At Least, the Bush Administration is Consistent
Gary Ater
February 20, 2007
Let's look at the Administration's track record and compare the Pros & Cons:
On the Con side:
Osama:
Before 9/11 and just after Bush's election, since President Clinton had been unsuccessful in capturing Osama Bin Ladin, Clinton directed his security advisor, Sandy Berger, to warn Mr. Berger's successor, Condi Rice, that "Bin Ladin was going to hit the US." (This meeting has been confirmed by both Rice & Berger). Unfortunately, as President Bush did not want to take any advice from his predecessor, Condi ignored Mr. Berger's advice.
FEMA:
The Federal Emergrncy Management Agency (FEMA) was previously a fairly well run and responsive Federal Government operation. Once it was absorbed by Bush's new Homeland Security Administration (HSA), FEMA was down-sized and its charter was changed to focus on terrorism over natural emergencies. FEMA then proceeded going down hill with its new, inexperienced management team. The end result was the HSA / FEMA debacle with the Katrina & Rita hurricanes.
Immigration:
After a 9/11 report was submitted to the President and the Republican Congress, stating what needed to be done to protect the US, many listed items still have not been addressed. This includes protecting the borders, ports and dealing with the current immigration issues.
The Surplus:
The Bush administration inherited a Federal US surplus from the Clinton administration. They have not only spent that surplus. but have also run up the largest ever Federal US deficit. Our children and their children will eventually be responsible for paying off this debt, most of which is now owned by mainland China.
Personal Freedom:
Under President Bush, the public has lost personal freedoms such as the allowing of previously illegal wire taps and the public's personal information is no longer personal, if the government wants to review it without the public's permission. This is directly against the Fourth Amendment.
The Constitution:
Habeas Corpus, which is Latin for (show me the body of proof) has its roots in English common law going back to the 12th Century and has been the cornerstone of liberty in the United States since its beginning. It is enshrined in the US Constitution, (Article One, section nine). Per the Constitution: "Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it." (Please note: The US has NOT been invaded, nor is there a public rebellion.) President Bush has suspended Habeas Corpus. Prior to the Bush Administration, Habeas Corpus had only been suspended during the Civil War by Lincoln and later by Grant in the early 1870's as part of civil rights action against the Ku Klux Klan. The United States was able to fight two world wars and numerous international conflicts without suspending the right to a fair trial.
The War:
There has been a string of untruths from the Bush Administration, from "Iraq has WMD's." to "The war will be over in 3-6 months.", plus a staggering display of incompetence that has led the US into a drawn out, useless war in Iraq. This was also done while not having an occupation plan, not sending enough troops and sending troops to war without the proper armor. Now President Bush is eyeing Iran for possible invasion.
Oversight:
There has been a lack of oversight of the war and the lack of using proper accounting standards has amounted to an initial loss (to date) of 10 billion dollars. This does not account for the enormous additional loss of life and limb to thousands of US troops and civilian Iraqi's.
Tax Cuts:
Bush has offered tax cuts that has meant billions of dollars for the wealthy. Yes, many jobs have been generated, but mostly for lower paying jobs across the country, continuing to cause further erosion of the US middle class.
Minimum Wage:
There had been no increase in the federal minimum wage over the past 10 years. However, the Republican Congress has increased their own pay 7 times in that same 10 year period. The Bush administration and Republican Congress offered no support for a higher minimum wage. The new Democratic Congress had to do it.
Republican Congress:
With health costs going through the roof, the Bush administration and the Republican Congress has offered nothing for developing a much needed US universal healthcare program.
The Republican Congress was referred to as a "Do-Nothing Congress" and was loaded with Republican politicians and their cronies and aides that are continually getting cited, and some convicted for breaking the law. (This list of law breakers has included: Scooter Libby, Tom Delay, Jack Abramoff, Robert Ney, Mark Foley, Todd Schriber, John Colyandro,Jim Ellis, Warren RoBold, etc).
US Reputation:
President Bush and his administration continue to succeed in lowering the world wide reputation of the United States to its lowest level in history.
North Korea:
Recently, this administration resurrected a version of a Clinton program with North Korea that Bush had previously canceled. The new Bush agreement finally materialized after North Korea had developed and tested a nuclear device. Unfortunately, the new Bush program currently has less "teeth" than the original Clinton program.
On the Pro side:
Vacation:
President Bush has gone on vacation more than any previous US president.
And, ahh.........................let me get back to you on this.
On the Con side:
Osama:
Before 9/11 and just after Bush's election, since President Clinton had been unsuccessful in capturing Osama Bin Ladin, Clinton directed his security advisor, Sandy Berger, to warn Mr. Berger's successor, Condi Rice, that "Bin Ladin was going to hit the US." (This meeting has been confirmed by both Rice & Berger). Unfortunately, as President Bush did not want to take any advice from his predecessor, Condi ignored Mr. Berger's advice.
FEMA:
The Federal Emergrncy Management Agency (FEMA) was previously a fairly well run and responsive Federal Government operation. Once it was absorbed by Bush's new Homeland Security Administration (HSA), FEMA was down-sized and its charter was changed to focus on terrorism over natural emergencies. FEMA then proceeded going down hill with its new, inexperienced management team. The end result was the HSA / FEMA debacle with the Katrina & Rita hurricanes.
Immigration:
After a 9/11 report was submitted to the President and the Republican Congress, stating what needed to be done to protect the US, many listed items still have not been addressed. This includes protecting the borders, ports and dealing with the current immigration issues.
The Surplus:
The Bush administration inherited a Federal US surplus from the Clinton administration. They have not only spent that surplus. but have also run up the largest ever Federal US deficit. Our children and their children will eventually be responsible for paying off this debt, most of which is now owned by mainland China.
Personal Freedom:
Under President Bush, the public has lost personal freedoms such as the allowing of previously illegal wire taps and the public's personal information is no longer personal, if the government wants to review it without the public's permission. This is directly against the Fourth Amendment.
The Constitution:
Habeas Corpus, which is Latin for (show me the body of proof) has its roots in English common law going back to the 12th Century and has been the cornerstone of liberty in the United States since its beginning. It is enshrined in the US Constitution, (Article One, section nine). Per the Constitution: "Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it." (Please note: The US has NOT been invaded, nor is there a public rebellion.) President Bush has suspended Habeas Corpus. Prior to the Bush Administration, Habeas Corpus had only been suspended during the Civil War by Lincoln and later by Grant in the early 1870's as part of civil rights action against the Ku Klux Klan. The United States was able to fight two world wars and numerous international conflicts without suspending the right to a fair trial.
The War:
There has been a string of untruths from the Bush Administration, from "Iraq has WMD's." to "The war will be over in 3-6 months.", plus a staggering display of incompetence that has led the US into a drawn out, useless war in Iraq. This was also done while not having an occupation plan, not sending enough troops and sending troops to war without the proper armor. Now President Bush is eyeing Iran for possible invasion.
Oversight:
There has been a lack of oversight of the war and the lack of using proper accounting standards has amounted to an initial loss (to date) of 10 billion dollars. This does not account for the enormous additional loss of life and limb to thousands of US troops and civilian Iraqi's.
Tax Cuts:
Bush has offered tax cuts that has meant billions of dollars for the wealthy. Yes, many jobs have been generated, but mostly for lower paying jobs across the country, continuing to cause further erosion of the US middle class.
Minimum Wage:
There had been no increase in the federal minimum wage over the past 10 years. However, the Republican Congress has increased their own pay 7 times in that same 10 year period. The Bush administration and Republican Congress offered no support for a higher minimum wage. The new Democratic Congress had to do it.
Republican Congress:
With health costs going through the roof, the Bush administration and the Republican Congress has offered nothing for developing a much needed US universal healthcare program.
The Republican Congress was referred to as a "Do-Nothing Congress" and was loaded with Republican politicians and their cronies and aides that are continually getting cited, and some convicted for breaking the law. (This list of law breakers has included: Scooter Libby, Tom Delay, Jack Abramoff, Robert Ney, Mark Foley, Todd Schriber, John Colyandro,Jim Ellis, Warren RoBold, etc).
US Reputation:
President Bush and his administration continue to succeed in lowering the world wide reputation of the United States to its lowest level in history.
North Korea:
Recently, this administration resurrected a version of a Clinton program with North Korea that Bush had previously canceled. The new Bush agreement finally materialized after North Korea had developed and tested a nuclear device. Unfortunately, the new Bush program currently has less "teeth" than the original Clinton program.
On the Pro side:
Vacation:
President Bush has gone on vacation more than any previous US president.
And, ahh.........................let me get back to you on this.
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