[art_director]

In the late 90s I was fed up with the Clinton administration, Clinton the man and the Democrats in general. Multiple scandals raning from Travelgate to the Gap dress and cigar had me fed up. That's when I made what I consider to be a mistake, I voted for George Bush. The reason I did so was the party in charge didn't seem to represent the people of America and they were adrift.

Now the Republicans get their shot at a new low.

~ The Bush administration failed miserably in the aftermath of Katrina.

~ Delay has been indicted in Texas on money-laundering and conspiracy charges linked to campaign financing.

~ Frist has been subpoenaed in an investigation into alleged insider trading.

~ The war in Iraq has lost its luster with the American people as the death toll rises daily.

~ Gas prices are through the roof and the cost of heating homes this winter has been projected to be as much as 70% higher than last year.

~ Bush nominates an insider to the Supreme Court without what many consider to be proper credentials. This one has even peeved the Reublican base credited for putting Bush in the White House.

~ In a new poll published yesterday, Bush approval rating has hit a new low – 39%.
(( http://olympics.reuters.com/news/new...-BUSH-POLL.xml ))


All these things have amounted to a perfect storm that could unseat the Republican majority. I hope it does and we go back to a better balance of power. Of course, that would assume the Democrats set down their snifters long enough to sober up and create stable election plans for next year. Regardless it's fun to watch the Republicans **** their pants.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by art_director

In the late 90s I was fed up with the Clinton administration, Clinton the man and the Democrats in general. Multiple scandals raning from Travelgate to the Gap dress and cigar had me fed up. That's when I made what I consider to be a mistake, I voted for George Bush. The reason I did so was the party in charge didn't seem to represent the people of America and they were adrift.

Now the Republicans get their shot at a new low.

~ The Bush administration failed miserably in the aftermath of Katrina.

~ Delay has been indicted in Texas on money-laundering and conspiracy charges linked to campaign financing.

~ Frist has been subpoenaed in an investigation into alleged insider trading.

~ The war in Iraq has lost its luster with the American people as the death toll rises daily.

~ Gas prices are through the roof and the cost of heating homes this winter has been projected to be as much as 70% higher than last year.

~ Bush nominates an insider to the Supreme Court without what many consider to be proper credentials. This one has even peeved the Reublican base credited for putting Bush in the White House.

~ In a new poll published yesterday, Bush approval rating has hit a new low – 39%.
(( http://olympics.reuters.com/news/new...-BUSH-POLL.xml ))


All these things have amounted to a perfect storm that could unseat the Republican majority. I hope it does and we go back to a better balance of power. Of course, that would assume the Democrats set down their snifters long enough to sober up and create stable election plans for next year. Regardless it's fun to watch the Republicans **** their pants.

If I were GWB, here's what I would do.

Figure out how BEST to spend every bit of my political capital and leave the country the basis from which ANY future might build.

Some things I would specifically ask my advisors to formulate would be:

Legislation which would force this nations' leaders in Washington to choose between serving the people or serving big business interests without throwing the needs of business out the window. This country can't survive without business growth. But the time is nigh to put the all too often criticized biblical belief into practice where the average person can say, "oh, well yes, I have no problem with that move to make the political process more honest."

Find a way to put aside that part of his values which favor loyalty over performance and remember he serves THE PEOPLE. Not business or his friends and trusted advisors.

Devote resources to scouting the internet for ideas and expression that could do a better job of assessing the mood of the public and gaining added insight to bring to the task of leading.

Looking into a better PR effort devoted to homeland communications in both directions, getting info out to the country and making sure good, important information gets to the people in government who need to know these things. The Administration may have already lost a golden opportunity to rally the public for the second term final three year stretch simply because there was no one advising the President from OUTSIDE the system or the beltway. The recent speech was too little and too late if judged by the reaction here on MacNN. I'd look into a sub-department devoted to getting info to and from the leading bloggers.

I don't know that there's a good system in place to hold people accountable to THE SYSTEM if not to the President, himself. If HE personally values loyalty he should have even his cabinet level officers be accountable to SOMEONE or SOMETHING.

I'd have some White House staffers personally contact rank and file people in problem areas of the administration in, let's say, Iraq and ask them who were the most gifted or impressive people in any area of specialization and then ask them the same question until one to three names kept popping up and then get those three into a braintrust to help determine policy and help operations do a better job.

I'd look into making the reward for bin Laden something more real for the average person in the areas where he might be hiding out. $25 million means exactly what to someone who barely makes $25 a month?

I'd look into quantifying the level of performance of ALL government agencies. I'd look to see if there were any objective/subjective attitudinal/aptitude tests on past CIA agents, for example and then I'd use the same test on current employees to see what makes the best kind of employees for certain jobs. What I suspect, but would wait until I saw evidence confirming or negating my suspicion, is that our culture just may not produce good thinkers across the board as perhaps existed before the TV age. Ironically, this might be a nod to bin Laden's assertion that our culture may not be everything we'd like it to be.

All of these suggested may already exist or may have been proposed or initiated but if they don't, I'd suggest them.

This was all just all top of the head one sitting, no thinking in depth and may have mistakes of ALL KINDS. But it has taxed me sufficiently that I will step back from it and let's see how I think/feel a bit later.

[art_director]

All the points you brought up would be wise for Bush to enact. Problem is whether he can still rally enough support to get anything done in this term. Also, business helped put him in the White House, it's unlikely he'll turn his back on that support.

Bush has cheesed off the general public and some in the Republican party. His Social Security plan is probably DOA and Iraq is hurting him. Without immediate change in the flow he'll end up shuttering himself in the White House and ride out his second term watching movies like Reagan did.

Then there's the debacle that is Plamegate. Could, shoulda, woulda turned over Rove and Libby isn't going to help now. He's taking on water.

[Monique]

What did you try to say by Des je vous.

[art_director]

The Republican seem to be facing many of the same challenges the Democrats saw in te late 90s.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by art_director

All the points you brought up would be wise for Bush to enact. Problem is whether he can still rally enough support to get anything done in this term. Also, business helped put him in the White House, it's unlikely he'll turn his back on that support.

Bush has cheesed off the general public and some in the Republican party. His Social Security plan is probably DOA and Iraq is hurting him. Without immediate change in the flow he'll end up shuttering himself in the White House and ride out his second term watching movies like Reagan did.

Then there's the debacle that is Plamegate. Could, shoulda, woulda turned over Rove and Libby isn't going to help now. He's taking on water.

For what it's worth.

mojo2
Addicted to MacNN

Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 2,665
Status: Offline
07-17-2005, 05:38 PM

I reserve the right to alter this comment if, once I read the preceding posts, I learn something that materially changers the dynamics of the situation.

I am an avowed Bushy. I think the President and the Nation are indebted to Karl Rove.

However, it appears he MAY have made a VERY serious mistake.
(...)

This smells like it might be a Rove spin job and if it is, AFAIK, it STINKS!

[art_director]

I do believe you are right and commend your pointing it out.

[Monique]

art director what is the meaning of your thread title; French is my maternal language and I can't figure this one out.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by Monique

art director what is the meaning of your thread title; French is my maternal language and I can't figure this one out.

I think he meant something along the lines of déjà vu...I guess, since I didn't actually read the thread. All English speaking people rape those two simple words.

[Monique]

Yes deja vu makes sense in this context.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

All English speaking people rape those two simple words.

No.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by art_director

I do believe you are right and commend your pointing it out.

Thank you, but I take no solace in the fact.

[Sky Captain]

It's a fact. No administration can please all of the people.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Monique

What did you try to say by Des je vous.

That he doesn't speak french, and that he has no idea how déjà-vu is spelled.

-t

[smacintush]

All I can say is:

It is still a year until the elections, a lot can happen.

All recent Presidents (back to at least Nixon) have had lower poll numbers at sometime in their administration than Bush has now. It happens and it doesn't necessarily mean anything.

The left thought they had a lock on winning back the house and senate in 2000 and 2004. They were wrong then so we'll just have to wait and see.

[Pendergast]

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

It's a fact. No administration can please all of the people.

The funny thing is when they please less and less people over time.

[mojo2]

Originally Posted by Pendergast

The funny thing is when they please less and less people over time.

The administration could REALLY use more PR help. I want you all to note the comings and goings of Karen Hughes. She is top notch. As a person and a professional.

When she eventually tells her story, THAT will be one of the best stories to come out because she's said NOTHING about her relationship with the President but he seems to really value her service and has persuaded her, I believe, three separate times to work for him in D.C.

I'm not insinuating anything untoward. I just get the impression she is REALLY sacrificing to serve her President and her country and that people such as she, top notch professionals who seemingly want little from their jobs other than to do them well could be better represented than they are.

I once had a situation something like that 'enjoyed' by Hughes and it was very challenging but interesting.

She's currently working for the administration's M.E. information center, or something like that.

Anyway, back on topic, people can be quite happy or content but not realize it. On the other hand, there are people who are as happy as pigs in **** even though the pig sty may be on fire!

The difference is in communications. The administration may not communicate well, I think.

If the president were able to avoid any legal problems and give up the real info re: Iraq, it would buoy the American people and cause his ratings to go up. (Not that he should make that a priority, but popularity IS a tool of leadership.)

I would fess up about the oil and the myriad other reasons for Iraq. All of them existed. All of them were real. All of them were important to the decision to invade. But the most important was oil.

Then, I'd outline the danger and why the invasion helped reduce the danger of OBL disrupting the oil flow. Then I'd tell the American people how important oil is and make sure they know we BUY the oil and it was OBL who threatened the flows and thus forced us to act.

I'd spell out the ways, large and small that oil makes our todays and our tomorrows possible. And then paint a realistic picture of what would happen if the oil WERE disrupted.

Then, once it was clearly established that we HAD to invade, we buy the oil and protect the oil and that it is our life's blood and that the nation would fall like the twin towers without oil to our industries and how this nations' ecomnomy and the other global economies are connected I'd tell the public how much we owe the military sacrifice and the job they do in Iraq.

I'd let the country know the Iraqi military must become as strong and capable as our troops in order for them to be able to safeguard the oil and the iraq government against the onslaught of al Qaeda attacks and a determined insurgency that knows how important the oil is and how important is iraq in controlling the M.E. from a geographical standpoint.

But, as a sign to the world that the US is committed to peace, I'd announce plans to off-load a certain number of troops off shore if the insurgents showed a corresponding reduction in violence and activity for XX number of weeks. Otherwise we will remain as we have.

Then, shifting subjects, I would state why kyoto wasn't a good deal for us, but with regard to the natural disasters that MAY have been caused by global warming, I'd make a challenge to encourage China to be more responsible for doing IT'S fair share to reduce gasses and make that contingent to our signing/ratifying Kyoto.

Then I'd announce the moon/space solar collection project to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels by XX% by the year, 20XX at a cost of $300 Billion but it would save us $XXX Billion in other costs over XX number of years.

When all that was done I think he'd ride a wave of excitement and increased ratings that would last the rest of his term.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by art_director

In the late 90s I was fed up with the Clinton administration, Clinton the man and the Democrats in general. Multiple scandals raning from Travelgate to the Gap dress and cigar had me fed up. That's when I made what I consider to be a mistake, I voted for George Bush. The reason I did so was the party in charge didn't seem to represent the people of America and they were adrift.

Now the Republicans get their shot at a new low.

I don't understand your distaste for the man because of the Lewinsky incident. What I despise is the fact that in spite of all the evidence against him, still claimed while looking us straight in the eye and no doubt those that indicted him and said; "I had no sexual relations with that woman." Then the subsequent attempts at defining what "is" is.

~ The Bush administration failed miserably in the aftermath of Katrina.

How is the Bush's fault exclusively. You're disgusted by this? You don't have a humanitarian nightmare without humans. Everything points to the problem of having not gotten people out of harm's way more effectively. There is a limit to what, when, and how government uses it's military resources. Invoking an insurrection act was not seen as an option. Frankly, I'm encouraged that our President adhered to this principle. Hopefully, you'll never be in a position to understand why this principle is important.

~ Delay has been indicted in Texas on money-laundering and conspiracy charges linked to campaign financing.

Delay did not break the law and it took 6 attempts to get this far. It won't get much beyond an indictment. Idictments do not equate to guilt and there's more than enough compelling evidence to illustrate nothing more than a partisan witch hunt here. When Earle, a Democrat prosecutor attends a DNC celebration and makes the bold claim that he's going to "bring Delay down" and exhibits a strong record of doing this to political opposition, he'll be seen for exactly what he is.

~ Frist has been subpoenaed in an investigation into alleged insider trading.

So??? I can do this to you. It means nothing.

~ The war in Iraq has lost its luster with the American people as the death toll rises daily.

Because they are looking at the death toll and have limits to their servitude to their country. This can be a good or bad thing. I think lack of resolve in this case is a bad thing and fails to witness the good things coming from this tough time. However, only time will tell.

~ Gas prices are through the roof

Through what roof? The International roof? Not even close.

and the cost of heating homes this winter has been projected to be as much as 70% higher than last year.

This was said last year and the year before that. That said; I'll be taking steps on my own to lessen the potential financial burden this poses. You should as well. Bush is not God.

~ Bush nominates an insider to the Supreme Court without what many consider to be proper credentials.

Only because they fail to offer the same allowances they've offered others historically. Actually, her credentials are quite sterling. I believe she'll exhibit this during the "railing" she'll no doubt receive. The good news is the questioning will center very little on her alleged "lack of experience" and focus entirely on her politics. Afterall, that's what is important to them, to you, and I. It is the foundation upon which we interpret the Constitution. A liberal might continuously invoke what they consider the "suppression of religion amendment" and a Conservative would call it by it's proper name; "freedom of religion amendment."

This one has even peeved the Reublican base credited for putting Bush in the White House.

Of this there is no doubt. I also intend to watch with a critical eye.

~ In a new poll published yesterday, Bush approval rating has hit a new low – 39%.
(( http://olympics.reuters.com/news/new...-BUSH-POLL.xml ))

You'll be in a postion at some point in the near future of refuting polls. They are not your friend.

All these things have amounted to a perfect storm that could unseat the Republican majority. I hope it does and we go back to a better balance of power. Of course, that would assume the Democrats set down their snifters long enough to sober up and create stable election plans for next year. Regardless it's fun to watch the Republicans **** their pants.

While it's good to see folks on their toes, I see no shxxting of one's pants. If I did, I certainly would not continue to watch.