Interesting that Bush had highest rating ever

scruffypup

Senior member
Feb 3, 2006
371
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Bush had the highest approval rating in 2002 of any president ever, yet has been blamed solely for a war which has been questionable (mind you unfairly as all democrats had the same info as bush and voted for the war - anyone who wants to say otherwise,.. get real). Has now been blamed for the current economic downturn (which he is not at fault for - anyone who wants to say otherwise is ignorant of how the economy works)

Now the same American public thinks he is the worst, when they thought he was the best (at least based on opinion polls).

Is it short term memory? American society that likes to blame someone and looks for a scapegoat? Media Hype? An instant gratification society?

Get beyond the emotion and let me know something substantial,....
 

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
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Torturing of prisoners by American personnel by his command? Not doing it for you?

You can't blame the senators. He is the commander-in-chief. He deliberately skewed the facts in presenting his case to the public in order to garner their support for the war.
 

UberNeuman

Lifer
Nov 4, 1999
16,937
3,087
126
....hmmm.... what is it with those who post so little now chiming up with their little opinions.....
 

Strk

Lifer
Nov 23, 2003
10,197
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Yeah, you'd think almost seven years has passed by since then or something.
 

Infohawk

Lifer
Jan 12, 2002
17,844
1
0
A political scientist would probably explain it by pointing out that any recently elected president would have been glorified post 9/11 and that the country was feeling defensive and wanted to come together behind a leader. And now, with this economy, and president would be villified.

The deeper explanation is that the average American is an idiot. Anyone with half a brain knew that Bush was not qualified to be the president from the beginning. The fact that it's taken most people so long to figure it out is pathetic.

 

WHAMPOM

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2006
7,628
183
106
You can fool some of the people all of the time but fooling all of the people takes a terrorist conspiracy.
 

scruffypup

Senior member
Feb 3, 2006
371
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0
Originally posted by: Farang
Torturing of prisoners by American personnel by his command? Not doing it for you?

You can't blame the senators. He is the commander-in-chief. He deliberately skewed the facts in presenting his case to the public in order to garner their support for the war.

Why can't I blame those who are elected who are to hold more power than the president when taken as a group? I don't buy it
 

scruffypup

Senior member
Feb 3, 2006
371
0
0
Originally posted by: UberNeuman
....hmmm.... what is it with those who post so little now chiming up with their little opinions.....

So freedom of speech,... and my opinion counts nothing compared to yours,.. lame debate on your part,.. not mine
 

scruffypup

Senior member
Feb 3, 2006
371
0
0
Originally posted by: Infohawk
A political scientist would probably explain it by pointing out that any recently elected president would have been glorified post 9/11 and that the country was feeling defensive and wanted to come together behind a leader. And now, with this economy, and president would be villified.

The deeper explanation is that the average American is an idiot. Anyone with half a brain knew that Bush was not qualified to be the president from the beginning. The fact that it's taken most people so long to figure it out is pathetic.

I can buy your argument up through the first paragraph,... and even first sentence of the next,...

The last part is questionable,... and who says anyone is qualified to be president when taking the job,.. what is your litmus test? Time in a certain office? A specific character trait?

I think there is no way of saying,.. and if you wanted to go there,.. Obama has less qualifications of any test,... so what is your test?
 

UberNeuman

Lifer
Nov 4, 1999
16,937
3,087
126
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: UberNeuman
....hmmm.... what is it with those who post so little now chiming up with their little opinions.....

So freedom of speech,... and my opinion counts nothing compared to yours,.. lame debate on your part,.. not mine

You spoke. I spoke. Freedom of speech.
 

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
0
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: Farang
Torturing of prisoners by American personnel by his command? Not doing it for you?

You can't blame the senators. He is the commander-in-chief. He deliberately skewed the facts in presenting his case to the public in order to garner their support for the war.

Why can't I blame those who are elected who are to hold more power than the president when taken as a group? I don't buy it

The President has power over the military. The issue I was raising was the invasion of Iraq.

And when taken as a group they still don't have more power than the President. Go to bed kid you'll be late for 5th grade.
 

scruffypup

Senior member
Feb 3, 2006
371
0
0
Originally posted by: Strk
Yeah, you'd think almost seven years has passed by since then or something.

I take your post as the best answer so far,... even with the sarcasm,.. yet the reason Bush has had his rating go down is primarily the Iraq war, and unfairly so no matter how you dish it out,... I respect him for standing by his decision more than I do those congressmen/women who have done an about turn, cut losses and blamed the president (there are many who did this on both sides, but Hilary is the most prime example as she has had the spotlight more)
 

scruffypup

Senior member
Feb 3, 2006
371
0
0
Originally posted by: Farang
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: Farang
Torturing of prisoners by American personnel by his command? Not doing it for you?

You can't blame the senators. He is the commander-in-chief. He deliberately skewed the facts in presenting his case to the public in order to garner their support for the war.

Why can't I blame those who are elected who are to hold more power than the president when taken as a group? I don't buy it

The President has power over the military. The issue I was raising was the invasion of Iraq.

And when taken as a group they still don't have more power than the President. Go to bed kid you'll be late for 5th grade.

Nice, resort to name calling,... I see that more from one side than another,...

I have a kid in the 3rd grade after waiting to have children. Get a life and quit spewing unfounded venom
 

scruffypup

Senior member
Feb 3, 2006
371
0
0
Originally posted by: UberNeuman
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: UberNeuman
....hmmm.... what is it with those who post so little now chiming up with their little opinions.....

So freedom of speech,... and my opinion counts nothing compared to yours,.. lame debate on your part,.. not mine

You spoke. I spoke. Freedom of speech.

I spoke with respect, you did not,.. difference,.. though you have the freedom to act the way you do
 

scruffypup

Senior member
Feb 3, 2006
371
0
0
Originally posted by: Farang
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: Farang
Torturing of prisoners by American personnel by his command? Not doing it for you?

You can't blame the senators. He is the commander-in-chief. He deliberately skewed the facts in presenting his case to the public in order to garner their support for the war.

Why can't I blame those who are elected who are to hold more power than the president when taken as a group? I don't buy it

The President has power over the military. The issue I was raising was the invasion of Iraq.

And when taken as a group they still don't have more power than the President. Go to bed kid you'll be late for 5th grade.

Let's also take your post apart,.. you say he "deliberately skewed the facts to the public" show some proof,... and second,... congress had the right to approve declaration of war,... and to review the same info,... most did not based on their own testimony afterwards,... how are they not to blame??????? Why do they get a free ride? The president cannot declare war,... congress can.
 

UberNeuman

Lifer
Nov 4, 1999
16,937
3,087
126
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: UberNeuman
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: UberNeuman
....hmmm.... what is it with those who post so little now chiming up with their little opinions.....

So freedom of speech,... and my opinion counts nothing compared to yours,.. lame debate on your part,.. not mine

You spoke. I spoke. Freedom of speech.

I spoke with respect, you did not,.. difference,.. though you have the freedom to act the way you do

pleasseeeeeeeee........ You asked a loaded question - so don't get weepy when you get called on it.....
 

Strk

Lifer
Nov 23, 2003
10,197
4
76
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: Strk
Yeah, you'd think almost seven years has passed by since then or something.

I take your post as the best answer so far,... even with the sarcasm,.. yet the reason Bush has had his rating go down is primarily the Iraq war, and unfairly so no matter how you dish it out,... I respect him for standing by his decision more than I do those congressmen/women who have done an about turn, cut losses and blamed the president (there are many who did this on both sides, but Hilary is the most prime example as she has had the spotlight more)

Even if you take Iraq out of the equation, he has been pretty bad. He is a terrible conservative. He outspent everyone. He increased the federal government's liabilities (prescription drug coverage). He increased subsidies (ethanol, to name one). Poverty entitelments were doubled. The list goes on. I hate hearing that he cut taxes; it's a total joke. He increased borrowing (more than everyone before him combined). And all that before he even finished his first term.
 

Farang

Lifer
Jul 7, 2003
10,913
3
0
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: Farang
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: Farang
Torturing of prisoners by American personnel by his command? Not doing it for you?

You can't blame the senators. He is the commander-in-chief. He deliberately skewed the facts in presenting his case to the public in order to garner their support for the war.

Why can't I blame those who are elected who are to hold more power than the president when taken as a group? I don't buy it

The President has power over the military. The issue I was raising was the invasion of Iraq.

And when taken as a group they still don't have more power than the President. Go to bed kid you'll be late for 5th grade.

Let's also take your post apart,.. you say he "deliberately skewed the facts to the public" show some proof,... and second,... congress had the right to approve declaration of war,... and to review the same info,... most did not based on their own testimony afterwards,... how are they not to blame??????? Why do they get a free ride? The president cannot declare war,... congress can.

You're right, my wording made it sound as if the Senators deserve no blame. What I meant was they don't share the blame equally with the President. He is the commander-in-chief and in the end it is his decision. Biden, Edwards, Clinton, they were not the ones cheerleading the war and skewing intelligence to gain popular support for it. As for proving that, it is well documented and a generally accepted fact that countless inquiries have proven, so that is a bit like asking me to prove that FDR was behind the New Deal.
 

Born2bwire

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2005
9,840
6
71
Originally posted by: Strk
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Originally posted by: Strk
Yeah, you'd think almost seven years has passed by since then or something.

I take your post as the best answer so far,... even with the sarcasm,.. yet the reason Bush has had his rating go down is primarily the Iraq war, and unfairly so no matter how you dish it out,... I respect him for standing by his decision more than I do those congressmen/women who have done an about turn, cut losses and blamed the president (there are many who did this on both sides, but Hilary is the most prime example as she has had the spotlight more)

Even if you take Iraq out of the equation, he has been pretty bad. He is a terrible conservative. He outspent everyone. He increased the federal government's liabilities (prescription drug coverage). He increased subsidies (ethanol, to name one). Poverty entitelments were doubled. The list goes on. I hate hearing that he cut taxes; it's a total joke. He increased borrowing (more than everyone before him combined). And all that before he even finished his first term.

And he has done so well in preparing for and responding to other crises like Katrina.
 

First

Lifer
Jun 3, 2002
10,518
271
136
Not surprisingly, presidents typically enjoy high ratings for months after a dramatic event/crisis. 9/11 was a ratings booster for him. Unfortunate he squandered all that sympathy and good will after such a tragedy.
 
Jun 26, 2007
11,925
2
0
Originally posted by: scruffypup
Bush had the highest approval rating in 2002 of any president ever, yet has been blamed solely for a war which has been questionable (mind you unfairly as all democrats had the same info as bush and voted for the war - anyone who wants to say otherwise,.. get real). Has now been blamed for the current economic downturn (which he is not at fault for - anyone who wants to say otherwise is ignorant of how the economy works)

Now the same American public thinks he is the worst, when they thought he was the best (at least based on opinion polls).

Is it short term memory? American society that likes to blame someone and looks for a scapegoat? Media Hype? An instant gratification society?

Get beyond the emotion and let me know something substantial,....

EVERY person in the entire free world knows of the speech where GW Bush said it was needed to continue inspections and to put pressure on the Iraqi Gov and that he was going to use it as a last resort.

He threw the inspectors out and invaded.

Point blank, you are dead in the water.
 

manowar821

Diamond Member
Mar 1, 2007
6,063
0
0
There are a few of us who stay sane under pressure. That being, we hated him all along.

Or the approval rating was a lie. lol!
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
Bush was given an unprecedented opportunity with the entire country behind him.

instead of being a force for good, he used it as a wedge issue to yield partisan victories while everyone was too afraid to be seen as anti-Bush (and hence anti-American) to stand up to him.