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TechnoratiBush's Twilight Year Looks Grim
WASHINGTON - If the last days of 2007 are any indication, U.S. President George W. Bush's last year in office is shaping up as grim and lonely.
Grim, because Bush's signature "war on terror" is nowhere near the kind of "victory" on which he had placed so much hope. Hundreds of billions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury have been spent, but the democratic transformation of the Middle East and the wider Islamic world has not materialised.
Indeed, while Bush's Surge strategy has helped reduce violence in Iraq over the past year, his top military commanders stress that the relative peace that has been achieved to date is fragile and that prospects for national reconciliation -- the Surge's political goal -- remain dim.
Meanwhile, victory in the larger terror effort is nowhere in sight, as this week's assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, helped illustrate.
Grim, because the economic news -- which has generally remained upbeat over Bush's tenure -- has turned decidedly negative in recent months. The chances that his successor may inherit a recession, as well as the many foreign-policy fiascos created by the disastrous combination of the administration's ideological rigidity and incompetence, are growing steadily.
Lonely, not only because of the departure during the past year of virtually all of his closest and most long-standing loyalists -- Dan Barlett, Karen Hughes, Harriet Miers, Alberto Gonzales, and Karl Rove -- but also because he is seen increasingly as both a lame duck and an albatross around the necks of his party's candidates.
Indeed, the focus of national and international attention -- so far as the U.S. is concerned -- appears to have shifted to the race to succeed him in next November's elections. Remarkably, the mainstream U.S. media this week devoted as much space to the reactions of the main presidential candidates to Bhutto's assassination as to the administration's.
The fact that all of the major Republican candidates not only rarely evoke his name, but often suggest that his performance in office has been less than stellar, serves only to underline his marginalisation.
As for the Democrats, Bush, whose public-approval ratings have hovered around 32 percent for more than a year (the worst sustained ratings of any president in more than 50 years), is the rhetorical target against whom they find it easiest to rally the party faithful. According to recent surveys, the Democratic party has grown substantially over the past four years, largely as a result of what Bush's defenders have called "Bush hatred".
Bush, of course, is still hoping that 2008 may yet deliver his presidency from the fate of being judged as one of the very worst -- if not the worst -- in history.
A number of eminent historians have in fact already reached that judgement, based, among other things, on the strategic disaster of the Iraq war; the squandering of Washington's overseas image as a champion of international law and human rights; the defiance of constitutional safeguards at home; the politicisation of the system of justice; and the distortion of scientific research regarding global warming and other critical issues.
His hopes of escaping that assessment rest primarily in the area of foreign policy, on which, as a "war-time president", he has staked his reputation.
Possible achievements that could help to redeem Bush's overall record before the end of his term would be the continued reduction of violence -- if not reconciliation among the three main communal groups -- in Iraq; a major breakthrough in the Israel-Palestinian negotiations leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state; or the de-nuclearisation of North Korea.
But even the most likely of these three -- North Korean de-nuclearisation -- remains highly uncertain. Most analysts here believe that Pyongyang has not yet made a strategic decision to give up its nuclear programme as demanded by Washington.
Similarly, the initial indications after last month's Israeli-Palestinian Summit in Annapolis do not look particularly favourable. Israel has spurned a cease- fire offer by Hamas -- which, in any event, retains the ability to spoil any accord reached by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas -- and, despite U.S. pressure, is playing coy about settlement activity in the contested Jerusalem area. Just how hard Bush is prepared to press Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert remains unknown.
As for Iraq, a big question mark is whether the planned withdrawal of 30,000 U.S. troops by July and 60,000 by the end of next year will spark a new round in the Sunni-Shi'a civil war, which the Surge has helped to tamp down but not resolve. Another big question as 2007 draws to a close is whether Kurdistan - - until now the most peaceful and pro-U.S. part of Iraq -- will find its stability at risk due to U.S.-backed Turkish attacks on Kurdish guerrillas or by the approach of the newly-scheduled referendum on the status of Kirkuk.
While these three areas may offer the brightest prospects for redemption, new crises -- particularly those arising from the "war on terror" -- could divert the administration's attention and further damage Bush's record.
Bhutto's assassination, for example, offered yet another example that Bush's war has been at best incompetently pursued, if not misconceived from the very beginning.
Not only did Bush's diversion of both money and troops from Afghanistan to Iraq immediately after the defeat of the Taliban permit both Taliban and al Qaeda to regroup and eventually extend their influence in the rugged tribal areas along the Afghan-Pakistan border, but his virtually unconditional backing -- including more than 10 billion dollars in mostly military aid -- for the regime of General Pervez Musharraf served mainly to strengthen the Islamist parties at the expense of the secular, "moderate" forces to which his administration has given mainly rhetorical support.
When it became clear last summer that Pakistan's Taliban was making major advances and that Musharraf's popular base had dried up, the administration sought to forge an agreement between the military commander and the exiled Bhutto, whom it had long ignored.
The agreement, which included free elections that would likely result in Bhutto's election as prime minister, was designed, in the words of Bruce Reidel -- a former senior CIA analyst now with the Brookings Institution -- to give the Musharraf government "a democratic façade", bolster the moderates, and encourage the army to co-operate with U.S. counter-terror efforts.
The cynicism of the manoeuvre, combined with Washington's enduring support for Musharraf -- even when he declared a state of emergency earlier this fall -- forced Bhutto to back away, leaving the accord unconsummated. Now that she has been eliminated, a number of experts here have noted, Bush, predictably, lacks a "Plan B".
The prospect of a failed, nuclear-armed Pakistan makes even Iraq -- not to mention a uranium-enrichment programme in Iran -- look benign. It could be a rough final year.
© 2007 Inter Press Service
89 Comments so far
Show AllStart sharpening your pencils, you academic writers out there. It's time to ensure that our children's textbooks reflect the REAL history of this fuck-up's tenure in office. "History is written by the victors." And Bush is no winner, unless you count moral decrepitude.
"A number of eminent historians have in fact already reached that judgement (sic), based, among other things, on the strategic disaster of the Iraq war; the squandering of Washington's overseas image as a champion of international law and human rights; the defiance of constitutional safeguards at home; the politicisation of the system of justice; and the distortion of scientific research regarding global warming and other critical issues."
I'm certain more could be added to the author's list. And I don't see Bush/Cheney Co. (now Torture, Inc., thanks Tom Englehardt) redeeming themselves in the coming year in any way whatsoever. They are most likely busy at work figuring out how to fix the elections, for one thing. If more Republicans win their elections this coming year than do Democrats, you'll know the fix is in.
Re: environmentalism, production, consumption, and the economy, visit http://www.storyofstuff.com/. It's a great little video that tells the hidden story behind American consumerism.
I think a comedian by the name of Ron White said "you can't fix stupid", this is appropriate for Bush and his administration.
From day one, a majority of Americans knew that Bush was the worst thing for America, we just could not prove that the election was stolen. I guess Stalin was correct in that elections are decided by those that count the votes not those that cast the votes. Bush is a living example of a puppet president, but now he proves that no matter how long you keep a donkey in the horse coral it is still gonna come out a jackass.
I can't believe it has been eight years, but now I fear the aftermath more than his reign as king.
Perhaps this simple point has been made...
*** You sleep in the bed you make.***
Sure most of these situations existed, in some form, before Bush; but he has managed our affairs of government so poorly. It will be decades before some noticable progress can be made in areas of international and environmental policy. My hope is that Bush is isolated to the same extent that Nixon was post Watergate. This man deserves to pay Big Time for his mis-guided and immoral Presidency.
The very first thing that the next President should do is to make null and void all laws passed during the previous eight years.
If he cannot make that happen, he should get out of town for a day and set off neutron bombs over the Congress, Senate, CIA, DHS, the Federal Reserve, and the Supreme Court. The USA needs to start over from scratch with all new properly elected people.
I agree with eshu and cosmicharlie. Why else would the Republicans be purging the voter rolls of Democrats? Because they've given up? Not likely. The fact is we really aren't a democracy anymore. I read a quote from Hitler, that if you're going to lie, don't tell little lies, the public already does that and will see through them. Tell big lies, and you will be believed, because the public doesn't think anyone would dare tell big lies. He knew his stuff, and our current leaders have learned well from him.
I can't say I'm confident and comfortable trusting Edwards to do the right thing and to do what he says he will do, but at this point, he looks like the best option. At least, I wouldn't be holding my nose to vote for him, I would just be taking a chance on him. I don't gamble, but hey. sometimes life is a gamble.
kathyodat
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
~ Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr
I'm with cosmicharlie. The bastards who now own this country haven't put us through everything we've gone through the last few years so they can just mildly give it all up on the basis of a single election. Nowhere is that clearer then in the dreck that appear as front runners for the "democrats", all of whom are shameless coporate shills. When I was a kid, anyone who ran for president in the primaries was treated as a candidate. Now the media decides that if you haven't raised a million dollars, your name isn't even worth mentioning. The finest "democracy" money can buy indeed. The problem isn't Bush. It's the emergence of a political culture sick enough to even tolerate such an obvious gangster fraud presence on the national scene to begin with. Melville's "confidence man" to the last dotted "i", to be sure.
The Twilight Year?? George may be on his way out but you can bet that this Neocon Fascist regime, which still has a firm hold on our country, is not going to just simply fade away gracefully into the setting sun. Bu$h may soon be history, but don't let your guard down; their agenda is way bigger than just this two-term puppet. As we know these guys are ruthless and tenacious. Don't get too complacent - a lot can happen in a year. Just look into Cheney's eyes...
tumbleweed January 1st, 2008 9:12 am
"The Democrat's have only had the Senate and House for a little over a year. Even then whenever they try and do something it's blocked by Republican's. They simply do not have the muscle or support with the public to do much more than they are doing."
The Democrats have had and do have the power to impeach Bush and Cheney. It only takes a simple majority vote in the House. Not only do they refuse to do so but traitor Pelosi took impeachment off the table before she was even elected speaker.
The Democrats have had and do have the power to stop the war in Iraq. All they have to do is block any funding bill from coming up for a vote which they HAVE THE POWER TO DO!!
So tell us all again how the Democrats are doing all they can but (insert whine here) are blocked by the Republicans. Bullsh#t
Lobo Gris
I love thrift stores and yard sales, swap meets. That's where I shop. I buy all of any Christmas presents there, except the Chanell #5 for my toots. I have to buy that stinky stuff at the mall. If I could find some whale puke I'd distill my own, I have a copy of the recipe.
sgohare1: exactly my point. Nope, there isn't a damn difference between Hill or Bush. Or any polotician that wants to inherit the powers that Bush has claimed. That is why impeachment is imparative. Those powers MUST be overturned and the Consitution cleansed of the stench. The rule of law must be restored. The only way this country can do that is to prove that NO ONE is above the law. These traitors must not be allowed to steal away into the night without being held accountable. Every damn one that lied to the American people and broke the law. Impeachment is an absolute necessity to restore the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the rule of law to America. There is no other solution. Period.
Why impeach when we get more of the same? Do you think there is any difference than Hill and Bush?
I think the majority of us care. We almost all have to power down because we have been left behind in the great race for the next new toy. And this will spread with the economic implosion that will happen in 2008. But many of us will be ahead of the curve. We are already involved in the "local movement", reuse, recycle, and simplifing.
We are all going to make it in the long run. Those Hummer owners don't have a clue as to how to survive.
Oh, I forgot. Bush entered his "twilight years" the minute he stepped into office..... IMPEACH NOW and get it over with!
Are you scared to change? Aren't you sick to death of the way things are now? Be kind. Power down. Save some for the next generation. Or don't you care?
Goodwill is wonderful. The farmers market here usually has everything a person could want or need. Everything from goats milk to brown eggs to tamales made by the real macoy.(joses mama) who I love. In a platonic way.
Goodwill is a pretty neat place. Does that count?
Thanks KEM. I feel better. May be the meds kicking in.
Okay.
If we stop buying it will bankrupt the empire. seventy percent of our economy is based on consuming. Consume used to be a bad word. TB was called consumpsion for a reason. Just try to be a little more sustainable. Grow any of your food that you can. Change a freaking light bulb. Drive only when you have to. Quit buying cheap plastic crap from China. They would not pollute so much if we didn't buy their cheap crap. Be responsibily for your own filth.
At the very least- the Old Man and even Mommy BugEyes are ancient and there's a great shot that one or both will die this year!
(not to mention Tony SnowJob and that Reagan hag...)
not grim enough. let's do what we can to make it his worst nightmare- peace all over the world, and the empire bankrupt. quick. now.
Gawd! The "beerboarding" idea is terrrific! Can we use that as the punishment when these assholes get convicted at the Hague? Or replace whatever punishment is handed out upon conviction of "high crimes and misdomeanors"?
"New World-Oder" is also a winner!
Impeach NOW!!! All of 'em. Including the enabling Dimmwits!
Oh heck! This form of government might have just failed yes, but we have to realize that we still have each other and just need to reorganize a little to take on the coming new world "order" if you want to call it that. It wont be the one the institutionalized are dreaming of but we have each other across the board to create what we need. Lets just not let ourselves be invaded and enslaved anymore and we will be ok. The chamber of bedfellows (congress)is the only president we need and that should help a little, (if we can control our representatives and congressmen). The experiment is over, as a failure. "Honest government" has always been a joke. Power is a hard drug. No man should wield it alone.
The 'stop buying' from many of you is a very, very, very good idea! Buy ONLY necessities - none of us have to have the latest model of.....whatever......you name it. A new suit, dress, refrigerator, car, etc. - whatever - just STOP buying! Also, in order to get to work buy gas from companies that DO NOT get their oil from the Middle East - some of them are Sunoco, Conoco, Sinclair, BP/Phillips, Hess! I recently learned of this from a friend, and I'm giving it a try! If we got the word to do this nationwide ???? wouldn't it lower gas prices? I hope so......
"May the congressional Democrats with their useless majority rot in hell for their failure to..."
Well, really -- why single-out the so-called "Democrats" (hypocrisy alone)?
The Interests behind this-Admin, the GOP, the Dem's, the wealthy/educated everywhere, all Office-holders of 'stature', all Realists, certainly -- in-fact, virtually everyone EXCEPT the 'great-unwashed' and their-Troops and other-Enablers KNOW that our 'two-party' system of Democracy is a complete-farce (and that goes-back at least to 'Honest-Abe', the first GOP).
And, once-again [sigh], there will be no Impeachment, now or ever-again -- there can't-be (not a 'real' one). That's the one-thing all Principals in this Admin were reassured-of _before_ they even SAT at the table 'impeachment is now off-of'. Our Government, and the entire American-Economy/Mythos would disintegrate 5-minutes into any REAL-'investigation' of ANY-Criminality, even if prosecuted by a complete-Idiot asking random-questions. America was Founded upon 'criminality' [read the page my Name-above links-to]. The Framers well-knew, whilst laughing over the Impeachment-article they penned, that there NEVER would be any 'real'-Impeachment in the USofA -- other than as a political-convenience and only when regards 'stuff&nonsense', like eavesdropping or blow-jobs/lying (that ALL Americans think of as 'silly' and 'political'). [Otherwise, no one would ever have 'served' as its President -- it would have meant a one-way-ticket to Shame and the Hoosegow for anyone since our second-President, the original George W.]
And Talk of Impeachment is as useless as talk of "911-Truths", "get out the vote", or "serving the Public-interest" -- let's all just 'grow-up', already. May as well bitch about the Weather [which, unlike in Framer-thief's Ben's time, our Pentagon now brags they HAVE done 'something about': controlling hurricanes, droughts, flooding, crop-ruination, typhoon-seasons, etc., as a new "weapons-system for total-spectrum dominance", a la HAARP -- consider that when next in NOLA, the SE-States, viewing a famine (anywhere) on your nice/new 'big-screen', or get invited to write some big-eyed/small-waisted orphan, someplace...].
There will, indeed, be a ME-breakthrough soon, and within this Term and 'as Legacy' -- either a complete-capitulation or destruction of any remaining "Palestinian Cause", or, a fall of any Syrian/Lebanese-'resistance' to a huge expansion of the Sheba-farms up-to or inclusive-of the Litani River (and/or possibly its Syrian-headwaters). Remember -- you heard it here, first!).
None of us will ever have a 'beer with George' (he IS a reformed-alcoholic -- remember?). [Why that particular analogy/tripe was so passed-around and successful rather illustrates my Point re: 'the Unwashed/uninformed' -- and Yes, gwb, I-know you-know I-knew you-knew that -- you just served as 'straight-man', for a change]
And Condi has 'neglected-nothing' since her OilCo/Sino-Soviet days (other than forgetting 'W' wasn't her-husband).
[Excuse Me, but I have to finish watching the Rose Bowl Charade on My new big-screen, and I sincerely hope some article soon mentions the 'protest by Cindy that never-was' so I can insert a hilarious-review of that Triumph of Milataristic Mind-Control this parade always-was (but truly 'perfects', this-year)]
[rof,lmao!]
For just a second I thought the Article said "War Crime president".
Well see...
He is the person I would most like to have a beer with, if I could wrap his head in plastic and slowly pour the beer over his face. Beerboarding. Something he undoubtedly perfected while president of his fraternity.
Good riddance … pestilent scum…
This will be so much preaching to the chior, considering the web site, but I need to get some satisfaction. It will be short, seeing as I'm pecking it out on my iPhone. Go easy on Jim, this is a lot more objective and to the point than most of the New Year musings I've been taking in over the last days.
Middle East breakthrough? Fat chance after the 7yrs of neglect by incompitent Condi and her ilk. Iraq stays together? It was in one piece when the neoc's started but most likely won't stay that way. Just a question of time. Speaking of time, thought to myself 5 or 6 years ago that 'mericans would need to feel real pain before they would start voting with their heads rather than their asses. Think they're feeling real pain going into new year. Made bout 10 grand on 2% of oil well and bout 50 grand on Apple stock but turning all assets into cash. Subprime dump heading for prime dump in 08, hold on to your seats!
George W Bush is certainly the single most criminally successful president in US history. No one even comes close.
He has looted the treasury on behalf of his wealthy friends and benefactors, created an endless war that enriches the real powers that be -- the central bankers, aka Illuminati -- as well as the corrupt corporatocracy and especially the oil comnpanies, wiped his ass with the Constitution and laughed about it, assumed dictatorial powers, suspended rights for Americans, literally murdered hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians abroad, displaced millions of people from their homes, driven the country deeply into debt, increased poverty in the US for the first time since the New Deal, denied basic social services to his own countrymen in favor of more death and destruction overseas, and much mcuh more. Lame duck, my ass. He's just as pernicious as he ever was.
May the congressional Democrats with their useless majority rot in hell for their failure to live up to their oaths of office and for their refusal to carry out the mandate of the electorate.
If this administration is not removed from office by impeachment (followed ideally by criminal indictments), then it is over for the U.S.A. Finished. The vaunted experiment in citizen sovereignty will be reduced to a sad footnote in history. Just like Rome, which suddenly went from republic to empire withthe senate ceding more and more power to the emperor (formerly the executive), and which pretty quickly declined into oblivion, so too will the United States inexorably decline. Even faster than Rome will America crumble. Circus Maximus is already on TV. All mainstream media outlets, both news and entertainment, are owned by just five Zionist companies. (Don't believe me, look it up.)
We're toast, folks, unless we somehow bring these monsters to justice. God help us if we don't.
Part-VI of IX, later..."Talk amongst yourselves awhile...".
[Questions will be addressed only after-Lecture]
Discussion will no-doubt follow, but since 'I have a life', it will have to wait. In meantime, please note my past posting-history before filling this chosen-thread with silly 'conventional-objections and outcry' -- I'm reserving future-posting here for 'just the Adults in this-crowd' and Real-insights, not platitudes and moral-outrage...
Part-V of IX, "How I Learned to Stop Hating this Admin and Started Loving the NWO" -- by MeAlsoToo, the friendly CD-neighborhood Realist.
All actually involved as Principals in 9/11 "got over it" (and 'got-over with-it') shortly thereafter -- only the Public and academic-'outsiders' continuing with their early-Focus upon, and 'Shock'-regards, this non-seminal Seminal-Event.
Its Utility was both obvious and well/immediately-exploited for long-planned, but recently 'timely/necessitated', puppet-regime changes in Afghanistan and Iraq (and, to a lesser-degree, in Iran/Israel/elsewhere). Iraq's 'sea of oil' [Oil having little/no-Value, 'worth' less than $1.00 per barrel and over-abundant worldwide] having as little to do with its now-convenient targeting as 'spreading-Democracy' or 'WMD' -- but it's strategic-location, military/propagandistic-usefulness, and Saddam's attempted 'Arab-Unification', defiance of Israel, and attacks upon our Dollar [as World reserve/Oil-currency] hastening his-demise and the recently-prioritized Iraqi national-Fate).
Not one mistake, miscalculation, or misstep accompanied this possibly Hubristic but well-planned 'non-War war-effort' after our 9/11 Casus-Belli. Most of the 'groundwork' for all required was enacted long before (much of it traceable, neatly, to the Brit's -- from even before they'd 'passed the Baton'), since pre-GulfWar 'softening' and throughout Clintonian/UN Sanctions/bombings/covert-Ops. Similar, too, for the miserable-Afghans -- who had made themselves an expendable-liability after 1999, but whose territory was still needful re: Caspian-control and whose 'terroristic-usefulness' could be readily transferred (inclusive of an 'intact' Al-Qaeda/Bin-Laden) to their parent/'handler'-Pakistan/ISI long controlled by Interests capable of steering our CIA, covertly. No Napoleon or Caesar had ever 'planned more carefully', or executed so brilliantly/seamlessly, as did our newly-merged Pentagon/Intel/Psy-Ops/Media/Executive military-machine, wielded by all-Interests involved while deciding for our 'Deciderer'. The Info-War won the necessary 'hearts&minds' at-home and in Congress required (with needed-Funding, and concomitant, resultant, and unheard-of Profiteering for 'private' Defense/Energy-interests), and the whole-world was as easily-fooled and misdirected by all-and-sundry as the American-public was.
Again, and from-onset -- no mistakes were made, no 'unintended-consequence' resulted, and not a Dollar was misspent. That alone spelled-out unheralded-Success for this Admin, even if its Domestic-agenda rivaled for Mention as an example of 'winning-strategies' (only Social-Security and Medicaid remain for a 'liberal' to destroy [in 2009?], as vestiges of hated/expensive 'New-Deal' largess and concessions to a now-defeated Public-interest).
Bush will win again. The electorate doesn't care about the quality of its officials.
For all of you who like to blame the Democrat's as much for the mess Bush created. What did all of you expect??????? A lot of you who are whining now voted the bunch of 'Rubber Stamp Republican's' into office. They controlled the house and Senate both for over 6 years of this man's Presidency. If they wanted to get anywhere in the Republican party they didn't argue this nut cases policy's. The Democrat's have only had the Senate and House for a little over a year. Even then whenever they try and do something it's blocked by Republican's. They simply do not have the muscle or support with the public to do much more than they are doing. I will be the first to admit that the system needs overhauled. But, a lot of the mess can be laid at the American publics doorstep. Who let this nut(Bush) drag us into two useless wars that were totally unnecessary, use terrorism to justify those wars, rape the economy, rack up untold debts, who allowed themselves to be worked into a war frenzy by a snake oil salesman, be fooled by his cloak of Christianity, torture and only God knows what else. While all of you stood quietly and watched. And continued to vote Republican's into office. Without uttering so much as a word of protest. He has gotten away with what he has done because the American public has let him. They let him steal the election in 2000 without raising holy hell about it. So stop blaming the Democrat's for what was your fault all along. As far as I have been able to see. American's collectively lost their moral compass with 9/11. The whole country went insane with wanting revenge on the Arab world. It didn't make much difference if it was the right people or not! Nuke them into oblivion! I am totally ashamed of how insane the country went after that tragedy. What's worse we allowed Bush to politicize it and use those poor people to do his evil deeds. He didn't make any attempt at going after the right people or even fighting terrorism is a logical manner. So we have the mess we made for ourselves. It isn't going away overnight either! In fact, we are going to be living with it for years to come if not decades. So get used to it!!!! You made your bed now lay in it!!!!
You all know what-was-next [someone once leaked something to the effect that 'while you all speculate and protest/analyze what we last have accomplished, we will already be shaping your future-Realities for further time/effort-wasting', and this Admin is summarized-well by that petulant-boast].
Though actually 'changing-little', 9/11 did [and do any still believe that-date was not intentional/useful/'humorous'?], in-fact, "change everything".
It is of no-consequence or import, today, if this 'attack' and "new Pearl Harbor" was 'planned at highest US-or-Other levels', 'not-Planned, but deliberately-allowed', or was a 'fantastically-lucky sneak-attack catching most-unawares following generations of careful-Instigation and enablement'. History (and those with any Prudence, or better things to do) will completely accept the Commission's version of events, and now "move-on", as they should -- and as we all have for The Maine, The Lusitania, The Reichstag-fire, and The-first Pearl Harbor. What is meaningful today are the Consequences, not the Event (sad to say).
[To perhaps 'draw too fine a point' on it, I'll reemphasize this -- to dwell upon and point-out the myriad 'coincidences and contradictions' surrounding 9/11 in-its-entirety is about as helpful and relevant to today's geo-politics and the Public-interests as an "Impeachment", or a 70's-stoner's 'smoky-insight' that: "The solar-system is, like, an atom(!), so-like, an atom might be someone-else's System, d00d!". It is sophomoric, irrelevant, counter-productive, and of no real-interest to assign any 'guilt' for 9/11 -- so just "get over it" (the 'real-Interests&Players' already have, I assure you)]
['Sraussian', above, should read: "Straussian", with apologies to JDR's U-of-Chi -- and I recommend "The Power of Nightmares" to any-here who don't 'catch that drift' or the relevant implications/Mythos-involved...]
Where was I...?
"Tough call", indeed -- but they settled upon Bush/Cheney (primarily because it was far-easier and much 'less-suspicious' to arrange for Minority Congressional-Dem's to fully-support a hostile GOP-Admin, than to have a Majority and far-Right GOP-Congress fully-support a supposedly 'centrist-Left' Administration -- following a 'Clinton-era').
The stage thus-set, Bush/Co immediately dug-in, reviving much that was in-place but never-applied at secret 'Energy-meetings' with the "privatized Energy/Defense-sectors" [how 'useful' such has been over-the-years regards all Cold-War/covert-Policies -- almost making this, 'two of few-worldwide not properly-Nationalized' almost worth the massive-loss of Public-control/profit simple "Nationalization/Regulation" would have secured], carving-up Iraq into private Energy/Industrial-interests and dusting-off PNAC-plans as unsuited for Gore as they were Clinton. Competent ex-Oil/Defense advisers/appointments were installed, while toady/incompetent (if/when 'otherwise-useful' by drawing 'press/public-attention' -- as Harriet/Brownie/Gonzales later-were) and loyal-others also positioned -- while much from previously-'transparent' [by comparison, only] Admin's was found/made-Secret/covered-up at a furious/early-pace for ushering in 'coming Events' without 'unintended consequences'.
There also was the pretended-ignorance of 'threats' from prior-Terms re: an over-hyped "Al-Qaeda" (the better to enable this now-minor -- if much recently-used by Clinton, CIA-asset of the always-helpful Bin-Laden/Saudi-families -- to 'attain Victories' well-beyond their then-Means and stature/'power'), and feigned 'incompetence' with many-Vacations to Texas-or-Chenesque&FEMA-'hidey-holes' (allowing yet-more covert-Planning while cementing other/'careful' pre-'Election' plans) then marking/masking the supposed "wrong-footed onset" of this most-successful Administration, ever.
Bush's Twilight Year Looks Grim for all of us because of the Democratically controlled Congress's refusal to perform their constitutionally mandated duty and impeach the bum.
Lobo Gris
Bush/Co faced a disintegrating/neo-Lib fiasco upon seizing-Office.
The banking-Industry alone was suffering in 1999 with over 390-billion, annually, in lost money-laundering from the drug-trade due to upstart-Taliban enforcement — and they also stymied [brazenly demanding Reparations for Carter's past 'ill-use/damage', and inspiring regret that Reagan-era fortunes had been spent through the ISI&Bhutto/Co to install them in first-place] long-planned pipelines required for future Caspian-control — following Clinton's 'Northern-Pincer' machinations in E.Europe (which both warned-off Russia/China from Basin-intents and again-used 'Jihadists' to further-Balkanize the area and spearhead 'privatization'-Policies). Welfare was already-slashed, and NAFTA exemplared more-of-same — while the Dem's had removed most 'liberal-obstructions' to Market Finance-schemes and Labor-rollbacks. But, Wall-Street was on a Balance of Trade-slide, Taxation still a burden-upon-the-Rich/corporate, record Defense-spending still puny compared to remnant/dreaded Social-spending, the 'middle-class' still intact, and Americans were still 'heedless' of a neo-Enemy sufficiently 'scary' to replace a needful Cold-War-Stature 'threat' that would maintain our War Economy and Foreign-Interests (in-place since the Truman-era).
What were the Interests/Elites, who must decide upon our Administrations, to do?
A good-Cop/bad-Cop Gore/Lieberman-ticket appealed — Gore stressing the Hoax of Warming/'scarcity' for Energy-profits and subsequent 'needful-democratizing' for Caspian/ME-Adventures while dual-Citizen Lieberman showed true-colors and false-militancy towards an 'Ace-in-Hole Enemy' since the 1979 ousting of an uncooperative-Shaw [covert-accomplice, Iran], while finally gaining the Lebanese-Litani and a subjugated-Syria/Gaza leading to pipeline/refineries/portage for ever-exploitable Israel? Or a Sraussian-inspired ['Dillionesque/Masonesque'] Bush/Cheney-ticket, which would have to be ushered-in under a cloud of Controversial-election/mandate and court-shenanigans to be truly-effective as an 'adversarial&dissonant' [thus much-Defended and Enabled] Conservative-answer to a previously-arranged 'Clinton-disgrace'?
Tough call…apparently?
"He actually ALMOST makes Hitler and Stalin look good..."
Hardly...he skillfully made them look stereotypically yet-worse, but made their Policies/methods/Ideologies look now, somehow, 'Great,and G-dly' -- instead of 'evil' (while also making those white-boys look a tad-Islamic, rather than the Christian/Secular tyrants they were, in the bargain!). [No Mean-feat!]
I'd also argue that Bush/Co was far-and-away THE most successful-Administration in our-lifetimes [certainly], while Fiscally, perhaps the most-successful in our entire, if brief, History. [I'd have given that Honor to Lincoln or FDR, but since their relative-Successes were almost entirely 'unintentional-consequences' and surely against their-Wishes, they are 'disqualified'...]
No-wonder, then, that this man (who never, AFAIK, even mounted a horse) struts-everywhere he strides, and with the gait of a "Matt Dillion" after another Triumph over Evil in the old-West, and that silly/boyish-smirk gets yet more-obvious each passing-month.
He and 'Perry Mason' can soon retire to Peru and/or counting-up their Halliburton-Options (from Dubai, no less!), all-confident of their 'job well-done' and places in future/Fascist-Histories, having "laid up the ball" for the next 'heavy-hitter's' -- as explained here: http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=7693
News flash - Bu$h policies are successful both here and abroad. Changes in aviation were reported today. Flying pigs fill the sky and millions of rectums release flying monkeys.
lillulu,thebush dynasty is worth gadzillions of dollars,way beyond billions.
Denny,
Happy New Year!
Don't be discouraged: The people are much more powerful than they realize despite the determined efforts to marginalize the people.
They need the people to keep consuming. Remember Bush's exhortations in the wake of 9-11 urging people to keep spending? The US appeared to be under attack at the time, but the US President was urging people to keep shopping.
The answer is simple and empowering: STOP BUYING!
If people stop consuming, then capital does not circulate and the system shuts down.
The hope was that international capitalism would "de-couple" from the US economy and the US consumer, but that won't happen as Asians are big savers. Asian save their money, which stops the circulation of capital.
STOP BUYING!
Quote: "Bush's Twilight Year Looks Grim".
SO, WHAT'S NEW? It's same as USUAL! Minimally since 2000 hijacking of U.S. presidency, but really longer.
I haven't read the article yet and expect it's good or fair enough, but the title struck me as above.
Happy new year everyone, One of my resolutions is to reduce my stress by reading less political info as it drives me further into isolation from living in the usa while living amongst the same un informed and who knows what they support politically kind of americans, you could say I am at my ends wits with discouragement and although I may go to another country, I will always be told I am american and that at this point is a harsh word, I know in my heart I am good since I never voted for the bastard and volunteered for kerry's campaign and knocked on doors in rainstorms in Pennsylvania but I did too vote Kucinich in the primary and like many got stuck with Kerry and worry that the new political system here is gonna be one that is full of control and one that spends our tax dollars contriving wars and arming third world countries. Like I said I am discouraged folks,it's depressing and I have to either find some friends that can lift me out of this political funk here in Nevada or just stop alltogether paying attention to a force I have no control of. have a great 2008
COCO -- Sorry, I mis-addressed the font answer to KEM, for your question.
The 2nd post above, is with monospaced (equally spaced character size) enabled.
I'd rather not be thought of as a wizard, as the result might be my being burned at the stake.
Feliz año nuevo
the guy has been a loser and wrong about everything. How can you say twilight years when it has all be malarky, BS and incompetence galore
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I got that far Nspire. Here's some I never used ^><` see how smart I am. Coco that ? is not upside down. It's an illusion. Nspire is a wizard.
BTW Coke-Co, I have the secret formula for Channel # 5 and I'll make a quart of it for you. First I have to find some whale vomit, so hang in there Babe and come back next year too.
I do hope we ALL here at CD have a happy new year. I'm not gonna think about the Bush/Cheney Cartel again until January 18th, when Jose Rodriguez testifies before the Congressional Judiciary Committee.
Lets all try to have fun and be nice to one another next year. I promise to give it a good shot and learn how to spel rite. Take good care of your loved ones and stay loose. Nite, __ Kem.
P/S DZO is a great Scrabble word. It isn't in Websters, but it's on the net.
KEM -- Here's the usual suspects (keys on your PC), starting upper left, moving right. You have two addition "control keys" that add the new font characters to EACH of those keys that you already use, as follows:
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how did you get that ? upside down? i've tried turning my computer on its head, but that doesn't work.............
KEM PATRICK
and shit all over his shoulders.............
At least we still have our sense of humor! That's about all that's left when facing the dark of what this monster and his minions have done.
WTF: He chose Paraguy because he knew that Peak Oil had already hit. His estate there is sitting on one of the largest pure water aquifers in the world. Water wars anyone?
Thanks for the momories and good company. Happy New Year! Keep in touch........
This article is totally wrong. The surge is working, as is our military policy in general. Oil prices and oil company profits are at record levels. Weapons manufacturers and mercenaries are raking in unimaginable sums. Jihadi groups are blossoming across the world. Iran, China and Russia are growing rapidly in influence and might. Bin Laden's strategy of striking at our economy is working brilliantly as we spend $500 million a day, borrowed from the Chinese and Japanese with the interest to be paid by our descendants ad infinitum, on the war. The executive branch has powers that Pinochet and Marcos would have envied. A president who never had a mandate and whose approval rating hovers around 30% cows a Democratic Congress. Bush may be a failure in the eyes of those of us who respect the Constitution, domestic and international law, the environment, justice and democracy, but in his and his corporate masters' eyes, he is an unprecedented success. Bush told us right after 9/11 that we were attacked because "they" hate our freedom and prosperity, so he is resolutely working, with the gleeful assistance of the media and Congress, to deprive us of both and thus reduce the threat of terrorism.
But Bush does have a Plan B; get the hell outta Dodge and head for Paraguy!
Sorry to dampen your enthusiasm. So far Bush has accomplished everything he had intended to do, and moving forward I don't expect him to perform otherwise.
Will give you a small example. The progressives ridicule Bush for his Mission Accomplished speech. But if you are smart enough then you would recognize that the laugh is on us. The mission has indeed been accomplished: Iraq, a serious threat to Israel has been neutralized; a massive infusion of money from our tax Dollars and future of country to his cronies has been accomplished; the entire evidence of US government's complicity with Saddam has been erased; he has hanged the man "who wanted to kill his dad"....
Need more proof?
This dipchit will not be lonley. This is a boy (in a man's body) who enjoys cutting scrub brush! Though it's going to be way too hot to do that anymore since he accelerated all our doom by turning the air into a trash can. He'll sit around at one of his family's ill gotten estates with the air conditioning blasting and all the doors and windows wide open.
Look at that picture. That is as low as a man? can go.
The fool on the hill.
¿ Think about how much worse it would be if Geo the inferior Loonitary_Decider_and_thief could actually find his head (up his own royal a$$) with both hands ?
Everything we've gotten from him (piles and piles of bu$h!t) comes only out of his knack for hind sight.
Think about this - As property values lessen nationwide, property taxes are going to have to be reworked to a lower value! As property values decrease, taxes for operation of city, county and state are also going to decrease - means laying off lots of local and state workers! Means less money for schools, police, teachers, etc. on and on!! It's not going to be just manufacturing, etc., its going to be EVERYBODY scrambling for next days bread!
May a deranged Dzo sit on his head.
What has Bush-Cheney accomplished?
They have secured some of the world's largest oil reserves in Iraq, with what they consider to be light casualties. Faced with the prospect of a lengthy struggle against al Qaida and a strategically well-situated Iran , the surrounding Sunni nations now seem inclined to play ball.
Haliburton and other "nation building" US companies are now a permanent fixture on the world scene.
They have set up a private security apparatus which can now be used to threaten US internal enemies.
They have set in place a system to steal future US elections.
They have now set legal precedent for ammending laws unilaterally, as well as disobeying laws which "threaten security".
They have neutralized the government as a protector of poor and middle class rights.
They have neutralized the media as a serious critic of executive branch policies.
They have greatly empowered a constituency of internal religious fanatics with little or no loyalty to party or even to democracy, who stand poised, just one terrorist attack away, from inheriting all of the above.Happy New Year!
Sad...
I used to trust common dreams to give me the progressive news. The content hasn't really changed, I've realized...I have. Common dreams still subscribes to the assumptions that the government exists to serve the people, that democrats are the champions of the masses - beleaguered by adverse political winds - and that the system can be reformed from within (by progressives to whom the elites in control of the political process will magically hand political victories which are in direct conflict with their elite agenda).
If you still take these assumptions as true, open your eyes, and look at people's actions rather than what they tell you they are doing.
peace
Bush couldn't care less. The thug is as happy as a lark. He got away with stealing the election twice, with attacking a country for no reason other than to enrich himself and his cronies -- he's worth tens of millions of dollars more now (or is it billions) -- he's gotten everything he wants thanks to the compliant Congress. He made a comment not too long ago about being a pretty happy guy. Looks like the joke's on us.
...deliver his presidency from the fate of being judged as one of the very worst...
His hopes of escaping that assessment...
Possible achievements that could help to redeem Bush's overall record...
Who the hellare we kidding? The effects of climate change are coming down on us like a freight train, close to or over a million folks have been murdered in Iraq, our Constitution has been destroyed by a power elite now firmly entrenced in all three branches of government, much of the population of the country are walking zombies... And we're talking about, "Well, ahem, we'll have to take a look at the record...his place in history...ahem...redeem his presidency..."
Get real.
Satan Cheney '08
Bush will not be held responsible for any of the tragedy he has caused. Bush will retire with a huge government pension and full medical benefits for he and his family for life, Plus security guards and will go on the road with speaking engagements, being paid millions of dollars. Only in America EH ?
May he whither away into obscurity, remain sad and lonely, and be cursed with the demons he so richly deserves. let me be the first to say, goodbye and good riddance. May torment help you suffer a thousand deaths. ASSHOLE!
For the rest of you, all the best in the new year!
May you all find peace, contentment and health.
Georgie Peorgie looks a trifle grim himself. You wouldn't be hungover would you George? Maybe the doctor has you on some downers a la Nixon's last days.
Bush does have some attributes.
He actually ALMOST makes Hitler and Stalin look good.
Maybe that isn't an attribute, once I give it a second thought. He has ruined Iraq and the United States, ___ that really is his style. He's a spoiler, and he does it well.
To put this in perspective, spend some time with this site:
http://www.sonic.net/~taryfast/destruction.html
Not to worry! Mommy and Poppy are going to make everything OK again. Widdle Wubbleyew is going to get the medals he was denied from Vietnam; and, all the nasty people saying he is a bad-bad boy will be punished.
As soon as Wubbleyew is finished fronting for the corporate creeps attacking the USofA he will go to Iraq and Iran and kick their poo-poo head asses all by his little own self.
And then he's going to come all the way back to America and get hung up on a cross to save us from our sinful ways and get raptured off to la-la land to hang with Jesus 'til Mommy calls him in for supper.
What do you mean his "twilight Year"?
One little false flag event (like that missing nuke), he takes over as dictator, postpones the election indefinitely.
Of course with his and Chaney's abilities they might be in the wrong place at the wrong time! And with the US worse than flat broke......
"Grim, because the economic news — which has generally remained upbeat over Bush's tenure — has turned decidedly negative in recent months. "
What country are you living in Jim?? The real economy, by which I mean the actual economic lives of the people, has been in a steady downswing since Bush took office! People in the US are poorer, have less education, less access to healthcare, and less quality food than since the 1929 crash and the ensuing depression.
The corporate military industrial economy has "remained upbeat" because of the various wars, no bid contracts, etc.
So Jim, what are you talking about??
Grim?
Perhaps sickening. Or frightening. These folks should not be trusted, and Bush Fatigue should be no excuse of inaction.
On the table, please!!!
What's new. This is the foreign policy many of us in America expected when Bush turned out to be the guy they'd rather have a beer with than Al Gore. And now it looks like they'll choose between who they'd rather go to church with...paving the way for our own little christian jihad. The Grand Old Plunder will only slow down if it is buried in the '08 elections, but it was take alot of time and work to douse the burning embers of this truly grave and gathering storm. Wake up people.
If the last days of 2007 are any indication, U.S. President George W. Bush's last year in office is shaping up as grim and lonely.
This guy Jim must be on some powerful meds. The last days of 2007 have been a smashing success for the neo-cons. They got $70 billion in funding (our tax dollars) to launder to their MIC friends. The FCC just RELAXED ownership rules allowing more consolidation for corporate media. The Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act just passed the Congress. Soon, anyone who opposes the administration, or even THINKS of opposing it, will be subject to being subpoena and questioned by members of Congress. Lastly, most of the key Democrats who could impose oversight and bring charges against Mr. Bush's criminal cabal have been compromised. He will skate free of legal ramifications from over twenty impeachable offenses. Bush must be jumping for joy. Even though his approval rating is in the 20's he still continues to win EVERY battle with the Democrats.
As far as Bush being "lonely" who gives a flying f*k.
Bush and company are despicable but so are the Democrats in Congress. When are the citizens going to wake up to the fact that both major parties are just two sides of the same coin? We are in for a tough ride if we don't work to change our entire system.
Eat your gun Georgie - do us all a favor
while Bush's Surge strategy has helped reduce violence in Iraq over the past year
what a crock!
Despite all the claims of improvements, 2007 has been the worst year yet in Iraq.
Read this, Jimbo!
Worst Year Yet In Iraq
or this:
The Five Iraqs
Possible achievements that could help to redeem Bush's overall record...
you gotta be kidding?!?
Bush's war has been at best incompetently pursued, if not misconceived from the very beginning.
Wakey, wakey!
It could be a rough final year.
It's been a rough 8 years!
I assume that when you say "I vote for the worst president in history" you are not saying that you cast a ballot for his election. :-)
Your assumption is correct.
I vote for the worst presidency in history.
Did BushCo, through the CIA, arrange to have Bhutto assassinated? After all, $10 billion given to prop up her opponent is an awful lot of money in the third world.
I agree with you claudius...ABSOLUTELY THE WORST HANDS DOWN!!!
i have never voted for a bush or even anyone resembling a bush.bush and posse will most likely abandon all of us,when his time is up,because that is the kind of evil people,they are.
Considering that Bush ran for president on the theme of having an MBA, people should have looked at his record as a businessman. A complete and utter failure at every business venture (funded by the bin Laden family). And some Harken insider trading activities that the SEC decided not to pursue, due to his father's position as president and a number of well placed loyalists on the SEC. We all know how helpful it is to have friends in high places.
We got no help from the corporate media on this. Back when he was running for president, I had to do independent research to learn these things. In 2002, the media did start to ask questions about his Harken stock sale, and that is when the Iraq war drums started beating. That changed the subject in a hurry. Ever see Wag the Dog?
Let's not kid ourselves. Bush has succeeded in winning every single policy fight. Usually, in fact, he didn't even have to fight -- the Democrats simply rolled over for him.
Beyond that, he faces virtually no prospect of being held accountable for any of his crimes -- which in other circumstances, might well have had national leaders impeached, jailed, or hanged.
He has become the first American dictator in all but name. He has succeeded in destroying all semblance of American democracy (admittedly, something that was never as healthy as it appeared to be, on the surface). He has enriched his cronies beyond their wildest dreams, and forever changed the character of US society.
He was a transformative president -- not because of his own pathetically-limited abilities, of course, but rather because of the cunning & ruthlessness of his backers. His own personal qualities of sadism, heartlessness, dishonesty, & contempt for anything beyond his own thuggish instincts made him an effective spear-carrier for the greediest and most backwards antidemocratic elements of his country.
Predictions for the Bush year in 2008:
Massive recession, with a crash in the bond markets and stocks.
A much greater devaluation of homes because of the housing market crash.
Refusal of North Korea to give up its nuclear program.
Complete failure of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
A catastrophic climate event, similar to Katrina.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
What else is there to say?
bevandavis add to your predictions for Bush in 2008...a continued increase in his bank account!
"The 'stop buying' from many of you..."
Screw-that...buy all you can, and right-now (you won't find much 'affordable' next-year, 'cash will be trash', and all pricing will go-haywire). [Oh, but DO stay out of Debt...bankruptcy is gone-bye-bye (unless you are Trump), and all-notes WILL be 'Paid' -- in-Flesh, if need-be]
As for gasoline, why discriminate? Buy from Citgo, if you must be 'choosy', since that helps Venezuela&Hugo [better-yet, go to Venezuela to buy your gas...at the appropriate (but still 'profitable', mind you -- no 'socialist', Hugo!) price of 0.14-per-gallon, Unleaded/regular, the 'best-kind', in spite of idiots preferring 'premium'].
Second-best, buy any brand without bs-'Ethanol-added' -- that stuff will eat your engine-parts AND give you 10-12% less miles-per-gallon WHILE it drives-up your future food-bill AND increases 'pollution' as an Oxidizer/Octane-'booster'...[NEVER trust any 'environmentalist' with a hand in your-pocket]. Bio-Diesel wwould make-sense (IF from waste-Bio or surplus-stocks), NOT so, 'bio-Fuels' -- which only profit big-AG, Big-Oil, and Big-Manufacturing/Distributing...
"...we still have each other and just need to reorganize a little to take on the coming new world "order" if you want to call it that."
I want to call it 'the New World-Odor", but we'll 'need' a helluva lot more than a 'little reorganization' to put a dent-in-it, jungleboy -- just ask Cheetah!
'Representatives' NEVER represented 'just us folks' in the US...hell, Senators AND Presidents used to be directly Appointed by prevalent-Interests [hell, they still-are]. And, they have a 200+ year head-start on 'your-interests', guy, so 'good luck with that'...