Do I have your attention with that comment? I bet I do. Any one who knows me, knows of my disdain for GWB even though if I was an American, I would be a Republican. But let me share with you my reasons. It is safe to say that GWB's presidency so far has been an unmittigated failure. What has he accomplished or presided over? Let's see: 3500 Americans died on 9/11, over 1000 soldiers and civilians have died in Iraq and Afganistan, and a massive tax cut that created a runaway deficit and really on benifited only the wealthiest Americans. Okay, I will concede that the US economy has grown and that Americans have experienced a growth in their net worths. This can be attributed to many things (including record low interest rates and the willingness of banks to lend money to anyone so that overpriced homes could be purchased thus creating a possible catastrophic collapse) but not to the leadership of GWB.
So, why is GWB not an idiot?
GWB raised a huge amount before he ran in 2000. A large portion of these dollars were from corporations. And not surprisingly good portion of the corporate money (http://www.opensecrets.org/2000elect/sector/P00003335.htm note: these totals do not included personal contributions from presidents and CEO's of energy companies. Same with the list of lobbyists, they have many oil company clients - Enron being a prime example) came from oil companies and yes, Haliburton. How have these companies benefited by supporting GWB? Well, oil has gone from a price of $19/bbl in 2000 to over $70/bbl today. Natural gas prices have quadrupled. And of course, Haliburton has received billions in military money for the war in Iraq.
You are wondering, okay VK but, why is Bush not an idiot? Well here is my reason. Bush knows that his legacy is all but destroyed. It is time to pay back the people that got him to the White House (Cheney included). The US government has done nothing to try to control the price of energy. Who benefits? The men and companies that donated to his campaign. Haliburton continues to receive government contracts for military and civilian contract work in Iraq. These contracts are given out without going through the regular tender process under the pretense of national security. So Bush has made everyone around him richer than ever before and when he is done being the president these same men who donated will hire Dubya to "work" for them and be handsomely compensated. GWB has, arguably, been the dumbest president ever to lead the US but he certainly is NO idiot.
Yesterday was movie day at the VK abode. I watched 5 movies. The first was The Grudge. It was okay but I did not find it as scary as I had heard. The second was Copland. I really enjoyed this movie. It was funny to see half the cast of the Sopranos in it. Thirdly, I watched Tombstone. Great movie, watch it and see what Billy Bob Thornton looked like pudgy. Fourth, I watched He Got Game. Ah, Chasey Lain and Jill Kelly, nuf said. And finally, I saw The Killer. John Woo and Chow Yun Fat rock. This is probably the most violent movie I have ever seen. Well worth it.
I may have more later. Let me know what you think of GWB.
VK
2 comments:
I have a question and it doesn't have anything to do with what VegasKev wrote. But I was wondering if VegasKev was going with Roop to see the Backstreet Boys in Calgary when they come to town?
One more thing, my experience with VegasKev is that after poker nights he is more like "empty pockets Kove". I imagine that is what happens to him when he goes to Vegas as well. I think losing money in Vegas is why he says that "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!!"
Or in VK's case, what he "brings" to Vegas stays in Vegas.
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