the great shame: bush's legacy is our failure

[saz]

a condensed version of a great piece from THE BEAST. uthman is spot on: the democrats, the media, and the american people have done jack squat, when they should be rioting in the streets and demanding impeachment of this jackass and his crew.



The Great Shame
Bush's Legacy Is Our Failure

BY Allan Uthman


If anything is to be learned from the Bush disaster, it’s important to look back, and to understand how terrible our failure has been.

When Nixon ignored a subpoena, the nation was outraged. Even Republican congressmen were vocally outraged, and Nixon was forced to resign to avoid impeachment. When Nixon tried to fire a special prosecutor, his Attorney General resigned. Then his Deputy Attorney General resigned. When Reagan lied to the people about crimes far worse than Nixon’s, it was a scandal, but our expectations had already been dramatically lowered. There were hearings, but no impeachment. A few years later, a Republican congress abused the impeachment process as an instrument of prudery, in an act of supreme political perversion.

And then the real rape of American government began, starting with Bush v. Gore. Now, the president, and even his former employees, ignore subpoenas as a matter of routine. They can exact political retribution on CIA agents (Scott McClellan recently revealed that Bush told him he was responsible for the Valerie Plame leak), and get nothing but a few critical editorials in return. They can fake us into a costly, bloody war, and no one will do anything but bitch about it. They torture people to generate false intel, and nothing comes of it. Nothing.

All this is to end on January 20th, presumably. But Bush’s underhanded tactics will not end on that day. Still, he is showing us what “sprinting to the finish” means, as he furiously works to undermine the incoming Democrats in as many ways as possible. For one, Bush is generating a last-minute smorgasbord of polluter-friendly regulatory rollbacks, setting new lows in terms of water quality and global warming emissions, setting new, lower standards for “acceptable” levels of coal slurry in streams, of melamine in food products, and generally manifesting their shamelessness and hostility toward American citizens. New DoJ rules permit the FBI to engage in prolonged infiltration and surveillance of subjects who are not suspected of wrongdoing, and increased latitude in selecting these subjects based on their race and religion.

And so does this: Reports abound that scores of loyal Bush mid- and low-level appointees in many departments are in the process of “burrowing,” that is, changing their job status from political appointments, which change with each administration, to career civil service positions, which will make it hard for Obama to fire them when he takes office. The object is clear: to surround Obama with hostile operatives, hamstringing his agenda at every turn with leaks, foot-dragging and other forms of sabotage. Smooth transition, indeed.

Because congress and the American people have been asleep at the switch, the Obama administration will be spending much of the next four years struggling to simply undo most of what Bush has left them. It will only be a few months before our amnesiac press starts to blame Obama for the inevitable economic collapse, environmental catastrophe, and foreign policy blowback Bush will leave him. The next few years will reveal even darker secrets still unknown to us, a predictable result of tolerating the shadowy machinations of the most secretive administration ever.

All of this could have and should have been avoided, if the congress or the American people had any sense of duty, or responsibility, or really any sense at all. The fact that Bush, Cheney, and the rest will walk out of the White House and back into lives of decadent opulence and ballooning bank accounts is a shame, a damn shame of historic proportions. And the shame is ours. Bush is the worst outlaw ever to occupy the White House, and it is not enough that he simply leave. The message we have sent to power-mad, totalitarian presidents of the future is clear: Do whatever you want; we will do nothing to stop you. The press will do everything in its power to gloss over your worst excesses, and marginalize your critics, and when the public finally catches on, the press will simply ignore you in favor of optimistic coverage of your possible successors. At least that’s how it works for Republicans.

link (http://www.buffalobeast.com/133/shame.htm)

[ericg]

well said.

[Documad]

When it comes to the media, there are so many reasons to be angry. I started getting angry when they gave him a free ride as a genial buffoon during the 2000 election while jumping on Gore for every mistake he ever made. Then there was their fawning coverage in the early years of the Iraq war. But what's bothering me now is all the coverage about a reporter throwing shoes. That's the primo news story of the month? We're never going to get real reporting ever again.

When it comes to the apathy of the american people, I sort of agree but I barely give a damn at this point. There is no way that I'd protest. I'm not going to spill blood. In 2004 a definitive majority of american voters elected this guy. In 2000 maybe they didn't know who he was, but the evidence was all there by 2004. So if we chose this dangerous guy and his dangerous friends to lead the country, why should we be outraged when he turns out to be a dangerous guy with dangerous friends? I'm depressed that the idiocy of my fellow americans. I'm not outraged. Bush never promised to be a different sort of president.

[yeahwho]

I'm not inheriting any guilt over Bush and his administration. My family from WWII vets to Iraq/Afghanistan soldiers did not vote for Bush and are extremely vocal, active and aware of this "reign of error".

I do not understand, as documad says, WTF is wrong with many Americans. The press I was reading told me GWB was a douchebag and that his friends were actually cronies and profiteers. The only logical answer I can come up with is some of the electorate felt Bush was stopping terrorists by bombing the shit out of Iraq. Or that some felt the cash was going to trickle down to them as he awarded contract after contract to his cronies.

Then there's places like Louisiana, where Katrina hit and devastated the the whole state. A failure of deadly magnitude on all levels of government aid and help. So what did they do last month? They voted for John McCain (http://www.blueherald.com/uploads/Buck/bush_mccain_cake.jpg)!

I give up too. WTF. That's some fucked up shit I'm not even going to try and understand. I'm glad I live in Seattle.

[DroppinScience]

Well, the vast majority of those who voted for Bush (in either 2000 or 2004) seem to regret doing so anyways since approval ratings are at an all-time low and disapproval ratings at an all-time high. And at least they saw the error in their ways and voted in Obama.

I guess the point now is to make sure this crap doesn't happen again.

[yeahwho]

I was just sitting on my ass thinking, (pretty much the title for my autobiography) when it occurred to me that this Bush administration is insane.

Our own government is telling us that the cost of the Iraq/Afghanistan wars will likely be at least 3 trillion dollars (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/07/AR2008030702846.html), this coupled with these facts, as of today, 4710 American casualties, 32,789 wounded, 10,685 injured, 29,881 ill, 324,846 Received Treatment from VA, 287,790 Filed A Disability Claim... that's just us, the USA (http://www.warcomeshome.org/American_Casualties_Iraq_Afghanistan), begs the question, WTF?

Immediately after 9/11 president bush said,

"the people who knocked these buildings down will hear from all of us soon" G.W. Bush 12 Sep 01. Then of course this statement (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PGmnz5Ow-o)

Add to this fucked up individuals lack of anything patriotic towards honest American's you have this monumental ignorance running amuck in our financial institutions,

The government's financial bailout will be the most expensive single expenditure in American history, potentially costing around $7.5 trillion -- or half the value of all the goods and services produced in the United States last year.

Financial Bailout Balloons to the Trillions (http://abcnews.go.com/business/economy/story?id=6332892)

Our only failure is to not impeach this man, to not hold him in contempt. I will never understand our generation.

[b i o n i c]

I guess the point now is to make sure this crap doesn't happen again.

that's rich

[kaiser soze]

Then of course this statement (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PGmnz5Ow-o)



sounds like bush is talking about himself

Traitor. He will be held accountable...and if not, future generations will turn their back to his history.

[yeahwho]

Wow, looks like Rove is once again getting subpoenaed (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iyqAcKxVxPpJsQZL8zvlZGO6GE3AD95V3UQ80), this time post Bush administration.

"Change has come to Washington, and I hope Karl Rove is ready for it. After two years of stonewalling, it's time for him to talk," Conyers said.

[kaiser soze]

Why won't someone just walk onto the set of Faux and snatch his pork ass.

He is NOT above the fucking law....jesus, he looks like a pig for god's sake that should be enough to get him out of society!!!

IN other news: Army Suicides highest last year (during bush's reign)

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/jan/29/army-suicides-record-high-passing-civilians/?breakingnews

WASHINGTON (AP) — Stressed by war and long overseas tours, U.S. soldiers killed themselves last year at the highest rate on record, the toll rising for a fourth straight year and even surpassing the suicide rate among comparable civilians.

Army leaders said they were doing everything they could think of to curb the deaths and appealed for more mental health professionals to join and help out.

At least 128 soldiers committed suicide in 2008, the Army said Thursday. And the final count is likely to be even higher because 15 more suspicious deaths are still being investigated.

Also....Rice regrets not finding WMD

In an appearance on ABC's "The View" this morning, just-departed secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she regretted that faulty intelligence had reported that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but had no regrets that U.S. troops toppled dictator Saddam Hussein from power.

Someone must and will pay for all of this. Shit....16 year olds get fired for being late for their dish washing job. The audacity of these people to tell the world that we should be accountable for our behavior while they RAPE everyone up the fucking ass and walk. These fuckers are snubbing their noses at the world and the rule of law. That is treason.

Olbermann on Rove

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2bgqfVMkWA&eurl

[travesty]

And so does this: Reports abound that scores of loyal Bush mid- and low-level appointees in many departments are in the process of “burrowing,” that is, changing their job status from political appointments, which change with each administration, to career civil service positions, which will make it hard for Obama to fire them when he takes office. The object is clear: to surround Obama with hostile operatives, hamstringing his agenda at every turn with leaks, foot-dragging and other forms of sabotage. Smooth transition, indeed.

Because congress and the American people have been asleep at the switch, the Obama administration will be spending much of the next four years struggling to simply undo most of what Bush has left them. It will only be a few months before our amnesiac press starts to blame Obama for the inevitable economic collapse, environmental catastrophe, and foreign policy blowback Bush will leave him. The next few years will reveal even darker secrets still unknown to us, a predictable result of tolerating the shadowy machinations of the most secretive administration ever.


Oh lord here we go.... some people are going to continue blaming Bush for anything that Obama fucks up or fails to correct. Get a clue....sure Bush sucked a fat d!ck but he is gone and he ain't coming back. Barry is the new Captain of the Ship and whatever happens to the ship now is going to be his fault, and his fault alone. He is responsible for inspecting the ship and making sure she is clean, safe and seaworthy before it leaves port. That's the job and the responsibility he signed up for. Saying that secret little Bushie "moles" are going to derail Barry's presidency is a HUGE cop out.

[saz]

i'm no obama fan and you know it. just look at some of the threads i've started here recently. obviously obama's mistakes are going to be his and his alone, but there is no way in hell that anyone, let alone a jaded conservative such as yourself who knows better, can deny that the bush administration was the worst ever with bush being the biggest fuck-up in the history of the united states. the military is at the breaking point, the economy is fucked, new orleans isn't rebuilt, wall street bailouts and bonuses for ceos, outing valerie plame, open ports, etc. etc. and you missed uthman's point: no, this isn't about "little bushie moles" but rather the lazy, pathetic beltway corporate media whores who are so embarrasingly incompentent that they are incapable of doing their jobs.

[travesty]

i'm no obama fan and you know it. just look at some of the threads i've started here recently. obviously obama's mistakes are going to be his and his alone, but there is no way in hell that anyone, let alone a jaded conservative such as yourself who knows better, can deny that the bush administration was the worst ever with bush being the biggest fuck-up in the history of the united states. the military is at the breaking point, the economy is fucked, new orleans isn't rebuilt, wall street bailouts and bonuses for ceos, outing valerie plame, open ports, etc. etc. and you missed uthman's point: no, this isn't about "little bushie moles" but rather the lazy, pathetic beltway corporate media whores who are so embarrasingly incompentent that they are incapable of doing their jobs.

Agreed, Agreed and Agreed.
Very much agreed concrening the lazy fuck media. Journalism has really gone down hill in the US.
I just can't figure out why Obama has decided to keep the hierarchy of brass at the pentagon and the CIA intact from the last administration. WTF?

[saz]

Public Not Buying Media Attempts To Blame Obama For Recession: Poll

April 1, 2009 04:54 PM l Jason Linkins l Huffpost Reporting From DC


As noted a few days ago (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/31/most-americans-dont-blame_n_181035.html), the Obama administration got through the month of March with the public still fixing the blame for the economic downturn on everybody else:

The number of Americans who believe that the nation is headed in the right direction has roughly tripled since Barack Obama's election, and the public overwhelmingly blames the excesses of the financial industry, rather than the new president, for turmoil in the economy, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

And if you're keeping score at home, when it came to who should take a "great deal" or a "good amount" of the blame, the polling went a little something like this: (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_033109.html?hpid=topnews)

* 80% - banks/financial institutions
* 80% - large business corporations
* 72% - consumers
* 70% - Bush administration
* 26% - Obama administration

And that perception has been pretty constant, though God knows, it hasn't been for lack of trying! There have been numerous attempts to foist ownership of the entire debacle onto the Obama administration. Over the course of a few months, we've heard about "Obama recessions (http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hzxMIm4EJQJddvV_ZHPkN1pw8nJwD96P7RC80)," and "Obama bear markets (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stocks-turn-in-worst-apf-14589494.html)," and shown charts that seem to have forgotten when the economic downturn began (http://mediamatters.org/static/images/item/msnbc-20090307-1.jpg). And of course, this has led the Obama White House to protest on numerous occasions that they "inherited" the economic downturn, leading your White House press corps to mutter and cluck over the increasing pettiness of such recitations (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/13/AR2009031303486.html?wprss=rss_print). There was also that really fun period where the daily downward motion of the Dow was blamed by more and more people on the White House (http://lpwillham.newsvine.com/_news/2009/02/23/2468888-obama-speaks-dow-tanks-is-it-time-for-obama-to-shut-up-for-the-good-of-the-nation) -- until, of course, the Dow trended upwards for a number of days. Then you didn't hear those theories about how one man could alter the market's fortunes so much anymore.

Media Matters For America, who documented many (http://mediamatters.org/items/200811120011) of these instances (http://mediamatters.org/items/200811070011) themselves (http://mediamatters.org/items/200903230039), released a statement on the Post/ABC Poll:

"This poll shows that despite what they are hearing from the media, the public overwhelmingly blames banks, business, and the Bush administration, not President Obama," said Erikka Knuti, a spokeswoman for Media Matters. "The media have repeatedly attached Obama's name to the economic crisis and all but erased the role of the previous administration from their coverage. The American people aren't falling for it."

Naturally, the lack of blame has come with the accompanying benefit of broad public support for the implementation of the White House's various policies to combat the economic downturn, from the stimulus package to the more recent toxic assets plan. Of course, that goodwill may yet come to nothing if these various plans only end up proving Paul Krugman correct (http://www.newsweek.com/id/191393)!


link (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/01/public-not-buying-media-a_n_181944.html)