Bush - Worst President Ever?

[KarenAylwood]

This thread isn't as saucy as I'd thought it would be.

Where are the diehard Bush supporters?

I know you guys are dwindling... but there have got to be some of you left...

:::gets :

 

[boomhauer]

Dateline Paris Enough said.

President Bush began office with a terrorist threat that ws left unchecked for years. After 9/11 he made drastic changes withing the CIA, FBI, and Homeland Security, and there have been no attacks since. (Which he doesn't get credit for, conveniently.) Liberated Afghanistan, dismantled the Taliban, and has worked with the international community to freeze Al Qaeda assets, capture most of the top leaders, and has the rest on the run or fighting in Iraq. Liberated Iraq, and eventually history will show a democracy in Iraq led to democracy throughout the Middle East. Libya ends their nuclear program. A push for democracy is growing stronger from the general population in Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Unemployment at near all time lows. Home ownership at an all time high. Interest rates at near all time lows, yet inflation is in check. The economy is roaring.

That will be President Bush's legacy. Half of the statements by the French "press" aren't even factually true, the other half are laughable. But if you want to be on the side of France, be my guest.

It's what Bush did BEFORE 9/11 that he will be known for, and that was nothing. Bush was President for 9 months before 9/11.

Dismantled the Taliban is debatable. Somebody is setting off suicide bombings in Iraq on a weekly basis.

The problem with all of the things you listed is, for each of those, there's a major negative on his record that you left out - Social Security, School Funding, Medicare, Bankruptcy's at an all time high.

 

[DisneyDotty]

President Bush began office with a terrorist threat that ws left unchecked for years. After 9/11 he made drastic changes withing the CIA, FBI, and Homeland Security, and there have been no attacks since. (Which he doesn't get credit for, conveniently.).

Just curious--if you want to give President Bush credit for no attacks since 9/11, then do you also give him credit for the attacks on 9/11? You know, a "buck stops here" kind of accountability?

 

[FutureAshleyDukes]

Unemployment rate is low, BUT there is also an increase in the number of food stamp requests...

 

[boomhauer]

Unemployment rate is low, BUT there is also an increase in the number of food stamp requests...

....and bankruptcy's are at an all time high.

 

[DukeStreetKing]

The problem with all of the things you listed is, for each of those, there's a major negative on his record that you left out - Social Security, School Funding, Medicare, Bankruptcy's at an all time high.

The first three issues were problems before GW took office. It's not fair to attribute them to him. It's going to take a long time to turn those boats around.

 

[boomhauer]

The first three issues were problems before GW took office. It's not fair to attribute them to him. It's going to take a long time to turn those boats around.

You don't think 5 years is enough time to make some sort of a dent in any of them?

 

[WIcruizer]

It's what Bush did BEFORE 9/11 that he will be known for, and that was nothing. Bush was President for 9 months before 9/11

It's actually been documented that nothing was done for EIGHT YEARS prior to 9/11. It takes more than a few months to restore a CIA that was torn down to the ground.

Just curious--if you want to give President Bush credit for no attacks since 9/11, then do you also give him credit for the attacks on 9/11? You know, a "buck stops here" kind of accountability?

Actually, it's the other way around. You can't tear down President Bush for 9/11 without giving him credit for no attacks since.

[/QUOTE]bankruptcy's are at an all time high.

That's because people are getting into debt over their heads, it's personal responsibility. Credit card debt is at an all time high so people can have their new Lexus and 4,000 sq foot home.

there's a major negative on his record that you left out - Social Security, School Funding, Medicare, Bankruptcy's at an all time high

President Bush doesn't have a magic wand. He offered SS reform, but Democratic leadership killed it. Have they offered their OWN bill? Of course not! School funding is at an all time high, so I don't know what you mean by that point.

 

[WIcruizer]

You don't think 5 years is enough time to make some sort of a dent in any of them?

Congress passes laws, not the President.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

This thread isn't as saucy as I'd thought it would be.

Where are the diehard Bush supporters?

I know you guys are dwindling... but there have got to be some of you left...

:::gets :

Sorry, this thread has been done before, even the title is the same.
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=944638&highlight=bush+president
Guess people have more to do than type the same stuff.

 

[boomhauer]

"You can't tear down President Bush for 9/11 without giving him credit for no attacks since."

I don't see your point here. That's like saying "Well, we arrested the murderer after he killed his last victim."

"That's because people are getting into debt over their heads, it's personal responsibility. Credit card debt is at an all time high so people can have their new Lexus and 4,000 sq foot home."

True. Maybe if people didn't have to rely so much on credit cards, this wouldn't be the case.

"School funding is at an all time high, so I don't know what you mean by that point."

Not at my son's school it isn't. Then again, we don't make a six figure salary, so we're really not part of 'Bush's America'.

 

[WIcruizer]

Sorry, this thread has been done before, even the title is the same.

It actually sickens me. I didn't vote for Presient Clinton, but I respected him and the Office. He wasn't perfect, and he wasn't the worst President in history. The truth always lies somewhere in between. The same can be said of President Bush if people would remove the hatred in their hearts and look at it objectively.

 

[WIcruizer]

"School funding is at an all time high, so I don't know what you mean by that point."

Not at my son's school it isn't.

Talk to your state and local school district. THEY are responsible for funding, not the federal government.

 

[boomhauer]

It actually sickens me. I didn't vote for Presient Clinton, but I respected him and the Office. He wasn't perfect, and he wasn't the worst President in history. The truth always lies somewhere in between. The same can be said of President Bush if people would remove the hatred in their hearts and look at it objectively.

I don't hate the guy. I don't personally know him.

All I have to go by is what I have seen for myself and my family. And I can tell you, it hasn't been good. I pay more in taxes now, more for medical insurance, more for gasoline, more for home heating.

I mean, Bush supporters are quick to point out that NONE of those issues are his fault. Yet, none can seem to answer the question, why are they all so much worse now than they were before he was president?

 

[Wonderlandmom]

It actually sickens me. I didn't vote for Presient Clinton, but I respected him and the Office. He wasn't perfect, and he wasn't the worst President in history. The truth always lies somewhere in between. The same can be said of President Bush if people would remove the hatred in their hearts and look at it objectively.

Amen! No matter how many times this thread is revisted, no ones opinion is going to change. I support Bush then and now, as does my DH who served under him in Iraq.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Talk to your state and local school district. THEY are responsible for funding, not the federal government.

True. But the federal government is responsible for mandates (NCLB) and then leaving it up to the locals to figure out how to fund those mandates.

 

[dcentity2000]

Dateline Paris Enough said.

President Bush began office with a terrorist threat that ws left unchecked for years. After 9/11 he made drastic changes withing the CIA, FBI, and Homeland Security, and there have been no attacks since. (Which he doesn't get credit for, conveniently.) Liberated Afghanistan, dismantled the Taliban, and has worked with the international community to freeze Al Qaeda assets, capture most of the top leaders, and has the rest on the run or fighting in Iraq. Liberated Iraq, and eventually history will show a democracy in Iraq led to democracy throughout the Middle East. Libya ends their nuclear program. A push for democracy is growing stronger from the general population in Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Unemployment at near all time lows. Home ownership at an all time high. Interest rates at near all time lows, yet inflation is in check. The economy is roaring.

That will be President Bush's legacy. Half of the statements by the French "press" aren't even factually true, the other half are laughable. But if you want to be on the side of France, be my guest.

Again with the xenophobic French bashing

Georgie started office with a terrorist threat to his country, pretty much like every other President in history. Sadly he only realised that the USA was just as vulnerable as Spain and the UK after the twin towers and part of the Pentagon had been destroyed. I don't think anyone likes that and I don't think that anyone truly blames him for it.

He then decided that the USA had to dismantle the terrorist network assumadly (I make up words by the way) behind the attack and rightly so - pity that according to our Georgie, the terrorist threat remains as tragic as ever and perhaps worse. Osama is still pootling about out there, plotting smug little attacks and singing anti-western songs. Strike one.

Then, the many, many little problems, namely the attacks on the United Nation's democratic authority, the backing out of environmentalist action plans, the alienation of the USA from pretty much any other nation, etc, etc. Strike 2.

Then, of course, the biggie. Iraq. Let's do some maths.

Let "total ability to defend nation" = x

Let "expended power" = y

Let "remaining power" = z

z = x - y​

That means that the more war you have, the less ability you have to defend yourself.

Meaning?

If you have to have a war, make darn sure you HAVE to have it, ie. there are no alternatives left. You also HAVE to make sure that your target is the most appropriate one.

Well.

But the case [for war] was thin. Saddam was not threatening his neighbours, and his WMD capability was less than that of Libya, North Korea or Iran

So, in terms of threat, Iraq < Iran, Libya, North Korea. Strike 3.

If you're going to war, you also need to ensure that your intelligence is as perfect as is possible in this imperfect world.

Well.

...the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy [of war]

In other words, the intelligence was NOT a dependent variable as it should have been and was instead an independent variable (one manipulated rather than measured). Strike 4 (!)

You also need to ensure that you have planned out the campaign properly - including what happens afterwards. War is not something to be taken lightly.

Well.

There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action

In other words, planning was inadequate.

Finally, you ensure that your statements in the run up to war are impeccably true and honest - you owe the populace that and more.

Well.

This is about disarmament and this is a final opportunity for Saddam Hussein to disarm. If he chooses not to do so peacefully, then the United States is prepared to act, with our friends, to do so by force. And we will do so forcefully and swiftly and decisively, as the President has outlined. But the President continues to seek a peaceful resolution. War is a last resort."

That's a Whitehouse press briefing.

Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD.

That's an internal memo that people have been arrested over under an official secrecy Act of Parliament. Strike 5.

Well, I could go on, but it's time for dinner.

In summary though, I don't know if Bush will go down in history as the worst ever President. That implies a knowledge of all future Presidents which no-one could possibly have. I think he'll go down in history as a bad President though - it's hard to think of a list of international friends longer than "Tony Blair". And he's stepping down in a few years.

Enough. Time for quiche.



Rich::

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I don't hate the guy. I don't personally know him.

All I have to go by is what I have seen for myself and my family. And I can tell you, it hasn't been good. I pay more in taxes now, more for medical insurance, more for gasoline, more for home heating.

I mean, Bush supporters are quick to point out that NONE of those issues are his fault. Yet, none can seem to answer the question, why are they all so much worse now than they were before he was president?

The only way you are paying more in FEDERAL taxes is if you income went up, which is what happens ya know?

The others are unregulated industries, so what is your point?

 

[boomhauer]

The only way you are paying more in FEDERAL taxes is if you income went up, which is what happens ya know?

The others are unregulated industries, so what is your point?

That's EXACTLY my point.

These are all unregulated industries, yet they didn't go completely through the roof until Bush came into power - Why? Just a coincidence?

As for my income, it hasn't gone up drastically, but my refund in April sure has gone down as such. Don't know who's to blame for that. Perhaps, HR Block?

 

[Crankyshank]

It is far too recent to make any accurate judgements on really any of the last 3 Presidencies.
To say President Bush is the worst ever is showing a distinct lack of consideration, and possibly even knowledge, of past Presidents. I'm by no means defending the man- I'm certainly no fan of him and I'm fairly certain history will not be kind to him, but I wouldn't say he's the worst ever.
Harding, Jackson, and Van Buren certainly have him beat.

Is he the Worst in my lifetime? so far, For sure!