This bid to rehabilitate Bush must be defeated: he left a trail of destruction

**Jimaz** · November-09-10, 09:20 PM

From The Guardian: This bid to rehabilitate Bush must be defeated: he left a trail of destruction

Bush offers earthiness of a rather different kind, letting us accompany him as he walks the dog in Dallas shortly after he's left the White House: "Barney spotted our neighbor's lawn, where he promptly took care of his business. There I was, the former president of the United States, with a plastic bag on my hand, picking up that which I had been dodging for the past eight years."...

There's more to such sentiment than Bush's own desire to see his reputation pulled out of the trash can in which it was dumped in January 2009, when he left office with the lowest presidential approval ratings on record. Nor is this a battle for history, whose verdict will be a long time coming: as Bush has joked, "I'm gonna be dead when they finally figure it out." This, like every discussion of the political past, is most emphatically about the present.

Until now the American right has dealt with Bush the way Stalin dealt with Trotsky – via the airbrush. Most Republicans have tried to vanish him from the record, avoiding the merest mention of his name. But that's not sustainable for ever.

I'll have to force myself to resist the temptation to quote the whole devastating article. It's too shocking.

**Django** · November-09-10, 10:42 PM

Sober my ass.

**Papasito** · November-10-10, 07:56 AM

After Carter, Bush II, and now Obama's "trail of destruction",
It would be amazing if America sees any prosperity at all in it's future.

**oldredfordette** · November-10-10, 08:09 AM

If you're goofy enough to actually believe there is any similarity between the Bush and Obama* administrations, than you're dumb enough to read this book the Bush "wrote".

*Who I am not and have not defended, but really, try and get a grip, willya?

**carolcb** · November-10-10, 08:22 AM

Just to see him on tv again - his mannerisims - the way he stands and moved his arms, not to mention what comes out of his mouth. They are a strange bunch, that family. He needs to stay down in Texas.

**Gannon** · November-10-10, 10:40 AM

If you are goofy enough to miss that the current president is just like the previous one, albeit with some more interesting pigmentation, than you will probably have trouble understanding ANY book.

W was a dupe from a very evil family. He was manipulated into playing along by the NeoCons...especially Donald Rumsfeld, Richard "Dick" Cheney, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowicz and many others who got their most basic of training from Professor Leo Strauss at the University of Chicago.

I know this because I know another who attended the same school, took the same classes, and watched as his colleagues went onto some of the highest power seats in the land. He benefited from this association for many years, and became one of the most respected international investment bankers around.

No Bush should be allowed to have any audience in this land again...ever. No Bush should ever be allowed to hold any public office, either. They should go down to Paraguay and live out their lives in obscurity, like the non-technical Nazis did...while their technical counterparts became entrenched within the Top Secret culture of our very own Military Industrial Complex!

Cheers anyways...

gdogslim · November-10-10, 11:51 AM

Some Goofy Similarities between Bush and Obama
5. They love to spend. Bush passed a $3 trillion budget for 2009. Obama posted a $3.5 trillion budget in 2010. Bush doubled the debt to almost $6 trillion and Obama’s plans would leave us with an IOU of an additional $8.5 trillion by 2020.

4. They shop at the same stores. Contrary to popular belief, defense and homeland security spending only made up about 40 percent of Bush’s new spending. He increased spending across most non-defense categories – like education, Medicare, Medicaid, income security and regional development – by four to six times the rate of inflation. In Obama’s first half year in office, as he demanded a departure from the “investment deficit” years under Bush, these budgets rose another 70 percent or 40 times the rate of inflation.
3. They dabble with stimulants. In 2001 and 2008, Bush spent billions on rebates to stimulate consumer spending. In 2009, Obama upped the ante with his $862 billion stimulus package.
2. They give sweetheart deals to failing corporations. Obama carried out Bush’s unpopular $700 billion bailout for failing corporations. Together, the presidents have bailed out over 600 businesses since Spring 2008.
1. They enjoy regulating in their free time. Once again contrary to popular belief, President Bush was the biggest regulator since Richard Nixon. Under his leadership in 2007, the number of pages of regulation added to the Federal Register reached an all-time high of 78,090 – a 21 percent increase from Bush’s first year. And spending on regulatory activities rose to $42 billion in 2009 – a 62 percent increase. Since taking office, Obama has proposed a large and sweeping increase in regulation that many worry could lead to another financial crisis in the future.

I guess a war in Afghanistan is better that Iraq, according to Obama. Their plans are almost identicle for both countries.

Obama's Czar's [[ commie kings)
1. Herb Allison-TARP Czar
2. Alan Bersin-Border Czar
3. Dennis Blair-Intelligence Czar
4. John Brennan-Terrorism Czar
5. Carol Browner-Energy Czar
6. Adolfo Carrion, Jr-Urban Affairs Czar
7. Ashton Carter-Weapons Czar
8. Aneesh Chopra-Technology Czar
9. Jeffrey Crowley-AIDS Czar
10. Cameron Davis-Great Lakes Czar
11. Nancy-Ann DeParle-Health Czar
12. Earl Devaney-Stimulus Accountability Czar
13. Joshua DuBois-Faith-based Czar
14. Kenneth Feinberg-Pay Czar
15. Danny Fried-Guantanamo Closure Czar
16. J. Scott Gration-Sudan Czar
17. Richard Holbrooke-Afghanistan Czar
18. John Holdren-Science Czar
19. Van Jones Green-Jobs Czar
20. Gil Kerlikowske-Drug Czar
21. Vivek Kundra-Information Czar
22. George Mitchell-Mideast Peace Czar
23. Ed Montgomery-Car Czar
24. Dennis Ross-Mideast Policy Czar
25. Gary Samore-WMD Czar
26. Todd Stern-Climate Czar
27. Cass Sunstein-Regulatory Czar
28. Paul Volcker-Economic Czar

Bush's Czar's
* Cyber Security Czar
* Regulatory Czar
* AIDS Czar
* Bird Flu Czar
* Intelligence Czar
* Health IT Czar
* Katrina Czar
* Manufacturing Czar
* Drug Czar
* Domestic Policy Czar
* War Czar
* Copywright Czar
* Abstinence Czar
* Mine Safety Czar
* Latin American Czar
* WTO Health Czar
* Corruption Czar
* Privacy Czar
* Health Czar

- Even State supported NPR reports the similarities.

An NPR report this morning put Obama and Bush talking points side by side to show just how alike the outgoing President and incoming President are beginning to sound.

Obama, for instance, campaigned saying he would shut down Guantánamo Bay and ban torture, upon taking office, but now says he won’t be closing the controversial prison during his first 100 days in office. “It’s more difficult than I think a lot of people realize,” he says. [[No shit.) He’s also beginning to show a lot more admiration for the security and intelligence community, and while still vowing to ban torture, he says he doesn’t want these highly “talented” professionals to constantly be looking over their shoulders.

Bearinabox · November-10-10, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by gdogslim

Obama's Czar's [[ commie kings)

Please stop talking and go invest in a history book.

**Papasito** · November-10-10, 01:09 PM

The "Czar" thing has gone excessive. It's just another example of the balooning of Government. A better job can be done with far less people. Especially qualified ones. People getting these obscure and high paying job titles are typically friends of friends, and are not even specialists in the field they are supposed to be overseeing.

He was manipulated into playing along by the NeoCons..

W should have been named Captain Cave-In. He constantly compromised and didn't stand on principles. He was very liberal.... favored opened borders and huge spending and corporate bailouts... one of the few things he did that made him lean the other way was his Bible thumping and Faith based initiatives.

**Captain Hindsight** · November-10-10, 03:32 PM

If he hadn't gotten so many votes we wouldn't have to discuss this and a bunch of people wouldn't be dead.

**Zacha341** · November-10-10, 05:36 PM

Well stated. Yep, the beat goes on - difference [[dem to repub power elite) in substance? Little. We just now have the "our turn" justification to look the other way. Both camps and are kicking the can down the road, with little regard for the future, fiscal or otherwise.

Some many czars, even the czars have czars! LOL! Bureaucracy gone made...

And to think more than a dime or two from a tax payer dollar will make it down thru that sifter to get the promised 'goodies' out to the wanting/ waiting masses...?

Originally Posted by gdogslim

Some Goofy Similarities between Bush and Obama
5. They love to spend. Bush passed a $3 trillion budget for 2009. Obama posted a $3.5 trillion budget in 2010. Bush doubled the debt to almost $6 trillion and Obama’s plans would leave us with an IOU of an additional $8.5 trillion by 2020.
4. They shop at the same stores. Contrary to popular belief, defense and homeland security spending only made up about 40 percent of Bush’s new spending. He increased spending across most non-defense categories – like education, Medicare, Medicaid, income security and regional development – by four to six times the rate of inflation. In Obama’s first half year in office, as he demanded a departure from the “investment deficit” years under Bush, these budgets rose another 70 percent or 40 times the rate of inflation.
3. They dabble with stimulants. In 2001 and 2008, Bush spent billions on rebates to stimulate consumer spending. In 2009, Obama upped the ante with his $862 billion stimulus package.
2. They give sweetheart deals to failing corporations. Obama carried out Bush’s unpopular $700 billion bailout for failing corporations. Together, the presidents have bailed out over 600 businesses since Spring 2008.
1. They enjoy regulating in their free time. Once again contrary to popular belief, President Bush was the biggest regulator since Richard Nixon. Under his leadership in 2007, the number of pages of regulation added to the Federal Register reached an all-time high of 78,090 – a 21 percent increase from Bush’s first year. And spending on regulatory activities rose to $42 billion in 2009 – a 62 percent increase. Since taking office, Obama has proposed a large and sweeping increase in regulation that many worry could lead to another financial crisis in the future.

I guess a war in Afghanistan is better that Iraq, according to Obama. Their plans are almost identicle for both countries.

Obama's Czar's [[ commie kings)
1. Herb Allison-TARP Czar
2. Alan Bersin-Border Czar
3. Dennis Blair-Intelligence Czar
4. John Brennan-Terrorism Czar
5. Carol Browner-Energy Czar
6. Adolfo Carrion, Jr-Urban Affairs Czar
7. Ashton Carter-Weapons Czar
8. Aneesh Chopra-Technology Czar
9. Jeffrey Crowley-AIDS Czar
10. Cameron Davis-Great Lakes Czar
11. Nancy-Ann DeParle-Health Czar
12. Earl Devaney-Stimulus Accountability Czar
13. Joshua DuBois-Faith-based Czar
14. Kenneth Feinberg-Pay Czar
15. Danny Fried-Guantanamo Closure Czar
16. J. Scott Gration-Sudan Czar
17. Richard Holbrooke-Afghanistan Czar
18. John Holdren-Science Czar
19. Van Jones Green-Jobs Czar
20. Gil Kerlikowske-Drug Czar
21. Vivek Kundra-Information Czar
22. George Mitchell-Mideast Peace Czar
23. Ed Montgomery-Car Czar
24. Dennis Ross-Mideast Policy Czar
25. Gary Samore-WMD Czar
26. Todd Stern-Climate Czar
27. Cass Sunstein-Regulatory Czar
28. Paul Volcker-Economic Czar

Bush's Czar's
* Cyber Security Czar
* Regulatory Czar
* AIDS Czar
* Bird Flu Czar
* Intelligence Czar
* Health IT Czar
* Katrina Czar
* Manufacturing Czar
* Drug Czar
* Domestic Policy Czar
* War Czar
* Copywright Czar
* Abstinence Czar
* Mine Safety Czar
* Latin American Czar
* WTO Health Czar
* Corruption Czar
* Privacy Czar
* Health Czar

- Even State supported NPR reports the similarities.

An NPR report this morning put Obama and Bush talking points side by side to show just how alike the outgoing President and incoming President are beginning to sound.

Obama, for instance, campaigned saying he would shut down Guantánamo Bay and ban torture, upon taking office, but now says he won’t be closing the controversial prison during his first 100 days in office. “It’s more difficult than I think a lot of people realize,” he says. [[No shit.) He’s also beginning to show a lot more admiration for the security and intelligence community, and while still vowing to ban torture, he says he doesn’t want these highly “talented” professionals to constantly be looking over their shoulders.

**Zacha341** · November-10-10, 05:49 PM

Precisely, and Detroiters ought to read this clear as a bell. We know the shannigans gone wrong of from the cabalah of appointed 'peeps' [[friends in family) in high places with inflated titles and salaries, promising to pass down goods and services, after diverted their up-most portion, with add-on departments and boards and what not...all filled with other executives [[feeders).

All further removed from stated goals [[promises) and delivery of services... yeah, we should know what this is ALL ABOUT when you go down to the city county or some other municipality to get a document or request a service and get the surly look and can seek no redress beyond than the clock ticking that soon the department will be closed for the day.

And you can never get the untouchables far up and removed [[czars). I guess it's cool so long as the dems are doing it. We'll complain with the repubs do it. Yeah....

Originally Posted by Papasito

The "Czar" thing has gone excessive. It's just another example of the balooning of Government. A better job can be done with far less people. Especially qualified ones. People getting these obscure and high paying job titles are typically friends of friends, and are not even specialists in the field they are supposed to be overseeing.

W should have been named Captain Cave-In. He constantly compromised and didn't stand on principles. He was very liberal.... favored opened borders and huge spending and corporate bailouts... one of the few things he did that made him lean the other way was his Bible thumping and Faith based initiatives.