Bush’s Dangerous 14 Months–And Ours
After the 2006 congressional elections, pundits declared that President Bush was a lame duck. Each day his power and capacity to pursue his neoconservative agenda was supposed to drain away until he went back to Crawford Texas, a beaten man.
But like so much in politics, those who tie themselves to conventional wisdom are often very wrong. George W. Bush is as strong now as he was when he gained office for his second term. He is determined–ferociously, like a bulldog with a bone–to pursue his agenda even if it becomes a millstone around the country¹s neck for years and decades.
Why is Mr. Bush, in the remaining 14 months of his presidency, defying the wishes of the people, when 75 percent believe the country is heading down the wrong track? For all the obsessive secrecy of the Bush administration, the president has been remarkably open about his guide in matters of state and as a personal cleanser to his previous alcohol addiction: Jesus.
Remember he told us, “Christ…changed my heart,” in the 2000 television debates and he seems to believe that Jesus is his man. Bush’s rigid judgment and personal certitude in decision-making fits the classic profile of a recovering alcoholic. In this context, he was saved by his ambition which he melded to Jesus and the simplistic symbols of good versus evil. Whether or not Bush envisions himself as an instrument of God to advance his agenda or uses his faith as a political weapon against his opposition, he has put down unmistakable markers for the next 14 months. These markers have consequences that cannot be wished away:
* Bush has made clear the Iraq War is his legacy. He intends to make sure the United States stays his course over the next 14 months. Nearly 4,000 U.S. soldiers have been killed. Nearly 28,000 have been seriously wounded and maimed. Some 660,000 Iraqis have died since the war began, according to a Johns Hopkins University report. How many more people will we lose to sustain this murderous folly?
* Iraq has cost over half a trillion dollars. The U.S. currently spends $12 billion a month on the war. Over the next 14 months Bush has asked for an additional supplemental totaling 280 billion dollars. What’s to stop him from extracting billions more from taxpayers for his war without end?
* Congress must also consider a separate 750 billion dollar defense budget for this fiscal year. Remember that number when federal officials say they lack the funds to repair public services, roads, and bridges decaying before our eyes.
* Promises were made to rebuild New Orleans. The federal government under Bush has done virtually nothing and that is what can be expected as that city continues to decay.
* Bush has made clear that he does not care about the impending health disaster in the U.S. He vetoed a children’s health bill which would have cost 12 billion dollars over five years on the grounds that it was too expensive and would protect too large a category of children. In 14 months he could use his executive power to further damage, even destroy the health and lives of tens of thousands more.
* On the Bush watch, adults without medical insurance rose to 47 million in 2006, up over 2 million from 2005. Uninsured children rose by 8.7 million. We may expect these figures to rise by January 2009.
* Bush believes America, under his version of Jesus, must remain the sole warrior state. He routinely threatens Iran as his administration continues war in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Philippines, and the Sahara. There is nothing to suggest war plans hatched in the next 14 months would be any more legal, moral, or in the U.S. and international interest than his misbegotten plan for Iraq. And there is little to suggest that the Democratic leadership will hasten to give up power stolen for the presidency by Bush.
* Bush will veto Congressional attempts to strip the Patriot Act of its most repressive provisions–should politicians summon the courage to give back civil rights and liberties guaranteed to the people by their Constitution and Bill of Rights.
* Bush and Cheney have made clear that they have no interest in restoring the checks and balances of the Constitution. In their remaining 14 months in office they will press for an executive grab of power to undertake extra-constitutional acts against citizens and deepen the U.S. commitment to permanent war. There is little reason to believe that the enlargement of the imperial presidency will change in a new administration.
* Bush has made clear that he has no interest in treaties with friends or agreements with anyone. He has systematically destroyed treaties on global warming and arms control at the very time when enlightened leadership could have changed the course of the planet for the better.
* Bush has made clear that he has no interest in pressing for international criminal courts. Over the next 14 months he could abrogate other attempts to build a stable international legal system by his assumption that he alone is the keeper of the flame of justice.
* Bush has issued more “signing statements” than any president in history. Thus, he has made clear that even if Congress overrides any of his vetoes he will in effect rewrite a new law with a signing statement meant to “interpret” it but which really nullifies the meaning of congress. How many more will he issue in the next 14 months to suit his agenda?
* Bush will nominate as many “midnight” strict constructionist judges as he can in the next 14 months as a way of redefining the government and throwing it back to the pre-FDR period.
* How many vacancies might occur on the Supreme Court during Bush¹s last 14 months that will be filled by conservative radicals out to destroy social and economic justice while underwriting presidential power to make unilateral wars?
* How many more instances of torture at the hands of the intelligence agencies can we expect to be administered on detainees and prisoners during the next 14 months?
Under George W. Bush we have witnessed breathtaking irresponsibility and cynicism, even for recent American presidents. He has used his war on terrorism to spread fear throughout the land. Kleptocracy-a government comprised of thieves–is the order of our day. The coarsening of American life, which comes from continuous war and selfish public policies, has become more vulgar. The rich are awash in Bush’s tax cuts, while the poor and the working and middle class struggle with absurd trickle-down handouts. It is hard to believe that Jesus would applaud these policies of Bush and Cheney as they will surely apply them in the next 14 months.
George W. Bush holds the cards against Congress unless it is made clear to Congress and the president that the nation will not and cannot afford even one month let alone 14 more months of clouded thinking, mismanagement, malfeasance, and the cynical killing of our troops and innocent Iraqis in the name of God or Jesus, and here on earth fantastical views of remaking the Middle East supposedly to give Americans cheap oil that now hovers around 95 dollars a barrel.
So we are left with a question: Can the Democratic Party right the wrongs of the Bush administration with a humane program that works for the society as a whole and individuals to protect their civil rights and liberties with economic justice? Can the Republican Party cleanse itself of its prejudices against Americans of different persuasions and follow the teachings of Jesus, and, yes, Herbert Hoover who campaigned for disarmament and against aggressive wars?
Marcus Raskin and Robert Spero are co-authors of The Four Freedoms Under Siege: The Clear and Present Danger of Our National Security State. (Praeger, 2007).
MOST OF THE DEMO RATS HAVE SOLD OUT TO THEIR CONSTITUENCY, THE WAR MACHINE. DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
I’m glad the 2008 Democratic Convention isn’t going to be held in my hometown.
“Why is Mr. Bush, in the remaining 14 months of his presidency, defying the wishes of the people, when 75 percent believe the country is heading down the wrong track? For all the obsessive secrecy of the Bush administration, the president has been remarkably open about his guide in matters of state and as a personal cleanser to his previous alcohol addiction: Jesus.”
The Jesus Christ known to his followers does not condone torture, rendition to torture, putting people in secret prisons with no contact with the outside world, kill, wound and displace millions, etc., etc., etc.
If in fact George W. Bush is now sober because of Jesus, we applaud him. But as far as blaming Jesus for his decisions and misbehaviour as President of the United States of America? Bush is solely responsible, and is not competent to occupy the Oval Office and must resign or be impeached. His Vice-President is equally responsible and incompetent and should do likewise. They both pose a real threat to our democracy from within.
So you were expecting Bush The Anti-Christ to do…what?
Good precis of what’s ahead for America under Bush.
Not without impeaching Bush and Cheney or prosecution and conviction for their crimes. There are questions about whether the Constitution in these passages requires impeachment first.
Anyway, members of the Bush administration could be prosecuted AFTER they leave office. In that case, if Congress won’t impeach them now, they must do everything they possibly can to block the administration’s illegal actions. If the WH managed to act anyway, that would give America more prosecutorial material.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend reading the book “Bush on the Couch: Inside the Mind of a President” by Justin Frank.
Frank makes a compelling argument that our country is being run by a psychotic. Kucinich was spot on when he said that Bush was mentally disturbed. If anything, Bush will act even more irrationally now that his political term is coming to a close. These are the last days in the bunker in Berlin, except this time the bunker has telephone lines to aircraft carrier groups and nuclear weapons to carry out the last orders of a psychotic.
Write to JOHN CONYERS and tell him to put Impeachment on the table!
John.Conyers@mail.house.gov
“Promises were made to rebuild New Orleans. The federal government under Bush has done virtually nothing and that is what can be expected as that city continues to decay.”
Please search the web for “Katrina fraud” and you will soon discover (from major news agencies, not conservative bloggers) that the federal government has pumped $85 billion into Katrina relief. You will also discover that a significant portion of the funding was STOLEN by our own citizens (through fraud or deception).
Yes, FEMA is a disaster. Like other bloated government programs, it couldn’t efficiently handle a flooded dirt road without wasting a million dollars. But, I don’t believe we can declare this solely the fault of President George W. Bush.
In short, “Bush has done virtually nothing” is an outright lie. Sorry, but I call it like it is.
I e-mailed Conyers.
Curtsie!
Everything is going according to plan. As the US goes bankrupt, the “shock doctrine” that Naomi Klein so brilliantly describes will be put in place in the US, with the institution of a police state, the elimination of the social safety net, and the selling off of virtually all government assets.
Rats are great-democrats arent. I am not so big on jesus either.
Lisa Simpson: apparently the native americans worshipped badgers and other small animals.
Bart Simpson: Thank goodness we smartened up and worship a 2000 year old carpenter.
I doubt that George the Shrub speaks with God, however there isn’t any doubt that the Devil and him are on a first name basis!
We need a miracle or we’re cooked.
“Bush will veto Congressional attempts to strip the Patriot Act of its most repressive provisions–should politicians summon the courage to give back civil rights and liberties guaranteed to the people by their Constitution and Bill of Rights.”
And Congress has the right to override the veto. It’s the way our government system is designed. Get over it. Educated people call this checks and balances.
If you don’t like it, call your Congressman and convince him to get enough votes to override the veto.
“Iraq has cost over half a trillion dollars. The U.S. currently spends $12 billion a month on the war. Over the next 14 months Bush has asked for an additional supplemental totaling 280 billion dollars. What’s to stop him from extracting billions more from taxpayers for his war without end?”
Ummm, Congress? Damn it, people! We don’t have a dictatorship here in the United States.
Simply put, Congress has the right to pull funding for the war and force the troops to be brought home. Have they? No.
I also recall that a majority of Congress voted to start “Bush’s War,” too.
“Bush has made clear that he does not care about the impending health disaster in the U.S. He vetoed a children’s health bill which would have cost 12 billion dollars over five years on the grounds that it was too expensive and would protect too large a category of children. In 14 months he could use his executive power to further damage, even destroy the health and lives of tens of thousands more.”
Why should the government take, by force, what I earned and give it someone else, just so they can buy health insurance.
I say, get out and get a job. Then, buy your own health insurance, like I do! Sheesh!
So, who would Jesus bomb?
What’s to worry? Why, just the other day, our Loonitary Decider declared “freedom’s happening” and has big plans to open a “Freedom Institute” as soon as he’s finished spreading democracy across the globe, just as he says God told him, directly.
It’s not Cheneybush’s fault this talking God really likes fascism, millions of dead innocent Iraqis and Afghanis, oil, money in really large quantities, and massive pollution. Who are we to question God’s apparent love of illegal aggressive wars and torture and unprecedented lying and the transfer of three generations of our Treasury to the friends of the God-hearing sect?
Man, America is so blessed…
“Bush has made clear that he has no interest in pressing for international criminal courts. Over the next 14 months he could abrogate other attempts to build a stable international legal system by his assumption that he alone is the keeper of the flame of justice.”
How exactly would an internationl court system work? Do we abolish the legal systems of both countries in favor of a single common one? Heck, we can’t even gets different states to agree.
Or, do you propose that we should be subject to state, federal, and “international” law? Do we get to vote on these new international laws (indirectly, through electing representatives)? Or, does some international court just interept the intersect between the two legal systems?
Honestly, the idea is about as crazy and having countries like Sudan, Nepal, and Saudi Arabia on the UN’s Human Rights Comm… oops!
http://tinyurl.com/2b457s (link to NY Times article)
I believe the main front of Bush/Cheney goal of expanding Executive Power in the next 14 months will be largely in the area of protecting themselves, their legacy, and others who have helped them achieve their goals, from legal action in the future and for ever more.
I cannot see Bush doing much else other than being the lame duck that he is.
Are you kidding me? Do you pay taxes? The government ALREADY takes your money by mandate and spends it as it sees fit. So, would you rather have it spent on a suffering, Amerian child or would you rather have it spent on a bomb to create more suffering for an innocent Iraqi child? I mean, get a grip. Your comment can’t be serious! Tell some poor kid, born into poverty, with little to no hope of leaving poverty, that he/she should go out and get a job to pay for their life-threatening disease. Screw you and all the other “compassionate conservatives” that wrap themselves in “Jesus’s” cloak while pissing on everyone else with their ME FIRST attitudes.
Really, how bad do things have to get before all of you wake up and recognize that the democrats will do nothing to stop it?
useful things my ass
UsefulThings,
You are right that government bureaucratic programs are often failures, especially when under Republican control. Under Democratic control, they are better but still worse than in many other nations.
One place to compare is with regard to Hurricane Katrina. That hurricane bashed the island of Cuba and the US Southeast coast. In Cuba, there were zero deaths because of proper evacuation procedures. In the US, there were over 1,000 deaths. Earlier, Hurricane Ivan had whipped Cuba with 160 mph winds, also with zero deaths.
Of course, with American ingenuity and technology, the US government could have at least as good of a record as Cuba, if people in the US believed in government programs and were serious about making them work. With Republican control, you have management by people who want the programs to fail, so what else would you expect?
Fourteen months is a long time. A lot can happen, and President Bush could yet do a lot of damaging things.
I believe, however, that his biggest goal is to be in 150% CAMPAIGN MODE, even though he’s not running (unless they do “Draft Laura” at last minute) for the duration of his term. He loves campaigning. He’s good at it, especially in the Q&A before friendly audiences that a sitting president can select for appearances. And he does not intend to see his “legacy” repudiated by a Democratic win in 2008.
Among the greatest “dangers” presented by Bush in the next 14 months is that he could be instrumental in our choosing of the next president.
Please don’t help him.
put that tired old lie to rest….the truth is bush is no christian and he doesnt ‘DO’ democracy..
“How many more instances of torture at the hands of the intelligence agencies can we expect to be administered on detainees and prisoners during the next 14 months?”
Using the definition from dictionary.com: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/torture …
You are probably referring to “torture” as “the act of inflicting excruciating pain, as punishment or revenge, as a means of getting a confession or information, or for sheer cruelty.” Or maybe you mean “extreme anguish of body or mind; agony.” These are very broad definitions of torture.
How exactly do you find out information from someone without even the THREAT of anguish or pain? Do you bribe them? Do you ask nicely? Do you say “pretty please.”
What if a policeman interrogated you for eight hours about a murder he reasonably suspects you committed? If you feel mental anguish during the interview, is he torturing you? Should he be stopped? What if you DID commit the murder?
“So, would you rather have it spent on a suffering, Amerian child or would you rather have it spent on a bomb to create more suffering for an innocent Iraqi child?”
Neither. I prefer the government NOT take my money by force and spend it on ridiculous government programs. I know for a fact that if I gave money directly to “needy children” the money would go to the children. Not to line the pockets of some bureaucrat and his cronies.
But what you’re really saying is: all charity should go through our government. Right?
“Of course, with American ingenuity and technology, the US government could have at least as good of a record as Cuba”
Absolutely! But, it never will. The political structure here in the U.S. is ridiculously corrupt and overgrown. On both sides. In fact, I’m fairly convinced that it’s all a big games on their (the politicians) part to divide typical Americans against each other (necons vs progressives, liberals vs conservatives, etc.) just so they can go off and do what they want. Honestly, I’m done with all of them.
[quote]UsefulThings November 8th, 2007 2:01 pm — Or, do you propose that we should be subject to state, federal, and “international” law?[/quote]
You already are subject to state, federal and international law. Like GWB, you seem unfamiliar with Article VI of your own Constitution which reads, in part, as follows:
In other words, US obligations under such international laws as the UN Charter and the Geneva Conventions are the “supreme law” of the United States of America, right up there with the Contitution itself.
Not that any of that matters, of course. If the US can override habeus corpus, it can certainly ignore trifling impediments to its imperial ambitions like treaty obligations. The only little fly in that ointment is that the rest of the world may begin to question whether it is wise to engage in ANY kind of agreements with such a rogue state — including intergovernmental commercial arrangments that could be abrogated at a stroke of the pen. And how far is it from there to the crumbling of trust even in private deals with US companies?
Ignoring the supremacy of international laws can get a bit messy after a while.
Sorry, my friends. Face the facts. Just as Bush won a mandate in 2006, the Republicans will win in 2008. After all, there is no serious opposition now, and there won’t be in the future. There is only one way change will come.
Arvy-
You are right. I stand corrected.
I did not intend to say we were NOT subject to international agreements and treaties. I wanted to know how an international court would be set up.
Would an international court just interpret treaties? How would rulings be enforced?
Would there be some other set of laws beyond treaties? Who would enforce these new laws? Would this lead to an international executive branch for enforcement and an international congressional branch for legislation?
Bottom line it for me.
Here’s an idea.
Impeach Cheney. Bush is fragile and will not want to suffer impeachment himself. He could resign for health reasons. Then he could go back home to Crawfish and finish reading ‘My Pet Goat’. I’m sure that he’s almost done with it by now.
Pelosi would become caretaker President. Instantly the world view of America would go up, for the return of sanity if nothing else. We could all let our breath out knowing that the last World War is not about to start.
It is imperative that we keep Cheney’s finger away from the button.
Daniel David would get his dream of a Democratic President. Isn’t that reason enough?
The only way for Congress to move is to threaten them with eviction.
‘Time to sweep the House’.
The Green Party of California and SF and everyone else should be telling Pelosi that they won’t support her unless she pushes for impeachment now. Force her to act in her own self-interest. Push Pelosi. Now. If she doesn’t impeach then she’s out of a job in January ‘09. Tell her.
Who needs Clinton when we could have President Pelosi running for election as an incumbent?
Cindy Sheehan won’t have to run against an incumbent if Pelosi’s promoted.
We win all around. And we save the world.
So we are left with a question: Can the Democratic Party right the wrongs of the Bush administration with a humane program that works for the society as a whole and individuals to protect their civil rights and liberties with economic justice? Can the Republican Party cleanse itself of its prejudices against Americans of different persuasions and follow the teachings of Jesus, and, yes, Herbert Hoover who campaigned for disarmament and against aggressive wars?
In a word. NO and impeachment is off the table.
We be fucked.
[quote]UsefulThings November 8th, 2007 2:38 pm — I did not intend to say we were NOT subject to international agreements and treaties. I wanted to know how an international court would be set up.[/quote]
I would suppose that additional international courts and tribunals that might be required for any particular purpose would be established along lines similar to those that already exist. In general, however, they are ‘courts of last resort’ which come into the picture only when some country will not or cannot enforce its own international law commitments.
The real problem isn’t the creation of appropriate court structures. It’s the issue of enforcement — especially when a country like the US, which was a prime mover in instigating many international laws now on the books, simply ignores them whenever they’re inconvenient. In fact, even when the US is willing to let its conduct be considered by some international tribunal, it’s as likely as not to ignore the judgement rendered.
In such circumstances, and with such an example set for others, any equitable form of enforcement becomes highly problematic at best.
UsefulThings (1:50 pm) usefully illustrates the “F*ck you Jack, I’ve got mine” attitude, writing, “Why should the government take, by force, what I earned and give it someone else, just so they can buy health insurance…I say, get out and get a job. Then, buy your own health insurance, like I do! Sheesh!”
This is basically the “Let them eat cake” approach to modern life. Marie Antoinette just couldn’t understand why the stupid lazy people were hungry — after all, she had no problem getting access to cake. As far as she knew, all you had to do was ask for it. It’s so easy to imagine poor Marie stamping her foot in exasperation: “Then, let them eat cake, like I do! Sheesh!”
Yeah, I wonder why Congress won’t impeach Bush. He is guilty of treason, bribery and other high crimes and misdemeanors.
But, if you’re going to start impeaching for Bribery, the entire Congress is at risk. Could that explain the reluctance?
We cannot afford 14 months, not of a zealot, or buffoon, but of a mean, little man, who thinks himself equal to the firefighter heroes of 9/11, or who would not respond to poor people standing on their rooftops pleading for help in New Orleans.
Without blinking an eye, he justifies the killing of a million people to the world and to their own families, swearing that he is bringing them to a better life. And to the families of those here at home who have lost loved ones in Iraq or suffer their woundedness with them, he makes jokes, looking under things on his banquet table for weapons of mass destruction.
No, we cannot wait out another 14 months of him. His administration is its own national, manmade disaster.
Arvy-
I agree. Further, I would argue that enforcement would be impossible. Just look what happened with all the U.N. resolutions against the Saddam regime. The U.S. finally takes action and is denounced by the world.
RichM-
You shouldn’t attribute quotes to me, especially when try’re false.
Further, you present a very weak argument. I am not a ruler nor am I an aristocrat. I am a typical, middle class American that does not want to be FORCED to give my money to someone else. Especially when the organization distributing the money to “needy children” has so much in common with bureaucracies like FEMA.
UsefulThings — as to whether I quoted you correctly, all someone has to do is look at your post at 1:50 pm, which is where I copied it from. It’s precisely accurate.
As to whether my argument is weak — you are pleased with your own situation because you are able to find work which pays well enough so that you can afford health insurance. Not everyone is so fortunate. There are close to 50 million Americans without health insurance, and it’s hardly the case that all of them are “stupid and lazy”; ie, that they “deserve” to be in that situation.
The philosophy you advance works only for those who are reasonably well situated. These people, just like Marie Antoinette, often have great difficulty giving a damn about those not so well off, and are comfortable in assuming that if the unfortunates “just went out and got a job, like I did,” that they wouldn’t be in this predicament.
For a host of reasons, though, the assumption is not really valid. You’re essentially just claiming that a system that works for you personally must be pretty good. That’s not a worldview that has much general usefulness, or applicability
The way his tenure is unfolding towards the final days, you see more similarities with the reign of Roman Emperor Caligula. Perhaps a more fitting title for the book, “Bush on the Couch” would have been “The Caligula Syndrome.”
RichM-
All personal comments aside…
Are you saying that YOU SUPPORT the use of force by the United States government to take money from some citizens to give to other citizens that they deem needful of medical services?
Specifically, you believe that the founding concepts of this nation support redistribution of wealth by the federal government?
(A YES or NO will suffice)
RichM-
Just checked some facts here. According to the CIA Factbook, the population of the Unites States is 301,139,947. 50,000,000 people is approximately 16.6% of the population.
Is it your position that 16.6% of the population is INCAPABLE of earning enough money to pay for basic health insurance coverage?
According to eHealthInsurance.com (the first site I found on Google), a family of 4 (Mom-38, Dad-38, Brother-16, and Sister-16) can get covered for as little as $227/month.
Gosh, no wonder no one can afford insurance! That’s ridiculously high! In fact, it’s almost as much as cable!
U.T. –
Let me take your 4:22 post first. I was a health-care provider myself for many years, and am very well acquainted with insurance rates. A typical family of 4 rate (all in good health; teenage kids) in California would be about $600-700 a month. It’s true that if you Google you can find outrageously low quotes cited — in fact, I just did it, and saw one for only $139 a month. But that’s just advertising — it’s deliberately misleading. There are all sorts of limitations & restrictions on what’s really being offered there. You’re trying to support your viewpoint by citing some unscrupulous company’s false advertising.
————————-
As for your 4:13 post — I love the “A YES or NO will suffice” line. You have posted to this thread what, maybe 15 times or so, and you deign to allow me one-word answers. So generous of you. Do you own the C.D. website?
You asked 2 different questions there; there’s no reason to assume that the answers to both must be the same.
All taxation — whether for domestic programs, or for “defense” — is a “use of force by the government” to take away money from its citizens. A government can’t function if it has no power to tax. So the relevant questions are, for what purposes may a government tax, and how should the burden of taxation be apportioned.
IMO, the permissible purposes go far beyond mere “providing for the common defense”. It’s more in the nature of ensuring what’s needed for the citizenry’s “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.” More in the nature of “Freedom from Want, Freedom from Fear,” etc. (In fact, it’s precisely a “Freedom from Want.”)
So, yes, I believe that “taking away money by force” from reasonably well-off citizens, for the purpose of providing health care (and education, adequate shelter, & other necessities) for others less fortunate is as least as justified as (actually, far more justified than) taking your money to go murder innocent people in Iraq, or for paying for the services of Halliburton & Blackwater. And I believe that the more money you have, the higher your rate of taxation should be. And that “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” is specifically included in the Declaration of Independence, & is what FDR was talking about in his 1941 Four Freedoms speech.
Universal health insurance is an internal U.S.A. sort of an issue. Good sense cant be imposed from outside, that is almost a universal principle. But at the same time, you cannot stop foreigners from looking in and thinking the obvious.
A country that spends more on the military than the entire rest of the world combined says it cannot afford universal health care. And if you suggest to them that a little sharing might be good for everybody, some people go into a panic that someone else may be better off, may have their health restored, possibly at their expense. I think everyone but the VERY rich would be better off really.
The american saying “Right on the money” seems to sum it up for me. The saying is supposed to mean clever, but what on earth is the word “money” doing there? It must be an expression of the American psyche. Thats where Americans minds are focused. Everyone appears to be curled up in a foetal position, protecting their own little pile of money, much to their own detriment.
The great paradox is that their religion, Christianity, is supposed to preach exactly the opposite!! From an outside point of view, it would seem that the religion is mainly used as another form of flag waiving. Whenever the president is under seige, starts spouting off about god in order to protect his bond with his right wing Christian constituency. It seems likely to me that like many politicians, his professed religiousness is adopted in order to garner votes.
“Why is Mr. Bush, in the remaining 14 months of his presidency, defying the wishes of the people, when 75 percent believe the country is heading down the wrong track? For all the obsessive secrecy of the Bush administration, the president has been remarkably open about his guide in matters of state and as a personal cleanser to his previous alcohol addiction: Jesus.”
It is not, “Jesus” that is driving Bush to defy the wishes of the people. It his and Cheney’s, “Lust” for oil, money and power!
You can imagine Bushs’ gulp of apprehension as he approaches the pearly gates and there waiting for him is Jesus looking very much like one of the one million slaughtered Iraqis’.
I’m glad, Useful Things, that you have good health insurance you’re satisfied with. I hope that you never become seriously ill and find that your health insurance is not the safety net you thought it would be. Half of the bankruptcies in this country are due to people getting critical illnesses who HAD health insurance when it happened. Not people looking for a handout. Hardworking people who sacrificed a significant part of their income in order to be protected, only to find out that that promise of protection was insufficient. Your premise that anyone can get a policy for under $300 a month is bullshit. Try getting a policy that covers anything at all if you have a preexisting condition.
I’ve been without health insurance from time to time in my life. My oldest son is currently living uncovered-he just does’t make enough money and he works 50+ hours a week waiting tables. Right now we are fortunate enough to be covered by my husband’s policy at work, but he is going to retire soon and our situation may change. The insurance at my last job wasn’t really worth buying, what they didn’t cover was so high.
If you’re against the forcible redistribution of your money by the government for any purpose, then I suppose you don’t believe in policemen or firefighters either. Or roads, bridges, schools, libraries or any other sort of public works. Letting a significant portion of the population languish without health care puts everyone’s health at risk.
You get offended that someone might take some of your money and give health care to someone who can’t afford it. I get offended at the idea that decisions of life or death should have anything at all to do with corporate profit.
-RichM
I don’t think the difference between middle-class and those at or below the poverty line in the US is as great as the difference between 18th century royalty an the peasantry. This is precisely the attitude that makes “middle-classers” wary. If any redistribution of wealth is needed do you seriously think it should come from the middle-class or the top 1-10% of households who have seen their wealth grow enormously (obscenely)?
What this administration is doing would be of the most scary of “The Twilight Zone” and “The Outer Limits” TV episodes, yet it is reality.
Please, someone make it go away.
OK. So Bush is unquestionably one of the worst and most dangerous Presidents we’ve ever had. There’s only one answer. Throw the bum out.
I emailed Conyers, too. Ta Daaaa!!
What are you all waiting for?
Impeach Cheney Flyer: http://www.usalone.com/impeach_cheney_flyer.php
Wake up, folks. The Constitution has already been abrogated and rendered null and void. We no longer have a country, at least none that we recognise.
It’s up to US, WE THE PEOPLE, to take the power back for ourselves. Remember, the first word in our founding documents is WE. Not I. WE. That’s us, folks. You, me and everyone here.
If I were you, and I am one of you, I’d be very afraid of the Bush/Cheney cabal. They’re like a wounded boar, and we all know that any wild animal, when wounded, turns vicious. Don’t expect the Democrats to do much more than sit on their hands and cower in the corner, because they’re afraid of the Bushies capability to take them out.
So in effect, we don’t have a government anymore. We’re living in a constant state of fear like the old Soviet Union or any country ruled by a brutal dictator. And people become afraid to speak out when that kind of government is in place, which would explain the stunning silence from those we elected last fall to end the war and to hold the Bush/Cheney cabal to account.
That leaves it up to us. Washington’s not going to do our bidding for us. WE must do it, and NOW. Our Founders purposely put the power in the hands of the people as protection against such things as are happening now but people are being either too afraid or have become “sheeple” and are just too apathetic to act.
So………..that begs the question: what are we going to do about it? Talk is fine, action is better. We progressives are great at sitting around sipping lattés all day at the café bemoaning the state of the world, but what are we really doing about it?
C’mon, people. DO SOMETHING!!!!!
this story tells me two things:
IMPEACH!!!!!
and watch for an honest democrat running for president. there are a couple, and any of the democrats running would be an improvement.
KEYINSIDE SEES THE PICTURE, BUT WHEN WILL THE REST OF YOU QUIT BEING CONNED BY THE DEMS?
this piece is jus that, a piece…unsophisticated analysis
It does make you wonder how much more of the constitution Bush can sever.
Can the Democratic Party right the wrongs of the Bush administration with a humane program that works for the society as a whole and individuals to protect their civil rights and liberties with economic justice?
No. Next question please.
(The Democrats represent the same corporate elites and military-industrial complex that the Republicans do. They are simply the good “cop” versus the Republican bad “cop”. Scrutinize the record of Pelosi, Clinton, Reid, Hoyer, Feinstein, Rahm Emmanuel, etc. and tell us just how they are riding to our rescue. Kucinich, bless his heart, is not a typical Democrat.)
Can the Republican Party cleanse itself of its prejudices against Americans of different persuasions and follow the teachings of Jesus, and, yes, Herbert Hoover who campaigned for disarmament and against aggressive wars?
Jesus? These guys–Raskin & Spero–are joking, right?
No. They cannot.
The Republicans have become the party of corporate fascism built on fear, permanent war, religious lunacy, and class kleptocracy.
They are steaming toward the dark sub-continent of Orwell–not toward the Sermon on the Mount or “small government” conservatism.
Thanks for the link. Cornyn is my senator (argh) so I emailed too. I put the video “Peace Takes Courage” on my blog at http://goodwordswan.wildflowerstew.com recently and got some pretty vicious hate mail. Blessed are the peacemakers . . . .
Bush is the best thing to happen to the world outside the US (there is one… go check an atlas). If it wasn’t for him, the planet would still be anesthetized by the image of amerrca as a beacon of liberty (as portrayed in endless nauseating Hollywood dross) and not for the bankrupt whore and bully she is.
You see, I’ve been “outside” and actually met foreigners in the flesh. We don’t seem that popular these days, but we need these people to lend us money for our wars. Seems a little rich borrowing of them in order to attack them, but, hey, these foreigners can’t attack themselves, you know…
Green Green Green
The attack on Iran is set for January 2008
You make a very interesting point, VetOfKorea. Maybe the BushCo/PNAC neo-con cabal do deserve some gratitude in that respect. But I suspect that, even in pre-Bush times, not all the rest of the world was deceived by the ‘beacon of liberty’ propaganda. And those that were might have preferred a somewhat less hazardous form of US self-exposure.
Two weeks before the Feb 5th primary the US shall attack Iran.
From an Australian..i have emailed mr conyers .miss polesi.to start impeachment now..This i believe is the only way to stop uor leaders ,down here,blindly folowing theese two crazy men..Then maybe our kids can live in peace.
USEFUL THINGS__Apparently you don`t believe any of your hard earned money should be used for the common good, even though you have by some good fortune happened to have a decent job. You will have a great future as an American CEO, where you can fire a thousand workers to increase the bottam line, and then raise your own salary a few million because you are such a valuable hard working person. The next step for you to earn more millions is to reduce or stop completely all health and retirement benefits to your workers as you are given more stock options at a favorable rate and can be adjusted later if not good enough. Then work to get all estate taxes ended, privatize Social Security and Medicare and enjoy your hards earned mansions and extravagant existence. That is the American dream for a few selfish spoiled individuals like yourself.
Dr. Zimmy, upon what musings dost thou profess thy prophecy?
stay away from useful things gang - smells ratty.
taking money from him by force to feed hungry children, shame on us.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,2208219,00.html
You ask, “Can the Democratic Party right the wrongs of the Bush administration…? The answer is no because too many of them are in on it.
Impeach Jesus Christ.
The damage that has been done to the US will not end when the present thugs are removed from office. The impending economic collapse will have to be dealt with along with the results of the illegal occupation of Iraq. The empire is in its death throes and the war will come home as domestic anger and desperation rise.
The biggest danger is that fascism is legally in place and can be fully implemented in an so-called emergency. We will have to pull together to resist it no matter which corporate shill is selected to be the next president.
Please…leave Jesus out of this. Jesus was a socialist-Liberal — hardly of ‘appeal’ to ‘W’, or most other Old-Testament/so-called ‘christian-Evangelicals’ [lack of Capitalization intentional].
Perhaps if Billy had gifted GWB’s sotten-brain with some exposure to a “Red-Letter Edition” of the Bible — instead of adhering to Scofield’s ‘dispensationalist’/Zionist-rehash — we’d have better-things to post about…? [Or perhaps-not, since by now we’d be wondering what President Lieberman will be doing within his remaining-months?]
What you can expect from this-Admin over the coming 14-months is the continued foundation-laying for the next-Admin to succeed where he (as a Repug) could-not — for more destruction of all non-’privatized’ Commons in the US [SocSec, MedicAid, Pension-sellouts, Civil-Rights, etc.], and his advancing the ‘GWoT’ to a point where it is self-perpetuating (a ’self-fulfilling Prophesy’)– probably by initiating new-fronts, in Syria or Pakistan…and more ‘noise’ regards the useful-Enemy of Iran.
Kucinich is trying to get Bush impeached and people need to back him
http://kucinich.house.gov/SpotlightIssues/documents.htm
Everyone needs to try to help out. If we don’t try, than we know we will fail
http://www.usalone.com/cheney_impeachment.php
Usalone has flyers people can put up since the mainstream media has selectively decided to report about Kucinich and UFOs to discredit him, rather than reporting on his call for impeachment.
I would also like to point out even Michael Moore doesn’t like CHIP because it was another plan to give the people’s money to greedy health insurance companies. When the government is bought off by corporations you get fascism.
I believe Ron Paul’s plan to down size the Federal Government and keep the money in each state is the only way to go. That way the corporate lobbyist will have a more difficult time getting their hands on the money.
Already the mainstream media http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/11/04/bill-moyers-on-whats-wrong-with-our-media/
has started to say BS things like his supporters are all white supremacist and he doesn’t believe in Global Warming. What I heard him say is we should read both sides of the argument and then lead by example. We don’t want to put laws into place were we could attack another country to enforce UN resolutions on global warming.
Also watch out because Hilary Clinton is on the Arms Committee and is now being backed by the Arms Industry http://www.alternet.org/story/65869/
P.S. detailed info on the Patriot Act http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5792391565012624048&hl=en
I’m so tired of writers who raise the question whether the Democrats will do this or that to stop the Bush administration’s radical, violent, and lawless agenda. They won’t. Period. They’ve had seven years to show some spine, and what do you know, they lack one.
Our only hope is this fake “opposition party” will someday wither away and be replaced by a truly progressive party actually committed to an ideal or two. Having principles–how quaint, huh?
It is clear to any educated or under educated, who have any common sense, that the Bush administration is a disaster.
In just six years, they have bankrupted our nation and are continuing daily to make the economy situation worse. We are on the verge of a depression because of the Cheney/Bush policies. Bush has set the table for another war in the Mid-East. Bush may not run Fema but he is in a position of power to insure it was and is properly managed, so he is responsible for whatever has occured in regards to what has, or has not occurred in New Orleans USEFUL THINGS.
As far as Bush being a Christian and that he gets his advice from Jesus goes, that is not sensible for any to consider as credible. He is a spoiled, cruel, and dangerous brat as he was as a child and any who defend him are only doing so to protect their own stupidity for supporting him in the first place.
USEFUL THINGS, you are obviously intelligent, another of those who are, yet of the few who lack a degree of common sense or wisdom, in other words, an over educated idiot. Such persons love to display their ignorance and self centered, one sided personalities. Did you know that one can lose 150 calories an hour, by banging their head agaisnt a wall. ___ Try it.
RichM-
Just checked some facts here. According to the CIA Factbook, the population of the Unites States is 301,139,947. 50,000,000 people is approximately 16.6% of the population.
Is it your position that 16.6% of the population is INCAPABLE of earning enough money to pay for basic health insurance coverage?
According to eHealthInsurance.com (the first site I found on Google), a family of 4 (Mom-38, Dad-38, Brother-16, and Sister-16) can get covered for as little as $227/month.
Gosh, no wonder no one can afford insurance! That’s ridiculously high! In fact, it’s almost as much as cable!
—————-
People living in the real world can’t actually believe this nonsense… family of 4 on health insurance for 227 per month? Never happen. In reality, health insurance costs would be around 600-700 per month and that’s BARE MINIMUM SHIT coverage, no preventative care, absurd deductables. And that’s 600, 700 dollar per month not including out of pocket expenses, and when the insurance company decides not to cover your illness and ailments.
Universal Health Insurance programs, not for profit, would save nearly every American about 33% of what they’re paying now. Even the top end 50K to 75K 75K to 100K earners, household income etc. Look up what percentage of GDP Canada, UK, France etc are paying for health insurance or health care.
We’re paying more. and our Health Care is good, but it’s nowhere near the best. So it boils down do that. The people arguing against the universal not for profit system do so purely out of a partisan ideological standpoint that has nothing to do with reality. They’re more content throwing 30% or more towards these corperate for profit health insurers. So they’re paying substantially more, and when the time comes, the health “insurers” can decide on a whim not to cover them.
Makes no sense, even for the right wing conservatives who “doesn’t want the government to take his money and give it to someone else.” Bottom line, the same right wing conservative is being robbed for 33% more by the for profit health insurance companies than he would be paying under a universal system.
Ultimately, it’s an excercise in stupidity. Cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Been fun, but I gotta go. A few parting thoughts…
* I have been personally attacked for expressing my viewpoints. Shame on you!
* RichM is about the only person willing to discuss the actual facts behind my viewpoints. Thank you, sir. You made many valid points. I am considering them.
* Everyone, including me, has jumped to extreme assumptions about others. For example, since I do not want the government redistributing my wealth, I must “selfish.” This is not an assumption that can be made based on a few posts to a website. Apparently, I am also on track for a CEO position, where I can happily destroy lives and incomes. Being a CEO sounds like hell on Earth, to me. Wouldn’t touch it.
* I agree that the Bush administration, with the help of Congress, has put us on a track to bankruptcy as a nation. The U.S. government is spending like there’s no tomorrow! Socialized medicine is just one more step in that direction.
* I believe in the generousity of the individual. Private and corporate charities are sufficiently capable of helping the needy (see Ronald McDonald House). They will, for the most part, do it more efficiently and with more accountability than the government. I wonder what the track record of success is for rebuilding efforts in New Orleans comparing FEMA government programs to private church groups…? I’ve personally heard stories of new homes and churches from volunteers who were there. This article cites “virtually nothing” has been done by the government.
* I also believe in the power and responsibility of the federal government to provide for the common good. We just seem to disagree with where that common good begins and ends. One could argue to either extreme.
* As for the war… A majority of the U.S. Congress at the time voted to start it. Should it have been finsihed by now? Hell, yes! Has there been major problems? Another yes. Did Bush do this all by himself. Sorry, but no. Unless I am mistaken, Congress holds the purse strings and can stop it at any time, by a majority vote. We should hold them accountable, too.
I did not jump in here to argue liberal versus conservative viewpoints. I merely wished to point out the blantant slant of this article against one man, when our entire government is equally culpable.
Cheers!
Two mistakes in this article.
The first is that a logical, reasonable, rational argument can win the day. Not so anymore in the US.
The second is the misplaced respect for jesus. If somebody hears the voice of BOB in his head, he is certifiably insane, unless, of course, his name is Bob. If somebody speaks with his imaginary friend Peter, he is insane unless, of course, he is less than 6 years old.
Jesus is no more and no less than a charismatic leader who lived about 2000 years ago, and who had a few interesting things to say. Like all charismatic leaders, he instituted a personality cult around himself, much as Kim Yong Il, Saddam Hussein, and all other powerful leaders throughout history have done.
That bush hears the voice of jesus in his head (or heart, such an abject cliche), or that he talks to his imaginary friend jesus, simply means he is insane, and you and I are going to pay the price for this insanity.
“That bush hears the voice of jesus in his head (or heart, such an abject cliche), or that he talks to his imaginary friend jesus, simply means he is insane, and you and I are going to pay the price for this insanity.”
A true-Christian would say that the problem is that his head/heart is closed to the teachings of Jesus…
My appeal to Congressman Conyers was worded to the effect that I understand that bringing impeachment proceedings forward would jeopardize his chairmanship, given the makeup of the Democratic leadership and who knows what power manipulations going on in the subterranean vaults of Congress, but that it is a matter for which he will be remembered in history, something we can point to (besides our magnificent vote in 06) AS A PEOPLE that we did to at least attempt a reversal of the ongoing downward spiral of our democratic republic. Please, everyone, do contact him and others on the Judiciary Committee.
Kucinich is the rare breath of truth in this political liars game.
It seems to me that supporting him is the only bet but we are not powerful enough to have him taken serious particularly when the Russerts of the airwaves marginalize him. He is not able to back out of their game to elect Clinton.
America is being destroyed by Capital Hill in collusion with the media putting out their message.
Bush is a madman! He talks to God! The republican machine put a madman in office; the United States will be paying a price for this presidency for decades-if not permanently. The democrats currently serving are facilitators! They are in lock-step with a lunatic!
I wish the authors had numbered those bulleted items:
Bush feels compelled to leave a legacy in “war & destruction” because he was incapable of leaving a legacy of any other kind.
The cost of the war is one our tax paying shoulders, not his.
The defence budget is in liu of major thoroughfare repair and public services funding and support.
At least a bunch of the Hollywoodites are trying to rebuild New Orleans. Thank you!
He was afraid approving that bill would help “too many” children? Excuse me?
Medicaid and the elderly - I guess there was no legacy tie there either?
I have real trouble mentioning the name G Bush & Jesus or God in the same phrase.
The constitution & Bill Of Rights are just speed bumps to he and Chaney.
He already stated that he doesn’t care what happens in the future - so why on earth would he need a treaty or agreement with foreign countries.
There is the regular alphabet and then there is the George Bush alphabet for “interpretations”.
Well at least if we get thrown back to the pre FDR period - we’ll know what it takes to get back on top,and “who” to avoid.
Social & economic justice, and conservative radicals - what goes around, comes around.
POW’s are still soldiers? Are they not?
In closing - I do not think the Democratic party (alone) can wright the wrongs on the Bush administration. It’s going to take a wealth of support from ALL parties, whose mind set is to make America a batter place to be, not the “only” place left to be……
ARJENBOATSMA: Jesus was and is God’s only son, ___ he was not just a charismatic leader while here on Earth.
I seriously doubt he has conversations with our president and tells him what to do however.
I too wrote Conyers re impeachment of Cheney and Bush…in that order.
I fall upon the thorns of Bush!
I bleed! Bush smirks and laughs.
One day that prick I’d like to crush.
When even thinking on him I pass gas.
Juliana, I just sent a similar message to Conyers. Reminded him of his years of championing “justice” and how despite the pressure Pelosi et al put on him, he cannot stop championing we,the people and the Constitution. Otherwise his legacy goes down the toilet. Hope someone reads it.
To Useful Things:
What did those millions of poor little uninsured children and babies do to you for you to deliver such cruel comments? Then again, what did they ever do to George W? I suppose both of you think they should all get jobs at Fortune 500 companies ASAP so as to have medical insurance. Child labor laws be damned!
Like George W, I am a recovered alcoholic (33 Years). Unlike him, my judgement and humanity are unimpaired (if I do say so myself) and I am on the side of social justice.
A word about Jesus, if you accept the entire Bible (which I don’t). Go online and google The Book of Revelations, the last book of the New Testament. Instead of kindly, compassionate teacher, you will find Jesus described as a vindictive tyrant who threatens to torment and kill off most of the human race on the so-called Day of Judgement. It is clearly written by a raving psychopath and is the most horrifying thing I have ever read. This is the God that George W and his neocon friends worship, and they are doing everything in their power to bring on the Armageddon that their Jesus promised.
I was unaware that the book of Revelation was the words of Jesus.
Why do most people here assume GWB’s religiosity is genuine? He is a politician after all. Has nobody has noticed that politicians have a habit of embracing religion in situations where to be seen doing so will enhance their votes. GWB might be a madman, but isnt it more likely that he is a conman?
He played John Wayne when he landed on the warship in full camouflage, and dared the resistance to “bring it on”. I think that image worked too. But it is not real. His Vietnam record is one where he was very careful not to face real danger.
Surely the cowboy image, though an effective vote getter, is fake as well.
Please write and call your representatives demanding that they support Kucinich’s House Res 333 to IMPEACH CHENEY.
Bug them about it. Tell them you will vote against them if they refuse to defend the constitution and the nation.
This is one thing that would stop the U.S. from bombing Iran. Cheney is telling the same lies about Iran that he told about Iraq.
Watch/hear
KUCINICH: Takes House Floor, Moves for Cheney Impeachment
27 min -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJYbgouqlMw
===
5 min report/interview on CNN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJK6ApCcKPo