet dragging out all the hot button issues that can actually be debated makes me question his intentions.

[ColdCase]

I have a hard time buying the fact that one can read all this so
called 'old news' and find it merely disappointing and not as a
compelling assessment of an incompetent presidency bordering on criminality.

But, then again, I'm on the outside looking in.

[HurtinGuy]

Originally Posted by ColdCase

I have a hard time buying the fact that one can read all this so
called 'old news' and find it merely disappointing and not as a
compelling assessment of an incompetent presidency bordering on criminality.

But, then again, I'm on the outside looking in.

You'd be disappointed if you one of those that was called "unpatriotic", like myself, because you opposed the war before it began. You'd be disappointed if you were an average citizen, like myself, that didn't have the means to have their opinion published by media outlets. I didn't come late to this party, the Senator did. Where was he during all those conversations I had with friends and family members in the months leading up to our invasion? Disappointing is THE ONLY appropriate would here.

[leebrny]

your right he must go cause his second term is almost up

[mrkromer]

Interesting post, interesting comments, accusations, etc. I noticed that nobody seems to have any solutions, though, only bitching about the problems as usual.

What President that could've been elected would've handled this situation better? What would another President have done? I think people tend to forget that 9/11 is one of the biggest national tragedies EVER!!! Name me a President who would've made decisions that would make you all happy.

Also, have any of you been overseas? I've stood on the Israel/Lebanon border, and it's not pretty. And neither is a lot of the other areas, you would be horrified at what you see over there compared to what you see in the USA.

Besides that, a President is often like a quarterback, lots of praise when things are going good, lots of criticism when things are going bad. There is a system of checks and balances, keep in mind, so he's not doing much on his own, and, no, no matter what you all say, a poor economy is not a President's fault. Sorry.

[luvsluvin]

Originally Posted by mrkromer

There is a system of checks and balances, keep in mind, so he's not doing much on his own, and, no, no matter what you all say, a poor economy is not a President's fault. Sorry.

I disagree. I think Bush is personally raking in the $$$ (as are his buddies) from the incredible rise in oil prices.


How Bush Is Controlling Oil Prices

I blame the Republicans for current gas prices, which are now at the highest level ever (even taking into account inflation since the 1982 spike).

1. Arctic drilling. This has been a mainstay of Republican policy for years. Bills to open up the wildlife reserves to the big oil companies have been repeatedly defeated: but the longer gas prices stay high, the more willing the public will be to accept such a measure. Even though drilling there has been widely condemned for environmental reasons, such concerns have never swayed Republicans.

2. The Saudi factor. George Bush and Prince Bandar of the House of Saud, ambassador to the USA for many years and now National Security Chief in his home country, are best of friends. Bush used to call him 'Bandar Bush' and he was a frequent visitor to Crawford. Now, we all know that OPEC operates as a cartel, and that the Saudi oilfields only account for around 10% of world oil production, or 30% within OPEC. However, within that cartel Saudi Arabia has been operating rather strangely. While most of the other members have been increasing production, the Saudis have reduced by 8% their total output.

The interesting thing here is that overall OPEC oil revenues have increased from $128 billion in 1998 to $522 billion in 2006.
Meanwhile, Saudi revenues have gone from $36.9 billion to $159.1 billion over the same period.

Conclusion? Saudi Arabia is earning more money – a LOT more money – by cutting production. As the country's biggest customer, you might think that the USA had more sway over crude oil prices (remember, we're talking OPEC revenues and crude oil, not refineries). And especially considering Bush's close relationship with the House of Saud. In particular, given that oil accounts for a third of the budget deficit, you might also think that the party of 'fiscal responsibility' might be putting huge pressure on the Saudis to rein in prices and profits.

3. Political instability. The Bush regime has systematically alienated friend and foe alike.

We are seen as arrogant, warmongering, nation-builders. We are seen as a nation of zealots. Our allies have deserted our cause in Iraq (remember Poland?) and we find ourselves shunned and reprimanded by millions upon millions of Muslims, who feel that our war is against their faith, and not against the Iraqi insurgents or the Taliban.

The Bushies have mismanaged foreign policy in a breathtaking fashion. Our relations with Russia are at the lowest ebb since the Cold War, we've antagonized Iran, bullied Venezuela and failed to support Nigeria. Interesting that those four countries are massive oil producers, isn't it? Creating instability in these areas leaves plenty of room for the Sauds to clean up on the back of restricted oil supply.

I'm not saying that those countries aren't antagonistic themselves – but with better management, our relations with them could have been significantly eased.

4. Money. Pure and simple. In the last six election cycles, the oil and gas lobby has contributed $119,477,000 to the Republican Party. In the same period, the Democrats have benefited by $31,428,000. That $80 million difference must have looked pretty darned good to the Republicans. The top 20 recipients of money from the oil and gas industry were all Republican. ... and this will surely have 'inspired' their domestic and foreign policies on oil.

In conclusion, the underlying trends in the ever-spiraling price of gas can be traced definitively to Republican policy, and the extraordinary influence of the oil lobby and the Saudis on Bush and his chums.

(Written by Jon Rice on May 22, 2007)

[jlabucky]

^^^^^^^^

[HurtinGuy]

Originally Posted by mrkromer

Interesting post, interesting comments, accusations, etc. I noticed that nobody seems to have any solutions, though, only bitching about the problems as usual.

What President that could've been elected would've handled this situation better? What would another President have done? I think people tend to forget that 9/11 is one of the biggest national tragedies EVER!!! Name me a President who would've made decisions that would make you all happy.

Also, have any of you been overseas? I've stood on the Israel/Lebanon border, and it's not pretty. And neither is a lot of the other areas, you would be horrified at what you see over there compared to what you see in the USA.

Besides that, a President is often like a quarterback, lots of praise when things are going good, lots of criticism when things are going bad. There is a system of checks and balances, keep in mind, so he's not doing much on his own, and, no, no matter what you all say, a poor economy is not a President's fault. Sorry.

Complete and total cop out. I'm responsible because I don't provide any alternatives? Would my alternatives have been listened to had I proposed them to the powers that be? Doubtful because I don't have millions of dollars to contribute. An the arrogance of this administration doesn't exactly solicit outside opinions.

I've been to Asia, Europe, and South America. Does that qualify as "overseas". Been to close to twenty countries and I can tell you one thing: The rest of the world doesn't care what we think. The United States and the planet Earth are not the same thing. We are a piece of the puzzle.

Parts of this world have evolved very little, politically, over the last few thousand years. Democracy isn't a birthright to the entire world. It shouldn't be because many parts of the world aren't used to it and don't trust it. People have lived in a tribal fashion for a few hundred thousand years. People have lived with democracy for a few hundred. It's not like repainting the walls in your living room.

Posts like yours' scare the shit out of me. Saying one man or administration can't do it alone and that there are checks and balances is naive. This man and his henchmen (only appropriate word I could find) rammed this thing down the throats of the American people and falsified or withheld intelligence. Then, we invaded a country that posed no more a threat to us than a dozen other nations. He was backed by Republican majority congress and other legislatures worried about their PR image if they didn't go along. Who the hell cares about the economy when there are people dead for nothing and the count growing each day. I really thought it was idiotic to go into Iraq but I'm completely baffled that we did it without having a plan. They've fucked up everything they've touched (except Jenna Bush)

[spaceboy761]

Um, hi. The poor economy is about 15% the fault of irresponsible private lending practices and 85% the fault of George W. Bush. I would go into depth but I don't have the time to write 1500 pages.

The short version: Irresponsible tax cut + increased gov't spending + skyrocketing deficit = plummeting dollar + slow growth and/or possible recession + increased unemployment in the long-term

[spaceboy761]

Notice how the words 'oil' or 'Iraq' didn't make it in there.