WAS BUSH A GOOD PRESIDENT?
Do you think he was...Really. To say it with a straight face...Ill go further was he the greatest or would you put him in the top 2 worst ever...
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quote:Originally posted by jpwolf
quote:so can someone point to a policy that Bush implemented that directly affected their personal life ?
Ahhhhhh, a card carrying member of the "me me me" generation. That is the sorry ass litmus test that the majority of people use, and .....ah nevermind![:(!]
We get what we deserve. Fat, lazy, blissfully ignorant Americans!!!Bah![:(!]
your answer made no sense whatsoever. carry on0 -
Only to you, it contained what was known in another time as "common sense". A foreign ideal to a "me me me'er". 0 -
quote:You call it conviction, I call it stubborn and arrogant.
You're getting closer. Call it, "They made me do it and won't let me back out of it. I have no idea about any of it. But if they impeach me over it, my boss D.C. gets to play the president so I'll do what they tell me."0 -
quote:I'd put him pretty close to the bottom. From his raping of the Constitution to making America look like an incompetent bully, he has done more harm to America and Americans than any other president in recent history.
But EMM, if it didn't affect you personally, it's all good, right CR?0 -
We could start with his views on ILLEGAL immigration. And the AMNESTY he wanted to give them ALL. When told no, he reworded this multiple times trying to get some kind of amnesty bill passed.
Recently we had the mental health bill. Other than the NRA who supported it, every other pro-gun organization, as well as veterans organizations, were OPPOSED to this bill. What happened? He signed it. What will the passing of this legislation mean to the citizens of the United States? We shall see.
Is anyone REALLY surprised that the Bush administration has come out of the closet, and blatantly declared their outright contempt for the 2nd amendment, as evidenced by the brief filed by them with the SCOTUS, concerning the upcoming case?
Not to mention the war, aimed at al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Oops, No wait, I mean IRAQ.
The oil crisis, the economy, the largest national debt in history.
Any discussion of Bush's unconstitutional agenda has to include the UNpatriot Act. It was rammed through so fast, that representatives (THAT WANTED TO) could NOT get a copy to read. A bill so bad, states were passing laws to PROTECT their citizens FROM it.
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Next comes, "John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007" Passed October 17th, 2006
The Insurrection Act, along with the Posse Comitatus Act, has historically helped to enforce strict prohibitions on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. With one cloaked swipe of his pen, Bush effectively trashed those prohibitions. This bill allows the President to declare a "public emergency" and take control of state-based National Guard units without the consent of the governor or local authorities, and station troops anywhere in America.
A few weeks later, on the 29th of September, Leahy entered into the Congressional Record that he had "grave reservations about certain provisions of the fiscal Year 2007 Defense Authorization Bill Conference Report," the language of which, he said, "subverts solid, longstanding Posse Comitatus statutes that limit the military's involvement in law enforcement, thereby making it easier for the President to declare martial law." This had been "slipped in," Leahy said, "as a rider with little study," while "other congressional committees with jurisdiction over these matters had no chance to comment, let alone hold hearings on, these proposals."
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Next for consideration, The Military Commissions Act of 2006
In the final hours before adjourning last year, Congress passed and the president signed the Military Commissions Act (MCA). In doing so, they cast aside the Constitution and the principle of habeas corpus, which protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. They also gave the president absolute power to designate enemy combatants (U.S. citizens are NOT exempt) and to set his own definitions for torture.
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Next the "Homeland Defense Technology Transfer Legislative Provisions,"
Title XIV of the new law, entitled, "Homeland Defense Technology Transfer Legislative Provisions," authorizes "the Secretary of Defense to create a Homeland Defense Technology Transfer Consortium to improve the effectiveness of the Department of Defense (DOD) processes for identifying and deploying relevant DOD technology to federal, State, and local first responders."
In other words, the law facilitates the "transfer" of the newest in so-called "crowd control" technology and other weaponry designed to suppress dissent from the Pentagon to local militarized police units. The new law builds on and further codifies earlier "technology transfer" agreements, specifically the 1995 DOD-Justice Department memorandum of agreement achieved back during the Clinton-Reno regime.
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Here comes the "National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive," On May 9 2007
This directive grants near dictatorial powers to the office of the president in the event of a national emergency declared by the president. Bypassing the National Emergency Act. As specified by U.S. Code Title 50, Chapter 34, Subchapter II, Section 1621. Which allows that the president may declare a national emergency, but requires that such proclamation "shall immediately be transmitted to the Congress and published in the Federal Register."
The National Emergency Act sets up congress as a balance empowered to "modify, rescind, or render dormant such delegated emergency authority," if Congress believes the president has acted inappropriately. With this directive, Bush TOOK THE POWER AWAY FROM CONGRESS to question his declaration.
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Then we have, The Protect America Act of 2007
The so-called "Protect America Act of 2007," which some are calling the "Police America Act," allows for massive, untargeted collection of international communications without court order or meaningful oversight by either Congress or the courts. It contains virtually no protections for the U.S. end of the phone call or email, leaving decisions about the collection, mining and use of Americans' private communications up to this administration.
The "Police America Act" allows the Attorney General (AG) to issue program warrants for international calls without court review. This new program grants the AG - not a court or independent body - the authority to issue year-long program warrants for surveillance of people reasonably believed to be outside of the United States. The secret intelligence court that has been overseeing such activities for the last thirty years is cut out of the process, leaving the executive branch unchecked.
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Trying for the next one, H.R. 1955: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007
Ostensibly, the bill targets United States citizens because of its constant reference to basic Constitutional protections, but this has led some to fear that it is intended to shut down free speech on the Internet and stifle patriot and alternative talk radio networks.
The bill defines "violent radicalization" as "The process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change."
Considering how much the government has done to destroy the Constitution they could even define Ron Paul supporters as promoting an extremist belief system. Literally, the government according to this definition can define whatever they want as an extremist belief system. Essentially they have defined violent radicalization as thought crime.
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By Executive orders...
President Bush has claimed the authority to disobey more than 750 laws enacted since he took office,
Signing statements
CNN reports that the ABA is taking the position that President Bush's "signing statements" -- statements made when a bill is enacted into law that express his "interpretation" or view of the enactment -- violate separation of powers. Signing statements of course are relatively new, but Bush was not the first President to execute them. However, I've read that Bush has signed bills accompanied by such signing statements more than all the other presidents -- COMBINED. With these signing statements, Bush claims the power to execute the laws as he interprets them, ignoring congressional intent.
Among the laws Bush said he can ignore are military rules and regulations, affirmative-action provisions, requirements that Congress be told about immigration services problems, ''whistle-blower" protections for nuclear regulatory officials, and safeguards against political interference in federally funded research.
Legal scholars say the scope and aggression of Bush's assertions that he can bypass laws represent a concerted effort to expand his power at the expense of Congress, upsetting the balance between the branches of government. The Constitution is clear in assigning to Congress the power to write the laws, and to the president, a duty "to take care that the laws be faithfully executed." Bush, however, has repeatedly declared that he does not need to ''execute" a law he believes is unconstitutional.
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There is more, but why? Do you see a pattern here? Time after time, bill after bill, executive order after signing statements, the end result is the same. MANY of our rights have been abridged, if not collectively flushed, by this administration. Even if Bush does not use the power that he has put in place, will the next president? Or the next?
Did he do this all by himself.NO...HE HAD HELP.0 -
quote:Originally posted by dkb2003
Do you think he was...Really. To say it with a straight face...Ill go further was he the greatest or would you put him in the top 2 worst ever...
No, he wasn't the greatest. He has some pretty serious big league competition for the top 2 worst ever. Some of them fairly recently.0 -
No. 0 -
Domestically, no. Mediocre at best. A footnote in history- if not for 911.
He stayed tough on terror. The key issue of our times. So in balance I'm glad we had him. I mean, Bush or Gore or Kerry? No choice. Just like any of the Republicans vs. Hildabeast or Barack? No choice. (Though of THOSE two abominations I'd take Barack).0 -
Are you sh#&%ing me? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by jpwolf
Never thought I'd say it. I miss Bill. The last 19 years we have possibly the 3 worst presidents ever. Only Lincoln and FDR would be in the running with these pukes. Prepare for another one. D or R, it doesn't matter. NAU here we come. We deserve what we get. We are stupid, fat, lazy, blissfully ignorant Americans.
I think he has lowered the bar to a permanent low. To be lower would require an entirely new system of govt. Seig heil! Understand?
Be careful JP in 4-8 years you might be wishing Bush was back.[:0]0 -
A quadrillion times better than the last guy... 0 -
quote:Originally posted by mrseatle
A quadrillion times better than the last guy...
It's amazing how fast people forget, and how spitefull resentment can be.0 -
Considering all the Crap the Democrats tried to do and the way the Liberal Media portrayed Him I consider Him to have been a Good President.
Some People only know what they read or hear from the Media sources instead of knowing the facts.0 -
Was he the greatest? Not a chance.
Was he in the top two of the worst? Not even close.
When all is said and done, history is going to look back and examine this POTUS. They will have much to consider, including 9/11. What will they see? A man that showed leadership and a man with serious flaws in leadership.
You have a man that did not launch a cruise missile into an abandoned warehouse when the United States was attacked, unlike his predecessor.
You have a man that nominated two very good judges (after some pretty strange nominations) to SCOTUS.
You have a man that also refused to veto a single thing his party put forward. But, you also have a man that does veto bad things the opposition puts forward.
You have a man that stands by his principles. You may not like his principles, but he has them (unlike his predecessor).
You have a man that didn't do much for the economy, JUST like his predecessor. He is more of a non-interventionist when it comes to the economy, again, just like his predecessor.
I believe history will place GWB in the midst of an "average" POTUS. And, I think he'll score higher than Clinton. GWB suffers from a lack of popularity. History does not take this into account when judging the effectiveness or abilities of a POTUS.0 -
He may not have been the worst and not impeached but near the bottom. Spent more money than any other president. Started a war he can't and won't finish. I remember all the praise he got from members on here. Now they are looking at their future going downhill. Stockmarket took a dive almost all the years in office. History will show he was a big screwup.His father at least wasn't stupid enough to start a war. 0 -
I voted for him twice (I also voted for his dad twice). He is not the worst but he is in the bottom ten. 0 -
Pickenup, you forgot a big one. What about changing the bankruptcy laws for the big banks and credit card companies? He's protected the multi-billion dollar corporations and said to hell with the citizenry. Again!
To answer: No. Worst in history as far as I'm concerned. Anybody that really wants to learn and read about things he's done, not just what the nightly news tells you, would agree with me.0 -
NO. 0 -
Bush is way too liberal for me. 0 -
Bush had the potential to be a great president. The 9/11 episode was an opportunity to destroy the world's terriorist factions with the help of all civilized nations given freely.
Bush was not the best, or the worst. He will be viewed like Harry Truman. Dealt with a crisis, the Korean War in Truman's case, but not to a really satisfactory ending. North Korea plagues the world to this day. Bush has additional faults though. He favored his oil buddies, screwed up immigration, and killed the Republican Party's standing.0 -
vess, what pickenup posted shold be enough fro anyone with half an ounce of common sense to understand how bad he was. What you said was also a bullseye. The most harmful to the foundation of our nation (the constitution) maybe in history, but for sure in the last 60 years. Completely ignored it, and did his damnedest to eradicate it's relevance. 0 -
quote:Well, he made all his friends millionaires and 1000's of contractors millionaires in Iraq.
Bill and Hillary did the same thing (and will do it again) only it wasn't so obvious.
Doesn't matter if you are a republican or democrat a lot of palms are greased to get to the presidency and they all expect payback. It isn't right but that is how it is.0 -
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Yes.
Trinity +++0 -
I guess I would be hard pressed - REALLY hard pressed - to say that he was a good president. But we have had worse ... the name Clinton comes to mind! For sure George W. is a l-o-n-g ways from the worst president! He may not be remembered as an especially significant president ... especially at a time when we really need a true Statesman as president. 0 -
Neither Bush was a "Good President"! ...For the same reason ...Iraq! 0 -
Bush was a Good President at a bad time. I don't think that anyone could have done a good job in the last six years. The people at the Capital have lost touch with the citizens and what they feel is right for this country. Who's falt is it for this Socalistic turn in Government? 0 -
I voted for Bush in 2000. I thought Gore would not be a good president.
Bush has been a disaster. Has done nothing on the border problem.
Invaded Iraq for no good reason, and he is too stupid and stubborn to admit to a mistake.
It will take us decades to recover from the Iraq War. It is a bigger mistake than Vietnam.0 -
No special prosecutors in 7 years.
No Ken Starr's.
No Blue dress.
No BJ's in the oval office.
No travelgate.
No Arkansas land deals.
No missing billing records for the Rose Law Firm.
Seriously, when was the last President or executive branch that was not investigated.
No Ruby Ridge.
No Waco.
No federal agents stormtrooping a house to take a toddler to Cuba.0 -
The really sad nes is years from now we will look back calling these the "good old days"[:(] 0
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