Just wondering what you think

[bicker]

Respect is something that needs to be "earned" - it's not a birth right - nor is it an "office" right..

I disagree. Respect comes with the office, and then can be lost based on misdeeds.

 

[cardaway]

Respect is earned. Not only has he not earned any, he's went in the hole. It woudl take quite a bit for GWB to even get to level ground.

 

[AllyandJack]

I make fun of Bush and I voted for him. He's an easy target. He says silly things and makes silly faces while saying them.

I do think we have to draw the line at certain things like calling him a terrorist....we throw that term around so freely these days.

What bugs me more is when people classify people who voted for him or people who vote Republican as right-wing neo-cons. You don't know me. Don't judge me.

But, if someone gets on TV and talks about doctors "sharing their love with women" - that's funny and should be laughed at.

I think he means well, but it's just not going right. That's probably his fault, of course, but I do think he means well. He's probably a nice person, but he only got my vote because I would only vote for Kerry if someone shoved bamboo shoots under my fingernails AND hot pokers in my eyes.

 

[C.Ann]

I disagree. Respect comes with the office, and then can be lost based on misdeeds.

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You can respect the "office" without respecting the person who is sitting in it.. Big difference..

 

[JimB.]

The Constitution guarantees us our right to criticize the President (whomever that may be) any way we want to (within the boundaries of the law)

That being said, I think the MANNER & TONE of said criticism will say much more about the person leveling it that the person recieving it.

 

[scubamouse]

I think Americans need to respect our country first in order to get respect from other countries. When somebody visits and all they see is antipresident and antiamerica from us then they aren't going to respect America either. Why would they? I do believe in freedom of speech, but I think it needs to be more fact then opinions.

Karl Rove - is that you? trying censor what we can and can't say about the admin.?

Respect is earned. Give me a reason to respect the president and I will. Otherwise, I will exercise my rights under the constitution to criticize any president.

and FTR I lost plenty of respect for Clinton along the way and voiced that too.

 

[jenm2878]

I tend to think that Americans disagreeing with the current President makes other countries hate us LESS. It shows that we are not going to lie down and accept the way he is handling things. If a country hates Bush for his actions but sees that the public does not agree with him, hopefully then they could separate the leader from the people, and not think that all Americans behave in the same manner. (JMHO)

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I tend to think that Americans disagreeing with the current President makes other countries hate us LESS. It shows that we are not going to lie down and accept the way he is handling things. If a country hates Bush for his actions but sees that the public does not agree with him, hopefully then they could separate the leader from the people, and not think that all Americans behave in the same manner. (JMHO)

I lived with 2 Frence girls for last school year, '04 to '05 and they told me that it's the government they don't like, but like the people...well, as much as the French like Americans anyways. So this is true.

 

[jenm2878]

What bugs me more is when people classify people who voted for him or people who vote Republican as right-wing neo-cons. You don't know me. Don't judge me.

In the same vein, I did not vote for Bush, nor do I like him. That doesn't automatically make me an anti-american, anti-christian, unpatriotic bleeding heart liberal. (not referencing the person I quoted, just wanted to say that the reverse is also true)

 

[bicker]

You can respect the "office" without respecting the person who is sitting in it.. Big difference..

I'll agree with that. Though, disrespecting even the person without prior misdeeds isn't emminently defensible.

 

[C.Ann]

Though, disrespecting even the person without prior misdeeds isn't emminently defensible.

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And I will agree with that.. Right after 9/11 I was very impressed with the President's response.. He showed immediate concern, decisiveness, and very strong leadership qualities..

During the Hurricane Katrina tragedy he showed none of the above - and to me, that was a "misdeed" that stripped him of all respect I may have previously held for him..

As I said earlier, respect must be "earned" and in my opinion, he failed miserably - and is still failing miserably now..

I wish him no ill will - I just have zero respect for him - as a President and as a human being..

 

[kristen821]

Karl Rove - is that you? trying censor what we can and can't say about the admin.?

Respect is earned. Give me a reason to respect the president and I will. Otherwise, I will exercise my rights under the constitution to criticize any president.

and FTR I lost plenty of respect for Clinton along the way and voiced that too.

I am not sure who Karl Rove is, but I'm not him! Everyone has the right to disagree of course, but I do think that things have gotten out of hand. It seems like the in thing to do is to bash the president no matter who it is. I believe the president deserves the amount of respect you would give a teacher or your parents. He is an authority figure. You don't always have to agree, but he still deserves some type of respect.

 

[WIcruizer]

During the Hurricane Katrina tragedy he showed none of the above - and to me, that was a "misdeed" that stripped him of all respect I may have previously held for him..

Can I ask a serious question, I'm not trying to start a fight? What does President Bush have to do with Katrina? There have been several big hurricanes hit FL over the last two years, and everything was handled very well for the most part. Yet in LA it was a different story. Why is that??? It's because the state and local governments in FL were prepared and have a plan. The public officials in LA were a joke. The levees were under engineered to begin with. The state and local officials had no plan other than to herd people into the Superdome. Thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard, they were on the scene immediately to air lift as many people out of their flooding homes as possible.

Why are we so quick to blame the President for something he has very little oversight or authority? When the local police don't show up, or even worse contribute to the looting, that is the President's fault? And frankly, the problems in New Orleans were far over blown. Considering the devastation, it is amazing more people didn't die. But the vast majority of people had food and water at the Superdome and convention center, it has now been proven after some investigation.

Be upset with Congressmen, Senators, Governor, and local officials for under engineering the levees and having a half baked evacuation plan.

 

[Alice's Mom]

I am not sure who Karl Rove is, but I'm not him! Everyone has the right to disagree of course, but I do think that things have gotten out of hand. It seems like the in thing to do is to bash the president no matter who it is. I believe the president deserves the amount of respect you would give a teacher or your parents. He is an authority figure. You don't always have to agree, but he still deserves some type of respect.

I mean no disrespect because I know we all have busy lives and sometimes can not keep up with politics, especially if it is not your passion. With that, not knowing who the key figures are in a presidency, such as Karl Rove, who is in the news everyday, really leads me to believe that you might not be following this administration and its doings very closely.

To say to those who do not show respect for the president are wrong, well I guess I don't know what to say to that...

Again I am grateful to live in a country with both of our views are accepted and freedom of speech including personal opinions is a right.

 

[kristen821]

I mean no disrespect because I know we all have busy lives and sometimes can not keep up with politics, especially if it is not your passion. With that, not knowing who the key figures are in a presidency, such as Karl Rove, who is in the news everyday, really leads me to believe that you might not be following this administration and its doings very closely.

To say to those who do not show respect for the president are wrong, well I guess I don't know what to say to that...

Again I am grateful to live in a country with both of our views are accepted and freedom of speech including personal opinions is a right.

I know enough to know that the president in disrespected. I think it makes the u.s. look horrible. That is all I am saying. I haven't said I keep up with politics, but I keep up enough to know what I agree with and what I don't and there is a lot I don't agree with, but I am not going to have t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc. to show hate toward the head of the country. I just think he deserves more repect then that. I also don't need the media and famous people to tell me what to agree with and what not to agree with. If the media gives me facts I am capable of making my own decisions.

 

[yeartolate]

Can I ask a serious question, I'm not trying to start a fight? What does President Bush have to do with Katrina? There have been several big hurricanes hit FL over the last two years, and everything was handled very well for the most part.

I would like to take a stab at this. We do not have to be upset with either on part of the government or another. I think the poor response to Katrina occured on many different (and bipartisan) levels.

My personal disrespect for the President over Katrina has to do with his ongoing insistance to hire unqualified cronies - particularly those with life and death responsibilities. (not to mention that IMHO it was a crappy idea to push FEMA into Homeland Security) My disrespect for him has to do with quickly exiting his vacation at the Ranch for Schiavo and helping legitimize that circus..... while he sat quietly back at the ranch with reports of the Katrina devastation were flowing in.

 

[bicker]

I am not sure who Karl Rove is

You might want to find out. It's pretty important to this discussing you're participating in.

 

[kristen821]

You might want to find out. It's pretty important to this discussing you're participating in.

I googled the guy and did find out who he was. I just didn't know his name, but it doesn't have anything to do with my op. I am not talking about disagreeing with what bush does. I am talking about all the bashing of every president we had. This wasn't a thread about current issues. I am talking about t-shirts, bumpersticker, rude comments by the media, etc.

 

[bicker]

What makes you think that this is anything new?

 

[kristen821]

What makes you think that this is anything new?

I didn't say it was new