Why do they hate him so? Is it because working people are getting checks in the mail and no longer buy into the " tax cuts for the rich" idea ($44k family of 4 pays about $800 in federal taxes under Bush), or is it because he spent so much on education, or that we are not pleading with other countries to please not do business with terrorists? In any case, read the article below. I believe that they hate him more than they care about national security. In fact, they blasted him about intelligence before 9/11, but what do they expect for him to have done, shut down all flights in the US on that vague threat and racially profile Arabs? They won' t let anyone racially profile NOW, even AFTER 9/11!
Disdain for Bush Simmers in Democratic Strongholds
By ROBIN TONER
ES MOINES, July 31 "” While Democratic leaders in Washington debate strategy and demographics for the 2004 election "” the wisdom of campaigning from the left, right or center "” something far more visceral is at work in the first caucus state, and in other Democratic redoubts.
There is a powerful disdain for the Bush administration, stoked by the aftermath of the war in Iraq and the continuing lag in the economy. There is also a conviction that President Bush is eminently beatable and a hunger to hear their party' s leaders and candidates make the case against him "” straight up, from the heart rather than the polling data.
It is not simply a lurch to the left, many Democrats say; it could, in fact, lead caucus voters to more centrist candidates, if they seem most likely to defeat Mr. Bush in the general election.
Tom Rusk, a state welfare worker who turned out this week to see Senator John Kerry in Fort Dodge, Iowa, describes himself as " pretty liberal." He says he likes what he hears from former Gov. Howard Dean of Vermont and from Representative Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, but he worries that both candidates could be " Dukakisized" in the general election.
What Mr. Rusk is looking for, he said, alluding to the infamous image that doomed that past Democratic nominee, is " someone who will look impressive enough at the helm of an M-1 tank."
Gordon Fischer, chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party, said this week that he saw " an incredible amount of antipathy toward the Bush administration" in the party, much more than the Democratic hostility toward the first President Bush.
Geoff Garin, a pollster who is working for Senator Bob Graham of Florida, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, said the Democratic anger toward Mr. Bush was " as strong as anything I' ve experienced in 25 years now of polling," and perhaps comes closest to the way many Democrats felt about President Richard M. Nixon.
Some compare it to the hostility conservatives long harbored toward President Bill Clinton. For the past two and a half years, after all, a fairly consistent 38 percent of respondents in The New York Times/CBS News Poll have said that Mr. Bush was not legitimately elected president.
But Mr. Fischer and others say this animosity is not entirely personal, more about the agenda than the man.
Stan Greenberg, a longtime Democratic pollster, argues, " It' s more about how conservative this administration is, how it' s taken the country in this direction without a mandate, and a frustration with Democratic leaders for not articulating it."
That frustration was apparent during the war with Iraq, and obviously helped fuel the rise of Dr. Dean, one of the few national Democrats speaking flatly and without apology against the war. But the anger is broader now, on issues of civil liberties, health care, Social Security and domestic security, and the candidates are increasingly responding to it, Democratic strategists say.
One way to measure it is by what generates applause on the campaign trail these days. On a recent steamy night in Fort Dodge, more than 100 Democrats crowded a local state representative' s home to cheer on Mr. Kerry of Massachusetts, who made a scathing case against the Bush record.
They burst into applause when Mr. Kerry described Mr. Bush' s tax cuts and soaring deficits as " stealing from America' s children to give a tax cut to the wealthiest people in America." They grimly nodded when he denounced the quality of intelligence used to justify the war against Iraq. They burst into applause again when he described Mr. Bush' s management of the economy as " the worst record on jobs since the Great Depression," and added that the only jobs Mr. Bush had created were the nine candidacies for the Democratic presidential nomination.
It was the reddest of meat for this issue-oriented crowd, and Iowa Democrats came back for more in their questions. Can Mr. Kerry take a punch, and " give as good as he gets?" one Democrat asked. Mr. Kerry replied, " I' m in a fighting mood," a theme he referred to again and again.
Lois Dencklau, retired from the accounting business, watched Mr. Kerry with an appraising eye. She, too, said she was looking " for someone who can beat Bush" and thought Mr. Kerry was that person. She had her own indictment of the Bush administration, and a conviction that the country was moving her way.
" People are going to wake up and see what' s happening," she said. " People are losing their jobs, the economy' s really bad."
The next day, at the union hall of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33, another crowd turned out to hear Dr. Dean take on the Bush administration. Sandy Opstvedt, an electrical worker and president of the Iowa State Conference of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, was in the audience. She said of Mr. Bush: " I' ve never felt comfortable with him. He almost seems to have a mission to attack working people."
When Dr. Dean entered the room, sleeves rolled up, looking as if he was ready to fight, he was greeted like a rock star. " It' s time we stood up to this president and stopped being intimidated by the Rush Limbaughs on the radio," he said. " We can do better than that."
His speech was laced with scorn for " too many people in Washington" who are " too afraid to lose" to stand up for Democratic values. By the time Dr. Dean closed with his trademark line "” " You have the power to take this country back" "” Don Chamberlain, a retired steamfitter, seemed well satisfied. " It' s time somebody stood up for the Democrats," Mr. Chamberlain said.
When asked if Mr. Bush could be beaten, Mr. Chamberlain replied with the edge of moral clarity, " Absolutely."
There was no abstract battle for the soul of the Democratic Party here, just an abiding anger at what Mr. Bush has done, and a conviction that a majority of Americans will eventually share it.
Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said, " It' s George Bush who will serve as the biggest unifying force for our party."
Some compare it to the hostility conservatives long harbored toward President Bill Clinton.
So conservatives can harbor hostility but nonconservatives cannot? That is called a double standard. By the way, I do not harbor any hatred for President George Bush.
Back to the tax cut......our federal government has compromised our economy and balancing the budget deficit with his tax cut. The tax cut was paid for by surpluses accrued during the Clinton administration. Somewhere down the line we will have to pay for this tax cut.
As far as education....what has he done? Federal funding for education is lax now and state governments are scrambling to find enough funds to continue many school programs. Local property taxes are raising at an alarming rate in most areas to take up the slack not only for education but other required and needed local services, so tell me what good the tax cut has really done or will do!!!!
Back to the tax cut......our federal government has compromised our economy and balancing the budget deficit with his tax cut.
First off, part of this package is pure socialism. giving breeders money they never paid into the system is dead wrong.
But I will give you a little lesson in economics there coogie. We cannot favor a supply side economics posture when the economy is in a " stagnant" condition, you must return to the consumer that which is rightfully theirs.
You give me my money back, I buy goods and services which stimulates job growth. If I choose to invest it, it then gives corporations money to expand with.
as far as the deficit, most economists simply shrug. It' s a paper debt.
Most economists have noted that it is seriously doubtful that the tax checks being sent out will be used for purchasing, but most likely will be used to pay on bills. The real reason many cannot or will not start spending is they are all spent out, they cannot afford to take on any new loans and the credit card users have reached their limit. Along with this, only those in the upper middle class or above can really afford to purchase right now. Its getting to be hard for some to even afford the nececcesities these days, and along with rising property taxes, insurance rates, governmental fees, banking fees, utilities costs and added fees, state fees added on to help with their crisis, rising costs to maintain what you already have such as auto repairs and home repairs....its tough for the average consumer. Its not that people don' t want to spend...they do not have the money to spend. That tax check will not account for much even IF they decide not to pay bills due.
In my opinion the credit card is a scourge..........a work of the devil. Credit cards should be against the law.
They hate him casue he has done things to there party that has never been done before, like take away every issue they have to run on, like gain republican seats in the house and senate in the off year. They just don' t know how to handle Bush and it shows thru as hatred, I thought the liberals were suppose to be the all caring, loving , sincere party, well finally America is seeing them for just exactly what they are.
__________________
THE NRA, WHERE WOULD YOU AS A GUN-OWNER BE WITHOUT THEM.
GUN-OWNERS, UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL.
Even if people are just paying bills with the tax cuts, that is putting the money back in the economy and clearing the way for more buying later. The economy was in recession the whole last year of clintond rule. Last weeks indicators show a very strong pick-up in the economy and groth is on the way. Much of this to do with the policies Bush put in place. One more word on the economy. For those who think its bad, you should see the steady steam of new mototrhomes, new pick-ups and new Harlies traveling through western SD to the motor cycle classics. I saw thirty new moror homes pulling bike trailors in just one mile on I 90 yesterday. The town of Sturgis which is a city of 6800 people is planning on 450000 visitors this week. Bad Economy?? Could it be the liberal press is lieing again?????
Cougar, where do you think those dollars will go if they are used to " pay bills." (Assuming that your broad supposition is correct, which it is not.) Do you think that those dollars will drop into some black hole, never to be seen again? Do you not think that we have Americans working for our utility companies? Do you think that the payments on credit cards go to some foreign company and disappear from our economy? Any dollar spent in America is good for America...especially when it does not get filtered (read that as wasted) through the layers and layers of governmental beaurocracy. Perhaps somehow you' ve truly been convinced that Uncle Sam is very proficient at handling money; that we should let him decide where OUR money should be funneled. The fact is that tax cuts severely reduce the power base for those seedy " leaders" of ours. The fact is that when they get their hands on it, they never want to let go, because they reward their cronies with contracts and programs at inflated prices, and they tend to get re-elected in the process. Think about that before you cheer for the next tax increase, and oh yes, their will be another tax increase that will completely wash away the cuts we just experienced...you can take that one to the bank.
Cougar, remember I told you this:
For the rest of your life you will see taxes rise and fall, and rise again and fall again.
When they do, ask yourself why. When you truly understand the answer you will understand why they had to fall now.
At this particular moment in history, I simply do not understand the Democratic rhetoric about how this tax cut is evil, or how it will be somehow borne by our children.
In one breath you say " People have no money right now." In the next you say, " Why in the world would we cut taxes now?" Can you not see the dichotomy and contradiction in such a stance?
One of the things that is hard for many people to understand in a mixed-economy is the fact that deficit spending is a tool. It finances wars and it can stimulate the economy.
Everyone agrees that we must fight terrorism...even the Democrats, as I recall. Everyone agrees that the economy is slower right now than it could be. So how could anyone argue with deficit spending at this moment it time? Will it always be a prudent policy? No, of course not. But the fact is that is is necessary right now, to finance the war, and to stimulate the economy, along with the tax cut.
I am really confused by some of the things I read in the papers. Bush is doing some things that would have brought the Dems to their feet with applause had they been done by a Democratic president.....yet they give no credit whatsoever for those things. Thirteen BILLION to Africa for AIDS? Not an ounce of credit from the Dems or the liberal talking heads. The packages and assistance to Mexican immigrants, both legal and illegal? Silence from the libs. There are at least 6 or 7 more major actions I could name, and not one of them so much as received a tip of the hat from the Democratic legislators or the average liberal on the street.
Good grief, even Limbaugh gave Clinton credit once in while when he felt that it was earned.
The next election will be interesting as I said on another thread. It may just be the mud-slinger of all mud-slingers, the blood bath of all blood baths, because the younger and middle-aged people of America today seem to refuse to think for themselves; they seem to choose instead to snatch up bumper-sticker mantras and run with them. It is tedious and boring to hear from both sides really. " The tax cuts were for the rich! The tax cuts were for the rich!" Most people couldn' t understand the tax revisions if their lives depended on it, never mind that the cuts were across the board for all Americans, and rightly so.
LOL. Without picking a side here, I have to agree with CM on one very serious point.
Why do Democrats hate George W. Bush? To answer the question, you simply have to ask yourselves, why did/do Republicans hate Bill Clinton? Why did Democrats hate George H.W. Bush? And on and on and on...
It is the job of the opposition party to bring up the things the sitting president does wrong, whether they are real or imagined.
Now, my post will be followed by fifteen Republicans explaining how no sane person could hate Bush, Bush, Reagan... And why, exactly, it is right to hate Bill Clinton.
__________________
' I had him to myself as he lay there in the crushed ferns - all by myself, a boy alone in a cathedral of oaks and cypress in a vast swamp...I knew then that I was the richest boy in the world as I stroked the hide of my first deer.'
-Ruark
It' s rather ironic. For president Clintons tenure I really did' nt like him. It would probably be safe to say that the majority of conservatives did' nt " like" him. But I did' nt see the seething hatred that is displayed by the street level liberals that is being displayed against president Bush.
Another irony is; If not for sept.11th, president Bush would have probably gone down in history as " just" another president. The congress would have most likely remained in the hands of the liberals, and not much would have been accomplished one way or another.
The president, and our country is in a very difficult position. One that has no " play book" so-to-speak.
I am reminded of a piece of advice I had as a young E-nothing onboard my first ship while conducting casualty control drills....Do something---even if it' s wrong...When the fire is out, you can figure out what you could have done better,,,but at least you will be alive to figure it out.
Some of the critics could use a little of that advice...For example, there is much critisism of the " color coding" threat level system. Now, on the out-side it might seem a little dumb...But at the end of the day, we all know that when the system goes to a RED...It' s time to hunker down.
It' s SOMETHING rather than nothing.
I think that there are other factors also...I remember that prior to Clinton being in office we rarely heard from the president...Then when we did, it was usually something worth hearing...President Clinton was ALWAYS doing something on T.V. Usually it was some mundane thing or another, but he always had something to say for the camera' s and took a few questions...And the media AND the public got a little " spoiled" . President Bush rarely speaks just for the sake of speaking. I think thats a plus on his part, but many in the liberal circles take that as a sign of conceit and hold that against him. I think they feel kind of like they are left out of the loop or something.
The difference is; What President Bush has to speak about these days tends to carry a lot more weight than what President Clinton had on his plate at the time.
And last...I quite frankly think the liberals are more than a little jealous. Those pesky arabs had to attack while there was a " gasp" Republican in office...Why could' nt they do it while Clinton was Running the show. OR wait a few more years untill they were back in office.
Sept.11th will be a date that will be remembered for as long as there is recorded history...Just like December 7th will always be remembered. It' s just not fair that George Bush is in charge.
Bill Clinton is going about trying to make his " legacy" after he left office...His followers are trying to force history into the mold as they see it, and not the form that it would naturally fall to...George Bush is quite litterally at the fore-front of changing the world into a better place, and history will ultamately show that despite an error here and there we will be better because of it, and the liberals just can' t stand it.
Democrats hatred of George Bush
