Sunday, September 12, 2004
10 reasons George Bush should not be elected President [draft]
I've revised this with help from alert readers.
1. He fought the wrong war.
Rather than going after Al Qaeda (say, at Tora Bora) he got us into Iraq. Repeating the Big Lie that fighting Saddam was fighting AQ doesn't make it true. And he has not (barring an October Surprise) brought Osama Bin Laden to justice. (Remember "dead or alive"?)
2. He fought the wrong war in the wrong way.
Not enough troops (ask Shinseki). The wrong equipment (no body armor, not enough armored vehicles. Incompetent postwar planning. Then stop-loss orders for the Reserves.
3. He fought the wrong war in the wrong way for the wrong reasons.
After countless shifting justifications, Bush settled on WMDs. Then the WMDs didn't exist.
The shifting justifications showed that Bush was going to go to war, no matter what. So Bush lost all our allies. Gulf War 1 was fought with minimal loss of American life, ended in days, and the allies paid for most of it. Bush's war has cost 1000 American lives so far, there's no end in sight, and we're paying for all of it.
4. He has dishonored the military by enabling a culture of torture.
If the torture at Abu Ghraib makes Bush "sick," then why hasn't he commended whistleblower Joseph Darby for revealing it?
5. He hasn't protected the big cities against loose nukes or dirty bombs.
(See "Loose nukes: Bush still refused to take the threat seriously")
6. He has taken the US from record surplus to record deficit.
His fiscal policies have destroyed the retirement hopes for millions, since Social Security is funded out of general revenue. His tax cuts have given that money that should have gone to those who paid into the Social Security system to those who already have plenty.
7. He promised to leave no child behind, then didn't fund the program.
8. He promised to reform Medicare, but the system is confusing and only benefits the drug companies.
9. He's the first President in 72 years to lose jobs.
10. He politicized science, and denied global warming to help out the energy companies.
If you don't think this should be on the top 10, ask a Floridians.
Bottom line: Strong leaders have a record of accomplishment. When you look at the record, Bush is a weak leader.
Readers, how would you revise this list?
NOTE: The rule of the game is that there can only be 10 reasons. So, if you want to propose a new reason, please say which of the above 10 reasons should be replaced, and why.
Also, there are additional talking points that expand on the top 10 points (in bold). So, please propose more talking points here, too. In SHORT, SIMPLE language!
1. He fought the wrong war.
Rather than going after Al Qaeda (say, at Tora Bora) he got us into Iraq. Repeating the Big Lie that fighting Saddam was fighting AQ doesn't make it true. And he has not (barring an October Surprise) brought Osama Bin Laden to justice. (Remember "dead or alive"?)
2. He fought the wrong war in the wrong way.
Not enough troops (ask Shinseki). The wrong equipment (no body armor, not enough armored vehicles. Incompetent postwar planning. Then stop-loss orders for the Reserves.
3. He fought the wrong war in the wrong way for the wrong reasons.
After countless shifting justifications, Bush settled on WMDs. Then the WMDs didn't exist.
The shifting justifications showed that Bush was going to go to war, no matter what. So Bush lost all our allies. Gulf War 1 was fought with minimal loss of American life, ended in days, and the allies paid for most of it. Bush's war has cost 1000 American lives so far, there's no end in sight, and we're paying for all of it.
4. He has dishonored the military by enabling a culture of torture.
If the torture at Abu Ghraib makes Bush "sick," then why hasn't he commended whistleblower Joseph Darby for revealing it?
5. He hasn't protected the big cities against loose nukes or dirty bombs.
(See "Loose nukes: Bush still refused to take the threat seriously")
6. He has taken the US from record surplus to record deficit.
His fiscal policies have destroyed the retirement hopes for millions, since Social Security is funded out of general revenue. His tax cuts have given that money that should have gone to those who paid into the Social Security system to those who already have plenty.
7. He promised to leave no child behind, then didn't fund the program.
8. He promised to reform Medicare, but the system is confusing and only benefits the drug companies.
9. He's the first President in 72 years to lose jobs.
10. He politicized science, and denied global warming to help out the energy companies.
If you don't think this should be on the top 10, ask a Floridians.
Bottom line: Strong leaders have a record of accomplishment. When you look at the record, Bush is a weak leader.
Readers, how would you revise this list?
NOTE: The rule of the game is that there can only be 10 reasons. So, if you want to propose a new reason, please say which of the above 10 reasons should be replaced, and why.
Also, there are additional talking points that expand on the top 10 points (in bold). So, please propose more talking points here, too. In SHORT, SIMPLE language!
