As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have
   I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as
   Americans, and it seems to hit the mark.

   The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came
   across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

   The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are
   unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle
   dragger I am, I started thinking, 'What are we so
   unhappy about?''

   Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a
   day 7 Days a week?

   Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in
   the summerand heating in the winter?

   Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a
   job?

   Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any
   time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

   Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from
   the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each State?

   Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would
   find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

   I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

   Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency
   workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

   Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

   You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire,a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

   Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen
   TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

   This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or
   militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

   How about the complete religious, social and political
   freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

   Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy. Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

   I know, I know. What about the president who took us into
   war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31
   percent approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the
   nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to
   bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who
   has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all
   the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The
   commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending
   you and me?


   Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk
   shows? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you
   couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be
   glad?
   Think about it......are you upset at the President because
   he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the
   'Media' told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.


   Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have
   volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.
   There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to
   go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a
   ''general'' discharge, an 'other than honorable'' discharge or, worst
   case scenario, a ''dishonorable' ' discharge after a few
   days in the brig. So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of
   69 percent of Americans?


   Say what you want but I blame it on the
   media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody
   will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids
   selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media
   outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when
   criticized,try to defend their actions by justifying them in one way
   or another.Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J.
   Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did
   he would have done it this way......Insane!

   Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the
   New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage.


   Then start being grateful for all we have as country.
   There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the
   most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day; or
   at least be thankful and appreciative.

   With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'
                 

    David Letterman

Bingo!

So very true.  Thanks for posting this.

I was just informed by Mel that this was not written by Letterman. Thanks Mel!

I still like it though, from whomever penned it. ;)

Jimmers

wrote on Nov 6^th, 2008 at 11:30am:

I still like it though, from whomever penned it. ;) Jimmers

Me too!   ;)
Thanks for posting it, Jimmers.

Me too! [smiley=headbanger.gif]

We do have so many great opportunities.....but i see my 401k plummeting every day and wonder...damn will i ever retire? Will I ever get out of medical debt? I worry about my children's future. We've got a long road to hoe and i hope it gets better, even though we have an inexperienced president-elect. :-?

That's kind of a weird thing.  
It is saying that because we have an interstate highway system, EMS/Fire/Police, and 1000s of restaurants that Bush should have a higher approval rating?

Right on!

It's a shame people have to be reminded.

In my opinion, Bush's bad approval ratings have nothing to do with people being ungrateful, but more about what Bush has done.  All of these things are great that we have and we should all be thankful for them, but they won't mean anything if our freedoms are trampled on and our Constitution is being shredded.

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Some reasons for the Bush low ratings:

• Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for War Against Iraq.
  
  
• Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of Aggression.
  
  
• Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for War.
  
  
• Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States.
  
  
• Illegally Misspending Funds to Secretly Begin a War of Aggression.
  
  
• Invading Iraq in Violation of the Requirements of HJRes114.
  
  
• Invading Iraq Absent a Declaration of War.
  
  
• Invading Iraq, A Sovereign Nation, in Violation of the UN Charter.
  
  
• Failing to Provide Troops With Body Armor and Vehicle Armor
  
  
• Falsifying Accounts of US Troop Deaths and Injuries for Political Purposes
  
  
• Establishment of Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq
  
  
• Initiating a War Against Iraq for Control of That Nation's Natural Resources
  
  
• Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries
  
  
• Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson, Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency
  
  
• Providing Immunity from Prosecution for Criminal Contractors in Iraq
  
  
• Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With Iraq and US Contractors
  
  
• Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives
  
  
• Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture Against Captives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Other Places, as a Matter of Official Policy
  
  
• Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to "Black Sites" Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture
  
  
• Imprisoning Children
  
  
• Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran, and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran, With the Goal of Overthrowing the Iranian Government
  
  
• Creating Secret Laws
  
  
• Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act
  
  
• Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment
  
  
• Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens
  
  
• Announcing the Intent to Violate Laws with Signing Statements
  
  
• Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former Employees Not to Comply
  
  
• Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the Administration of Justice
  
  
• Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965
  
  
• Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare
  
  
• Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency
  
  
• Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change
  
  
• Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911.
  
  
• Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001
  
  
• Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders
  

Audre wrote on Nov 6^th, 2008 at 5:09pm:

In my opinion, Bush's bad approval ratings have nothing to do with people being ungrateful, but more about what Bush has done.  All of these things are great that we have and we should all be thankful for them, but they won't mean anything if our freedoms are trampled on and our Constitution is being shredded. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Some reasons for the Bush low ratings: Creating a Secret Propaganda Campaign to Manufacture a False Case for War Against Iraq. Falsely, Systematically, and with Criminal Intent Conflating the Attacks of September 11, 2001, With Misrepresentation of Iraq as a Security Threat as Part of Fraudulent Justification for a War of Aggression. Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Possessed Weapons of Mass Destruction, to Manufacture a False Case for War. Misleading the American People and Members of Congress to Believe Iraq Posed an Imminent Threat to the United States. Illegally Misspending Funds to Secretly Begin a War of Aggression. Invading Iraq in Violation of the Requirements of HJRes114. Invading Iraq Absent a Declaration of War. Invading Iraq, A Sovereign Nation, in Violation of the UN Charter. Failing to Provide Troops With Body Armor and Vehicle Armor Falsifying Accounts of US Troop Deaths and Injuries for Political Purposes Establishment of Permanent U.S. Military Bases in Iraq Initiating a War Against Iraq for Control of That Nation's Natural Resources Creating a Secret Task Force to Develop Energy and Military Policies With Respect to Iraq and Other Countries Misprision of a Felony, Misuse and Exposure of Classified Information And Obstruction of Justice in the Matter of Valerie Plame Wilson, Clandestine Agent of the Central Intelligence Agency Providing Immunity from Prosecution for Criminal Contractors in Iraq Reckless Misspending and Waste of U.S. Tax Dollars in Connection With Iraq and US Contractors Illegal Detention: Detaining Indefinitely And Without Charge Persons Both U.S. Citizens and Foreign Captives Torture: Secretly Authorizing, and Encouraging the Use of Torture Against Captives in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Other Places, as a Matter of Official Policy Rendition: Kidnapping People and Taking Them Against Their Will to "Black Sites" Located in Other Nations, Including Nations Known to Practice Torture Imprisoning Children Misleading Congress and the American People About Threats from Iran, and Supporting Terrorist Organizations Within Iran, With the Goal of Overthrowing the Iranian Government Creating Secret Laws Violation of the Posse Comitatus Act Spying on American Citizens, Without a Court-Ordered Warrant, in Violation of the Law and the Fourth Amendment Directing Telecommunications Companies to Create an Illegal and Unconstitutional Database of the Private Telephone Numbers and Emails of American Citizens Announcing the Intent to Violate Laws with Signing Statements Failing to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas and Instructing Former Employees Not to Comply Tampering with Free and Fair Elections, Corruption of the Administration of Justice Conspiracy to Violate the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Misleading Congress and the American People in an Attempt to Destroy Medicare Katrina: Failure to Plan for the Predicted Disaster of Hurricane Katrina, Failure to Respond to a Civil Emergency Misleading Congress and the American People, Systematically Undermining Efforts to Address Global Climate Change Repeatedly Ignored and Failed to Respond to High Level Intelligence Warnings of Planned Terrorist Attacks in the US, Prior to 911. Obstruction of the Investigation into the Attacks of September 11, 2001 Endangering the Health of 911 First Responders

Although I'm not a Dubya fan, the bold stuff is straight out of the loony bin.

Edit to add that our Constitution has been used more as toilet paper than as the law of the land by our lawmakers for the last 40 years, this is no new procedure, but has been going on for quite a while now.

The election is over and some are still bashing Bush, by copy/paste left wing websites no less.....LMAO!   :D

Get a life!  ::)

Nice post Jim - true enough as well. If more people pointed the finger inward the US might get better reviews.

I still think it is a good time to put the pledge back to the way it was originally penned - godless. I always will. There is wisdom in those old ways. While God is not the cause for a lot of what happens round here it is also true people use God for a reason to do what they do.

As far as me hating Bush, I actaully use a question Reagan used to judge the politcal situation. I ask myself "am I better off now or 8 years ago?"

Never has the answer been more obvious to me.

Thanks for the thought provoking post!!!!!

[edited for blatent stupidity]

I don't know superhawk, were you better at 8 years old?? ;D

:-X ;)

LMAO @ Me.

I suppose it depends on who you ask!

Thanks jonny and Mel!

Oh, my sides hurt from laughing.........

Agostino Leyre wrote on Nov 6^th, 2008 at 5:24pm:

Although I'm not a Dubya fan, the bold stuff is straight out of the loony bin. Edit to add that our Constitution has been used more as toilet paper than as the law of the land by our lawmakers for the last 40 years, this is no new procedure, but has been going on for quite a while now.

Why were those ones from the loony bin?  The backup info he gave for those seemed like it was adequate that these were true.  

So since our Constitution has been 'used more as toilet paper...for the last 40 years", it's ok for Bush to do the same?  No one has gone as far as Bush has and he continues to do it because he knows he can.  

Jonny, you really need to get some manners.  Just because someone does not agree with you does not mean that they need to get a life, have no life or are delusional.  Saying the election is over is ignorant because Bush is still President (albeit for only a couple of months) and these things have still been done.  This is not copy/pasted from some left wing website (even if it was, so what?!) but it was copy/pasted from Dennis Kucinich's (House Representative from Ohio) Articles of Impeachment, the bill he introduced to the House and was voted for referral to the House Judiciary.  As long as these things are continued:  as long as elderly nuns are put on the Terrorist Watchlist for attending a non-violent, anti-war meeting, as long as there is wireless wiretapping of intimate phone calls from soldiers, Red Cross workers and journalists calling back home, as long as there is torture going on.....as long as all of these things are going on, I will continue to bash Bush and I will bash whatever President allows these to continue.

You would bash a tree if it was leaning to the right. You just need to chill Audre. You argue too much and push too hard.  [smiley=thumbdown.gif]

Audre,

I appreciate your passion and enthusiasm for what you believe, but what you need to step back and think about for a minute or two is that all you are posting is based on your combined 23 years of wisdom.  That is NOT a putdown, but it should be cause for you to think a bit before you speak.  

I remember living under Carter, long before you were born.  I KNOW what an inexperience, unknowing president can do to our country.  I also remember the turn around we got under Reagan.  I know a lot hated him, but he got the job done, and did it with grace, dignity, and a sense of humor.  I just hope there is another of his quality to follow Obama.

No, you didn't quote from a left wing website, but you took your combined wisdom from a mental lightweight who has been a laughingstock of the Democratic party for years.  Nobody of any standing takes him seriously at all.

Jerry

Jimmers,

Thank you for posting this, from whomever wrote it.  After crossing this country a number of times over the last four years I can attest that we are indeed blessed beyond our wildest imaginations.  I haven't traveled outside of the country other than to Mexico and Canada, but I wouldn't trade what we have for any.

Jerry

I pretty much think Audre got it right.

Bush is unique. I've never seen a whole stadium boo a president when he threw out a baseball, until Bush. Aside from his being a felon, you have to feel sorry for him. He is already considered the worst president of recent......perhaps ever.......in history.

Not that there's anything's wrong with that.....

Charlie

Audre wrote on Nov 7^th, 2008 at 12:14am:

Agostino Leyre wrote on Nov 6th, 2008 at 5:24pm: Although I'm not a Dubya fan, the bold stuff is straight out of the loony bin. Edit to add that our Constitution has been used more as toilet paper than as the law of the land by our lawmakers for the last 40 years, this is no new procedure, but has been going on for quite a while now. Why were those ones from the loony bin?  The backup info he gave for those seemed like it was adequate that these were true.   So since our Constitution has been 'used more as toilet paper...for the last 40 years", it's ok for Bush to do the same?  No one has gone as far as Bush has and he continues to do it because he knows he can.   Jonny, you really need to get some manners.  Just because someone does not agree with you does not mean that they need to get a life, have no life or are delusional.  Saying the election is over is ignorant because Bush is still President (albeit for only a couple of months) and these things have still been done.  This is not copy/pasted from some left wing website (even if it was, so what?!) but it was copy/pasted from Dennis Kucinich's (House Representative from Ohio) Articles of Impeachment, the bill he introduced to the House and was voted for referral to the House Judiciary.  As long as these things are continued:  as long as elderly nuns are put on the Terrorist Watchlist for attending a non-violent, anti-war meeting, as long as there is wireless wiretapping of intimate phone calls from soldiers, Red Cross workers and journalists calling back home, as long as there is torture going on.....as long as all of these things are going on, I will continue to bash Bush and I will bash whatever President allows these to continue.

I'm just curious as to why people want to get into an uproar about Bush shredding the constitution, but it's ok for some one on the left to take away freedom through legislation?  Where is the anger and resentment for the other guilty parties?  Huh?  That's the problem I have with most wingers, be they left or right, there is no consistency and no intellectual integrity.

 Thanks Jerry you took the words out of my mouth, except with much more tacht than I could have I read this last night and couldn't even post.  Its not a big secret that the public opinion for Bush is low, hind site is 20/20 and Im sure he would change a few thing if he could but it is all history now so lets all move on and pray that our next president can turn things around even alittle.  We can only hope for another Reagan some day his foreign affairs were the best and hell I'll even go back to reaganomicts it wasn't that bad when you look where we are at now.
 Thanks for this post Jimmers,      and [smiley=stfu.gif] Audre ;D
          Phil 8-)

Quote:

Its not a big secret that the public opion for Bush is low, hind site is 20/20 and Im sure he would change a few thing if he could but it is all history now so lets all move on.......

I dunno. I respect your view and I hear what you are saying but I respectfully disagree. I do not like beating a dead horse but I think it is important to not forget things like this. For the last 8 years the Bush supporters have been just as aggitated about the Bush bashing when the outcomes were still up in the air. Now it is super convienent that even they want to "look ahead".

And I disagree about him changing anything. I think if you asked him he would say he did everything the way it should be done. No president has ever acted so unilaterly. Acted without our allies, without the other side of the isle, and even without the advice of his own party and advisors that he picked.

Now that he has been wrong on almost every front, taken a record surplus that was handed to him and turned it into a record deficent (which he hands to Obama), then Wall Street crumbled on his watch and the economic times haven't been worse except for the ONE time in history that were (and this ain't over yet - far from it) I think it important to remember it. If Obama gets oral sex in the white house I am sure w will hear about that for a year at the cost of millions to the US taxpayer.

It won't be long when the far rights will start to bash Obama, who the opposite of Bush, got a big, leaky bag of shit handed to him when he took office. I think it is a what comes aroung goes around world. Of course the ex-Bush supporters are now for forgetting this last 8 years like they never happened. Isn't "personal accountability" a right slogan? Oh wait, he is the president - that doesn't apply to him.

Though no fault of my own my life has only gotten worse over the last 8 years. I will reserve the right to bash that redneck, ego manic, liar for as long as I want.

My guy didn't have a chance to win the election. I still hope the new president gets a chance to turn things around. While I don't think bashing the last guy is productive (yes I admit I am flawed) I think it important to remember every lie, deception, and falsehood that led to our most rapid decline.

Or we are doomed to repeat it.

Peace.
[soapbox off]

Audre wrote on Nov 7^th, 2008 at 12:14am:

I will continue to bash Bush and I will bash whatever President allows these to continue.

Hmmm,  I didn't know this was a presidential bashing thread   :-?

Great post Jimmers!  And thanks for reminding us to be grateful even under difficult circumstances.

Jennifer wrote on Nov 7^th, 2008 at 9:20am:

Audre wrote on Nov 7th, 2008 at 12:14am:  I will continue to bash Bush and I will bash whatever President allows these to continue. Hmmm,  I didn't know this was a presidential bashing thread   :-? Great post Jimmers!  And thanks for reminding us to be grateful even under difficult circumstances.

Jen :-*  Super go ahead and keep bashing if you think its gonna help.  No president or anyone in power will ever say they were wrong that would make them appear weak, so like I said hind site is 20/20.  Now lets move on and hope for a brighter future.
 Phil

P.S.  Forgive never ever forget. 8-)

Great post, Jimmers!  Thank you!

Jeannie

Great Post.  I know that my life is as good as it's ever been(even with the clusters).  I just wonder who the hell is getting polled.

Well, I'm glad it was cleared up quickly that this isn't about Bush.

From first post of thread:


Quote:

this is not about Bush, performance of the President.   I know, I know. What about the president The president who the same president who The president that the same guy who     The commander in chief of the President is the President because