[paulsy]

fyi I'm not a troll or disrupter, as I've been an active member of Free Republic since January 2001.

-paulsy

"Paul- The Shrub you so blindly follow is a mean-spirited greedy idiot, and you can't blame mainstream media sources for finally recognizing his lack of clothing.

He was not elected by a majority, he was anointed by a fiercely right wing supreme court majority, most of whom owe their positions to the Shrub man's father and party, undermining the court's legitimacy and that of the Shrub's administration. He has kept the country in fear since 9/11 and sought to campaign as a WAR president, because most war presidents have an easier time passing legislation and getting reelected. He even created a war for that purpose. Remember, it was leaked before the mid-term election, by a White House source, that the sudden irrational run up to the war with Iraq was a matter of "marketing". On the way to Iraq he undid decades' of diplomacy and alienated all of our traditional allies and others whose support we might have expected, except for those he bought or frightened into being "willing". Now, as the biggest gunslinger on the block, we as a country can expect to be the target of every oppressed political animal in the world with weapons and imagination. Oh yeah, we've also lost our position (as if we ever really held or deserved it) as the beacon of hope and freedom for the world. We are undeniably a world bully now, and there is no realistic chance of a meaningful international consensus on any issue while the Shrub Man speaks for us.

You might be thinking of saying "well, Sadam was bad and his demise and capture are good things." (Shrub Man borrows from Martha Stewart, if you didn't notice.) The same thing could have, and I think would have, happened had Shrub Man not announced to the world that he was going to do it with or without international support. Indeed, for many years even Arab countries wanted to get rid of him but we( R's and D's) helped put Sadam in power and protected him.

And just think, so far at least five times as many people have died in the Shrub's dirty little war as died in 9/11. ( Hell, the tobacco industry kills as many people as died in 9/11, EVERY 2 1/2 DAYS). People continue dying every day in the war while Shrub Man hunkers down in the safest and most luxurious places on earth, bellowing "BRING IT ON !".

As for the different views on whether Shrub Man's tax policies add up, I certainly don't know whose math is right. I know the Washington Times is not considered by most people to be objective or main stream; it is decidedly right wing. (Wasn't it started up to punish the Washington Post for exposing Watergate?) I'm no fan of Newsweek either; with very few exceptions it repeats whatever the powers-that-be want it to. However, wasn't Newsweek reporting on the total federal income tax bills while the W. Times only mentions the effect of isolated provisions? If so, both of their math calculations could be correct, but the W Times is comparing apples to oranges. A more meaningful analysis would include the necessary increases in state, local and sales taxes. The fact is Shrub Man has not only made the tax structure more regressive, his wildly irresponsible spending and tax cutting for the rich have greatly increased the tax burden for future generations, and put the economy in peril for the foreseeable future.

Paul, what I think is going on is that the mainstream media and a lot of the country have been giving Shrub Man "WAR president" status since 9/11, along with the benefit of every doubt, since that is what happens when a president is responding to an emergency. Shrub Man, and his shrubbers, took full advantage of this status to advance their political agenda (check out wages, health care, education, the environment, individual rights, or anything else they could sell out) without the normal scrutiny radical changes would normally be subject to, and are running the country into the dirt. Shrub Man killed his golden goose by trying to crassly campaign as a "WAR president", and he's been called on it. He can't fool most of the people all of the time. Now, finally, the normal scrutiny is returning, eyes are opening, the emperor is nekkid, and he is only starting to get the attention he deserves. Open your eyes and get used to it. Julian is right and you seem so be looking for some sand to put your head in.

I think there may be other explanations for your reduced tax bill, if you would be candid about it. I know my tax bill is down, but that's because as a lawyer representing poor and working people who've had their civil rights violated under a regime that favors only rich and corporate interests, my income is down. I give Shrub Man full credit.

I'm yellow dog with a full bladder who's found his Shrub. BRING IT ON!"

[Miss Marple]

You cannot deal with people like this. I ignore them and refuse to engage, simply telling them that they are entitled to their opinion.

I also would request no more e-mail.

[cincinnati65]

CARVILLE'S YOUR UNCLE????

[Rocko]

I usually avoid idiots like this; nothing will convince them.

[rhombus]

Have you tried medication? But seriously this is standard with liberals - throw everything including the kitchen sink all at once -- peppered with lots and lots of anger. Any attempt to delve any deeper on any one subject will just be met with a shift in the direction of the argument and more inaccuracies thrown your way. You will end up as the whipping boy for that anger. It is fairly common among Madame DeFarge's who like court tv, "comeuppance" and simple enemies for simple minds.

[tioga]

I would agree with Miss Marple. Some people are better left alone. Just state proudly that you love your President, and that this conversation is over. I would delete his email rantings and forget about them. The Amish use "shunning" quite effectively for years, it works wonders for some. I know when he accuses Bush of having "no clothes" we all want to yell -- "Oh, yeah? Well clintoon's were down around his ankles........." But, it would only serve to make us look bad to do so.

[KC Burke]

I would tell him that your reciept of his e-mail on Easter eve has reminded you of your familial affection for him and that you wish him the Joy of the season in return.

If your religious tradition is other than Christian, a like response is surely available if you reflect upon it.

Debate with people with closed minds -- the true definition of bigot -- is fruitless.

[Manic_Episode]

Personally I think I would just beat the crap out of him at the next family reunion.

Happy Easter.

[tiamat]

Hopefully your uncle will not be at Easter dinner this year.

If he IS, try to resist the urge to pelt him with Easter eggs!

Try and take comfort: Everybody's family is screwed up

;-)

[Vigilantcitizen]

He was not elected by a majority, he was anointed by a fiercely right wing supreme court majority, most of whom owe their positions to the Shrub man's father and party, undermining the court's legitimacy and that of the Shrub's administration.

Another liberal Bush hater with a CNN politcal education.

Sigh... I bet your uncle thinks our country is a democracy too.

[alnick]

Honestly, this guy is hopelessly lost. I wouldn't waste my time pointing out facts to him. He's obviously not interested in facts.

[JZoback]

Trying to change your Uncle would be like asking Teddy "swimmer" Kennedy to stop being a drunken bloated washed up socialist pig.

Just know in your heart that he has a mental disease called liberalism and the best thing to do for him is agree he has a right to his opinion, and we can agree to disagree. Prayer might be in order also as only God can change a man's heart.

[BabsC]

Now if you had the time and the inclination you could, with facts dispute this email line by line. For instance that Klintoon was elected by an even smaller number of voters.

But I sorta agree with the first two responses, your uncle's opinion will not be changed with facts and he probably doesn't like the good ole saying "if you don't work, you don't eat" either.

[sasquatch]

Certified Florida Election Results
Gore 2,912,253 Bush 2,912,790
Difference Bush by 537

[sirchtruth]

All you have there is a BUSH HATER on your hands. Remember they chose to be willfully ignorant on what they believe and usually have no basis in fact to back up their claims...

I would just ask the putz uncle of yours to back his stupid claims up with facts and end with why he so fiercly HATES a Pres. trying to defend his right to hate without getting his head chopped off like in some of these terrorist controled regions of the world if you speak out against the leader. What gives "him" the right to do that?

That one will make all his illusion go straight down the drain.

[per loin]

Anyone who "argues" by screaming "Shrub" over and over can not be reasoned with. Get a large stick, and beat your uncle with it every day for a month. If his conduct has not improved after a month, sic your dog on him.

[bootyist-monk]

Five things.

1. Your uncle is an idiot.
2. The decision in the Supreme Court was 7-2 that what was happening in Florida was wrong. It was 5-4 that there was time to do something about it.
3. 50 Million liberated. According to the libs, 5000 people a month were "starving to death" due to the UN sanctions on Iraq before the war.
4. 300,000 dead in mass graves in Iraq, and more to discover.
5. Your uncle is an idiot.

[mathluv]

'he was anointed by a fiercely right wing supreme court majority'

This point is one that really bothers me. How could a fiercely right wing supreme court have upheld Lawrence vs TX, and some of the other rulings that have come out?

[Lee'sGhost]

If you want to get his goat simply laugh at him and matter of factly say, "you're a moron."

If you want a short and sweet rebuttal I would suggest something along the lines, "It's is pointless to debate your points when you start off with a statement like "the Supreme Court is predominantly conservative." No conservative OR liberal pundits on the planet would say something that stupid when the voting record of the SCOTUS ruling record has been far and away on the liberal side.

Take a pill and chill. Then get back to me.

[cincinnati65]

Actually, once you see the second sentence of your Uncle's email, you should know that the argument is over. Once that sentence takes hold in your debate partner's mind, you know their brainwashing is complete. Nothing you can say from that point forward will matter.

[Big Horn]

I would tell him the more he rants the more you love Bush.