Even as he said he would not directly criticize his successor, President Bush told a business crowd in Erie, Pa., on Wednesday some things that sounded critical, including:
– “I know it’s going to be the private sector that leads this country out of the current economic times we’re in.”
– “I’ll just tell you that there are people at Gitmo that will kill American people at a drop of a hat and I don’t believe that — persuasion isn’t going to work. Therapy isn’t going to cause terrorists to change their mind.”
– “I worry about encouraging the government to replace the private sector when it comes to providing insurance for health care.”
– “When I look in the mirror, I say, ‘He did not sell his soul for short-term politics.’”
And when asked whether President Obama’s policies were “socialist,” Bush said: “We’ll see.”
86 Comments
Another classic photo of Bush.
Great job McClatchy! May you RIP.
What?!
Are you saying, “American_Way,” that the photo of Shrub makes him look like an idiot?
How could that happen?!
Slow news day?
Another Bash Bush thread?
“Another Bash Bush thread?”
Nah, he’s always been self-bashing; he doesn’t need any outside help.
Another classic photo of Bush.
==================================
Bush ALMOST looks as ‘chimpy’ as Obama.
Hurray…who gives a flying f what WORST president EVER says, does, or scratches his butt over?
“satatom” –
I dunno who cares what Shrub says, but if I were the Democratic Party I’d subsidize his speaker’s fees.
I for one am glad Bush has finally came out and talked back to ‘the one’ who would be king. Too many on the left believe every word they hear come out of Obamas mouth. The seeds of doubt have been planted and his poll numbers are on the downward slide.
Let obama spread his lies about the previous administration but he won’t be doing it unchallenged anymore.
Obama owns this mess he has made and he needs to man up and admit it.
A good first step.
I think he was throwing Obama a kiss.
“When I look in the mirror, Bush says, ‘He did not sell his soul for short-term politics.’”
Of course not.
He sold his soul to enrich his cronies.
Just like the rest of the RepubliCON pols . . .
To those who don’t think the photo is flattering enough . . . face it, the guy is goofy-looking because he’s goofy.
So? I have lost count of how many times Obama has blamed Bush for something or said that “Bush did it too” in justifying what he does.
Like when, Nathan?
Obama’s New Tack: Blaming Bush
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/13/AR2009031303486.html
Obama’s New Tack: Blaming Bush
New? I can’t remember obama not blaming bush.
Whatever he does, Obama should never follow the Bush II lead – WPE has a “record” and Obama should never venture down that path.
BTW, Cons: What did Bush do RIGHT?
Come ‘on! What did he do that was right.
His predecessor left the country in pretty good shape. Bush left a mess for Obama.
What did Bush do right?
Eh?
O’Bama is peeing on ever tree he comes to, marking his territory.
Let’s see, George W Bush…………………
Presided over the greatest collapse of the American economy since the Depression.
Ran up the single largest increase (in eight years) of the National Debt.
Single-handedly tore down all of the international goodwill after 9/11.
Alienated most of our allies.
Allowed Iran and North Korea to develop nuclear programs.
Started a multi-trillion dollar war against a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.
Ignored the country that harbored the organization that was behind 9/11.
Ignored Hurricane (”great job Brownie”) Katrina.
Tried to force his religious beliefs on American society and the world.
What else?
Under O’Bama the national Debt and Deficits:
Congressional Budget Office, which concluded that the national debt would grow by $9.3 trillion between 2010 and 2019 under Obama’s plan. According to the CBO, the debt held by the public would rise, from 41 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008 to 57 percent in 2009 and then to 82 percent of GDP by 2019.
During the Bush years, despite the 2000 Recession, the attacks on Sept. 11, the stock market scandals, Hurricane Katrina and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Bush Administration was able to reduce the budget deficit from 412 billion dollars in 2004 to 162 billion dollars in 2007, a sixty percent drop.
things changed in 2007. Democrats took over Congress, gas prices started to rise, and at the end of the year and into 2008 several financial institutions started to crumble as the housing bubble began to burst.
Obama inherited a 2008 budget deficit of 459 billion dollars. He voted for the 700 billion dollar bank rescue in the fall. He was left 350 billion from this spending bill when he took office. He then spent 787 billion dollars on a Stimulus Bill, 33 billion dollars on the SCHIP bill, and 410 billion dollars on his record-setting Omnibus Bill.
When O’Bama took office the federal deficit was 459 billion dollars. O’Bama has ballooned the federal deficit to 1.85 trillion dollars.
So what is Clark crowing about?
That O’Bama is spending like a madman?
“Obama owns this mess he has made and he needs to man up and admit it.”
So, Okie, tell US about the mess Obama has made – in detail.
Did he double the National Debt?
Nope.
Did he start a war – costing trillions of dollars – with a country that was the enemy of al Qaeda and had nothing to do with 9/11?
Nope?
Did he alienate our allies?
Nope.
Did he preside over the greatest collapse of the American economy since the Depression?
Nope.
So, what mess is Obama responsible for – Bo p*ssing on the carpet?
“When O’Bama took office the federal deficit was 459 billion dollars. O’Bama has ballooned the federal deficit to 1.85 trillion dollars.”
When Bush II took office, the Federal Deficit was MINUS $258 billion.
Bush II inherited a surplus and in eight years, increased the National Debt from $5.4 trillion to $11 trillion.
And, not to mention, the first Obama budget year does not begin until October.
Did he preside over the greatest collapse of the American economy since the Depression?
Nope.
So, what mess is Obama responsible for – Bo p*ssing on the carpet?
Yeah, O’Bama was in the Senate and in charge of our money. Congress holds the purse strings of the United States, not the executive office of the President.
Duh Dems took over Congress in 2007, when the budget deficit was down to 162 billions a year. By 2009, due to Congressional lack of oversight, the budget deficit ballooned back up to nearly 500 billion and the Congress failed in providing oversight of the housing crisis like they are mandated by law to do so.
And, not to mention, the first Obama budget year does not begin until October
Yeah, and O’Bama’s debt and deficit spending will dwarf the last five presidencies combined.
Let’s see……………..
Did Reagan propose a balanced budget to Congress?
Nope.
Did Bush I propose a balanced budget to Congress?
Nope.
Did Bush II propose a balanced budget to Congress?
Nope.
Did Clinton propose a balanced budget to Congress?
Yep.
Now, just who is fiscally responsible?
“Yeah, and O’Bama’s debt and deficit spending will dwarf the last five presidencies combined.”
Really?
When Reagan took office, the ND was about $500 trillion.
When Clinton left office, it was about $5.4 trillion, having been blown up by Reagan and Bush I.
Now after Bush II, it is about $11 trillion.
And this is the Democrats fault?
Sorry, $500 BILLION, not TRILLION.
That is the GOP’s job to run it up like that.
Actually Clark, it was the plan by Newt Gingrich and Congress that balanced the budget. Clinton went along for the ride.
As I said, Congress has the power of the purse, not the President. Know your government.
“Yeah, O’Bama was in the Senate and in charge of our money”
Really?
And from 2001 to 2007 how many balanced budgets did the GOP deliver?
Whoops!
Zero.
“Know your government.”
I do know my government – the president proposes a budget – Congress votes on it.
How many balanced budgets did Reagan, Bush I and Bush II propose?
Give me answer, Regular.
How many?
How many did Clinton propose?
Eh?
All we need for another balanced budget is to come up with another .com bubble (when’s the last time the Nasdaq was 5,000 pts?).
Still don’t understand why they’re not playing the other classic trick from the late 90’s and offer the offshore dollar holders a discount on the taxes to repatriate those funds back to the US. 10% of $14T is a H of a lot more than 36% of nothin’. Of course there would be wailing about “helping the rich!”….but $1.4T in the fed coffers…5% or so in state coffers…and roughly $12T invested in the US instead of foreign banks…oh, I don’t…might come in handy about right now.
The GOP controlled both the House and the Senate from 2001 to 2007 – why didn’t they balance the budget, Regular?
Not sure where you got the 11 trillion dollar figure Clark.
=======================================
As of today, it’s $10.8-trillion. The administration projects it’ll climb to $14-trillion next year and in 2013 wind up at $17.1-trillion dollars – very close to matching the size of the entire economy as measured by the projected Gross Domestic Product. And taxpayers will be paying hundreds of billions in interest on the debt each year.
The budget, which carries the title “A New Era of Responsibility,” shows that at the end of ten years, the National Debt will hit $23.1-trillion dollars – exactly matching the GDP that year.
So there you have it Clark, the O’Bama economic plan will make more debt than the entire GDP by 2013.
You should be proud of O’Bama for setting such a record.
#
WSClark
Posted June 18, 2009 at 5:39 pm | Permalink
The GOP controlled both the House and the Senate from 2001 to 2007 – why didn’t they balance the budget, Regular?
——————–
Under Clinton, the Republicans did have a balanced budget amendment, which was vetoed by Clinton.
The budget deficit was down to 165 billion (reduced by 300 billion in seven years) in 2007 before the Democrats took over Congress in 2007.
Congress controls the purse strings remember?
The GOP controlled both the House and the Senate from 2001 to 2007 – why didn’t they balance the budget, Regular?
“Congress controls the purse strings remember?”
The president proposes the budget.
How many balanced budgets did Reagan, Bush I and Bush II propose?
Zero.
How many did Clinton propose?
Two.
Who is the party of fiscal responsibility?
The Democrats.
#
WSClark
Posted June 18, 2009 at 5:43 pm | Permalink
The GOP controlled both the House and the Senate from 2001 to 2007 – why didn’t they balance the budget, Regular?
——————————-
Repeating the same question in an annoying fashion won’t get an answer. The Congress was well on their way to reducing the deficit. It was down to 165 billion dollars.
When the Democrats took over Congress in 2007, the budget deficit ballooned back up to nearly 500 billion dollars by 2009. over three times the amount of deficit in the Republican Congress
Clark,
Who cooked the pork roast?
How many times can a gray hound lap a track before collpasing?
What color is the feces from a myna bird?
You don’t want to dialogue Clark, you want to deflect and divert, avoiding the facts.
You have now started in your usual mindless, question phase avoiding the issue.
End of discussion.
“over three times the amount of deficit in the Republican Congress”
Jeez, did that have anything to do with a “War on Iraq” or an economy in collapse?
Naw!
Everything was PERFECT under BUSH II – it’s all the Democrats fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was ABSOLUTELY perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keep telling yourself that, Regular.
Ignore those Bush II deficits, ignore the Bush I deficits, ignore the Reagan deficits – it’s all the Democrats fault.
Yeah, that’s the ticket.
WS Clark
Scroll over territory.
Yeah Clark, now throw in your Jewish heritage and how much Indian blood is in you. Your bellowing will be complete then.
WTF does Reagan have to do with Bush?
I will tell you, nada – zip – nothing.
You argue like a tortured couple heading for divorce. You must be good at it, it happened what three times?
“End of discussion.”
You lost……… run away, Regular.
BTW: Just how many balanced budgets did Reagan, Bush I and Bush II propose?
Zero?
Holy skit! Fiscal conservatives couldn’t even propose ONE balanced budget?
Damn.
Clinton Vetoes GOP’s 7-Year Balanced Budget Plan
The Washington Post | December 7, 1995| Ann Devroy; Eric Pianin
President Clinton yesterday vetoed the Republican blueprint for a balanced budget.
“Bush speaks”
Who cares? Destined to be an asterisk in history, he instead became a stain on it.
Regular,
You bring up a good point. Why didn’t Bush just veto the Congressional Democrat’s wild, out of control spending the last two years he was in office?
#
Daniel
Posted June 18, 2009 at 6:11 pm | Permalink
Regular,
You bring up a good point. Why didn’t Bush just veto the Congressional Democrat’s wild, out of control spending the last two years he was in office?
—————————–
Bad advise I suppose. I think that Bush had a lot of substandard financial advisers on his staff.
Bush was doing just fine, despite two wars, Katrina, the 911 financial collapse for the first seven years – Bush reduced the deficit every year and even had tax cuts.
The housing disaster thing started it rolling – but it could have been handled better imo. Throwing good money after bad is never an answer.
So, in twenty years of controlling the presidency, the Republicans couldn’t propose even ONE balanced budget, yet they accuse the Democrats of being fiscally irresponsible?
Okay.
That makes sense.
In a CON world.
“Scroll over territory.”
Do you mean like “Clinton was busy lying to the grand jury and Hillary when he should have been dealing with the attack on the USS Cole?”
“it happened what three times?”
Twice.
How many times have you been married, Regular?
Oh, that’s right, you’re still a virgin.
“and even had tax cuts”
And how did that work out?
Oh, yeah, we went from a National Debt of $5.4 trillion to a debt of $11 trillion.
Great job, Republicans. If we gave you just eight more years, we could be a third word nation.
“When I look in the mirror, I say, ‘He did not sell his soul for short-term politics.’”
idiot boy doesn’t fade away in his gated, gaurded high end community in dallass texas.
no george it wasn’t sold for short term political gain but it was sold for long term financial gain.
go back to reading 3 books a day as rove claimed.
I guess I win – the CONservatives ran away – what a surprise.
So, CONS, why didn’t Saint Ronnie, Bush I or Bush II propose a balanced budget?
Did the Democrats make ‘em do it?
Average State Dec. 2008 Jobless Rate of 6.7% is 3.8% Below Avg. Record High Jobless Rate of 10.5%
By admin | January 28, 2009
http://www.economistblog.com/2009/01/28/average-state-dec-2008-jobless-rate-of-67-is-38-below-avg-record-high-jobless-rate-of-105/
—————–
The rate at the end of May, a mere 5 months later under Obama is 9.5%. You want to talk about budgets – go for it. These unemployed people are still waiting for the job the messiah promised them. They are voters.
Give me a break, THEY BOTH SUCK FISCALLY…AND STILL DO!!
SS Deficit $17.6T
Medicare A&B Deficit $68T
Medicare D Deficit $17T
National Debt $11T
And of course my favorite:
Bailout loans/guar $12T
NEITHER party has a fiscally conservative bone in their body!
This nation’s only been debt free ONCE..not annual budget deficit free…debt free!
“a mere 5 months later”
The GOP blamed EVERYTHING on Clinton after he left office – too busy lying to the grand jury and Hillary – yada, yada – but Obama is supposed to fix the Bush mess in just FIVE months?
Why can’t the CONS give the same free pass to Obama that the liberals gave to Bush for the first two years of his presidency?
According to the CONservatives, everything that is wrong is the fault of the liberals.
Everything.
Bush II was GOD and every liberal is a second cousin to Satan.
Liberals, according to CONservatives, are the scum of the Earth.
A duly elected president should be impeached, according to CONservatives, because he isn’t the RIGHT man for America.
I wish someday, that the CONservatives could sample just a little, tiny, bit of the hatred that they extend to their fellow man.
Of course, they have “God on their side.”
Clark is going into full fledged drama queen mode…nothing more embarrassing than seeing a biker in a pink to-to.
Damn.
“Why can’t the CONS give the same free pass to Obama that the liberals gave to Bush for the first two years of his presidency?”
WS this bar none is the funniest thing you have ever said on this blog. And I bet you did it with a straight face too.
So, Anti Okie, why should we have given a pass to your hero, your God GWB, but we shouldn’t expect a tiny bit of respect for our president?
BTW: Okie, how is your son doing with the Cole situation? Still blaming Clinton for lying to the grand jury and Hillary?
Clark,
GWB is not my hero nor my god.
Try again.
“GWB is not my hero nor my god.”
But you worship the ground he walks – stumbles – on Anti – you LOVE everything he did in office – in yer view he could do no wrong and Obama could do no right.
You said so yourself!
GWB is your GOD!
You have no respect for our president, while you DEMANDED respect for GWB!
Hippo-crite.
Are you anti-democracy, Anti?
Sorry, your nic already gives us your answer.
I see once again WS Clark is out with the same tired old lie…
This will be the 3rd time now I have disproven your false assertions WS Clark.
Bush never got any “pass” let alone for 2 years.
From day one the left never stopped claiming that Bush stole the presidency and for several months kept pushing the recount issue.
That alone is enough to prove your assertion false. Again. For the 3rd time now.
And once again, I have more examples if you would like to see them. Seeing as you STILL refuse to respond to the first example…
WSClark
Posted June 18, 2009 at 9:41 pm | Permalink
“GWB is not my hero nor my god.”
But you worship the ground he walks – stumbles – on Anti – you LOVE everything he did in office – in yer view he could do no wrong and Obama could do no right.
You said so yourself!
GWB is your GOD!
=============================
No, No, & No.
Try again.
““I know it’s going to be the private sector that leads this country out of the current economic times we’re in.”
It was the private sector, with VIGOROUS assistance from the Republican party, ronald Rragan, and george bush who MADE the current economic times we are in!
“STILL refuse”
Last time – I already told you that of all the posters on this blog, you are the only one that I will not respond to, Price.
I will not state what I hope happens to you, Nathaniel, but I do wish that many “people” attend your funeral.
With that – don’t bother – I will not respond you.
In my fifty-seven years, I have never hated anyone as much as I hate you, Price.
BlueJay,
Now lets see you actually form a logical, well reasoned, and supported argument actually proving that assertion.
I won’t hold my breath.
WS Clark,
Hate me all you want, your assertions are still crap.
Clark,
I am having a very difficult time seeing how Nathan is worthy of expending that much emotional energy. Just MHO…
Steven,
Let alone how some random person on a blog that he has never met could elicit such emotion…
Oh well…
So much for that “civility” WS Clark was talking about.
Hippo-crite
No, that would be Al Gore – he has the four chins to prove it.
Bush did not say anything all that damning yet the reaction has been equal to if he had used a racial slur to describe Obama and had wished for the President’s death. Get real! I have not been a fan of G.W. Bush since the end of 2003. Yet even I do not see the fault or outlandishness of what he said.
“I won’t hold my breath.”
Saving that for your Ann Coulter blow up doll?
BlueJay,
If you spent half as much time actually forming a decent argument as you did insults…
Saving that for your Ann Coulter blow up doll?
I would be more turned on by a blow up sheep.
Writerdog,
LOL… Yeah, I don’t find her that attractive either. I have met her in person too.
As I recall, “Nathaniel” –
You own an Ann Coulter doll.
Is it anatomically correct, boy?
Monkeyhawk
Posted June 18, 2009 at 11:33 pm | Permalink
Is it anatomically correct, boy?
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Whoa, caveat emptor!
There is something strange about that woman’s hands. I’ll bet she can drink champagne and dance all night under electric candlelight.
“Daniel” –
We should be kind to Ann Coulter.
I mean, how many others have had the courage to undergo three sex-change operations?
MonkeyMan,
“Is it anatomically correct, boy?”
Is your mother?
#
Nathaniel
Posted June 18, 2009 at 10:14 pm | Permalink
Steven,
Let alone how some random person on a blog that he has never met could elicit such emotion…
Oh well…
So much for that “civility” WS Clark was talking about.
* * * * *
A truly scary thought, but we might even agree on this subject. Surely not, though…
Nathaniel
Posted June 19, 2009 at 12:09 am | Permalink
MonkeyMan,
“Is it anatomically correct, boy?”
Is your mother?
=======
Thanks for an example of the “logical arguments you so often advocate for this forum, boy.
ProjectXMonkey,
In response to your absurd question, that is about as logical a response as you will get.
I will go ahead and conclude that your failure to answer the question is an idication of your shame and embassament at the fact that your mother is not anatomically correct.
Nathaniel has issues…
BLueJay,
It appears as if MonkeyGeek’s mother is the one with issues…
“BlueJay,
If you spent half as much time actually forming a decent argument as you did insults…”
I’d make you look twice as bad?
Seek daddy or Rush in the morning for programming, boy.
BlueJay,
For someone who only owns 2 T-shirts and doesn’t wash either of them, you are not one to talk about looking bad.
“BlueJay” observes –
“Nathaniel has issues…”
Y’think?