Bush Must Pay The Price

It's unfortunate, I don't think I've ever seen such a lack of leadership in Washington as we are seeing today. Senator's and Representatives who proudly stood up to take what now appears to have been only a purely political stand by supporting and voting for a war they evidently never had the courage to see through. But not Bush. Foremost among many, he seems almost alone now, determined to stay the course.

Mistakes? Misjudgments? Certainly, though if one takes history apart, his are no more significant, or costly than so many of nearly all Presidents who have gone before. His crime is not so much what he has done, but what he will not do - turn away from a pledge he made to America post 9-11.

In some ways I pity him, in others, I feel envy. How many of us are ever tested to such a degree? And having it all played out every day in the press, every night on the TV.

Let the Democrats plot, they always will. Nearly everything they do they seem to do for political advantage and little else. And let the wobbly Republicans moan and whine about their political future. Given the performance of many of them lately, it isn't a future to which they are entitled anymore.

Win, lose or draw, redeploy or surge - though I suspect I know which one it will be given the resolute Bush - I simply wanted to rise up above the idiocy I've been seeing and hearing from the Left and even the weak middle, and say how much I admire our President at a time when even that is likely to draw much disdain.

Whether or not this country ultimately chooses, or is able to follow him, I can't really say. But nothing should ever be more clear than that there's a leader in the White House today. And that's something America can and will likely never have enough of - sad to say.

Recently the Right undertook sort of an on line Pledge. In hindsight, I think we got it wrong. We shouldn't have been pledging to penalize the Senate, too many of them aren't worth it. We should have been pledging something worthwhile, our support for our President, President Bush.

In today's terms, though I'm far from convinced in terms of history, Bush must pay the price. At the very least, he shouldn't have to pay it alone. 

Comments

[warrenb]

HA HA...let me finish your story if I may....

YES BUSH MUST PAY THE PRICE
for all the young lives he stole
for all the lies he told
for all the souls disfigured in vein
their future are all but stained
for the war in which HE waged
on a country so disengaged
for a purpose HE saw seemingly right
yet couldn't even muster to win the fight
yes this president now seems weak
and the future outlook bleak
With democracy in Iraq so out of reach
all that's left is WE MUST IMPEACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THROW THE BUMS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheSpartan]

Brghhgh...I just threw up in my mouth a little...

"Let the democrats plot, they always will"..."hello 911? I need a waaaaaahmbulance".

[kath]

I'm with ya, Dan. (from a friendly)

[OzJohnny]

Please. waaaaaahmbulance, indeed.

"Go to sleep lefties.... sleep, my pretties.... The poppies are your friends," says the wicked witch of Osama.

[Jon G]

First, stubbornness should not be confused with leadership. Iraq is the centerpiece of his administration. It's been mismanaged from Day 1. Absolutely nothing there has gone as advertised. And today, there's no end in site following the Bush Plan. That's why his poll numbers have gone from 90+ right after 9/11 to now around 30.

Second, it's Bush that's lost interest in Osama, not the Dems. Here's a direct quote from Bush:

"And, again, I don't know where he is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him"

[sglover]

NO! PLEASE keep pushing your "pledge"!! I'm confident that with the brilliant tactical judgement that you guys always display, you can confine the GOP to the most backward provinces of the land!!!

Where's that old "let's keep ignoring external reality" gumption that makes you guys so special? This is no time to let the hive mind down!!

[sglover]

"Second, it's Bush that's lost interest in Osama, not the Dems. Here's a direct quote from Bush:

'And, again, I don't know where he is. I -- I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him'"

Look, hive mind etiquette is clear on this point: Thou shalt NOT mention bin Laden! Don't be rude! If Dear Leader says he's not important, he's not important!

[sglover]

"In some ways I pity him, in others, I feel envy. How many of us are ever tested to such a degree? And having it all played out every day in the press, every night on the TV."

And people ask me, "How come you always call Riehl 'lickspittle'?"

[Purple Avenger]

Leadership is a lonely business, particularly when there is the baying mob outside the door that thinks it knows more than you do, and you know things you dare not reveal.

[nitpicker]

Hey, Dan? If you're under 42, the National Guard'll test your ass good and proper.

[sglover]

"Leadership is a lonely business, particularly when there is the baying mob outside the door that thinks it knows more than you do, and you know things you dare not reveal."

That must be why he needs all the vacations, all that mystic knowledge just a-burstin' outa his noggin.

[Darth Malice]

Bush needs to damage Islamic Terror as much as he can before 2009 when the liberals put America down for the count.

[Purple Avenger]

"all that mystic knowledge"

I'm not sure I'd call the collected product of all our intelligence agencies and backchannel communications, "mystic knowledge", but if you want to diss them that way its OK by me. Tis a free country.

[Cindi]

PA, right you are. Have a family member in a position that requires weekly intelligence briefs. Majority of the posters here would not believe the reports even if the government made them public knowledge. They could give a god damn about anyone other than them selves. On the other hand we have to be thankful to all the young people still going to the local recruting office to enlist. Thankful to those in our military who desire to stay on, even after their enlistment time is up. My nephew is one of them. God Bless you Cliff, and the others in our military who have a clue.

[Dan Riehl]

All one can really do is laugh at the liberal chuckleheads here and be glad we still have enough people in power with the insight required to do what needs to be done. When this settles down some, the idiots will be off crying for more government cheese, or some other entitlement which they hardly deserve.

[Wendy]

Dan, I feel you are right on with this one. Thus far, the President has faced terrorism on our soil which took over 3,000 lives, a war in Afghanistan, a war in Iraq, the threat of nuclear attack from Korea, Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Charlie, Hurricane Isabel, Hurricane Jean. Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Francis, Russia's lax policy on nuclear material, anthrax attacks, demands from Mexico and immigrant workers, the apprehension of an individual planning to plant a nuclear weapon in Chicago, the apprehension of an individual planning a terrorist attack upon an Ohio shopping center, the apprehension of terrorists involved with the Islamic Army plotting to blow up the Sears Tower, a terrorist trying to blow up a plane enroute to the US from Paris, a terrorism attack on our Athens embassy, the Riyadh Compound Building attack, terrorist attacks upon U.S. interests in Syria, the 2004 terrorist plot to blow up financial buildings in New York and Washington, DC., the Tyler bomb poison attack by U.S. radicals, the 2003 plot to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge, the Toledo, Ohio terrorist plot, the plot to blow up the Hudson River tunnel, the white supremists obtaining serin gas in a plot to destroy government buildings, plot to conduct terrorist acts in the State of California (Kevin James) the terrorist plot to blow up the Chevyvale Mall in Rockville, Illinois, the attempting bombing of researchers by the Animal Liberation Front, Car bombing of the U.S. Embassy Karachi, the Beltway Sniper attacks, the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.....

He and our troops, as well as domestic law enforcement agencies have done a great job of keeping us safe, especially in considering the THOUSANDS of terrorists attacks in our countries to include hundreds inside of Russia, dozens inside of India, inside of Pakistan, Indonesia, Great Britain, France, Italy, Africa, Israel, suitcase bombs found in Germany, the terrorist attacks which have occurred in the Philipines, Kashmir, Dagestan, Kenya, Chechnya, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Morroco and Turkey and Hugo Chavez trying to extort the government.

He has faced a hostile Congress who has pointed fingers instead of coming up with solutions, massacres and genocide in Darfur, the Yelwa Massacre in Nigeria, the Itabi Massacre in Burundi, the Gujarat violence in India, the Godhra training burning in India, the Gatumba Massacre in Burundi, the Turbi Massacre in Kenya, the Red Lake High School Massacre in Minnesota, the Goleta Postmaster Massacre in Goleta, California.....

A shortage of energy and oil....gas prices going up. He inherited a "dropping economy" and was able to revive the U.S. through increased home ownership, a shortage of flu shots, e-coli poisoning in California through tainted vegetables, deteriorating levies in California and Louisiana, Americans rioting and shooting at police during the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Tropical Storm Allison in Texas in 2001, the SARS pandemic, wildfires in the western United States, water shortages in the western United States, floods in the midwest, east coast electrical blackouts....

He has had to revamp the CIA which provided faulty intelligence prior to 9/11, had to revamp the domestic security program, overhaul the national law enforcement program, enhance the educational program and try to make some sense out of Social Security, which is at risk for generations to come.

And amongst all this, he has made time to meet with many of the families of fallen soldiers who are protecting America.

God bless him...he has had a lot on his plate and America has come through this virtually unscathed...at least enough that individuals still feel comfortable sitting at their computers and whining that they choose to focus on the "little things" rather than come up with ideas to resolve the "big picture."

It all comes down to a false sense of entitlement from those who expect government to take care of all their problems, rather than Americans standing together and resolving the issues in a united manner. Perhaps they would be better off somewhere else where the government will dictate and govern every act their citizens make.

Yep, as you said...."the idiots will be off crying for more government cheese, or some other entitlement which they hardly deserve."

[TheSpartan]

God bless him...he has had a lot on his plate and America has come through this virtually unscathed...at least enough that individuals still feel comfortable sitting at their computers and whining that they choose to focus on the "little things" rather than come up with ideas to resolve the "big picture."

Little things? A screwed up war is a little thing? But an isolated shooting in Minnesota is a big thing? You need help Wendy.

[Artie]

I cannot imagine how the Bush administration was able to get through both the school shooting in Minnesota, the shooting in a post office in Goleta AND the fact that its cold outside today. You 28%ers set the bar mighty high!! Stay the course, it's only 2 years - after that you won't have the presidency or the congress to worry about. Onward, brave patriots.

[bill]

We have made a serious mistake, BDS does not stand for Bush Derangement Syndrome, it really means 'Brain Dead Syndrome'. Look at it this way. libtards see political opportunity in school shootings. How cool is that?

[Carl]

The bravery and patriotism of this post made me want to don a flight suit and land on an aircraft carrier with a Mission Accomplished! banner behind me. I am so filled with pride that I think I will go out and buy yet another Chinese-made Yellow Ribbon magnet.

[carolh]

I talked to my son in Iraq last night. In the last 5 days he has: survived a mortar attack on his Humvee that blew concrete chunks from a blast barrior into his face (he's the gunner on top); survived a sniper attach when he was guarding his Humvee--four bullets blew by his head but the sniper missed; and survived a grenade blast. The grenade was thrown by a kid about 12 years old and the Iraq Police he was with blew the kid away. It was my son's job to check the body for ID and take away the 2 other grenades the kid had. Anybody checked the blown up body of a 12 yeard old lately? Don't talk to me about the "courage" and "leadership" of the draft dodging war monger in the White House. My son has more courage in his little toe nail than that guy has in his entire body. If you support the troops, get them out! BTW, my son is 21 years old. What was the Dear Leader in the White House doing when he was 21? Answer: Drinking his life away, after all, he was "young and irresponsible."

[Jon G]

Wendy missed the part where President Bush was reading 'My Pet Goat' to those elementary kids when he was told about the 9/11 attacks. Bush was so thoughtful of those kids' feelings that instead of rushing into action to find out what was going on and disturbing those poor kids, instead he stuck around for another five minutes to finish the story. Now that's leadership.

[Cindi]

Carol. Tell us what made your son DECIDE to join the military. Was it that his family was too poor to afford college? Did he not realize that he would have to use a real gun?, and Kill real people, 12 year olds included. If he failed to realize the reality of war...........shame on you as a parent! Now stop your fucking crying.

[Todd]

Cindy, you are a foulmouthed pig. I am certain that no decent man would ever sleep with you. You are white trash garbage.

[Charles Warren]

"Carol. Tell us what made your son DECIDE to join the military. Was it that his family was too poor to afford college? Did he not realize that he would have to use a real gun?, and Kill real people, 12 year olds included. If he failed to realize the reality of war...........shame on you as a parent! Now stop your fucking crying."

This post shows how phony and despicable the 'patriotism' of the neocon is. Cindi knows that no one from her class and no one she knows would ever deign to do the dirty work of empire. That's for the common lower orders. Their lives are cheap and expendable. The neocon and the Kerry liberal share a snobbish contempt for red state Jacksonians but with the added despicable twist of feigning patriotism as they send them to their deaths for no other reason than their criminal pride.

It is a sign of a decadent ruling class, a selfish, irresponsible ruling class without any conception of duty or honor or patriotism, of a country with people like Cindi, that their sons are nowhere to be found on the front lines in wartime. At least the sons of the European aristocracy paid the price in blood. The sons of Prescott Bush and Joseph Kennedy were low life expectancy front line junior officers (PT boat skipper and carrier pilot). What of the sons of the cheap labor globalist neocons ? They are completely willing to expend Americans whose laces thay are unfit to tie because they see them as too dumb to get into law school and therefore expendable. They have no loyalty to anything and no conception of duty or honor or right or wrong. To them it is all, gimme, gimme, gimme.

[Charles Warren]

The American people have the wisdom to perceive when a 'leader' is putting his ego first. When he is putting pigheadedness and father issues ahead of facing facts. When he is proudly, stubbornly refusing to accept that all the 'will' or 'effort' in the world will not turn other people into what you want them to be.

[sglover]

"Carol. Tell us what made your son DECIDE to join the military. Was it that his family was too poor to afford college? Did he not realize that he would have to use a real gun?, and Kill real people, 12 year olds included. If he failed to realize the reality of war...........shame on you as a parent! Now stop your fucking crying."

This is some of that troop-supporting that you lickspittles are always prattling on about?

Maybe, cindi darlin', you'd like to join Riehl, and hope that carolh gets hit by a bus? Even by the standards of this hive mind shithole, you're a real piece of work, sugar.

[Charles Warren]

That is what is so different about this war. Red State Americans know that they are being used as cannon fodder by scum like Cindi. Or so fools like Dan Riehl can brag about their 'resolve' and 'will'.

The perfect paradigm of this war is the Wall Street Journal editorial page. Out of one side their mouth its 'suck it up loser' outsourcing, downsizing, and illegal immigration. Out of the other side it is 'will' and 'resolve' and perpetual war. People with no loyalty or honor or compassion or integrity whose dream is a world ruled by a committee of plutocrats preach the duty of others to die for them.

[Carol H]

My son decided to join the army because he wanted to be a soldier. He wanted to be a soldier since he was 3 years old and my husband and I hoped he would wait until he finished college but that was not to be. He attended for 2.5 years before he joined, so he will not have that much left to do when he gets out. Money for college is not the issue for him, his college fund was and is fully funded. He is a warrior, it is just what he is, and when he gets out he wants to go into law enforcement. Cindi should be glad that there are men like him in this country. I asked him last night is he is still happy he joined the army and he said yes and no. He said that he wanted to know what fighting a war was like and he has found out. He says that right now he just takes it day by day and hopes he comes home alive and in one piece. Does anyone really know what war is like who has not fought in one? Do you, Cindi, know what war is really like? The only ones who really know are those who have been there, people like Jim Webb and John Kerry, not the cowardly draft dodgers who are currently leading this country. I'm not crying, but my son says the people in his barracks are. They lost 4 soldiers this week. Do you want me to forward your comments to him, so he can tell his fellow soldiers to stop their fucking crying, because after all they should have known what war was like?

[tally]

Dan, I totally agree with you on this one.

[Cindi]

Do you want me to forward your comments to him, so he can tell his fellow soldiers to stop their fucking crying, because after all they should have known what war was like?

Posted by: Carol H | Wednesday, January 31, 2007 at 09:00 PM

Fuck yes Carol, I want you to forward him this entire post. Your son has balls, you do not. All you worry about is your personal loss, and I am sure you see it a thousand times a day. Your son is one of many that I pray for each night. Vietnam I saw the death of two brothers who lived a cross the street from me as well as my best friends brother. WAR SUCKS! For a few short months I fought with my 19 yr olds decision to give up a full scholarship to join the Rangers. Even though he was turned down for service, before the fact, I still had to support his decision. WhAT I do not get is a parent who does not have th balls to support their own child in a life or death matter. These men and women do not go into war with blinders on. They know death is in front of them. And honestly Carol, I pray your son comes home alive. But as my son told me when he decided he wanted to go to war, MOM..........leave your emotions behind, this is what I have decided to do for my country and I believe it's the right thing. And I would never had he been accepted come out against a war he believed in.

[TheSpartan]

Cindi, do you have the national anthem blaring as you type? That might be the most jingoistic pile of tripe I've seen this week. The war was/is a lie, you like supporting lies?

How about having Bush support the troops when they get home? You've got kids killing themselves as a result of PTSD becuase the VA is under funded. Is that supporting the troops?

[Todd]

Cindi, sounds like your son is a loser too.

[carolh]

Cindi, your son told you he wanted to go to war, but he hasn't gone, has he? Was he turned down for Rangers or turned down for Army? If he was turned down for Army did he try Navy or Air Force? The requirements for service are so low these days it's hard to see how someone who wants to serve is not serving. Your son does not know what war is like any more than my son did when he joinied. You don't know unless you experience it. My son also joined the army to be a Ranger but an injury in Airborne prevented that. He's still in, though, and he goes above and beyond every single day. I supported him when he joined and I support him now, but I do not support this war and he knows it. Just because he joined the Army it does not mean that his life and the lives of his fellow soldiers are expendable. When our country sends them to war they deserve to have good planning, good equipment, clear goals and good leadership. The administration has failed in each of these.

[Rachel]

and what do you want now, carol? what are your answers and solutions?

[Cindi]

Carol, I know plenty of people who are in the military combat zones right now. All support and believe in what they are doing. Most of them are between 35 and 45 years old. The youngest is my nephew who is 23 and spent most of the last three years in Iraq. In December he signed up for another four years.

My son did try all branches of the military. He only has eleven percent vision in one eye, that is why they would not accept him for combat duty. Of course nobody knows what war is like until they are there, but my guess is they have a pretty good idea!

Todd, you are a punk sitting behind a computer with nothing worth while to post. Maybe you should try the Blues Clues web site, more your speed.

[carolh]

Rachel, any number of solutions have been proposed, none of them particularly good. Bush and the neo-cons led us into the worst policy disaster in US history and those of us who have been against it from the start are asked how to solve it. I don't know, but I don't trust those who screwed it up from the beginning to get it right now. Cindi, your son may not have been accepted for combat duty, but all military service is important and valuable. I am willing to bet that at least one branch of the service would have accepted him with his poor vision. Why the attraction to combat only? Cindi, you must realize that opinions on the war among military personell are not uniform. Many members of the military are against the current surge, including John Abazaid, who Bush replaced when he came out against it.

[Cindi]

Carol, my son was refused for any service. The Air Force went as far as sending him to Cornell University in New York to see if his vision could be corrected. Based on his grades in school and his involvement in his community he was considered for Officer Training. But with his vision as it is, they refused him. Why combat duty you ask. Because he is a leader, not the kind of kid to sit behind a desk. And beside that, he has this need to kill a few terrorist lol.