We Failed

[MacTheWolf (imported)]

Since Paolo is so gracious in giving up the governor of my father's family's state, Indiana, and since I don't want Paolo to be governorless, I will ship him our top man to replace him.

Paolo, you will soon be receiving Governor Terminator.

Don't bother to thank me

[Blaise (imported)]

We failed? Hell, no. I had no part in the failure and it isn't the federal government's job to look after everyone because the local and state officials are too incompetent and corrupt to do so.

Why don't you just start a thread and call it "Bush is responsible for everything bad" instead of trying to use every opportunity to spank him.

Jesus F***ing Christ. Stop vomiting up the crap from The New York Times and Molly Ivans and think for yourselves.

If you are a citizen of the United States and were able to vote in either of the last two presidential elections and you either voted for Bush or did not vote, you failed.

[A-1 (imported)]

If you are a citizen of the United States and were able to vote in either of the last two presidential elections and you either voted for Bush or did not vote, you failed.

Yeah,!

You would have failed voting for John Kerry, too. It was a no-win situation.

A-1

[Riverwind (imported)]

Since Paolo is so gracious in giving up the governor of my father's family's state, Indiana, and since I don't want Paolo to be governorless, I will ship him our top man to replace him.

Paolo, you will soon be receiving Governor Terminator.

Don't bother to thank me

Just remember to record what he says when he leaves.

Il be back

[radar (imported)]

River:

I have to agree with you on W's pandering to big business. I suspect that he believes he had to in order to generate the economic recovery from the recession that began in 2000, before he took office. I believe he's wrong about that, that it would have been better to dismantle the bulk of federal regulations and reporting that are making small business manufacturing nearly impossible in this country. That favors big companies who have the resources to manufacture overseas, and the big loser is the American worker.

As for the Iraq war, I have to admit to a certain degree of ambivalence. On the one hand, it didn't appear to be justified in terms of US interests and safety, but the place does have its strategic advantages, if one recognizes that the real objective is Iran (Remember that "Axis of Evil?"). Iran happens to be a bitch of a place to fight in (I've been there. I know.) , which is why you want to surround it first and try to stir up internal dissent, which is already large. I'm not fond of the war, but then I also recognize that Bush has made a bold, but extremely risky move that will either ultimately bring down the Islamist movement, or make him forever a goat. I can't judge him on that. Only History can.

As for the CIA-FBI noncommunication prior to 9-11, please don't try to get me to swallow the idiotic notion that that was somehow Bush's fault. That little gaffe belongs solely inside the domain of Jamie Gorelick, who was so kind as to erect that "wall" between agencies in the first place, then use her position on the 9-11 commission to cover her tracks.

So I guess that's one vote of agreement, one of disagreement, and one abstention.

[_g (imported)]

River:

I have to agree with you on W's pandering to big business. I suspect that he believes he had to in order to generate the economic recovery from the recession that began in 2000, before he took office. I believe he's wrong about that, that it would have been better to dismantle the bulk of federal regulations and reporting that are making small business manufacturing nearly impossible in this country. That favors big companies who have the resources to manufacture overseas, and the big loser is the American worker.

clip...

Also some cities should dismantle the bulk of their regulations, reporting, and taxes

that are making small business manufacturing nearly impossible.

Where I'm at all the small business are locating miles away where if you don't have a car you can't find a good job. And the licence fees are $150 but in the countys it's either $25 or $50. And this is a Democrats county.

_g

[Leona Lee (imported)]

Hi All! I must agree with you all. I've been in business for myself here in a democrate run area. So all this talk about one better than the other is all bunk, These politicians are all self serving and could care less about the little person. If I had a big morgage or a lot of bills. I'd probably be in some soup kitchen somewhere. I just get by comfortably and thats it. There are so many restrictions and bureaucratic nonscense, you cant do anything but pay , pay ,pay. I don't think this is what the founding father's had in mind.

I'm getting old now but the young ones got H to pay. Hugs, Leona

[radar (imported)]

_g and Leona:

One of my more bitter memories of being in business here in Pennsylvania was back in the early 90's when our then governor Casey (a Democrat) had managed to blow an $800 million surplus left by Dick Thornburgh, and turn it into a similar-sized defecit.

In order to generate revenue he increased taxes and added a few, one of which was a sales tax on all computer and engineering consulting services. So guess how I made my living? You got it. Living close to the border as I do, I was immediately put at a 6% price disadvantage compared to those just across the river. I was effectively denied access to my home territory.

I found that I had to drive at least 50-60 miles, either deep into PA or deep into NJ, to be competitive again. But then, all that travel cut into my profits, too. I'll argue with anyone who insists that the Democrats are for the little guy, because I learned the hard way that politicians of any stripe rarely think about anything but their own careers.

[Blaise (imported)]

_g and Leona:

One of my more bitter memories of being in business here in Pennsylvania was back in the early 90's when our then governor Casey (a Democrat) had managed to blow an $800 million surplus left by Dick Thornburgh, and turn it into a similar-sized defecit.

In order to generate revenue he increased taxes and added a few, one of which was a sales tax on all computer and engineering consulting services. So guess how I made my living? You got it. Living close to the border as I do, I was immediately put at a 6% price disadvantage compared to those just across the river. I was effectively denied access to my home territory.

I found that I had to drive at least 50-60 miles, either deep into PA or deep into NJ, to be competitive again. But then, all that travel cut into my profits, too. I'll argue with anyone who insists that the Democrats are for the little guy, because I learned the hard way that politicians of any stripe rarely think about anything but their own careers.

In Louisiana, both parties developed great skill in squandering resources. Our sales tax is one reason that I am about to leave the place. Big business gets out of paying property taxes to keep them here. Old, retired folk like me pick up the cost of supporting Exxon. Great system.

[Blaise (imported)]

Suppose your house were on fire. Suppose you have fire extinguishers to suppress the fire. Suppose the fire department seized your extinguishers so that they could use them when they fought the fire. Suppose that they did not bother to fight the fire.

Supposedly, FEMA seized food, water, fuel, and helicopters to use in an orderly fashion. The story of Methodist Hospital in New Orleans is the case in point. Michael Chertoff must go. He is not fit to hold his position.