Posted on 12/07/2009 9:02:46 PM PST by advance_copy
With President Barack Obama's decision to escalate the war in Afghanistan by sending 30,000 additional troops to battle Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, he has put his imprint on the war on terror, and at the same time, given up the Democrats' most famous fallback position: blame George W. Bush.
Couple that with the economy and we are seeing the end of the president's first year in office coincide with him having to accept the full responsibility for the condition of the country.
Obama rode into office on the "blame Bush" tidal wave as the nation sickened of everything he touched. The economy? Bush was horrible at stewarding it. Giving banks billions in TARP funds? Dumb idea by Bush and Treasury Secretary Hank "Mr. Wall Street" Paulson. Sick of billions going to the war? It was all the fault of Bush and his chief crony, Vice President Dick Cheney.
The blame Bush mantra proved effective because it totally silenced Republicans, who were loathe to defend a conservative president who began with a surplus and ended with a deficit, as well as the architect of a war in Iraq based on never-proven claims of weapons of mass destruction. They couldn't even muster the strength to call him a conservative.
(Excerpt) Read more at campbellbrown.blogs.cnn.com ...
The best thing that Bush did, by far, was not push the AWB in 2004. However, Tom Delay gets a majority of the credit even on that.
He did various other ok to good things, and some pretty awful things. Overall a C- or so, and I expected at least a B+ when I vote for someone. He was a B-ish first term, but sure lost it all on the 2nd.
“...in fact, it’s the same sort of attitude that prevailed in Eastern Bloc societies (according to my dad, who grew up in such a society and finally got out nearly thirty years ago) where all property belonged to the State, and individuals were allowed to “keep” only certain amounts.”
The modern GOP is on board with that concept just as much as the Democrats.
http://michellemalkin.com/2008/11/19/gop-bailout-stooge-to-cavuto-its-not-your-money/comment-page-1/
“So you think President Bush was a “squish,” huh?”
Yep.
“He had incredible balls, awesome resolve. His speech to Congress 9/20/01 was one of the greatest political speeches I have ever heard. The fact that he was able to change direction on the Iraq War, and back the surge when he was taking such heat from the media and all the usual suspects, still awes me. Not since Reagan have we been blessed with that kind of leadership.”
Wow, your standards are low. He fought the “surge” for years after it became clear more troops were necessary and his speeches told Americans to be tolerant of Islam and go to the mall.... It takes real “balls” to repeat politically correct platitudes and prosecute our own soldiers and Marines to make the enemy feel good.
“A great Christian, a great American and a great President.”
A man who believed in giving to others money he stole with the power of the state (African and other foreign aid), a man who thinks Americans are lazy and should be replaced with his “good-hearted” people from south of the border, and a man who wouldn’t use the bully pulpit even when he WAS right on something. Yeah, great guy that 43. We really got our money’s worth electing him.
“All in all Bush was a damn good president. He cut taxes, moved to improve education, supported the military.”
He cut taxes, but with a time limit. He expanded the illegal federal control of education, not improved it. He supported the military with one hand, yet had no problems with JAG-run-wild and the mess of a limited “hearts and minds” war on the other.
“Medicare Part D is one of the few government programs that is under budget and moderately successful because free-market principles are at the program’s foundation.”
Medicare Part D is an illegal expansion of government.
“He eliminated Saddam Hussein and his two lovely sons. He gave Iraqis freedom.”
Unfortunately, he replaced them with an Islamic government and giving Iraqis freedom (that they don’t know how to keep, since they will vote for tyranny) is not the proper role of the US President. Protecting the interests of the United States is - and THAT IS IT.
“And for seven years he kept you and me safe. He almost dismantled al-quaeda until the Democrats gave them support again.”
He left the border wide open, causing 10s of thousands of Americans to die who might not have if he had done his most basic job. He supported the KLA in Kosovo - an Al Qaeda affiliate - and did nothing about Saudi Arabia.
“Bush was a President of honor and dignity. I’m tired of people here bitching about Bush.”
Bush was a globalist. There’s no honor or dignity in that.
That guy (Knollenberg) is not only a RINO but an arrogant Socialist bastard.
I’m glad he lost his re-election bid.
“The best thing that Bush did, by far, was not push the AWB in 2004. However, Tom Delay gets a majority of the credit even on that.”
It’s pretty sad when the best that can be said of a Republican President on gun control is that he didn’t actively push for more.
All those EOs on the subject could’ve been repealed by him. He didn’t.
“That guy (Knollenberg) is not only a RINO but an arrogant Socialist bastard.
I’m glad he lost his re-election bid.”
Me too. I’m sure the GOP took his loss as a reason to turn further left, though.
And how much exactly did he spend? Or are you just blurting out talking points? So how much?
In spite of the fight burning here this is a great post. Liberals turning on democrats.
As much as I despised Bush’s stance on immigration and his way of dealing with Congressional democrats, sometimes it takes a little perspective to realize just how much better he was than the present occupant is.
Maybe after all the pain and anguish Zero’s policies will cause, the people will fianlly realize that the Republicans weren’t all that bad after all.
“And how much exactly did he spend? Or are you just blurting out talking points? So how much?”
Bush added $4 trillion to the US National Debt and signed the first $2 and $3 trillion dollar budgets. His liberal Medicare expansion added upwards of $9 trillion in unfunded liabilities to boot.
“That guy (Knollenberg) is not only a RINO but an arrogant Socialist bastard.
I’m glad he lost his re-election bid.”
Ditto
Hell, they are still not over the era of Reagan. LOL!
Do you know what the national debt actually is?
And a $2 trillion dollar budget isn’t much when revenues are $2.5 trillion.
Bush ran the government like a crooked mortgage lender.
New Mortgage:
10 year amortization
No payments for
principal and interest to accrue monthly.
All due and payable 10 years from close of escrow.
Which national debt, the doctored figures handed out by the Feds or the real figures that include all the unfunded liabilities, guarantees, and other accounting machinations that Washington has engaged in over the years?
When you factor in the unfunded liability just for Medicare D, the debt is staggering.
“Do you know what the national debt actually is?”
Yes. Do you?
I guess expanding government is fine with you if your side is the one doing it.
“And a $2 trillion dollar budget isn’t much when revenues are $2.5 trillion.”
Amazing we ran deficits, then... LOL.
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