So, we agree Bush and the Republicans controlled domestic and foreign policy for 4 years. The Republican Revolution started in 2001 so they had a mandate to put the country on the right course. What happened? Three crises occurred - 9/11, Katrina, Credit crisis. Result with Republicans in power... unending war/Osama bin Laden never brought to justice, New Orleans is still rebuilding 4 years later, the economy is in extended recession, unemployment rising, businesses failing, people losing their homes. It looks like Republicans in the 2000 decade were complete idiots when in charge and this is the wonderful world they have delivered to the US. After Katrina, people were sick of the incompetence of the Republicans. That's why in the 2006 elections they got thrown out of office. Of course, that Congress wasn't seated until 2007.
Post 9/11 was probably the most bi-partisan our government has ever been. It was no us vs. them, it was both sides working together. Simple. Democrats felt that the Republicans were getting too much credit for success in both foreign and domestic matters. That said, they staged a stalemate/blame game campaign. I'd hardly call 9/11 a crisis. It was an attack. It could have been a crisis, if not for the quick thinking of a Republican majority that was able to work with even the most stubborn and stupid of Democrats. Katrina was another Democrat caused problem. 40 plus years of a democratic controlled gubernatorial and mayoral positions coupled with a diversion of much needed levy funds (from the federal government) to pet projects and other social abortions. And meanwhile the same dope is still running the show down there. Credit crisis? Where, when? I've yet to see one. We had an energy crisis, and a housing crisis brought on no by credit problems, but rather the over zealous over valuation of assets by two democrat created, funded and run entities known as fanny and freddie. SEE ALSO CRA!!! In reality, Osama is and has been dead for sometime. The "ongoing", not "unending" war, known as the war on terror continues to be wildly successful. NO is the fault of a moron named Nagin, and a mind set in LA that money from the fed for levies best be wasted elsewhere since we can blame any breach on anyone but those that created the problem. Its kinda hard to call it an "extended" recession, when by definition, its only about 2 quarters old. As the government spends more money, yes, unemployment rises. Businesses fail as they are taxed to the point of failure. People that make $800 a week, cannot afford $12,000/mo. mortgages, so yes, some idiots are going to lose homes, assuming basic math still applies. You need to look farther back than 2000 to see what took us in this direction. Is anyone on this forum over 12? Yes, because it is the sole responsibility of the commander and chief to make sure that a Mayor and Governor from a state are watched over, given special attention, and guidance. If the local democrat mayor was doing his job. If the governor of the state were doing her job... Since when is it the responsibility of the president to do the job of a mayor and governor? Don't the local, state and federal governments all have their own distinct set of responsibilities? Next time we get a huge snow storm here in WI, maybe Dumbama should come here and govern for a while so our local and state leaders can take a break.
And lets not forget the Bush committed troops and supplies and was REFUSED. Nagin told him NO. Its kinda hard to help someone proactively only to be told to go away. And then when you do, you get blamed for not doing anything? Strange.
Ok, that's your take. The Army Corps of Engineers is run by the mayor and the governor? I didn't know that. Are you saying there is no credit crisis? Do you know what credit is? So you say. It seems like there is a pattern to who you blame. Can you name someone in authority who is a minority and competent? Besides... if the mayor and governor fail, are you saying the President is powerless to take charge of things. So, on the one hand you say there is no credit crisis. On the other, you say there is a credit crisis. Logically, this means you don't know what you're talking about. So, 9/11 and Katrina are the same as a snowstorm? Okay. When a major American city gets devastated, I would like to think the President has some control over the situation. It sounds like you're saying the President has not and should not have authority to take charge of this situation. My question is, Bush did it with 9/11. Why couldn't he do it with Katrina? It seems you think some Americans should get help from the President while others should not. If that is the basis for your argument, who can argue? You believe some people are better than others because you say so. Can't argue with that.
I'm going to break from my normal tirade for a moment of perfect honesty without spin, because the moment calls for it. First off, the Republican Revolution happened in 1994, not 2001. The Republicans gained control of both house and senate under the leadership of Newt Gingrich. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Revolution With the help of a fairly moderate President, they created economic conditions which helped fuel the internet economy, one of the strongest periods of creation of wealth in history. That same congress and president got "high on their own supply" and decided create legislation that prevented the credit default swap market from being regulated, even though it was essentially an insurance product and should, therefore, have had similar rules and regs applied to it that apply to insurance. That legislation went up for vote on the last day before Christmas break on Dec. 15 2001, and was voted through by UNANIMOUS CONSENT of both parties. It was also signed into law by that same Democratic president. It essentially created a situation where banks were insuring their mortgages against default, but the insurer was never required by law to have enough money in the bank to cover a catastrophe. This same legislation, mind you, also created the loophole that brought us the Enron scandal. So our leadership from both parties created a foundation of quicksand that our booming economy immediately began to build on. In the mean time, the fed, lead by Greenspan, allowed the economy to run untempered which is destined to create magnificent highs and painful lows. When 80% of the wealth in the NASDAQ, an index that at the time was almost half the size of the DOW, evaporated in a few months, a lot of the newly rich who managed to hang onto some of their wealth threw the money at real estate, which really helped fuel property prices. Then you have a few idiots fly several air planes into buildings which would have bankrupted the airline industry if not for bailouts from the Republican congress and President, you have the massive costs associated with the loss/displacement of the center of American business (the twin towers), you have Katrina cost way more than it should of because of massive corruption at the state and city level (Democrat), and you have the appropriations party (mostly Democrat, some Republicans) in congress fighting reform to Fannie Mae/Freddy Mac because they are all on the take. Ice the cake with a supposed "Oil Shortage", which looks more and more like unrestrained speculation(Democrat/Republican/Foreigners) in the oil market, and suddenly you have inflation because everything that requires transportation, including going to work, costs more. The housing market quits rising leaving speculators holding the bag on crappy mortgages. Crappy loans adjust, leaving people who should have never had mortgages unable to pay them. All of the sudden, those banks look to the people "insuring" their credit defaults and the foundation of quicksand collapses. What does all that have to do with politics? Not a whole lot. Nevertheless, any major upswing leaves credit to be claimed, and any major downswing leaves blame to be assigned. And that is where we Liberals OWNED the conservatives. We campaigned against the failed economic policies of George W. Bush and we sold it to you sheeple. We campaigned against deficit spending, and then quadrupled the deficit in 3 months. So many moderates and conservatives voted for Obama because they thought "change" meant some sort of restraint in how the government spent money, and we gave them socialism instead. Surprise! Sure the tea parties had lots of those people from both parties who felt completely betrayed, but it matters not at all. Those people are chumps. We will slander them in the press as "Teabagging" freaks and religious zealots driven out into the streets by the Neo-Cons. We will misrepresent and invalidate their complaints by claiming they are complaining taxes are too high right after our beloved president just pushed for a tax break/refund for our nations poorest. By the time we are done, we will have the dissenters afraid to even open their mouths and be associated with the "tea-baggers" for the derision that will come with it from the MSM. Our response to any outcry will be, "What, you want to return to the failed Bush economic policies?".
I don't know about all that. The game is being exposed and the docile compliance the politicians counted on for so long may disappear when they need it the most. Many see Obama as just a continuation of Bush. Personally, I don't have a problem with Bush. In the end, his policies worked great from my perspective. It is just irritating hearing people act as if Bush can do no wrong while Obama is all wrong. To me, it speaks to something deeper than ideology. The enemy of the politician is an informed public. Well, the public is informing itself and that is a dangerous thing to the government.
There's a difference between a terrorist attack and a natural disaster. The Governor is supposed to deploy the National Guard in coordination with local authorities. Kathleen Blanco and Nagin failed. Btw, some portions of New Orleans are 16 ft below sea level and shouldn't be rebuilt. Let's not let facts cloud the kool-aid
The National Guard is, or is becoming, nationalised. That's what should be addressed. Not which of the corrupt politicians did this and that. Your country needs saving now!
The National Guard serves a dual purpose. The Guard is part of the US Army and is the principal combat reserves. THe National Guard isn't really that big considering the population of the US. Total strength is approx 350,000. In New York City alone there are over 50,000 police.
HUGE, which is why I compared a snow storm to a flood. Why he could not understand that is beyond me. My ultimate point, and the truth that no one wants to face up to. BINGO!!!
I don't understand why people elect people like Blago, and Kathleen Blanco to protect their lives and property. When times get tough you want Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger with his finger on the trigger.
Haha It's a shame he's a neo-con whom is allegedly a supporter of Nazism. He sued a couple of doctors because they said that all the steroids and crap he took might be harmful :/ You'd think he'd defend California's right to bear arms, wouldn't you?
Interesting point. Schwarzenegger grew up in Europe where guns are more heavily regulated. The founding fathers had some good foresight to stipulate that the President is required to be a natural born citizen.
Aye they did, however It's a shame the Articles don't mean anything any more, though. Isn't it, Mr. Obama? You should see how we're living here under a complete firearm ban. The best I can hope for is a .177/.22 air-rifle - even then the legal limit is 12lb/ft power The worst thing though, is how virtually everyone here thinks guns are bad and they actually like the weapon prohibition. I think one day I'll migrate to Switzerland or Vermont (if it's still left and Obama hasn't taken all the guns).
The democrats have put gun control on the back burner. They learned their lesson back in 1994 after there was a republican backlash to gun control. Just don't drive around with a Ron Paul bumper sticker
I heard about the disgusting things some police do to those who dare carry a constitution with them in their car or have Ron Paul, "Don't tread on me" or the US flag upside-down bumper stickers. I think I'll get a Ron Paul sticker and put it on my car - although no-one will know who he is here
Arnold Schwarzenegger ruined California. 48 Billion in debt, raised taxes, and reinstating the car tax that got him elected in the first place. I can say that because he is a Republican.
It's not because he's a Republican, it's because he's an idiot. Am I the only one who can see through the silly "left-right" illusion? Transcend it. They're all the same and none of them are truly for the people. As long as America has a strong, central government there will always be problems. Instead of arguing sides, you should be uniting against the federal establishment and for the individual states.