In a Bush postmortem in the February Vanity Fair, two former advisers suggest Hurricane Katrina finished off George W. Bush’s presidency. “The president broke his bond with the public. Once that bond was broken, he no longer had the capacity to talk to the American public. State of the Union addresses? It didn’t matter. Legislative initiatives? It didn’t matter,” said former Bush pollster and campaign strategist Matthew Dowd.
Dan Bartlett, former White House communications director and later counselor to the president, said: “Politically, it was the final nail in the coffin.”
Another former top aide, Lawrence Wilkerson, likened the new president, circa 2001, to Sarah Palin during the past campaign, suggesting Vice President Dick Cheney and then-Secretary of State Colin Powell had to cover for Bush’s ignorance of foreign policy. “It allowed everybody to believe that this Sarah Palin-like president — because, let’s face it, that’s what he was — was going to be protected by this national-security elite, tested in the cauldrons of fire,” Wilkerson said.
110 Comments
It wasn’t katrina, it was the Iraq war.
For me it was his arrogance and total lack of respect for our country and her citizens. He was never superior to anyone and his braggadocio attitude is as empty as his head.
20 days, 20hours, 57 minutes, 37 seconds
It can’t come soon enough!
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease (lightly) a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Over a medium heat, brown the stew meat in a large skillet then drain and place aside.
In a mixing bowl, mix together the tomatoes, bouillon granules, tapioca, sugar, salt, pepper and water. Add in the beef, celery, onion, carrots, potatoes and bread cubes then pour into the baking dish.
Bake, covered, for 2 hours, or until the meat and vegetables become tender.
I agree with P-Mom..it was the Iraqi war that turned Americans against him…because it was stupid in the first place to go after a country that was no threat to our national security, while all but ignoring the perpetrator behind 9/11, and then it was so costly and badly managed…dragging on much longer than the administration promised. He was so incompetant in many ways..but the war and all the damage done by it is the topper.
Only holes I see in the Iraq War logic is
1) He was re-elected
2) Since the tide has turned in Iraq everyone’s opinion should then have changed.
It was his very candidacy and how he stole the election turned America against bush.
“Since the tide has turned in Iraq everyone’s opinion should then have changed.”
How so? It will cost us literally trillions of dollars and over 100,000 lives..for what? So they can have sham elections like the rest of the Middle East? Please tell me…how is America better off for invading Iraq? How have we really changed their culture and ideology?
The only reason Bush was relected was that Kerry was such a weak, pathetic candidate.
Well since I don’t live in Iraq I really can’t speak on how the culture and ideology has changed in 5 years. I also think though that for you to call there elections a sham in ridiculous. Unless of course you have participated in them.
Ultimately I believe that a strong Democracy in the Middle East (which won’t be known for years) makes the world and America safer.
A large factor in Bush being elected twice was our dysfunctional, corporate-owned media.
I think you’re being very naive and idealistic if you think Iraq will ever evolve into a true democracy…can you name one Middle Eastern country that is an example of true democracy? I can’t.
SWEET! I hope that more and more of the rats turn on the chief rat.
“Well since I don’t live in Iraq I really can’t speak on how the culture and ideology has changed in 5 years”
Let me give you a hint..it hasn’t.
No Mary I can’t (with the exception of Israel). But I think to say no country or people has a desire for Democracy then you don’t believe in the principles on which our country was founded.
Just curious…what is the recipe above called? Could you include the measurements for the ingredients? It sounds good.
LOL. Thanks Mary. It’s for a Beef Stew.
“SWEET! I hope that more and more of the rats turn on the chief rat.” — bth
—-
Kinda puts yesterday’s “Should he be investigated” question to rest. Let the insiders tell us!
“But I think to say no country or people has a desire for Democracy then you don’t believe in the principles on which our country was founded.”
I’m not saying the desire isn’t there…but there are too many roadblocks in the culture and the mindset of the Middle Eastern people. They are tribal and have been for thousands of years…we can’t change that. Sometimes you have to realize what we can control and what we can’t…Israel and Palestine is a good example. All the intervention in the world can’t stop them from following their tribal instincts and their strong desire to destroy each other. The tribes within Iraq are no different. Bush never took into account the culture in Iraq before he started his big adventure there.
If it’s beef stew, then why the bread cubes and baking dish?
Give up the receipe, I want to try it.
Good idea, Linda..it would be great if they all turned whistle blower!
Yeah, like Vanity Fairy Tales are only going to use quotes that are destructive to Bush.
Once again, yellow journalism pervades our society from mind bloated liberals.
We’ll have to continue to respectively agree to disagree.
I don’t think the answer to the problems of that exist in the culture is tierany or dictatorship.
“mind bloated liberals.”
LOL..that’s a new one!
The folks above are correct, the Iraq war started the doubts about Bush, but his allowing a major city to be destroyed and really never bothering to fix it afterward is what definitely finished off his presidency.
Bush was elected for the first time in 2004 because Kerry was weak and Team Rove successfully manipulated the fears of the electorate. And of course there is the lingering suspicion that the Diebold corporation deleivered Ohio in 2004 as promised.
With all respect, Mr Kia…if establishing Democracy is our main goal for oppressed countries, then why don’t we do something about China and North Korea? The people there are suffering every bit as much if not more than the Iraqis under Saddamn’s rule.
What about Lybia or Syria or Iran?
Mary_Caruso
Posted December 31, 2008 at 10:12 am | Permalink
“mind bloated liberals.”
LOL..that’s a new one!
* * * * *
Since his CVA, James’s use of language has gotten more interesting.
StevenEDavis
Posted December 31, 2008 at 10:16 am | Permalink
The folks above are correct, the Iraq war started the doubts about Bush, but his allowing a major city to be destroyed…
———————————
Davis is thinking that Bush has God-like powers and inflicted the wrath of Katrina on New Orleans.
Of course, peoples in other states that were hit equally hard by Katrina, picked themselves up by their bootstraps and rebuilt.
New Orleans – well – it was a typical liberal whine-fest of hey I’m a victim – rebuild my city while I sit on my fat ass somewhere else.
“tierany” — Mr. Diarrhea
You’re falling into your old habits. It’s tyranny. It’s also partially why anyone with a mind can’t respect your opinions. You can’t hide that you’re an uneducated doofus. Now you can all lay in wait for my next hilarious malapropism. I know it’s coming.
In fact I made one the other day. “Put some unguent on that prolepses.” I meant prolapse. I have an excuse. The error was spelling checker assisted. Thankfully, no one cared, or knew what any of the words were.
“Regular” bemoans –
“mind bloated liberals.”
You misspelled “smart.”
Said the man using 3rd grade nicknames…
but his allowing a major city to be destroyed and really never bothering to fix it afterward
Yeah, he should have stood on the coast and blown that mean ole hurricane back out into the gulf. How irresponsible of him to allow a city to be destroyed.
And to say nothing of the piss poor planning by the local mayor and governor. They had no responsibility to the very people that elected them.
Well ya know?
If a major American city is about to be destroyed? MOST people don’t go on a guitar playing vacation.
“Mr_Kia” decries –
“tierany”
Ah. A fonix student!
(Is “Hooked on Phonics” still a sponsor on the Limbaugh show? Talk about ideal target marketing. 1-800-ABC-DEFG knew where to find illiterates.)
I don’t know if bush has any NEWER proud moments.
Last I knew of, his biggest deal was a fish he caught.
While he had the memo “Bin Laden determined to attack in US” in his pocket.
Brain bound leftists.
Megasmart pinkos
Cranially crammed commies.
Good ones today from Mary and Ms. Inks. Especially, Ms. Inks, for pointing out the different ways in which Brittany’s sister and Sarah’s daughter were treated. Did you think that one up yourself? If so, My respect for your stuffed skull is doubled.
If a major American city is about to be destroyed? MOST people don’t go on a guitar playing vacation.
And most people evacuate. Most elected officials don’t let evacuation school busses drown. Where was the governor when his people needed him most? The mayor?
And if the storm had weakened or taken a turn the President would be vilified for having wasted Government resources going into the region.
I think that Bush’s presidency was finished off by Katrina, but it’s a little more complicated than that.
I think the Iraq war would have been politically manageable – i.e., Bush could have kept 50.1+% of the voting public on his side – had he reacted differently to Katrina. I don’t think it was Iraq that finished him off, not at all Aside: this is ineffably sad to me, as a proud American, since Iraq was easily the biggest American foreign policy blunder since the War of 1812, and in a perfect world should have killed his presidency by summer of 2003 when it became obvious there were no WMD. It makes me very sad to realize that most of us can’t even spot an elephant in a room, or identify such an enormous, glaring, obvious mistake.
Anyway, the context of Katrina. What really killed Bush politically was that Terry Schiavo died on March 31, 2005. Five months later, Katrina.
To normal, working class voters – a significant part of Bush’s base in the 2004 election – saw clearly that the religious right was the Wizard behind the curtain. The house tried to subpoena Michael Schiavo, Bush interrupted his vacation to catch a midnight flight back to DC: when the RR was involved, then Bush could flat out move.
Five months later, Katrina and the Bush flyover. That’s when normal, working class Americans realized what Bush really meant when he talked about “his base,” and they were most definitely not in it.
Poof. Fatal. Dead presidency.
“…piss poor planning by the local mayor and governor.” — SolDevVB
——–
I agree! After nature wrecked havoc, the incompetent response was amazing, from multiple levels. However, I can’t forget, “Brownie, you’re doin’ a heckof a job”.
Quickly, how many days worth of supplies does the Government recommend citizens have on hand in case of a disaster? (earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.)
Maybe he should have thought twice before he appointed a horse judge to head FEMA?
“And most people evacuate.”
To? Where?
That good old Southern hospitality (racism) had them turning back people who walked WALKED out of the devastated area!
bush flew over low of course. AFTER the city drowned.
Come ‘on Kia…give up the whole receipe for your famous beef stew!
Yes, Mr. Diarrhea, I shouldn’t have renicked GMC70 as “drives a shitty pickup.” Well, I’m sorry for that. It showed a lack of respect. From now on I will refer to him as “drives a relatively shitty pickup.”
I note too, that when I use renics, the person referred to seems to know immediatley who I am referring to.
We all know who “fibulus” is don’t we?
Also, I would like to think that there was an extensive amount of buyer’s remorse about the 2004 election, what with the ugliness in Ohio and the Swiftboating and the overall tone.
I think that if you track his approval ratings the regressed slope is entirely negative from Jan-2004 until today.
So maybe buyer’s remorse played a part in it as well. I hope.
Very nice. Here you go Mary:
Not sure if it’s cold enough today for it. I usually like it when we don’t get above freezing.
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1 in. cubes
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, with juice
2 strips celery, chopped into 3/4 in. pieces
1 onion, roughly diced
4 carrots, chopped into 1 in. pieces
3 potato, peeled and cut into cubes
3 tbsp instant tapioca
1 tbsp beef bouillon granules
2 tsp white sugar
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 slice bread, cut into cubes
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup water
The Federal government does take your and my tax money to fund FEMA. Ever hear of them? Under Bill Clinton, the program worked – see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Andrew
Under Bush chronies, FEMA did not work so great. But of course acknowledging that undeniable fact, is not nearly as fun as bashing Louisana politicians.
Carry on. . .
That Reminds me of the recipe page in the Wednesday issue of the Aberdeen American News. People started sending in fake recipes, and the editors never knew the difference. One was for lime Jell-O and Vienna sausages.
“And most people evacuate.”
To? Where?
Geeeeee. That is a tough one. Maybe to where there wasn’t a hurricane?
That good old Southern hospitality (racism) had them turning back people who walked WALKED out of the devastated area!
Geeeee. You think that maybe they should have evacuated before the storm?
bush flew over low of course. AFTER the city drowned.
And the national guard told the citizens to evacuate before the storm. What else would you have Bush do before the city drown?
You lay blame everywhere but where it belongs. The failures were on the local level. You’d rather point at Bush.
Your failures are caused by you. Your lack of work, caused by you. But you want to blame big business and you have your empty upturned hand out to the government.
Agree with your 9:34 a.m. post Pendant. But what really finshed Bush off, even for most dead-enders (note the word most – which allows for some dead-dead-enders who populate this blog) was the high gas prices and a tanking economy.
I remember the MSM talking about “Clinton fatigue” in ‘99 and ‘00. I am not sure what term could properly describe the angst many of us feel about Bush. And, does anyone else think the Rovian attempts to rehabilitate Bush’s legacy, are just laughable? – at best.
“And the national guard told the citizens to evacuate before the storm.”
Uh huh.
Again. To where?
Were there shelters set up?
MOST of those people can’t afford unlimited hotel stays.
If it happened here, I’d grab a couple of tents and take off.
PROBABLY so some self absorbed jerk like you could beetch about me camping in your local park.
“People started sending in fake recipes, and the editors never knew the difference.” — beber
—–
Yesterday I bought a small tub of Jalapeno Peanut Brittle at Dillons. It was on sale — half off — selling for $1.49. There was a lot left. I stood with it in my hand, wondering if it was mislabeled, wondering why anyone would even consider mixing jalapenos and peanut brittle. After one taste I knew why there was a lot left, still can’t imagine the answer to why someone would cook that!
Thanks Kia, I’m going to try it tonight. I’ve been home sick with a horrible respiratory infection for the last 3 days…I think making this stew is just what the doctor ordered!
SolDevVB
Posted December 31, 2008 at 10:46 am | Permalink
You lay blame everywhere but where it belongs. The failures were on the local level. You’d rather point at Bush.
—
Operational failures existed at the local level, sure. But it’s also true that nobody had ever seen a hurricane surge like that in NO, nobody – including Bush and FEMA. So you have a point.
Where Bush does own some blame, though, is in the fact that nobody from FEMA could manage to get any supplies in – hell, they couldn’t even understand what was happening, they were obviously clueless – even as friggin news reporters were reporting from the SuperDome and heading back to comfortable hotels. So you had Chertoff telling the press that everything was under control. the press reporting that no, not even, and then the public could see that there were places in NO that weren’t so bad, like the press hotels.
Bush and FEMA appeared inept, ignorant, and uncaring. THAT’s what Bush owns 100%, nobody else.
“does anyone else think the Rovian attempts to rehabilitate Bush’s legacy, are just laughable? – at best.”
————-
Steven — I laugh at the attempts to color bush’s years in office as something / anything other than an abysmal failure. But I can’t find any humor in the damage he and his have done!
Very good. I hope you feel better.
Good luck, it definitely gets things a movin’.
Check the success of other micro-managers in Executive Office.
FEMA recommends a three-day supply of essentials in case of disaster.
The Federal response was within that time frame.
I think what pulled bush down was the economy, even when the admin. was telling people how good it was, they knew they weren’t feeling the benefits.
There was a disconnect between GDP, and main street, as all the benefits were accumulating to the already wealthy.
True, like many repubs here demonstrate, they could’ve lost all of their money, and still loved bush. But then they are part of the 28%ers, and to them bush is a man GOD.
StevenEDavis
Posted December 31, 2008 at 10:51 am | Permalink
And, does anyone else think the Rovian attempts to rehabilitate Bush’s legacy, are just laughable? – at best.
—
I don’t think this is at all unusual for the GOP. They learned a long time ago that if they don’t take steps to frame perceptions (if they leave that up to the press) then they’re toast.
I’d venture to bet that the Bush prez library, to be built in Highland Park on or near the SMU campus, will be built so that young Americans will have no choice but to conclude that Bush was a genius. It will be beautiful, grand, and it will be filled with books and other things that will make Bush appear to be boxing at Leonardo Da Vinci class when it comes to academia.
One thing about the GOP, they do understand history and how it’s made. I predict that there will be a bottomless supply of rich Texans who’ll pony up whatever it takes to ensure Bush’s library makes Bush look like a genius, a Trumanesque figure, 50 years from now.
These efforts will not end soon, I’m sure.
“And the national guard told the citizens to evacuate before the storm.”
Uh huh.
Again. To where?
Were there shelters set up?
You mean the local government was unprepared and had nowhere for their own citizens to shelter?
That damn Bush. You proved my point BJ.
Self-absorbed? That is a laugh. Pot meet kettle.
There’s a building in New Orleans called the Super Dome. Some football is played there. Ever heard of it?
Bush and FEMA appeared inept, ignorant, and uncaring. THAT’s what Bush owns 100%, nobody else.
Agreed. Bush is not blameless. I just get tired of hearing it was all Bush’s fault.
FEMA failed. Bush appointed FEMA leadership. Own the bad debt.
Get rid of FEMA. Take the tax dollars and filter them back to the states so that the states can provide for their own.
The majority of the “blame” lies with the people of NO. They failed to evacuate. They elected idiots – and re-elected them. The idiots elected failed to plan and or implement what crappy plans they had.
even when the admin. was telling people how good it was, they knew they weren’t feeling the benefits.
Like Baaawny Franks?
Well ya know?
Many, perhaps MOST people expect better of the wealthiest and most powerful nation on the planet than a Chief Executive who goes on vacation in the face of disaster.
Government is going to start to WORK again. Just gotta get the business out of government and get Government into business.
Let’s not forget Bush “less than” command of the English language…though which he contributed greatly to the comedy fodder of late night comedians. He also had a way of turning verbs into nouns like no other. He was the “decider” after all!!
SolDevVB
Posted December 31, 2008 at 11:07 am | Permalink
Get rid of FEMA. Take the tax dollars and filter them back to the states so that the states can provide for their own.
—
I disagree. The answer isn’t to get rid of FEMA, it’s to make FEMA work.
FEMA could be folded into the Dept of Treasury, though. In fact, I think what needs to go is the Dept of Homeland Security. All of that needs to be with the FBI, in Treasury.
There is a ton of duplication, sure, but the threat of domestic terrorism, especially with WMD, is too high to disband a Federal agency capable of responding to interstate disasters.
By the “Homeland Security,” did Bush go to Goebbel’s ghost to find that ridiculous name?!?
“Take the tax dollars and filter them back to the states so that the states can provide for their own.”
Uh no thanks.
Got that right, BJ…no one took more time away from the Oval office than Bush. He certainly never cared how it looked to America..he thought nothing of fishing and playing golf while the world crumbled around him.
By the way: “Homeland Security,” did Bush go to Goebbel’s ghost to find that ridiculous name?!?
BlueJay
Posted December 31, 2008 at 11:15 am | Permalink
“Take the tax dollars and filter them back to the states so that the states can provide for their own.”
Uh no thanks.
—————————————————-
Are you really waiting for the Government (Federal in particular) to take care of you and yours as much as it seems?
“Government is going to start to WORK again. Just gotta get the business out of government and get Government into business.”
“Take the tax dollars and filter them back to the states so that the states can provide for their own.”
“Uh no thanks.”
Marx is proud of you.
In fact, I think what needs to go is the Dept of Homeland Security.
Agreed. And right behind that, the DOE. And behind that, foreign aid. And behind that, overseas bases. And behind that…
Stew meat rather than ground beef of course.
New potatoes, pearl onions, bag of frozen stew vegetables (carrots,etc. your choice) stewed tomatoes
garlic to taste, salt, pepper the beef only after cooking.
Serve with piping hot oven baked bread.
Many hands make light work.
It takes a village….
Etc. Etc.
I get it with cons. They’d like to take everything to the States.
And then to the counties.
Then the towns. Then maybe school districts.
The end result being the be all end all for everyone is the individual household.
Stone age is over kids.
Let’s DO do this though. Got a war you want to fight? YOU go fight it AND pay for it.
SolDevVB posted December 31, 2008 at 11:07 am
FEMA failed. Bush appointed FEMA leadership. Own the bad debt.
Get rid of FEMA. Take the tax dollars and filter them back to the states so that the states can provide for their own.
————
Have someone qualified run FEMA, like James Lee Witt.
Let states do FEMA’s role? If a major ice-storm hit all or most of Kansas, and adjacent states, you believe that the states could handle the crisis alone?
I like to use sirloin rather than stew meat..it gives the stew a richer flavor.
The idea I got from the Bob Woodward book was that even Karl Roves thought they were going to lose in 2004. When they won it came as a great surprise to them, with the news of Iraq and it coming out how they had mislead the nation into the invasion. Roves thought there was no way the American public would re-elect Bush. I have a simpler explanation, Bush for the most part was still riding the wave that his handling of 9-11 brought him. The country was still filled with its blood lust and he was still the leader of the angry mob.
What Katrina did was show a chink in the armor of the shining knight, here was the great protector of the American people. And a major city and its people were flooded out and he fails to ride in on his white horse!
And yes Obama will face his own Katrina moment in the years to come.
MR. KIA, in a sense Mary is correct in her idea that for the most part Democracy is a foreign concept to the people of the Middle East. And for the people of Iraq so far the “Democracy” that has been imposed on them does not look a great deal different then living under a dictator. Do people want to be free? Well more over they want to live comfortable and do not care what form of Government brings that to them.
If the Communists has been able to bring their idea of a utopian society to a reality Russia would still be Communists. But failing that they turned to an authoritarian society, when people are going hungry and cold they are not happy with their form of Government. I do disagree with one thing, it was a fractured idea that
Somehow forcing a Democracy into a Middle Eastern country would be good for the U.S. The key word being “forcing”. And that was the intent of the Ideologs in invading Iraq, a stepping stone for the furthering of an imposed form of Government throughout the Middle East. It was a delusional concept that was not based on reality. Israel is a Democratic country but they concept of Democracy if it was attempted in the United States would bring about an insurgency here. Such is the concept of “Democracy” it is a shapeless material that it is up to the people bringing it about to form. It can not be cookie cutter and handed out to everyone.
Many hands make light the load and It takes a Village sound alot like personal responsibility to me.
Oink! Oink! One Bush administration fiasco after another – here is my “Top 40″ list collected from several locations:
1. No WMD in Iraq
2. Katrina Response
3. 2000 and 2004 Election Fraud
4. Valerie Plame/Joe Wilson Retribution & CIA Leak
5. Immunizing Cheney, Rove, Libby, Armitage and Hadley from Prosecution for Outing a Spy (see #4 above)
6. Kyoto Protocol Rejection
7. Karl Rove
8. Saudis Flown Out on 9/11
9. Enron & “Kenny Boy”
10. Patriot Act (don’t you just love that apple pie title? Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside!) and NSA Spying on American citizens
11. No-Bid Contracts
12. US Attorney Firings
13. Guantanamo Detention and Torture
14. Abu Gharib Torture
15. Torture World Wide Via Extraordinary Rendition
16. CIA’s Destruction of Torture Tapes
17. BLACKWATER USA Mercenary Army Exempt from Rule of Law
18. Jack Abramoff
19. Selling Control Operations of 6 U.S. ports to the Dubai Port
20. Bush Rejects Congressional Subpoenas Claiming Executive Privilege
21. Bush Commutes Scooter Libby’s Prison Sentence
22. Censoring Scientists from Issuing Factual Reports on the Threat from Global Warming
23. Firing a Career Three-Star General for Criticizing Troop Levels
24. Harriet Miers Appointed to Supreme Court(Twisted!)
25. Saudi Royal Family Ties
26. Walter Reed Scandal
27. 2005 Energy Bill Damages Environmental Protections & Gives Tax Breaks to Big Oil
28. Bush’s National Guard Service
29. Mission Accomplished Carrier Production
30. Sending Troops to War that are Unfit for Battle
31. Delay and Obstruction of 9/11 Commission (Dub can thank our very own Pat Roberts for this gift!)
32. Letting Osama bin Laden Escape in Tora Bora
33. Use of RNC Servers for Official Gov’ment Business
34. Establishment of White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
35. Afghan Opium Production at Record Levels
36. Gasoline Prices Hit Record Highs
37. Tax Cuts Benefit Rich & Wealthy Most
38. National Debt at Record Level & Rising
39. Mishandling of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae
40. Halliburton, Cheney-Bush, and Iraq
“I get it with cons. They’d like to take everything to the States.”
Geeee. Wouldn’t that pretty much be the founding father’s intnent? Socialism doesn’t work. Ask Russia and Cuba.
Toss some whole cloves of garlic in … makes for an interesting surprise …
“Well more over they want to live comfortable and do not care what form of Government brings that to them.’
So true…all humans have the same needs and wants. To live safely and securely, to work and provide for our families, no matter how it is achieved.
Our free market system is no longer providing that opportunity and so we’re seeing a drift toward a more socialistic society and government. I think America is in transition and evolving towards a form of government that will once again allow us what we need to thrive.
“Regular” channels his inner Martha Stewart –
“Serve with piping hot oven baked bread.”
So you’re telling me I should stop baking bread in the blender?
Thanks for the advice!
bth Posted December 31, 2008 at 11:39 am
Toss some whole cloves of garlic in … makes for an interesting surprise …
———–
Small pieces of habanero pepper. . .
NO one desires to be a bird in a gilled cage, but the bird whom is looking in the widow from the freezing winter thinks the bird in a gilled cage has it pretty good. I would hate to see this country become a Socialist society. It would mean that the individual is not long of a any real concern.
not long should have been no longer
“writerdog” claims –
“…a Socialist society. It would mean that the individual is not long of a any real concern.”
I have to call you out and demand you define terms.
Just what is your idea of a “socialist society?”
There are plenty of countries in the world which right-wingnuts claim are “socialist,” and a lot of right-wingnuts who suck up a lot of “socialist” benefits — i.e., highways, fire departments, sewers, the internet, libraries (well, with wingnuts, not so much), water systems, et al — without realizing the term “socialism” is synonymous with the word “civilization.”
As soon as someone discovered his skills at hunting could be combined with another’s skills at gathering… and together they’d probably eat better, “socialism” proved its worth and strength.
For example, my barber neither sows nor does he reap. But it’s pretty obvious he eats. Thanks to “socialism.”
The free market system as proved that it can’t be trusted to do what’s best for this country because it can’t effectively police itself or weed out the greed. Just like many other good ideas..it doesn’t pan out in reality because you have to factor in human nature.
Actually, it all started with the corporations taking all the small business owners out of the competition…which lead to the skyrocketing price of consumer goods, resulting in huge profits and massive salaries for the CEOs.
Cox motto “Corporations, Police thyselves.”
What angered me over Katrina was coming to the conclusion that the White House leaned to-wards the whole thing as a public relations opportunity, not a natural disaster. I still stiffen when I recall CNN showing water finally being delivered to the folks in the Dome just as Bush showed up! Even Cafferty was flabberghasted and speechless, mumbling about a damn pre-arranged, well timed photo-op
Mary: I respectfully disagree, the free market sytem does promote the general welfare, it’s the unregulated market that doesn’t deliver the goods. May I suggest you look at the countries who are faring better during the current malais? Yep, all have more oversight, more prudent banking systems, and all comitted to the free market. It’s just that the free market has long gone from the shores that perfected it, Mary.
I hope someday we can restore what we had before the greed took over and small business was pushed out of the market. I’m sick of traveling across the country and seeing the same chain stores everywhere. America has lost so much of it’s character because of the big corporations pushing everyone else out.
BTW, Mr Kia’s receipe for beef stew was wonderful. My husband said it’s the best he’s ever tasted and I agree. I sustituted beef broth for the water and used sirloin steak instead of stew meat..it was REALLY good!
“sursum
Posted December 31, 2008 at 3:34 pm | Permalink
Mary: I respectfully disagree, the free market sytem does promote the general welfare, it’s the unregulated market that doesn’t deliver the goods.”
A “free market system” and a “regulated market” are mutually exclusive.
Once it is regulated, it is no longer a free market.
“sursum
Posted December 31, 2008 at 3:34 pm | Permalink
…May I suggest you look at the countries who are faring better during the current malais? ”
I would like to look into countries doing better than the US at the current time. Would you list a couple for me?
Mexico stock markets has faired better than the U.S.’s.
Mexico’s economy sucks. Why do you think they come here to work?
So they can work here a few yrs. return and live the good life!
Closing the books on the worst markets loss since the Depression.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Wall-St-closes-out-worst-year-rb-13947438.html
As thought of by the likes of Lenin the believe is that if the society does well then the individual does well.
So it is the welfare of the society that is the concern since it is the society that is the determining factor.
The individual’s welfare is solely incidental to that of the society and their sole duty and value is to the society as a whole. As such their relationship within the society is liken to that of the individual log on a fire. They are nothing more then the fuel for the larger fire, they consumption is seen as nothing more then the needed fuel to keep the fire burning. The individual’s do not have rights only the society has rights.
The only value the society see of the individual is their value to the society. The legal system is gear toward that thinking, if you killed a wino on the street it would not be worth the time of the society to hold you accountable as the Wino has no value to the society. While if you were to kill the person whom puts the five lug nuts on the right rear wheel of the tractor in the factory. Since that person does have value to the society by their labor. You would be held accountable for your crime by the society.
There you go Monkeyhawk
OK, I must of missed something writerdog…
what was that diatribe in response to? Is that your definition of Conservative America?
brian: All markets/systems have rules and regulations or ethical codes of conduct, something lacking nowadays.
“sursum
Posted December 31, 2008 at 5:07 pm | Permalink
brian: All markets/systems have rules and regulations or ethical codes of conduct, something lacking nowadays.”
That is why they all fail. Ethics and good/bad conduct are always subjective in the marketplace.
Ah, sursum, speaking of well-regulated banking systems.
Let’s talk Iceland.
And Norway.
They all caught the greed virus going around and almost destroyed themselves.
There’s plenty of blame to go around on this one.
Dennis
Brian: I got looking at other places when I notice that out of the 130 countries rated by the WTO for sound banking practices, the UK came in 44th, the US at 40th, with Canada and Australia rated 1-2. I also noted that the Nordic countries are lending monies to Iceland to help them. A healthy interntional trade surplus, steady auto/home/retail sales, overall job growth, costs of Government running as a positive % of GDP, and banks that needed no federal cash injection, is our closest trading partner and neighbor. But check out other places as well. Our two economies are very close knit so if we continue in a recession it is bound to flow north, if it already hasn’t, but not as bad. Axiom. If the US sneezes, Canada catches a cold.
Alberto “I don’t recall remembering” Gonzales has signed a deal to write his memoirs!
That’s gonna be the thinnest book of 2009.
Brian it was to this:
Monkeyhawk
Posted December 31, 2008 at 12:18 pm | Permalink
“writerdog” claims –
“…a Socialist society. It would mean that the individual is not long of a any real concern.”
I have to call you out and demand you define terms.
Just what is your idea of a “socialist society?”
“Alberto “I don’t recall remembering” Gonzales has signed a deal to write his memoirs!
That’s gonna be the thinnest book of 2009.” — Monkeyhawk
—–
Wouldn’t it be great if he suddenly could remember something?
I like the idea of all the bush cronies writing books. Either there will be some truths come out or they will discredit one another with their different “takes.”
Too funny –
http://tinyurl.com/9bfnac
So true, also.