Thread: Thank You, President Bush

Originally Posted by Sailor

You shouldn't mix communism and socialism with each other. Or not at least to mix those two with social democracy which is just one of the many political tendencies here in Europe.

Sometimes i think that some people in the USA are calling everything that didn't come from their republican leaders as socialism.

What it comes to Russia it's been very capitalistic system since 1991, where it is money that matters and opens the doors. Those without money and the whole middle class (or what is left from it) are left to survive on their own. Media that doesn't sing songs the goverment wants, soon finds to be closed or at least banned for lying and/or being unpatriotic.

Anyway it good to know such things aren't happening anywhere else, not at least here in the western world.

Being of Russian heritage I am all to familiar with the differences in socialism / communism / social democracy. While they are different they do often have similar or intertwined meanings and uses.

Yes we are heading in that direction under this administration, after all the inner circle is on record that they are influenced by these political philosophies. Like Russia our middle class is dwindling and is the primary financial support for the government. And those that oppose, media included, are branded by the political elite as being racist, unpatriotic, and so-forth. Just look at the head of the FCC in this country. He wants to take away the right of free speech of media outlets under a revised "Fairness Doctrine".

Originally Posted by DistortedPenguin

Now if you want to really know what government run socialized medicine is like let's talk. Americans have no idea what they're in for. So sad how America is ignoring the warnings of the citizens of countries that currently have this system. I guess we get what we deserve for letting our politicians have free rien with our lives. All praise our comrades in Washington.

Come on !! What the US administration proposes is nothing like as extreme as what used to be there in the Soviet Union. There do exist possibilities betwéén "everyone for himself - survival of the healthiest" or the bureaucratical money-wasting nightmare you are talking about.

I am myself a citizen from a country with 'socialized medecin' and I LOVE it. Why ? Because, even though we have to pay a lot of taxes to sustain it and even though it's not perfect, the system WORKS. Does that make me a communist : NO it doesn't.

I'd rather my government spends the money on healthcare than waste it on useless and unwinnable wars abroad.

Originally Posted by billyjeff2

...a Senate report says...

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Originally Posted by hoglahoo

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Very refreshing point of view !!!

It is interesting that this story is coming out now that President Obama has to move more troops into Afghanistan. I don't believe it is a coincidence either. I think the AP is providing our dear leader with some much needed cover what with the 2010 elections coming up and the health care bill still not passed. Our president is paralyzed. Paralyzed by his politics. If he does not send troops he will demoralize the military and much of America thereby losing much needed support for the 2010 elections and his re-election. On the other han if he does send troops he will lose the support of his base and his colleagues in the senate who will be voting on the health bill shortly. He is between a rock and a hard place, but with this AP story he can once again blame everything on Bush and hopefully retain his base and impress the American people and the military that he is the right man for the job.

I personally have no faith in Obamas abilities to lead our military without allowing politics to hinder his every action, therefore I think he should pull our troops out of Afghanistan.

Originally Posted by DistortedPenguin

Yes we are heading in that direction under this administration, after all the inner circle is on record that they are influenced by these political philosophies. Like Russia our middle class is dwindling and is the primary financial support for the government. And those that oppose, media included, are branded by the political elite as being racist, unpatriotic, and so-forth. Just look at the head of the FCC in this country. He wants to take away the right of free speech of media outlets under a revised "Fairness Doctrine".

Sorry to hear things are that bad. However just like Russia, you aren't heading towards socialism by this way, if that is what you are afraid of. Maybe some other person with more lessons in political history could help us with that.

I could say many other incredible facts about this eastern bear, just like talks about the great past with the great faithful leaders, war on terrorism, police having a rigth to arrest people without saying a cause, etc etc, but this topic was about Bush, so that wouldn't be suitable.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

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Lee, did you get that shot of Kelley at your last meet up?

Mark, I'm with you as to the pullout but for different reasons. If we stay in Afghanistan and Iraq what exactly are we supposed to be accomplishing that is in the national interest of the American people today ?

Originally Posted by 59caddy

i think i may be able to help.
1. always take the war to "them" no matter who "they" are. take it to their country.
2. go with the attitude of "failure is not an option"
3. search out and destroy all "enemy combatants" if civilians hide combatants then destroy them. we should have learned that in vietnam
4. scorched earth policy can and will be the greatest deterrent to enemies
5. do not let the enemy come to our shores. since our system is not set up to defend within our shores as strongly as other military complex countries
6. reporters get in the way and need to be keep at bay for military strategy reasons.
7. MOST IMPORTANT: politically correct wars CAN NOT be won..

Have to admit that you have good points in this.
We have a neighbour that has conducted these agendas to us for few times.

Originally Posted by JMS

Lee, did you get that shot of Kelley at your last meet up?

Now Mark, what did I ever do to you?!

Back on topic, if you read the entirety of this thread you may come to the conclusion that the policies of the last several administrations are not so much opposed to each other as they are intertwined, ones policy being built on top of and not contradictory to the last administrations policy. Same jerk, different bobblehead. The question is, where are they going with this?

BTW has any body read"The Grand Chessboard" by Zibigniew Brezinski ?