What good has Bush done?

[Knowledge 6 6 6]

Now as I was in Chapters bookstore the other day, I noticed many books on George W. Bush, obviously portraying him as some psycho. T-shirts, videos, music bands have all voiced their opinions on Bush, which is good, but...

There must have been SOME good he's done. I'm not talking about that immigration thing he passed last month, because in my opinion, that's a desperate attempt to win back voters. But, besides giving the rich taxbreaks...what, if any good has this president done?

I hope i'm not coming off too 'right-wing republican'ish', but just simply asking a question. I'd hate for my view of this man to be distorted because of the influx of the negativity towards him. You know what i mean?

He cant be COMPLETELY bad...can he?

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Well, he did sign into law a National Do-Not-Call Telemarketing list. I do not know how much credit he deserves for that, if any... that is the best thing he has done as far as I know.

He has got a growing list of bads that more than counter this one good, however...

[Solace]

Bush did many good things.

It all depends on the perception. He is a "love him or hate him" president. For the oil-millionaires and the elite of the country, he rocks.

But, I went on the holy site just for shit and giggles...


Fact Sheet: A Record of Accomplishment for America

Strengthening Homeland Security
Expanding Economic Opportunity
Winning the War on Terrorism
Improving Education for Every Chil
Building a Global Coalition for a Safer World
Maintaining Fiscal Discipline
Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable
Strengthening Health Care for All Americans:
Cracking Down on Corporate Corruption
Protecting Family Farmers and Promoting Agriculture
Reforming the Campaign Finance System and the Elections Process
Protecting the Most Vulnerable Members of Our Society
Cleaning Up Our Environment
Issuing a National Call to Service
Leading the Fight Against HIV/AIDS
Expanding Homeownership Opportunities for All Americans

Right Here. (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/11/20021126-3.html)

[Red, Green, and Gold]

Ha... I wouldn't count any of those as "accomplishments." If they were true, now that would be a different story.

I guess I can agree with MiN in saying that the National Do-Not-Call List was a pretty good idea. I'll give Bush some credit for that. Also, ousting Charles Taylor from the Liberian Presidency wasn't a bad move. America wasn't the country to do that --- the Liberian people really should've done it themselves --- but Charles Taylor was no saint.

The whole American intervention in Liberia was fairly played down, especially compared to the "War on Terror" and the invasion of Iraq.

[Individual]

Solace

none of those can be proved, let alone accomplished.

Bush won the war on terrorism? Obviously he doesn't count the terrorism that he supports. His whole 'war on terror' is b/s.

Improving education for children. Wait, might that be his 'No child left behind act'? Yeh, the one that he, himself, cut funding from? How do you start an act, praise it. Yet take lots of money from your own damn act? It's crazy.

Building a Global Coalition? Oh, that must be the one that. Oh wait. He tried to enforce a global coalition. If not a single country would of helped in Iraq, he would have gone anyways. And he made a global coalition. More like isolation from the globe.

Cracking Down on Corporate Corruption? Oh, so he's justified for making one big news headline with a corporation. Let's crack down on Enron. When it comes to Cheney's old corporation having problems, who stayed out of it? Bush.

Expanding Economic Opportunity? Yeh. For the ones that didn't even need to worry about money. The rich!

Oh yes, Bush sure has helped out the work force in this country. He made 1,000 whole jobs in a month! Yipee! Oh sh't. He must have forgot the population of this country.

Not a single thing on this list can be proved. Bush is full of deceit, and so is his whole administration. If this is his list of accomplishments, we should realize how deep of a whole 'Hitler' got us in. For not a single one has been accomplished.

[Solace]

Well, duh!!

I thought the tone of my post was enough sarcastic... I guess not.


But, I went on the holy site just for shit and giggles...

[Individual]

haha...

shhweew.. For a minute there I was shaking in my boots. Terrified!

No I didn't catch the sarcastic tone. I figured you did not care for Bush, however it seemed like you actually thought those were his accomplishments. haha. Well now I feel great. You scared me for a minute.

[Knowledge 6 6 6]

wow...Bush's list of 'good' things done is slim-pickings here.

C'mon there must be at least 3 solid things that Bush has done since his inaugaration that has been very beneficial.

Anyone? There must be something man, I'm sure of it, lol. Damn, I sound like a young republican.

Must...snap out...of defending the right... :D

[Don't Change Your Name]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2004, 10:45 PM
Strengthening Homeland Security
Let's see: I'm not from yankeeland so this is based on what I can see and assume from here, but afaik this means they took away civil rights and spent much more in the army...hmmm...


Expanding Economic Opportunity

How can he prove that???


Winning the War on Terrorism

And where's Bin Laden??


Improving Education for Every Chil

While they are white, rich and on private schools, and teaching them that the U$ is the only place in the world.


Building a Global Coalition for a Safer World

The same world that opposed his imperialist war...


Maintaining Fiscal Discipline

Proof?


Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable

And killing those brown skinned men who use non-prescription ones


Strengthening Health Care for All Americans:

For WHITE RICH "Americans" they probably mean


Cracking Down on Corporate Corruption

:lol: :lol: :lol: Only an idiot would believe that


Protecting Family Farmers and Promoting Agriculture

...so that other countries farmers starve...


Reforming the Campaign Finance System and the Elections Process

So that he can win ilegally again


Protecting the Most Vulnerable Members of Our Society

* this might apply only to rich white kids and only in some states


Cleaning Up Our Environment

Yeah I want to imagine Bu$h saving penguins or something like that...but I can't. It's a joke it seems.


Leading the Fight Against HIV/AIDS

On white rich people

[Knowledge 6 6 6]

dude he said he was being sarcastic, lol.

Guess u didnt read the posts after, hah.

[Saint-Just]

He is contributing about $3 billion a year to fight AIDS/HIV in Africa every year. Although they give Israel a lot of money too.

[Marxist in Nebraska]

"Strengthening Homeland Security"

I have seen a lot of reports suggesting Bush and Co. will not provide for real security measures against terror because it will cost too much money... which means apparently whoever is selling it is not a good enough friend of the GOP. The Bush administration has no problem spending a huge amount of money on a new destroyer, and other conventional military hardware that we already have way too much of.

Secondly, how secure are the people in the homeland with a boogeyman like John Ashcroft implementing 1984-esque curtailings of privacy?

"Expanding Economic Opportunity"

Hmm... by losing over two million jobs? Or by giving huge tax cuts to people who can already afford to buy anything they want?

"Winning the War on Terrorism"

Of course, what is called "terrorism" is defined in a very narrow political sense. State terror committed by U.S. clients is exempted from this, for starters.

Even if we are to grant the political definition of terrorism used by the ruling class ("evil" Muslims attacking the U.S. or our friends), I am still not convinced that Bush and Co. are winning their crusade. Al-Qaeda is regrouping in Afghanistan, and they now have a presence in Iraq--which was not the case before the invasion.

On top of this, Bush's arrogance is alienating American allies precisely when we need international cooperation most.

"Improving Education for Every Child"

No Child Left Behind... as was mentioned above, Bush refuses to fund his own legislation. Beyond that, his "solutions" are more tests... after all, there is nothing more important than teaching kids how to take standardized, multiple-choice tests.

"Building a Global Coalition for a Safer World"

Oh really? I am sorry... I forgot we were living in bizarro-land, where up is down and black is white.

Bush has alienated most of Europe, while cutting deals with dependant ex-Soviet satellites. These agreements for participation in the "War on Terror", etc, provide little material assistance (a hundred troops here and there), and are deeply resented by a vast majority of the people in Eastern Europe.

Bush's "allies" are pathetically disguised window-dressing, and they fail miserably to make the U.S. appear as anything other than a unilateral bully.

Bush has strained relations with most of the remotely democratic world, while cozying up to real rogue states like Pakistan.

"Maintaining Fiscal Discipline"

There are many Republicans who are angry with Bush, because they feel he spends too much money. While I have no problem with government spending, assuming a progressive tax code of course, the anger with Bush from within his own party is something I was not expecting to see.

"Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable"

Everything I have read has suggested that this claim is simply laughable. Bush's supported plans have objectives of lining HMO's profit margins and/or destroying Medicare. Drugs are not going to get cheaper that way.

"Strengthening Health Care for All Americans"

Umm... no, sorry. See my previous response.

"Cracking Down on Corporate Corruption"

A few token convictions... but by leaving the opportunity for swindling of hundreds of millions of dollars open, "cooking the books", etc. will remain attractive.

"Protecting Family Farmers and Promoting Agriculture"

Corporate farms trump family farms. Corporate factory farms will continue to destroy their small-time competition.

Promoting agriculture? By pushing GMOs down our throats?

"Reforming the Campaign Finance System and the Elections Process"

I have never heard of Bush supporting any sort of public financing of candidates. The system will by unavoidably prostituted as long as candidates need corporate contributors to buy TV time.

"Protecting the Most Vulnerable Members of Our Society"

Oh? I was unaware that the ruling class and the religious right were so damn vulnerable.

They are not talking about women. They are trying to erase women's reproductive rights. They support Clinton's workfare programs, forcing struggling mothers into minimum wage jobs.

They are not talking about people of color. Bush has supported the attacks on affirmative action. And, disenfranchising African-American voters is what put him in the White House in the first place.

The administration is no friend to the unemployed. With all the jobs lost under Bush's watch, there are a lot of vulnerable people that are not getting unemployment benefits.

"Cleaning Up Our Environment"

Now THIS really pisses me off. Bush's administration has rolled back pollution standards on every front. There are entire websites dedicated to documenting this. This is like his forest policy--save the trees by cutting them down!

"Issuing a National Call to Service"

He asked people to volunteer. Why is this so special? Why is he bragging when anyone could have done the same thing?

"Leading the Fight Against HIV/AIDS"

...By promising aid to Africa, and then changing his mind once the budget talks started. By doing nothing to create cheaper, generic AIDS drugs?

"Expanding Homeownership Opportunities for All Americans"

By letting corporate crooks soak the stockholders? People are going to buy a lot of houses when their life savings are wiped out by the greed of people like Ken Lay.

By letting millions of people lose their jobs? Few are capable of buying a house with no source of income.

[Knowledge 6 6 6]

dude he was being sarcastic!! Sheesh, does anyone actually READ the posts here?

[Lardlad95]

I thought the War on Teror was a good idea, until he fucked that up by going to IRaq. Also he picks and choosses which terrorists to get, he never mentioned the Miami Mafia terrorist organization.

The war on terror was a ood idea but man did he fuck that up

[Solace]

Originally posted by Knowledge 6 6 [email protected] 19 2004, 06:13 PM
dude he was being sarcastic!! Sheesh, does anyone actually READ the posts here?
Dude, she was being sarcastic!! Sheesh, does anyone NOTICE the writings under the avatars?

[EneME]

lmao we know you were being sarcastic but I think everyone on here takes any chance they can get to fuck up bush... I know it amuses me :lol:

[Marxist in Nebraska]

Originally posted by Knowledge 6 6 [email protected] 19 2004, 05:13 PM
dude he was being sarcastic!! Sheesh, does anyone actually READ the posts here?
Bush and Co. were not being sarcastic when they wrote up this accomplishments list. I simply attacked their alleged "achievements." I realize that Solace probably supports Bush about as much as I do. I simply decided to dissect the list rather than laugh it off.

[Saint-Just]

"Leading the Fight Against HIV/AIDS"

...By promising aid to Africa, and then changing his mind once the budget talks started. By doing nothing to create cheaper, generic AIDS drugs?

I thought they did actually contribute a fair bit of money. They promised 15 billion over the next 5 years. Last year I think they were meant to give 3.5 billion or so but only gacve 2.5 billion.

[Exploited Class]

Originally posted by Chairman [email protected] 21 2004, 08:58 AM

"Leading the Fight Against HIV/AIDS"

...By promising aid to Africa, and then changing his mind once the budget talks started. By doing nothing to create cheaper, generic AIDS drugs?

I thought they did actually contribute a fair bit of money. They promised 15 billion over the next 5 years. Last year I think they were meant to give 3.5 billion or so but only gacve 2.5 billion.
That is what you call, giving corporations money to do the pleasant bidings of Bush. Africa isn't getting that money or direct services with that money.

He just says. "I am giving X amount of money to fight aids" and then later he says, "I only could give this amount and not X". But nowhere in the news are they reporting effectively were that money is really going. Most of it is being eaten up through red tape, going to companies in the form of "Research and Development" grants. Going to companies to just so they will investigate into looking into methods of transportation costs involved in shipping arraignments to africa. The list goes on and on to buying second hand equipment (garbage medical devices) from hospital and major health care providers tax free.

See here is the deal, they can sell this old equipment which nobody was going to buy, after already taking depreciation losses on it through taxes. Then the government will buy these medical devices, which weren't ever going to get used, at value. The companies that sell them get special breaks because they don't have to claim them as capital gains on their taxes even though it is completely is capital gains. But they have special forms, like charity contributions which don't always mean "giving away" but selling as well.

And when everybody asks, why is Africa's situation getting worse, most people won't explain it as above. They are going to say, and I promise you they will, "Africa's unstable political and social situation with the severe unrest and fighting, made it impossible to properly dispense all our aid properly. Most warlords and rebel leaders stole the goods we delivered and the people and aid stations never saw any of it. It is close to uncivilized in the part of the area, also most of the places that needed it were to rural and remote for us to transport it to them." That is the excuses you will see, not the 100 million dollar checks cut to companies to "research and develop" something they were already researching. And no they won't increase the size of their research department because of the giant check, they will just cut all current funds from the department and put them back in their pocket and put the money from the government back in its place.

[Saint-Just]

So the benefit of this to the American government may be that it had subsidised American businesses. And, probably one of the main reasons for it is for the American government members who are involved with these corporations. That is what you are saying? The money at least stays in the American economy while giving the appearance that it is been given to Africa.

Although I am sure some of it does get to Africa and is useful even if it may be aiding American businesses.

[Exploited Class]

Originally posted by Chairman [email protected] 23 2004, 07:04 AM
Although I am sure some of it does get to Africa and is useful even if it may be aiding American businesses.
I agree and disagree.

I am sure that some of it will get to Africa, you can't do 15 billion and have absolutely nothing to show for it. That just wouldn't fly. It is about the degree of impact from the initial invesment, 15 billion will be the initial investment but the output and impact of that output. We are dealing with a continent, not just a country, even if 15 billion was untouched and all of it was 100% unfiltered the impact would be barely significant or noticable.

Now after all is said and done the output will probably be about 3 to 4 Billion of actual aid seen by Africa. Around about 25 to 35% of initial investment. For a continent of 1 Billion that will provide barely anything but clean needles and educational material.

Don't get me wrong I have no issues with aiding Africa, it is just from your previous statement I quoted, you made it sound like this was a significant contributed amount of money, essentially you put it in good lighting. Sadly, when you strip it all away and get to the meat of the beast it is barely anything. Especially in comparison to how many people are going to die of Aids.

Also the President and his administration hasn't been very clear exactly what all this aid will end up as. I don't think helping people with AIDS in Africa will benefit from any kind of aid. The real situation that we should be preparing for his helping all the orphans created from the AIDS epidemic. If there was a cure for AIDS I would say, give them all the cure they can handle, since there isn't I think it should be realistic that those folks will die but if we can help in not creating a continent of homeless orphans left in the wake of the epidemic's path.

I just don't want it to be thought that Bush was doing something positive when really there are plenty of alterier motives and reasons for his actions. Anything Africa recieves from this will be a "side-effect" of greed, and not very significant.

[Saint-Just]

Also the President and his administration hasn't been very clear exactly what all this aid will end up as. I don't think helping people with AIDS in Africa will benefit from any kind of aid. The real situation that we should be preparing for his helping all the orphans created from the AIDS epidemic. If there was a cure for AIDS I would say, give them all the cure they can handle, since there isn't I think it should be realistic that those folks will die but if we can help in not creating a continent of homeless orphans left in the wake of the epidemic's path.

The spread of AIDS can be reduced, in the long-run that is what will end the epidemic. To stop the spread you need treatment and education. Treatment because if people are being treated they are less likely to spread it, since when they are not being treated they have no hope of surviving and act very uncautious. Education is needed to that people know to avoid catching AIDS.

One of the main causes of AIDS is prostitution and drug use, although I am not sure to what extent this is the case in Africa, but it certainly is in Eastern Europe and Russia.

I thought the population of Africa was more like 800 million, although 1 billion is approximately correct.


Now after all is said and done the output will probably be about 3 to 4 Billion of actual aid seen by Africa. Around about 25 to 35% of initial investment. For a continent of 1 Billion that will provide barely anything but clean needles and educational material.

I have heard that some of the money will be contributed towards educational material. I do not know about the rest of it.

It does seem like a fair bit of money though.

Anyway, I think you are right in general.