G.W. Bush Top Ten accomplishments

[kallend 2,148]

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I pray that the Republicans keep control of both houses because I don't believe liberalism has any solutions to offer our nation at the federal level.

Bush hasn't been a great president, but nor has he been an utter disaster. His spending is perturbing, that's for certain, among other things.

Top ten things...let me see...

1. Led us out of the Clinton-Gore recession. Yes, there was a recession - deal with it. Emphasis on the word 'was' because there sure isn't a recession right now.
2. Signed the 'Do Not Call' legislation. Fantastique! I HATE telemarketers.
3. Rejected Kyoto. Fuck those a-holes and their anti-American treaty.
4. $15 billion AIDS relief for Africa. I think $9 Billion ended up going to Africa and the other six to countries all over the world, but don't recall how Congress appropriated the funds. Much needed funding. Good job, GWB.
5. Tax cuts. I like my taxes low, thank you.
6. CAFTA. I support free trade.
7. Kicked the jerkoff Taliban out of power in Afghanistan. Those repressive pieces of shyte are a blight upon the Earth.
8. Promoted drilling in ANWR. The more oil we produce here, the less we need to import. Yes, I know it would not end our dependence upon foreign oil, but it WOULD be more produced here in the US and the wackos screaming about its impact up there really don't have much of an argument.
9. PROTECT Act of 2003 I have no use for cowards masquerading as men who abuse children
10. He's tried to put together a National Energy Policy. I think this is greatly needed and even though he's been unsuccessful to date, the focus needs to be there.

There's 10 things, off the top of my head. I can probably think of more.

11. Spent $4 Trillion that we don't actually have.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[SpeedRacer 1]

Jay Leno last night:

Well, we are fast approaching the 3rd anniversary of our invasion of Iraq. I wonder what the president will do to mark the anniversary. I'll bet we can rule out landing on a carrier and
announcing: "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!"

Speed Racer
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[SkyDekker 1,465]

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Spent $4 Trillion that we don't actually have.

Incredible isn't it. And the only "legitimate" answer that has been brought forward the most so far is the do not call legislation.

So, he has bankrupted the country (which he seems to do with most economic entities he is associated with) and the bets he has to show for it is a reduction in telemarketing calls....

[billvon 3,118]

>Jay Leno last night:

And a few more:

"Everybody excited about March Madness...the big NCAA tournament? Here's how it works: It starts at 65, then 64, then 32, then 16. It's just like Bush's approval rating."
---David Letterman:


"The Sopranos are a lot like the Bush administration. There are wiretaps, people going to jail, and the second-in-command accidentally shoots his best friend."
---Jay Leno


"More people, particularly Republicans, disapprove of President Bush's performance. They're questioning his character now and they no longer consider him a strong leader on terrorism. Apparently there's a little more to this whole presidency thing than just not getting blown."
---Bill Maher

[TheAnvil 0]

You deny the Clinton-Gore recession? You really should bone up on your history.

You deny that the PROTECT act of '03 is a good thing? Very odd. You ARE a father, aren't you?

If you're serious about curing budget deficits, please tell us how you recommend reducing entitlement spending over the next fifteen-twenty years given the current age demographics. Any decrease in either entitlement or discretionary spending is desirable, but to be serious, 'tis the entitlement spending you have to nip in the bud. I doubt a single GWB bashing leftie can give me ONE entitlement spending cut they would be willing to see go through. The few that know the difference at any rate.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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You deny the Clinton-Gore recession? You really should bone up on your history.

You deny that the PROTECT act of '03 is a good thing? Very odd. You ARE a father, aren't you?

Nope, didn't say that. I think you may have missed the word "most" in my previous post.

[skydyvr 0]

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I think you may have missed the word "most" in my previous post.

And the use of the words "only" and "most" in that sentence are contradictory.

. . =(_8^(1)

[masterblaster72 0]

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You deny the Clinton-Gore recession?

Funny how when I Google "Clinton-Gore recession" Sean Hannity's name pops up all over the search results.

Got something more original than that?

Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

[Channman 2]

> There's 10 things, off the top of my head. I can probably think of more.

I'll add Eleven and Twelve...

11) Supreme Court Justice John Roberts, Jr.

12) Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, Jr.

Two highly qualified jurist.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, retirement in the air

[funjumper101 15]

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You deny the Clinton-Gore recession?

Funny how when I Google "Clinton-Gore recession" Sean Hannity's name pops up all over the search results.

Got something more original than that?

Thanks for that contribution to the thread.

I knew that Anvil was getting his information from some kind of reputable source.

What part did Rush Scumbag contribute?

[kallend 2,148]

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I doubt a single GWB bashing leftie can give me ONE entitlement spending cut they would be willing to see go through. The few that know the difference at any rate.

I'd cut entitlements for defense contractors and Halliburton.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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And the use of the words "only" and "most" in that sentence are contradictory.

It would except only refers to "legitimate" and most refer to the frequency of thopse legitimate answers.

See, there were a few "joke answers" given twice...but really only one "legitimate" answer that was given twice. Hence, not a contradiction.

[TheAnvil 0]

Didn't know Hannity coined the phrase, but if he did, then good for him. The fact that GWB/Cheney inherited an economy in recession from Clinton/Gore is irrefutable. Face the fact whenever you like - a fact it remains.

Vice facing the fact, you make no comment other than to deride Sean Hannity.

I rarely listen to Rush, by the way, but normally do enjoy listening when I do manage to tune in. Been at least three months, I'd wager.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[TheAnvil 0]

As I said...I doubt one Bush bashing leftie will come up with one reduction in entitlement spending they would like to see.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[billvon 3,118]

>please tell us how you recommend reducing entitlement spending
>over the next fifteen-twenty years given the current age
>demographics.

Easy. Link it to taxes. Any politician will add pork to a budget if no one has to pay it back. If every billion they spend means their constituent's taxes go up a few bucks, suddenly they will be the bad guy - and will have a very strong incentive to not pork up a budget so much.

What we have now are a bunch of kids with credit cards that their parents are paying for. They know they might get in trouble if they spend too much, but they also know that mom and dad will always bail then out in the end. (Sadly, in this case, the reality is that their grandkids are the ones that will be stuck with the bill.)

[TheAnvil 0]

You're missing the point dude. Pork is discretionary spending. You have the option to add it or not. Entitlement spending is non-negotiable stuff...interest payments on the debt. medicare, medicaid, SS, welfare & other services, Retirement/disability - that sort of thing.

I just heard a presentation on the FY05 budget breakdown last year and have the PPT handy for some odd reason. FY05 Budget was about $2.396 Trillion. Of that, $1.381 Trillion was Mandatory funding, $178 billion on interest payments, and $837 billion in discretionary funding. DoD took $421 billion of the discretionary funding in FY05.

What do leftists propose to do to decrease the mandatory entitlement spending over the next 15-20 years? If the answer is nothing, then they have no credibility on deficit spending, as the main cost driver for the deficit IS entitlement spending...which, due to age demographics, WILL increase over the next 15-20+ years.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[SkyDekker 1,465]

I am not quite sure how that justifies the trillions beng spent right now?

Since you are already deep into the hole, you might as well dig deeper?

[billvon 3,118]

> Entitlement spending is non-negotiable stuff . . .

You're contradicting yourself. (Or did you really just ask me how to cut uncuttable expenditures?)

Entitlement spending CAN be cut. It's been cut before; it's been increased before. (Heck, just check out the latest budget plan.) It just takes more work, because you can't just add it to (or subtract it from) a budget. Again, currently there is absolutely no incentive to cut anything. Why bother? Someone else will pay for it.

If you link taxes to expenditures, then congressmen will have a strong incentive to cut both discretionary and entitlement spending. That will never happen, of course, because then there would be an immediate and visible indication that the GOP spends just as much as the democrats do. The big difference is that the GOP does not believe in paying it back.

[TheAnvil 0]

I did ask you how you would cut what is considered to be uncuttable - SS, Medicare, Medicaid, Retirement/Disability. That's what we HAVE to cut if any serious deficit reduction is to be accomplished. GWB chided the Congress in the SOTU for not passing any meaningful SS reform. The leftists in the room applauded thunderously. They have no credibility on the topic of deficit reduction. None. Zilcho. Nada. They even opposed GWB eliminating programs in the Department of Education that had been shown to be ineffective! I mean come ON! I'm for cutting discretionary spending as well - especially needless pork - but without entitlement spending reductions/reform any cuts in discretionary spending, though desirable, have little effect on the overall goal of deficit reduction.

Time for TheAnvil to go play/workout/prepare to head to Dublin. Have a safe weekend everyone! I'll be in Dublin soon...watch your stashes of tequila if you are there...

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[kelpdiver 2]

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What do leftists propose to do to decrease the mandatory entitlement spending over the next 15-20 years? If the answer is nothing, then they have no credibility on deficit spending, as the main cost driver for the deficit IS entitlement spending...which, due to age demographics, WILL increase over the next 15-20+ years.

Clinton's attempts at SS were shot down, and the GOP majority in Congress during the latter term did very little on that end.

Bush dramatically increased the cost over the next 15-20 years with his poorly formed drug plan policy, btw. Trillions more than was already there.

[kelpdiver 2]

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Top ten things...let me see...

1. Led us out of the Clinton-Gore recession. Yes, there was a recession - deal with it. Emphasis on the word 'was' because there sure isn't a recession right now.

I was living high on the hog until after he took office. Sure, a downturn was inevitable, but it happened on Bush's watch, while he has a balanced budget to work with.

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4. $15 billion AIDS relief for Africa. I think $9 Billion ended up going to Africa and the other six to countries all over the world, but don't recall how Congress appropriated the funds. Much needed funding. Good job, GWB.
5. Tax cuts. I like my taxes low, thank you.

Make up your mind!

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7. Kicked the jerkoff Taliban out of power in Afghanistan. Those repressive pieces of shyte are a blight upon the Earth.

yeah, I appreciate that he emphatically wielded America's big stick diplomacy. Clinton turned the other cheek. Would have been nice if Iraq had just been about toppling Hussein.

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8. Promoted drilling in ANWR. The more oil we produce here, the less we need to import. Yes, I know it would not end our dependence upon foreign oil, but it WOULD be more produced here in the US and the wackos screaming about its impact up there really don't have much of an argument.

10. He's tried to put together a National Energy Policy. I think this is greatly needed and even though he's been unsuccessful to date, the focus needs to be there.

ROTFLMAO.

Oil saved for later is much more valuable to us. His energy policy seems much more about serving personal interests, not the country.

If he really wanted to end our dependency, it could be done with a sweep of the pen - jack up fuel economy standards on cars. So long as we have a choice, we're each going to opt for performance over American's interests. (well, not everyone, but close enough)

[kallend 2,148]

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You're missing the point dude. Pork is discretionary spending. You have the option to add it or not. Entitlement spending is non-negotiable stuff...interest payments on the debt.

Oh, you want to talk about the debt. The National Debt was $1T when Reagan came into office, now it's $8.2T. That's a $7.2T increase, of which $5.6T was under Reagan's, Bush(41)'s and Bush(43)'s administrations (17 years) and $1.6T was under Clinton's (8 years).

So on an annual basis Republican administrations borrow at a rate 64% faster than Democratic ones., and it's speeding up under your hero.

The Republican party is NOT the party of fiscal responsibility.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[kallend 2,148]

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I did ask you how you would cut what is considered to be uncuttable - SS, Medicare, Medicaid, Retirement/Disability. That's what we HAVE to cut if any serious deficit reduction is to be accomplished. GWB chided the Congress in the SOTU for not passing any meaningful SS reform. The leftists in the room applauded thunderously.

That's because Bush's #1 Priority (which he seems to have forgotten about, again) came bundled with a plan from the White House which HAD no credibility to begin with. Even the Republicans in Congress recognized that.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[tbrown 26]

Politicized the FDA to the point that safe drugs, like the "morning after" pill are kept off the market by religious zealots, inspite of the scientific advisors voting 31-3 that it's safe to use.

Keeping HPV vaccinations out of schools. He'd rather have another generation of kids get genital warts and possibly cervical cancer, than provide a vaccination that can actually PREVENT CANCER, because he doesn't want kids to not be celibate (wonder if he was ever celibate, sort of doubt it...).

Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity !

[kallend 2,148]

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Keeping HPV vaccinations out of schools. He'd rather have another generation of kids get genital warts and possibly cervical cancer, than provide a vaccination that can actually PREVENT CANCER, because he doesn't want kids to not be celibate (wonder if he was ever celibate, sort of doubt it...).

I doubt he can remember much from back then. He couldn't remember to turn up for his service obligation defending Alabama from invasion by the Viet Cong.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.