Why do we hate Bush (today)?

riverplate · Oct 27, 2003

Originally posted by NER_MCFC
I am most mystified by the conservative defense of Bush's deficits. Deficits, especially when they are so large compared to total spending, are a slight threat in the short term, but an extremely grave one in the long term. Republicans used to know this, but they seem to have forgotten.
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We "forgot" after September 11.

I'd rather we be in debt than dead.

NER_MCFC · Oct 27, 2003

Um, they're not mutually exclusive alternatives....and the difference between those two outcomes will be trivial for the subsequent generations that have to cope with that debt.

argentine soccer fan · Oct 27, 2003

Originally posted by NER_MCFC

As for the economy and Bush's tax cuts, how can they have been instrumental in turning around the economy when a lot of them are in the future and much of the rest have the greatest impact on people whose spending habits were less effected by the weak economy?

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Some people like to have it both ways. They blame the deficits on the tax cuts but they cannot accept the fact that the tax cuts created a stimulous. Do you have a small business? Do you have to meet payroll every month? If so, then you surely must appreciate how the tax cut helped you. It helped me to be able to rehire two workers. That is nothing to you maybe, but I am but a small grain of sand in the economy, and for those two workers it means a lot.

riverplate · Oct 27, 2003

Originally posted by NER_MCFC
Um, they're not mutually exclusive alternatives....and the difference between those two outcomes will be trivial for the subsequent generations that have to cope with that debt.
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Let me make this short and sweet, since I'm fed up with this argument.

First off, that's what I heard the last time we were in debt. The "next generation" would be saddled with it for eternity. Well, it went away like a shot when the economy roared back.

And the next generation will have to deal with whatever hand they have dealt to them. This current one is fighting for the country's life. If that inconveniences your beloved "next generation," tell them that's tough luck. It will be their contribution to our current struggle. They don't think they should have to make one? Ask them why they deserve a free ride.

Attacking Minded · Oct 27, 2003

Re: Re: Why do we hate Bush (today)?

Originally posted by argentine soccer fan
As far as foreign policy, I think that Clinton did some good things, like his involvement in the Balkans. (Though I think it would have been better to do it sooner, when the Serbs were killing Croats, and much suffering would have been avoided). But my problem with Clinton is that he (and the CIA as well) fell asleep on the issue of Al Quaeda and Bin Laden. There were many attacks against US interests during his administration, and in retrospect we can say that we should have gone into Afghanistan sooner to keep that country from becoming the training ground for terrorists.
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Yes one can say that but I wouldn't. Remember how many stories their were about the terrors that awaited the US military in Afganistan? They kicked the Russian's butt. Many of us were unsure how we were going to defeat them this time. I think most of us were surprised how easy it was to defeat the taliban in Afganistan so I doubt there would have been the stomach to do it before 9/11, no matter who was president.

Maybe one can say that Clinto should have bombed Afgani terrorist camps more often but the thinking at that time was that the Israel/Palistinian conflict was the source of terrorism.

Because we failed to do this, terrorists are now running around loose all over the world planning more attacks against society. I am glad that president Bush is finally tackling the issue, but I wish it wouldn't have taken an event like 9/11 for the United States to finally wake up to the problem.
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Don't underestimate the American people's ability to think "Terrorism is no longer much of a threat" and that we will want to go to sleap again. Sooner or later we will elect someone who doesn't take terrorism as seriously as he should. Then a couple of years later BOOM!, it will happen again and we will take it seriously again.

This is a long, hopefully less than a 100 year, battle against people who find the sense of purpose in their lives through killing. We will need reminding of that from time to time.

bojendyk · Oct 27, 2003

Re: Re: Why do we hate Bush (today)?

Originally posted by argentine soccer fan

President Bush had a very different challenge. When he took office the economy was on a downturn and the technology bubble had burst. This was a logical outcome based on economic models and certainly I don't blame president Clinton for it. But the challenge for Bush was to make the recession as short as possible and to bring about a recovery. I think he also succeeded admirable, at least up to this point. I think it was important that he understood that, especially during a downturn, it is necesary to ease the burden on business and consumers, even at the risk of running a federal deficit. The tax cuts were instrumental in helping turn the economy around.
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Uh, no. When Bush was still on the campaign trail and the economy was still booming, he wanted to cut taxes. A lot. You're acting as if he didn't intend to cut taxes until the economy started heading south. All he has wanted to do is cut taxes, regardless of the health of the nation or the effect on the budget. The only thing that changed when the economy tanked was his stated rationale.