Welcome to the Third Term of President George W. Bush by Victor J. Massad

The Briefing Room ^ | March 24, 2011 | Victor J. Massad

[mystery-ak]

Welcome to the Third Term of President George W. Bush By Victor J. Massad

It all seemed so clear to progressives in the summer of 2008. A dense president born into old establishment wealth had conned the American people and we were trapped into implacable problems, both foreign and domestic. These problems included a bad war that the president had lied us into, a good war that he had ignored, a deficit that was out of control, a prison that violated human rights, and a relationship between big business and big government that had become too cozy. But there was hope. A young, charismatic, Kennedy-esque black man traversed the country with promises to abandon the bad war, win the good one, fix the deficit spending problem by taxing the rich, close the prison, and reform the government so that big business would not be able to use the taxpayers as an instrument of profit.

[Sarabaracuda]

Shhh!!! We're not supposed to talk about that. ;)

[Liberty1970]

Maybe. That would take us over the cliff a bit faster, at which point we could begin to create a new society. Or it might have engendered a stronger resistance in preparation for the same. I was in the Michigan Militia in the 90’s and had some faint hope of a renewal of constitutional government and a return to liberty. I don’t see any chance of that happening now. “Conservatives” of 2011 would mostly be considered liberals if you took them back 50 years. I’m just keeping my eyes open for a safer place to take my children someday, if there are any safe places left.

[Paperpusher]

Bush was better on his bad days than obama is on his best days.

[tsowellfan]

Obama knows he’s doing badly from gas prices to jobs and everything else and the election’s coming soon. I have a suspicion he started a war with Libya so that he can say “Hey, I’m running 3 wars now, what do you expect?”

[ApplegateRanch]

Perhaps you would have preferred Gore or Kerry.

I don't remember seeing Gore or Kerry on any Republican primary ballots.

[Defiant]

Yes, Bush was only a headache compared to the brain cancer that is Obama. I don’t usually pine for headaches, and would prefer if we could find someone who makes my head swell with pride.

[Stepan12]

Ludicrous. Obama is nothing like Bush. Bush was one of the greatest presidents this country has ever been blessed with.

Bush(43) was a good man and I think better than his father, Bush(41). The Messiah is a far Left, Narcissistic creep. The brilliant Ben Shapiro explains why the Messiah hates America so much and moves to strengthen the enemies of America (Al Aqaida in Libya) and the competitors of America (Brazilian and Mexican oil companies): Obama's Narcissistic Personality Disorder (excerpt from the link):

"With one exception: Obama has no interest in the attention or praise of Americans who challenge his radical agenda. To make himself subject to their philosophy would force him to acknowledge a fundamental truth: His parents abandoned him because they were bad parents, not because America is a "downright mean" country. Obama has told himself for decades that America's selfishness forced his parents to make him a social outcast. To acknowledge now that the system was largely good and his parents were largely bad would fracture his fragile ego."

[Just A Nobody]

Bush was one of the greatest presidents this country has ever been blessed with.

Amen!

[Just A Nobody]

BUMP!

[Defiant]

The left could not have destroyed Reagan’s legacy. We would have fought them, and did, for 8 years of Clinton. It took a Republicans to do that, and Bush was very good at it.

[Just A Nobody]

Getting rid of NASA

WTH are you talking about?

President Bush Announces New Vision for Space Exploration Program

Sarabaracuda is right. You are a liar.

[Just A Nobody]

Growth of national debt, Gov't, welfare, spending

REALLY???

FEDERAL SPENDING, 2001 THROUGH 2008:
Defense Is a Rapidly Growing Share of the Budget, While Domestic Appropriations Have Shrunk

Share of Total	2001	2008	Change
Defense & security	21.7%	29.2%	+7.5%
Social Security, Medicare/caid	45.9%	43.5%	-2.4%
Other mandatory programs	14.0%	12.5%	-1.4%
Domestic discretionary	18.4%	14.7%	-3.7%
Total program costs	100%	100%	0.0%

Based on the Monthly Treasury Statement for September and the Daily Treasury Statements for October November 6, 2009.

The federal government recorded a total budget deficit of $1.4 trillion in fiscal year 2009, about $960 billion more than the deficit incurred in 2008.

The federal deficit rose as a share of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP)from 3.1 percent in 2008 to 9.9 percent in 2009—the highest deficit as a share of GDP since 1945.

Blame Bush For Their Failed Economic Policies
Posted by Jim Hoft on Sunday, January 24, 2010, 1:09 AM

During the Bush years, despite the 2000 Recession, the attacks on 9-11, the stock market scandals, Hurricane Katrina, and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush Administration was able to reduce the budget deficit from 412 billion dollars in 2004 to 162 billion dollars in 2007, a sixty percent drop.

In 2004 the federal budget deficit was 412 billion dollars. In 2005 it dropped to 318 billion dollars. In 2006 the deficit dipped to 248 billion dollars. And, in 2007 it fell below 200 billion to 162 billion dollars.

During the Bush years the average unemployment rate was 5.2 percent, the economy saw the strongest productivity growth in four decades and there was robust GDP growth. These were amazing accomplishments considering the unexpected challenges. You certainly didn’t read much about this in the press.
[snip]
But, the facts won’t stop democrats from blaming Bush for their failed policies. [or BDSers like Palter]

Sarabaracuda is right. You are a liar.

[Just A Nobody]

Vacations

Do you seriously want to go there? Really?

Vacations since the 1-20-09 coronation:

February 13-15, 2009 Valentine’s Date night in Chicago

May 30, 2009 Date Night in NYC  Cost to taxpayers: $250,000 per 1 report

June 2009 Overseas Trip #1: Chewbacca, her mom & the girls fly to Paris & then to London for Sasha’s 8th birthday. Just a vacation for them.
Meanwhile, Barry conducts his world apology tour.

July 2009 Overseas Trip #2: The entire family travels to Russia.
Arrive 7-8 in Italy (G-8 Summit and apology for USA)
then Ghana-Some work for him & a little for her this trip

August 14-17, 2009 Yellowstone and Grand Canyon:

August 23-30, 2009 Martha’s Vineyard:

September 2-7, 2009 Camp David: Their stay for Labor Day weekend was Obama's 10th visit.

With Obama's return Sunday, he has logged all or part of 26 days at Camp David, White House officials say.
As of Labor Day, “restless” Obama had spent 11.3% of his time at Camp David. He had taken 50 some flights on Air Force One

September 30, 2009 Copenhagen, Denmark: To pitch the 2016 Olympics in Chicago
Chewie is part of the promote Chicago team, flying w/ Val Jarrett et al
Barry is flying separately 10-2-09…just for fun I guess…no, he be presentin’

Nov. 12-13, 2009 Visit to Tokyo:

December 10, 2009 Oslo, Norway:

December 18, 2009 Copenhagen, Denmark: for Climate Change Conference

Dec. ’09-Jan.’10 Hawaii: “winter break”

Begin year 2 …

April 23-25, 2010 North Carolina Get-Away

May Chicago Memorial Day week-end,

July 16-18, 2010 Bar Harbor, Maine

August 4-8, 2010 Spain 1st class for BD bash for Sasha & 40 of her friends
It is estimated that vacation alone cost U.S. taxpayers $375,000.

Aug. 14-15, 2010 Florida's Gulf Coast

Aug. 19-29, 2010 Martha's Vineyard

(This is Mr. Obama's 9th vacation since taking office. As of today, he has spent all or part of 38 days on "vacation" away from the White House. He has also made 14 visits to Camp David spanning all or part of 32 days. It brings his total time away to all or part of 70 days.)

Dec 2010–Jan 2011 Hawaii: "winter break"

With estimates secured from a host of professionals, city officials and law enforcement, Hawaii Reporter estimates costs to taxpayers will at least include:
• Mrs. Obama’s early flight to Hawaii: $63,000 (White House Dossier)
• Obama’s round trip flight to Hawaii: $1 million (GAO estimates)
• Housing in beachfront homes for Secret Service and Seals in Kailua ($1,200 a day for 14 days): $16,800
• Costs for White House staff staying at Moana Hotel: $134,400 ($400 per day for 24 staff) – excluding meals and other room costs
• Police overtime: $250,000 (2009 costs reported by Honolulu Police Department)
• Ambulance: $10,000 (City Spokesperson)
• TOTAL COST: $1,474,200
UNKNOWN COSTS
• Rental of office building in Kailua on canal
• Security upgrades and additional phone lines
• Costs for car rentals and fuel for White House staff staying at Moana Hotel (Secret Service imports most of the cars used here to escort the president)
• Surveillance before the president arrives
• Travel costs for Secret Service and White House staff traveling ahead of the President
Editor’s note per a reader – add another $280,000: Hawaii Reporter was informed that we left out a major expense from this report. The cost of transporting the Presidential limos, helicopters and other support equipment on a USAF C-17 cargo aircraft. The flight time between Andrews AFB and Hawaii is about 10 hours at approximately $7,000 per hour operating cost. Round trip, this would be at least $140,000 per aircraft. (Sometimes there are more than one aircraft for the support equipment). In addition to the limousines and supporting equipment, the United States Marine Corps provides at least one Presidential Helicopter that is also transported to the site via a C-17. Add another round trip for a C-17 per helicopter, along with the cost of pilots, support crews, and test flights for the helicopter. The helicopter is brought along on every Presidential trip even if there are no plans for use, it is kept on standby for the duration of the trip. Hawaii Reporter’s estimate came up at least $280,000 short due to the omission of the C-17 use.
Air Force Two, costs close to $70,000 an hour to fly (assuming it costs about the same as AF 1)

According to the New York Post, Barack Obama enjoyed a total of 10 separate vacations that stretched over a total of 90 vacation days during the years of 2009 and 2010. During his first two years in office, he also managed to play 29 rounds of golf.

Begin year three...

February 2011 Chewbacca & the girls to a luxury ski hotel in Vail, CO for a little skiing

March 18 – 23, 2011 Entire family to Rio

Meanwhile, it appears the only places President George W. Bush spent away from the WH, not necessarily "vacation" as the usurper does it, was at his own ranch in Texas or at the presidential retreat nearby, Camp David. President Bush had many conferences, pressers, meeting with Heads of State and the like.

[Palter]

I said Bush was with Obama on most issues. He might have talked a good game, but his actions speak for themselves.

Vacations: 487 days at Camp David, 490 in Crawford.

DHS: You didn't even mention that one. Federalized airport security

TSA: Lol, thanks again for the screeners.

Farm Subsidies: Increased farm subsidies

Regulations : Added roughly 7,000 pages of new federal regulations.

Expanded President Clinton’s national service program

Campaign Finance: Restricted free speech

No Child Left Behind: Dramatically increased federal control over local schools while increasing federal education spending.

Muslim outreach: More pandering.

Medicare Plan D: Before ObamaCare, Pres. Bush put Gov't more into the health sector. The largest new entitlement program since the creation of Medicare and Medicaid.

John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007: Bush signed, which gave the President to use the military to restore domestic order WITHOUT the consent of the nation's governors. Infact, it was so much power, Obama even repealed that part of the law!

TARP: More Gov't into the private sector to 'save' us. Jobs: As a whole Bush sucked at job creation, if you want to give a credit to Gov't creating jobs, Bush sucked.

Bailouts: GM, etc.

Bush Aid to Africa: Taking your money to fight AIDS in Africa.

Open Borders: Didn't seal the borders in a 'time of war'.

Amnesty: Bush amnesty plan, remember that one? Obama hasn't even tried it.