The Bush Presidency - a post-mortem autopsy

[spot]

Originally Posted by laneybug

Let me tell you guys something. After 9/11, we were sitting ducks. You better bet any other country would have retaliated. So we did. And the American people backed Bush 100% at the time.

Now it gets tricky. Yes, we have stayed in the Middle East WAY too long. We have asserted our so-called dominance WAY too much. I agree there. And, yes, Bush and many of his foreign policies have damaged the U.S. in many ways.

Unfortunately, what the world population fails to realize about America and its people is that the government has long ago stopped portraying what the average American citizen is and wants. American people continue to get crapped on by the world's nations, when in our very own streets there is an outcry for change and democracy. We are not only on the brink of a Depression, but on the brink of civil unrest and rebellion as well.

You act as though the U.S. is a place of terrible, war-mongering people. We, as average citizens, are not.

I started the thread. Far from "failing to realize about America and its people", I've been saying time after time in threads going back years that "the US government has long ago stopped portraying what the average American citizen is and wants".

"After 9/11, we were sitting ducks" makes no sense to me - after 9/11 I'd have thought the entire US was alert and well-defended. The puzzle is that none of the existing NORAD procedures worked on the day. The US was averaging two or three military interceptions a week on planes going off course, every time there was a newspaper article about NORAD it boasted of their efficiency in intercepting quickly and invariably. And then on the day they stood back and watched. Does nobody in the US at least ask why there's been no public inquiry into what went wrong? Who screwed up? You wouldn't think there could be a collective blind spot that 300 million people all deliberately refused to look at.

What you've had in President Bush's terms of office is a White House which has implemented every declared policy of Osama bin Laden. Even if you'd elected bin Laden as President instead I doubt if he could have got more of what he wanted than he's been given. "And the American people backed Bush 100% at the time"? Well more fool the American people, eh? Who lowered the defences?

[qsducks]

I have never backed Bush in any of his causes, wars, policies, etc. The man is a moron plain & simple.

[Bryn Mawr]

Originally Posted by laneybug

Hmmm... I find this very interesting. I discussion involving U.S. (and foreign) affairs, and not a single representative from the U.S. Unless Scrat is American, not sure.

Let me tell you guys something. After 9/11, we were sitting ducks. You better bet any other country would have retaliated. So we did. And the American people backed Bush 100% at the time.

Now it gets tricky. Yes, we have stayed in the Middle East WAY too long. We have asserted our so-called dominance WAY too much. I agree there. And, yes, Bush and many of his foreign policies have damaged the U.S. in many ways.

Unfortunately, what the world population fails to realize about America and its people is that the government has long ago stopped portraying what the average American citizen is and wants. American people continue to get crapped on by the world's nations, when in our very own streets there is an outcry for change and democracy. We are not only on the brink of a Depression, but on the brink of civil unrest and rebellion as well.

You act as though the U.S. is a place of terrible, war-mongering people. We, as average citizens, are not.

Retaliating is all well and good but it has to be targeted at those responsible for the attacks and not at people you just don't happen to like.

The US is a country of people just like anywhere else - some appear to be gung-ho but the majority are not. The Americans I have spent time with have been lovely people. I do not think there are many who have a problem with the American people - just the actions of the US government in making a bad situation worse.

[Lon]

Originally Posted by laneybug

Hmmm... I find this very interesting. I discussion involving U.S. (and foreign) affairs, and not a single representative from the U.S. Unless Scrat is American, not sure.

Let me tell you guys something. After 9/11, we were sitting ducks. You better bet any other country would have retaliated. So we did. And the American people backed Bush 100% at the time.

Now it gets tricky. Yes, we have stayed in the Middle East WAY too long. We have asserted our so-called dominance WAY too much. I agree there. And, yes, Bush and many of his foreign policies have damaged the U.S. in many ways.

Unfortunately, what the world population fails to realize about America and its people is that the government has long ago stopped portraying what the average American citizen is and wants. American people continue to get crapped on by the world's nations, when in our very own streets there is an outcry for change and democracy. We are not only on the brink of a Depression, but on the brink of civil unrest and rebellion as well.

You act as though the U.S. is a place of terrible, war-mongering people. We, as average citizens, are not.

Well Laney Bug----------I happen to be American, presently in New Zealand, and though our country is not a war-mongering people, our government has made some really stupid foreign policy decisions. Have you noticed how we have supported and continue to support some dictators as long as they have something that we need? Haven't we made commitments to governments and then later reneged? It's great to love one's country, but let's not overlook some of it's warts and blemishes, because the rest of the world sure sees them, and it's important to maintain credibility to garner respect, which at this point in time we do not have from the rest of the world.

[oscar]

Originally Posted by Lon

Well Laney Bug----------I happen to be American, presently in New Zealand, and though our country is not a war-mongering people, our government has made some really stupid foreign policy decisions. Have you noticed how we have supported and continue to support some dictators as long as they have something that we need? Haven't we made commitments to governments and then later reneged? It's great to love one's country, but let's not overlook some of it's warts and blemishes, because the rest of the world sure sees them, and it's important to maintain credibility to garner respect, which at this point in time we do not have from the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, the rest of the world has lost much respect for America. It was once a country that the rest of the world envied.
The Vietnam war was also deemed a failure for America but easily forgotton to some. The failure of the Iraq war stirs the memorie's of Vietnam and does not put the US in a great light.
It is sad that it will take many many years for America to erase the memory of Bush's policie's not just in foriegn policy but economic and internal also.
We are well aware here that our former PM played a very large part in invading Iraq without just cause and he will also go down in history along with Bush as the aggressor.

[qsducks]

Originally Posted by oscar

Unfortunately, the rest of the world has lost much respect for America. It was once a country that the rest of the world envied.
The Vietnam war was also deemed a failure for America but easily forgotton to some. The failure of the Iraq war stirs the memorie's of Vietnam and does not put the US in a great light.
It is sad that it will take many many years for America to erase the memory of Bush's policie's not just in foriegn policy but economic and internal also.
We are well aware here that our former PM played a very large part in invading Iraq without just cause and he will also go down in history along with Bush as the aggressor.

Two pompass arrogant so-called leaders. May they both rot in hell. Oh and along with Dick Cheney who was the most scariest vp of all time.

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by qsducks

Two pompass arrogant so-called leaders. May they both rot in hell. Oh and along with Dick Cheney who was the most scariest vp of all time.

i'll go along with that

[qsducks]

Originally Posted by jimbo

i'll go along with that

Thanks Jimbo

[oscar]

Originally Posted by qsducks

Thanks Jimbo

Jimbo really has no idea who Cheney is.

When you said 'Dick' he thought you meant 'Dick Van dyke' in 'Mary Poppins'.

[qsducks]

Originally Posted by oscar

Jimbo really has no idea who Cheney is.

When you said 'Dick' he thought you meant 'Dick Van dyke' in 'Mary Poppins'.

They interviewed Cheney on Fox News (the only people/reporters he'll talk to) and he defended all the insane things the Bush admin did like water boarding, etc., torture and I almost fell out of my chair when he claimed that Bush could start a nuclear war without informing the government, congress or the military.

My children make fun of him and always say "don't go hunting with Dick Cheney"