Open Letter to the President (or, Why Bush Has Lost My Vote)

me | 9/26/2001 | Brent C. Skilton (aka Heisenburger)

[Psycho_Bunny]

You really haven't been paying close attention to the actions of the administration. We've already told the UN to go screw themselves, that we're going to be taking care of this.

And we DID secure the permission of many countries during WW2. We don't hear about all the alliance forging that went on during WW2 in school so we assume it was different then. Well, it wasn't. We negotiated with many nations for their permission to do many different things.

When all is said an done on this useless vanity, the bottom line will be that 99.99999% of FReepers, including me and you, don't have the slightest clue what's going to happen. The only Freepers that know what’s going to happen are lurkers who are actually in the Administration or military.

[Heisenburger]

By your repudiation of Bush and his policies in this war, I assume that:

you are FOR 'nation building';

If, by nation building, you mean what we did in Japan, Germany, and South Korea (the exact thing the White House has said they won't do here), then yes.

you are FOR long term deployments to rebuild Afghanistan;

If it means setting up a puppet government that will never again be hostile to our lives or interests, as we did in Japan, Germany, and South Korea, then yes.

and that you are AGAINST:

asking for the cooperation of the citizens within Afghanistan who don't want the Taliban.

Obviously you didn't read the entire article, or you would have seen that I am for overthrowing the Taliban. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Anyone who wants to help us kill all the members of the Taliban regime is invited to join in the fun.

[Deb]

Guess what? Administrations don't usually draw up a detailed plan as to what they'll do or won't do during a military campaign and release it to the public.

See if you can follow me here: often times by notifying the press and the public...the bad guys find out too. And that's a bad thing.

While I'm sure the president is devastated that you will be abandoning him in 2004, he'll probably stay the course, seeing how he knows more than you could ever learn in 12 lifetimes.

But, thanks for sharing.

[Heisenburger]

If you don't believe him, or trust what he says, why in the world did you support and vote for him?

Because during the election he wasn't coming out and saying one thing one day, and then letting us down by saying the opposite the next week.

[Reagan Man]

Colin Powell is no peacenik and to say so is ridiculous.

The man was a four star general. Fought in Vietnam and successfully carried out the Gulf War. Remember, it's called the Department of Defense and not the Department of War.

[Whilom]

Because for some instant gratification takes too long.

[Cogadh na Sith]

If it means setting up a puppet government that will never again be hostile to our lives or interests, as we did in Japan, Germany, and South Korea, then yes.

That's what the British and the Soviets tried to do. They lost badly.

I am very pleased to see that we have a leader who is determined NOT to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Furthermore, this approach would CERTAINLY invite more terror attacks on us unendingly. You have not thought this through. You have not done your homework. You ARE determined to see us repeat the mistakes of the past.

[Godfollow]

Hey folks, this guy is only voicing what a lot of people are beginning to wonder about. Bush comes out swinging, and Powell comes out sauntering. I too, agree that this thing will require time and patience. But it is one thing to send out disinformation to confuse the enemy, but if that confusing message causes a loss in confidence at home, we’re really hurting ourselves. If Powell is out of line, at this juncture I am confident that the president will real him in. But if there is a definite shift from what the President initially stated to what Powell has stated, I believe we’re in trouble.

[Dan Day]

I want to tell you that you have lost my vote in the 2004 election. Though I voted for you in 2000, though I donated to your Victory 2000 campaign, and though I wore your pins and t-shirts, I cannot support you again.

And when Bush succeeds because unlike you, he doesn't go flying off half-cocked, can we expect to see another letter from you to him, posted here?

[Dale 1]

Dear Brent Skilton,

Perhaps you know of a better person? Maybe Al Gore? Who do you suggest?

[Whilom]

In the first paragraph you write "I cannot support you again." In the fifth paragraph you indicate that you might support him again. When you talk about changeable, reasonable people pay serious attention; after all, you appear to be an expert on the subject.

[bayourod]

"we do not offer to alter our mission in order to win their support. "

Where have we done that? In his address to the joint session of Congress, President Bush gave the Taliman 5 ultamatums, none of which involved them resigning or being replaced.

Colin Powell reaffirmed those positions when he said that if they handed over Ladin they might not be replaced.

Please show me where President Bush has changed his position.

[Reagan Man]

Who do you suggest?

Don't you know, Heisenburger wants John McCain to be POTUS.

Yea right!

McCain would have started WWIII by now.

[bayourod]

"Bush comes out swinging, and Powell comes out sauntering. "

Can you post the contradictory statements by both men? I think you are reading to much between the lines.

[DB]

So... You think the media knows what Bush and crew are up to do you??? And you think Bush should tell you his plans at a time of war just so you can feel all warm inside eh???

I'll make my judgment based on what actually happens thank you very much.

See-Ya…

[NGIDDENS1]

BE STILL MY DOG OF WAR! Revenge will be ours! I feel the same way you do but we have to keep things legal for postwar history books and the court of world opinion. This investment in patience may pay big dividends down the road. That means we need to sort out who's for us and who's against us (no fence straddling allowed) Once this process has been completed and the i's dotted and t's crossed then Justice will be delivered. Personally, I think your right about war being dictated on our terms. I doubt if much benefit can be gained by wooing Libya, Syria,Iran and the other rogues. But we must wait for this anti terror coalition to gel and form. I feel sorry for anybody who is against it. Just wait and see! You and I put this inpatience on our part (I feel it too) behind us soon! hang in there!!

[Saundra Duffy]

You have jumped the gun. For victory & freedom!!!