It's so nice to see you back, Sunndew.

As to Wayne's question about why Bush generates such hatred, I have a simple response.

Bush led us to a war in Iraq that was doomed to failure from the very beginning. He misunderstood intelligence (or ignored or manufactured it) and brought about an economic and military catastrophe for America - as well as tarnishing our reputation for diplomacy in the eyes of the rest of the world. His failures regarding the Iraq war have cost tens of thousands of people their lives and placed us in debt for which countless generations will be paying.

But we all know that. So let me focus instead on the man, not the president.

He's insincere.
He's arrogant.
He lies.
He's as phony as a carnival barker.
He's divisive..
He calls himself "The Decider".
He gives real Christians a bad name.
He talks like English is his second language.
He's an extremist.
He pretends to be deep when in fact he's as shallow as a shower puddle.
He doesn't listen.
He's secretive.
He smirks.

While you question why Bush garners such strong feelings among so many people, my question is how anyone in America could honestly believe that this man is worthy of even the tiniest respect, much less entitled to the office in which he serves.

-nab

When speaking of "Bush", I assume most people are referring to the Bush Government. I personally do not hold Bush accountable for U.S. woes simply because I do not credit him with enough intelligence to make such decisions. The real power lies with Cheney, Pearl, etc.; Bush is merely a gullible puppet who will happily retire to his ranch while the common man suffers from his party's economic policies.

Irish - 30 November 2007 07:13 PM

I personally do not hold Bush accountable for U.S. woes simply because I do not credit him with enough intelligence to make such decisions.

ROFL! SO TRUE!

The reason for the hatred is simple! You're a liberal and hate the fact that you're wrong about Bush!! All of yor arguments are old, worn out, and simply untrue. As bitter as you may be, you know I'm Right and you're wrong. That's o.k. I accept you for who you are, not what you think( if you can call it that).

Bad intelligence combined with Saddams desire to make it seem that his country had more war capability than it actually had, combined with the real possibility that Al Qaeda would move it's operations to Iraq when driven from Afghanistan is what decided Bush to go in and make a "Regime Change" in Iraq.

Jeeze.... There are so many arguable points in that above statement that I'm tempted to delete it....

As to the war being a failure? The fat lady hasn't sang yet. And if the Iraqi Gov't can get it's act together I think we'll be out of there, for the most part, in a year or two.

Then it will be a question of how long it will take another dictator to gain power, throw remaining US forces out and become an enemy of the US.

Oh.. Sunndew. Love your Avatar!

As to the war being a failure? The fat lady hasn't sang yet. And if the Iraqi Gov't can get it's act together I think we'll be out of there, for the most part, in a year or two.

Hon, the fat lady is singin' up a storm! Aren't you listening?!

So, "a year or two" and we'll be out of there, huh? Add that to how long we've been over there so far...oh well, so much for the cakewalk.

All of a sudden my cockles are chilly.

-nab

<Listening Hard>

Nope... Don't hear the fat lady singing... Maybe I need a new battery in my hearing aid?

Troop surge is working...

Various factions are getting down to the business of ironing out agreements that will allow the Iraqi Gov't do it's job. I would say that things are looking up.

Watched the Ron Paul video that nab had posted a link to: Entertaining. Ron Pauls ending comment was a bit disconcerting though.

"We would leave."

Just like that; pick up and walk out leaving the country to fend for itself. That statement should outrage every American that is loyal to his or her country.

Bush said repeatedly that this wouldn't be easy or overnight. So many great things are happening in Iraq but some insist on living in their cave of misleading media negativity.

Ron Paul is strictly a libertaian. He will see to the demise of this country with his on the fence ideals.

When I read some of these opinions I sometimes think ,Hmmm wish I could be that stupid and get away with it. It's not often that happens, like once every 20years or so. This time I'm on a 40 year stretch. Oh Yeah, did I mention I'm a 67 model!! WORD!!

Just like that; pick up and walk out leaving the country to fend for itself. That statement should outrage every American that is loyal to his or her country.

Did that argument time travel from 2003?

Since Ron Paul is the candidate that gets more donations from active duty military than any of the others, then you should start with them if you are going to call anyone's loyalty into question.

We should pick up and leave now, because that is what we're going to do in the end anyway when the recession deepens, when the unfunded healthcare and social security liabilities come due, when soldiers start coming to find their houses repossessed, when the dollar collapses completely, and when Iraq splinters into various small states and provinces.

It is hard to argue this with baby-boomers, because they grew up during the Cold War and that is the blueprint of the world that they know. As much as everyone would love to dig up Hitler and defeat him all over again to get a nationally unifying warm fuzzy, the world has changed. Primarily, we have entered the era of 4th generation warfare.

4th generation war is neither a Cold War nor completely a hot war. It is waged in low intensity conflicts by non-state forces that highly centralized state militaries cannot ever completely overcome. There is no flag to capture; there is no commanding general to surrender. They can't beat you, but you can't beat them. You just bleed until you're exhausted.

I figure it will take at least another generation before this is finally realized.

Well done, ShinKen, for your insight in the subject although I disagree that Iraq will ultimately fragment into multiple states.

MeAmerican, I am extremely disappointed with your comments; might I suggest that the best way to get your point across and influence others viewpoints/opinions does not include calling them schoolyard names.